Italians seem to know

Time to take time. Be tranquil and enjoy the simple things. Almond Cantuccini...........dip them in your favorite latte bowl. Sit down, reflect, relax, the busy time has passed by.

Let's have a coffee........................or Cantuccini con Vin Santo.............the classic way, dipping the little biscotti into the sweet dessert wine of the Chianti region of Italy.

Tasselled linen table runner purchased from a small shop built into the ancient walls of Cortona, Tuscany.

The prettily wrapped Panforte from beautiful Siena..............a traditional Italian dessert containing fruits and nuts. A small wedge is served with coffee or dessert wine after a meal, or enjoyed with coffee at breakfast.

Christmas Day

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Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King".
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Joy to the world the Lord is come, let earth receive her King.

Christmas Eve

It came upon the midnight clear,

That glorious song of old,

From angels bending near the earth,

To touch their harps of gold.

"Peace on the earth, goodwill to men,

From heaven's all gracious King",

The world in solemn stillness lay

To hear the angels sing.

Angels from the realms of glory..........................

Christmas Greetings

From my house to yours ~ wishing you and your family all the joys and blessings of Christmas.

Nature's Winter Splendor

Thanks to all who stopped by on the Holiday Home Tour - old friends and new friends were welcomed. I certainly appreciated all the generous comments on how nice my little cottage looks decorated for Christmas. I so enjoyed visiting many of your lovely homes also. The decorations were awesome and I may be stealing a few of your fabulous ideas for next year......if that's OK with you!

I've tucked the camera away for a few days.......will bring it out Christmas Eve as we celebrate with family and friends. Meanwhile, I'm sharing some beautiful pictures depicting the season of the year. These have caught my eye, even taken my breath away...........for even though it's cold, damp, icy or snow covered in the Northern hemisphere, Nature still shines through sharing her beauty and bounty just in time for Christmas.



Enjoy your weekend............Christmas is not only coming, it's just about here!

Holiday Home Tour 2007

"Welcome!! Please come in."

The sun may be shining, the Autumn leaves are still falling......we're still raking.....and there's not a sign of white stuff due to the warm North Carolina weather. However, Christmas is almost here and you're invited to visit the cottage. Many of you will have seen my photos already ~ but hopefully you'll enjoy visiting again as there are a few changes ~ you know how we just can't seem to stop rearranging! Those of you who are first time visitors are so welcome to my home at Christmas.

Let's visit on the porch a while - a cup of English tea, a mug of hot raspberry chocolate, an espresso perhaps, a sip of sherry or a glass of good red (let someone else drive you home!), sorry no iced tea - I'm not that Southern yet!! Perhaps we'll open that big tin of Belgian chocolate biscuits, or I can warm up the mince pies with the melting rum butter, or how about a bowl of sherry trifle? We'll all start the diet after the holidays, right?

If you're here after dusk we'll light the candles and the fairy lights.

We'll turn up the volume so we can hear the angels caroling in the background.

Now we know each other a little better let's step inside and I'll show you my favorite Christmas vignettes for this season. I love to decorate my dining room ~ snowflakes at the window and my 'little uglies' the jesters clambering up the corner etagere.Rosemary and perfumed candles add to the Christmas scent.My living room is cozy, especially later when the fire is blazing and the many candles burning.If you have time I'd love to take you on a quick visit to the back garden. Duck as you go through the arbor, there are Christmas balls and lights hanging which you may not see in the daylight! Oh I almost forgot to tell you, and you were so polite not to ask the whereabouts of my Christmas tree! Yes it's here, lighting up the gazebo again this year as we're limited for space in the cottage. It's very lovely at night and quite safe from the prowling wildlife as the gazebo is screened.

Thanks for visiting ~ wish you could stay longer but I know you have many other homes to see on this tour - visit hostess Tracey at Notes From A Cottage Industry to see them all decorated for Christmas. Have fun, remember the true meaning of this holiday. and always keep the child within your heart........believe.

A very Happy Christmas to each of you.

Nesting Time

I need to take a few days off to regroup, write 'to do' lists for baking and cooking, do this baking and cooking, clean house for company that may stop by, and rake up piles of leaves so they can get to the front door!

I want more time to read ~ love descriptions of Christmas in beloved books, such as Frances Mayes' account of Christmas Eve in Cortona in Tuscany. I was there once in a perfect Autumn and long to return for the Holidays.

I must stop burning the midnight oil and have more time in my nest snuggled under the duvet. But please come visit me next Wednesday when I'll welcome you into my cottage for the Holiday Home Tour 2007.

Enjoy your nest this weekend!