Happy New Year to 2013!

source

Just listened to a news reporter who did a survey with a few people around the world on exactly what "Happy New Year" meant to them - some rich, some poor... the rich people bragged about their material things and traveling the world - the poor people were happy to have jobs to support their families and for each day God gave them.  For the record, I fall into the last category.

One wealthy lad was the happiest because he had just won a award for winning a game. He was the best! Another man was 

Winter Blooming Camilla

Ahhh! A touch of Winter Color... Camilla Bushes!

My Happy Place Christmas Village

Oh, the magic of Christmas!

The Happy Place Christmas Village Tour

Just bare with me for a few minutes and let

go of the hussle and bussle (even though every

ad, even Pinterest, promises an easy peasy Holiday)

Sit back and enjoy, and even laugh, 

as you enter my Happy Place...

It's been a long time since I set out my

Christmas Village for the mere fact that

sometimes I just don't have the energy or time for it.

It 's not the most glamorous,

and certainly not the most expensive,

just very quaint and simple.

Part of the enjoyment for me in setting it out is,

if only momentarily, to turn off the real world 

and let my imagination run loose in my 

make-believe "Happy Place,"

 where all the people, houses, stores, and Church 

project a feeling of happiness and genuine goodness.

Inside this warm and happy make believe home,

the couple are preparing to exchange

their sweet and simple gifts.

And somebody gets a piggy back

ride to the mailbox, which I imagine

is loaded with warm Christmas wishes,

and maybe even a few gift cards :-)

This family is enjoying an open air

ride delivering Christmas packages.

I love the little kid all kicked back

with his legs crossed.

No doubt he's glad school is out!

Just down the lane is the Dairy Shop

setting out specialty cheeses,

and maybe some really good cheesecake!

The Carolers outside the 

Cheese Shop are spreading 

Christmas cheer for all to hear.

Snowmen are being built everywhere...

There's a lot of detail inside the

General Store that you might can see...

And people aren't too busy to stop and 

exchange Christmas greetings...

The Church is lovely all decked

out in it's greenery and red bows,

even up high on the belfry.

Can you see the kid riding in the cart?

I can hear this car's "ooo-ggaahh"

horn being blown.

Just outside of Happy Place's Church

is a SAFE play yard for the kids

to ride sleds, ski, and ice skate.

My favorite is the Grandpa, child and dog 

riding on the sled.

The Merry Christmas Teddy Bear Shop's

truck is making its way over the

town's covered bridge with the last

delivery of "Teddys" before the Big Day.

In Happy Place, Gentlemen happily help Ladies

with their shoes and skates.

The last house down the lane glows

with a warm and cozy atmosphere

and family is gathered around the table

where there's plenty of food to go around.

 And Mama helps bundle up her little guy,

who wants to go riding with friends

in the horse drawn carriage.

As I sit here and proof read this little home spun story, 

I'm hoping this wasn't too awfully silly to post. 

A lot of us have experienced most of

what Happy Place is all about.

And some of us have not. And will not.

In light of the recent sadness across

our nation, I hope this little magical

Christmas Town tour has made you smile, 

if only for a minute or two.

And, as we hug our families extra tight today,

let our thoughts and prayers go out to those

families whose lives are now changed forever.

SHES

Christmas in the Man Cave

Christmas in the Man Cave

Yes, I am "allowed" to put up a tree in the "man cave"...

And a few fishing and hunting Santas...

Yep, that's a camo hanky beside Santa...

and a Pirate Cup from The Pirate's House

in Savannah, GA.  If you get the chance to go,

do take the "ghost" tour into the cellar, and 

use your cameras to catch "proof"

of them, the mysterious orbs in the photos.

Soccer Santa

Football Santa

These sports Santa ornaments were

bought for our kids when they in school.

In front of Uga is an acorn ornament

I made a couple of weeks ago.

If you haven't already noticed, 

This is Georgia Bull "Dawg" Country.

Just under the star is Uga with his

fishing tackle of a Ga Tech Yellow Jacket,

Auburn Tiger, and a Florida Gator ;-)

(please, don't send me Football Hate email...

it's Christmas!)

Love this ornament - need I say more?

Handy Man Santa

The Christmas Mouse is dated 1971.

My husband tried his hand at Hand Carving a

small block of wood long ago, and did pretty good!

He made the deer for our son to play with,

and after he was too old for such, 

I started using it as

a Christmas tree ornament.

Happy Saturday, Y'all!

A Cat Like Curiosity

Nativity Collection

My Nativity Collection:

The first is the largest in size,

and only had the three figures in the set;

I found the angel in an antique shop, 

which matches the muted colors 

of Mary and Joseph perfectly. 

This set is the smaller of the three sets I have, but

the only piece that it did not have was an angel.

I came across this light weight plastic 

angel ornament playing a harp at the dollar store.

The size fits perfectly in relation to the other figures,

but is not a "stand up," so I hot glued it to the stable.

The colors are a bit brighter but are 

 finished with a more flat, satin coating.

The Shepherd Boy is one of my favorite pieces.

This set is my very favorite.

The colors are bright and finished in a

high gloss shiny coating. 

This set had the angel, plus this

Baby Jesus is not cast into the manger; 

it can be removed.  Some people

do not put their Baby Jesus in the manger 

until Christmas Eve night.

The Kings, camel and donkey are more intricate in detail. 

Again, the Shepherd Boy has a sweet look on his face.

A small musical Nativity.

This very small and simple one-piece set was our very first,

bought our first married Christmas in 1981.

Most all of the "grass" is gone and it has 

gathered a bit of dust, but it is special 

and the meaning is still the same, 

Jesus is the Reason for the Season.

Linking to:
The Dedicated House
Adorned From Above
Two Yellow Birds Decor