'Tis The Season...

 

To Procrastinate....

As Some of you might be aware, Dear Readers, there is a Large Task looming in my RL that always consumes a great deal of my focus at this time of year. I am referring to the Annual Christmas Card Drawing which I have managed to make every year for... um... this will be the fortieth year! And being fond of little things with lots of detail... I make an elaborate drawing that summarizes some of the high points of the year. It takes hours and hours over days and weeks... but I LOVE to draw and once it gets going it consumes all my creative focus. I like nothing better than to be able to sit at my drawing table hour after hour adding tiny details...... But, it is not always easy to get the current year organized into a workable idea.... and therefore... procrastination sets in while I dither about possibilities...! And while procrastinating last weekend, I decided to get into the Spirit by putting up all my Christmas Trees! So you can see the Tree has been put up in The Lovely Old Dollhouse, even earlier than usual! Charles is quite pleased with the Tree and Helen agrees that it must be the most beautiful one ever!

 Yes, it is the same tree as always, with nothing new added...!

And over in The Castle, the big tree has been brought in

 and all the candles are lit even though it is not yet night.

 

And because I am also putting up my RL Trees,

 I need to move some of the dollhouses to the Holiday Locations.

The Cloud Palace is once again sitting at my elbow

 while I am stitching my embroidery projects... 

and Blue has even decided that the Christmas Tree Skirt

 I stitched a couple of years ago belongs in the Cloud Palace!

(Well, of Course! )

 

With the Silver Tinsel Tree and the Wishing Stars...

Here you can see a closeup.... 

(I still have to add the "cloud-puff" edging to the skirt!)

And Sally May has the "Same Old Tree" in the same old spot....

So many new things she wanted to try this year...

 but there just hasn't been time!

Her in-laws, Ernie and Blanche 

seem to have gotten used to this tree...

 (it is not at all their idea of a "proper" New England Tree!)

Even Hardwick Hall has a small tree... 

although the lights have not been added, 

and the Hall has been moved to the inaccessible spot for the Holidays...

 to make room for the RL Tree to be put up in my Livingroom.

 

And because I am Procrastinating, Dear Readers,

 there is even a New Little Tree on the block!

 

The idea has been brewing since the beginning of this Project... 

but the particulars are turning out to be whatever I had in my stash....

A Sparkling green bottlebrush Tree in medium size 

With a string of clear mini lights wound around and around.... 

it is impossible to get a good spacing of the lights this way....

 but I am going to call that part of the Charm of this little tree!

So where does it belong....???

In the Dollmaker's Studio... 

also known as Sugarplum Studio!

Can you even see in there.....?

(Halleluliah, the plug outlet works!)

Here, I have turned on some of the other lights...

I know.... it needs to be decorated..... 

hung with gingerbread and little dollies...

 

And do you even remember the Teeny-Tiny

 little version of  The Secret Christmas House?

 

Well... I hate to admit it... 

but that full-size (144th scale) Secret Christmas House

 still has not been completed...!

There are several unfinished steps and pieces I need to add.

Will I get to them This year....?

 Well, you never know, Dear Readers,

 because it is the Season

 for Procrastination in  my House!

Little Light(s).......

Another Gift....

This Will have to be a short post, Dear Readers, because I am running so far behind on my Other Seasonal Obligations...(otherwise known as The Christmas Card).... that it will certainly not get finished by Christmas at the rate I am going! But as we approach the Winter Solstice and the Darkest time of the year, I find myself Needing the beautiful lights of the Christmas Trees! I admit to feeling endlessly behind on my Dreams of Wonderful miniature Holiday scenes all decked out in tiny perfection, and believe that "someday" I will have the Time to make my wishes come true. But meanwhile I simply hurry around at the last minute setting up the little Tree in the Lovely Old Dollhouse... the same old tree in the same old corner of the Living Room! And yet.... when I plug in the lights and that mini tree shines with its own tiny colored lights... I am enchanted all over again!

 There is just something intensely special for me

 in seeing the Little Tree lit with tiny Little Christmas lights!!

I have not added any new ornaments in a while.... 

and all the ones on the tree were purchased years and years ago...

 back when I was still hiding these treasures

 in a closet waiting for "Someday" to arrive!

I know you can't really see them here

 because there is so Little light.... 

I will have to pull the tree out Someday 

and show you the real balls and glass birds

 and snowflakes and the brass pieces too!

And with the passing of the years,

 they somehow grow more and more special to me!

So I wanted to share them with you!

And I also wanted to show you, Dear Readers,

 the Wonderful Gift I received

 from Jodi of "My Miniature Madness" blog....

 

She sent me one of her Beautiful little chairs....

With all the little Tea Treasures that she made to go with it!

(I Adore Tea... and flowers.... and books and.... and...!)

I haven't decided where it will "end up" in my mini Worlds....

 but meanwhile it is beside me as I work at my Drawing Table!

Thank You Jodi!!! 

It is such a special Treasure and I absolutely Love it!!! 

And Lest you think that I have neglected my Lilac Blossom Program....

Here is Blossom number Thirty-seven completed!

And with the ever growing assortment in the blossom box!

 

 

 

But really, Dear Readers, 

it is those Little Lights.....

In this Season of little Light...

That bring me an endless gift of Joy!

Dreaming Of A White Christmas....

Let It Snow....!

It has Snowed quite a bit in my Neighborhood, Dear Readers, piling up 5 inches last Monday and 8 more on Saturday. I didn't need to go anywhere on Saturday, which made it fun to watch the white stuff pile up in the yard! Above you can see my RL back yard... through my dirty windows... because I had no desire to venture out in the cold (18 degrees F) having spent Friday working in a VERY cold Office because our heat system had failed. Last year we had a very mild winter with almost no snow at all... it seems we are off on the other foot this year with  much more normal wintry weather! So while I was home and watching the snow fall outside, and was trying to get some work done on my Christmas Card, I thought I would see whether snow was arriving anywhere else in the neighborhood...

Lo and Behold.... not far away....

 practically right at my elbow.... 

a gentle snow had fallen...!

I glanced over my shoulder,

 and saw that Hardwick Hall was piled high.....

Somebody would need to shovel all those steps.....!

And around the corner.... 

at the Conservatory.... it was even deeper!

Fortunately, someone had thought to move 

the Secret Christmas House indoors!

But nobody was around.... 

the walks were not shoveled....

It was getting dark and felt like 

maybe it would even snow some more.....!

And over at The Folly.... 

someone had left a light on in the Little Glass House....

it was nearly dark now!

The lights cast beautiful shadows on the glittering snow....!

But even when the lights are turned off.... 

there is a beautiful brilliance to snow at night....!

 

Especially with the added glow of Christmas Lights

Here at dusk in my RL Garden!

 

Well, Dear Readers, I really am 

trying to work on my Christmas Card! 

It will not be done on time this year, 

but I am finally making some good progress, 

so rest assured there WILL be a Christmas Card!

And while I am drawing, 

I will be Dreaming.....

And it looks like we will have a White Christmas!

Let It Snow!