a hodgepodge of ordinary joys

hodgepodge - 

a collection of things; jumble

If there was ever a word to describe my taste in things, whether it be music, what I watch or read, what I enjoy eating, what my hobbies and interests are, it would definitely be hodgepodge. The world, both online and in real life, likes to lump people together in boxes and place labels on everyone and everything. Everything must be so set and categorized. Lots of people give themselves to one thing in life...for example, reading; that's all they do for enjoyment. I'm just not a set or one and done in the area of interests and in-the-box sort of person. I'm a hodgepodgey sort of gal, and I'm not ashamed of it. I don't follow one aesthetic or style or way of doing anything in my life...I like to gather what I've learned or what I like about something and make it my own in some way. I don't want to live in a way that looks exactly like others. I don't want my home to look like someone else's. I have many interests and enjoy variety of hobbies. I believe in being a wildflower sort of person...embracing my uniqueness and thinking for my own self and in letting my interests and hobbies be wild and free to bloom as they will.

 And today's post is a hodgepodge of the ordinary joys that make me who I am. In a world where everyone and their cousin loves to gripe on and on about what they don't like, I find it's much more beneficial and lifegiving to celebrate the things I love. And these are just a few of them...

~ Reading ~

It’s no secret that reading is one of my dearest loves. Novel and lifegiving memoirs are my two favorite sorts of books to read...domestic fiction, cozy mysteries, middle grade family stories and mysteries, small town stories with a cast of characters, stories with magical elements, stories that put a heavy emphasis on the things I hold dear and believe to be of utmost importance, such as family, home, simple living, old-fashioned values, etc. And for me, it’s got to be physical books. I'm old-fashioned when it comes to things like that. {{winks}}

~ Crocheting ~

Shortly before Christmastime, I taught myself how to crochet granny squares. I'm currently working on my first afghan, which I believe will call for 140 granny squares, if my measurements are correct. I've got about 40 done so far, and I enjoy making a few here and there in the evenings. I've chosen four colors: lilac, sage, mustard, and blush. To me these say "autumn" and "spring", which are my two favorite color schemes, and I'm very pleased with how they're turning out so far.

~ Walks in the neighborhood ~

I'm a walker. It's my preferred choice for exercise and movement, and it's also good for my mental health. Our neighborhood is a lovely place to take daily walks, as it is quiet and has sidewalks. And as a major plus, we've got tons of nature, so my walks are full of lots of trees, birdsong, butterflies and bees flying about, squirrels in the grass, and lots of green. 

~ Learning to quilt ~

Another creative endeavor I've begun this year is working on my very first quilt. I've been so inspired and learned a ton from YouTube over the last 18 months. I've chosen the St. Louis 16 Patch for my first quilt, as I've learned it's an easy quilt block for beginners. I'm going for an autumnal and spring color theme with lots of florals and I'm happily embracing a very scrappy, imperfect, but fun approach to quilting. 

~ Decorating with collected treasures ~

Hometending is very dear to me. I love making our home into a cozy haven that we just love to be. Home is our favorite place, so it might as well be as cozy, comforting, and enjoyable as we can make it. I love thrifting for home decorations and little treasures to add to our shelves, cupboards, walls, coffee table, etc. There's something to warm and homey about a collected home, as opposed to a home that is so mainstream with pieces that are mass-produced at stores like Hobby Lobby. I find the quality to be better, the prices to be much more affordable, and the styles much more suited to our taste. And it's fun getting to go on what feels like a grown-up treasure hunt at the thrift store!

~ Collecting teacups and mugs ~

My teacup and mug collection began in the winter of 2015, and it has grown so much since then. I was obsessed with teacups for a long time there, but now I'm more of a mug girl. Teacups are a bit daintier and fancy than I tend to care for...mugs, for me, are more down-to-earth, homey, cozy, comforting, and feel good in my hands when they're full of a warming drink. I tend to go for seasonal designs most of the time, but I do love more general styles, too, which for me includes lots of florals and nature designs.

