grace grits and gardening

ramblings from an arkansas farm girl

Christmas Spirit – 12 Ways to Make it Last

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Christmas Spirit - make it last all year

Happy Twelfth Day of Christmas! Today is that day—the twelve drummers drumming day. The day the Magi arrived in Bethlehem long, long ago. Epiphany Eve, Twelfth Night, this is a day with a multitude of names and rich in history. And no matter how you frame it, for many of us, today marks the official end of the Christmas season.

Say it ain’t so.

Okay, I know many of you tossed your tree and packed the ornaments days ago. I get it. I took my tree down just after Christmas this year because it was as dry as a Texas tumbleweed. Even so, just because we pack away Christmas doesn’t mean we have to pack away our Christmas Spirit. There are a few simple ways to make the season last all year.

Twelve ways. For the twelve days of Christmas.
See what I did?Continue Reading

The Gracie Lee Hot Mess Christmas Tree

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Gracie Lee Xmas Tree

Yesterday was one of those idyllic sort of days because I spent the entire day baking and decorating my teeny two-foot tabletop Christmas tree. I’m calling it my Gracie Lee Hot Mess Christmas Tree. I decorated it totally vintage 1972, just as Gracie Lee would have done (and don’t ask me how I know, I just do).

Tomorrow night, Continue Reading

What I’m Giving Up for Advent

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What I'm giving up for Advent

Wow. Can you believe we’re already in the second week of Advent? This year, more so than any other I can remember, I’ve been sitting with Advent, thinking about it, needing it. As I reflect on the past year and prepare for the next, I’m determined to make these days before Christmas simple and easy. To do that, I’m giving up things for Advent.

In case you think this “giving up of things” sounds more like Lent than Advent, let me elaborate.

Yes, Lent is about giving up things or taking on tasks as a form of sacrifice or penance, and Advent is a time of waiting. Waiting for the birth of Christ. Waiting for the second coming.

Waiting and reflecting and resting is difficult when I feel weighted down with items on my to-do list. Items that really, in the scheme of thing, don’t add up to a hill of beans. Continue Reading

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THANKS FOR READING!