Christmas Music- Perry Como The Story of Christmas

I love how the Christmas story is present in both words and song. Can you tell Perry Como is my new favorite this year!

Another version of the same story and songs. This time live on tv. Don't you love old clips like this? I am so glad they are still around for me too see.

Christmas Treasures

I thought I would share with you today a few vintage Christmas treasures. These are fairly recent, as two were gifts last year and the other two gifts this year.
These are two little carol booklets from my sister-in-law. So very cute!

 I love how the songs are even illustrated.

This one was a promotional from an insurance company.

Isn't that pretty that the picture extends to the back too?

These are two cards our Grandma sent to my sister and I. So cute!

Very Best Wishes for Christmas to you friends!

Christmas Music- Harry Belafonte

I finally found it! Do you remember how I was lamenting because I couldn't find Harry Belafonte singing Jehovah the Lord will Provide?  That was way back in 2011, if you do remember you have a great memory! I am not sure why I decided to look for it again, but I did and there is was! Apparently uploaded days after I had posted.

Such a simple song but with a powerful message. 

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Baking

 We are in the middle of Christmas baking here! 

How about you? In the midst, haven't started or all done?

Here is a list of recipes to tempt you. I already have a good stock of Ginger Snaps and Fruitcake in the freezer.

Ginger Snaps

Christmas Fruitcake (Which really be called Christmas Cranberry Cake!)

Special Sugar Cookies

Jelly Tart Cookies

Easy Peanut Butter Cookies

Happy Baking!

And don't forget an Apron!!

Christmas is Here!

I haven't been very motivated lately. I keep telling myself everyone is waiting for lovely pictures of the new house, but the weather doesn't cooperate or it needs a good tidy before photo time and I just haven't been motivated to get things done. I think it is reaction to finally being moved in and settled, there isn't any need to push on! Anyway, I finally decided to just snap a few quick pictures of our Christmas decorations in the new house. We weren't really motivated to decorate a lot either. Partly because we found ourselves suddenly at a loss where to put them. So we just ended up pulling out our favorites and putting them anywhere there was a place.

I few of our favorite candles tucked next to new decorations.............

paper trees made by the sisters. So cute in the piano window!

Another new craft for this year, a poinsettia wreath hung in the dining room window.

The flowers are felt on a ribbon wrapped wreath form.

 Of course a Shiney-Bright covered tree is an essential! I tried for a theme this year, only red and silver ornaments. After I had unpacked half the ornaments to find the red and silver ones and put a dozen or so on, I stood back to take a look and realized it wasn't really how I had envisioned it, it was boring! So we gave up on the idea and put all the pretty ones on.

 Our favorite vintage nativity made in Germany. 

 Little lanterns we threw together to add a bit of something to the nativity setting. Mini vintage bottle brush trees and (fake) tea lights in a jar.

And my favorite view this year. The little window going upstairs hung with beaded snowflakes. 

If I ever get around to finishing decorating the porch and outside I will let you know. This weather is no incentive though..............

Christmas Music- Silver Bells-Perry Como

I remember listening to this as a child. I love this version with all the "silvery bells" in the background.

Did you know Silver Bells was first sung in the 1951 movie "The Lemon Drop Kid" by Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell? It is a fun screwball movie with a bit of a Christmas theme.

Moving Day!!

Yes, yes, we are actually moved into the little house!! Can you believe it? I can't! You know the old saying, "It gets worse before it gets better"? That is what my house has looked like the last few weeks, disaster zone. There was such a rush to get all the last minute things done. I was waiting and waiting for time to tidy (and the sun to come out). But we barely had to time to clean before it was moving day!

 

This is my sewing room waiting to be tidied and organized.

It feels so good to finally be living here (we spent so much time here it kind of felt like we already lived here). I still get excited to walk into the kitchen and turn on the faucet or to be able to flip a switch! For so long the electric and plumbing were not functional because they were mid re-do. Even though I still have a to-do list (trim in the kitchen and bath, bathroom medicine cabinet to install, shelves in the linen closet and kitchen cupboard doors to be put back on), it is such a relief to finally finally be moved in. I am looking forward to being able to get back to "normal" things like sewing, blogging and baking!

The view from my bedroom window. We have about 3 inches of snow this morning! Do you see the blue tarp across the street behind the neighbor's house? That is my soon to be sister-in-law's house! How is that for good neighbors! (She is adding an addition, hence the tarp.)

A sneak peek at my room. It is so much more photogenic with furniture in it! I haven't done much to it other then unpack the essentials and put up the new curtains. Hopefully there will be a bit of time to do that this weekend with extra days off.

