Christmas, Christmas Everywhere!

There are signs of Christmas everywhere you look. I like that! We've developed traditions over the years, some of which are silly and others more expected. They lend coziness and familiarity to our days each holiday season. One of the tasty traditions we enjoy is eating fresh Italian panettone. I love it for breakfast or tea. While lentils and rice simmered in the kitchen, College Girl joined me for a pot of Harney and Son's Earl Grey Supreme and buttered pieces of panettone this afternoon. The bergamot in the tea is great paired with the raisins and orange peel in the panettone.

 
We sat in the living room near the Christmas tree. Outside the window are two Camellia bushes bursting with pink blooms.

The afternoon was chilly for southern California, so I hung our Wedding Ring quilt over the chair in case we wanted to drape it over our laps. The tea table has pull-out shelves on each side which are perfect places for lighted candles.

From where we sat we could see the lighted Nativity set we've had for years. It is one piece and has the option to play music! It is unique, as I've never seen anything quite like it. There is an angel above the creche, Wise Men to the left, and the buildings of Bethlehem glowing in the background. Directly behind it are our two standing Advent-style storybooks; A Christmas Carol and The Nutcracker.

On the tea table was a tin Mary Engelbreit tray, dishes, cups, a crochet teacup filled with 'gems' and candy canes.

I like the charming snow scene on my Lenox cup, called Sleigh Ride~ College Girl used my Cup Of Christmas Tea cup.

Being such a big fan of A Christmas Carol - my favorite version of the movie is the one with Alastair Sim - I keep this little box out year round!

I had to laugh when my daughter asked why I keep and display Christmas projects she made in elementary school. She thinks they are 'lame', but I think they are treasures! She'll understand when she becomes a parent~

On Christmas Day the tree awoke

To loud and joyous noise,

It saw the smiles of happy folks

And laughing girls and boys.

  Its limbs were draped with popcorn strings

And ribbons tied in bows,

And up on top with tinfoil wings
An angel proudly posed.~ B. Atwood

                                 

This evening I made a Christmas card using the same 'easel' style that Carol used on the card she sent to me (see previous post). It was quick, easy and different from the basic single fold card I normally create.

I used a Christmas teapot stamp by Too Much Fun Rubber stamps, and the card measures five inches square when closed. I colored it with Distress Ink and my Zig H2O Pen.

  
Merry Christmas, friends! Wishing you sugar plum dreams.


sharing this post with~
Freedom Fridays  
SHare Your Cup Thursday 
How Sweet The Sound Pink Saturday 
Time Travel Thursday 
Cuisine Kathleen 

 

Teacups and Music

Last Sunday evening we went to 'The Circle' in Old Towne Orange which is at the cross streets of Chapman Avenue and Glassell. In the intersection is a fountain, surrounded by small circular park, around which cars drive.

It is picturesque here and this area has been used by the film and television industry. On Sunday the city held a tree lighting and concert in The Circle. All traffic was blocked from driving through the area. There was a choir and small orchestra in the intersection as well as a stage. The Circle is now decorated with a creche and Nativity scene, a lighted Santa and a lighted toy soldier. 

 
 Vendors had booths from which they were selling hot chocolate, tamales, s'mores, cider, popcorn and even burritos!

 
 Santa and Mrs. Claus were available for photos. We had such a nice time listening to poems and stories, interspersed with beautiful music and singing. Everyone stood for the finale, which was a stirring performance of Handel's Messiah. We all sang along and I got goose bumps.

Can you guess who is in this spiffy red car? You can just glimpse Santa's white fur collar through the window as he and Mrs. Claus drive off at the end of the evening - the reindeer are at home resting up for the Big Night!

For Teacup Tuesday I thought I'd share a Christmas themed find I spotted at TJMaxx last week.

I love using teacups and saucers but there are times when I want a big 'cuppa' and I reach for a lovely china beaker like this one! I like the raised image of the holly leaves, don't you? It has a roomy handle, which would make it comfortable to hold.

Used my cell phone camera so this shot is a bit blurry, but you can see that the maker is Lenox and the pattern is 'Holiday' (It would hold a good six ounces of PGTips, Ruth!). There were some other fun tea service pieces there that day, like these owl cups.

...and this charming teapot and sugar bowl. I love the birds and bright red berries~

 This would make a lovely place to store tea sachets~

With all this talk of tea, I think I'll make a cup of Kusmi Troika tea  and play Handel's Messiah while I wrap gifts. Happy Advent!

Christmas Eve was a night of song that wrapped itself about you like a shawl. But it warmed more than your body. It warmed your heart... filled it, too, with melody that would last forever.
Bess Streeter Aldrich, Song of Years




sharing this post with:
Mosaic Monday 
Make It Pretty 
Antiques and Teacups 
You're Going To Love It 
Martha's Favorites 
Artful Affirmations 
Rose Chintz Cottage 
Bernideen's Tea Time Blog 
Time Travel Thursday, The Brambleberry Cottage