A Few of My Favorite CHRISTMAS Things

"The world is so full of a number of things,

I'm sure we should all be as happy as kings."

- Robert Louis Stevenson

Since it's jolly Christmas time, I thought it might be time for another of my postings on a few of my favorite things, but with a special emphasis on Christmas. Some of these are  perennial favorites of mine or our family's and others are more recent discoveries. As usual, I don't get any compensation for these recommendations, but I'll give you the sources, if you want to discover more (or purchase) for yourself...although some are delightfully free! Here are a few of my favorite Christmas things:

1.) Jenny Steffens Hobick's wrapping paper. Big shout out to her for designing gorgeous, distinctive, and high quality wrapping paper! The thickness of the paper is sheer luxury. And each roll comes in a cardboard tube for storage without a wrinkle. Seriously, why doesn't all wrapping paper come like this? These were the patterns I chose, but she has many other choices too. Ribbon and tags from JSH too! Click here for more.

2. Wassail recipe. For about 25 years now, our family has had a Christmas open house, and we have served this recipe every year. Some people even say...they come for the wassail. It's super simple. I heat it up on the stove and then add it to a crockpot to keep warm throughout the party.

Wassail

1 large jug of apple juice or cider

1/3 of a large can of pineapple juice

1 c. orange juice

1 T. whole allspice

1 T. whole cloves

2 cinnamon sticks

Tie spices up in a square of cheesecloth, or place in a jumbo tea strainer. 

Put all juices in a large stockpot. Add spices and slowly heat, but not to boiling. Simmer for about 3-40 minutes to allow spices to infuse juices well. Remove spice bag. Serve.

3. Fresh greens. Nothing beats the fragrant beauty of fresh greens in our home! It doesn't really feel like Christmas until the banister has fresh roping draped from it and bits of greens are stuck in ironstone bowls and nestled in among bowls of ornaments. This year, I gathered them from our own property, but I have also been known to discretely *ahem* gather them in from less obvious places of the Christmas tree. 

4. Christmas mugs. Our collection of Christmas mugs (just a few shown here) just makes me smile. They are stored in a box with all the rest of our Christmas decorations, and they come out the day after Thanksgiving. We remove all the ordinary mugs from the cupboard, pack them into the Christmas box, and place the Christmas mugs into the cupboard. Then we reverse it all after New Year's. The plaid ones came from Williams-Sonoma (click here). The ones with the tartan initial came from Pottery Barn (click here). The adorable ones with the wreaths and sentiments are new from Target this year (click here). And the festive one with quilt squares and holly is designed by Susan Branch (click here).

5. The Gloucestershire Wassail. I love the imagery of this carol...the happy conviviality of the Christmas season that spreads peace and goodwill between all people...a time of wishing each other well and casting aside any ill feelings. I love almost every version of this song, but the one by Lorenna McKennitt is my favorite. Check for it on itunes, or listen to it here.

Image credit here. Photo by: Ann Elliot Cutting.

6. A mix of white Christmas lights. Haven't Christmas lights improved ten-fold in the last twenty years of so? I am just so thrilled with all the options we have now. My favorite way to use them is in a mix of styles, but all in white. We have warm white mixed with cool white on our Christmas tree, as well as twinkling and non-twinkling, and standard shaped lights and little round ball lights. The mix add interest and depth and sparkle!  The lights shown in this picture are entwined in some bare branches flanking our front door this season. They are: small pinecone-shaped lights (top), big clear balls (middle), and small white balls (bottom). Target is my go-to source for Christmas lights.

7. The Toad Hall Company Christmas cards. These are, without a doubt, some of my favorite Christmas cards we've ever sent! I purchased different Christmas cards from this same British artist for Christmas 2017, in honor of our trip to the UK last year. But I loved them so much, I went back for more this year. The artist, Rebecca Day, has her own website (click here) and an Etsy shop (click here). Check out all her cards, gift tags, and more!

