A Belated Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Where does the time go?!

We hosted several times in November & December and the months just slipped away...

I hope that everyone had lovely holidays.

I did get to the Christkindlmarket once this year.

And enjoyed it thoroughly.

Most of my stocking stuffers were purchased here.

The Christkindlmarket  feels so magical each year.

So many lovely treasures.

Such beautiful craftsmanship!

I am always so happy to put out my collection of miniature nativities.

And I enjoy the pretty sights in Chicago as I Christmas shop.

So pretty by day and night.

Leia was a big help in putting the lights on the Christmas Tree

And she is good at unwrapping gifts too! LOL!

 Meanwhile, as soon as Peanut's Christmas gift was unwrapped (a calming bed)...

he climbed right in and took a nap!

I did a bit of stitching through the holidays and have a few finishes to share soon...

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 

An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, 

and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 

“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

~Luke 2:8-11

Blessings, Patti

Christkindlmarket Chicago 2018

I hope that you don't mind another year of the Chicago Christkindlmarket.

One of my favorite holiday traditions!

It always puts me in the right mood for the holidays!

Love the cuckoo clocks and nutcrackers.

We have a German cuckoo clock and to me it sounds like home... 

The embroideries in this booth really caught my eye this year!

So many lovelies to choose from!

And I always enjoy looking for new items in this booth.

Such lovely items!

It wouldn't be a Christkindlmarket without steins!

From small to extra large

I did buy a small ceramic building from this booth almost 20 years ago and still enjoy it.

I love these so!

I always say that one year I will splurge and buy one, but I haven't done so yet. 

Instead I just admire the workmanship!

I have been buying pieces from this collection for years, 

but my shelf is just about full...

Our main tree is just about full of these German glass ornaments now.

The boys each receive a figural glass ornament in their stocking each year to represent a trip or something they did that year. They are on our family tree for now, 

but will go with them when they move out.

I enjoyed the carolers.

It was a cold night, but they were dressed pretty warmly.

I popped in Macy's to see the Great Tree.

The window displays are not like they used to be, but the Great Tree is still pretty.

Iconic buildings and structures of Chicago surround the bottom along with the L train, whose track runs around the tree.

I picked up some sweet roasted pecans to snack on during my L ride home.

Thanks for letting me share my annual trip to the Christkindlmarket.

I think that I might need to make one more stop there before the season is over...

He called together all the high priests and scribes of the people and asked them 

where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, 

“In Bethlehem of Judea, because that is what was written by the prophet:

‘O Bethlehem in the land of Judah,

    you are by no means least among the rulers of Judah,

because from you will come a ruler

    who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

~Matthew 2:4-6

Blessings, Patti

Chicago Christkindlmarket 2017

I hope that you don't get tired of me sharing the Chicago Christkindlmarket year after year...

I just can't help myself ;) It's so "Christmas" to me.

Time flies by and Christmas is just days away...

So much to do at work and at home.

But these photos bring me peace and happiness

and remind me of  memories created here year after year...

So many sweet treats throughout the market.

And even more confections in the Sweet Castle.

Not quite as warm as when I visited last year, but still a lovely evening.

Treasures to be cherished.

A sweet woodland scene.

Ornaments of natural materials.

Traditional ornaments of straw and wood.

More wooden treasures

My eyes don't know where to look first.

Each and every one so sweet.

A magical booth of candle holders.

Do you see the two giant candleholders up in the eave?

Each so different and each so pretty.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

~Luke 2:4-7

Blessings, Patti

Chicago Christkindlmarket 2016

I hope that you don't mind that I share the Christkindlmarket every year,

but it is one of my favorite traditions!

This visit was the best! It was 70 degrees on opening night and it was empty!

Can't ask for more than great weather and no crowds.

I think that if you didn't look up at the skyscrapers of Chicago and the Picasso, you could believe that you are in Germany... 

So many beautiful booths of handmade wares.

Beautiful glass ornaments

The Kathe Wohlfahrt building is an absolute Christmas Wonderland, but photos are not allowed.

Their website is here and will give you a feel for the delights inside.

Beautiful hand painted ornaments.

So many gorgeous Russian nesting dolls - how would you pick just one?!

Fun wooden pull toy ornaments.

(Don't be startled by the Krampus masks on the right like I was!)

I think that the paper lantern stars were even more detailed and gorgeous this year.

Gingerbread cookies and sugared, spiced nuts - yum!

German workmanship in wood.

 Beautiful cuckoo clocks.

I am so glad that we have one hanging in our home - the gift of dear friends from Germany.

I love the tick tock and the cuckoo bird who comes out to visit each half hour - so comforting.

Nutcrackers standing at attention and tiny battery operated cuckoo clocks.

The ornament house - one of two.

Each year ornaments from here end up in each of the boys stockings - figural ornaments that represent something that occurred that year.

The majority of our tree is decorated with these ornaments now.

Sparkling and so pretty.

The Christkind (Christmas Angel) attended opening night.

I was so happy that there was no line for the Sweet Castle this night!

I always stock up on German chocolates for the year...

Since it was not crowded, I was able to take photos inside for the first time!

A pretty antique carousel decorated with gingerbread cookie hearts and chocolate advent calendars.

Chocolate Santas all lined up.

Hard candies in every flavor.

A Haribo (gummy) lovers dream :)

I filled my basket with kinderchocolades - don't tell the boys!

(Although I think they are expecting it!)

The next few posts will be other favorite Chicago Christmas traditions.

I get excited each year and can't help but take more photos :)

Thanks for letting me share my fun.

"But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 

You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus."

~Luke 1:30-31

Blessings, Patti