We’ve been decking the halls, girlfriends, in the Most wonderful time of year!
You know I love my bird trees . . . this is the white feather tree I did for the guest room. (We have the larger 24″ tree in our store now, in case you’re looking for one! Ignore the photo of it in the web store, that was the 12″ one — double it in your mind! So darling!)
And, in case you missed it, here’s Jack helping me decorate the bird tree for the kitchen table. Without knowing it, slowly, over the years, I bought little paper and feather birds whenever I saw them, and they ended up being a collection that was perfect for a small table tree. My absolutely favorite holiday decoration! I put it out usually before Thanksgiving, because it represents my favorite thing no matter what time of year, nature. ♥
And speaking of trees, we brought in the big one last night! Had turkey soup for dinner, turned on the Christmas music and brought in the tree. When we first saw our house, we knew this corner of the living room was the spot for the tree, in front of those windows! Figuring out where the Christmas tree will go is just a natural part of home buying! Out to the barn goes the dining table and chairs that are usually in this space — in comes the little box Joe made to stand the tree on.
Beautiful Christmasy night — under a cold moon shining through thin clouds we went past the barn to where the tree has been soaking and drying . . . don’t have photos of the next part, couldn’t handle the camera while carrying my end of the tree (the top) in the dark, singing Oh Come All Ye Faithful down the driveway, out to the front of the house, following Joe up the steps, through the front door, squishing past the piano in the front hall, into the living room, lifting it over the sofa, “fit it in the hole, back, back, no, too far, lift higher, there!” and viola! Like buttah.
She’s in! The first thing we did is tie her to the wall! Taking no chances with you-know-who.
Then Joe unleashes the ropes and Pop goes the Magnificence! O Christmas Tree! We turned it to get the best side, “Is it straight? How about now?” . . . Girl Kitty came in to help.
The tree was cold from being outside, you could feel little clouds of coldness when you were close to it . . . and it filled the room with that wonderful woodsy piney smell. Heaven. This morning I came downstairs and now the whole house smells of it.
And then Nightmare on Elm Street, all wrapped up in fuzzy cute ball of adorableness, shows up. Asks Joe “Could you please explain this to me? Please? What is it what is it what is it. Can I have it? Please? can i can i can i?”
We had to pull him out of it twice, although the tree was still standing this morning, so I think we’re doing pretty good. Today we’ll put the lights on, drape it with garlands, and make a true kitty toy out of it. ♥
Before I wrote any books, I used to have a list I kept in my recipe box. My mom wrote it for me; it was a list of all the traditional foods we made for holiday dinners. I didn’t 
want to forget anything. Which gave me the idea when I wrote my Christmas Book, to put together a list of every single thing I could think of about decorating for Christmas so that all I had to do is read it every year. I still just pull out that book, run my eyes down the list for inspiration! Lots of ideas for decking the halls! Another handy perk of book writing . . . permanent lists! For the most wonderful time of the year! ♥ In case you don’t have a list of your own, here’s mine:
I hope you found that helpful!! My girlfriend Sarah wrote last night and gave me a link to a website that has lots of ideas for decorating I thought you’d like to look at. I also love decorating with books. Old books bring old Christmases into the house. This year our house will celebrate its 162nd Christmas! Since back before these books were brand new.
See the little one on the top of the stack above? ← Here it is close up. Published in 1938, a charming story of Christmas-gone-by, complete with line-drawings by Lois Lenski.
In case you like to decorate with books too, I thought this would be a wonderful one to add to your collection, or maybe you’d like to start a collection! They’re darling on guest-room dresser tops; look wonderful in guest bathrooms; nice on the coffee table, and sweet to read to children. ♥
If you’d like to have this book, just leave a comment, share your Christmas doings with the Girlfriends or just say Hello, and you’ll be entered in our drawing! In a few days, I’ll ask the magic random chooser to do its thing and draw one of your names and this little book will zip off, in fairy manner, with love from me to you. Here’s one of the darling little line drawings in the book . . .
And I haven’t forgotten, not all the girlfriends celebrate Christmas! We are lucky enough to welcome friends here from all over the country, all over the world — there will be more drawings this month, that don’t have Christmas written all over them — but this little book called my name . . . if you don’t celebrate Christmas, you may know someone who does, this would be a wonderful little gift! Happy Holidays to everyone! ♥ I wob you.
Susan,
Can’t start decorating until I pull out Christmas from the Heart of the Home!!! I’d love to add this little book to my collection of Christmas books!
Oh, how lovely, Susan. Have you read Strawberry Girl, also by Lois Lenski? One of my very favorite pieces of children’s literature. I “thought” I recognized her style when I saw the cover of the book!
Love the pictures of your tree and home… love your books… love you!
Happy holidays!
Ooh! I’d love that book! I’d read it before it went on my shelf! We have some old books I decorate with too! I think they look great. I even have someone’s old penmanship books. They were in a box of free books outside an antique shop. Guess a mouse had a snack on the corners.
I’d love a window like that for a tree! We can’t put ours in front of the windows because it’s too big! My husband and his mother bought new artificial trees after Christmas one year and ours is 7 1/2 ft tall. My sloped ceiling is too short there. There is only one place in my living room I can put it – which is right where a heating floor vent is! I have to leave several branches off the back of the tree for air circulation. If you click on my website link you can see how it was decorated last year.
Christmas doings for today: Sweep out the last of Fall 2011, go Christmas tree-shopping (found one!), enjoy a Turkey-Lurkey sandwich and an egg nog latte for lunch at a friendly little bakery, wander down to Old Town to listen to TubaChristmas, and then home with tree to begin creating the magic in the house. Love your idea for decorating with Christmas-themed books! My favorite girlfriend gift is your little “Christmas Joy” book and I leave mine out to enjoy every year. Thank you, Susan, for sharing your Christmas magic with us. Merry Christmas to you, Joe, Girl Kitty & Jack. ♥ Much love ♥
Same to you Janice!!
