Thursday, January 5, 2017

Hello New Year



Hello New Year!  I'm sure all of you are getting your homes put back in shape after the holidays.  I for one am always happy to get all of our Christmas decor put away at the start of the new year.  It's a good time to get organized and label boxes and bags so we don't have to pull it all out again next year.  Sometimes we hurriedly put away the decorations.  Then when the holidays come we have mess.  Hopefully it will help us next year.  Well that is the plan anyway.





During the holidays I received a lovely giveaway from Cathy.





  Cathy writes several web journals.  She is learning to water color and posts her progress each month.  This past year she has focused on the works of Beatrix Potter.  So her giveaway was Beatrix Potter A Journal.



 





This journal is a joy to read.  It is full of writings of Miss Potter and fun ephemera.  Thank you Cathy for this lovely journal!


The year before Cathy focused on the water colors of Edith Holden.  Cathy has really become quite proficient in her water colored paintings.  She wants to self publish her children's story and illustrate it herself.    I am more than thrilled to have this journal as I am a huge Beatrix Potter fan.  You may remember that I was fortunate to go to England and visit Hilltop and the surrounding areas that Beatrix lived in the Lake District.  If you want to read about our visit, it all resides on this blog beginning with our trip over on the Queen Mary 2.  You can start Our Grand Adventure to England and continue to read the posts that follow.





“What heaven can be more real than to retain the spirit-world of childhood?”  Beatrix Potter 




















40 comments:

  1. You sound like me--every year I cull a bit of our decorations and then try to organize them better and label bags. etc. Strangely this year even tho I got rid of stuff I still filled our three Christmas bins. Congrats on the win from the delightful Cathy. I've seen the book, you will enjoy it. Happy New Year!

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    1. I am constantly trying to cull things from our home. It's always amazing to me how many bags we donate each month. It's an ongoing process for me. Have a wonderful evening. ♥

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  2. Oh how delightful, a Beatrix Potter A Journal. Isn't it fun to win a giveaway? This is such a nice gift from your blog friend. I see you are putting things away. It really is smart to label stuff as you do - makes things a lot easier when the next year comes around. I usually put my stuff away the day after Christmas, but the girls wait til the new year to do theirs. You have quite a collection of Santa's there. :)

    Blessings to you in these January days, Martha Ellen.

    ~Sheri


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    1. Thank you Sheri. We do have a lot of Santas. Many of them were painted by my sister and I. The Beatrix Potter A Journal was a very nice surprise for me since I'd already viewed it and noted it would be nice to own one day. Have a wonderful evening, my friend. ♥

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  3. What a beautiful journal! I love writing in a journal..and have been doing that every day for years now. And yes, I've gotten most of my decorations put away but I left most of my snowmen out to enjoy this month. Happy New year! Hugs, Diane

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    1. This is a beautiful journal, but not a blank one. It is full of the writings of Beatrix Potter. Snowmen will be so cute to brighten your January days! Have a wonderful evening. ♥

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  4. That's a beautiful journal! I was thinking about getting back into journal writing. I find it very therapeutic! I hope that you had a wonderful holiday season, and Happy New Year!

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    1. Happy New Year Pilar! Keeping a journal is exciting. I'm very faithful to my garden journal. It's such a valuable tool. This is Beatrix Potter's journal with her writings. Have a wonderful evening. ♥

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  5. Congratulations on a lovely win. it seems as if it was meant to be. I do remember your enthusiasm for Beatrix Potter and all things British. What a good idea to go through Christmas things now. I'll give it the weekend at the dining room table. It doesn't matter these days if it is tied up for a while.

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    1. Vee I still have a few things that need to be put away. Christmas flags and a wreath above the mantle. I'm listening to the weather and I'm sure you would have a chuckle. We are expecting a trace or an inch or two of snow tonight into the weekend maybe more. We go into panic down here. If we got the snow you had we'd be paralyzed for days. Enjoy your evening. ♥

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  6. This year I thought I would alter some big amazon cartons to lovely storage, but I didn't do. I think I should start doing that. So many project I did halfway.. I've to finish them this year.. by the way, the journal is so lovely.. it is very nice receive gift like that..

