Christmas Comes.....!

What Did Christmas Bring....?


As is so often the case, Dear Readers, whether you are Ready or Not... Christmas comes! And it is sometimes in that un-readiness that we find the greatest gifts! So this Christmas morning, in My un-readiness, I almost didn't have a look around to see what Christmas had brought! But I noticed that the Sun had come for breakfast in the Cloud Palace and Hamish Harry and Lady Lavender were just waiting for the others to join them. Where were the others? Well, it seems that Sweet Pea and Brother Beorn were admiring the newest Plants in the Cloud Palace Garden.....

They have found a Pair of Perfectly Snow-Powdered Pines for their garden!

And they even have Christmas Lights amongst the boughs!

Now they can't wait for the night to come so they can see the glowing lights!

As for Blue and Sir Orion, well, they are so Happy 

all by themselves on top of the Lookout Tower 

that they sometimes Forget to come down at all!

(Love will do that ....)

Since I saw that the Bearys in the Cloud Palace 

were all having a Wonderful Morning, 

I thought I would check in on all the other Little People too...!

It seems that Presents were delivered at the Shabby Sister House....

Even though Chip's parents seem rather worn out with the waiting!

And Sally May is still busily cooking in the kitchen!

(Christmas does bring a Lot of That!)

Annabelle says "Mama, can I have another cookie...?"

(She is still young enough that she doesn't know What to expect!)

And in the Lovely Old Dollhouse.....

There are presents under the Tree.....

Although they are not all there yet to open the gifts...

Helen had forgotten to wrap something, Charles explains.

She'll be down in a minute...

But Helen can't find any wrapping paper left.... 

maybe That was what she forgot to get when shopping! 

She will just have to use the beautiful bag for wrapping.... 

But she had hoped to keep the bag for herself...!

Well, a Gift is a Gift.... she would have to share....

(Christmas Does bring some of that!)

Meanwhile, in the kitchen....

Victor and Joanna were eyeing the pie.....

Wondering if they could have Pie for Breakfast...

even Before the Christmas Dinner!!!

But I think they know that they can only do that 

when they are at their own home!

They will have to wait patiently for the Feast!

(Christmas does bring lots of that!)

There is even a Large present at The Folly.... 

but Will is not sure how it got there!

He has been Pet-sitting for some friends.

"Lassie" reminds him a little too much of a certain other

 curly Red-haired Lassie that he would like to forget...!

(Yes, sometimes Christmas brings that too...)

There are even gifts under the Grand Tree in the Castle Great Hall.....

Even though I have No idea who they are for... 

nor Which era is Holding the Party...

 

And even in the Chapel....

Ages and Ages ago....

Father Alban has spent the Night in a Prayer Vigil.

And with the Dawn of Christmas he has Found a Great Gift....

He has found his Faith....

In the unknown outcomes....

In the process of just Beginning...

He will overcome his fear and vanity!

He will paint again!

He has found his Faith!

(Yes, Christmas brings some of that too!)

And when the Night comes at Last....

And all the Presents have been opened and all the Feasts have been eaten...

Surely, the Lights shining in the Darkness will still bring you Joy!

Yes, Dear Readers, as we All know,

Ready or Not, Christmas comes!

I hope your Christmas has brought you and your Loved ones

Love, Beauty, Peace, Plenty, Charity, Faith and Joy!

Solstice.....

Ready.......  Or Not....!

Like it or Not, Dear Readers, the Christmas Celebration is nearly here, and the hectic pace of attempting to be "Ready" in Time has some of us in a "Tizzy"! And what do you do when you have too much to accomplish in too little Time? Do you go Full Steam Ahead and pull it off in the nick of Time? Or do you declare it an impossible task and give yourself "Permission" to relax and just enjoy whatever happens? Or do you vacillate and Procrastinate until the last possible moment before managing almost everything anyway? I have not yet decided which strategy is mine for this year... which I think only points to the last option! So here I am Procrastinating for a Tiny bit.... because painting the Christmas Card is the chief task I am attempting to complete, and I am Late this year! Again! I cannot show you a preview, so I am going to take you around the dollhouses to see if Anybody else is as late as I am! The Cloud Palace has put up the lovely silver Tinsel Tree again! and this year it has the Added decorations sent by Birgit!

