2 Youtube thumbnail 1080p

Welcome! Dear Sugar Pie! Happy Christmas bells are ringing at Sugar Pie Farmhouse! You know what? Life has been a little cray-cray around here! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve sat down to finish this post and for some reason life-stuff has called me away! I think I’ve had too much on my plate! I’m sure you could relate to that!! LOL!

As Andy Williams’ old song goes “It’s the most wonderful time of the year!”.  If you were here in person I would greet you with a warm hug, hand you a mug of hot cocoa with fluffy marshmallows on top and sit you down near the fire for a fun chat all about the blessings of Christmas. But since I can’t do that the next best thing is to welcome you with open arms via this little-o blog of mine to celebrate this glorious season!

So darlin’ go grab yourself something yummy to drink, turn on your favorite Christmas music and even light a candle to create a festive, Christmas-y ambiance! Let me show you around…

danish

This year I  was  inspired to create a simple, fresh and merry scandinavian feel for my entryway. Part of my husband and children’s ancestry is Danish and so I thought it would be a perfect nod to their heritage! Golden candlelight glowing through the windows, fresh green wreaths, frosty ice skates, a cozy quilt and birch logs for the fire.

Screen Shot 2018-12-21 at 12.24.59 PM

As I decorated I remembered a darling  book I had read years ago called Papa’s Wife, a true story about a swedish family of 10 that moved to America in 1924. It follows the love story and journey  between a pastor and his wife Maria who was a spunky, fun loving mama of 8. Here’s a snippet of the book:

“By the week before Christmas, the farmhouse gleamed with exciting aromas of cakes and cookies and spicy delicacies filled the air. Papa and Nim came in from the hills one evening carrying a big Christmas tree which they had cut from the forest beyond the lake. After supper the tree was set up in the center of the big living room and the fun of decorating began. Mama stirred the rice which had cooked all day. She poured in a little more milk to make the rice pudding especially good.” ~Thyra Ferre Bjorn, Papa’s Wife
The book is very old and out of print, but you can still find it on Ebay, at used books stores or even HERE, it’s one of my favorite books in the whole wide world!

IMG_7302 (1)

IMG_7305

IMG_7289

This year I had my mantle painted white and it really brightens up the room!

IMG_7287

 

Screen Shot 2018-12-21 at 12.38.09 PM

Just like every year I bring out our sweet baby Jesus in the manger. I’ve had this since my kids were babies, so it’s tradition! I wanted to share a sweet an adorable story that I found years ago…

Screen Shot 2018-12-21 at 12.39.09 PM

“It was the day after Christmas. A pastor of a church in San Francisco was looking over the front lawn through the window when he noticed that the baby Jesus was missing from the Manger display. He hurried outside and saw a little boy pulling a red wagon down the sidewalk. There, was the baby Jesus, tucked under a quilt. The minister walked up to the boy and said, “Well, where did you get your passenger, my fine friend?”
The little boy replied, “I got Him at church.”
“And why did you take Him?”
The boy explained, “Well, about a week before Christmas, I prayed to the little Lord Jesus, and I told Him if He would bring me a red wagon for Christmas, I would give Him a ride around the block in it.” ~Author unknown
(Oh Honey!! I call that God’s wink-and-a-smile!)

IMG_7141

“The Yule log is big and sturdy, a last gracious gift from a big old maple. The family is all here, the house bulges. The smell of pine and buttered popcorn, of mince pies and bayberry candles is all through the house, and most pleasant.” ~ Gladys TaborIMG_7282

One Holy Night A baby made the difference for the whole world.

Joy to the World! The reason for the season! Jesus is the reason why we celebrate with childlike wonder and excitement!  He is the reason why we make the effort to add beauty and sparkling light to our homes…in honor of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords!

Splendor and majesty are before Him; Strength and joy in His dwelling place. 1 Chronicles 16:27

‘I bring you the most joyful news ever announced, and it is for everyone! The Savior – yes the Messiah, the Lord  has been born tonight in Bethlehem!’     Luke 2:10 -11 TLB

IMG_7168

“Christmas offers its wonderful message. Emmanuel. God with us.

He who resided in heaven, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit,

willingly descended into our world. He breathed our air, felt our pain,

knew our sorrows, and died for or sins.

He didn’t come to frighten us,

but to show us the way to warmth and safety.”

-Max Lucado

“This will be a sign to you:

You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Luke 2:12

IMG_7256

More and more I’m freshening things up with creamy farmhouse whites and couldn’t resist this darling Creamery sign! I recently found it on Etsy. It has such a sweet old fashioned look to it! A creamery is where all things containing cream are made, like butter and ice cream! The two yummiest things on the planet! So I gathered my creamy white farmhouse pitchers and platters, wooden ice cream churn, and a cow creamer. To give it a Christmas touch I added some red and white candy canes and woodsy greens!

IMG_7251

I added more woodsey greens and buffalo plaid to my kitchen!

new too

Someone said “The kitchen is the heart of the home”…I agree! Especially at Christmastime! It’s the place where all the warm aromas of vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, apple pie, spicy clove and orange pomanders, and sugar cookies swirl throughout the house making each heart swoon and eyes sparkle. It smells like love. The kitchen seems to be the happiest room in the house.

If you look at the side of my baking center you will see my favorite Susan Branch Calendar hanging! It’s my favorite and it always get hung here in the kitchen!

susan branch calendar

I just got my 2019 one in and it is ADORABLE as always! Every season her charming, old fashioned illustrations warm my heart!! There are even recipes! You can find it here!

IMG_7257

I love the word Merry! To be Merry is to be jolly… cheerful… light-hearted…carefree…joyful… joyous… festive …happy… gleeful!  Proverbs 17:22 says  “A merry heart does good like a medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.”   That’s one of the reasons I love to decorate for Christmas (and  all the seasons for that matter)…it creates a merry…joyful….and festive atmosphere….and that kind of atmosphere is good for us!

IMG_7274

If you know me at all you know that I love decorating with vintage down in the farm  kinds of things. Take a look at this old screen! Someone painted a snowy christmas tree on it. And how adorable is this Fannie Farmer candy box? I wonder is a handsome Beau gave it to his sweet Sugar Pie! Heehee! There’s something about the things of yesteryear that are so comforting and endearing.  IMG_7296

I decided that this dear old cupboard needed to be painted white! Oh how I love it even more now! Looks like a bride all dressed in white! Lol!

IMG_7178

This is in our mudroom and I took a cue from the theme of the sign! All things dairy! A cute cow, farm truck, and little milk bottles too! I can certainly keep this up all year when I take the Christmas trees down.

IMG_7262

“The tree is full of trimmings
And gifts for girl and boy:
The world is full of Christmas Cheer,
Our hearts are full of joy.

IMG_7268

“The cheery warmth of the blazing fireplace sets the tone, and the evergreen smell of the decorated Christmas tree fills the air along with the music. We can almost hear the angels singing!” ~ Emilie BarnesIMG_7183

One of the things my grandkids love when they come over is our player piano! They will have lots of memories singing around this old beauty!

IMG_2178

This was taken a few years ago…sweet baby boys!

IMG_7292

Well darlin’, lastly I’d like to leave you with this thought…the best thing to decorate your home with is love! With love as your centerpiece, your home will sparkle with joy!
2 Youtube thumbnail 1080p
Be sure to have a look at my Christmas Video tour on Youtube click here!
For fun take a stroll through my Farmhouse Country Store click Here!
Have a bless Merry & Bright Christmas Sugar Pie!
Aunt Ruthie

Comments 32 Comments   Add a Comment Add a Comment