~ Perusing my collection of old cookbooks ~

I've been collecting cookbooks since I was 8 years old. As a young girl, I spent my TV time watching the Food Network when everyone else my age watched Cartoon Network. (Not that there's anything wrong with that! It just wasn't me.) My collection is huge, I admit. But I find great pleasure in simply taking a few down from the shelf at a time and flipping through them. Most of my collection is quite dated, from several of my favorite publications that my mom collected as I grew up. It's also fun picking new recipes to try...and just to get inspiration from as well.

~ Collecting books ~

I will also admit here that I have a quite large book collection. Nearly all of my books are used, as that is what I personally prefer. And probably three-fourths of them I got for less than a few dollars each. Our community library, as well as the big city library each have massive book sales each April. You can fill a box for $12, and do you know how many books you can fit in a big box?!?! {{smiles}} I also frequent little free libraries around where I live every few months. And, of course, I do shop at local used bookstores and Abe Books online. I really, really prefer used books so much over new ones...I love how they already feel broken in and well-loved. It's like a perfectly worn in pair of jeans. I also do not like for my books to remain in perfect condition. That honestly annoys me...a perfect looking book or book collection. I like a hodgepodge, mixy/matchy, obviously well-loved book collection. I like for my books to look read and used and enjoyed. So, yes, my book spines are broken, and pages are creased and sometimes the corners are folded over or pages written on. And I think my shelves show that quite well.

~ Watching favorite shows ~

I'm of the belief that watching TV shows and movies that one finds comforting to be one of the best hobbies out there. My favorite shows include police/crime dramas and cozy mysteries, Gilmore Girls, The Middle, Home Improvement, and I just began watching Friends for the first time. It's especially wonderful when you pair a favorite show or movie with a board game or crafty project or even while you clean. That's one of the coziest things to me! 

~ Holistic wellness & Natural living ~

I've been a student of holistic and natural wellness since my late teens. It's a topic that I could talk about for ages...and then some. I enjoy studying herbalism, ayurveda, traditional Chinese medicine, somatic healing, holistic nutrition, homeopathy, yoga, aromatherapy, etc. For me, these things are not only beneficial and informative to learn about, but also very inspiring and lifegiving and hopeful.

 ~ Coziness. Comfort. H O M E. ~

Home is the nicest word there is, as Laura Ingalls said. And I heartily agree. There's no place like home, says Dorthy Gale. How I echo those words. Home is truly my most favorite place to be. I seriously do not understand people who do not like being at home or who can't be at home for any length of time. For me, home is where it is at. I have many thoughts, beliefs, convictions, values, and deeply rooted feelings about home. I believe home to be the most important place on earth. Simply put.

~ Watching favorite movies ~

Just as with TV shows, movie watching, particularly rewatching is among my favorite hobbies. I know some people can't stand rewatching the same things over and over again, but I love it. {{smiles}} A few of my top favorites are: Julie and Julia, Under the Tuscan Sun, Little Women (1994), Miss Potter, Letters to Juliet, and many of the Hallmark Mystery series.

~ Commonplacing ~

I've been keeping a commonplace book since 2015. I know they've gotten rather trendy and popular thanks to some "influencers", but some of us kept these types of journals way before then. It's my favorite way to keep my favorite quotes together, and a fun way to look back on what speaks to you at different times in your life. I like keeping mine very casual and not fancy at all, using simple composition notebooks instead of designer journals...very unlike the ones popularized by certain "influencers".

~ Journaling ~

I don't know what some would call the kind of journaling I like to do...but for me, it's simply creative journaling or scrappy journaling. I love stickers, washi tape, scraps of paper I collect from random things, etc. It's a way to have fun and be creative without thinking too much. I find it very peaceful.

~ Storybooks ~

So, yes, I collect storybooks. I believe storybooks are for every age group, and I honestly find so much inspiration in the illustrations as well as the stories themselves. My collection is completely used and well loved, and thoroughly enjoyed, too. I love reading them now, and hope to share them with my future children one day. The one in the picture above is from our family collection from my sister's and my childhood. It was, and still is, a true favorite of ours!

~ Cooking ~

Cooking has been a love of mine since I was very young helping my mom by pulling up a chair to stand on. Nowadays, I love not following recipes, not measuring anything, and just having a sort of free-for-all when I cook. It's the most fun! Especially when I play a CD in the kitchen, too!

