Tuesday, December 10, 2013

THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS AROUND US


Saturday we were off on our adventure to the Christmas Tree Farm.  Yep, just looking for that Christmas spirit!!  It was about a 45 minute drive south of here.  Lots of farmland and little subdivisions popping up here and there.  We really had high expectations for a fun afternoon.









 





To make it even more like Christmas, Emily and I were off and shopping yesterday.  As cold as it has been, I really wanted to do more shopping out in the big world than online.  I've been a real avid online consumer over the past few years and I think I have really muddled up the concept of buying a gift and true gift giving.  Don't pay any attention to me...I just miss the good old days of being around people, the crabby and the cheery, all at once, weighted down by bags and the sights and smells of Christmas.  The mall we went to wasn't crowded at all and we rarely had to wait in line anywhere.  As usual, Emily is great at putting together ideas...if you get someone cute jammies, get them a scented candle, too.  If you find the perfect book for someone, how about a cute mug for their tea?  I crossed a lot of people off my list.  We shopped from 1:00 to 5:00 and I could have kept going!


Remember Pauly the Personality from my last post?  Yes, the master carpenter that put my hall closet doors on.  He was back again bright and early to install my new light over the sink and add the wood panel with the hooks to the closet.  Does he not look just as I described him?  He never stops talking and once you get used to the never ending dialogue, it seems pretty normal.  He's quite fascinating.  Today I found out his son is a professional motorcycle racer and his daughter is an award winning competitive equestrian jumper.  They have several horses on a farm in an area they own acreage in and plan to move to one day.  I was taking my mantel apart, actually the whole house it seems, to decorate and he jumped right in with ideas for the mantel.  And they were fantastic!  Later he showed me some pictures on his phone of homes he has worked on, remodeling/renovation type of work.  My mouth was hanging open.  He did $1.2 million dollars of work on a beer baron's 5K home up near Milwaukee.  The staircase alone looked like it belonged in Liberace's home.  Yes, as you get to know people, you can unearth some interesting things.  I thought my morning was going to be spent listening to him talk and perhaps even rap a little more today for us, but instead I was asking him question after question  He really is an amazing guy that loves life, loves his life and after you get used to him constantly moving, talking and laughing (and using a power drill I might add), he's great!







Stay warm and dry.  I will have some pretty pictures for you the next time I pop in! :)

XO,
Jane


34 comments:

Lisa @ Texas Decor said...

Oh man...that's a bummer that you didn't get anything at the tree farm, but it looks like you picked a winner anyway. :) Douglas Firbanks Jr. is a beautiful tree! Although, that does kind of freak me out a little to see all those trees hanging and swaying around. LOL! Pauly the Personality DOES look just like you described him! Too funny! So, his son is a professional motorcycle racer, huh? Hmm...reminds me how I used to have a crush on Evel Knievel! LOL! Your new light over the sink is gorgeous! I totally love any kind of seeded glass. Tell Mike happy birthday for me!

Teresa@1800 Farmhouse Rd said...

Oh, I LOVE that new light!!!
I love it when bloggers share their pets and other loved ones with each other. Can't wait to see the tree all decorated.

Balisha said...

Love the tree...
Love the light fixture...
Can't wait for the decorations to appear.
Have you warmed up yet?
Balisha

Susie said...

Blondie, You sound very busy. I bet your house does smell good. Nothing smells so heavenly in winter, than a christmas tree. I like the light. :):) Stay warm, xoxox,Susie

Linda said...

Great post!! Good times! I only wish I could sniff all those wonderful Christmas fragrance!!! I have NO real live greens at ALL yet!! But I will!! Soon I hope.
Love how you and Emily are so close! It reminds me of me and my girls....

Melanie said...

I love the ornaments Emily picked up for you and your tree is so pretty. We just picked up the 25 ft of pine garland at Home Depot, too! Wrapped it around our porch railing (seen covered in snow in my last post). Very pretty pendant light for over your sink.

Deb said...

As soon as the tree comes into the house it just takes on a whole new Christmas feel especially filled with Christmas ornaments like the one's Emily chose for you ~ adorable! ♥ Love the new light fixture you chose too.

Debby said...

