A Vintage Christmas ♥ Comfort & Joy #2 ...

~Message in a Bottle~

It's all about tradition at home during the Holidays.

We are creatures of habit here & take comfort & joy in the special little things that we enjoy just at Christmas time. 

Chocolate Advent calendars are waiting in the pantry for December 1st.

Next to the Advent calendars are containers of mixed fruits and peels and nuts.  It is time to make the Christmas cake & English pud.

Everyone has their own special Christmas baked treat.

Today I'll share another one of our traditions 

 'message in a bottle'.

***

You will need:

Wine bottle - washed and dried well

{save the bottle from a special occasion during the year specifically for this}

Paper of your choice {Christmas wrap, music paper, book pages}

ribbon/twine

nest

bird

tag

When you have a quiet moment to sit and relax after all the festivities, have everyone in your family write a note.

A message of thanks, and gratefulness for the year that is ending, a message of hope and dreams and wishes for the New Year approaching. Something they wish to reflect upon, embrace, pray on.

Roll up the note and place in a decorative piece of paper to keep private.  This is a great way to re-use Christmas wrap, or music paper, book pages from a damaged book etc ...

Roll the two together & tie with a small piece of twine. Add your name to the outside  and place in bottle.

Once everyone has written their notes, you can now seal & decorate your bottle.

I like to place a small decorative nest on top with a sweet tiny bird.

Stamp the year on a tag and attach with ribbon.

Store your Messages in a Bottle with your Christmas decorations.

Next year, when it's time to decorate again,

 enjoy opening and reading your note :}

The rooms were very still

while the pages

were softly turned

and the Winter sunshine

crept in

to touch the bright heads

and serious faces

with a

Christmas greeting

~Louisa May Alcott~