Daydreaming of Spring...

It happens every year like this... Christmas comes and goes so quickly... I love Christmas... but I am not a winter person, and I don't like the cold... perhaps it is because I am a gardener... and I am missing my roses and violets... my bleeding hearts and columbine... thus my thoughts turn to Spring... it is in my heart... and on my mind... the days are already getting longer... oh, maybe it is just a few minutes a day... but never you mind... they are getting longer... I wait in giddy anticipation for my yearly seed catalogs to begin arriving in the mail... it is still December... yes... I know... but now it is my quiet time... time to plan and dream... plot and scheme... my gardens are deep in their winter slumber... but they too are already dreaming of Spring... I wistfully picture my beautiful climbing red roses that I planted from cuttings taken from my very special little secret place to my own gardens several years ago to bloom their first blooms... they took root and last year began growing so much... but no blooms yet... I daydream about my sweet wild violets... fast asleep in the icy~covered garden...yet I swear I can smell their heavenly parfum drifting through the chilly early morning air...


I head down my frost~covered little stone paths in my winter boots... bare feet with the warmth of the Springtime sun on the stones is so much nicer ... nevertheless... I check my gardens often... there is still so much more of winter to come... and I do not want to wish the time away... but the promise of Spring calls out to me... perhaps the flower~fairies have left the sweetest little surprise of some kind for me there... they love to tease you know... gifting me with subtle little hints of the Spring to come... I gaze at my Fairy Rose... the flower~fairies favorite place to frolic and dance... through a hazy mist, it appears to be blooming... I blink my eyes... I was certain I saw their oh~so~soft palest~of~pink petals... but no, she is still fast asleep... and the fairies have left no little gift for me... I could have sworn I saw the slightest movement out of the corner of my eye... a tiny little sprite, I just know I did... but there are no little footprints in the garden... and no fairy dust to be seen... but then I already told you, the flower~fairies love to tease... then ever~so~softly I hear the lilting sound of sweet laughter... yes... they ARE here... but where... the winds are stirring now and the air is bitter cold... yet, my heart is warm and my soul content as I head back inside... a nice warm cup of herb tea and my garden journal await... there are dreams to dream... and plans to be made... as the flower~fairies laughter lingers in my mind... xoxo...

"O, wind, if winter comes
can spring be far behind?" ~Percy Bysshe Shelley

"Twas the Night Before Christmas and All Through the House....

Not a creature was stirring...

Not even a mouse"...

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!... xoxo...

Jill's and My Gift of Time Day...

Yesterday was the day my sister Jill and I had reservations at our favorite tearoom in Salt Lake City for afternoon tea, following a day of browsing through antiques shops... I took some time off of blogging, to give myself the gift of time as well... time to bake, make candy, wrap presents... all of the last minute things we all do just before Christmas... this has honestly been one of the nicest years I have ever spent on these precious days before the big day... I slowed down... which is hard for me... I am always going at warp speed, so many things I love to do, I don't want to waste a single moment in a day... but this week... my pace slowed down some... and it felt so good!... all of my cards were mailed in time... out of town packages mailed on time... little gifts to neighbors all delivered... everything ready to prepare for our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinners... so, I decided to do one more Christmasy post, as after Christmas my thoughts turn to Spring...(yes, I love Christmas, but I don't like winter or cold)... it was an absolutely perfect day yesterday, in all ways... here are Jill and I at my home getting ready to leave for our day together... we both wore the pretty watch pendants I made for us out of our mama's vintage watches... I know our mama is always close by, watching over us from above... I am certain she was there with us as well yesterday...

We had planned on browsing Antique Row in Salt Lake City... a couple of blocks in downtown Salt Lake that is all antiques shops... but the bitter temperatures made us change our mind, so we headed to our favorite inside antiques mall in Salt Lake City...

The crazy look in my eyes is probably me wondering what Jack would say if I brought this gorgeous candelabra style lamp home... I absolutely loved it, and the price was right... but I was not sure if I was ready for that "where is THAT going" look in Jack's eyes when I got home... perhaps I shall go back for it and sneak it in my crafts room... then one day, it will suddenly appear upstairs... tee hee hee...

