Forcing Holiday Cheer

It can be so tough to get in the holiday spirit some years, am I right? Just because the calendar says it's Christmas time doesn't mean it feels like it....so what's a person to do?

We're one week from Christmas and I'm not ready.

I'M NOT READY!!

I haven't wrapped a single gift. For that matter - I still have gifts to buy. 

The weather has been unseasonably warm, there's not a snowflake to be seen. It doesn't feel one bit like Christmas. 

I don't even know what I'm making for Christmas dinner.

I haven't baked even one cookie. Not one. 

Via

The weeks just fly by, there aren't enough hours in the day, and I can't catch up. 

Can anyone say STRESSED??

This weekend I need to catch up so I can enjoy the remainder of the holiday season. What's left of it. 

I'm pulling out all the stops right now. The big guns. It's time.

Here's my plan. 

Saturday morning I'll make my usual weekend morning cappuccino....with a good sprinkle of cinnamon. 

And a hearty weekend breakfast. 

And I'll get to work. 

My favorite Christmas CD will go on. 

Sarah McLachlan - Wintersong

My most loved song on the whole cd? Right here. Song For a Winter's Night. It gives me chills, every time. I turn it up real loud and sing right along with Sarah. 

And it's not Christmas without James Stewart and Donna Reed. Not even close. My daughter took me to see a 1940's radio version of this at a local theater last weekend, which was incredible - we had such a terrific day! However, the original movie still needs to be watched. Without a doubt. 

Via

I'll light some beautiful holiday scented candles - I'm super excited about a new one I just got in the mail and it's unpacked, in place on the sideboard, and ready to go - just waiting for me to strike the match. 

Unplug Soy Candles

These Unplug Soy Candles are poured into old wine bottles and they smell AMAZING!!  This one is a Christmas scent and I am so excited to light it up!! I read about it first at Thrifty Decor Chick's blog and she absolutely raved about it....of course, since I'm a total candle junkie I had to reach out to Jennifer and place an order. I'm so glad I did!!

Via

Once the scene is set I'm going to make myself an eggnog, get out the wrapping paper, and go to town. 

Via

How do you get yourself in the holiday spirit when you're just not feeling it?

What's your secret?

Random Things That Make Me Smile

It's a glorious day in the mountains and I hope you are all having a great week so far!

Today I thought I'd share some random things in my life recently that made me smile.

I hope your day also started with a smile - enjoy!!

Water droplets on the morning glory

The sun shining through

Black Eyed Susans in the Hydrangea

After the rain

The very first thing I see in the mornings when I come out for coffee - sunshine through the lace curtains

That morning sun again - love love love

My beautiful fireplace - huge selling point for me with this home

The colors in this Delphinium - they almost look fake!

Just a portion of yesterday's tomato harvest

The rest of the tomatoes went in last night's dinner....mmmmmm

The morning sun on the freshly polished dining room table

Getting a head start on setting the table for a dinner party with good friends

And this. My love. 

The Times They Are A Changin'

Without a doubt, The Times They Are A Changin' -

Bob Dylan Says it Best

I don't know about you, but by the time we hit mid August I'm pretty much ready to see signs of Autumn. Up here in the mountains we typically see the first leaves starting to change no later than August 1st. This year they seemed to be even earlier, I could swear I saw leaves changing by the beginning of July!

There are leaves littering my deck and my lawn daily now and their numbers are increasing rapidly.

This is the culprit right here - this beautiful tree that shades the deck in summer afternoons is already showing fall colors and dropping leaves.

I'm not much of a summer person, I need to be super careful in the sun and I try to keep my skin covered with light clothing - anything that's not covered is slathered in sunscreen.

In addition, this is my first autumn at my new home and I'm excited to see what kind of foliage I will enjoy here. Early signs look good! Just check out these ferns with the start of their fall colors - beautiful!

The Burning Bush is showing some early signs of what hopefully will be a glorious fall display.

One little branch on the Burning Bush gives me a hint of what's to come.....

And the Dogwood Tree is putting out a last ditch effort in a feeble attempt to keep its place in the center of the garden. Too late, Dogwood! You're a day late and a dollar short!! I gave you an entire season to show me why you should be the centerpiece of the garden and it's time for you to leave the island.

The Sumac is full of these gorgeous blooms and I already know how lovely Sumac leaves are in the fall so I'm super excited about this one. I'm going to have to do some research on Sumac infusions - I believe Vodka or Gin is a good match.....

The Rhodies are already looking forward to spring, putting their energy into making flower buds for the gorgeous spring display.

Goldenrod is blooming everywhere!! I truly love to see Goldenrod at the edges of the woods - however I think my allergies are not too fond of it....

The berry bramble is putting out the last fruit of the season - this photo was taken right before I ate every ripe berry!

Where flowers bloomed just last week on the Clematis, now we have these interesting seed pods.

And where Daylilies bloomed just a short time ago we have nothing but dry twigs and green leaves.

The grasses at the edge of the lower deck are ready to set seed for next season.

But the Autumn Joy Sedum hasn't even begun to put on a show yet.

And the Delphinium that I planted in the spring has just begun to bloom - gorgeous! Look at those two-tone flowers - so pretty!!

The Black Eyed Susans are happy in the shadow of the Burning Bush.

And check out the color on these babies! I think Zinnias will have a home in my garden every year now - they just flower non stop all season! And they seem to love the heat and sun so they put on a terrific show in the late summer garden.

And the Yarrow is blooming everywhere. I mean......EVERYWHERE!!  Nothing wrong with that!!

And I have my eye on this guy - this is a GINORMOUS squash!!  I think it's butternut but I'm not really sure - I also planted acorn squash but it definitely doesn't look like an acorn squash.....

Nor does it really look like a Butternut Squash!

Any idea what it may be?

I believe in the good things comin' comin' comin' comin'

My daughters love this song...and I have to say it is a wicked cool song!!!

Black as the Night Video & Lyrics 

They even put a sticker on the fridge in my new house, it says I believe in the good things comin' 

Well.....I do believe. There are good things comin' all around us. 

Every day brings new beauty, new chances, new thoughts and ideas. 

Every morning and evening when I do my garden walkabout I'm looking for what's going to bloom next. Sometimes I forget to focus on what's blooming now as I'm always looking forward to what's coming next.

Isn't it the same with the work week? We're always looking forward to the weekend....essentially just getting through the week. My mom always said "don't wish your life away" and she's right. (Yes, Mom, I actually said YOU'RE RIGHT!!)  Instead of looking ahead to the weekend I need to take time to enjoy the moment I'm in. Every day. 

One of the wonderful things about starting this blog is that it is helping me focus on the beauty that's right in front of me, and all around me. I'm so fortunate to live in a gorgeous place, with mountain views and blooming gardens. 

Not everyone is so lucky, I know. And I wasn't always this lucky, either. However, I was always able to create a home that was warm and welcoming, no matter where I was living. And I was always able to find the beauty around me, even when I lived in areas that were far from beautiful!

Perhaps that's what blogging is all about to me - finding the beautiful moments in every single day. 

Look around you. Really look. What makes you happy? What makes you smile? That's your beauty. 

A very dear friend was at my home for dinner last night and we were discussing, as we often do, how blessed we are to live in this beautiful place. We are both transplants from NYC, as are many of our friends up here. And although there are adjustments to moving from a metropolitan area to a small town in the mountains, I wouldn't trade it for anything. 

It's been 11+ years for me now since I moved out of NYC. And the beauty around me never gets old, I never tire of discovering something glorious in each day. 

Find your beauty. Nurture it. Cherish it. Create your own happiness. 

Make it count.