come by the hills...st. patrick's day ramblings

Hello, lovely friends!

What a splendid almost-spring day it is to be celebrating St. Patrick's Day. 

In our home, this is always a day marked with fun, good food and happy memories. Fun...listening to favorite Irish music and wearing green and enjoying a delightful celebration. Good food...preparing a traditional Irish meal of Irish stew and soda bread and a scrumptious tea cake for dessert. Happy memories...this day always makes me remember our two holidays in Ireland, just over five years ago now. 

As I write this post, a most delicious Irish tea cake is sitting on the countertop cooling, awaiting the time for us to slice it and serve it with some freshly whipped cream and sliced strawberries. Our dinner is always authentic and traditional and reminiscent of the meals we ate and saw on menus at the pubs whilst travelling through the gorgeous countryside of Ireland. Irish stew simmering on the stove and finishing off in the oven. And a loaf of fresh and warm, home-baked soda bread, something we ate way too much of during our time abroad. And of course, no St. Paddy's Day would be complete in our house unless we played some of our favorite Irish music. Most definitely The High Kings or Cuig...both groups some of our favorites to see live in concert, too.

And I love just how much St. Patrick's Day seems to gracefully and gently usher in springtime. It is this holiday that feels like the start of spring to me. On this day, when wearing green is the tradition, it seems as though the earth gets the message too...bits of grass popping up here and there, tiny leaves pushing through on the branches of trees, and green shoots coming up through the hardened dirt with promises of daffodils in the coming days. Yes, St. Patrick's Day is a marvellous way to welcome in spring.

Come by the hills to the land where fancy is free

And stand where the peaks meet the sky and the loughs meet the sea

Where the rivers run clear and the bracken is gold in the sun

And the cares of tomorrow can wait till this day is done

Come by the hills to the land where life is a song

And stand where the birds fill the air with their joy all day long

Where the trees sway in time and even the wind sings in tune

And the cares of tomorrow can wait till this day is done

Come by the hills to the land where legend remains

The stories of old fill our hearts and may yet come again

Where the past has been lost and the future is still to be won

And the cares of tomorrow can wait till this day is done

Wherever you are in this grand world, I hope you are safe and well. Despite the troubling news and heartache that is taking place every day, I know it can feel like darkness is taking over. I hope that days like today can remind us that celebrating even small things and holidays and occasions is important. We need to remind ourselves each day that goodness is alive and beauty is real and that there is hope. Even with all the bad and evil, there is still goodness and beauty. 

Springtime is also a reminder of that.

May green be the grass you walk on,

may blue be the skies above you,

may pure be the joys that surround you,

may true be the hearts that love you.

·An Old Irish Blessing·

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Happy St. Patrick's Day, dear friends! 

May your day be filled with beauty, 

even in all the nooks and crannies...

♥ ♥ ♥

winter's domestic reveries...

Good morning, dear reader friends!

How fast mid-March has arrived! Just as soon as I thought we were welcoming spring, we got a blanket of snow over the weekend. Even though it was less than six inches, it was the first and only proper snow we've gotten this year. (We did have a few ice storms, though.) The snow began falling on Friday evening as we were preparing dinner and just as soon as we finished eating, we bundled up in our warmest scarves and hats and put on weather-proof boots and giddily marched outdoors to walk in the winter wonderland a bit. The wind was freezing and making the snow fall directly in your face as you walked ahead, so we looked like oddballs walking sideways in the driveway to avoid the arctic blast attacking our faces. But it was most glorious! My snow-loving heart was happy as can be as we pranced around the garden in childlike delight at the white powdery goodness falling from the sky creating a magical snowglobe around us. Saturday was spent cozied up inside with warm foods and British mysteries on TV. What could be more perfect for a late winter weekend?