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    1. Krishna, there are so many projects to do. Sometimes we can only do what we can do. Have a lovely evening. ♥

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  7. Sometimes UNdecorating is more of a challenge than decorating in the first place! Or maybe it's the REdecorating that does me in. I simply look around at all the blank spaces and have no idea what to do with them. Slowly, slowly, inspiration creeps back in and I manage to get things put to rights.

    Are you like me? Do you always, always find a thing or two (or six) that you forgot to put away? :)

    You won a lovely book, and I think that the gift wrap is nearly as charming!

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    1. Cheryl I do usually find an item or two that doesn't want to be put away. It hasn't revealed itself yet!
      I so enjoyed that pretty paper Cathy wrapped her book in. It's just charming. Have a wonderful day. ♥

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  8. What a treasure of a prize to win! Well done, do enjoy it, I know you will.
    I'm taking the decorations down today, our traditional day since I was a child "after Twelfth Night" so always on Epiphany, or January 6th. Frankly, I'll be glad to see them go now and get back to normality. A good clean, wrapped up in bubble or acid free tissue and organised into some new sealed boxes with clear labels!
    ~~~Deb xoxo

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    1. Deborah I do hope you enjoy your clean slate as much a I do. It's fun to put back old favorites or perhaps bring out things that haven't been featured in our homes for a while. I put out my David Winter cottages that had been packed away for years. Enjoy a lovely day, my friend. xoxo ♥

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  9. Good morning, Martha Ellen. What a surprise! I got your note in the mail and am so glad you are enjoying the Journal. I was only able to give this copy away because dear Dotsie had sent me one last year because of my Beatrix Potter posts not knowing I already had a copy. So I wanted to pass along the copy I already had to someone who would appreciate it--and I'm so glad I chose your name out of the basket of entries knowing it would be thoroughly enjoyed.

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    1. Well, I must thank Dotsie for her kindness as well. I have thoroughly enjoyed this Journal, Cathy. Thank you again for picking my name. I adore the one and only Beatrix Potter and feel a certain closeness to her particulary after visiting the Lake District. Have a wonderful day. ♥

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  10. Yep organizing and labeling are essential- especially the more ornaments and decorations that you own! That was a sweet gift you won! I hope the snow doesn't mess everybody up too bad in the south. I know without proper snow removal equipment, sand and salt it can be very treacherous. It's all of 4 deg. here this morning but by next week we will be warmed up into the 20-30's which is much better!

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    1. Liz, I remember how wonderfully organized you are with all of your bins in your basement. We did not get any snow! We may get some this evening. Yes it can be quite a problem for us as we don't have the equipment. I do hope you are staying cozy and warm. I can't imagine 4 degrees---that makes me shiver just thinking about it! ♥

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  11. What a beautiful Beatrix Potter journal! It found its way to the perfect person, Martha Ellen. I know how much you will enjoy it! It was such fun to see all of your special Santas gathered on the table. I packed away our Santas earlier this week. They are such a special part of our Christmas! Now I'm enjoying the more simple, quiet look after Christmas. I think I will bring out my special collection of antique telephones. They were gifts from my dad ~ one each Christmas, that he lovingly restored for me, for many years. It's time to polish the brass candlestick phones! It will be fun to enjoy them again!

    Did you have snow overnight? No snow here, but our windchill this morning is -17. Brrrr! I'm thinking warm thoughts! Have a cozy weekend, Martha Ellen! ♡Dawn@Petals.Paper.SimpleThymes

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    1. Dear Dawn, you have me intrigued with your antique telephone collection. I do hope you will share them one day. I got out my David Winter cottages that have been in a box for a while. It's quite enjoyable seeing them on the mantle. It brings my thoughts back to beloved England.
      We did not get any snow. I was so hoping for some. We may get a little this evening. I do hope you are cozy and warm in your studio making magic, my friend. I can't imagine -17 temperatures! ♥

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  12. My daughter says there is a "journal" section on Pinterest that I should do. I said, "sure, when I have time!" What a lovely present and writing down your thoughts is a good thing, XOXO

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    1. Writing down our day's thoughts is a good thing, Susan. I'll have to check out to see what's on Pinterest about journaling. Everything is on there for sure! XOXO

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  13. That is a most beautiful journal and Beatrix Potter and her books are just lovely. I'm sure you will treasure it for many years to come.

