Playing favorites - part 1

Our all time favorite holiday candle is Christmas Tree in a Can made by Aunt Sadie's in Boston, who, by the way, has a most wonderful shop to visit. So perfectly balsamy with the absolute scent of a christmas tree, that just inhaling the open can is mesmerizing ... if you like Christmas. $18.00.

Picture this

Little leather wallets and card cases are hand printed with fun images by

Shara Porter. Perfect in the pocket. $32. and $40.

Cosseted fingers

Silky soft shearling in deliciously fun colors. These European gloves glide onto the hand and offer a most luxurious warmth. $110.00

Let it salt

Slightly askew Salty the salt shakerman will charm your winter table. Tweak his little carrot nose to fill. Fellow Rhode Islander Fred Roses dreams up these clever wonders. $12.00.

Folkloric piney pillow

In the market stalls of Antigua, Guatemala we found these 6" uselessly sized but charming textile pieces. We sent them on a trip to Maine to be filled with our favorite eau Christmas tree balsam. And now they have a purpose in life as a fragrant fiesta. Winter woods with a hot flash. $20.00

It's ticking . . .

The countdown begins. Depending on our state of frazz, the jolly fat man is either the symbol of festive anticipation, or of never enough time. One memorable year, Granny was helping us unpack Christmas ornaments and on each box she wrote "santa", but by the end of her chore the boxes said "satan". Which about sums it up. $15.00.

Glad tidings

bedecked, tinseled, and brightened

our 18th year of holiday delights
the amusements
the sweet little things
the momentary flashes of sparkle
that make this festive season
worth contemplating
a time out from the humdrum and drear
a place marker to remind us
to be kind and generous
and to have good cheer