Spring is just around the corner, though. Just a week ago, we had our first daffodil of the season making its grand debut, along with a few teeny tiny grape hyacinths. I noticed that a couple days later, there were green shoots poking through the earth, which meant more daffodils were on the way. Of course, with the snowfall, I don't know if they will bloom as normal this year...the next few days will tell. We have had late snowfalls before, once even in mid-April, which is unheard of in my corner of the world. But it was nearly fifteen years ago, so I forget how the plants and flowers responded. Either way, flowers are soon to be blooming and trees will soon be green again. Spring is on the way.

Before an official welcome to spring, though, I wanted to share just a handful of the domestic delights that have made this winter fun and delightful. The above photo is the view we enjoy every evening in our living room. Our window in this room looks out into our sunroom, so we don't have to worry about privacy, which means no blinds or shades are needed. And that means we can just decorate it however we want. Wintertime means fairy lights and lots of them...I really don't think you can have too many of them. Add a few paper stars (that I made last year) and some colorful paper ornaments that my sister made and it makes the most whimsical wintertime window.

One of my "little dreams" that I wanted to try out this year was pie decorating. I have seen gorgeous designs in magazines and online and such, so I decided to start simple. So on a very cold January night, right around the full moon, I decided a "Winter's Night" design was most suitable...I made a from-scratch all-butter flaky pie crust which tasted like heaven and for the filling, it was a comforting and warm chicken pot pie...our very favorite. Cookie cutters were my little helpers in this design and I did hand-braid a small piece of dough, which I think turned out rather cute. A snowman, two gingerbread friends, a moon and stars...the perfect "Winter's Night" pot pie...and it was delicious and comforting, too! Now I am even more excited to try new designs and techniques!

Winter is not a season, it is a celebration.

~ Anamika Mishra ~

Back around Christmas, my mom bought a couple extra containers of mascarpone cheese that were on sale. I usually turn to my go-to recipe when it comes to mascarpone cheese which is our favorite Hot Chocolate Tiramisu, but this time, we wanted to try something different. And have a bit of fun experimenting, too! I searched online and found the most scrumptious looking tart and when I made it, we were absolutely in heaven. It was blissful...chocolately and yummy! And it made me happy to add another tried-and-true recipe to my collection.

What is your favorite way to use mascarpone cheese? 

Shut the door;

not that is lets in the cold~

But that it lets

out the coziness.

~ Mark Twain ~

Last winter my sister had seen people online wearing scarves with a loop on one end for the other end to go through. She really admired them and asked me to try making one each for my mom, her and me, and after just a little bit of research online, I knew exactly what to do. The actual method was simple and not complicated or confusing at all, so the project went rather fast. After I completed our scarves, we got the idea to make a few for our furry kitty babies. And of course, as cats are, not everyone was so cooperative with modeling the scarves for me. But our Orla (above), Noelle (middle picture), and Duncan (third picture) were patient with me as I waved toys in the air and crinkled paper to get their attention for this mini-photoshoot. And we just giggled as we watched because they were just so darn cute...{{heart eyes}}

Nothing makes a house cozier than cats. And nothing looks so comfortable as a cat.

~ Gladys Taber ~

Books. Cats. Life is good.

~ Edward Gorey ~

This winter was a delightful one...I ventured into a few different projects, both crafty ones and others in the kitchen. Our days were enjoyable and sweet and our nights were gentle and homey. Coziness all around. Just how wintertime should be. Along with these domestic delights, I also read quite a bit and came across a couple new-to-me shows that have been making my evenings oh-so-fun. I plan on sharing a post about those things very soon...

I do hope your winter was every bit as splendid as mine and that you are looking forward to welcoming spring and all her beauty. May your week be lovely in every way, sweet readers, and may your find nuggets of beauty in your ordinary moments...be aware and notice these sweet gifts, for they are everywhere if we open our eyes and hearts to them. ♥

What domestic delights filled your winter, dear ones? I'd love to hear from you...as always, you are warmly invited to share.