Nativity sets are everywhere in the farmhouse. For years I’ve collected them and they range from quite small to very large. They are tucked onto mantles, desks, a corner of the window in the bathroom…I can never get too many! My Christmas books are stacked on the ottoman in the living room and wreaths are on, almost, every fence post coming up the driveway.
Oooo, that would make a pretty picture!!
You must have been a very good girl this year, because Santa came early to your house and left you Jack. Your little addition is adorable! You know, if Girl Kitty
( the rightful queen) doesn’t warm to him and play and get silly, he might need a brother to grow up with and do all those fiesty kitty things….just a thought. I also pull out my seasonal books and one of my favorites is a precious little book from 1961 by Astrid Lindgren called Brenda Brave Helps Grandmother about a baby left on a door step in a basket. Truly heartwarming at any time of the year. Blessings to you and yours as we purposely create, and are rejuvinated by, a moving meditation as we decorate our lives this season.
Love the title “Brenda Brave” . . . sounds wonderful!
Dear Susan..Oh how I love this time of the year! It is so magical! My parents helped me see it this way!! These are one of my best memories…and tried to past them on to my children! Course I know each family has their on traditions, so we just build on each ones!! Love all of yours…some we share with you!! Would love to win that book…(I’m excited)
Love your tree…can’t wait to see it all decorated! Your other trees are so sweet! Am sure Jack will have a ball ( or maybe two…lol)
Blessings,
Gert
I eagerly look forward to each and every blog posting to see what is up with the “kitties” and what you are decorating. I am just getting ready to put my tree up and drag out the boxes with all my decorations in them–that cute little book would be such a wonderful addition!
I can’t wait until next weekend when we cut down & then decorate our tree. My husband and I will be taking our grandsons for a ride on the Santa Train, then head home for some homemade soup & bread. After that we will turn up the Christmas music and let the fun begin! I love your blog SB!
Love love love all the wonderful ideas! My Airman is coming home for the holidays! We are pulling out all the stops! Barn decorated, chicken coop decked out, the house (at nearly a century) will be in her very best! The gingerbread house is ready for decorating and all the Christmas movies are by the VCR/ DVD. All we need is our handsome Airman!
I love Lois Lensky! Her books are among my very favorites! What fun! Good luck everyone!
So happy for you! Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas, Susan!
This year I decorated a small tree with all of the doggie ornaments I had been collecting since I adopted my cute cocker, Hobo. I found black and white ribbon with paw prints to top it all off. It just might be my favorite tree ever!
I enjoy hearing about your home and all that you do for the holidays…I can tell you really love it.
Holiday Hugs,
Jerri Ellen
So fun, love the different trees! Little ones make it so easy!
Such a beautiful tree. Such possibilities. My heart goes out to Girl Kitty..change is so hard but Jack seems to be smitten with her beauty and good manners so maybe she will adjust to his cute kittyness. Oh Books yet another love of mine. Usually in November we gather all our Christmas books.Many from my collection of Eloise Wilkins Golden books and ones collected for years through my children…”scratch and sniff”, Polar Express, The Night Before Christmas,Truman Capote’s short story collection. Each seems to hold a special memory. You are so kind to share your finds with us. Love the bird tree and plann to have birds for the theme for my kitchen tree. Keep sharing because now you are part of my Christmas Memories…all you ideas and recipes.
I always bring out my favorite children’s holiday books at Christmas. My most favorite is the chapter in the Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame entitled “Dulce Domum” . I have many others that I put out as well and although my sons are grown, I still read these as part of my holiday tradition, even if only to myself. I’ll never grow up!
Thank you so much for sharing your blog with all of us–I especially enjoy the visual aids you include –it makes it seem like we are there with you.
Susan-
I LOVE books too! I too love to decorate with them. Funniest thing is that you are always a book on my kitchen counter (all year long). But right now your in three places 🙂 Christmas on the counter, Christmas Joy on a end table next to a big comfy chair in front of the fireplace and Christmas Memories on my desk. Thank you soooo much for all your beautiful books too!
Lois Lenski was my favorite author as a child. I read all of her books. I have one of her Christmas books, but would love to add this one to my collection. I have passed on a love of her books to my kids. Merry Christmas!
So far this Christmas- I have knitted two stockings and set out the kid’s Advent pockets (the stockings are on my blog if anyone is curious LOL). We’re planning to get the tree this weekend- which shall be decorated with decorations that my husband has used since he was a child 🙂
I made mince pies with a rum sauce for dessert this week, and my Christmas pudding is aging in peace in the cupboard!
I am keeping my eyes peeled for Christmas crackers (an essential part of my Christmas celebrations) and cookie recipes (because those are a must too)!
Now- when it comes to Christmas books- I love them. I just got out the box in which I keep our books- and which I am constantly looking to add to 🙂 And I often think that the oldies are often the goodies when it comes to Christmas books!
I can help a little bit . . . the Willard this week is going to be the Cookie Jar, which has lots of cookie recipes in it, just click on a title you like . . .
Mince with meat? Real mincemeat pies are something i love but have never tackled as yet — soon, soon. Maybe even before Christmas arrives if I get really inspired.
Thanks Susan- I shall look forward to it 🙂 I made some cookies today- just to test a recipe you know 😉
Dottie: Well there is no meat in my mince pies- but yes you could say mincemeat pies and be accurate 🙂 I love them and actually found some mincemeat at the grocery store to make them!
Oh, Sue. Do I even need to say anything?
*sigh*
Love, Dawn
xoxo!
I love that book! I have been collecting old Christmas story books over the years and this year cleared the top of the living room bookcase and displayed them all there together. I keep hoping to have some free time to sit down and really read some of them. (Hah!) After searching for years I finally found one of my childhood Christmas books in an antique store. What a treasure! So many memories came back to me.