    I was fortunate to be given a wonderful 'How to find flower fairies' book which you can read about here
    http://thelowcarbdiabetic.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/things-that-are-special-to-me.html

    I do hope 2017 has started well for you and yours, this first week has certainly gone very quickly.

    Happy Weekend Wishes

    All the best Jan

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    1. Jan, I looked at your lovely post. How special to have this treasure from your son. I think he must believe in fairies as well.
      2017 is off and running. I'm embracing all that it will bring. Have a nice weekend. ♥

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  14. Journals are wonderful. I wrote in one the first time I had cancer. What a lovely gift from the giveaway. Here 'swishing you a bright, healthy happy and prosperous new Year.

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    1. I imagine keeping a journal was a heartfelt project for you Linda. When I look at my old journals I find them quite amusing and some quite heartbreaking. It helps to put our lives in focus. Happy and healthly New Year to you, Linda. ♥

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  15. What a fun and beautiful journal! I love it. I actually went back and destroyed some of my journals as I did not want my kids to have to relive some of my heartaches. Blogging has become a way of journaling for me now, too. How sweet to see all your Santas having a conference on your table. Soon they will be asleep for another year.
    Have a wonderful weekend. xo Diana

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    1. Diana, I need to do that as well. "They" say we should have someone burn them when we leave this world. I think it's wise to just get rid of them like you did. I think blogging is a great way to journal our lives. The Santas are now all packed away. I hope your weekend is great! xo ♥

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  16. Cathy knows how to give a great gift, I love that book. Your trip to England was one of my favorite grouping of posts. To actually go to Hilltop and walk the Lake District is still on my list, I am so glad you made it there.
    I love putting up Christmas, but the day after, it's like; I can't get that stuff put away fast enough! I do have boxes for everything, marked and well organized and that makes it all the easier.

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    1. Jeri, England really captured my heart and soul on that trip. I do hope you go to the Lake District one day. It will make your heart sing! ♥

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  17. Delightful~Beatrix Potter FUN!! :-D
    Happy New year XXXX OOOO
    Blessing love and warmth Linnie

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    1. Beatrix Potter surely has brought kindreds together! Happy New Year to you my friend! Stay warm and cozy! xoxo ♥

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  18. Good evening Martha Ellen,
    What a beautiful gift! Beatrix Potter has brought so much joy into so many lives.
    Happy New year, and thank you so much for the Warm greetings. So nice to see you had come for a visit. I am so happy you enjoyed. Thank you! Yes, this is going to be such fun.
    Happy New Year to you.
    blessings,
    Penny

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    1. Thank you Penny. Beatrix Potter is certainly an inspirational influence to so many of us. It's so nice of you to visit. The new year is a great time to begin new projects. Have a great weekend, Penny. ♥

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  19. Hi Martha! Happy New Year to you and your family. It looks like you had a wonderful Christmas. I know what you mean about photos during busy family times--I never take as mnat photos as I hoped to as I'm usually so busy. I see that you are also a Santa Claus collector--so am I! I find it hard to pass up a cute Santa statue or ornament.
    The Beatrix Potter Journal that you won is beautiful! I know how special she is to you and how much you enjoyed visiting her home in England. What a treasure to have her journal to enjoy! I will have to visit Cathy's page as I like watercolor paintings.
    Hope you did not get too much snow in the recent storm!
    Blessings,
    Pat

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    1. Happy New Year to you and yours Pat! We are having very cold temps for us right now---20 degrees and wind chill of 10. Yesterday brought us 4 inches of snow. Unfortunately the low temps and snow have created road issues. We have just been staying in off the roads. I hope you are having good weather and staying warm and cozy. ♥

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  20. Congratulations, Martha Ellen! I am such a fan of Beatrix Potter and, God willing, going to Lake District later this year. My few decorations are still sitting out...I've been consumed with frozen and burst heating pipes and exhaustion from ensuing work. Keep safe and warm.

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    1. Oh Sandra, I'm so sorry to hear that! Please take care, my friend. It's been so cold and raw.
      I'm so happy that you will be going to England this year! How exciting. You will absolutely love the Lake District! Warm hugs to you my friend! ♥

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