"What decorations...?" I hear you ask. It looks like there are none on the tree! Until you look very closely and then you will see there are Tiny gold "Wishing Stars" all over it! And this year there are several New and Very Glittery Wishing Stars that came with the package from Birgit! I was sure at once that they were meant for the Tinsel Tree in the Cloud Palace! If you look carefully you can see one of them glowing! And this was not the only Tree that was put up this week!

In the Shabby Sister House, Chip has put up

 the other Silver Glitter Tree that Sally May loves!

Her In-laws are not so excited.

I think Sally May is going to want to fix the ornaments...

So many went missing while in storage!

And in the Lovely Old Dollhouse, 

Arthur and Charles have put up the Tree....

The Same old Tree in the Same old place!

They are so pleased when the lights all work as soon as it is plugged in!

 

They wanted to please Helen and Pollyanna 

who have gone shopping for the afternoon.

They found a charming old shop in the newly re-developed "Old Town".

It looked like a Trendy Artist Studio open for seasonal business...

It was rather disorganized and messy inside....

They almost weren't sure it was a shop!

They decided to look at some other shops too...

They could always come beck here on their way home...

Helen didn't want to carry too much as they walked.

There was even more on display as they returned later...

But by then they had their arms full and didn't want to stop again. 

They had found some "Fabulous" deals at another shop nearby...!

Now they were tired and just wanted to get home and put their feet up.

The sun had already set and it was dark by the time they were home.

"Surprise!" declares Charles 

as they return home to find the Tree up and decorated!

Pollyanna tries not to be disappointed, as she loves to put up the tree... 

but it is the season to share these joys too!

"We left the creche for you" says Charles, 

"because we know how much you love to set that up yourself!"

So Pollyanna pulled out all the familiar figures 

and set them up in their accustomed places...

He was right. She did love to put up the creche every year!

It was somehow comforting to see the figures 

in their rightful places year after year!

So while Time is Flying by, Dear Readers, 

I hope you have enjoyed this little Tour of the Tannenbaums 

on this Shortest Day of the Year!

Ready or Not, the Yule Season is here!

Happy Solstice!

The Gift of Happiness.....

Fairy Bearys Go South....

The Time had come, Dear Readers, when the two sister Bearys, Marmalade and Buttercup, were ready to leave the Cloud Palace and travel to their own home way far away in the South. While this might be a moment when Some would feel some Sorrow, the Fairy Bearys did not seem to feel this way at all! They had spent the entire Summer and Autumn with their friends in the Cloud Palace and had enjoyed many Adventures together. They were Happily looking forward to seeing their new Home and meeting new friends when they arrived. There was an air of excitement at the Cloud Palace as the morning dawned and the sun peeked into the Cloud Palace parlor. All the Fairy Bearys were gathered there for a "send-off" breakfast of blueberry pancakes drenched in syrup, and even an assortment of delicate cookies and a blueberry pie! Hamish Harry "Hotcakes" McCloud had outdone himself (with the very Helpful creativity of Elizabeth of Studio E blog!) in preparing this breakfast banquet!

(These treats were all made by the Awesomely talented Elizabeth! Thank you Elizabeth!)

He wanted to be sure that Nobeary would leave the Cloud Palace hungry.... 

especially with such a long journey ahead of them!

And so they enjoyed a Feast to Remember!

But before long the Time had come for leaving.

The Bearys had decided that the best way to Travel 

was the Cherub Cloud Chariot Express....

And they had booked the Early Morning Departure 

on this Perfectly sunny Day!

Buttercup was eager to get started so she hopped on board!

And Marmalade was right behind her!

They waved "good-bye" and blew their kisses....

And the Cherub Cloud Chariot Express floated away from the Cloud Palace....

And while there were Some who Might feel a little pang of sadness.....

the Bearys were not among them! 

They knew that they were heading off on more Great adventures!

 

 

They couldn't wait to get started! 

What a Glorious Day for an Adventure!

Wouldn't you be excited to be Traveling to your New Home?