Iam am an avid reader of books. I started collecting Robert Sabuda christmas pop up books and bring them out every Christmas, Still have not been able to bring myself to buy an E-reader, love the feel and look of books sitting around just waiting to be picked up. Would love to win a copy of your giveaway. It will be surrounded by many fine companies.
We had 2 new kittens 1 christmas and came home to a fallen tree and every ornament broken up and down the hall- what fun they had! I have some great pictures of them playing with ribbons in and out of gift boxes. Tied our tree to the ceiling from then on, and had no glass ornaments for a few years! I would love to “win” the little book, I loved Betsy, Tacy and Tib books as a child, I believe they instilled the love of antiques and olden days in me. Can’t wait to see how the decorated tree looks-thanks for all your sweetness and joy! Wob you too!
Your tree is so perfectly shaped! I love it! I also LOVE the smell of fresh, live trees and love to walk through the bunches of trees that are being sold for Christmas….just for the smell alone! lol. Girl Kitty looked right at home by the tree, and notice how Jack was in the same spot too? He is fitting right in and certainly feels at home now if he is finding ways to get into the tree! He has that little marking on his face that makes him look like he is on the ornery side, so dont be too surprised if begins to do “naughty” things and while he is doing them, he stares at you innocently! He looks the type….”I know I am so cute that you will forgive me everything!”….. We are decorating this weekend and my husband just finished stringing up our outdoor lights. It is a lot of work, but so much fun and totally worth it. Have a wonderful weekend!!!! 🙂
I love this book! I want this book! I need this book!
I am so going to make a permanent list of things to do at Christmas. I’ve been decorating for two weeks straight and everyday I think of something else to do or get out or I forgot…what a great idea…thank you! I have a stack of books that my son and I read, one every night the month of December. Each year I’ve always bought him a Christmas book or two and now we get the stack out each year. So fun to remember him being little and being so excited to find a new “Clifford” book or some other character he loved. We have traditional books too we read, I’m sure long after he has moved out I will continue to do this on my own, or maybe my husband will read them to me. 🙂
I have a box with all the Christmas favorite books that I used to read to my children that I like to keep by our tree, and read one each night. It was so cozy reading your reminder list of Christmas customs. Thanks for sharing!
I’d love to win the charming little Christmas book. Thanks for the giveaway!
Blessings,
Marilyn
Hi Susan…my 7 year old granddaughter just came in with a question about her homework and saw the drawing of the little girl under the words MERRY CHRISTMAS as I was reading your blog. “Nana,” she said, “Is that Betsy?”
She recognized that the Lois Lenski’s drawing is similar to the artwork in the BETSY, TACY, and TIB books that she started reading last year. The books were my favorites from my childhood; and long before I had any grandchildren, I started collecting all of my favorites to past on. I’m just tickled that she also loves the characters in these wonderful books by Maude Hart Lovelace.
Every year on the first Sunday of December, my good friend and I attend the holiday open house at The Flower Gallery to kick-off the festivities of the Christmas season. The store is jam packed with everything…hot cider, flavored coffee, punch fountains, sweet and savory treats, wine tasting, custom-made bows, wreathes, swags, fresh floral arrangements, XMAS trees loaded with ornaments and collectibles, displays of snow villages, jewelry, cards, candles, ribbons, holiday fragrances…all of it wonderful and evocative of the season…and a fresh red rose handed to everyone as they leave loaded with packages and bundles of goodies.
It’s an annual event for us and puts us in the spirit of this most wonderful time of the year!
I have a stack of old Christmas books that I love poring over at this time of year. One of my favorites is a Scholastic Book of Christmas Stories called “The Gift of Christmas”. I think I got it in 5th or 6th grade. Do you remember Scholastic books? You could order them in school and I always loved picking out books to order. Your tree is lovely! I have a small feather tree and decorate it with some very old ornaments that belonged to my great grandmother. Have fun deocrating your tree!
Hi Debbie!
I loved ordering scholastic books too! I loved coming home from school with the list of books for sale and my pencil and spending an hour deciding on the perfect book. And how special I felt when the books arrived at school and there was a package waiting for me. Thanks for the memory and Merry Christmas!!
(another) Debbie
Thank you, Susan, for sharing your putting up the tree traditions! Almost as good as doing it myself without all of the work. I can smell the tree and laugh at Kittie’s antics.
I used to have three cats and they all loved the decorated Christmas tree. By the end of the Christmas season, the bottom third of the Christmas tree was naked. Merry Christmas!
As I was looking at your stacks of Christmas books, I wondered if I had any of them. Home for Christmas by Lloyd C.Douglas looked familiar so I went hunting, and lo and behold, I do have it! And it looks tattered and old like yours! I will need to re-read it. Some other favorites of mine are Joe Wheeler’s series of books Christmas in My Heart and Philip Gulley’s Christmas in Harmony. A newer author I found was Jason Wright who wrote Christmas Jars and Christmas Jars Reunion. I have collected children’s Christmas books for many years and some of my favorites are Jan Brett books and The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg. I have Lassie, A Christmas Story by Earl Hamner and what I love about it, is the illustrations because the characters look just like they did on the TV show, cute little Timmy and mom, June Lockhart. I also have a newer version of Dick and Jane, a Christmas Story. I have several versions of The Night Before Christmas. Love it! I’m running out of room to store these books so I have to be real selective any more. Such fun times with Christmas books! Also, another favorite, The Birds Christmas. ( I think that’s the title).
Have you read Mr. Willoughby’s Christmas? It is such a delight. Yes, I too put out dozens of Christmas stories. What fun it is to revisit them by the light of the sparkling tree.
I so enjoy seeing how festive your house looks; it’s inspiring! I’m also getting ready to put put up the tree. But first, tonight, I’m making your Gingerbread Cake with Lemon Sauce…sooooooo yummy!