You know moi and vintage Christmas!... I am literally a kid in a candy store about it!... and there was sooo much, I was in vintage Christmas heaven...

So many tresors brought back so many happy childhood memories for Jill and I... we each remembered so many of these items... many we still have, some we do not... I just wanted to tell the lady to bag it all up and charge it to me! (but I refrained)...




The angels all sang out to me... so lovely... so teeny and sweet, I wanted them all... Jill and I each picked out several small gifts for each other, as planned... and headed to our reservation at the tearoom at 2 o'clock... we could have spent hours... no, days, in the antiques mall... I am going back very soon!...

Tea could not have been more perfect in every way...

The gorgeous tearoom is in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City, and I found a parking spot right across the street... the entire tearoom is decorated in exquisite antiques and vintage style...

Tea was served in these stunning little teacups... I bought a little gift set of teacup and saucer for Jill and I...

I chose Earl Grey tea...

Jill chose white wine...

Isn't it beautiful!...

Tea sandwiches and scones... plenty of yummy jam for the warm scones...

A pretty centerpiece of a flowering tea... the little tea flower was placed in the glass, then hot water poured over it, and as we sipped tea and ate our sandwiches, the little flower slowly opened before our eyes... so pretty!...

Blackberries with whipped cream and chocolate petit fours for dessert... Yummers!...

We hated to leave, and promised each other we would come back soon... we had the cutest little waitress who made our time together so much fun!... we giggled and laughed and enjoyed being together so much... we have always been inseparable... we still are, and we felt like little girls again...

Jill bought me this adorable little vintage angel and these two precious vintage bottlebrush wreaths at the antiques mall... we each have a gift to wrap and give each other on Christmas Day...

Thank you Jill... I have not laughed so much in years and it really did seem like we were little girls once more... excited over everything... having fun just being together... there is no greater gift we could have given each other than the day spent together... I love you my little sister!...

As I was out with Tessy in the early morning hours today, I took this photo from our porch, looking in through the little panes in our window at our Nature tree in the living room... the little lights twinkled and sparkled so behind our sheer lace curtains.... I love how they they seem to say "come inside"... I love my home... it is warm and cosy... the smell of cinnamon bread and peppermint tea is in the air... this is where my memories come to life and my dreams begin... my safe haven... my darling Jack... our 34th Christmas together... our first Christmas with our precious Tessy... she is sooo excited!... she and I dressed up in our faux leopard jackets and took yummy treats to her doggie doctor and his technicians... a cash donation and lots of toys for kitties and doggies in his no~kill shelter... Tessy asked if we can put out a plate of ham and Cheez~its for Santa Dog on Christmas Eve... (Tessy's favorites!)... yes, Tessy and I talk all the time... All of God's precious little creatures need to know the joys of Christmas too... our birdfeeders are filled for our feathered friends, and apples and peanuts and cracked corn are put out for the deer and other critters who call our home theirs as well... time spent this week just exactly how I wanted to... with those I love... and now, our time will be spent reflecting on the reason for the season... the birth of our Saviour... thank you dear blogging friends for giving me the gift of your time as well each time you visit Idyllhours... I wish you all a most beautiful and blessed Christmas... xoxo...

From Our Home to Yours...

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!...

Starting my week of "The Gift of Time" to myself and my family... see you all after Christmas!... I hope you all have a most beautiful and blessed one... xoxo...

"See the Little Children"...

Many of you know my dear friend Rebecca of "A Gathering Place"... and many of you have read her posts about her darling little granddaughter Miss K... I have followed Miss K's stories through the past few years and one in particular really touched my heart... you may read Rebecca's post about her here. Rebecca wrote of how dear little Miss K had been taunted and teased in school and wondered why the other little girls did not like her... she wondered if she was not pretty enough... she did not understand... my heart ached as I read this post... I wanted to hold little Miss K close and tell her how pretty she is, inside and out, and that everything would be all right... I felt a special bond to this little girl I had never met... for I too was once a very shy, timid little girl... taunted and teased... I felt like I was not pretty enough either... and wondered why I was not included in the other girls fun and games... other than to be the target of their mean little spirits... oh how I did not want Miss K to have to endure the things that I did... so, I sent her a little package... and a special letter, telling her she was loved by me... after that, we became friends and "pen~pals" if you may...

