Saturday, December 31, 2016

The Celebration of Winter..It Is Time To Go Sledding

I really hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas celebration.  Now that the holiday is another cherished memory of family fun and laughter, the winter celebration still continues but now with more casual, carefree outdoor activities.  Prior to the Christmas holiday, I spent several quiet hours alone viewing old family film which was converted from brittle strips of film to dvd format. Viewing past Christmas celebrations and winter play time in the snow was for me one of the highlights of this year's holiday (even though I felt a bit like Clark Griswold from the movie, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation).  This moment of reflection on days gone by further helped me to sum up the end of this year and to look forward to the next. The family Christmas was still what I remember it as being and yet, in some ways continues to be at the present, that is......a hectic, frenzy of activities, an over abundance of great food and tons of relatives crammed all together in a little kitchen where the good time occurs.

Furthermore, the film reminded me of the heart warming snow-centered fun trips to the neighborhood park where the local baseball field of the summer now became an ice skating rink for the winter. In addition to the rink, the park also offered the warmth of the Adirondack-style pavilion as a way to retreat from the sting of the bitter cold and provided simple refreshments to young skaters with money stuffed inside each knitted mitten.  Nothing was more soothing than a cup of hot chocolate after a evening of dancing across the not-so-smooth ice.  There was pure comfort and pleasure in slipping off the stiff, white, snow-covered skates complete with bells and colored pom-poms into warm woolen socks and snow boots for the walk home.

I might also mention that it just wouldn't be winter if the family did not capture on film the moments of building a fashionable snowman complete with all of the accessories in the front yard, sledding at the nearest hillside or catching the fierce competition of a snowball fight among brothers and sisters. Truly a winter wonderland of fun.

So in keeping with all of the season's merriment, I dedicated the following winter holly and plaid tablescape complete with winter sleds, snow balls and ice skates to my brothers, sisters, friends and relatives.  I am certain that they too enjoyed these special moments and consider them to be priceless, cherished memories.  Happy New Year too......


The snowman images in this posting are provided by:  Free Dearie Dolls Digi Stamps website.








My sister's elderly neighbor knitted these beautifully designed mittens.  She could knit all sorts of patterns and made those knitting needles weave like magic.




Homemade ice skate ornaments were made from my daughter's sweater that was unintentionally shrunk during wash day.  Now she will have a new set of ornaments for her tree.










16 comments:

  1. Fun theme for your table. No snow here in TX, which is fine with me. ;-)
    Happy New Year!

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    1. Thank you Sarah. I don't mind the snow and cold in January, but when March comes around I get a little anxious for Spring. Happy New Year to you too. Thank you for visiting The Little Yellow Corner Store.

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  2. Very nice tablescape! Thank you so much for joining the party at Dishing It & Digging It!

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  3. I love your table! I think I have the same china! How did you make the little snowballs? They look so real! I need to make some for a table I'm planning for the next Winter Olympics.
    Happy New Year!

    Catherine
    Smashing Plates

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    1. Hi Catherine,
      It has been several years ago that I made these homemade snowballs, but I think I mixed equal parts of white glue and shaving cream and rolled my styrofoam ball in it and then again in fake sparkling snow. I use them with care since the snow will peel off if handled roughly. There are other recipes on Pinterest, but I think this is the one I used. Let me know if you have any questions. I would love to see your holly tablescape too.

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    2. Thank you for the information Marsha. I will keep the information and give try for Christmas next year and they will be ready for my Olympics table. I used the holly dinner plates on my Carolina Cardinal Christmas table that is on my blog. I believe it's the same pattern. I've had the set since the early 90's. My Mom gave me 8 place settings as a Christmas gift. Happy New Year!

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  4. Thanks so much for stopping by and for taking the time to leave such a sweet comment!!
    LOVE your sweet tablescape!! So pretty!!
    I am your newest follower and I have added your cute blog to my Blog Roll on my regular blog, Debbie-Dabble Blog!!
    Have a great day!!
    Hugs,
    Deb

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    1. Thank you Debbie. You are a dear. I hope you will enjoy some of my future postings. I am learning something new every day with my blog. Thank you for adding me to your Blog Roll. I am sure we will be good friends who share our love and passion for tablescapes and so many other things. Best wishes to you in 2017.

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  5. So pretty and festive, and the snowballs are a whimsical, creative touch!

    Wishing you a most Happy New Year my friend!!

    xxx

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    1. Hi Doreen, I hope you are on your way to Florida since much of the country is getting bitter cold weather. Thank you for your kind comment. I hope the new year brings you and your family good health, successes and a lot of peace and happiness. Enjoy your time in the sunny warmth of the south. (Oh...the thought of warm sand between my toes!)

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  6. All decorations are cute & adorable. I wish Christmas mood have never passed

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  7. I love the theme and Christmas Vacation is one of my favorite movies. I must have watched it at least 5 times over the holidays. Thank you for sharing with us this week at Celebrate Your Story, have a great weekend.

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    1. Thank you Sandra. The movies, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation and The Christmas Story, have become two of my holiday favorites. I could watch them several times in one season. If you lived closer, you could come on over for movie night! It would be fun with a bunch of ladies. Best wishes to you for the new year.

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  8. Festive and charming!

    Blessing for 2017

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  9. Such cute mittens! I love hand knitted mittens! Thanks for sharing at Home Sweet Home!

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