I love to collect Christmas books! I really like all of the vintage and antique ornaments the ones with silvery tinsel pipe cleaner and mica glitter. Love the authentic ones and the “newer” versions that have been showing up in stores in recent years. Last Sunday when we had all of our ornaments spread out on the dining table, my 17 year old daughter asked me if my ornament collection was going to be her marriage dowry. I do have a terrible addiction to ornaments and Christmas decor. Thanks for all the decorating tips!
Christmas books, I don’t think I have a one, except the King James Version 🙂
But, I do have some books from my mother-in-law when she read to my husband, who will be 64 next month. Don’t you like the way an old book smells ~ fill of experience and being thumbed through and being devoured and being loved on with how many different fingers! I think this little Christmas book would be a perfect way to accent a spot on my Hoosier!
(thanks for letting us peek in the curtains and boldly walk in your house and see all the pretties!)
You’re all so neat and clean, I can barely tell you’ve been there!
Hi Susan,
I LOVE all your books and enjoy looking through them for recipes and ideas on how to make holidays (and every day!) extra-special. Your blog makes me smile every time I read it especially now that Jack has joined your family. I can’t wait to see what he thinks of the decorated tree…maybe he needs to rearrange a few ornaments?? Thanks for sharing so much of yourself with us “girlfriends”. wob u 2!
Wow, so many of your suggestions I already do, so I feel like I have been doing it right after all…..LOL Love all your ideas, and your kitty and your tree are amazing. Thank you for the peek into your holiday celebration. And yes, I would love to have lovely book! Who wouldn’t? Merry Christmas. Kit
I love my Christmas books too! Some of my favs are The Dolls Christmas by Tasha Tudor, Let’s Keep Christmas by Peter Marshall, The Birds’ Christmas Carol by Kate Wiggin, Secret Gifts by Paul Flucke (neat spin on the birth of Christ) and, of course!, Christmas Joy by s.b.!!!! They’re all lined up with their brothers and sisters on a chest out on my knotty-pine sunporch – my favorite room to decorate for the holidays. Three sides of the room are windows so I run lights through garland along the sills and tuck big fatty white candles into it. A little tree stuck in a wicker basket is bedecked with ornaments I’ve collected from my travels. Nubby, woolly throws are draped over the wicker chairs pulled up to a reading light, so that I can “read those BOOKS!”
Just put three little owls in my tree….they are so cute! Found them on sale at the end of the season last year & completely forgot about them until I uncovered them among the other ornaments….whooo’s having a Merry Christmas? 🙂
I’m visiting my daughter in her new home and we just finished decorating. It’s so cozy now and we’re just having coffee and reading your blog. Somehow, everything seems even cozier! Thank you Susan for sharing so much of yourself with us. I can’t wait to go home and find all my daughter’s old Little Golden Books so she can add them to her decorations–MAGIC!
How wonderful!
I have a collection of Christmas books, not generally vintage, but would love to add this one to my collection. Thank you so much for the opportunity to win it & for helping me finally to get in the Christmas spirit – I shall so much enjoy sharing your Christmas preparations through your blog.
Hi Susan,
Please put my name in the magic random chooser! The little Christmas book is adorable! Thank you .
A few days before Christmas, my Dad and I would trek several miles in the coldest weather to a local greenhouse where we would spend over an hour, trying to find the perfect tree. Every year, the tree seemed to get bigger and bigger, and when it arrived at our home on the greenhouse delivery truck, we held our breath to see if it would fit in our tiny living room. It always looked perfect at the greenhouse, but Dad always had to drill holes in the truck and insert extra branches to fill it out. And I still have my original “Night Before Christmas” book from the 1940s, complete with taped “moving” parts. I loved the page with Santa in his sleigh flying over the night sky with “twinkling” stars, which were put into action via a tab that we moved to make the twinkles. Thank you, Susan, for the memories that your writings evoke.
Silken Wings
Angels lite from cloud to cloud
going to and fro;
Hearts are filled with purest joy,
soft and warm,their glow.
Their silken wings of ivory
spread wide and flying free;
Halos softly glowing
like a gently lighted tree.
Voices meek and gentle
in unison they sing;
Heaven’s doors are opened,
the bells of churches ring.
“Glad tidings of great joy,
peach to men on earth”!
“This day in David’s city,
there has been a wondrous birth”.
Make glad the hearts of childhood
with love and hope and cheer;
An angel gets its wings—-its true!
Sh…….listen,can you hear?
Much love and joy and happiness and peace;to each of us,for each of us.
Thank you Susan for such a time as this to share and love and reflect. We are all one.Greetings of the season ;and ‘A
very merry Christmas!
Veronica
So pretty Veronica!!
I would love to. Add your darling little Christmas book to my collection!
Oooh, it’s starting to look so beautiful Susan! I had to show my hubby that cute picture of Jack headed up your Christmas tree – too cute!
I’d LOVE to have your book. I put children’s Christmas books on display under one of our trees every year.
Every time I read one of your books or you blog I feel as though we are sitting in your kitchen having tea. You are part of my life 365 days of the year. I, too got out the books when decorating this year and Christmas Joy was among them. Another favorite author is Joan Walsh Anglund, I have The Christmas Cookie Book. I feel, for myself, the older I get the more I appreciate all of the decorations, smells and feelings of Christmas, so much more than when I was younger newly married, a young mother and working full time. Life is grand and thank you for being such a special part of it.
Thank you!!!
Susan:
Your Christmas Book is like my bible for the holidays and sometimes even in the summer if I am down in the dumps I pull it out since I just know it always cheers me up. My daughter just pulled out all of the Christmas books this morning and was reading them to our dog Oreo! If we win the book he will be entertained as well! Love the photos and the music! When I get the email updates with your new blog entries, it just makes my day! Thanks.
Sweet Noelle, thank you! You have the perfect Christmas name!
