Transition into the New Year

Hello my friends!  Thanks for stopping by.  I am really enjoying this week between Christmas and New Years.  One of my readers called it "cocooning" and that is exactly how it feels!  Staying in our cozy home and forgetting the outside world for a week, writing thank you notes, crocheting pink baby booties, playing Scrabble on my iPad.. watching mindless TV.. bliss.  Kristi and I have changed out the dining room decor.. packing away the Christmas colors and putting out a pure white tablecloth with embroidered silver snowflakes that Kristi picked up and making it look like New Years!  I had to laugh.. there is a coffee cup on the china cabinet and a vacuum cleaner in the background.. but to be honest.. I do a fairly straightforward blog where real life can always be seen.. no glossy magazine photos.. lol!

Each holiday I like to (not always) pick up one new decoration.  This German Christmas Pyramid Nativity carousel actually arrived from Amazon after Christmas.  I had a little brass one eons ago and noticed a few years ago the ones made in wood and have wanted one.. I got to put it together and I just love it.  When you light the candles (beeswax ones) the top twirls and so does the first and second tier.

After a month of rainy days.. today we awoke to not a cloud in the sky and brilliant sunshine.  Love it!  When I downloaded this photo I noticed that an oven rack is leaned against the window.. lol.. real life again.

Some close ups of the carousel.. here is Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus.  They are surrounded by the 3 Kings carrying their golden jugs of frankincense and myrrh.  I didn't know that Joseph was bald with a grey beard and fringed hair. :-)

Below that are several shepherds and sheep and lambs.

On the top are 3 cute little angels blowing their horns.. all have pigtails.. :-)

Kristi was shopping after Christmas and this pretty wreath was on a good sale so she got it.. I was so pleased as I had the idea of changing out the red and green in the dining room to silver and gold and this fit right in with my plan!  I like to welcome in the new year with light white colors - and the sentiment of PEACE certainly is something I am wishing for in the new year for the whole world.  Wouldn't that be wonderful?

I finished my second bootie.. this pair is ready to go to a new baby girl born to the family!  My daughter and sister Denise both said.. who is the 2nd baby girl?  My brother Robert and his wife D'Ann's oldest daughter Johanna and her husband Andrew welcomed a new baby girl that was born right before Christmas.  She joins a brother.  I'm so happy for them!  Then, my cousin in Oklahoma, Nancy (who was born in the same month as me) - her youngest child Shevin, gave birth to her and her husband Curtis' first child, a daughter, on Christmas day!!  So, I have another pair to get busy on.  :-)

I just love making these booties for my family and friend's new babies.

My wintered-over Streptocarpus is flowering for me!  Love love.  I think it's grateful that we did not leave it outside to fend for itself.

We are having a dinner party on New Years Day - our older son Shawn and his family drove to Los Angeles to have Christmas with her big family in Agoura Hills and so we're having Christmas with them on NY's.  That should be fun!

Are you making any New Year's Resolutions?  My only one ever is to eat healthier and exercise more and drop 1,000 lbs.  :-)  Right.  What's yours?  ((hugs)), Teresa :-) 

(Edited to Add) Click HERE to join in on Amanda's Giveaway!