Stay cozy and be well...

present thoughts...and a beautiful quote, too ♥

My heart got to aching for all the sad people all over the world. I wanted so terribly to share the color and the peace and the serene fall of evening and the clean cold air coming up from the water. And I wanted families together, going quietly home at night. This, I thought, is what we must have in this world again, somehow. Not power and glory, not magnificence. Only freedom for folk to work and be at peace in their own lands.

~ Gladys Taber ~

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Friends, it is without a doubt that you are well aware of the state of our world. These last two, going on three, years have been hard, difficult, trying and heavy. And that's putting it quite lightly. From the pandemic to elections and political turmoil to the onset of war and fighting in lands across the globe. It all seems too much, doesn't it? 

These last couple of years have felt like a lot, and over the past few months, I think it's all sort of caught up with me. I've shared before that I am someone who "feels" everything, and well, I've been feeling a lot recently. You may have noticed that blog posts have been few and far between. I just can't quite muster up the emotional and mental energy it takes to write even a simple post these days. My heart is simply aching for people who are having to flee their homeland and leave their lives behind, for those who are literally fearful for their next hours, as well as feeling heavy due to all I see going on in my own country.

Gladys Taber has become quite a kindred spirit to me over the last wee while. Her writing feels like that of a true bosom friend and is a comfort in these present days in which our country and the world as a whole are up in turmoil. I came across the above quote a few weeks ago in one of her books that I am reading...and savouring. Immediately, I felt it was written for such a time as this, though in reality, she wrote it in the 1940s, right around the time of the Second World War. I have so many thoughts to share on her writings and books and such and I do hope to so do soonish. 

Blogging is just a bit slow now simply because everything feels heavy. I've been pondering what kind of space I want this to be, especially in such heavy times. And it becomes clearer to me that I want this corner to be a space of lifegiving beauty and delight...not that I've ever really wanted anything different. But as much as I want to give that to you kind folks who visit me here, I have to feel that in myself too, and a lot of times I just feel too much of the heaviness of the world. I have so much I wish to share with you along the lines of beauty and delight, so please be patient with me as I do so as it feels right for me.

I do hope you all are keeping well and cozy, wherever you are in this world...and keeping safe, too. 

I will be back to share here again very soon...ish. 

Thank you for always visiting my Inglenook...

If you want, you are always more than welcome to write to me. Just simply send me a note using the form on the side of my blog. I love hearing from you and what beauty and delight are filling your days. Don't hesitate...your correspondence is always welcome!

May your day be lovely and peace-filled, 

and may you find little tokens of beauty and goodness,

even in hidden corners.

Bless you, dear ones...

♥

 

to be happy...

"Happiness is not a thing you can cut off by the yard or measure in chunks. It is a matter of moments when you suddenly know that this moment is special. A few such moments are enough for a long time. The trouble with most of us, it seems to me, is that we chase happiness so hard that when we find it, we have already rushed on looking for more. The truly happy person is one who realizes the happiness of that moment, or that hour.

To be happy, one must be aware."

~ Gladys Taber ~

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A few of my personal little happiness here lately...

 ♥ finishing a small knitting project that resulted in three delightfully warm and cozy...and cute, too, I might add...scarves for my mom, sister and me

♥ further, an unexpected but fun project of knitting our kitties scarves, too...and gushing over their adorableness when they wore them

♥ watching the Olympics and seeing the athletes we were rooting for win gold

♥ admiring the icy branches of our trees during the ice storm last week...and breathing in that invigorating wintry air whilst we dragged the huge branches that crashed to the ground to the street

♥ simply enjoying time before bed in my room, fairy lights twinkling, candle flickering, blanket to curl up in and a good book to savour

♥ wearing the most ridiculously comfortable and warm socks...with sweet designs on them, no less {{smiles}}

♥ cooking dinner whilst listening to the Call the Midwife soundtrack...few things come close to perfection for me like this

♥ seeing a tidy room after finally putting away my Christmas decorations

♥ discovering the writing of an author that truly feels like a kindred spirit

♥ playing the card game, War, with my mom and sister in between baking a scrumptious dessert

♥ practicing pie crust art, something I want to explore more of this year, just because

♥ and finally, seeing baby deer in a field on the way home last night.