Here I am again, swooning over your blog. I love Christmas. I love old children’s books. And I love old children’s books about Christmas! Please enter me. Have a beautiful Christmas season.
Merry Christmas Susan! I really enjoy reading your blog and seeing your beautiful pictures. I hope little Jack will behave himself! We have two 7 month-old kittens, brother and sister, and they have claimed everything as their’s. I’m running out of space to hide the breakables. They are Maine Coon cats and 9 plus pounds already. The thought of putting up our regular tree with my grandparents glass balls and parents collection is unthinkable with these two. So it’s going to be the smaller artificial tree with unbreakable ornaments this year. And I’m going to anchor that to the wall and see what happens. Wish us luck and I can’t wait to see how it goes at your house! Have a wonderful Christmas and blessed New Year!
Merry Christmastime Susan Branch!
I have an Aunt Margaret who cleaned out her barn in Colorado and found old books and she asked me if I would like to have them. Of course, I said “yes!” Little Women by Louisa M. Alcott with a notation on the inside: To… From… Christmas 1917. Tennyson’s Poems with, again, a notation on the inside: To… From… Dec 25 1985. 😀 There was also a copy of Little Men, and a much used copy of The Innocents Abroad, or The New Pilgrim’s Progress. I was delighted!
This is the same Aunt who recommended Gladys Taber’s books (yes, one of your favorites!). I loved her writing from day #1, and my sister found her website a few years ago…fun!
When my husband’s paternal Grandmother died she had a copy of Dicken’s Christmas Carol which became ours – a prize possession. I love to read it every few years at Christmastime.
I would love to add Once on Christmas by Dorothy Thompson to my collection!
Merry Christmas to you, Joe, Girl and Jack!
We wob you too!
The Butlers
Debbie I discovered Gladys Taber years ago at my local library. I loved her so much that I told my sister, who became a huge fan. Unfortunately the library no longer has her books. I now own reprints of Especially Father, and The Book of Stillmeadow. Still love to read her month to month reflections!
Becky,
How cool to find a fellow Taber fan. 🙂 She’s wonderful!Isn’t it fun to share Susan Branch AND Gladys Taber with your sister?! BTW, we flipped our calendar page to December tonight over the phone! We agreed that the bird is adorable! Susan’s artistry is darling…love the Corgi dog.
Merry Christmas to you and your sis!
Here in Vermont, there is a little more snow! I have 4 daughters and our tradition is BAKING! Cookies of all shapes and sizes and candies! Every year before Thanksgiving we take out our cookbooks. And right on top is your Christmas one! We always make your butter cookies and have added chocolate jimmies cookies, and my favorite frosted molasses! Mmmmm…. Gotta get cooking.
Hi Susan! Boy do I wish I had more time to dwell on and soak up all of your blogs! So busy with working 2 jobs but glad to be healthy enough to do it! In a busy life your notes make me smile so! Thank you so much! You are one of the blessings I count in my life. : ) patty
Thank you Patty!!
Thank you for sharing your wonderful traditions. Can’t wait to see your tree all decorated! Wish I had your barn for storage–we have to rent 2 storage units! Your blogs, Willard, and sweet commentaries speak volumes of love!
Hi Susan-
Just have to brag a little about my tree story because the people in our town are so proud of the fact that a local Christmas tree grower was picked this year to send a beautiful Wisconsin tree to decorate the White House. We have to do some local crowing not much happens here during the winter in little towns like ours.
Love your tree story especially Jacks fascination with what he probably thinks is a present just for him. Such forward thinking “Cat Parents” bringing in a real tree in the house no less, and its all for kittys to explore!!! Good luck and keep the camera handy 🙂
Pretty wonderful, your tree at the White House! That’s not something that happens every day!!
Thanks for this post. I thoroughly enjoyed it. You’ve inspired me to look for more Christmas books to put out, since I only have two. Your tree looks beautiful even undecorated and I do love the tree smell that permeates the house. Our cats also think that we bring a tree inside just for them and they sleep under it all the time.
My favorite Christmas decoration? Our cookie tree!
Individual cookies are wrapped in cellophane and tied on to the branches with green and red ribbons.
Dear Susan,
I love doing my Christmas cards. Every year I include two recipes in each card. I think about and look for the recipes all year long. This allows me to think about Christmas all year!! Then out come the calligraphy supplies and the addresses are carefully written in beautiful script. I’m not finished yet! Can’t forget the seasonal rubber stamping on both sides of the envelope. It’s a lot of effort but I love doing it! I’m a legend in my own mind.
I try to save fanciful paper store shopping bags all year long. When the Christmas company comes, everyone gets a large (recycled) shopping bag to fill with their unwrapped presents and leftovers from the dinner table. It’s fun to decorate the bags too before the guests come.
Susan-try to find a recording of composer John Rutter’s Christmas CD. His Nativity Carol is just beautiful. The Rutter piece and the “Christmas Waltz” sung by ‘Frank’ are my favorite Christmas songs! Merry, merry !!
Dear Susan: I “decorate” with books too…..one of my favorite ones at Christmas time is an illustrated book of Christmas Carols published in England in 1922. Brings me loving memories of my Grand-mum.
You’re certainly right… that spot in your house almost looks like it was MADE to display a Christmas tree! How beautiful!
What an adorable book 🙂 I love to decorate with seasonal books as well; currently on display in a little wicker basket next to my bed is your Christmas book (the mini-one included), your Christmas Memories book, some cookbooks, and a few others. I would love to add the one you’re giving away to my collection! Nothing better than a nice vintage read ♥
Merry Christmas!
I do have children’s Christmas books that I unpack and set out every Christmas. One is The Night Before Christmas, the very one that I owned as a child. I am 54 tomorrow so I expect it is probably around 50 years old. Love it.
I’m a Brenda on here too and I also set out children’s Christmas books although none are from my childhood … they are mostly from when my children were young. However, I am much older than you (I’m 55!) so that’s probably why I don’t have any from my childhood. Happy birthday to you! Have a blessed day and a wonderful year.
