Home for the holidays

There was finally a moment yesterday where I was not in a flurry of activity and so it seemed fitting to get this years decking of our halls in the books so to speak.  For anyone who has not been around here before, our families tradition is to hold to the old ways of celebrating Christmas (at the Catholic way) which is to keep advent as a time of preparation and penance and hold off on all the merriment until Christmas Eve.  Throughout the years we have made a few changes like not waiting until the bitter cold of winter sets in to put up the lights outside (things we never had to worry about in Florida) and getting a tree while they are still being sold (I have had to run out and buy a fake tree once or twice) but for the most part, we prepare by making the ornaments that we will need, sewing a few new Christmas wrapping bags (see explanation here) and having everything ready to go so we can just spend Christmas Eve or a few days prior getting the house ready for our favorite time of year.

This year we have a tree in pretty much every room of the house.  The little boys spent a day scouting our woods for Christmas trees to bring inside, big ones, little ones and tiny ones like the one I have next to the sink.   Truly I think I will just keep it there until it looks bad.

This year I got the shingles just as I was in the middle of creating our mama made gifts and I recovered (thanks to pulling all the holistic tricks out of my bag and putting my essential oils to work) just in time to go to all the Christmas week parties, buy all the foods and everything else that consumes every moment of the week before Christmas.  Luckily I had purchased most of the gifts for the kids and so no one was left wanting but I do intend on getting those handmades done and ready for Epiphany.

This year since Christmas Eve fell on a Sunday we departed from our usual salmon and instead had all the meats, smoked chicken, smoked turkey, bacon, spiral ham and all the trimmings followed by our annual Prime Rib dinner on Christmas day.

So we are enjoying our Christmas vacation by staying warm and cozy, watching all the Christmas movies, making gingerbread houses and cookies and keeping Christmas tunes playing throughout the house.  It’s our favorite time of year and I thank God for giving us all this time together as our children get older and older and we won’t be all together like this much longer.  It is both bittersweet and a blessing and this mama is going to squeeze every minute of merriment and enjoyment out of this beautiful season.

So how was your Christmas?  I can’t wait to hear!

 

9 Responses to Home for the holidays

  1. Jerusalem January 15, 2018 at 1:15 am #

    Your home looks so cozy! Happy Epiphany!

  2. Sharron Cox January 2, 2018 at 2:02 pm #

    How beautiful!! I just love your posts and your home! Merry Christmas!

  3. Lisa Burbank January 1, 2018 at 12:34 pm #

    Your post is one of the sweetest Christmas gifts this year…it was a time to stop, breathe, and enjoy for just a moment in the midst of finals (50-something turned college student), my usual farm chores and, of course, prepping for the holiday season. I love reading your blog and just want to say "thank you!" May God bless you and keep you!

    • farmishmomma January 1, 2018 at 4:08 pm #

      Lisa, thank you so much. You have no idea how much I appreciate it and you

    • farmishmomma January 1, 2018 at 4:08 pm #

      And going back to college… I take my hat off to you. I certainly couldn\’t accomplish that

      • Lisa January 2, 2018 at 5:22 pm #

        Going back to college is not easy at this age but then I haven’t been blessed with beautiful children and a husband to share this life with; hat’s off to you, dear lady!

  4. Vicky Bellman December 29, 2017 at 10:17 pm #

    Your home is just beautiful and the simplicity of your decorations really does inspire me. Like you, I keep advent as a time of spiritual preparation and waiting – the meaning is in the waiting. In the past, I’ve been guilty of trying to manufacture Christmas through Christmas ornaments and cushions and flotsam, but now I’m happier and more secure I long for Christmas to be simpler. It’s one of my intentions for next year, and your post has given me a great boost, thank you. I’ll be attempting your simple wreaths on the tartan ribbon – I’ll have to use some of our family tartan ribbon!

    • farmishmomma December 30, 2017 at 12:19 am #

      Vicky, family tartan?!?! How awesome does that sound? Oh and please explain what flotsam is ❤️

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