8. Bayberry candle. When I was a child, my mother had a bayberry candle, a fat, pillar one, which she lit only on Christmas Eve. It was carefully packed away each year. And it lasted forever, since it was only burned for a few hours once a year. In fact, she may still have it! But the aroma of that bayberry candle...with all its botanical spiciness, is an instant Christmas memory trigger for me. For years and years, I searched in vain for a bayberry candle that smelled exactly like that. And at last I found one! It's available on Amazon (click here). It burns on our kitchen island every day during the Christmas season, and I hope our family always carries that scent memory with them.

9. "Christmas According to Christ" - a sermon by Alistair Begg. This sermon. This sermon! This sermon delivered by this man. It's message is eternal and explains clearly why we celebrate this thing called Christmas. And if that wasn't recommendation enough, any sermon delivered with a Scottish brogue makes me listen more carefully, makes me smile at the occasional turn of phrase that tickles the mind, and fills my mind with awe at the emphasis on the glory of God. Click here to listen.

Photo credit: here.

10. King's College Cambridge - A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols. This live broadcast of the Christmas Eve service of King's College Cambridge fills me with awe and joy in the Lord every Christmas Eve. Nothing else helps to focus my heart more on the true meaning of Christmas than this broadcast. The sound of voices filling a soaring cathedral in praises to God is a beauty almost indescribable and a foretaste of what heaven must be like. Click here to find out all the ways you can listen to it live this Christmas Eve.

Photo source: here.

I'd love to hear what some of your favorite Christmas things are! Please leave a comment and share!

Comments on Colors

I've realized that I am particularly fond of color. Although I admire those clean, white homes, or those with varying shades of white (like Nora Murphy's gorgeous home), I just don't think I could ever create that for our home. I just adore color so much. I have been known to stop in my tracks to study a particular color combo. I stare, agape, at displays of colored pencils. I stop and study the nuances of green in moss growing on a rock or tree. I like analyzing the composition of a color..does it have yellow undertones?...or brown? Perhaps I'm just a bit obsessed.

I love studying interesting color combinations in clothing. I have an entire Pinterest board devoted to it. There I pin intriguing color combos that one doesn't see every day, or were more popular in the past. Did you realize that certain color combos were very popular in past fashions eras, but we rarely see them now? And nature, being created by the Author of color, has unending colors and combinations that never fail to awe and bless us with their beauty. Here is some color inspiration for you. I hope it inspires you to look through your wardrobe and try something new!

Robin's Egg Blue and Rose-Pink: This is one of my favorite color combos from the past. If you watch for it in old paintings, you will see it everywhere. But you won't see it much at the local mall.

Source: here

Source: here

And it can be varied with great results too! For instance, you can increase the red in the pink-rose:

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Or you can deepen the blue:

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Or add a bit more green to the robin's egg blue and alter the pink-rose to a salmon, and you get a striking color combination!

Source: here

Source: here

Different tones of brown: Brown is an underappreciated color. I never appreciated it until I moved to New England (probably because so much of the natural world in southern California is brown). I never owned a single article of brown clothing until I moved here. And now it's one of my favorite colors to wear in the autumn. It's frightfully out of fashion this season. I know because I'm in need of a new brown turtleneck, and haven't seen a single one for sale anywhere. But check out these beautiful ensembles from past eras made striking by just altering the tone (the shade or tint) of the brown.

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This is probably my all-time favorite brown-on-brown ensemble. Isn't she elegant? She looks like a cup of tafetta hot cocoa! Brown makes a stunning evening color...when it's done right. And this ticks all the boxes!

Source unknown.

Cobalt blue and green. Cobalt blue has the distinction of looking good when paired with a myriad of greens. And the combo looks equally good on men and women.

Source: here

Source: here

Source unknown.

Wine and Pomegranate Red: This is one of my favorite combinations to wear. I wore it just last week. Looks great paired with gold jewelry. And it can vary into burgundy and purple and look just as good.

Source: here.

Source: here.

Eggplant and greens: I must admit to not having much eggplant in my wardrobe, but someday it's going to happen. Just look at the gorgeousness here!

Source unknown.

Source: here.

And in the "honorable mention" category, since I don't have many images of these combos (yet), are:

Midnight blue and purple: (note how they photographed this against a green background).

Source: here.

Navy blue and brown:

Source: here.

Grape purple and copper-brown:

Source: here.

I hope you enjoyed this little dose of pretty and found something to inspire you! Thanks for letting me "geek out" (as my kids would say) about my passion for color.

Top 10 Favorite Instagram Accounts

Don't you just love Instagram? I do! Maybe I love it because I'm a highly visual person, and Instagram is all about the visuals? And maybe I love it because it's a more positive, less political, and less controversial place than Facebook? But whatever the reason, I love this place where people share the beauty they see in their everyday with all the rest of us, because the world IS beautiful and how can we NOT share it? And people are fascinating, and it's fun to have a window into another's world. 

I wish I could share with you some images from my favorite accounts, but those belong to each person, so you can't copy and paste. But you can copy and paste profile pictures, so I'll have to make do with that. And my best advice is that you read this posting with your Instagram app open in one hand, so you can easily see what I'm referencing. I hope I can point you towards some accounts that will bring a smile to your face, brighten your day, and inspire you with beauty and/or adventure, because each of these accounts does that for me.

#1 - Jo Rodgers (@jo_rodgers) - who describes herself as, "Loves stories. Often in the kitchen. London."

Although this list is not meant to be in order, I will freely admit that Jo Rodgers' account is my hands-down favorite! Every photo is a small story of details waiting to be studied and appreciated. And her writing style is brisk, descriptive, humorous, and engaging. Here's a caption from one of her photos:

"It’s been snowing today, thrillingly. During the first whoosh of it, all of our potted plants were hustled into temporary shelter in the kitchen, where they have formed a great green divide between ourselves and the bread box (so long, toast). The space heaters are whirring hell for leather, and the house smells like paperwhites and blood orange loaf cake."

She has the consistency of a beloved friend who can always be counted on, as her photos are always top notch and her passions are worn on her sleeve, so that you really do feel as though you have been allowed to occupy a small corner of her home...just quietly observing the goings-on. If a complete stranger asked me, "What is Jo Rodgers doing right now?", I feel like I could hazard a guess with reasonable accuracy...cooking?...working a crossword puzzle?...reading a book?...gardening?...eating?...planning a luxury vacation?...sipping hot chocolate? That is one thing I really adore about her...we share a passion for hot chocolate.

-She is a contributing editor to Vogue.
-She and her husband are renovating a Georgian-era home in London.
-They are expecting their first baby!
-She creates the most amazing picnics.

#2 - Amanda C. Brooks (@amandacbrooks) - who describes herself as, "Author of Farm From Home and founder of @cutterbrooksshop"

She is an American socialite who married an English artist and took up residence on his family farm in the Cotswolds. Her life is a captivating blend of jam making and Paris runway shows...farm animals and stunning vacations. Perhaps it's because I've always been drawn to things coexisting in contrasts, like rustic elegance, that I find her Instagram account so intriguing. I also find it admirable when people create a life of beauty in an element not their own, (one reason why "Out of Africa" has always been my favorite movie), and Amanda C. Brooks seems to have done just that. Plus she has an adorable Golden Retriever! AND she has a sheep named Juice (love that name!) who was quite tame for a long time and behaved more like a dog than a sheep, and what's not to love about that?

-She just opened a shop in Stow-on-the-Wold.
-Her photos of "fox hunts" are straight out of another era and positively swoonworthy.
-Her Instagram story that is permanently etched in my memory is of her children (and her?) running along a stack of hay bales that looked to be about three stories high!

#3 - Beverly P (@ducklasagne) - who says of herself, "Primarily a Bostonian, with occasional travels in between."

Ducklasagne is my favorite Boston-based Instagrammer. Always stellar photography...never anything mediocre, and I respect that sort of professionalism in a hobby! She's drawn to architecture and flowers and people and seems to have an expert knack at catching just the right person striding past a classic brownstone. Her captions are short and to-the-point, and touched with a trace of humor that frequently makes me titter.

-Captures the Back Bay area of Boston primarily, but expands elsewhere too.

-Doesn't often post a story, but when she does, they never disappoint.

-Likes bakeries. (My kind of gal!)

#4 - Marte Marie Forsberg (@marte_marie_forsberg) - who says of herself, "Norwegian writer and photographer living in the English countryside. Author of “The Cottage Kitchen” cookbook. Photography and cookery workshops."

Her mesmerizing photography drew me in, and her heartfelt captions speak to my soul. Considering herself a "visual storyteller", Marte Marie Forsberg combines cooking with hauntingly beautiful photography with philosophical captions to create one of the most unique Instagram accounts that I've encountered. 

"The gorse are blooming and the sun is out. The kettle is on and the builder is coming to look at the renovation plan for the cottage. Some days are more productive than others, and today I’m determined to get as much off my to-do list as I can, in a calm manner. The cottage kitchen smells divine with a cardamom infused Norwegian waffle mixture resting till tea time, and a jar of Norwegian raw strawberry jam...is opened. I’m playing Mozart for the baby, and Mr Whiskey is snoozing in his chair by the window. It’s a Tuesday that positively feels like a Sunday..." 

Her Rembrandt-esque photos of her cozy English cottage take kneading dough and chopping vegetables to the level of the poetic. Time seems to stand still and every morsel...of food and life itself...is savored. She turns Instagram to fine art.

-She has an oft-photographed dog named, Mr. Whiskey.

-She has an adorable new baby!

-Her mother is beautiful, and I love how she honors her with her words and photos.

#5 - Jackie Greaney (@jackiegreaney) - who says about herself, "Adventures on the Eastern Seaboard...Travel & Lifestyle | Maine...1 of Yankee Mag’s 10 Favorite New England Accounts".

If you could capture New England in a bottle, shake it whenever you pleased for a fresh, new view, and be thoroughly delighted with what you saw each time, you'd have a pretty good idea of Jackie Greaney's Instagram account. Original and pretty and quintessential New England is how I would describe her photographic depictions of the region we both love so well. Hers is a great account to follow if you want to know more about the New England...its hidden gems and classic sights.

-Her dog, Poppy, is her faithful companion.

-She's a California girl originally (just like me).

-I've actually met her, and she's a sweetheart!

#6 - Paul J. Havel (@pjhavel) - who says about himself, "New England". Don't you love it? What more is there to say?

I love the clean, crisp lines of Paul Havel's photography...always classic and always classy. His seamless blending of tradition and innovation give you the feeling he's reinvented old school for a whole new generation. His captivating cinemagraphs never fail to bring a smile to my face! His feed is selective and curated with taste.

-He and Jackie Greaney are one of the cutest couples ever!
-If I were to give his advertising company a slogan, it would be "Advertising That Makes You Smile", because it ALWAYS does!
-He looks more like a New Englander than most New Englanders.

#7 - Daylesford Farm (@daylesfordfarm) - which describes itself as, "We've been farming organically for over 35 years, with a simple passion for real food. Visit us in the Cotswolds and London."

I follow quite a few companies that I love, but Daylesford Farm's account is the freshest one of all. I followed them long before we went to England, and fell in love with the farm through its Instagram account, so that visiting it when we were there became an absolute must on our itinerary. And when we go back to England someday, renting a cottage close enough to Daylesford that we can pop in for breakfast each morning is a priority! Their account is everything they are...a perpetual springtime of fresh produce, adorable farm animals, tasty edibles and recipes, and all the agricultural beauty of the Cotswolds.

#8 - Tessa Foley (@nineandsixteen) - who describes herself as, "blogger | interior design | classic style".

I don't feel like I look at Tessa's Instagram as much as I step into it...like stepping into her home with a warm welcome. It's loveliness in photography is punctuated by kindness in words, so that you know she just must be THE sweetest person. She posts about family and home and design/style with a heartfelt and peaceful thoughtfulness that makes her Instagram one of the most pleasant places to be in social media.

-Her annual family vacation to Nantucket postings are some of my favs!

-Their family recently gained an adorable bear of a Golden Retriever.

-Her kitchen is the cutest one you'll see anywhere.

#9 - a tie between the husband/wife duo of Oddur & Mimi Thorisson (@oddthor and @mimithor). He describes himself as, "Living with smooth fox terriers, lovely children & her - regular contributor to Condé Nast Traveler & regular consumer of Champagne". And she describes herself as, "Cookbook author of A Kitchen in France, French Country Cooking & "Manger" blog. Cook, TV host & contributing editor to Condé Nast Traveler."

I include them together, because they are always together and frequently post about the same things, but with their own particular perspective. The photography, which I believe is all his on both accounts, shows their daily life In France and Italy, which consists of creating incredible food while raising seven children and 14 dogs. And while I can hardly imagine doing all of that, the care and attention taken to creating and enjoying the beauty in it all is like a lovely graciousness from a bygone era. His wry sense of humor and ability to capture expressions that convey a complete story often make me titter.

"Let’s imagine that you are reading this post. Let’s assume it’s Sunday. And that tomorrow you have something important to do. Or nothing at all. Either way just forget about it and hop on a plane to Milan. Have lunch at Antica Trattoria Della Pesa. Then hop on the fast train to Turin and have dinner at Al Gatto Nero. This is just an idea, offered to you with humility and in good faith. But it’s a good one. Cheers mate!"

And her account is more about food and the preparation and beauty of it. She also has a blog where she writes lengthy posts with passion and perspective, which impresses me to no end. 

-Though I've learned to be content with my squishy bone structure (inherited, apparently, from my Belgian ancestors),fair skin, and blonde hair, I will confess that all my life I've wanted to look like she does...dark hair and high cheekbones. I spent far too many hours pining for that as a teen. But she does wear it SO well!

-Her kitchen floor!

-Every day I want to give her a high-five for managing to cook with seven children and 14 dogs (and does she EVER cook!), but I suspect the delightfully doting appreciation of her husband is a huge support to her. The way to a man's heart is through his stomach.

#10 - Annabel Bird (@bleakhouselondon) - who describes herself as, "A lifestyle brand for women with an adventurous spirit. Novice quilter. Wild(ish) swimmer. Owner of @edward.lear".

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All of the other accounts, #1 through #9, are ones that I have followed for years, but this is my most recent discovery and has rapidly become on of my favorites. While it would seem on the surface to be a company (and it is), this is so much more than that, as Annabel Bird is a passionate voice for living life well and with an adventurous spirit. Her forthright speech (her stories are fabulous!), dry wit, and determined spirit make her shine off the Instagram feed. I want to virtually tromp along with her on her walks and discover all the hidden gems of London and the countryside with her as my tour guide. Don't miss signing up for her monthly Red Book on her website! And if all that wasn't enough, she has just about the most adorable dog ever, Edward Lear, whose own Instagram is utterly charming.

-Her Instagram story on her company's values was one of the most inspiring things I've listened to all year.

-What is not to admire about a woman who swam through a pond, breaking ice as she did so, because she was just determined to do it?

-That dog! Love!

This was a jolly fun post to write, and I hope you enjoyed reading it. It's always inspiring to discover new people, places, and perspectives! Do leave me a comment and let me know which Instagram accounts are your favorites!

(And please excuse the incomprehensible highlighting of some portions of this post. Blogger drives me crazy sometimes.)