Standing in the Sunshine Cottage viewing the outdoors through the east window is a perfect place for me to catch a sunrise, see a variety of wildlife, or just enjoy what the Creator has on display at any given time. And, when the weather might challenge my endurance for comfort, it is a cozy place to hang out. I was doing this very thing when I began to look at all that surrounded me within. I was surrounded by a celebration of the Savior, reminded of family, of friends, and of days gone by; a million thoughts with only a glance!
“And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!””
Luke 2:12-14 (ESV)
This being the last Sunday before Christmas, I decided to ask Pam to take on a little project…photograph the inside of the cottage so we could have Christmas in the Sunshine Cottage for SSS 528, and give us a bit of a Christmas tour. She agreed!
Merry Sunday before Christmas, dear readers. My sweet Renaissance Man, Butch, wanted me to take over his Simple+ Southern Sunday post just for TODAY! Time was running out for me to invite you for Christmas inside the Sunshine Cottage!
Come inside where it is warm and cozy as I share the cottage decorated for Christmas. Our sweet Hummel nativity takes center stage! I kept it very simple with only a pair of heralding angels on either side.
As many of you know, my beloved Mother made ceramics forty plus years ago. I find great joy each year in unwrapping her beautiful hand-painted Santa’s. Mrs. Claus reminds me of my Mother…the kindness in her eyes.
Old World Santa’s, and plates depicting Santa in his sleigh are featured above. The Royal Stafford “Christmas Sleigh” dinner plates and tartan chargers were recently used for A Birthday Celebration!
The large Santa on the left always sat by the tree in my parent’s home. I don’t know his history, but he is quite handsome!
Green majolica and tartan plates join the Santa plates. Butch is so sweet to keep fresh greenery on the shelves!
“It’s that time of year, when the world falls in love…”
Snuggles is approximately 37 years old and has been well-loved. When the cottage was built, he found his permanent home. When our grands visit, they always pick him up and give him a bear hug! A large stack of coffee table books makes a perfect table next to Snuggles!
“I’ll be home for Christmas, you can count on me” is my Daddy’s favorite song. He and his army buddies listened to it while in the Korean War. It was originally written to honor soldiers overseas who longed to be home at Christmas time during World War II. It plays often as I listen to Christmas music while spending time both working and relaxing in the Sunshine Cottage!
The grandchildren’s tree is decorated with sweet treats…
…and a peppermint white mocha for PJ!
“Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel.”
‘Tis the season to be jolly, fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!
These shelves feature Steinbach nutcrackers that inspired A Tea Party With The Nutcrackers!
Steinbach nutcracker, The Bavarian’ World Costume Series, is a special limited edition that I found for a wonderful price at Tuesday Morning several years ago. I miss their store where I always found things that I didn’t need! Standing along side is a Christopher Radko nutcracker candle stand.
On the counter (far right) is my Daddy’s old Underwood typewriter which is still in working condition.
Tartan chargers and nutcracker salad plates join the nutcrackers for “the most wonderful time of the year”!
This Christopher Radko limited edition musical nutcracker plays The Nutcracker March. Of 750 made, this is number 250. It was a gift from a dear friend 20 years ago!
Thank you for taking time in a very busy week to drop by the Sunshine Cottage!
From our Cottage to Yours…MERRY CHRISTMAS
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”
Numbers 6:24-26 ESV
Linking with:
Pieced Pastimes, Between Naps on the Porch, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Imparting Grace,Life and Linda
Pam and Butch everything looks so pretty and festive for Christmas. Love your nutcracker collection. Wishing you and your sweet family a very Merry Christmas. Enjoy. Hugs. Kris
Thank you, Kris! Sending hugs to you!
Pam, Your Sunshine Cottage is so merry and bright…the perfect spot to relax and read and sip a cup of tea! I love all the touches of tartan plaid in your throws, plates and Santa’s coat, as well as the accents of fresh greenery on your shelves mixing with your nutcrackers. Your grands’ tree is so festive decorated with the candy and sweet treats theme. Wishing you, Butch and your family a merry week ahead. Happy Sunday! 🎄❤️
Thank you, Mary! It is fun to decorate the cottage for the grands! Merry week to you and yours ❤️🎄✨
Happy Sunday, Butch and Pam! We passed the Winter Solstice yesterday, so we will have a few more seconds of daylight today! Sunshine Cottage is a feast for the eyes. There is something beautiful with a special story everywhere we look! Who did all the beautiful cross stitch? Snuggles looks very happy. My sister has a bear named George that Santa brought when she was about 3. George actually went to Europe with Kelley and my mother when he was about 7! Today is Lessons and Carols at church, so I am looking forward to some beautiful hymns. Bundle up and stay warm!
