My life is to make everything around me beautiful.

Friday, December 24, 2010

A Wysocki Christmas for 2010 Pink Saturday

Merry Christmas from Connie and Love Bunny, my sweet blogging chicks. I hope this day finds you all well, laughing with your family and stuffed with favorite foods of the season, whatever that may be in your home.

But it's still Pink Saturday so go to Beverly's site and view all the other participants.

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As with all of you, I have always loved Christmas, not for the gifts—oh, that was probably true as a child, but for the feelings most of us feel this time of year. I believe it ranks right up there as the most favorite holiday of the year. In saying that, I'll explain what it means to us in this home.

We're a very religious family. We attend church every sunday and try to observe the Sabbath as a holy day of rest. That's tough for me because I'm always busy doing something. But we don't shop on sundays, work, eat out or have lavish dinners. We try to keep all sunday dinners simple so we don't spend a lot of time preparing or cleaning up after dinners.

I've already stated this but I'll say it again: We don't buy presents for each other, only for the youngest grandkids and, now, our great granddaughter. It's not about saving money for us; it's about being in the true Spirit of the reason for this holiday, plus there are absolutely no NEEDS here and very little wants. We concentrate a bit more of the life of Christ and the glorious gift of eternal life he has given us. To be caught up in the frenzy of purchasing gifts, decorating (although, hubs insists we have a tree and lights around the house outside because he loves seeing those things), and the frazzle of shopping isn't my idea of fun either. It's chaotic and we then forget our Savior and His gift.

So I'm just going to share some limited edition prints we have of Charles Wysocki that I've collected and now hang in the bedroom's hallway. In our last house we had the dining room all red and green and Christmas-y all year and yes, there was bright red carpet that no one could believe we put in there. I thought it was gorgeous though. I loved it but we don't need a formal dining room now so they have taken up residence in that hallway. Frankly, I'm just too lazy to take them down for a good photoshoot so this is as good as it gets in that cramped hallway. And, since you're here, you've probably had it with the family, all the cooking, eating and just want to get away from the zaniness for a few minutes. ;-)

Wysocki's paintings were representative of a time when it seemed simpler but truly wasn't because we now have much more spare time due to the invention of time- and labor-saving devices. I doubt I'd like to have lived back then but I would like the patriotic fervor, camaraderie, politeness and gentleness that era evokes in us. You'll always see an American flag in his paintings and prints. Most of his paintings usually evoke the New England part of our country and, although born in Michigan, he lived most of his life in Southern California. He is my favorite Americana artist of all times. His artwork just makes me happy to view it.

Wysocki once said donuts were nature's perfect food. I wholeheartedly agree! You'll notice the touch of whimsy in his painting below by putting his name—Charlie—on the pastry wagon.

Who wouldn't love this happy greeting at this time of year?

This is one I bought for my hubby because it has a train in it.

So, again, Merry Christmas! Enjoy the season and I hope your New Year is a happy one for you and your family.
~*~

26 comments:

  1. What perfect prints. There are times I wish life could be more like the feeling in those prints then the hectic, electronic lives we live now. Thank you for the moment of peace. Have a very Merry Christmas!
    Licks & Wags, Niki

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  2. Merry Christmas to you my sweet DEAR friend! I just love you to pieces and wish you and your family a blessed Christmas!!!
    Love, Lorena

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  3. Merry Christmas Connie and Love Bunny! I like the no presents idea more and more. Have a wonderful time with your family!

    Jillian

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  4. Connie, just stopping by to wish you and Love Bunny a very Blessed and Merry Christmas. I like your idea of no gifts. It does take away the true meaning of the season of Joy and Celebration of the Birth of our Lord and Savior. I just give my children and gc money and I usually send out a few gifts to people who have touched my life in ways they will never know. We are all sharing the cooking this year so it won't be to tedious for any of us and that makes time for family since this is the first Christms in 10 years that I have had all my children together at Christmas. Love and hugs, Pat

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  5. I love Charles Wysoki's style of painting too. We are avid jigsaw puzzle people and anytime we find one of his paintings done in a puzzle we HAVE to buy it.

