Happy St. Nicholas Day

Dear Readers,

We hope you've enjoyed a beautiful St. Nicholas Day today; spent in the companionship of those dearest to you!

My most favorite Christmas decoration-my grandma's Christmas cactus.

We love to have a little bit of Christmas cheer each December 6th; thanks to Sarah ban Breathnach's Mrs. Sharp's Traditions book for pointing out its sweet benefits! Of course we later discovered Tasha Tudor's wonderful books, and her family's love of this all but forgotten holiday, as well.

My husband surprised us by bringing home a beautiful fir for this year's tree-He is going to be playing Bob Cratchit and Jacob Marley in our local production of "A Christmas Carol". We hope he learns to change costumes quite quickly!

Tasha is excited for the upcoming celebration of St. Lucia Day (I haven't had the heart to tell her that it's the OLDEST girl who gets to be St. Lucia yet.), as you can see! I'm not sure if Ezekiel 4:9 bread passes as the traditional goody, though. At least we'll be real healthy!


We'd better get on those Christmas newsletters, now,

And get stitchin' on some more little Christmas gifts for our loved ones~

Till next time,

Love,

Marqueta

"If any little word of ours
Can make one life the brighter'
If any little song of ours
Can make one heart the lighter;
God help us speak the little word,
And take our bit of singing
And drop it in some lonely vale
To set the echoes ringing.

If any little love of ours
Can make one life the sweeter;
If any little care of ours
Can make one step the fleeter;
If any little help may ease
The burden of another;
God, give us love and care and strength
To help along each other.

If any little thought of ours
Can make one life the stronger;
If any cheery smile of ours
Can make its brightness longer;
Then let us speak that thought today,
With tender eyes aglowing,
So God may grant some weary one
Shall reap from our glad sowing.

~Anonymous