The Festive Season in the House - a Little Winter Tour

Art by Judy Gibson.http://www.allposters.com/-st/Judy-Gibson-Posters_c24650_.htm

(Maybe I will get my piano to look like this painting. Isn't it lovely?!)

I have a few photographs for today, and maybe more, later. This is the mantel. I will show the whole fireplace later. It very easy to adapt to winter decor just by adding sparkle and shine to what you are already using. The above display is a summer candelabra with a rose and ivy swag, to which I just added pink plastic balls.

 

 

I grew up in a 2-storey log cabin, with a staircase made by my Dad, and I have never had one since then. I always thought the "landing" areas of staircases was such a nice touch, and so restful. Here I have a curved staircase that doesn't go anywhere but gives me the visual effect of having a stairs and a bannister to on which to wrap a garland. It can be used as a book shelf, a planter, or a place to store decorative storage boxes.

 

I have been thinking a lot lately about the home, and how important it is not to speak disparagingly of the family or even the house. To point out faults or compare to other families and homes is not a healthy way of thinking. One of the practices of our modern age of tolerance is that homemakers have allowed criticism in the name of open-mindedness, or humility. However, running down the home is something that can plant seeds of discontent in the family members, as well as demoralize the homemaker. The home is sacred.

 

A very dark day.

http://sugarpinkboutique.com/category_3/all/Candylights.htm

 

The skies are very dark today, and no matter what you think of celebrating Christmas, it can only be good to have the lights. When I was growing up in the frozen northern wilderness, we put up lights in November and kept them up til February, since it was so dark for so many months. Today we have so many more choices in colors, and I have found some interesting lights that have been around for awhile called "candy lights". Some of them are scented.

 

 

The New Covenant of our Lord teaches to think on things that are good and lovely and virtuous and of good report. Philippians 4:8-9. I believe it concludes that such thinking will bring the peace of God into your life.

It is especially important to do something lovely if you have been run down by anyone or your home has been criticized, because it is a way to live you up and make you able to function in His kingdom. He has given you a little realm to rule over in the home, and as the manager of that home, you have to keep a strong resolve "for the troops." If your husband and other family members come home at the end of the day discouraged by the meanness and underhanded dealings of this world, your home provides that optimism they need. Though the occasional detractor may accuse the homemaker of "living in a dream world", there is more reality at home than anywhere if you keep things stable and avoid having life in a constant uproar. There are some people who think they must keep life in a turmoil , because they do not understand the meaning of contentment.

 

Some comments do not appear because the blog is not posting them. Hopefully his will clear up soon.

 

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