~ Nightly teatime ~

One thing I'm trying to incorporate into my daily rhythms is a nightly teatime. I've done this on and off through the years, and I'm trying to get back into the habit of it. We have a wide variety of teas to choose from, and of course, tea must be enjoyed out of a pretty mug, in my opinion. ♥

There is a large measure of joy in ordinary moments.

~ Susan Gale Wicks ~

What are some of your ordinary joys? Do share with me in the comments!

 Do we have any in common? Let me know below!

some crochet & scrappy fun

Well, it seems as though spring is springing around my corner of the world. Just in the last handful of days, I've noticed several types of trees blooming already...even though it seems quite early to me. The sunsets have taken on their warmer weather look, at least to me. And the temps are certainly leaning towards a warm (and early) spring. Even though we still have 20 days left of winter, I find myself leaning into a spring direction...it's hard not to when nature is showing signs of buds, blooms, and birds singing in the morn. Before winter officially makes an exit until later this year, I wanted to share two of my most recent crafty projects that I got up to this winter.

Right before Christmas, I taught myself how to crochet a traditional Granny Square. I found myself catching on quite fast, as I had practiced different crochet techniques earlier in the autumn, which helped me a ton. I have since become Granny Square obsessed! I absolutely love the look of the traditional square and especially mixing different colors in for each round. I am working on a bigger project of a blanket, and right now I'm about one-fifth of the way done with the first part. However, when our winter storm came in late January, I was inspired to make a Granny Square headband using some random yarn I had in my stash from previous knitting projects. I chose a lovely lilac, blush rose, and a happy daffodil yellow. This was a quick project and an incredibly easy one...but let me tell you, I used that headband so many times during our cold spell. I have a collection of winter beanie-type hats, which I love wearing when my hair is down, but if I'm wearing my hair up, I prefer a hand band. I knitted myself one a few years back, and this crochet one really sparked joy for me. 

Another snowbound evening, I found myself rummaging through my stash of fabric scraps. There is quite a lot of fabric that I've had for years, and for one reason or another, much of it just isn't my taste anymore...but no need to waste it. I pulled out a bunch of bits of this and that if I loved the colors, and cut many, many, many strips. I found a wreath frame in my craft cupboard that I've also had for a long time...and so one frigid evening, with a good movie on in the warmth of my cozy living room, I set out attaching all those many fabric strips to the wreath frame. And the result was a very colorful, very scrappy rag wreath. It brings me so much joy every time I look at it.

Those two projects were the perfect one-night crafts for a couple cozy evenings. They were fun and relaxing and enjoyable in every way, cost me zero dollars as I already had the supplies in my stash (and they'd been sitting there for some time already), and I'm still enjoying them. Though the head band is probably tucked away until next winter, unless we get another cold spell. Which I would not be sad about. {{smiles}}

What have you created lately? What are your favorite sorts of creative projects? I've learned over the last while that I always gravitate towards craft projects involving yarn or fabric or embroidery floss or felt...and then my scrappy journaling, too, with lots of stickers and washi tape...what about you?

december 1: small domestic liturgies

small domestic liturgies: 

tangible acts that integrate what we believe with what we do.

(Lanier Ivester, Glad and Golden Hours) 

🕯️🫖🪡🍶🧺📝

may photo journal ♥ day twenty ♥ haven

haven ...

my room. my quarters. my chamber. my lair. my space. my burrow. my hobbit hole. my haunt. my cave. my hideaway. my sanctuary. my hidey-hole. my nest.

my haven.

haven...a place of safety, comfort, and peace.

how thankful i am for my cozy little haven. how much it sparks J O Y every time I walk through the door. how much fun it is to make it into a space that feels, looks, and embodies little ol' me. 

i love my little space. it's where i go to read, ponder, write, create, relax, rest, and have a moment. it's taken me quite some time to find what felt like me when it came to my space. all through my teens and early twenties, i wasn't sure exactly what i wanted my space to be and feel like. as my twenties began to roll on and reach their end, it finally became clear...i wanted it to feel warm and cozy and like some place i never want to leave. i wanted it to have colors and textures that made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. i wanted it to reflect me in many different ways. and just like how i can't narrow down my interests or hobbies or passions to one or two, i don't need to narrow down my style to one aesthetic or color scheme or look...social media can make you begin to think that sometimes. i learned that i could embrace all the things i love and bring them into my space in various ways. and, finally, in my late twenties, something just clicked. i know just who i am and what i like and how i want my space to be.

