Goodbye 2023!

I know it's customary to "be done" with a year.

Despite the hardships this time has brought to

our lives, we choose to reflect on the growth and

the blessings that come with diversity. There are

things we can't always control. And things that

fall in our laps without warning. Living thru the

good, the bad and the ugly is what matters. With

whatever life delivered to you this year, I hope

you've expanded your capacity and embraced the

experience. The opposite is not worth the time!

Goodbye 2023. A year to remember for sure ....

~ Chy

Right Here. Right Now.

What I'm wearing .... ripped jeans, pink turtle neck with warm grey cardigan. Socks and slippers, even though it's so warm out. Hair in soft curls after being braided all night.

What I'm reading .... the latest "The English Home" and a new gratitude journal I found at the charity shop. It is in perfect condition, a guided method and was $1.75. 

What's happening in my kitchen .... laughter and the sound of dishes washing.

What's outside my window .... a quiet night, with a breeze that sounds like a Spring Chinook.

What I'm thankful for .... my family, my home, my friends and our community. 

What I'm smelling .... the garlic from our scrumptious dinner that we ordered from the Olive Garden in the Big City. Can't believe they will actually deliver all the way out here. But so thankful for our once a year treat.

What I'm hearing .... music from the one channel that is still playing Christmas music,  perfect as we celebrate all over again now that dgs is home.

What I'm crafting .... the new dollhouse and I'm about to open a counted cross stitch kit I bought the other day on a Boxing Day sale ~ not on Boxing day!

What's on my mind .... excited to share our 2nd Christmas Day with our dgs and can't wait to see the look on his face when we sees his Santa gift!

Words to live by .... love this New Year's quote. Brad is a thoughtful guy. Hope you enjoy it!

Having an amazing week!

~ Chy

Vintage Skates.

Vintage skates on our mantel. We don't

shop as much at the Old Antique Mall as

we used to. It was fun hunting for little

tiny treasures when we were dreaming,

designing and then developing our little

cottage in the big woods. But now that

we're here, we're home, we have all

we need. So now, it's just an item here

and there that we stumble across. Like

these little skates that I had to go back

for when I originally walked away from

them. I am so very glad that I went back!

~ Chy

Dear Friends ....

.... who are at your wedding 39 years ago, and are

still in your life to this day, thru the good and the bad.

Show up on Boxing Day with pudding and other

delights. These are the friends we cherish the most!

~ Chy

Horse and Wagon.

A breezy and chilly but sunny day for a horse

and wagon ride down our little country lane.

~ Chy

Sweet Surprise!

Is this not THE best gift a miniaturist

could receive, the day before Christmas?

Made by a grandfather for his now grown

adult granddaughter, it's in amazing shape.

She has no children and wanted it to go

to someone who would love to work on it!

I'm beyond thrilled to have this sweet

house to create with. A beautiful dream.

I've always dreamed of having a dollhouse

that opened from the front. And now it's here

and so amazing! There are windows in the

back and on the side as well. I can't wait to

start decorating and then furnishing it. But

first a name. Something British, I do believe.

Isn't she so very pretty?

~ Chy

Always a Laugh.

Dh decided when it was time for a serious photo

that he's created a moment of laughter instead ....

There. That's better! All ready to go out for an evening

of fun and friends. We had a great time but this moment

will be one we always look back on. He did promise

me that life would be full of adventures and laughter!

~ Chy

Welcoming Guests.

Our mirror at the front door, with a

candle and cute, festive decorations.

The scene we created on the old radio,

also at the front door, to welcome guests.

Some days, we come home, and the truck

has been turned upside down. Always one

of our daughters who plays around with

it and drives me crazy. All is well now!

~ Chy

Lego Christmas Village.

Our girls gifted me some Lego for my birthday in

November and then they decided we were NOT

putting up our traditional Christmas Village. It's

taken a bit to get used to, but I quite like it now!

~ Chy

Swiss Gift.

My favorite white chocolate will always

be Purdy's but this bar, from a little shop

in the mountains and gifted to me from

dd1, is made with Swiss chocolate. Yum!

~ Chy

New Tree Decor.

After our last Chamber of Commerce

breakfast before the holidays, we were

invited to shop in the greenhouse that

the meeting was held in. One of our

favorites! And we came out with this

soft heart for our tree. Very fitting!

~ Chy

Our Tiny Mouse.

Our tiny mouse, a vintage ornament that

belonged to my gramma. A precious

item that I feel so honored to place on

our fireplace each year when we decorate.

Do you have a precious ornament or two?

~ Chy

Stuffed Stockings.