Thank you, Roxanne. I did all the cross stitch in the early 80’s. Believe it or not, I use to be crafty 😉 How fun that George made a trip to Europe. I love the old beautiful Christmas hymns! I am home for the rest of the day and drinking hot chocolate, it is going to be a restful afternoon ❤️🎄✨
I had so much fun enlarging each photo and seeing everything! I must say the Christmas tree is the most fun tree I’ve ever seen. Each ornament must have been a happy find. The grands have a world of happy in the cottage. And I looked for your dads old typewriter that even holds good memories for me as I’ve followed you so long and it’s been right there every year. The side table of coffee table books is a great idea for putting them to use. I have a teddy bear I got for Christmas 38 years ago that traveled with me everywhere as an adult because I had just met Lowell and much of my travel required me to go alone except for the Bear called “Lowell”. He made me feel safe wherever my travels took me.,He is right here with me now as I spend a Christmas full of wonderful memories too.
Thank you, Alice and I am so glad you enjoyed enlarging the photos. Butch and I appreciate that you have followed so many years. Your comments are always encouraging. Thank you for sharing about “Lowell” and how comforting to have the bear after all these years and even now as you spend your Christmas with a heart filled with memories. You are in our thoughts and prayers, dear friend!
Just beautiful. I love the Sunshine Cottage.
So many memories.
As we approach Christmas day, let us all be grateful as so many are still without homes this year.
Thank you Pam and Butch for brightening our Sundays every week. Merry Christmas to all of you, including your father. Hopefully, we will all be here at the same place next year.
Thank you, Myrna. May we never forget those who have lost their homes and livelihoods. Wishing you and yours a joy-filled Christmas!
How festive! The cottage is a delight of holiday cheer!
Thank you, Carole. Merry Christmas!
Sweet friend, Sunshine Cotrage is magical decorated for Christmas! What a joyful start to this Sunday before Christmas! All of your collections are so lovely, and everything looks beautiful accented by tartans, reds, and Christmas greens. Your Mom’s Tartan Santa has to be one of my favorites. The grands Christmas tree is precious. Thank you for inviting us in. Wishing you, Butch, and your family a very Merry Christmas!🎄❤️🎄
Thank you, Shannon. I love all of the memories that are a huge part of my collections. Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas, sweet friend 🎄❤️🎄
Merry Christmas to you both! The Sunshine Cottage is decorated beautifully. I love the pillow of the reindeer pulling the sleigh. RHill, TX
Thanks so much, Rachel! Merry Christmas to you and your family 🎄❤️
Pam, The Sunshine Cottage is beautifully festive. Your mother’s ceramics are my absolute favorites. I love the other pretties as well, but your Mom had a special talent and it shows on her beautiful painted pieces. Your nutcrackers are all delightful! The children’s Christmas tree is gorgeous! The Nativity scene is so cute. Merry Christmas to you and your family! Give your sweet daddy a hug from us! Clara❤️🎄
Thank you sweet, Clara! You would have loved my Mother. She was fun and always had a smile and a hug for everyone! I will give Daddy a hug from you all! ❤️🎄
Such a merry place to relax and enjoy the holidays surrounded by special memories and favorite Christmas things! I love the fresh greenery tucked in the shelves and the merry mix of plaids, nutcrackers, and Santas! The grandchildren’s tree is so pretty decorated with sweet treats and I love the sweet teddy bear that always gets hugs! Thank you for the tour and Merry Merry Christmas Pam and Butch!
Jenna, you are so sweet and thank you! The fresh pine has a beautiful scent each time I open the door. Merry Christmas Jenna and enjoy a little time away!
Love Sunshine Cottage. You decorate it so beautifully. Your nutcrackers are so sweet. The greenery is a nice touch along with the plaid and santas. A joy to visit and see your lovely cottage. Merry Christmas.
Thank you for your visit, Linda! Merry Christmas❤️🎄
Oh Pam, I am so envious of your Sunshine Cottage …in a good way of course. If my grands were here, I would copy so many of your ideas and decor, but alas, my littles are all over 1500 miles away and altho I have plenty to decorate with, I don’t have the energy or more importantly, the cottage to play with which would certainly please my grands. So I have to live vicariously through your beautiful cottage. Everything in the cottage is so special and a unexpected delight for the eyes. Merry Christmas! ❤️🌲🙏🏻🎄💚
Kari, it must be hard to be so far away from your littles. I am sure FaceTime is great for seeing them and talking with them. My SIL has grands that live out of the country and she reads books to them on FaceTime.
Thank you, and Merry Christmas to you and your Captain ❤️🎄🙏🏻🎄❤️
“It’s that time of year, when the world falls in love…” with your cottage and all of the festive decorations! I love how you decorate with items full of Christmas memories – you are such a talented designer!!!!
Mary, you are so sweet! I love making memories!
