A Sweet Christmas

hand-carved Santa's by Wylie Worthington

Ahhh... the sweetness of Christmas. This one, for me, is only slightly bitter-sweet. This time last year my Dad was strong and healthy, playing golf three times a week, carving Santas for his kids. In February, he had a massive stroke, which he survived, but it has left him almost completely left-side paralyzed. Short of a miracle, there will be no more carved Santas by my sweet Dad. But I'm lucky that I have a nice collection.
And they remind me of how special he is and how important our time is together.

This is sweet, I think. I decorated my chairs with a little white tulle and burlap rope.
Speaking of sweet- look at my lovely, little Labradoodle- Gurdy. Hasn't she grown? She's a gem of a pet and is learning tricks almost daily. LOVE HER!!
She has made Christmas decorating a little challenging this year, however.

My Christmas tree forest will have to be on the sofa table this year. Gurdy might not recognize that my decorations are NOT her toys- and man, does she love her toys!

 I'm pleased with my dining room chandeleir and it's cascading snowflakes!

This is a cross-stich hand-crafted by my Mom. Tiny little stitches. We moved her to an assisted living place in October of this year. Our family home was dismantled as my Dad is in a full-care facility. They can't be together because there is no facility in their area that has both full-care and assisted care. Precious items were spread among myself, my brothers and all our children. Maybe that's why my decorating reflects a softer side of myself- a little vintage sweetness of family heirlooms, and pretty things to remind me of what is dear. 

 

 

I love this little pillow. I made it myself to sell, but couldn't part with it.

I love little vignettes of collected items set together to tell a story.

I put this together with lighted LED branches in the hopes it would be an arrangements that I can keep through January above my entertainment center.

 

I hope you and yours have a wonderful holiday season. It really is about the goodness of love and family, of giving and sharing. May sweetness spread like raspberry jam on warm toast in your heart this season.