When I was a kid, it wasn't the presents

under the tree I looked for to as much as

the stockings that my mom and dad filled

with little treats and trinkets each year.

This is a tradition for our kids now and

the thing I love to watch on Christmas

morning. It can take the longest time for

each of us to go thru the stocking, to

open each gift and laugh as we go. I hope

our kids will have the same thought, that

"stuffed stockings" are the best thing on

Christmas morning, even as adults now!

~ Chy

Family Heirlooms.

My grandmother's on my mom's side

lace table cloth. I love it for Christmas.

Candles lit and teacups ready for tea

after a scrumptious meal made by dh.

The dining room hutch that matches the

table and chairs. This belonged to my

dad's parents, my other sweet gramma and

grampa. I feel family around us at dinner.

And in the corner, their hutch they got

when they were first married way back

in the early mid 30's. Honored to have it

in our dining room, holding special items.

Is your home filled with family heirlooms?

~ Chy

Christmas Dinner.

We decided this year to not cook a turkey as it was

just a smaller than usual crowd for the 25th. We had

company after the big day, and more to come but for

the actual day, we enjoyed a roasted chicken with

amazing gravy, fresh peas, mashed rutabaga, mashed

potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, pickles and fresh,

homemade buns. For after, we had a variety of squares,

cookies and tarts. The best part was we didn't have a

lot of leftovers that may have gotten thrown out later.

A much easier dinner and so very good.  Scrumptious!!

~ Chy

 

Comfy and Warm.

Our sign post for the cottage. We hope
to replace this in 2024 with a new one.

When we walked through the trees

 on Christmas Day, we realized we can

see the front of the cottage. I love this

pic showing our forest that surrounds us.

An old fence along the path. I love how

the moss actually grows on the north side.

Our garage and above the garage, the

art studio we spend so much time in. I

love our cottage. It's been such a lovely 

place to call home. Comfy and warm.

~ Chy

More Gifts.

A piece of art from a favorite shop out on 

Salt Spring Island. Love the sweet saying!

More milk bath for the Winter. I love

to soak in a hot tub when it's cold out.

Earrings to dress up my look when we're

heading out to events or big meetings.

And Hemp Bath Bombs for those long soaks

I mentioned earlier. A hot bath and a good book.

~ Chy

 

A Long Awaited Piece of Art.

I've been searching for this print forever!

It's often paired with another piece from

a different artist ~ a beautiful print of a

little girl titled "Charlotte." This one is

called "Peter" and we spent a lot of time

trying to find it in the various antique

stores and even online. Finally, I found

it on Etsy and showed it to dh. And look

what was under our tree on Christmas

morning! From great sellers on the East

coast, it arrived in perfect condition. I

can't wait to hang it up. Now, should it

go beside "Charlotte" or should "Peter"

have his own spot in the cottage? Hmm.

~ Chy

Christmas Books.

I LOVE getting books at Christmas.

Next to chocolate, books are my

very favorite gifts. This one above

was not to read but to store passwords.

The newest to me Susan Branch book

that I couldn't find last year but dh did!

And The Cottage Fairy, based on the

Youtube channel I love to watch. I

am now well set for the New Year to

read away the long, dark nights. Yes!

~ Chy

 

Garden House.

A gift from my daughter. A miniature kit to make

a garden house. I can't wait to put this together!

~ Chy

A Good Sport.

Eldest dd gets quite excited about gift

opening and she also loves to spoil us!

She is trying to guess if there is a set of

pots in the bag. We did gift her a set ....

But put all the pieces, including these

instructions/warranty in separate bags

and boxes so she had a lot to open. She

had an amazing time. Such a good laugh!

Youngest dd also loves opening gifts

and this was one that she had hoped for.

However, she does have one request each

year: her gifts have to be wrapped, not

place in gift bags. So of course, I need

to put at least one gift in a bag. This is

her response .... she loved the gift, but

really likes the process of opening it

up by ripping paper. Love to bug her

and thankful she is always a good sport!

~ Chy

 

First Crack at Baking Homemade Buns.

My first attempt in my entire life to

make fresh baked breads. And the

dough rose, just as the directions said!

Now on to the baking. Wish me luck!

~ Chy

The Very Best White Milk Chocolate.

I love that dh every year finds me bars

of the very best white milk chocolate.

This year, it's white milk chocolate

Santa's. I'm saving these for a special

treat in the New Year. I like to make

my treats last and not eat all at once!

~ Chy

Gift for Carys.

Carys had a sweet gift under the tree.

She looks quite surprised to find this.

And after opening it, she's so excited

to find a pair of lace stockings to wear!

~ Chy