i want it to be a haven that feels like i just stepped into a hobbit hole or a little hole in a tree where the mouse-folk of brambly hedge dwell or a bit like the weasley's burrow that feels all cozy and magical and warm inside. i want it to feel like a scrapbook, a collection of all the things that make me happy and that i love. i want it to be a place where i can just be me and where everything i love and delight in is held and shown in all sorts of ways, whether it be my patchwork curtains, my reading chair and the lumpy pillows on it, my desk and all the knickknacks on my shelves, or the hundreds of books that i have read and want to read. it's all me. and it suits me just right. it's a goldilocks sort of room. and i love it.

some springtime sewing sweetness ♥ boho crossbody & foldaway tote projects

Mornin' readers!

What a lovely April Thursday it is! My, oh my! The last ten days or so have been nothing less than incredibly stressful in my corner of the world. We have had some tremendous spring weather over this past week and a half. It all began on the weekend before last with some storms and whatnot that, thankfully, amounted to nothing much at all. We were in a 3 out of 5 risk category, but fortunately, it all went around us and we barely got any rain at all from that. Then, last Wednesday evening into Thursday morning, we were in a 5 out of 5 risk category for storms, tornadoes, hail, strong wind, you name it. My anxiety was through the roof...spring weather and risk of tornadoes does not set well with me. I've lived in the same place my whole life, and thankfully, we've never had any really horrific weather. But we do have several episodes of warnings and watches throughout the spring, and it makes me incredibly nervous every time. I spent about 8 hours straight watching the local weather Wednesday evening and another hour or so in the wee hours of the morning, when I was kept awake by tornado sirens going off in the distance, loud thunder, and heavy rain hitting the roof and windows. While we were very fortunate and are very thankful for how it all turned out for us, some towns not too far away did have destructive tornadoes destroy much of the towns and many home and buildings and schools.

But it wasn't over yet...then began the flooding. And ever since our area has been experiencing historical floods. Our sunroom flooded partially on Thursday evening, and we became best friends with a wet/dry shop vac. (Thankfully Lowe's was having a good sale on them! And they were selling out of them, too!) Our garage was flooded inches deep, and we couldn't get out unless we had our tall rainboots on. Friday was a break day as no rain fell...and we spent the afternoon at our local library book sale, which was loads of fun and a much-needed reprieve from the previous two days. But the rain returned on Saturday, and we tended to our sunroom every 15-30 minutes for most of the day, using the shop vac to get any water up that came in. Sunday brought some rain, and as much as I do love rain, this rain was incredibly stressful. We couldn't wait for it to stop! And on Monday, lo and behold, the sun came out and I don't think I've ever been so glad to see sunshine in all my life. 

So...that's how our April started...how's your April going so far?

 

In late March, I decided to get back to some crafting and projects. And sewing was first on that list. I've been wanting to make a purse for some time now. I've been using the same two purses for probably ten years, and they're both starting to come apart...and they're my favorite style, too. I haven't had any luck finding a purse that I like in the stores. So my sister suggested I make my own...I'm so glad she gave me that idea.

I knew exactly what I wanted...so I began searching online. I looked and looked until I found "the one". This is a boho style crossbody. And I decided to make it patchwork, because anything patchwork has my heart. You can see the patchwork curtains I made for my room a few summers back right here. 

Most of the fabric I used was already in my stash, so I only needed to pick out a few fabric designs to compliment the others. I wanted floral patterns along with complimentary patterns, lots of colors, and a warmer palette. I added a ribbon and button closure as well. This project took me just under 8 hours, as much of that time was spent cutting out many, many squares of fabric. And it was the very first project I did by myself without having to ask for help in understanding the pattern. My sister did help me in arranging the different squares of fabric according to pattern and color...she is much better at that than I am.

(Oh, and I only had to use the seam ripper once in this entire project...and my lovely sister kindly did that for me.)

I am so pleased with the result, and I definitely want to make this purse again in a couple other color palettes for different seasons. There are a few things that I want to adjust on future bags, but overall, I really, really love how it turned out.

