Quote of the Week

 I love the original film version of Miracle on 34th Street.  The remakes are fine, but the original is just magical. This is one of my favorite quotes from this film and it applies not only to the Christmas season but to life all year long. May you carry this with you into 2026!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year - Roy Rogers and Dale Evans

 Most people know this song because of Andy Williams and rightfully so.  His version is probably the most famous and it is very well done.  It does not seem like Christmas without hearing it.  In later years, Amy Grant put out a version that gets a lot of radio time, and it is good as well. This version, by Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, I was less familiar with.  I was listening to one of my Christmas records and this was on it.  When I first started listening to it, I thought it may be the New Christy Minstrels but it turned out to be Roy and Dale. I thought it charming and wanted to share.  I hope you enjoy it!

Star Carol - Peggy Lee

 I have always been intrigued by the story of jazz musician Alfred Burt and the Christmas carols he wrote as gifts for a small circle of friends during his lifetime.  Sadly, he would never know their popularity as he passed away before many of them became considered holiday classics.  The Star Carol from 1954 is one of my favorites.  It is a hauntingly beautiful carol, and Peggy Lee gives a wonderful interpretation.  Enjoy!

Silver and Gold - Vanessa Williams

 Of course, we all know this Christmas song from the Bass/Rankin special Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.  It was sung by the narrator, Sam the Snowman, voiced by Burl Ives. And I love that version as it's the original, but I picked up one of Vanessa Williams's Christmas albums at the record store one afternoon and discovered this gem.  Her version is slower than the original, but I believe that it works for her.  She has a beautiful, rich voice and if you have not heard any of her Christmas recordings, I suggest that you do!

Lenox Jewels Nativity Set

 

I started collecting this nativity set about 10 years ago.  I had always wanted a nativity set of my own.  We had a beautiful one growing up. It was a ceramic set that Grandmother painted.  Bill has that set now.  Even though I would have loved to have it, I thought it only fair that if he wanted it, he should have it.  I have so many beautiful ceramic pieces that Grandmother painted specifically for me that I could let go of that.  Still, it is a beautiful set and holds many precious memories.  Still, I wanted one of my own.  I remembered seeing these pieces in gift shops and always thought they were wonderful.

I set out to build up my own set.  I did not want to buy an entire set at once because that would have been thousands of dollars.  There are so many pieces to this set.  So, I started small and am building my way to a complete set.  I started with the essentials:  Jesus, Mary & Joseph.  Oddly, while these are the most important pieces in the story of the nativity, they are also the cheapest to buy and easiest to find.  By the first Christmas I was displaying the nativity, I had acquired them along with the three kings.  It was small but simple.

Over the years, I have added a piece or two each year.  Sometimes I would get a piece for a Christmas or birthday present.  Thank you, Michael, for the camel! I cherish this set and enjoy finding pieces each year to add to it.  I have not gotten one yet this year but it's still early.  Like I said, there are so many pieces out there.  Many of the pieces are on the expensive side, so I have to find good sales, mostly on Ebay.  I don't mind if they are in their original box or not.  While I would prefer that, it is not necessary because it bumps the price up!!  But there are pieces like the camel master, the perfume seller and the woman with urn that are on my bucket list but like I said, they are on the higher end of the price range.

Woman with Urn - Not in my collection...yet!

Anyway, I love putting this on display.  You will see pictures here over the years of the different places I have put the set out.  And I love the tradition of having this set and adding to it piece by piece.  I'm making my own Christmas memories!

That Holiday Feeling! - Steve & Eydie

 I love this Christmas song and have it on several albums.  It is the title track from Steve & Eydie's 1964 album of holiday songs.  Both Steve & Eydie have amazing voices, and I highly recommend this album.  This song appears on several albums that I have, mostly compilation albums put out by companies, but it is always a fun, jolly song!

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

 I always start my Christmas blogs with this beautiful song.  It is definitely in my top five Christmas songs, both sacred and secular. The first time I remember hearing this was on an episode of Fame.  Debbie Allen was seated at a piano and played and sang the song.  I just loved it.  And then, of course, when I finally saw Meet Me in St. Louis, I was blown away by Judy Garland's performance of it.  That entire scene is amazing and if you have never seen the movie, I highly recommend it.  This is one of those songs that means more and more the older I get.  Let us all take its message to heart and carry it into this holiday season because we could all use a merry little Christmas now.