Monday, December 8, 2008

Handmade Christmas

You should be here this afternoon. It's about to rain and the trees are lit. Christmas music is playing and outside the wavy glass windows the wind is blowing. Cookies are in the oven and the kettle is on. And, if you get around the mile-high pile of packages awaiting the postal truck, it's somewhat cozy in here.

I've knitted so many House Helper Sets this holiday season that I'm sure I'll be sick if I have to do another. Madelyn ordered 14 sets as gifts, which I was thrilled to do. I finished her pile the week of Thanksgiving and have since been working on five others. They'll land in the Freeman House Shop tonight. After that I'm retiring from knitting. At least for a week.

This past weekend a car-load of folks and I drove to Jefferson for the annual Christmas Candlelight Tour. We stood in the cold and waited to traipse through the beautiful old homes (and one restored Civil War saloon) and get Christmas decorating ideas. I have such an enormous crush on Jefferson. If you've never been, you must. Make plans to go next year. My favorite house on this season's tour was the Sagamore, a circa 1852 home built exactly like Freeman House. (You can see it by clicking on the Tour link above.) Although the rule for all houses on the tour is natural decorations and candlelight only... no artificial or electric nonsense... the Sagamore went a step further and displayed only period decorations. There were bowls of apples and cranberries and nuts. There were stockings and pastries. There were swags of greenery and berries and pine cones. There were rag balls and a simple tree. And the candles and fires in the fireplaces were wonderful. The four of us stood huddled around the dining room fire and I felt like I was living a homespun Christmas, Charles Dickens' style. Lovely. I adored that night.

As much as I'd love a sit-and-chat, I must be off. Two enormous party trays await henrybella's brownies, cookies and truffles, and for some odd reason, the goodies won't make themselves. Ah well. It's the handmade things that are best after all. Whether we're talking knitting, decorations or food, handmade is always best. ...

8 comments:

Terri Steffes said...

How delightfully busy you are! I am happy to see and hear you are in such good spirits. The season is sitting well on you today!

Vee said...

You do sound busy. I guess that's good news! I'm off to follow your link...love house tours!

Anonymous said...

Oh Brin! How are the fingers feeling after knitting so many? You've reminded me that it's time to get off the computer and get some more knitting done.

~Mad said...

ooooohhhhhhhhhh! I can't wait 'til they arrive - thanks for the preview!
Peace,
Madelyn
www.xanga.com/madewyn

Anonymous said...

Brin,
I forgot to ask if you'd mind sharing where you found the tags that you have tied the cloths with.

Rochelle said...

Hi Brin...Don't you just love wavy glass windows?? I too have them in our home and love looking out them to see the distorted trees and shrubs. The only thing I don't like about them is that they are so old they are single pane glass which costs a lot in the winter when the gas & electric bill come! Oh the charm of old houses but the reality of bills!
I have enjoyed reading your blog.....
Happy Winter! :)
Rochelle

Rosa said...

This is a good reminder. . .
I haven't started any of my Christmas crafting.
Time to get busy!

Unknown said...

Oh, I'd love to go on that tour, to turn back time just for a night, it must of been like a dream! And yes, homemade is best, comes from the heart! Rest your fingers, they've earned it! Holiday hugs!!