It's been a little quiet here on the blog but that doesn't mean gypsy life isn't crazy hectic as usual. I'm in the midst of one of my busiest seasons– the holidays. Me and my cowboy had been so busy with farm projects and juggling work life with our new found farm life that the holidays snuck up on us. I am still in shock Thanksgiving came and went with Christmas creeping up around the corner. Between now and then, I'll be flying to Seattle for a much needed week long sister trip, attending a few Christmas parties and pulling together my very first Christmas at the farm.
Even with all the hustle and bustle of events, I don't forget to stop and enjoy the little moments that I hold dear to my heart. We've experienced some beautiful sunsets at the farm this season, ones that you could watch forever. It still causes me to stop and stare and the sunsets here never get old. There's so much to appreciate about the wide open spaces and the simplicity of the sunset behind the trees.
We are finding a nice balance to farm life, sharing responsibility and creating a strong team between the two of us. When Andrew goes out of town on business, I take care of all the farm duties in his absence. This girl is up with my leopard robe and farm boots on by 4:30 a.m. Then out the door for work by 6:30 a.m.
Normally, I'm the weekend warrior since I commute downtown every weekday morning. The mornings I'm on farm patrol while the hubs is out of town bring hard work but also wonderful moments like these.
This makes my soul very happy. Those big brown eyes would stop any woman in her tracks.
So far, this holiday season is all about preparation for me. In order for me to enjoy the Christmas buzz, having my to-do list knocked out early was important. I wanted everything to be fully decorated before I departed for Seattle this week. Since I like to take my time and savor the creative process, decorating for Christmas before Thanksgiving became a thing. Yep, my cowboy thought I was crazy when I started hauling trees in two weeks into November.
Because my parents are in the midst of selling their home, we're starting a new tradition of Christmas at the farm. One of the wonderful perks of hosting is inheriting plenty of décor from my Mom. And she has tons. I kept bringing in bin after bin, peaking Abby James' curiosity with each trip.
Dixie didn't mind the new light feature. I was amazed she didn't spend her time jumping on the tree and trying to chew the branches.
Over the Thanksgiving weekend, I worked my little fanny off, decorating three trees inside the house. Yes, you read that right – three. I began with the living room and fell in love with the hand painted porcelain German ornaments by Hutschenreuther. The red sashes are incredibly bold on the tree and I wouldn't have it any other way.
My father traveled overseas a lot for business over the years and picked up a few in Germany at some point, only to order more sets later on. Hutschenreuther puts out a Christmas line each year and they have plenty of other beautiful china and collectibles too.
I wasn't sure how these ornaments would blend with my loud boho color scheme on the rug but it meshes perfectly with the warm farmhouse style that I don't think you even notice. In my dream design world in my head, I would have a Christmas rug just for the season.
This tree is mesmerizing and really puts me in the Christmas spirit.
The second tree is in our bedroom and I used another set of hand painted ornaments for this tree too, except these didn't come from Germany. A close family friend's Mom painted these over 30 years ago and I recently acquired the full set as a gift. Each one I pulled out of the box brought a smile to my face.
As I relished in sweet sentiment, I realized we were meant to have these in our farmhouse all along. The colors are vibrant and the characters chosen have their own eclectic flare.
My friend knew she was donating the ornaments to the right person, one that would appreciate them to the fullest. And that I do.
I didn't overload the tree because I wanted each one to have its own space.
The third tree I worked on is located on the stairs landing. My sisters will be in town and may stay upstairs for an evening over the holiday. I want them greeted with a little something extra when they retreat to their bedroom.
Andrew thought it was silly for me to add one on the second floor but after seeing the lit trees through the windows from the pasture, I knew I wasn't crazy. It's Christmas!
Once I was ready to move to the exterior, it became a family effort. My parents stopped by to assist and when it was all done, we just sat back and stared at our hard work. You can even see Sparkle in the pasture to the right.
Our little farmhouse was made to be decorated for Christmas. It exudes the spirit of the season and all that is warm and fuzzy.
The bell shines during the Christmas season with its bright red color. I also can't help but notice the roses sure are taking to the horse manure compost I added in October. They are bursting in pink color.
And here's yet another example of the stunning sunsets we're experiencing at the farm. There are no words for that skyline.
All of the decorating is fun and exciting but the real reason for the season is the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. It's easy to get wrapped up in the details, the trees, the garland, ribbon, bows and presents. I just wrote an entire post about it all. But it's important to also remind ourselves of the magnitude of Christmas. During a time in this world when believing in Christ is pushed aside rather than celebrated. Jesus' conception was a miracle. His life was a testament and His death saved us from a life of sin. It is because of Christ the King, the baby conceived through the Holy Spirit by the beloved Mary, my past is forgiven, my sins are washed clean and I can live free as a beloved child of God. My faith is strong and my purpose in life is clear when I understand what Christ's birth means to our world. I don't ever want to lose sight of that during this time of year.
Don't forget to wander with me on…Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin and My Trending Stories.
Next Post Pacific NW Skinny, Part I.
God gives to every Believer at least one or more spiritual gifts. Your gift is the gift of writing and your already using it for the Lord. I love it ! ……Papaw.
Thank you so very much! Im thankful for my readers & those that share in the joy of life along with me as I write. I love you & appreciate you!