Christmas Lessons: Do's and Don'ts

I like to reflect back on holidays and think about what I have
learned that will make the next year even better!  So every
year I come up with a list of  Do's and Don'ts for our holiday.
I want to post them here today and maybe my friends in
blogland will post theirs and we can all learn together!  This
year we didn't travel to stay with family and no one traveled
to visit us.  I know many of you have house guests and would
welcome comments about that, too!  First, .....

The Do's.....
1.  Do buy yourself something very nice that you really need!
DH and I gave each other a new mattress!
2.  Do super clean the house before putting out the Christmas
decorations.
3.  Do plan some FUN during the holidays.  We planned to
go to two movies at the theater and really enjoyed ourselves.
Make of list of FUN things to do and do them!
4.  Keep your routines.  Eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner as
much as you can at the same times.  Keep laundry done.
5.  Do eat lots of protein.
6.  Do make time to be alone.  Too much together time can
leave one frazzled.
7.  Do indulge in a few holiday favorites, such as a couple
of Christmas cookies and eggnog.
8.  Do attend and enjoy your local church services.
9.  Do listen to Christmas music all month long.
10.  Do watch Christmas movies on TV and DVD.
11.  Do PLAY.  We had the best basketball games in the
snow this year!
12.  Do visit your beauty shop for a new cut and color!
13.  Do send out Christmas cards!
14.  Do be generous in your giving!
15.  Do give MONEY to young people.  They need it!
16.  Do give MONEY to old people.  They need it!

17.  Do give MONEY.  Everyone needs it!
17.  Do buy fresh baked bread for the neighbors.

18.  Do make a plan to rest and enjoy the holidays!

You may have some other Do's that you would like to share!

The Don'ts....
1.  Don't remodel the house while the Christmas decorations
are up!
2.  Don't redecorate while the Christmas decorations are up!
3.  Don't do major cleaning when you should be enjoying the
holidays!
4.  Don't stay up all night cooking!
5.  Don't go to the grocery store EVERY day!
6.  Don't eat desserts ALL day! (Do eat protein)
7.  Don't buy too much at the after Christmas sale! ( I still
am trying to use up 75% off Christmas wrap from three
years ago)
8.  Don't eat at the office party.  I realized this year that half
the people didn't even come....it was the skinny half!
9.  Don't drive in snow storms to visit relatives.  Call them
     on the phone!
10.  And the biggest lesson I learned this year..........
[[[DON'T REMODEL THE HOUSE AT CHRISTMAS!]]]

Well, every year is different.  What did you learn this 
year?  What did you put on your Do's and Don'ts list?

Love,

Lottie

Day after Christmas snow!

What beauty God has given us today!

Do you have snow today?  We have squirrels and birds
and all kinds of critters running around in the snow.
Quite a show to watch.  Hope you are having a good day!
Love,
Lottie

Merry Christmas to all!

 

  Can you believe these two have

been stored in a box all year waiting for this week?  Can't see why

they can't spend some time out in January, too! \

Merry Christmas to all!

Update on Christmas Cards!

If I had doubts before, I have none now!  We
have received some of the most warm and
wonderful Christmas cards ever!  Thank you,
Elaine, for reminding me that it is the thought
that counts and we send out Christmas cards
to let people know we are thinking of them! 

And people have sent cards with wonderful
messages that let us know they were thinking
of us!  What a wonderful time of year!

Some cards are from old friends we have not
seen all year.  We meet in the grocery store
from time to time (maybe July) and we thank
each other for our card.  It is a way to stay
connected....a way to pick up where we left
off last time.

A way to remember we were great friends
one time and maybe again some day.

Some cards only say "Merry Christmas"
and contain the senders signature.  Others
have a long message about all that is going
on at their home.

When 88 year old Auntie writes, "I'm doing
fine!", it means she is using her walker and
getting around and eating good meals.... it
means something.  What a great card!

There are cards that have
come a long way across the
continent from a niece who
is in the Army.  Good to
read her long letter to keep
in touch.  Glad she is also
"Doin' Fine!"