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What are some of your small happinesses, dear ones?

 

dream a little dream

We need time to dream, time to remember,

and time to reach the infinite.

Time to be.

~ Gladys Taber ~

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A cheery good morning to you, my dear reader friends, on this very cold late January day. Oh, how good it is to be back in this corner sharing with you...I do hope you have enjoyed a slow, peaceful, beautiful start to this new year. 

In my corner of the world, we have already seen three mini-snowfalls, mostly just ground coverings, but any bit of white goodness from the sky, I will happily accept and celebrate. Our days have been a mixture of bright and sunny and others grey and rainy, sometimes even stormy. The temperatures were unseasonably warm until just a couple weeks ago, and now we are absolutely delighting in the true, proper weather that January should bring. 'Tis the season of thick socks, fleece-lined leggings, boots and warm sweaters. Yes, please!

As I sit here in my comfy chair, a single candle flickering beside me and fairy lights twinkling above my window, our little golden tabby nudging her way into my lap for some cuddles and attention, I am reminded of just how simple happiness really is. How simple beauty and goodness and delight are. And how simple dreams are sometimes the best ones there are.

 

Every person breathing on this earth has dreams...or they should. Sometimes we get caught up in the big dreams. The ones that flash in neon lights or which garner attention from the masses. Those are the ones we read about in the magazines and see on the television screens. And too often, they are the only ones that get praised and seen as accomplishments. But I truly, deeply believe that small dreams are important too. 

Truth be told, I've never been one to dream those huge, neon light type dreams. I do have some bigger dreams that I keep close to my heart and only those dearest to me know about. But for the most part, my dreams are quite simple and small to most folks. To me, though, they are the world. 

C.S. Lewis once said You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream. And that is the most certain truth! There are little corners in our hearts and souls that we often hide from view because we feel like they are too small, too ordinary, too simple to mean anything. Those are our hidden places. They are our soul's whispering to us and our heart's gentle nudging towards the paths we are destined to take.

Small dreams, simple or ordinary as they may seem, are no less dreams. And I think we would all do well to listen to our hearts a bit more, follow our soul's leading more confidently and delight in those dreams and in making them come true.

I will tell you about a few of my "small dreams"...

Last spring, on a warm and sunny day, I saw a dream twelve years in the making come true. Baking bread from scratch at home has been my dream since I was a teenager. I'd tried so many recipes I'd lost count and none were all that great to really wow us. We would try a recipe, have our hopes up and then it would be too dense or too squishy when sliced or end up almost a literal brick. And then we'd just end up buying storebought bread again. Then one day last year, I saw a lovely couple on Instagram sharing about their newest venture into baking bread from scratch for themselves each week. Their bread looked soft and airy, not at all dense and their slices looked perfect. I quickly printed out the recipe they shared and lo and behold, a dream had come true. Almost a year later, that bread is still our go-to and a double batch gets baked every other week here in our home. 

Another "small dream" of mine was sewing curtains for my bedroom window. I had a distinct style and color scheme I wanted, and the vision was as clear as ever in my mind. I knew that I probably wouldn't find anything like it in the shops...and I was correct. So two summers ago, a project that lasted about a week, ended up in the most gorgeous curtains I could have dreamed of. They are a patchwork design with lots of happy, cheery colors and floral or polka dot patterns. Every time I see them, I still smile because they are a dream come true.

And finally, just a few weeks ago another "small dream" of mine came true when I surpassed my reading goal for the year. Not only did I surpass the number of books I had hoped to read in 2021, but I met a new record in the number of books I've ever read in one year. To many this may not seem like that big of a deal...none of these things probably do, but to me, this was a grand achievement. I had struggled with reading for a number of years and didn't think I would ever find the delight that I once had in this pastime, but happily, I was wrong. And on top of that, I came across some really wonderful authors and awesome books last year, too!

