Christmas and Mosaic Monday

oday is Mosaic Monday, and Mary from Little Red House, is hosting this lovely day.







Thank you for leaving such lovely comments on my Christmas tradition post.



I read each comment to my mother over the telephone last evening, and she was so pleased. I thought it only fitting for her to select the winner of the giveaway, so I asked her to pick a number so that I could select the winner, and she did.



The winner of the Christmas Tree giveaway is Sheila from The Quintessential magpie. Congratulations Sheila.



I will finish some last minute things today so that I can head up to Vermont to visit with my mom tomorrow.



I have to drive in between the snowy places because I drive through New Hampshire and then onto Burlington, Vermont. I'll be back home for Christmas Eve.



Stay safe, and enjoy this week. We spend so much time preparing for this day, and it always seems to be gone too fast.



The song for this post is Christmastime, by Michael Smith.

Pink Saturday, The Gift of Giving

oday is Pink Saturday and the lovely Bev from How Sweet The Sound is hosting the day. Bev asked us to write about our favorite Holiday tradition.





My family's favorite tradition was taught to us by my mother. She always found ways to give to the poor this time of year.





Nestled in the cozy town of South Burlington, Vermont is a lovely complex for Retired folks.



My mom lives there and it is the sweetest place.





Every year she collects food for the poor just like she has always done throughout all my Christmas memories.



She takes the shuttle bus from her complex over to the local Supermarket and picks up the apple boxes that she will use for both her her building and the building across from hers.


She carefully arranges them and puts up signs everywhere asking for food donations. Last year she collected 550 pounds of food.



This year she was a bit worried how much food she would collect, given the economy.



Many of the people living there are on social security and barely make ends meet.



Yesterday she told me that she is overwhelmed with gratitude. Mom told me the boxes are overflowing this year with food, which will be picked up on Monday.



What an example, what a reminder that many of these people from my mom's generation lived through the depression. They stood on bread lines and lines waiting for a cake of soap.



This is a generation of true compassion and an example to all of us to take any opportunity this Christmas to give to the less fortunate.



I heard Marmee say when Joyce and I attended A Fireside Christmas at Orchard house a few weeks ago...



"No matter how poor we are or feel, there is always someone else who has less than we do."



I wrote a story about my favorite Christmas called The Gift of Christmas on my Christmas Blog. Another memory of a special chapter with my mom, filled with Christmas miracles to warm your heart.



Here is a photo of my mom, Doris when she was a little girl. Although Doris just turned eight-three last June, that same sweet spirit is still alive lighting up whenever she has an opportunity to give.

Oh, and I have this little watercolor painting of a Christmas tree that I would like to give away. Just leave a comment and I will announce the winner on Monday so that I surely get it in the mail in time for Christmas.






The song for this post is Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.

For The Love of Old Books

Recently I found another old and rare book shop, and was rummaging through magnificent little treasures as always. I had a thought, why not purchase these incredible little volumes and offer them for sale?





Then I thought, why not continue to explore my love of historical New England and the wonderful authors that once graced these towns. I just opened up my new shop yesterday called...



For The Love of Old Books a journey through my photography of places I love, Antique and Vintage book finds, creations using Antique book plates and some other experiments in my love of old books.





Baghy's Journals on Etsy ,created a treasury today, and included my Orchard House 1838 print. Her journals are magnificent by the way.



I will be moving Great Aunt Adelaide's Attic creations to this shop, because I think it fits in nicely. I will be replacing this old category on my Art Etsy shop with scrapbooking kits under the section Supplies. So, I am busy adding new items to share.



Another creation I have been busy designing are bookplates for the Library Of using my collection of Vintage images.





I have put an Etsy Mini on my side bar for my new shop. I'll be adding new items today.



The song for this post is Orchard House, from the movie Little Women.

What a nice surprise Going Home To Roost featured my hot air balloon print on her collage of hand picked items for travelers.



Shop Announcement

For the love of old books, I wanted to find a way to share my finds with kindred spirits. To introduce people to these treasures and to share the beautiful art often found in these old and rare books. These illustration plates are just too lovely to keep all to myself, so I have decided to create prints, cards and creations, using these treasures most dating back to the turn of the century and earlier. Inside many of these cards I have added pockets to hold old maps, bits and bookmarks created with old book inspiration. Prints and cards are created on Fine Art Paper, using archival inks. Many of them are iced in gold leaf paint.