To be creative is to let little pieces of your heart go and place them into each project you make.

~ Pat Bravo ~

I am obsessed with the fabrics I chose...florals and patchwork just go so well together.

I am planning on making a few drawstring pouches to keep things in to put in my purse. I'll share those once I get around to making them.

My sister has also been working on quite a few crafting projects, and the very first one she completed was a foldaway tote for me to keep in my purse. I've been wanting one of these for awhile now...and I just love what she made me.

I specifically wanted a tote that wasn't too big nor too small. It needed to be easily rolled up to keep in my purse. And I wanted it to be colorful!

I am obsessed with this tote...I think my sister did a fabulous job. I chose fabrics that we already had in our stash...pretty pinks that are so happy and cheerful to look at. This tote is the perfect size for holding books I pick up at the library or used bookshop or a few snacks for the go and even my journals and pens and camera. It's practically perfect in every way. {{smiles}}

Sewing my purse brought me so much joy and fun. It made me realize that I really need to sew more often! And I can't wait to begin using my purse once I get my two pouches made. There's something so satisfying about completing a project for something that you've wanted to make and having it turn out successfully.

Have you been working on any crafting projects recently? 

my quiet life at home . . . the comforts of wintering

a celebration of all the comforts of wintering 

before springtime begins . . .

{{ dark chocolate chip scones }}

All i really want this winter is to be a hobbit. 

I want to stay home, eat lots of comfort food, 

and read lots of books in my cozy library.

~ Unknown ~

{{ Valentine's Day chicken pot pie }}

In winter, I often spend all day in the kitchen, it is in winter that I love it best, and it is then that I most enjoy my own particular sort of cooking best, too, for one of the richest pleasures of domestic life is and has always been, filling the house with the smells of food, or baking bread and cakes, bubbling casseroles and simmering soups, of vegetables fresh from the garden and quickly steamed, of the roasting of meat, of new-ground coffee and pounded spices and chopped herbs, or hot marmalade and jam and jelly.

~ Susan Hill ~

{{ Valentine's Day chocolate strawberry cheesecake with dark chocolate covered strawberries }}

All the kitchens along Brambly edge were warm and busy. Hot soups, punches and puddings bubbled and in the ovens pies browned and sizzled. Clover and Catkin helped Mrs. Apple string crabapples to roast over the fire. 

~ Jill Barklem ~

{{ a cheesecake close-up ~ a little plus is that each of the desserts I shared here today are sweetened with either coconut sugar or maple syrup }}

It's winter. Slow down and embrace the quiet. Wrap yourself in a cozy blanket.

Enjoy a cup of chai as the snow falls. Light a candle and let warmth fill the room.

~ The Motherhouse ~

{{ a chocolate fudge caramel cake to celebrate a snow day...because, why not?!?! }}

{{ poetry that just gets me }}

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What home comforts are you savouring these last weeks of winter?

a rooted life ♥ heart & soul things

A very cheery morning to you on this wintry, last day of February Friday, my dear readers. I sincerely hope you all are doing well. It's so hard to believe that spring will be here in just a few short weeks...are you excited for the start of springtime, or are you wanting to hold on to winter? I must admit, that as much as I love wintertime...and I do adore it dearly, I am quite excited to welcome spring this year. I'm ready to see green grass and little buds on the branches of trees and bushes. I can't wait for all the colorful flowers to bloom and to see butterflies and birds flying around. And I am also very much looking forward to wearing sundresses and sandals. As much as I love autumn and winter, I do love spring quite dearly, too...and I'm thankful for the different seasons and the beauty they each bring. It's like opening a gift each day as a new season begins, as there is always something new to notice and delight in.

As I shared in a previous post, as a new year begins, I find myself pondering what sorts of things I wish and hope to share in this space over the coming year(s). I am always listening to the guidance of my heart on the matter of this blog, and I feel as though I am always inching my way closer and closer to what it is meant to be...what my soul desires it to be. I am thankful for that still, small, quiet whisper in my heart that gently guides me along the way to finding my place in this space. And this year, a few things were very clear about this space and what I wish and hope to share here. I hope you'll allow me to share a bit of what's been on my heart, as well as share some "heart and soul things" that will be the rooted foundation of this space.

To take a lesson from Maria in The Sound of Music, let's start at the very beginning; it's a very good place to start. And the beginning is simply to share a "vision of values" that this blog is centered around:

Nurturing a rooted life of gentleness & simplicity, cozy domesticity & home comforts, following nature's rhythms, being steeped in story & immersed in beauty, & preserving old-fashioned values.

Now, if you've been around here for any length of time, you will well know that I am a word person and that nothing is without some deeper meaning. So, if you'll come along with me for a bit, I'd like to take you on a bit of a word journey and share the heart behind each of these components of this vision of values and heart and soul.

♥ nurturing 

To nurture is to "help and encourage the growth of; to cherish; to feed; to nourish, cultivate, tend, strengthen, encourage further". Nurture is one of my most favorite words. It feels like a gentle, kind, loving, soft word that holds great meaning and weight to it. I believe to nurture something is to cultivate it in a gentle, kind, soft way. I also believe that if you are taking the time to nurture something, then it must mean a great deal to you. After all, nurturing takes time, attention, energy, heart, mindfulness, and your soul has to be in it. Nurturing is not something I believe to be done lackadaisically or half-heartedly or lazily or nonchalantly.

♥ a rooted life

While lifestyles of hustle and bustle and go, go, go are all the rage right now, I'm of the very firm belief that we are meant to be way more rooted than most folks are. I believe that we are literally meant to live our lives centered around our home and not use the home as simply a place to sleep at night and perhaps make a few pitstops along the way throughout the day. I believe home to be the anchor and foundation of our lives, the place in which all other aspects of our lives are firmly planted with deep roots, and that a rooted life is the best life...a life full of meaning, richness, depth, and endless value.

♥ gentleness

Gentleness is an incredibly important thing, both in practicing gentleness towards others, as well as being gentle with ourselves. I believe that the world would genuinely change for good if more folks embraced a gentler approach towards others and themselves and cultivated that gentle heart that all people are born with, as part of our inherent goodness.

♥ simplicity

Simplicity. In absolutely no way am I suggesting that we go back to the Little House days. What I do believe in, again, is a rooted life centered at home with family as the primary circle of influence. I believe in homecooked meals and preparing food with love and care. I believe in saying "no" to the ways of the culture and society that "everyone else are following" because we know there is a better way. I believe in living life in a way that allows you to actually live and breathe and notice and savour. I believe in cherishing life's simple pleasures.

♥ cozy domesticity

As part of a rooted life, one makes a house a home. And if your heart is rooted where it should be, you see this as a tremendous blessing and gift and honor. I believe in celebrating the domestic arts, and arts they are. For I also believe that the homemaker is a domestic artist. Creating the world of home is one of the most creative, imaginative, wonderous, magical things a person can do. Making a haven for those you love most is something that should be seen as a high calling and a magnificent opportunity to pour your heart into something truly meaningful.

♥ home comforts

Good food, a warm hearth, and all the comforts of home. Ah, yes. That's exactly what a home should be. And here, we celebrate, cherish, and value all things pertaining to home.

♥ following nature's rhythms

Nature is our wisest, gentlest teacher. And I believe that when we pay attention to the rhythms of nature, we can apply so much of what we learn to our lives and days and personal rhythms, and that's when we truly live in peace. Winter means hibernation and rest and slowing down, while summer is more a time of going and doing and getting things done. This is true in nature, but it is also true for us. When we follow nature's rhythms, we will feel at peace with ourselves because we, too, are living in tune with our truest rhythms. 

♥ being steeped in story

I believe in story. The stories written on the pages of books, the stories portrayed on a screen, the stories woven into the lyrics of a song, and the stories shared around the kitchen table or in front of the hearth. Stories matter. And stories form and shape and mold us. They teach us and they inspire us. They are our kindred spirits and companions along life's journey. And I believe in story. To me, being steeped in story is to be alive to the beauty of the world. It is to believe in something magical and wonderful and inspiring. It to be shaped by words and illustrations and melodies. It is to be formed and shaped by imagination and beauty. It is to plant a garden in your mind and fill it with beautiful, lifegiving flowers and trees and all sorts of growing things that bring beauty into your life. It is a conscious act of kindling wonder and imagination back into your life, seeing as how the years can wear it down the older you get. As fellow book girl, Sarah Clarkson says, "To be a book girl is to be formed by a bone-deep knowledge that goodness lies at the heart of existence." And that, my reader friends, is what I believe it means to be steeped in story.