Hello to the other Brenda and how funny you are…So much older, one year at that. Did you have tons of Brenda’s in your classroom? I did. Thank you for the Birthday wishes!
I’ll wait for my daughter to get home from college to start decorating the tree. The other decorations I am getting out a little day by day.
I love Lois Lenski, her own dear books (My favorite is Strawberry Girl) and her illustrations in other books, especially the Betsy-Tacy books. I collect old out of print children’s books, this would be great in my collection.
My nieces love to go through my collection. There is always something for them to read.
Susan, even if I don’t win this book, I must find it! I have been coming across so many fun, vintage stories and books over the last month. We always decorate with books at Christmas – we have so many and I love to read them all. Children’s books, Dickens, treasuries of Christmas stories like “Eleanor Roosevelt’s Book of Christmas” and Caroline Kennedy’s great compilation of stories from the Bible story of the birth of Jesus to David Sedaris. So fun to spend the evening reading aloud to the kids, listening to Christmas music and drinking cocoa from those little old Santa mugs, or the old Tom and Jerry cups.
There are also lots of fun stories in magazines like McCalls, LHJ and Family Circle circa the 1930’s to the early 1960’s. Of course, Gladys Taber’s “Butternut Wisdom” comes into play there.
May I recommend a book to you? It’s a collection of short Christmas stories by an author named Bess Streeter Aldrich. I found it, entirely by accident, at a thrift store. I just liked the way it looked and thought it would be a nice addition to the Christmas book collection. Once I started reading it, I was hooked. Really charming stories, mostly written in the 1920’s and 30’s. It’s called “Journey Into Christmas”. A perfect Christmas book.
While we don’t have a cat to climb the tree, we do have a newly mobile one year old… You have Jack (We have a Jack, too, but he’s a 16 year old senior in high school) and we have Maximilian (Max)… I have a feeling he’ll have a lot of fun with my old Shiny Brite’s!
Take care,
Jake
Susan,
Happy decorating! Spent today putting the outdoor lights up. Will put the tree up tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing it all lit for the first time. Hope you have a grand Sunday. Looking forward to seeing your finished tree. Thank you again for all the decorating inspiration! We all wob you too.
What a great post, as always! I guess I’m not alone with my collection of books at Christmas (yours included of course!!) My husband has been stuffing my stocking with tiny Christmas books for years. Love putting them all out every year! We haven’t got our tree yet, that’ll be next weekend, but I too, sometimes think we should just leave it bare, or maybe just lights, one year. They’re soo pretty on their own. But then of course there are so many memories with the ornaments, that we just keep decorating. Have fun decorating yours, Susan! Can’t wait to see it all done!
i love lois lenski. please enter me in the drawing. 🙂
Your tree is beautiful! I love Christmas books and stories. I have a small collection that I am making my way through. Just finished On Christmas Eve by Ann M Martin. Christmas Blessings to you!
I love having you walk me through your Christmas activities. I am anxious to see your tree all decorated! It is all inspiring and exciting. The little book is wonderful. I am getting all mine out tomorrow.
PS Today is my birthday! What a fun gift.
Happy Birthday Sylvia!!!
Susan I love where you put your Christmas tree! Your windows are just lovely!! I’m sure from the outside it will look just magical. Ever since you posted the pictures of your bird trees, I have been on a quest to find these adorable creatures–I have to decorate a tree with them!
Christmas is a wonderful time of friends and family—so much happiness around–it truly is The Most Wonderful Time of the Year! Enjoy yourself and thank you for spreading so much good cheer! ♥
Hi Susan! I have a collection of vintage Christmas books and would love to have the little one added to it. I hope random picks me. 🙂 I enjoy the photos and news of Girl Kitty and Jack. We see a black and white kitty on our car, grill, outdoor furniture, and garden shed roof. I think she has adopted our yard. She won’t come to me, but when I quietly coax her, she will stretch her neck and cautiously snif my hand then backs away. Hopefully she and I will become better friends in the future. In the meantime, thanks for sharing your kitties! Love your blog!
Old books give us such charm and remind us of the simple things that mean the most! They are treasures to be found at estate sales or in corners of our antiques stores. Reading aloud to a child or silently to yourself is a gift to given, ENJOY!
You are so right Linda!!
I too, love books…old ones especially, but I also collect new ones…I’ve never shared them with house guests in their rooms…just in one area of the family room…but I will do it this year….my favorite is one by Tasha Tudor….love that one! Collecting children’s literature is part of who I am….books are magical…and they add so much to the Christmas celebration…..thanks for sharing!
Cynthia
Susan, I just got home from an afternoon and evening of Christmas shopping and driving home on snowy roads. After all of the hustle and bustle, it was quite delightful to get home, change into my comfies and read your blog. 🙂 As a book lover, I think this is a delightful goodie for your next drawing. I’m sure it will find a good home no matter where it ends up. Good luck with handsome young Jack and your Christmas tree!
Okay, if I don’t get the book, can I have Jack, at least for the holidays? Or maybe just a video of Jack in the tree?
I haved loved old books all my life. There is a smell they have unlike any other.
My goal is to have no video of Jack in the tree!!! 🙂
Dear Susan I wasn’t looking forward to decorating for Christmas – the usual bring it downstairs then take it all back in a few weeks. Hardly seemed worth the effort. Then, as I read your Thanksgiving and beginning Christmas blogs and saw all the wonderful ways you decorate your house I found myself looking forward to all the little goodies I have stashed away. With the help of my two and four year old granddaughters we decorated the tree — and it was fun! They put on all the unbreakables, usually four or more per branch, so I do have to re-do a few but it was so enjoyable! Because of you I am ready to have a really good Christmas season – thank you, thank you, thank you so much. I would love to have the book to read to all of my “grands”.