Your posts are always fun to read.
We went to a tree farm a few times when the kids were little. They started to not like going when they were older. I have a friend that gets the most beautiful douglas fir trees not only for herself but others. She got us one one year. They go to a Christmas tree barn in Wooster. They ride the horse drawn wagon and then return to the barn and buy one that was already cut, hah.
Your handy man sounds like a great guy and very helpful plus being skillful.
One of my favorite things to see when it is Christmas time are the trees on top of the cars from our local tree farms.

bj said...

O, I love your pretty tree. Our son was so allergic to live trees when he was little that we started using faux trees...just kept it up and haven't bought a real one in years. Now, I want one. Instead, I bought a little turquoise tree today for my dining room...TURQUOISE...hahhaa...but, it's cute.
Daughter and I are going shopping on Thurs....we do every year. So much fun and I love being out in the crowds, hearing the music, smelling the wonderful smells....
I am buying twins PJ's so will add a pretty candle with them...thanks for the idea.
xoxo bj

Donna said...

I bet your tree is going to be so pretty, Jane! Love those garden ornaments, the are adorable!

Unknown said...

Your tree is beautiful. I don't know if I'd have the patience to let the limbs settle. Scratch that, I know I wouldn't have the patience! Sounds like you had a great time with your carpenter. Nice that he didn't charge you! I really like your light fixture. You know, I don't have a window in my kitchen. Of course I see straight through the sunroom which has 5 huge windows, so no bother. Did I ever tell you my house has 11 doors to the outside? Can you believe that. To see the house plan you can go to Southern Living House plans, and choose #575. Every room has french doors! I love it though. I should have called my blog, 'The house of many doors'!! I enjoyed your post as always. On a less joyous note, I have acute bronchitis, went to the Dr. today, got 2 injections, 2 prescriptions, a breathing treatment, yada, yada! But I feel tons better already. Hubby has been a sweetheart, waiting on me hand and foot. Such a good man!! OK, I'd say this "comment" would count for a post, so I'll shut up! Talk to ya soon, friend!!

Sonia said...

Sound like you are having a great holiday season! Love all the pictures and the trees hanging up is a first for me too! Your new light fixture is so awesome..love the shape! Have a very Merry Christmas..I'm off to Florida to visit my Mom and warm up!
Miss Bloomers

Debby said...

Sorry, I wasn't finished and my hubby needed the computer.
Sounds like you had fun with Emily. I'm not into mal shopping but it would be more fun with my daughter, I'm sure. I love the little ornaments, They look like things that go into the fairy houses. Happy Holidays.

Beth said...

Hi Jane, I like the tree you selected and look forward to seeing it decorated. Love your new light fixture. It was interesting hearing about Pauly! Merry Christmas!

Traci said...

I've never had a real tree!! I guess I can't complain about our weather. We're in double digits but I don't like the cold! Wow!! He really is interesting! I've read a bunch of the alphabet series. I need to go back to them. I'm behind.

Wanda said...

I'm taking a big "Sniff" to see if I can smell that wonderful pine smell.

I think your tree is lovely and can't wait to see it decorated.

Happy Birthday to your SIL, Mike. We have a family of Mike's. Son, SIL, grandson....
It's a great name!

Sending Christmas Joy...

podso said...

Hey Jane, sorry about that treeless trip to the country, but maybe you got a little exercise. Your tree looks nice and I miss a fresh tree. We hike up to our attic.
I love your new light fixture --its like jewelry to your kitchen I would think! It's been bitterly cold and rainy here this week, which makes it feel like Christmas, but cold is in the 40s and a damp cold. Soup weather.

Shirley said...

Hi Jane, I remember our last live tree that we had for Christmas. Picking the needles our of the carpet was not fun, but our oldest was in the service at the time coming home on leave. Pretty but the clean up wasn't fun. I love your light fixture. It sounded as though you have found someone who can do what you want. Have a wonderful day. Stay warm and safe. Be careful when you are out and about. Hugs and Prayers from Your Missouri Friend.

farmhouse-story said...

i've never cut my own tree,--i think i'll try it one warm christmas:) and don't you wish more people were like paul?
love the new light-beautiful! and i would show off rusty constantly--way too cute:) pinned the book--the alphabet series intrigues me--tfs!

Unknown said...

Hi,
I got my e-mail back on the blog. Under my picture. :)

Theresa said...

Girl, at least you got a tree:) Happy that you kept looking until you found what you wanted! Can't wait to see it all decorated! The worker sounds like a good fella to know! It is nice to have someone to call that can DO anything and a good job at that! Have a blessed day dear friend, STAY WARM! HUGS!

