Faith Family Friends

Celebrating the Joy of Living & Home Making ~

Baking, Cooking, Decorating, Tea Time, and taking Inspiration from those I love and the world around me...

A sharing of my heart and my home from a Christian perspective

...with a wee bit of whimsy added.

Wednesday 11 December 2013

HOME for the Holidays





"Christmas is a season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial flame for charity in the heart." ~ Washington Irving


Welcome dear friends to my "HOME for the Holidays" Christmas Party!

Christmas is on its way and time is really flying by. I find the busier I am, the quicker time goes. Soon it will be time to hang the stockings.
But in the meantime, do take some time to enjoy the music and the sparkle. Pour yourself some hot chocolate or tea and savour the special season we are in.

I finally have my tree finished. It is much more than a Christmas tree, it is really what I call my Memory Tree because it is filled with memories and gifts from family members and friends.

I used two kinds of sheer ribbon and added more white lights this year. All the colours are soft and give the tree a fairy like appearance. I really like the way it looks.


I will share just a few of my 'memories' with you. A trio of angels under a cloche covered with snow  was gifted to me by my oldest son and his wife.



A porcelain Lena Liu butterfly ornament was gifted to me by my mother.


 This is a little drum which was one of the very first ornaments Hubby and I ever got for our first Christmas tree. It's been around for a long time!


This ornament came from my second son when he was eight years old. I love rocking hoses!



This glass harp was the last Christmas ornament  my best friend gave me before she went home to be with the Lord. I will always cherish it.


A teddy bear drummer gifted to me by my youngest son. All three of my sons play the drums, by the way. They are all very musical.



I have so many special 'memories' that it would take an entire post to share them with you.

This week, I am hosting a Celebrate the Season ~ Christmas Tea party.

My little tree sits sweetly in a toile hat box.



I think Royal Albert's Old Country Roses is perfect for December because of its rich golden, red, and deep pink roses. The teapot was a birthday present from my family this past year. I found the matching sugar and creamer while out thrifting last Summer.




I made Snowballs for our tea this week and promised to share the recipe today.


This recipe comes from an old Purity cookbook that I got when I was first married. Every Christmas I made these little nuggets and my children love them. Hope you do too.

Snowballs
Mix until smooth:
1- 4oz. package softened cream cheese
Gradually blend in:
1-1/2 cups sifted icing sugar
1 cup vanilla wafer crumbs {or graham wafer crumbs}
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup chopped maraschino cherries
Cover and refrigerate for one hour.
Shape into 1 inch balls.
Roll in vanilla wafer crumbs. I used graham wafer crumbs.  Chill. Makes about three dozen cookies.




I was hard pressed to choose some features from last week's party because there were so many fabulous posts which caught my eye. However,  these are my picks for this week:

 Joy @ a Vintage Green shared her wonderful holiday vignette using graters. Isn't it pretty?



Eileen @ The Pink Home shared her darling little pink tree.




Kitty at Kitty's Kozy Kitchen shared her recipe for a delicious ham and potato soup. Yum!


Judy @ Gold Country Cottage welcomed Christmas with a variety of vignettes but this is the one that really caught my eye. I love her little truck under the cloche! Isn't it adorable?
Judy also had the most views on her post; Congratulations!


Debbie @ Debbie-Dabble Christmas showed off the outside of her home all decked out for Christmas. Beautifully done!



Penny @ Penny's Vintage Home simply stole my heart with her darling vignette of dollies decorating the tree in her bedroom. Being a doll lover, I couldn't resist this one.



Carmen @ Country Blessings shared her tree of memories. She has such special little ornaments each representing her children. Charming!



Thank you sweet friends for visiting today. And thank you for welcoming us into your homes every week. I appreciate each and every one of you and I especially love it when you leave a comment to let me know you have been here. 

If you have a HOME related post please feel free to link up with my party. I would love to see what you have to share with us.

"Lord, this humble house we'd keep
Sweet with play and calm with sleep.
Help us so that we may give
Beauty to the lives we live.
Let thy beauty and Thy grace
Shine upon our dwelling place." ~ Edgar A. Guest

Jesus is the Reason for the Season!

I am happy to join these parties this week~

What's It Wednesday~ http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/
Home and Garden Thursday ~ http://www.adelightsomelife.com/
Creating Christmas ~ http://jannolson.blogspot.com/
Home Sweet Home~ http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi