Merry Christmas!

Here's a picture of our cute little wreath to wish you a warm and wonderful holiday. My posting may be a little sporadic over the next week or two. I'll see what I can do in between relaxing and hanging out with Tony and drinking hot chocolate...

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

The Gift of the Magi

O. Henry's The Gift of the Magi is my absolute favorite Christmas story. I especially like the illustrations in this edition. What a great lesson to remember as we hustle around and stress out about Christmas shopping.


The magi, as you know, were wise men--wonderfully wise men--who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents. Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing the privilege of exchange in case of duplication. And here I have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. Of all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi.

White Horse Antiques

Another of my favorite places to shop here in Rocheport is White Horse Antiques. It's just up the street in a little 1840 historic home. (It looks much nicer in this picture than it does today when it's 1 degree outside!) They have fabulous antiques and new items and a little garden shop out back where I love to buy Pre de Provence soap. Sometimes when we're there, their big golden lab named Sam will come to visit. They also sell primitive rug hooking kits. I got one with a rabbit and stars - I just need to find the time to do it!

Friday Featured Etsy Seller: Soap Rehab

One thing I have not yet purchased from Etsy is soap. I may have to try a bar from Soap Rehab. Her natural bars are fairly priced and nicely shaped. This pumpkin bar sounds delicious - and I wonder what the frankincense and myrrh bar would smell like...

Thursday Tunes: St. Louis Cathedral Concerts

The Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis is one of the most incredible places you will ever see. If you look at the picture below, the striped parts are marble walls. Everything above the stripes is made of mosaic tiles. No paint. There are millions of tiles making up the pictures that adorn the archways and domes of the cathedral. It took 70 years to finish the mosaic project. From October to June, the cathedral does a concert series. We've been two or three times, and it has been amazing each time. One of our favorites was the Westminster Abbey Choir of boys featuring a virtuoso organist. No wonder they call it "great music in a great space!"

Gingerbread House

The Christmas preparations are in full swing at Modern Country. Can you believe this gingerbread house that she made? It is so beautiful. Her blog is still mostly not in English, so it took me a minute to figure out that Jul=Yule=Christmas. (I'm going to be making gingerbread cookies using the recipe from the Scovil Bakery in Nauvoo.)

O, Christmas Tree

It's actually snowing here today! Just some flurries, but it is really starting to feel like Christmas. We don't have a tree this year because we'll be out-of-town and back-and-forth, and we don't want to have the fire hazard of a dry tree on a wood floor with questionable wiring at our house. So, I'm going to borrow Dani's tree. She posted this gorgeous picture over at some lovely mumbo jumbo, and I think it is perfectly merry and bright.

Manitou Studio

We are really close to having our Christmas shopping done, thanks to our next-door neighbor. He retired this year from teaching ceramics at a small college here in central Missouri. He has pieces in a couple of shops in the area, and he sells out of a little shed in his driveway called Manitou Studio. Lucky for us we can just walk next door and browse anytime he's open. Just another nice thing about living in Rocheport.

New from Joe

I thought I would check to see if Joe had any new works on his site, and - surprise! - he does. There is a handful of oil paintings, which are superb. Then there's this. It's called Tucked Away, and I would really like for it to be my Christmas present. It probably won't be, but I can sure hope that he'll make some prints out of it...

Friday Featured Etsy Seller: Joom

If you're looking for a great pillow, visit Joom's Etsy store. I love the bold designs and colors. If you want something festive, you could get this one with a cute, fat red cardinal.