And all the Fairy Bearys at the Cloud Palace 

are just as excited for their friends!

They know that they will be bringing Happiness wherever they go!

 

Because that is what these Bearys are... 

they are Little Gifts of Happiness!

And speaking of Gifts of Happiness....

I received a surprise package in the mail today!

But seeing who it is from, it is not altogether a Surprise! 

Because Birgit is one of those friends who 

Spreads Happiness with everything she does!

She sent me her Christmas Gift package......

with a Calendar and Advent wreath and tiny wooden decoration!

Thank you, Birgit!!!

But it is the Fairy Bearys that spring from her Needle (and her heart!)

that are Truly Little Gifts of Happiness!

 

And in case you had wondered 

about Marmalade and Buttercup,

 they have arrived safely at my Sister's home 

where she reports that they have filled Hope Cottage 

with sunshine and Happiness and their smiles alone warmed the tea!

So you see, Dear Readers,

The Fairy Bearys have gone South,

But they took with them The Gift of Happiness!

 

Christmas Is Coming......

Leftovers......

Believe it or Not, Dear Readers, I have had No time for making minis in Weeks and weeks and weeks, and I am starting to feel a little desperate! There are so many projects partly done and even more waiting "in the wings" and I have Nothing new to show you in my Mini Worlds! Real Life has been a bit demanding of my Time and I feel as though I have accomplished Nothing! And with Christmas only a few weeks away, I am once again, Late to start working on drawing my annual Christmas card.... and it will absorb all of my spare time for the next few weeks. But All is not lost! As I was helping the Little People clean up after Thanksgiving, I noticed that there were more than a few "Leftovers" scattered throughout the various Houses! And I am not referring to the leftover pie that made it safely back to the Lovely Old Dollhouse! I happened to notice several Christmas decorations already in place on the mantle.... still Left Over from last Christmas!

Did you spot them? 

I assure you, this is Not because we are Ahead of the Game!

(Even the clock has stopped and needs a new battery!)

So I decided to see if there were any other "Leftovers" from Last Christmas....

Helen and Pollyanna are discussing plans for some Holiday shopping...

And Arthur and Charles are explaining how they have other plans 

for those exact times and couldn't possibly join them in shopping....

I didn't want to interrupt and was going to tiptoe away

 when I spotted a small Leftover piece of Christmas.....

Did you spot it?

There is a little lace Heart ornament that had fallen off the tree 

and was overlooked when all the ornaments were put away! 

It always seems that there is one Leftover....

And then I thought to look in the other Houses 

to see if there was any Christmas still there.

I glanced in the Castle Great Hall and spotted it at once!

The Wreath over the mantle was the most obvious, 

and had been there until just before the Halloween party...

But there was another little Treasure that had been there all year!

Did you Spot it?

This Beautiful Leaping Reindeer was given to me by Birgit....

Amongst So Many other Treasures.... 

and this fellow somehow eluded the post Christmas clean-up!

I was now eagerly looking into all the Houses to see what I could find!

A quick glance into The Folly kitchen had me thinking there was nothing there.

 But then I looked again.....

Did you spot them?

Two Christmas themed coffee Mugs 

were left hanging over the cupboard!

And upstairs, I glanced into the Book Nook.....

Aha! Christmas books!

Can you see them?

 

 

 'A Christmas Carol' by Dickens is on the top of the shelf

along with a copy of  'The Night Before Christmas' by Clement Moore.

 

Surely this was not all... 

I should check in the Shabby Sister House too! 

A quick glance into the bedroom.....

Is that another copy of 'The Night Before Christmas'?

Has it really been there All year?

And in the kitchen where Sally May and Annabelle 

love to spend time cooking.... 

(Yes, we were here just last week... but did you spot them...?)

 

Those are Christmas cookie cutters that never got put away!

And a pan of gingerbread men cooling on top of the fridge.....

And the Tea Cozy stitched by Rosanna.... 

with the Christmas Elf shoe design!

Surely, that will never get put away!

Well, Dear Readers, I hope you haven't minded 

this dose of Holiday Left-overs!

Christmas is coming, and I just might be so Far Behind....

That I am Already ahead of myself!