♥ being immersed in beauty

Beauty is all around us, and yet we live as though it doesn't matter. I believe in being consciously aware of the beauty that surrounds us, and to reawaken our senses to notice such beauty. This is something as simple as considering and realizing the sacredness in everyday life, small moments, and the hidden places and corners of life. And it also means literally, physically bringing beauty into your life. Being aware of the music and entertainment you allow to speak into your life, as well as the stories that influence and inspire you. Filling your home with beauty in how your decorate, in the way you go about your homemaking, and in how you see the world. Beauty is no small thing, and it is of utmost importance.

♥ preserving old-fashioned values

I believe in morals. I believe in decency. I believe in character. I believe in virtue. I believe in deeply rooted values. And I use the term "old-fashioned" because though many consider that an insult, I consider it a beautiful description of the things I hold dear. In a world where morals and decency, virtue and character, and any sort of upright values are mocked, scorned, ridiculed, and condemned, I believe, most firmly and strongly, in preserving, protecting, and cherishing those things. Morals are not dead. Decency isn't irrelevant. Character isn't meaningless. Virtue isn't outdated. Values aren't of yester-year. Let us not forget these things.

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These heart and soul things really matter to me and are of great importance and value. I hope they are and will be reflected and shared here. As always, thank you so much for vising my little cozy cottage here. I hope you'll come back again real soon!

May your day be blessed and beautiful!

♥

preparing for a cozy christmas & wintertime 🎄❄️🎄❄️🎄❄️

The fires burn and the kettles sing, 

and the earth sinks to rest until next spring.

~ Clyde Watson~

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Warm greetings, lovely readers!

We have made it to the end of October, which also means that today is the final post in my 2024 Autumn Notes from Home series. And I wanted to end this year's series with a little something different. Today, I want to point to all things Christmasy and wintry...with the hopes and dreams and wishes for the coming months and inspire you towards the same.

Christmas is a favorite time of year for me. It holds many, many fond memories for me from my childhood and little girl years, as well as sweet memories of years not too far in the past as well as many hopes and dreams and wishes for Christmases in the future. I believe Christmas to be a magical time and a time to really let your inner child have some fun and delight. It's a time for whimsy and reindeer on the roof and a jolly white bearded man coming down the chimney. It's the time for cookie baking and carol singing and cozying up with hot chocolate in hand as you drive around town to admire the lights and decorations. It's the time for comforting movies and pulling out those old records and of candy canes hanging on the tree and stockings on the mantle. It's a time of peace on earth and goodwill towards others, not forgetting kindness towards ourselves, too. It's the time to believe in those little girl (or little boy) imaginings and knowing they're as real as they were when you were five years old. Christmastime. I just love it so much.

In our home, Christmas begins trickling in around the start of November. I begin playing Christmas songs sometime during the first week or two of the month, and we also start watching Christmas movies then, as well. We decorate our house, inside and out, on the weekend after Thanksgiving. That has been our family tradition as far as I can remember. Today I want to share some thoughts on preparing for Christmas and wintertime.

Before I begin, though, I wanted to mention that last Christmas I shared a home tour, so if you like that sort of thing, you can check it out here. The photos in this post are a little taste of that blog post...and video.

For we need a little Christmas, right this very minute
Candles in the window, carols at the spinet
Yes, we need a little Christmas, right this very minute
Hasn't snowed a single flurry, but Santa dear we're in a hurry

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Preparing for a cozy Christmas...

~ Select a stack of Christmas books that you hope to read during the season. It's especially fun to choose a stack of picture books, as the Christmas stories are so magical and oftentimes have the most gorgeous illustrations.

~ Make a playlist of all your family's favorite Christmas songs. I created a cozy Christmas playlist here if you'd like to check it out for some festive fun music.

~ Make a CD case just for your Christmas CDs...yes, we're old school and still prefer CDs. I love having a designated case just for our Christmas music. It goes from the car to the house regularly and gets used a lot.

