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blogging, Creating Cozy in Winter Months, Fighting The Winter Blues, Hardware Store Life, Home, January, Resilence, seaonal change, southern living, winter

Fighting the Winter Blues

January 13, 2024 hardwarelifewife 2 Comments

Are you muddling through January??? The holidays are over, the Christmas lights and decorations are tucked away for another year. The chill of winter has set in. The blustery winter winds can take your breath away from the sudden surge of Arctic air. Brrr!!!! Many of us may just want to retreat inside our homes for a few months to hibernate like a bear.

The frost was hanging heavy on the trees January 12th

I feel like that in the winter months of January and February. Simply ready for Hibernation…. Often in the winter season, I’m driving to work in the dark each morning and then driving home as sun goes down. Ugh…. Yes, the sun concludes its day even earlier in the winter! At 6:00pm it feels like 10:00pm, my internal clock is askew … ready to hibernate for the entire evening at 7pm, struggling to stay awake. My inner bear is showing its sleepy little self.

If the seasons were reversed, that would be the opposite during the summer. Summer brings a burst of longer daylight and ongoing activity. So, my bear-like self becomes more like a busy little hummingbird …. A stroll into the garden after dinner, doing yard work, the list could go on and on… Yes, darkness can be a stronger force during the winter season.

Winter… less hours of daylight! Stop by to purchase this unique clock ⏰.

Maybe you are always a hummingbird all year long, but I know as I get older, my “bear instincts” are growing stronger as I feel the need to rest more in the winter months. Winter is a perfect time for a respite… Time to rest, reflect, and prepare yourself for another year.

Did y’all know that several years ago, the third January Monday was actually coined “Blue Monday”? I believe it was a travel gimmick to get people motivated to begin thinking about spring and summer travel. The goal of “Blue Monday” was to get folks motivated to plan and book their summer travel… not sure how all that worked out for the travel marketing industry but honestly, less hours of daylight does impact how we think and feel… science proven! Regardless of the original intent of this, it’s worth a discussion about the winter lull after the excitement of the holiday season.

Finding the beauty in January… January can be stark, like the tree without leaves. But the beauty emerges when you stop to view the beauty of the tree itself. Allowing yourself to rest, reset, and reflect in January can be good for your mind, body, and spirit.

So we have already established that it’s hard for me to get energized on those wet, windy, nasty cold days. And this year, so far, without significant snow to bring a glimmer of winter bliss into our midst it has been tough for my inner “bear”.

As adults, we often don’t have the “childlike” mindset of the glorious event of a wonderful snowstorm… watching with wonder and excitement… viewing every snowflake fall by the window, snow days with no school, or gearing up for sledding.

*Ahhh, the beautiful snowfall captured from a few years ago. This is a favorite photo of mine from the Greenway.*

So how do we beat the winter “blues”? I would venture to guess that most of us can’t pack up and take an extended vacation until April. Wouldn’t that be wonderful!!! Yes, that’s not happening for 99 % of us reading this blog post. I also do realize that some folks do suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder and if that’s the case these simple tips may not be enough to keep your spirit strong… seek out medical professionals.

But, if the “ winter blues” are simply getting you down in the dumps, here’s a few tips from your favorite local hardware store blogger to help make the winter of 2023-2024 a bit cozier and warmer.

**Winter… bring warmth and cozy comfort to your daily routine**

Tips for Fighting the Winter “Blues”

1. Go Green! Yes, that’s right, invest in a few good house plants. We spend the majority of our time inside during the winter, so add some fresh green plants into your home. Stop by Wilkes County Hardware for a fresh bag of potting soil, or a new flower pot. Me, I love plants… so this one is a no brainer for me… But, what if you aren’t great with live plants… substitute in artificial greenery. Hmmm… I’m not an artificial plant or greenery person… buy a beautiful bouquet of flowers to use as a centerpiece for your kitchen table to add a boost of color to your surroundings.

https://hardwarelifewife.com/2023/10/03/plant-lady/

2. Get outside!!! Take a walk… when the weather allows. Take in some much needed sunshine/ vitamin D on a sunny winter day. Plan a fun family event… Build a fire pit and eat s’mores with family.

Outdoor logs are available for purchase at Wilkes County Hardware

3. Eat Cozy … Make your favorite soup and stews. Winter is a time to make the most of the cold weather by enjoying your favorite comfort foods, soups and stews. I know we are enjoying several of our favorites this winter.

Need a new Dutch Oven… this red, Lodge style one is perfect for all of your winter meals!

4. Feed the birds… watch your bird feeders from the warmth of your home and enjoy nature. They need a boost of nutrients too.

The birds need you during the cold winter months to supplement their diet.

5. Be Warm at Home … Yes, home should be a warm place to retreat. So take time to evaluate those cold areas around windows or doors, etc and make minor repairs if needed. Another tip to be warm at home… is to build a fire in your fireplace, or add candles to your non-working fireplace to add a little extra cozy comfort.