The image of you and Joe carrying the tree up the driveway, singing O come All ye faithful is a wonderful one. It always makes me happy to know I’m not the only one who sings while engaged in tasks or because I’m moved by the moment. When my husband & I moved to NYC and caught our first sight of the Staue of Liberty while driving up the Jersey Turnpike we burst into America the Beautiful. Our Christmas tradition is to decorate the tree, turn off all the house lights, light the tree and sing Silent Night. And because I am extremely myopic, I love to take off my glasses and look at all the lights…they become huge, colored snowflakes! Blessed, blessed Christmas joy to you.
I can fuzz my eyes and make that happen too . . . and love it! 🙂
Line drawings amaze me and I love Christmas-time books. I don’t know how you can part with this one–you must truly “wob” us! Thanks for the chance.
I do I do!
I love books; old ones with worn, stained pages, new ones with pages so untouched they stick together; large ones that barely fit on the bookshelf, miniature ones that sat on Grandma’s shelf and were to be looked at and not touched, pop-up books with pulls and lifts, books with just pictures – so I could make up my own interpretation of the story, hardbound, 1st editions, classics, and especially Cinderella books from all over the world! Like you, I have an entire collection of Christmas picture books that come out on display during the season! Wouldn’t it be fun if “magic-random-chooser” picked me?!
I would love, love to have that book ,It would be such and inspiration to me to add that book to my humble book shelf. I would love to have a inspired collection that I could pass on to my family.
Susan you really don’t know how much your blogs help me. Your kitty cats are a perfect example, I have 4 in the house and 2 of them turned 1 yr old in Nov. so yes they are into everything… so when I see girl kitty and Jack on the tables or climbing on the tree and how you respond to those situations so calmly and make them so not important.. it helps me to relax in those situations, take a deep breath and then shake my head and giggle inside. I used to be tense about those things but not anymore.. so Thank You! Brenda
Oh good Brenda . . . I guess they will do what they will do!!! Jack bounces off the back of my chair, slides across all the papers on my art table, including the thing I just painted, crashing much of it to the floor, touches down on the bookcase and is out of the room SO FAST, I don’t know what hits me! Whatever. That’s what I have to say! 🙂 He’s a kitten. They mellow as they get older, but then you wish they would walk sideways for you just one more time!!
Today, I enjoyed Christmas Open House at a unique antique mall. The food was served from beautiful old platters, crystal bowls and old silver pieces. Lots of vintage Christmas decorations. My thoughts were of you.
were
Ooohhh. I love that little book. I never outgrew my love for children’s books. The Pink House on Maple Street was one of my very favorites and I have been looking for a copy for thirty years. The line drawing of the little girl reading is absolutely precious. Christmas is my favorite time of the year. It may be extra special because my birthday is this month also and just brings back many happy memories and feelings. That little Jack is so adorable. I can envision many hilarious moments with he and the Christmas tree.
Well, happy birthday Amy!
As I’ve mentioned in the past I’m a Tasha Tudor type of gal. My decorations this year are very simple. I always decorate using my Christmas book collections. This year I used more and I’m pleased with the results. I also went out today and bought a small table top tree and a bunch of bird ornaments along with all my bird nick-knacks throughout the house and decorated it up. It turned out to well that it brought tears to my eyes. Thanks so much for the idea. What a difference that made in my holiday outlook. I love the book you referred to and I also recognized the illustrator and the one who did the Betsy-Tacy-Tib books. I own every last one of them and cherish them. That would be a great gift to win. Everyone have a great rest of the weekend!!
I LOVE the wreath on the barn! Just noticed it on my second viewing of the blog. Awesome!
Merry, merry Susan,
Felt the heart strings of elementary school seeing the Lois Lenske artwork and then remembered the Mr Small books and reading them to my girls-another heart tug. Have lots of decorating done, but now inspired to go and get out some Christmas books which consists of one storage box-full (need to count them-it’s a collection, like your birds!) And like Debbie, I loved Scholastic books-ordering them and then when they arrived! Also the Bookmobile in the Summer-another exciting connection to books and memory lane! Love you and your taking time to keep blogging and feeding our addiction! xoxo Melissa R
My addiction too! 🙂
Hi~
I think the gremlins are back in naughty elf costumes….I think they took my comment!
I will try to re~post that one later.
I do want to let Margot know I responded to her question just a few minutes ago (that she can go back to and read) on a previous post. If you can’t find my comment the app is called gaze and available in the AppStore~ It’s a free download that let’s you pick a scene (like the snowflakes) that you can watch while listening to Pandora, etc. Hope you see this!
Blessings~
Lynn
What a gorgeous Christmas tree. We just don’t get such wonderful specimens here in the south (unless it’s man made!!!!) I love Christmas and of course beautiful old books….I have been collecting Christmas books for quite a number of years but there are many that I see on blogs and in magazine photos that are simply not available here. As a lover and collector of kids books ( a passion begun in my former work-for- money life as a library assistant before the birth of our first child)I’ve always enjoyed the unique talents of Lois Lensky, so it’s a fun opportunity to be in the draw of a gift that combines Christmas, books and Lois Lensky. I look forward to seeing and reading of all your preparations. Have a wonderful and blessed Christmas.
What a lovely tree. Do you use tinsel? Your tree reminded me of the ones we had when I was a child. They were resplendid in tinsel. I miss it these days as I have a fake tree. ugh. But it is practical and fortunately the grandgirls don’t know the difference. My favorite decorations are the Christmas books from my children’s early Christmases and the photos of loved ones from early holidays to present. I find old frames and scatter them throughout the house. The real joy is being with my little gals and relishing their wonder! God bless you and all your girlfriends, as we wait for this truly holy day.
I use a little tinsel, just for the sparkle!!