Yesterday, a beautiful gift arrived for me... actually two gifts... this beautiful pillow handmade by her nana, Rebecca, and chosen by Miss K especially for me... the second gift... the overwhelming feeling of joy in my heart that this little girl has given me...

Two little girls... with hair of brown... and pink ribbons in their hair... and dresses of pink (our favorite color!)... Miss K in the photo below...

And me in the next photo, about the same age Miss K is now... trust me... my silk ribbon was pink and so was my dress my mama had sewn for me...
Two shy little girls... so very far apart in age... and in miles... but so very close in their hearts... thank you Miss K, for both of my gifts... love you more!... xoxo...

"See the little children laugh and sing

Fantasy is such a common thing

Love is why the flowers grow

Of all the red and blue

I wish they never had to know

Love can hurt them too

See the little children laugh and sing...

See the little children running by

Happiness is dancing in each eye

And love is just a mountain tall

Where angels learn to sing

How could they know that angels fall

Before they grow their wings?

See the little children running by...

See the little children on their way

Give them kisses, candy and today

Tomorrow will be soon enough

To know what we speak of

Tomorrow will be soon enough

To know the hurt of love

See the little children on their way" ~Nancy Sinatra

'Twas Ten Days Before Christmas...

"Twas ten days before Christmas... we were scared and alone...
in the clearance bin at the crafts store...
oh how we wanted a home...
We'd heard tell the Squirrels had a cozy chalet...
in a Forest so lovely... a safe haven to play...

It would not cost much to buy us this day...
the other critters were all sold and gone now...
so we began to pray...

We must stick together...
through good times and bad...
To take one not the other
Would make us so sad...

There's talk of a lady..
named Julie Marie...
who loves all God's creatures...
If only it could be...
That she might come in...
to the store on this day...
and see our sweet faces...

We'd steal her heart away...

Then our hearts starting beating...
at such a fast pace...
as Julie Marie bought us...
and gave us a place...

A snow~covered Forest...
with our own Christmas tree...
fairytale dreams do come true...
thank you, Julie Marie"... xoxo... the Foxes

The Magic of Christmas...

Is softly carried on the wings of angels... who sprinkle love and joy... peace and good will...

and the spirit of Christmas...

all around the world... xoxo...

While Visions of Sugarplums...

...danced in her head...


Sweet dreams my little Sugarplum... Christmas is almost here... xoxo...

Christmas Candy...

Like everything else that brings back happy childhood memories, so do many of the candies of Christmas... as you know, I never break traditions... so, without fail, I buy some of the candies we love each year that are still available that I remember as a child... seems like they are getting harder and harder to find... here are a few of my favorites, and a few new ones too...

I fill all sorts of vintage pieces with yummy treats for guests (like Moi!)... a vintage cut crystal candy dish ... beautifully vintage etched crystal champagne glasses... vintage crystal wine glasses... they all make beautiful candy dishes...

One of my most favorite are these darling old~fashioned Christmas tree peppermint nougats... (it's still fun to pull the trees and make them longer, tee hee hee!)...

Pretty old~fashioned Christmas rock candy...

Filly and Ellie brought us this pretty little Kilner jar from London, filled with delish rhubarb and custard sweets...

And my newest addiction... peppermint bark!...

This comes from Costco, and mmmm... it is yummers!...

Christmas is a time for bringing cherished memories to life once more... like helping mama make divinity and fudge when we were just little girls... and making candy wreaths to gift each neighbor... homemade brownies and sugar cookies... red velvet cakes and pumpkin pies... hard tack and caramels... I love to be in my kitchen this time of year, donning a vintage apron and whipping up a batch of fudge... or anxiously awaiting the nutbread to come out of the oven... I guess it isn't just the candy I love, but all of the goodies!... each and every bite is filled with cherished memories... do you have a favorite traditional goodie you make or buy each year?... I hope it is filled with happy memories too... xoxo...