6. Bring in the light… Who say that all the Christmas lights must go up! This year leave out a set of twinkling lights after Christmas OR add accent lamps to a dark room, set a timer for them to come on before you arrive home at night. Add night lights to areas where darkness is common like a hallway. Need any of these items… stop by and pick up a new timer, night light, or light bulbs at Wilkes County Hardware.

7. Drink in the warmth … nothing is better than a hot cup of coffee, hot tea, or hot chocolate on a cold winter day.

Need a few new mugs to get through the winter ???? Stop by Wilkes County Hardware for handmade mugs.

8. Add ambient light… Head over to Wilkes County Hardware for an oil lamp. Oil lamps offer a fragrance free ambient light that you often can’t get with a candle. The lamp oil that we stock on our shelves is also smokeless.

These are perfect to add a bit of cozy, and warmth into any room during the winter months. Perfect for power outages too!

These strike anywhere matches are perfect for winter fires, candles, oil lamps and more!!!

9. Create Cozy… Rearrange a room to give it a fresh feel after the holidays by moving furniture etc, or do a small DIY to refresh your home.

Paint is an easy way to refresh a room, a well worn piece of furniture, or add a splash of color to cabinets.

10. Get Organized… Are you ready to Clean, and Declutter???? Whether you are doing a deep closet cleaning or just polishing up that old piece of furniture, Wilkes County Hardware can help you find the perfect cleaning products and tools to get it done ✅.

Wilkes County Hardware offers a variety of cleaning supplies! Stop by to view our selection soon.

In closing, fighting the “winter blues” for me, is all about finding the balance of being content and keeping the weather in perspective.

I can make the months of January and February dark, dank, and gloomy in my mindset OR I could immerse myself into the beauty of the season by finding the perfect combination of rest, comfort and coziness to make my winter a peaceful experience. I choose the latter.

I’m choosing to live up my winter this year by making yummy soups, savoring my morning coffee, adding some greenery into my decor, creating a small to do list of DIY projects and yes, cleaning out those closets!!! Ugh, maybe I do need to hibernate 😂. Enjoy the winter season and stop by for some winter warmth when you can!

The perfect spot to be cozy and warm and beat the “ Winter Blues”.

blogging, customer service, entrepreneurship, finding inspiration, hardware store, Hardware Store Life, Shop Local, TV streaming

The Ted Lasso Effect… Takeaways and Viewpoint of a Business Owner

January 11, 2024 hardwarelifewife Leave a comment

I have a confession to make…

We cut the “cable cord” several months ago and I’m not looking back! Streaming services offer so many different options. BUT, at the same time, I’ll admit, it can be confusing trying to decide which streaming platform works best for you and your family. Richard and I have been slowly building our favorites and we have found a nice rhythm to our streaming service choices.

Now, I must admit that keeping cable television might have been the easy route, because having cable tv isn’t hard… you just turn on the tv with the remote and instant tv shows appear on your screen. Ultimately, the expense of a large cable bill coupled with internet costs just didn’t make sense for us. So, we decided to let it go.

Streaming tv services can require a bit of extra navigation but it’s definitely worth the journey. One of our biggest finds in our new tv watching journey was finding Apple TV. The quality of the shows that we have watched on this streaming platform has made this streaming service a “keeper” for us. So you might be wondering where I’m going with all this tv talk…

Today, this blog post will be centered around ONE key show that is a “must see” on my list of recommended series, Ted Lasso. I must admit that I was inspired by Ted, and I would like to share a few takeaways as we launch headlong into 2024.

For those of you who have never experienced this show, Ted Lasso, the main character, is a US football coach who was recruited, and hired to come to the UK to coach a professional futbol (soccer) team. Ted is an experienced football coach who has the power to motivate his players and has found great success in his career prior to moving overseas.

It’s easy to see as this series begins, that the new coaching path of coaching Futbol is a great challenge for Ted as he knows very little about the game of futbol and his family is now 3,000 miles away.

Richard and I were instantly hooked into the show with the vast array of personalities that Ted interacts with in his newly chosen career path. Many of these challenging personalities often would throw up roadblocks along the way, as Ted and his coaching staff, worked to create a winning, cohesive team. Ted was steadfast in his mission.

Before I go any further, it is not my intent, to retell the entire series, but to simply to do a quick analysis of the FOUR most helpful major takeaways I found from this series, in what I like to call, The Ted Lasso Effect, and how I applied it in a new way in regards as a business owner. In my opinion, Ted impacted his greater community through his work ethic, core beliefs, and interactions with others… creating a positive impacts, in which I coined it as, The Ted Lasso Effect.