Kelly said...

You made me laugh when you showed the picture of your carpenter. Yes, he is exactly as I would've thought he was. LOL! But, honestly, be glad that he is there doing good work for you. I would KILL to have someone over at my house taking care of little projects everywhere. We have a never ending list these days. I like your new tree. I miss having a real tree, but it seems to get my allergies going, so we use fake greenery everywhere instead. Love your new light over the sink too. I wish my sink was under a window so I could have a pretty light hanging over it. Mine is in the middle of the kitchen with a pot rack hanging over it. But it is very useful! Looking forward to seeing all of your Christmas decor when it's done.

Curtains in My Tree said...

ahhhhh I remember when I use to go with family to the tree farms and we always got a tree way to tall for the house or apartment we lived in at the time.
Your tree looks perfect and so does that sweet doggie

Vel Criste said...

Happy birthday to you son-in-law Jane! The way he hugged Rusty sort of gives me an idea of his capacity to love! CHEERS to him!

I love the ornament Emily picked up for you, very thoughtful indeed and super cute. I a really hope to do Christmas tree shopping someday on a real farm with the kids! It's a new thing for us immigrants, and I would love to try that, hopefully next year (we're going out of the country again for Christmas) and I want to make sure I can take care of our tree.

I'm like you too when it coes to shopping. I love the feel of things especially when I buy lots of stuff. I also think shoppers are nicer this time of year! The crabby ones are out on Black friday, but after that, everyone seems a bit more cheery!

Penny said...

I remember you blogging about the original Douglas Firbanks tree. That was the first time I had ever read your blog and it was a terrific post. Sounds like you have lots going on. I love your carpenter. We worked with a guy like that once.

Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow said...

Misting the branches in a roaster...now that is amazing. I didn't know you were supposed to do that but its been so long since I had real live greenery, I wouldn't know how to act if the house *really* smelled like Christmas! :)
And your handyman stories are fun! :)
Love that light fixture! :)

Junkchiccottage said...

Hi Jane,
Oh I love the new light too coool. Your tree is gorgeous. I bet when you get the lights and it all decorated it will be beautiful.
Kris

At Home in English Valley said...

Hi Jane, I suspect that you are just the kind of girl people feel comfortable talking to! Your handy friend thought so!
So great to get some things done before the company comes, or just for you. Enjoy everything! Love, Penny

Mary said...

OK Jane, please pretty please send Pauly the P this way - you could bring him along in January!!!! How do you find service people like that - even my daughter's partner of several years, an electrician/plumber/go to guy for home repairs, charges us for every minute he works in our home! I don't really mind, and of course it's better than paying a stranger as the money stays in the family I guess, but it would be nice now and then if he said, "no that's OK, and have a nice day".

Love the tree story - at least the walk and fresh air was healthy! Your tree is pretty and will look fabulous decorated.

Good idea to exchange the strip light for this beauty - making me think I may need the boyfriend to come and work for me again and hang a similar one!

Enjoy these busy weeks dear - glad you can get a little reading in - I do that around midnight when I fall into bed - read about a page only then fall asleep!

Hugs to you both - Mary X

Susan EvelynAndRose said...

Oh I love those cute ornaments Jane! And I bet your house smells lovely with all that greenery. Your stories about Paul the Personality are hysterical. I always chuckle when I read your posts, Jane. You have such a joy in life!

Julie Marie said...

Your little ornaments are adorable!... perfect for gardeners... I always love seeing little Rusty, what a cutie pie!... can't wait to see your tree all decorated... hope you are staying nice and warm... xoxo Julie Marie

Anonymous said...

I love your new light, and your tree too. Can't wait to see it all
decorated. It must smell so good.

Kathy

Sweet Posy Dreams said...

I've heard others who had bad luck or bad experiences at tree farms. We have cut at tree farms for the last 20 years. Sometimes it's awfully cold and there is a lot of trudging around, but I love it. This year, kids can't come home until very close to Christmas, so it looks like we'll have to forgo the farm. Christmas just doesn't seem the same.

Susan Shull said...

Loved the story of your carpenter! Everyone and I mean everyone has a story if we take the time and are interested enough to find out. He sounds like a "character" and I love "characters"! Hope you are having a wonderful day, Jane. xoxosusan