Twas the Day After Christmas...

(Please try to read in rhyme or else it sounds really lame and even then...) 

Twas the day after Christmas and all through the house,

there's not a space that is clear except for the couch.

The kids had opened all their presents and boxes, 

and found that they had received way too many pairs of soxes.

So off we did cart the goodies and baubles,

 into nice little piles that were certain to wobble.

When what to my wondering eye should appear,

but a nibbled on cookie that had looked very dear.

For the little old driver so lively and quick,

had left all his presents and they were opened before the clock could tick.

It was not the presents passing that made me a little sad,

but the reason for us gathering that has made us all glad.

For once a year we do gather in a house full of memories,

by a fireplace that lights the way with sparkles of my younger days.

We have lost some precious faces and will be sure to loose more,

but the joyful days surrounding our Christmas celebration

we could not love more.

We are watched over by some "mooses",

while Kelsey and little Bean "snooses".

We try to look astute as we sit on a couch,

and watch Uncle Trip parade his new pouch.

We spend hours on end with our cousins and more,

who play and spread Legos all over the floor.

We move from house to house,

over the course of a few days.

We eat a little linzer tart 

and some chocolate covered Oreo's too,

sitting wedged between a Christmas cake 

and some cookies that were of a pale hue.

We eat and we sing as we tell stories anew,

while the cat takes Santa's place and causes him to sit askew.

The sentiment of this plate rescinds all over the house, 

while more tables are needed to seat each sibling and spouse.

We wallow in the soft glow of a lovely fireplace,

and the meaning of Christmas is not lost in this place.

We take selfies of our faces,

and giggle over the baby's happy faces.

The memories we are creating are plentiful but our blessings are more,

and it is with thankful hearts as we each leave through the door.

A blessed Christmas I hope you all had, filled with memories and more of how your family celebrates this season of 

Beauty and Love~

Meg

Please pardon the liberty that I took with the English language to make this work. It was a little late and I was a little delirious.

December 18th ~ Reflection

As many of you know, our big Holiday Open House and Christmas in the Barn Sales have passed. Tomorrow is our last sale of 2013 and as I was up in the barn tonight revamping merchandise and cleaning up a bit, I could not help but reflect back on the past year. These sales require hours upon hours that roll into days upon days and weeks upon weeks devoted to everything it takes to bring it to life. We have melted in close to one hundred degree temps and swung to wearing more clothing than one could possibly imagine, to try and offset the early cold that settled in for the November Sale as we were pricing and setting up late into the night...many nights.

(Sorry, picture is disguised to keep the identities of layered goofy looking girls a secret)

As I moved merchandise around and worked on two special orders, again in the cold, I thought how lucky and blessed I am to be able to be doing what I am doing. I also thought that I really must love it to work for hours on end in crazy temperature conditions.  Love it??? I love it with all my heart!

 I love my friends who come and pitch in when they can. This actually gives us a chance to catch up!

I love my friends' children who are incredible workers and have mastered the cash register and catering in the same night.

I love the people that I meet who come to our sales. So many stories, so many coincidental meetings.

I love my family who eat take out food and leftovers with no complaints for nights on end.

I love the thrill of the hunt and finding all the special items that we offer that I think will fit right in with the feel of the barn.

I love my friend and Life's Patina partner who keeps it all together...you know who you are!

I love when it all comes together and what I have pictured in my head...there are a lot of pictures up there...actually becomes the end result.

I love the new vendors that we bring into the barn who are following their passions as well. 

I could go on and on,  and as all businesses as well as the matters of life can attest to, I could give a fairly decent list of what I do not love. Nothing is ever perfect but some things can be pretty darn close!

Thank you to our "perfect" customers who come out and sometimes suffer as well in a sometimes overly heated or under heated conditions. Thank you for appreciating what we do. It is YOU who keep us going! Here are some shots I would like to leave you with before Christmas in the barn for 2013 fades away. For the flavor of our Christmas celebration in 2014 will look much different.

Love ya all!

My youngest and I keeping warm in his great grandmother's rotting fur coat.

If you missed our previous openings, come check us out tomorrow from 9-4 to experience the barn in it's Holiday cloak!

All the best is wished for you~

Meg