    Love your take on Christmas, the hustle and bustle of gift buying and decorating can easily take over the true meaning.

    Merry Christmas to you and yours this holiday season.

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  6. These are beautiful, Connie!

    Merry Christmas to you and your family!

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  7. How perfectly lovely. I made the decision last week that I wasn't going to decorate this year~ school ran to late, I am missing my sweet mama, wanting to really keep my focus on the reason for the season, etc. I wrote about it last Friday and I still feel so happy and peaceful about my decision.

    May you make some wonderful Christmas memories and my family and I wish you the peace of the season.

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  8. I would love to "live" in one of his paintings..I love these..they exude a time with everything was right with the world..thanks for sharing.;) have a very merry christmas and a wonderful new year...chick!!!
    xoxxoxoxo
    Gina ;)

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  9. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas, Connie!

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  10. I love the pictures! They are so beautiful. I hope you and love bunny have a great Christmas. I am spending it with my best friend's family and while I am missing my wonderful Momma, I think being with them is the 2nd best thing. I hope you have a great couple of days.

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  11. Merry Christmas to you too! I love Wysoki too! We have a few of his pictures around our house. They are so detailed. Every time I look at them I see new things :)

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  12. Merry Christmas Connie! Here's wishing you and your family a wonderful holiday together. I hope your Christmas and following days are filled with the Merriment and Love that sharing this special time of the year brings!

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  13. I am glad you shared this post today. I agree with you wholeheartedly. Christmas has gotten too commercial and people have forgotten the real reason we should be celebrating. Best wishes to you and family.

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  14. Hi, precious!

    I wanted to drop by and wish you and your DH and family a very Merry Christmas! Sounds like you are going to have the same type of quiet day we are. It started out that ours was going to be a little on the wild side, by my illness curtailed that which is giving me the time to focus on what really matters and not whirling like a dirvish! ;-)

    Love you and love your prints you've collected. You have always been one of my favorite bloggers. Hoping you and yours have a bright and light-filled Christmas, Connie!

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

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  15. Lovely pictures. We're wishing you and yours a safe and blessed Christmas.

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  16. The Wysoki prints are wonderful. I can see your red and green dining room with these lovely prints hanging in there. It sounds so happy! Little Caroline looks just like a doll, I'm sure she is a doll! Have a wonderful day tomorrow. Merry Christmas!

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  17. Wonderful pictures.
    Thanks for sharing.
    Happy Pink Saturday.

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  18. Charles Wysocki, that really brings back some lovely memories. How lovely yours are, thank you for sharing them with us, love the "Charlie" too!

    Merry Christmas to you and yours, Connie!
    xo~Tracie

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  19. Merry Christmas, Connie! Blessings to you and your family.

    xo
    Claudia

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  20. May you and your family have a Blessed Christmas!

    Lots of love,
    Susan and Bentley
    xxoo

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  21. Dear Sweet Connie, Merry Christmas to you and you Honey too. The snow looks so pretty and Christmasy at your house. Your Charles Wysocki prints are so pretty and sweet. I like the thought of neighbors knowing and counting on each other and community too the way they did in the past. Lives are more convenient now but it's only given us time to cram more in and actually enjoy less. But that's each persons choice and we are blessed to have the choice. You're Sundays sound precious and treasured to me. When I was a little girl a lot of the stores weren't even open on Sunday. And some even closed one day during the week to make up for Saturdays.

    I love the sweet pictures of your new Great Grand, so so precious.

    I wish you and your family all the joy of Christmas on this special day. Warm loving hugs...Tracy :)

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  22. G'day sweet Connie ~ So love Wysocki, also. Beautiful art ... warm, homey, snuggly love.

    MERRY 'Christ'mas ... may your day be filled with joy & blessings.
    TTFN ~ Hugs, Marydon

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  23. Merry Chirstmas to you and your family Connie! I'm a day late, but I hope it was wonderful. Happy New Year too! :>)

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  24. Just love, love, Charles' Wysocki's prints. Evokes the feeling of yesteryear. My favorite images are of the horse-drawn sleigh, and the wooden children's sleighs.

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Comments are so nice and I thank all of you that leave one for me.