I need to be reminded, quite often in fact, that any dream is a meaningful, important, worth-following dream. Sometimes I get caught up in my bigger dreams not having come true yet that I miss out on these sweet moments right before me. While it's good to keep dreaming those bigger dreams, chasing them as much as is in our control, and trusting fate and destiny with the rest, it's incredibly crucial to live right now. Today. In the present. Those things will come along in their perfect time and way, but these smaller dreams are just as good and worth celebrating. It's important to not only pursue these smaller dreams but to also continuously dream new dreams, too. I think these past couple years have really drained a lot of us of that dreaming aspect of our lives, but it's time we claim it back. Set some new dreams in place. Listen to that voice inside and see where it leads us. No dream is too small or ordinary or simple if it brings us happiness, peace, delight, beauty, magic or a smile to our days and lives. And honestly, I need to be reminded of this a whole lot. I've been wiped out of any dreaming these past couple years and have felt like a desert in my heart and soul and imagination. But it's time for the waterfalls of imagination to flow freely and the winds of magical dreaming to blow wildly again.

Friends, please take my personal stories and small-dreams-coming-true as an encouragement to pursue those small dreams of your heart. Maybe it's growing a simple tomato plant or rose bush in the garden. Maybe it's learning to bake a specific sort of bread or cake at home from scratch. Maybe it's trying out a new handicraft or expanding your skills in a craft you already enjoy. Maybe it's going for an afternoon walk each day. Perhaps it's dying your hair a fun color just for something different or getting your ears pierced. That was a dream I had since I was eight years old and finally it came true when I was 22...once I got over completely psyching myself out over the fear of it! Maybe you dream of painting your mailbox or front door a cheerful color and not care what the neighbors think. Maybe it's the dream of dressing in clothes that feel like you, with no attention to the trends or what others may say. Maybe...

Whatever your dreams are, even if they seem small, ordinary, or simple, listen to your soul's whisper and follow your heart's gentle leading towards these things...we were meant for happiness and delight and wonder and beauty and goodness. We were meant to dream and to follow those dreams.

Even if they are "small".

Because I highly doubt they feel small to you.

And so as a new year is just beginning, may this be a year of following those small dreams and pursuing happiness even if it's in ordinary and simple things. I've found that's where true happiness lies anyway.

May your day be a magical one, dear friends! Stay cozy and be well...

Until next time!

♥

If you desire to share your own heart, I'd love to hear about some of your own small dreams...ones that are growing in your heart at the moment or ones that have already come true. I think sharing stories and experiences is one of the best ways to encourage dreaming in one another, so I invite you to share your heart here. You're more than welcome in this space!

tidings of comfort and joy ♥ merry christmas, friends

May you be blessed with the spirit of the season,

which is peace,

the gladness of the season, 

which is hope,

and the heart of the season,

which is love.

~ An Irish Christmas Blessing ~

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Dearest friends,

Happy Winter Solstice to you! Oh, I am so delighted that winter is finally here...now I can officially begin wishing and dreaming of snow! Last winter, we got the most magical snow and my heart is longing for the world outside my window to be blanketed in white and to be surrounded by the stillness and quietness that only snowfall can bring.

But first...Christmas.

Christmas is nearly here now...the last preparations are underway. Last night my sister and I finished wrapping our parents' gifts and they are now safely tucked under the tree. Oh, the tree! How marvellous it does look!! We didn't add all of our ornaments this year because lots of them are very old and fragile and we didn't want to risk them falling on the hard floor and breaking. But my sister spent days and days and lots of hours making honeycomb paper ornaments, all in a variety of colors, some pastel and some bright, and so our tree is full of beauty now. Complete with a plaid bow on top.

