Different eyes............................

See different things.............................

Last Thursday morning I awoke to this outside my bedroom window
And I saw beauty.

FROM OUR BEDROOM

I saw a little girl jumping up from bed to wake up her brothers
I saw them bundling up and running outside to play
I saw a Mother laughing from the window and shaking her head " no, no " as we urged her to come play with us.
I saw all of us having porridge beside the radio that always sat on the kitchen table - listening with hearts pounding for our school to be called out for a " snow day "

FROM THE OFFICE

I saw wet mitts sitting on radiators and snow boots lined up in the entrance way by size
and poorly insulated windows crystallized with our names etched on the glass..................and cocoa simmering in the kitchen.
I saw snowmen and forts built of snow - and bumpy home made skating rinks in the back yard.

FROM THE SECOND OFFICE WINDOW

I saw flannel nighties and flannel sheets and slippers knit with my Grandmother's hands - with furry pompoms
I saw soup on the stove and cookies in the oven
And home made decorations on the tree

FROM THE GUEST ROOM

I saw letters to Santa - " Chatty Cathy - please Santa - Chatty Cathy "
I saw hills the size of mountains and toboggans that fit 4 - I saw us all hanging on to each other for dear life - unsucessfully.
I saw skates and thick woollen socks and cheeks as red as apples.

FROM THE SECOND GUEST ROOM

I saw fidgeting in Church and the glee of running out when it was over - because the REAL miracle was just outside it's doors................
I saw a little girl kneeling by her bed - on too cold floors - praying for her family - her friends - and another snow day.
Prayers were simple then.

FROM THE LIVING ROOM

I saw my roots - from as far back as I could remember.............continuity - you know that feeling that although everything is changing rapidly - too quick sometimes even for me to register - there's still this - it's as sure a thing as death and taxes - but prettier - far far prettier.

FROM THE DEN

And so you may have your beaches and balmy temperatures - and most of the year I may even envy you for that..................and complain non stop about the cold and the " white "
But in December?
When this happens?
I feel just the tiniest bit sorry for those who have never known it.
It's heavenly - truly almost holy - and what Christmas is supposed to look like in my part of the world

FROM THE PORCH

In a time when there is so much evil in the world - and climate change is actually changing the map of the planet  - it was completely rejuvenating.
When I awoke  I saw magic.
And a walk down memory lane where I bumped into a little girl who stilled believed in it.

Oh and by the way if you're wondering what John saw?

John says - what a bloody horrible mess out there.

Different eyes.

See different things...........................

Have a wonderful day everyone -
Much love,
From Snowy Montreal
Me

I'll be sharing at the following fabulous parties !

Sand & Sisal                                                     A Stroll Thru Life
Life on Lakeshore Drive                                           Between Naps on the Porch
A Stroll Thru Life                                                     The Scoop
Kathe with an E

The Perfect gift for under 20.00

1) One of my daughter's ( Ashley )  loves birds ( she did not inherit that from me since I have an irrational fear of them )

2) She also loves anything vintage ( she most definitely inherited that from me - or maybe I inherited it from her - not sure which came first ) 

3) She wanted to start a snow globe collection - so I've been all over the " net " looking for the perfect one - you know, that Christmas gift - the one that speaks to a heart?

They're expensive -

Really expensive - upwards of 50.00 with a lot of them actually being closer to 100 so I was waiting ( and waiting ) for Christmas to get a little closer and the sales to start before going to a speciality shop nearby to pick one up.

Last week we were at Target - and John - ( that wonderful long suffering incredible man of mine ) 

found this !!!

For 24.99 !!!

Her name may as well have been printed on this really - I was beyond thrilled to grab it - 

AND I love that it has the year on it - it makes a collection even more meaningful -

THIS is the year it starts !

It couldn't be more perfect..........................except it DID get just a little bit more so when we flew in yesterday for some last minute stocking stuffers - and lo and behold - it was marked down to 17.99 - 

Which they honored !

So for 17.99 - I found THE one - ( and I know everything else I got her will pale in comparison - no matter what I spent on them )  this is going to be THE one - I just know it !

We all try so desperately to find that ONE gift ( among many I know ) but that ONE gift that will light up the face of someone very close and dear to us - for Lindsay it's anything to do with Horses - I've lugged home sculpted art from Paris for her even - soooo easy when someone has a passion about something - but Ashley?  There was never anything in particular she was interested in " collecting "

Until this year.

I found gifts I knew she needed - gifts I knew she'd appreciate - but I hadn't found THE one.

This will be the one that she takes out of a box every Christmas with aniticipation - this will be the one that gets a place of honor long after I'm gone - ( I know that sounds maudlin - and I don't want it to ) because at the end of the day Christmas is all about the memories, right?

And I'm just so thrilled that I get to be a part of starting a new one ...................

I'm also thrilled that she barely glances at her Mom's blog lol

( it wouldn't be safe on facebook - but here our secret is ! )

And if it's not too late - and any of you still have wrapping to do - I wrapped everything in brown paper this year ( dollar store )

One roll and a half wrapped all of these - for a dollar !!! ( well technically 1.50 ) 

Which allows you to embellish them any way you like - ( I didn't even add tags - just wrote on the paper itself ) 

I added some cookies for the little ones that I also found at Target for 1.00 each 

The mandatory Lolli Pop ( we're Lolli and Pop to the little ones ) so at least one of the gifts HAS to have one attached to it - and hearts created from Candy Canes - all of which can  be seen this year on the plain paper ( they're usually lost in the busy-ness of colorful paper 

I'll attach small ornaments on the adult versions !

And that's it for today - if you're looking for a last minute gift - get yourself to Target - snow globes are just so perfect don't you think?

Now excuse me - there's far too much wrapping to do - and like usual I waited far too long to do it

Have a wonderful day everyone

Much love 

from me........................

to you

Looking for inspiration?
Join me at these fabulous parties !

Between Naps on the Porch                                                  Life on Lakeshore Drive