After a whirlwind 72 hours spent celebrating with family and friends, it's nice to have a few moments to
Christmas Eve was beautiful. It wasn't "white" but it was calm and once again, "luminaria" lined the streets of town (Sorry for the blurry picture but you get the idea). In our village, at dusk on Christmas eve, nearly everyone who lives inside the 3 square miles of our "town" lines their sidewalk and/or driveway with "Luminaria" (brown bags with sand in the bottom and white candles lit inside). They're sold as a benefit for the local Infant Welfare chapter but have been a tradition in my communityfor over 45 years. The whole town is aglow with soft candle light and the tradition of lighting luminaria on Christmas Eve is still one of my favorite things about living in this small village in Illinois.
I did manage to finish the Christmas stocking that I was making for my Great-niece, Ella.
I did not, however, finish the matching Christmas tree skirt for her parents. (In hindsight, I probably should have known that when I started this project at 8:30 p.m. on December 23rd, it might be a stretch to complete it before Monday morning and still spend time with my family and/or sleep.) I think that, all things considered, I made pretty good progress and at least I have something to do this week.... *smile*.
Gifts were wrapped using Hobby Lobby paper, natural clay tags that I made and all of the "odds and ends" from bolts of ribbon left over from projects made for the barn sale.
Watching the "unwrapping" is still my favorite part. This is Miss Ella and her dad (my Godson), opening her stocking.
Good food, great company and much love. Time shared together; the greatest gift of all.
xo,
S
P.S. A few my favorite things. Vintage lanterns and "shelf elves" from my sister (who is now, officially, an Ebay goddess) and an "eventually vintage" NEW, red plaid wool blanket from my parents.