Butch, what a beautiful visitor you had today! She makes the world a much prettier place, doesn’t she? I’m feeling melancholy so your Mom’s beautiful work, the Santa, Snuggles, and your Dad’s typewriter got my heart! The nutcrackers, colors of plaid, fresh greenery, and …EVERYTHING…is made for a Hallmark movie, Pam. Seriously, I want to make a music video at your place and I can hear your Dad and all of you singing, “I’ll be home for Christmas.” My heart melted. I love you, dearly. Merry Christmas to such a special family! 🎄🌲🩷🙏🏼🎶
You are always so sweet, Karla! Come on down and we will sing, wouldn’t that be fun! Love and hugs 🎄❤️🎹🎶🎄❤️
Everything is beautiful and festive. I know you are truly enjoying every moment spent inside your gorgeous cottage, especially during the Christmas season. Best wishes, gina
Thank you, Gina. We always enjoy hearing from you. Merry Christmas !
It’s all so joyfully magical! What a marvelous tour, thank you! Sending you all Merry Christmas and Happy New Year wishes.
Thanks so much, Sue. Merry Christmas and blessings for the New Year!
Hello Sweet Friends. What a festive and cheerful Christmas Cottage. I enjoyed zooming in and out of each picture to notice all the beautiful details.
There are many fantastic memories with your Mom’s stunning ceramic handmade Santas, your Dad’s handsome typewriter, and the ever-adorable Snuggles, Seth’s bear. Wherever you turn, you are hugged by loving memories. How wonderful to be in your Hallmark Sunshine Cottage.
Your Grands must love reading books on your laps or having some cocoa in your teacups in the Sunshine Christmas Cottage. More wonderful memories are being made! Merry, Merry memories!
Thank you for the Christmas Tour. I loved it so much.
Merry Christmas to you all!
Thank you, Nancy for your visit this morning and for your sweet comments! Wishing you and your beautiful family a Merry, Merry Christmas ❤️🎄❤️
Oh my dear Pam, thank you for the lovely tour through the Sunshine Cottage. You know me, as I appreciate all the memories attached to the various pieces that you hold dear to your heart. Your mother was such a wonderful artist! Your daddy’s typewriter is such a sweet touch to include on the shelf. What joy the cottage must bring to your grands when they visit. Merry Christmas to you and Butch!
Thank you, Kitty! We both enjoy the sharing of memories. Merry Christmas to you and your beautiful family ❤️🎄❤️
I love the cottage and Butch’s tours on Sunday plus your lovely garden. Have I missed the inside of your home? I know it must be lovely. God bless and keep you and yours in 2025. A special blessing for the new baby grandson coming soon. He will certainly be as adorable and healthy as his siblings.
Thank you, Vicky. Your comments are so sweet and encouraging. I didn’t photograph my home this year, I ran out of time and energy. I did a couple of tablescapes in the dining room. We are excited about another grandson!
Merry Christmas both of you! Thank you so much for all your inspiration over the year, your kindness, and your generosity. I hope you have a lovely celebration with family and loved ones!
Barbara, you are a sweetheart! Wishing you a joy-filled Christmas and blessings for a New Year!
Pam and Butch, thanks so much for sharing the Christmas Version of the Sunshine Cottage. Everything is so special. I had to comment when I saw your teddy bear. As you may remember, we are fans of a John Denver and the same age as you. Our only son is 37 years old and had the same exact bear. He was a gift, I think from my fellow teachers, and we used him to practice strapping a little one in our new car seat so many years ago. We called him Honey Jo Bear. Merry Christmas to you and your sweet family.
Thank you for sharing a Beautiful Memorable Christmas 🎄 tour. MERRY CHRISTMAS to all of you.
Thanks so much, Nancy!
Popping in to say hi and wish you two a very special Christmas. Thanks for this beautiful tour!
What a place of enchantment you have made Sunshine Cottage for the bumpkins…especially during Christmas. The shelves are lined with all sorts of
happy distractions and O that tree. That tartan Santa has always been a focus
of wishful gloming for me and Pam’s beloved Mother’s Mrs. Claus could easily take prizes. It is all like revisiting the Christmases of Childhood and being
reminded of what a precious time that was and should not be lost, especially
at Christmastide.
I always love to see how the cottage evolves with the changing seasons and holidays. I like all the tartan plaid. Merry Christmas to you all.
Thanks so much, Karen!
I do so love the cottage! That Hummel nativity is a gem and all your plaids and nutcrackers are perfect. I can’t think of a better way to decorate your tree in this magical sugarplum place!
I’m checking in after the holiday and hoping that your Christmas was beautiful — I suspect it was, with a lot of joy. Keep the celebration going and enjoy this lovely week! Merriest!
Thank you, Jeanie. It is a happy place to play with my grands, read, and relax!
Aw, it was so sweet to come here today and re-live Christmas. I am sad because we finally had to take down our tree today. I would have kept it up longer, but it was time! I am already looking forward to next Christmas and pray God spares all our lives to see and enjoy it and many more together. Life and the years go by so fast! Your Sunshine cottage looked so pretty at Christmas. I hope you had a wonderful one. Happy New Year!
Thank you, Cheryl. I enjoy decorating the cottage. I left my trees longer than ever. I just wanted to enjoy them a little longer this year. Happy 2025!