 

Can I listen to Christams music now?!?

Especially with the time change and the weather getting colder and all the cloudiness we have been having, I have been longing to listen to Christmas music. It is a little awkward (for me) sometimes, as I hate when people say "Christmas Music Already!!".

One of my favorite Dean Martin songs.

 

My sister and I have been listening to it since October 1st. For me it is a reminder that Christmas is coming and this dark, cold time of year will be over soon. It evokes a coziness that is so comforting. Plus, it is the perfect music to paint to in the evening!

 

Are you a Christmas music lover? Do you blaze it from the house tops or keep it down low? And what do you say when people complain it is too early?

Have-Done-List

While I was working on yesterday's post, I was thinking of all the things we had done in each room. Even though it hasn't been that long ago, I had forgotten some things.(too many things happening at once!) So for future reference and to remind me just how far the little house has come I am going to make a Have-Done-List.

 

 

 

Entry

Tore up linoleum floor.

Steamed and scraped tar paper off of floor

Re-wired switch and outlet

Added ceiling light

Patched holes from electrical work

Primed and painted walls, ceiling and trim

Sanded, stained and shellacked floor

Replaced quarter round trim

 

Living/Dining Room

Pulled a million and one staples out of the floor

Pulled up carpet tack strips

Re-wired switches and outlets

Added ceiling light in the living room

Moved ceiling light to center of dining room

Patched holes cut for electrical work

Primed and painted walls and trim

Sanded, stained and shellacked floor 

Replaced quarter round trim

 

Kitchen

Pulled up carpet

Removed cabinets so we could pull up wood floor

Pulled up wood floor

Added new joist to fix sagging floor

Installed cement board and tile on floor

Patched walls behind cupboards

Primed walls (no paint yet!)

Primed and painted cabinets

Re-installed cabinets

Replaced counter tops

Re-wired outlets and switches

 

First Bedroom

Pulled up carpet

Removed staples and carpet tack strips

Rewired switches and outlets

Added ceiling light

Patched walls where plumbing had been plastered in and old wall light had been

Primed and painted walls, ceiling, trim and doors

Shellacked floors

Replaced quarter round trim

 

Second Bedroom

Pulled up carpet

Removed staples and carpet tack strips

Rewired switches and outlets

Added ceiling light

Patched holes from electrical exploration

Primed and painted walls, ceiling, trim and doors

Shellacked floors

Replaced quarter round trim

 

Bathroom

Removed all fixtures, walls, floor and ceiling

Re-wired switches and outlet

Added exhaust fan

Install new window 4" to right of old one

Frame in bathtub and new closet

Cement board the floor

Install new tub

Replace plumbing

Insulate walls

Drywall walls

Plaster walls

Tile floor and tub walls

Prime and paint walls and ceiling

 

Front Stairs and Landing

Ripped up carpet

Pulled out staples

Re-wired switch and light

Painted and primed walls and ceiling

Painted kick plates on stairs

Shellacked steps and landing

 

Upstairs Bedroom

Ripped out carpet

Pulled up staples and carpet tack strips

Switched door from out-swinging to in-swinging

Tore out outlets that were on the outside of the wall

Added new outlets inside wall

Re-wired switch and light

Primed and painted walls and ceiling, trim and doors.

Shellacked floor

 

Sewing Room

Pulled up staples

Re-wired outlet

Primed and painted walls and ceiling, trim, windows and doors

Scraped paint off corner of floor

Shellacked floor

 

Porch

Pulled up carpet

Scraped old glue and paint off floor

Primed and painted floor

Washed walls

Painted trim

One Year Ago Today...............

It has been a year since I bought my little house! Can you believe it?! It has been quite the adventure. Who knew buying a house would change our lives so much?

 

Don't you love looking back on birthdays, anniversaries and other such occasions on how much has changed in the past year? In honor of this occasion I thought we could take a visual look back on all that has changed at my house in one year! (I also realized I really haven't shared all of the before/after pictures.) Of course some of the pictures are not "after" pictures, just "Progress" pictures.
 

 Entry

Before

After

 

Living Room

Before

After

 

 

Dining Room


Before

After

 

First Bedroom

Before

After

 

 

Second Bedroom

Before

After

 

Bathroom

Before

After

 

Kitchen

Before

 

Progress

 

Stairs

Before

After

 

Landing

Before

After

 

Upstairs Bedroom

Before

After

 

Sewing Room

Before

After

Porch

Before

After



Exterior

Before

After

 

It really is amazing looking back, isn't it?