Vandeusen Gardens

So many lights...

So much snow..

The Nativity

Growing up we always had a nativity displayed somewhere in our house or on our front lawn to remind us of the Christ's birth and the reason for Christmas.  Originally we would set up our three feet wooden Mary and Joseph along side the shepherds and Wisemen.  A small stable was used as the shelter for the manger where baby Jesus lay.  This scene adorned our front yard for many years until it became very weathered from the elements.  In the past we have also set up a glass figurine Mary and Joseph and the other key figures in the nativity on our mantle.  Instead of a small stable to create small home we covered the entire mantle with real straw and strategically place the figures facing towards the manger with baby Jesus.  For the past few years we have been setting up our Playmobile nativity set.  

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." (Luke 2:13-14)

3 things

Warm woolly Christmas socks with pompom tassels

Fresh earthy pine sent welcoming you into the room

Wrapping your hands around a hot mug of delicious coffee

Christmas Cards

Today is Dec 9 and I still haven't put my Christmas cards in the mail, which would first require me to write something in them , address them, stamp and seal them.  I thought I had it all under control especially since I finished making the cards during the last weekend of November.  Oh well, I hope I can at least get half of them on their merrily little way before the week is over.

Sugar & Spice and everything nice

Making Gingerbread houses goes way back in our family. Typically we create our own house, often inspired from pictures we have seen in Holiday recipe books.  It usually requires majority of the day from the making of the dough, designing the structure, cooking of the dough, building the house, and finally decorating the house with enough sugar candies to satisfy anyones cravings. Over the last few years we have not kept up our Gingerbread house reputation.  This year my brother came home with his graham cracker house.  The poor roof was caving in due to the smartie roof tiles.  It was an easy problem to solve and now the graham cracker house sits on our dining room table looking rather naked.  A few side walls still remain in tack along with the Shreedie walk way.

December 5th

Sinterklaas visited our house last night and left a little treat in our shoes.  Every since I can remember we have celebrated the coming of Sinterklaas, an old man dressed as a bishop, and the dutch version of Santa Claus.  Near the end of November Sinterklass arrives to town by boat and rides a white horse through town for all the children to greet him.  On the night of Dec 5th he leaves presents in the children's shoes or clogs while they sleep.  He is accompanied by Black Peter who keeps a list of the nice and naughty children and helps Sinterklaas on his very busy night. Every year we leave out one shoe at the end of our hallway in hopes the Sinterklaas will once again leave a little treat.  In the past it has been an Archie comic or chocolates, and sticking to his traditional ways this year was now different as we found a package of 3 Lindor chocolates sticking out of our shoes.  It is also tradition to receive a Chocolate shape as the first initial of your name or as we like to call it a Chocolate letter. This year my Oma came for a visit and left behind 6 chocolate letters one for each of us.  

 In the past we have celebrated this dutch tradition with my mom's side of the family.  We usually came together on the closest sunday to Dec 5th and share in a Christmas meal and often open gifts. When I was younger I loved being able to open a few Christmas gifts several weeks before Christmas Day because I could play with them all the days leading up to Christmas. I also loved writing in my school journal and sharing with my school friends how our family celebrates Christmas early.

Advent Calendar

Advent n 1. Arrival that has been awaited (especially something momentous) 2 The season including the four Sundays preceding Christmas. 3. A calendar of the Christian year indicating the dates of fasts and festivals.

Another type of advent wreath we always include in our Christmas celebration is the one with four candles surrounding the Christ Candle.  In grade 10 I crafted my own advent wreath, in wood working, as a gift to my mom.  It is made entirely out of wood that has painted crimson and gold.  Every year when it is pulled down from the attic and carefully unwrapped  the star candle holders have all become detached from the base.  I would complain about poor craftsmanship. Before the candles can be fixated to the wreath the glue gun is put to work fixing minor repairs.  I love lighting a new candle each week as a symbol of the anticipated arrival of baby Jesus.  Our advent wreath either adorns the coffee table or the dinner table where it is front and center in our daily living and can be light often.

Advent Calendar

Just finished putting together this Advent calendar tonight. Not a moment too soon, seeing as tomorrow is December first.  I love how it turned out.  Now I just need a little elf to fill it up with chocolate. The yummy Lindor kind that melts in your mouth.  I love the creativity that has been flowing for me this weekend.  I hope that I can be this inspired and productive all month long. Stay tuned for more creative Christmas projects.