~ Make a list of Christmas movies you want to watch during the season. 

~ Make a list of all the goodies you want to bake during December.

~ And also, make a list of anyone you want to gift those goodies to, as well as any ingredients and wrapping or packaging supplies you may need to pick up.

~ Give a tidy up to the area where your Christmas tree will go. We have two places in our home that we love putting our Christmas tree and each year, it just depends on what we're feeling for that Christmas. We sometimes need to rearrange or move some furniture as well. Tidying up the space ahead of time makes it a lot easier when we carry our tree in.

~ Make a list of any crafts or projects you want to accomplish during the season. I love doing a little something creative every December, even if it's just adding a few homemade ornaments to our tree.

~ Check your gift-wrapping supply stash and see if you need anything before the stores sell out of everything. We've been reusing the same gift bags for most of my life, but each year we do purchase some new wrapping paper. We also reuse bows and ribbons year after year, but it's nice to get them all organized into a bag or bin. And while we do reuse most of our wrapping supplies year after year, we also find it fun adding a couple of bits each year...nothing too crazy and we do make sure it can be used again and again. Wrapping supplies can get expensive, and it's honestly unnecessary to get rid of most of it each year. Simply reuse what you can. And as a little fun side note, it's really nostalgic and full of happy holiday memories to see the same bags and ribbons each year.

~ Make a meal plan for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day ahead of time. In our home, the meals are always the same...for us, it's a beloved tradition. But we do like to make sure we don't forget anything, and we make a big grocery list of ingredients and then collect them throughout the months of November and December, instead of having to purchase a bunch of extra things in one go.

~ Check around your local area and see if there are any fun, festive activities going on that appeal to you. If so, make arrangements to attend...mark your calendar, purchase tickets, make fun plans.

~ Assemble or purchase an Advent calendar for your family. We have bought ones in the past that have those little pieces of chocolate behind doors to be opened each day of December. But, this year, I think we're going to make our own and put our favorite chocolates in to be enjoyed each day. This is fun for any age...at Christmastime, I think it's good and important to remember that you don't stop playing because you grow old; you grow old because you stop playing. (George Bernard Shaw)

~ In our home, we enjoy and love celebrating the 12 days of Christmas, which take us to January 5th. To make these days special, we choose one special thing to enjoy or do each day. For example, one day we may go to a favorite restaurant or take hot chocolate in the car to drive around and see the lights one last time until next Christmas or we may have a game night and play board games and have a snacky dinner. Most of the things we do don't cost any money...but they're still so much fun. Last year, one of our celebrations was going to the theater and watching the new Wonka movie, which was a blast.

Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth,

for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire:

it is the time for home.

~ Edith Sitwell~ 

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Preparing for a cozy wintertime...

~ Select a stack of books that you want to read during the colder months when you may find yourself indoors more often and settling in for earlier evenings. I enjoy choosing a few seasonal books with lots of snowy scenes, cozy vibes, or stories that take place in the wintertime.

~ And regardless of your age, choose some children's books or picture books to enjoy during these months, too. There's nothing as cozy as a really good and beautifully illustrated children's story.

~ Make your home as cozy as possible. I've shared so much about this on my blog, so if you need some inspiration, just have a peek around.

~ Pull out your seasonal mugs and place them in the front of your cupboard so they're easy to grab.

~ And while you're at it, make sure you keep ingredients on hand to make hot chocolate and pull out any seasonal tea blends and flavors. If coffee is your thing, make sure you have things on hand to make your favorite brew.

~ Make a list of recipes and meals that you want to cook for dinner during the colder months. I am never more inspired to cook than when it gets chilly outside and all my favorite things to cook are best during the autumn and winter months.

~ Add a layer to your bed for extra warmth and coziness.

~ Bring out throw blankets to keep on your sofas and chairs so you can easily grab one when you want it.

~ Hang some fairy lights in your home. Add a seasonally scented candle to your home as well. And if you love essential oils like we do, make sure you have warming scents on hand and look up some blends online to try something new.

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That's just some of the ways we prepare for a cozy Christmas and wintertime in our home. I hope it inspired you to do some fun preparation for coziness in your own home. Do let me know some of the ways you enjoy preparing for Christmas and winter!