I love your Tasha Tudor tribute on your calendar this month. I’ve been a Tasha Tudor fan for a long time. One of my treasures is a Tasha Tudor signed print my daughter gave me one Christmas when she was about 12. Her dad helped her order it online but she was so excited to buy it for me with her own money. What a sweetie! Now she has her own little sweetie, Anelie who was born on Monday. I’m looking forward to making Christmas memories with my new little granddaughter! The little book illustrated by Lois Lenski looks absolutely wonderful ~ thank you for the chance to win it! 🙂 Merry Christmas!
Oh, Susan! I did not know of this precious book! I am a dyed-in-the-wool Lois Lenski fan, having grown up with Strawberry Girl and The Betsy-Tacy books in my collection of “frequently read and re-read books”. Thank you for making me aware of it! Martha’s Vineyard is my dream locale for a home……I love that you share the happenings and nuance of the island with us! Looking forward to many more Christmas posts……………..Alison
I have always put a stack of Christmas books out on our coffee table at Christmas-time (including yours!) but last year I had the idea to put a pretty Christmas tablecloth in a large basket I have, put some of the books in it (thankfully NOT yours!), and put it on the floor by the edge of the piano. It also was the first year Betti-the-mini-schnauzer lived with my husband, Fanny-the-mini. schnauzer, and I. We were busy at the other end of the house and I asked my husband, Norm, to check on the dogs. He came back and said, “Oh, Fanny is asleep on the sofa and little Betti is sleeping next to the basket of books by the piano–a perfect little angel!” Later that evening while watching the 10:00 news program, I turned my head and my eyes fell on the basket of books and to my horror I realized that two of the largest books had the top corner of their bindings chewed off!!! So we both learned a lesson–no books down on the floor and “a perfect little angel” CAN get into mischief! We are “dog people” but I will tell you that looking at the pictures of Jack and reading about his antics could tempt me to think about a kitten, however, I think I’ll watch and see how the tale unfolds with Jack… 🙂
Fred and George (our 6 1/2 month old kittens) have made it through 2 days and 1 night with the decorated Christmas Tree. They sleep under it, they play under it, they help us water it—but so far they leave it alone! We’re wondering how long our luck will last? I’m amazed at the revelations from friends that they have tied up the tree to keep it from falling, so we don’t feel bad at all about doing that. Good luck with your baby bundle of fur and energy!
One of my favourite books to decorate with at Christmas is “Flight of the Reindeer”…it’s written REALLY scientifically, but I love that wink towards magic. Kids are WIDE EYED flipping through it. 🙂
Oh Susan – today is my birthday! 61 yrs young! I just got home from Christmas shopping most of the day – sat down to rest my feet and check in on you. What a fun post. That Jack is so cute. He has me wrapped around his paw! Your tree is gorgeous. I love real trees – they smell so good. We love birds around here too. My little granddaughter’s middle name is “Bird” – and I’m really not kidding. I know – you just have to “ponder” that one! It’s a little “out there” but it fits her! I call her Lola Bird – you know like Linda Bird 🙂 – sometimes “Birdie” – but I’m running off-track now. We’re all decked out here now. Just gotta get the baking, shopping, wrapping finished. Enjoy decorating the tree and send us a picture when it finished!
Ooops! Forgot to say we’re book lovers here as well. I have stackes of Christmas books next to our tree – one of my favorite Christmas stories is a short story by Taylor Caldwell. Also have one my mother used to read to me that was written in the 1800’s. The book is so old and fragile, I’m afraid to handle it much. It’s called Bessie’s Dream. It’s a sad Christmas story/poem but wonderful.
Happy Birthday Cathy!!! Love Bird for a name!! So cute!
I forgot to mention – just in time for my birthday – I received the little vintage Christmas glasses! Thank you! I LOVE them. They are so precious to me. I have to pinch myself that I actually got them! I wanted to buy them a few months ago but talked myself out of them. When I saw that they were still in the store I decided they had to come and live with me! THANKS FOR SHARING THEM!
They are one of a kind, that was all there ever was. . . so happy you got them!!
Your trees are beautiful–bird tree or big tree, hummm. Glad you don’t have to choose just one.
Last year I found some Jingle Bells Shotgun Shells Christmas tree lights that I put on a little tree. (They’re made from real red and green shotgun shells.) I think I’m going to add the few birds that I have to that tree this year. Just for the fun of it. The birdies win, of course.
Thanks for sharing your Christmas fun with us and for offering such wonderful give-aways.
I love your tree, and it wouldn’t be a true tree without a kitty peeking out halfway up. Better than my golden retriever who lifted his leg . . . but mom, it’s ok outside, why are you bringing a tree inside anyway??
Yes, definitely, better than that! 🙂
You are very kind and generous! The book looks sweet, the tree looks beautiful.
Jo
I have a collection of Christmas books, and I have a very small collection of old books. . . But I do not yet have a collection of old Christmas books. . . Will have to start one – officially inspired. 🙂
xoxox!
I LOVE Lois Lenski!!! OMG…haven’t thought of her books in YEARS. My childhood was practically forged on Lois Lenski books… i’m remembering “Strawberry Girl” right now. Sigh. Wonderful, wonderful. And, of course, I LOVE Susan Branch!! For being amazing, funny, entertaining, witty, and such a total DOLL. You make my day, every day I read your blog, or consult one of the many cookbooks of yours that I own! And you sure know how to “do” Christmas! Hurray for the holidays! Looking forward to seeing your tree all decked out 😉 Bye, now, from me in California…no snow in sight…
Thank you Pattie! No snow here either!
Love this blog!!! Love everything Christmas!! Jack is so cute, looking up at Joe!
I adore books, especially old ones!! (don’t forget to read FALLING FOR A DANCER!!) And I love Lois Lenski! ♥♥♥ Last year I started putting out all my Little Golden Books Christmas books. They look so cute on my window sill!
Susan, be sure to go see “Hugo”!! We just saw it and it’s wonderful!!!
Thanks Mary . . .!!