DH sent lots of cards this year to friends
and family that I didn't even know. Oh,
wonderful cards we received!


So, next year, we will start our cards earlier
and write longer messages.

Now look what our neighbor did!!!!!!!!!

What a beautiful mailbox!  I'm plan to copy hers next year and
the poor mailman will have have to hunt for where to put the 

Christmas cards next year!

Wishing a Merry Christmas to all!
Love,
Lottie

Christmas Library

DH and I love to travel and a few years ago we visited Old
Winston-Salem in North Carolina.  What a great trip!  It was
Christmas and on the way up, we stayed at this beautiful B&B
in Tanglewood Park in Clemmons, NC.  It was called, The
Manor House.  Inside is a small library full of red.  How warm!

 

This is where I would like to stop and listen to Christmas
music and enjoy a cup of "hot" chocolate!  Join me!

Hope you are having a great day!  Enjoy your chocolate!
Love,
Lottie

Christmas Cards

It's December 10th and I've only received two Christmas cards.
One card is from my boss and the other from a distant relative
of my husband whom I've never met.  They always send a nice
picture of their children so I'm glad we are on their card list.

 

I wasn't sure what to do about sending Christmas cards this year.

Some complain that cards are too expensive or time consuming.

Some of our very close relatives don't send us a card in return. 

With email and text messages, it seems the Christmas card as

a tradition is disappearing.  But what better way to send the

message, "Wishing You a Merry Christmas!"  I looked back at

all the precious and beautiful cards I had saved over the years.

 

 I still want to wish loved ones a Merry Christmas, so I found

a box of simple and sweet cards at 20 for $2. 

 

The stamps cost $8.80 so with the cards it only cost around $11.

I spent Sunday afternoon writing out cards to all my family that
lived out-of-state.  It made me feel good to connect that way.  I
hope family is glad to receive their cards.

My dad is 86 and loves machines.  He doesn't like Christmas
decorations or cards.  All my life my mom called him
Mr. Scrooge in December.  So I try to find him a funny card.
He doesn't like my pets either, so I sent him one similar to this.

 

When it is cold outside, and you have to put on your coat

to go down to that cold mailbox and open it up.....it would

be nice to get Christmas cards instead of medical bills!

So, get out your address book and address a few cards to 

family and friends.  Maybe they will send you a card, too,

and you can put up a string in your hall to hang your cards

on.  Well, I mailed my cards five days ago and still only 

have two cards on my string so far. But I'm sure more 

will come in soon!  

What do you do about Christmas cards at your home?

Wishing Everyone A Merry Christmas!

Love,

Lottie

Christmas Tour of Homes

Anderson, SC is a pretty neat place!  Every year DH and I go
on the Anderson Heritage Tour of Homes walking tour before
we decorate our own blue cottage.  We love talking with the
owners of the homes about what they did with their gutters, or
how they chose the colors for the bedrooms.  Here are some
of the homes on the tour.  Hope you enjoy them, too!

I was so excited that 106 Webb St. was on the tour.  It was

built in 1897 and the owner is restoring it.  It is already a very livable home.

View from across the street.

 

This home at 707 West Market had incredible sunlight streaming 

in the windows!

 

There I am holding a guide book to the homes.  This home at 902 West Market

 was once in disrepair but has been renovated.  It is beautiful inside.  

 Across the street, 809 West Market, is the Marshall Orr House.

It is now the home of the Anderson County Woman's Club.

A bake sale was going on inside.  Here are a few pictures.

Then back to 104 Webb Street, where old and new exist together.

Sometimes you meet people who are so warm and inviting that it
makes your whole day!  We met a neighbor at the first house on
the tour that set that tone.  His home was not on the tour.  He is
an elderly gentlemen who had taken great care of his home and
had lived in the neighborhood for many years.

      His home is my favorite!  (....a blueish-gray cottage?....)

Thank you for coming along on the tour with us!  We enjoyed
your company!

Love,
Lottie