We spent a night out over the weekend driving around town admiring all the lights and decorations. And we've been baking bit by bit over the last week, with just a couple last things to tick off our list. The turkey is in the fridge waiting for Christmas Day dinner. Everything is feeling rather festive and cheery. 

And so, I am stepping away from my cozy corner here for a wee bit to enjoy a homey Christmas with my dearest ones. 

Before I sign off for this year, I want to make sure you all know how grateful I am for every single one of you who visits my cozy corner...my Inglenook. This year, I stepped away from social media and haven't looked back once. I'm slowly getting back into the rhythm of blogging regularly and it has been such a delight to rediscover. Your comments, messages, emails and just you stopping by for a visit to read my posts means so much to me. So many of you are kindred spirits who share a love and heart for the same things that I do and that gladdens me immensely. So thank you...seriously. I look forward to returning in the new year with new posts and other fun things to share with you all.

So, my dear reader friends...I wish you and your families the most splendid of Christmases, filled with lots of feasting, laughter, music and movies and good books, candlelight dinners and twinkling Christmas trees, lots of cookies and a visit from dear ol' Santa, plenty of rest and relaxation and even more fun, and most of all...being surrounded by those you hold dear. May your holiday be magical and sparkly and full of wonder. 

May you never be too grown up to search the skies on Christmas Eve. . . . .

You never know when you may hear sleigh bells and see a red-nosed reindeer in the distant sky...

believe in the magic of Christmas.

Until next year, I send you tidings of comfort and joy,

and wishes for a most wonderful Christmas,

and the happiest new year!

With a grateful heart,

Elizabeth

♥

cozy december novels ♥ my list of favorites

Hello, dear readers!

I am back...a little later than originally planned...with a bookish post for December. Reading Christmas stories are one of the best ways to spend December and I have a handful that I'd love to share with you today.

Before we begin, though, I want to lay out a few things...

I am admittedly a very picky person when it comes to Christmas novels and such. You see, I learned this even more just recently. In late November I began what I had thought was going to be about five weeks full of Christmas stories and novels and fun. I had every intention of reading every book in a quite large stack that I had pulled from my collection...Christmas stories of all sorts. And I was so looking forward to this and ever so excited to begin. I had ordered two new novels for this festive reading marathon and it literally took everything I had not to crack them open at the start of November and just dive in.

But I did end up holding off until the week of Thanksgiving, which is typically when I begin tip-toeing into Christmas celebrations. And those two books were awesome! They were exactly what I love in a Christmas novel and everything I had hoped they would be. Then...

I began another Christmas novel, and it just didn't cut it for me. The writing was horrendous and it felt as though you were walking right into the middle of a story when in fact the book was just beginning. So I began another, and it was the most depressing thing I'd read in a long time. On to another...this time the story just didn't vibe with me. It wasn't bad or depressing or anything like that, but I just couldn't get into it. None felt particularly cozy or Christmasy or how I feel a festive novel should be. And I do NOT like depressing, heavy, dark stories any time of the year, but especially at Christmas when it's supposed to be cheery and fun and magical. So I fell into a bit of a reading slump. My December reading dreams were crushed and it honestly put me into a sort of a funk.

I have since picked up a delightful cozy novel...not 100% Christmas, but definitely, 100% cozy and my cup of tea and I have also picked up a couple new-to-me Christmas novels that I'm cautiously trying out. I learned that finding a Christmas book with a good story that is well-written with light, funny, quirky characters and moments, that feels, truly feels like Christmas is actually a hard thing to do. Who would have thought?!?!

With that said, these books I'm sharing here today are on my list of favorite cozy December Christmasy reads and they are exactly what I just described...perfectly festive and delightful and magical and cozy. None of that other junk that I ran into earlier this month.

Rambling aside, let's get started!

A Match Made at Christmas ♥ A Cross-Country Christmas 

by Courtney Walsh

Let me begin with the two new Christmas books that I purchased this autumn. This is what got me so excited for Christmas reading...these two books right here. Both by Courtney Walsh and both utterly festive and just plain fun.

