advent day one: advent calendars

               

               

i love it when a plan comes together.

last night, i wished upon a bright star that we would wake to a snowy morning.

i wanted to start the first day of advent with a white, powdery frosting.

notice the showy snowflake that landed in the center of my landscape lense above.

and what a snow it was.

measuring in at an official nine inches here at the foothills of the flatirons.

i would like to share advent with you this year.

instead of posting every other day, i will share each day what we choose to do at this

"time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas"

we bake, we sing, we wrap, we give, we would like to share this time with you.

today, we set up all the advent calendars.

we have a felt christmas advent tree my mother made for our family

fashioned from one that she made for her children - a very fond christmas memory.

gabi has her own little advent christmas tree music box in her room.

.

i have a charming reading advent with selected readings from

the betsy-tacy book series that gabi and i read together each night.

i've been sent another on-line calendar from my dear friend jill this year.

what fun our family had visiting a charming little english village scene last year.

 this year, the calendar showcases a festive london scene.

if you'd like to have a look, go here

we have another december 1st tradition we've been enjoying since nicole and margo were young.

i made christmas pillow cases for each of them that they used through the christmas seasons of their childhood.

this tradition still holds magic for some in our household.

this poem completes the charm.....

December 1st starts a magical time,

With enchanting happenings,

Stories and rhyme.

Sugar plum fairies

Will dance in your head,

If you lay this pillowcase

On top of your bed.

The reason it's special

As you will soon see,

Is because it's been dusted by

A Christmas faerie.

Visions of candy canes,

St. Nick and treasures

Will fill all your dreams

With sweet thoughts and pleasures.

When the time comes

That it needs to be washed.

Do it ever so quickly

That no magic is lost!