It’s been a few days since I’ve put up a post. We are ramping up for the Christmas season at work and I’m not going to lie, I’m feeling exhausted. When I get home at the end of the day, all I want to do is turn on the lights of my Christmas tree, make a cup of coffee, and relax

But I thought a short post about some more of my favorite Christmas things might be in order.  

I love little gift shops, especially at Christmas time. The scents of candles and potpourri, the soft lights, the whimsical little treasures tucked away in their corners. Years ago, my mother and I had a gifts and wallpaper shop in a Victorian-style house that was packed to the roof with just such treasures. After Mom passed away I couldn’t bring myself to go into a gift shop. It made me miss her too much, miss those wonderful years of working with my best friend.

But time has a way of taking the edge off of the pain. Several years ago when I moved to Ohio, my sister invited me to a sweet place called The Ladybug Christmas Shop in the little town of Minford. It wasn’t until I stepped inside that I realized how much I’d missed these places. Oh, such treasures we found! I am partial to primitives, and I could not resist this snowman

He looked to me like something a pioneer woman might have sewn together from scraps to decorate her home on the prairie. He stands about two feet tall and looks perfect surrounded by these hand painted wooden Christmas- gift blocks.

I also love this adorable painted slate and its message that hangs above the display.

God Bless Us, Every One!