Merry Christmas from Plum Cottage

Good morning Folks,

Here it is the 23rd of December already. We've had some lovely chilly weather down here in s.e. FL, lowest so far for me has been 51 with real feel temp of 42. Woke up to this look on scullery window that let me know it was cold outside. I don't see this often so it was a treat.

I've not done much decorating so far this year, dealing with cataract surgeries. Got a late start so will leave it Christmasy looking until the new year.

Here's my tiny tree in my little office/creative space. Lovely 'Angel Face' roses from my overgrown gardens are scenting the space with their wonderful scent.

Below picture is taken from my chair. A little tree filled with special ornaments. The angel hanging on the mirror was made by my late MIL.

 

 Now I'll share some of the 'ornies' with you.

 

My late MIL hand painted this little porcelain ballerina

 adding her tulle skirt and beads in her hair.

 

 

 

 

My husband's folks gave us ornaments each year, this lion couple was the last one.

 

My husband gave me the hand painted blown out egg. 

I crocheted the red heart and printed out the love birds.

 

Snow couple made by a friend in an ornie swap. 

The red and white heart was made by a sweet young friend 

the year God called my dear husband home.

 

 

My late MIL made the little mail box that has a moveable flag and the door also opens.

When she gave it to us, it had two chocolate kisses in it.

 

 

A widow friend gave me the ornament to the left in the photo. 

She had also received this ornament when she became a widow.

 

Today is Christmas Eve.

 

Below is the nativity set up. I got a late start this year in decorating, with the 2 cataract surgeries. 

I started this morning.

The first picture is of the creche that my husband made after we got home from Spain, where we had lived for three years while he did his tour of duty for the US Navy. He made it for the little 'mud' nativity figures we'd gotten in the little square in middle of the town that we lived in. I love setting this up every year.

The mud figures were bought in 1970 or 1971 I think. So they are over 50 years old now. We came home summer of 1973.

 

Here the creche is empty waiting to be filled with Light and Joy.

 

 

 

The little 'mud' figures are Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, a donkey, a cow, and three wisemen.

 

The hanging angel in blue was my husband's from when he was a boy.

 

The silver s&p shakers hold bits of myrrh in one and bits of frankincense in the other.

 

The Roman soldiers are hand painted lead miniature figures.

 

If you look close you can see a bible with a cross on it at the feet of baby Jesus.

 

The old angel at the back is ancient, I picked him up at a local flea mkt many years ago.

 

 

This tinier tree is also in my office/creative space.

 

That's it for this year's decorating. It is always a joy to decorate for Christmas.

I am thankful for Christmas and what it stands for.

🎄🎄🎄

We can read the following in the Bible:

In Isaiah 7:14

 "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, 

and shall bring forth a son, 

and they shall call his name Emmanuel, 

which being interpreted is, God with us."

Matthew 1:23
"Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; 

Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."

Isaiah 9:6

For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

 

 John 1:1-4
In the beginning was the Word, 

and the Word was with God, 

and the Word was God.
The same was in the beginning with God.
All things were made by him; 

and without him was not any thing made that was made.
In him was life; 

and the life was the light of men.

 

 John 1:14 

And the Word was made flesh, 

and dwelt among us, 

(and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) 

full of grace and truth.

 

 You can read the whole account of the birth of Jesus in Luke 2:1-20

 

🎄🎄🎄

 

Below is a video that popped up on my you tube feed.

It is a beautiful & wonderful explanation of God becoming man, taking on flesh, as Jesus.

Jesus said in John 14:9

"He who has seen me has seen the Father.

In John 10:30 He said:

 ^"I and my Father are one."

 

Colossians 2:9 says: 

For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

 

God came in the flesh to save us from our sins and give us life eternal.

He loves us deeply. 

He has loved us since before we were born. 

I pray that anyone who visits here and reads the scripture verses on this wonderful event, 

and watches this video 

will be drawn into a relationship with Jesus.

 

Acts 17:28

For in Him we live and move and have our being

He has promised to never leave or forsake us.

He is always with us.

 

🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

 

From my little Plum Cottage to your homes wherever you are, 

 

🎄 Merry Christmas 🎄

 

FlowerLady