Souvenirs + inspiration

thought 2...

getting caught up

like the mess of lights I found up in the attic

I stood up there in disbelief — "oh man" I said as I looked at all the wonderful decorations

thoughts of taking all three totes downstairs and putting it all out for decorations... after all... I am on a Christmas house walk!...

but as I stood there with the children to find their little trees to put in their rooms, to decorate all their own, I stopped... took a deep breath... and left it all up there

This year, just like every other year, it's so easy to get caught up in the hub-bub of what this country of ours (God bless the USA) has made it into... commercial... "santa"... lights/action... competition

to us, a lot of the commercialism is rather like "noise"... polluting this holiday with things other than what this season is truly meaning should be evaluated...

this does not mean not celebrating the season with decorating!! like I would do that! good gravy no... what I am saying is that taking that deep breath up in the attic wasn't as hard as I thought — and there are certain things I will bring down this year for decorating... but a lot of it comes from the seasonal changes outdoors here on the prairie... the grasses are still tall... there are pine cones fallen from the trees... and taking those natural elements and leaving them how God made them in their natural beauty, instead of glittering them this year... gathering cranberries and stringing them for our tree...

instead of... the lights are staying boxed up = candles instead
buying new ornaments = using pine cones from our trees
hanging silvery tinsel = pheasant feathers

running to the store for that last minute gift = purchasing handmade items

getting caught up = slowing down and embracing nature

I hope you get inspired to take walks with your kids and gather what you have out your back door... look around your house and re-purpose items that you wouldn't normally use...

Today is the FIRST DAY for Jennifer Rizzo's House Walk!! there is a lot of inspiration today over there!!
Today I will again be working on a very special project... very special to all of us here at the farm...

beauty, farm, house, and more:

thought 2... + inspiration