Both of these books had a similar feel and yet the stories were different so it didn't feel like I was reading the same thing twice. They are two totally separate stories with no relation to each other whatsoever. Courtney Walsh writes romantic stories with a wonderful sense of place. You feel like you are in one of her books when you read them. I've read one other book by her before and I do notice, at least with these three, that all her characters tend to be sort of the same type. Her male characters are definitely stereotypical and I personally don't care for that. That's not exactly what I'm into and it honestly gets old reading only about male characters described as so stereotypical. And her female characters are a little more sarcastic and mouthy than I prefer and all her characters tend to fall into the trendy category. So as far as characters go, hers aren't my favorite. I find it really hard to relate to them, and I find that I prefer stories with characters that I can see myself in.

 But as for place and story, she is great! These books both felt so Christmasy and festive and like you sort of walked into a Hallmark movie...the older ones when they were actually good. And they were light and fun stories with quirky, hilarious moments tucked in here and there. They had sweet romance, sentimental and heartwarming moments and just made you feel warm and Christmasy inside. So I'd definitely give these a winning recommendation!

 

Finding Father Christmas ♥ Engaging Father Christmas ♥ Kissing Father Christmas 

by Robin Jones Gunn

These next three stories are a trilogy and should definitely be read in order, in my opinion. They have that cozy Christmasy feel that I think is a must for this sort of book. And being set in a quaint English village complete with a charming tea room is just the cherry on top. My favorite kinds of stories, particularly this time of year, but honestly all the time, are the kind of stories that make you want to curl up with a cup of something warm and comforting, perhaps with the fire lit or candles flickering, cuddled under a thick blanket and just live in the story for a while. These are exactly those kinds of stories, so definitely highly recommended. But again, do read them in order.

And yes, these books were made into Hallmark Christmas movies. I haven't seen all three but the first two that I have seen I did actually quite enjoy. I'm not too keen on the actor and actress they cast for the main roles and there were some changes here and there, but overall, they were fun movies and did show a good bit of the book's content.

Christmas at Fairacre by Miss Read

Miss Read became a favorite of mine this past autumn when I finally read the first of her Fairacre novels. I had tasted just a bit of her writing a few years back when I read the first story in this Christmas collection of hers entitled Christmas at Fairacre. But this autumn just sealed the deal...now I must get my hands on all the Miss Read books I can. Her writing is the cozy, gentle, comforting type that whisks you away to a quaint little English village where you meet some delightful characters each truly celebrated for their special uniquenesses and qualities. She does that all while settling you down right where you are, causing you to become ever more aware of the beauty right before your eyes. Her Christmas stories are no different. She is a one-of-a-kind writer in my opinion and truly shouldn't be missed. Her stories will make you smile and warm your heart to overflowing...and this Christmas collection is no different.

Shepherds Abiding by Jan Karon

This was the most heartwarming, charming story that one could read at Christmastime. Truly, I was entirely engrossed in the story and my heart grew attached to the loving characters of Mitford. The story is one that will bring warmth to your heart and remind you of both the magic of the season and what is the true celebration of this time of year...the love of family, close friends and community, and home are vividly painted throughout this book as well. Though this book is part of a series, I read it as a stand-alone, and you most certainly can too. But, I'll bet you'll want to read the others in the series once you finish this Christmas story. Just as I do. Why not spend your December in Mitford? 

There you have it, my friends! I had intended on having so many more books to share, but alas, I did run into a dead-end with some real duds this month. Because I had such a hard time with Christmas books this month, I'm hoping the ones I'm reading now are enjoyable. And hopefully, I'll avoid meeting any more duds in the future. 

I would love to know what types of Christmas books you enjoy and what titles are filling your baskets and bedside tables this month, so do feel free to share below!

Until next time, happy and cheery reading to you!

♥