The Ted Lasso Effect… in the viewpoint of this business owner

1. Support your local community… Ted developed a series of habits ( shopping and eating in his local neighborhood ) that followed him through each show and he was consistently displaying those behaviors throughout the entire series! His habits were manifested in his outward behaviors! I said it, it was not an afterthought for Ted to shop local, it was his LIFE! You could simply tell that Ted lived and worked inside his new community.

Make it a habit to shop and support local businesses in Downtown North Wilkesboro. We appreciate your support and we couldn’t continue doing what we do without your support.

EAT, SHOP, PLAY

Our Downtown is a beautiful place to walk, enjoy a meal, shop at your favorite places, and play…

EAT– Ted Lasso was always featured in almost every episode eating meals at his local pub. Eat Local! Support locally owned and operated restaurants in our town. The quality of food is always impeccable!

SHOP– Ted was immersed into his life in the new community and shopped at local stores. He made his own “biscuits “ (cookies) daily for his new boss. She always looked forward to the daily treat Ted presented to her each day.

PLAY-The futbol team town support ran deep for Ted’s professional futbol team. The crowd of supporters poured into the local pub on everyGame Day with sporting team colors. Ted was often a target of their abuse when the team did not win, but the community consistently rallied around the futbol team… “Life is Futbol”, GAME DAY was a major town event each and every game.

**“Life is Futbol”**… Our Downtown doesn’t feature soccer games BUT, think about all the FUN Events that are welcoming you constantly back… Spooktacular, Light Up Downtown, Shop Small Saturday, Christmas Parade, Apple Festival, Art Gallery Events, Concerts on the Deck… and More! Opportunities to PLAY and bring consistent support into our Downtown community is ongoing all year long.

2. Believe… At the beginning of the series, Ted brings out a bright, yellow sign which appears to be scribbled on a sheet of large construction paper, with a single word written on it, BELIEVE. Ted tapes it up with black electrical tape over the entrance to the door to his office.

The yellow BELIEVE sign becomes the symbol that the team views each and every day in the locker room. This was the “outer symbol” to his new future team of his innermost coaching goal, believe in yourself and the concept of perseverance.

As a business owner, belief in your passion for your own business might be intrinsically there, but Perseverance, can be hard and it can waiver during the hard financial times. There are days you want to throw in the towel, especially when economic times are tough.

3. Be A Goldfish… Ted brings us to one of my favorites all time quotes from the entire series. Ted says to one of his futbol players after a rough practice session, “Do you know who the happiest animal in the whole world is, it’s a Goldfish. Goldfish have a 10 second memory. Be A Goldfish”. It’s easy to focus on the negative and lose your sense of focus, or let a grumpy customer ruin your attitude momentarily. At times, it’s good to “Be A Goldfish.”

4. Biscuits with the Boss…Lastly, Ted Lasso spends time getting to know the new people in his surroundings and he develops connections with them. Let’s face it, not many of us would be willing to move 3,000 miles away from home. I could imagine that it was a bit of adjustment moving from the United States to the United Kingdom for Ted … learning to drink tea, or sparkling water or not… lol there’s some fun there but I’ll not give that away… But, as I mentioned earlier under the SHOP section, Ted Lasso made his own “biscuits “ (cookies) daily for his new boss. She always looked forward to the biscuits Ted presented to her each day and readily devoured each one in a glorious manner. Ted enjoyed the conversation with his Boss each morning, learning a bit more about her each and every day. Ted purposefully made connections with each person he encountered. It wasn’t always easy, but he did it.

Ted also sought advice from Keeley, another central character, when he had trouble connecting with a key, star soccer player. Ted worked hard to connect with everyone he met.

Have you ever felt like you are just not connecting with people… they just aren’t getting what you’re saying or asking for? Enough said, right? How many times do we feel like a faceless person when we go into a “box store” and have to use a self checkout or ring a button and no one appears to help you. The lack of human interaction within the established retail business is slowly disappearing to my extreme disappointment… so why go to these places??? 😳 OR have you heard someone say, making an online purchase is “cheaper” than buying it in store???? There’s NO connecting when you purchase online…How can small businesses continue to compete with major online retailers who have more buying power than their smaller counterparts…. Most folks don’t consider that, the more purchases you make inside a small business in your local community will impact our local economy and add to the buying power potential of that small business! Shopping local is a conscious decision that impacts our greater community.

Biscuits with the Boss… At Wilkes County Hardware we don’t have that… but we often have folks who gather around to sit and talk, intentionally making connections with us or others who have gathered in that moment in time.

Final Thoughts

My closing thoughts are wandering… like the soccer ball being played downfield. The rhythm of the Futbol team moving the ball from person to person and then finally a head bump of the ball ⚽️ ump.. launched towards the goalkeeper who by fault, can’t keep the futbol from going in. Score!

We as a team, our community of Wilkes, can find success in building habits and which will become instantaneous behaviors that lead to growing our Downtown community using newly coined phrase, The Ted Lasso Effect… Support local businesses, believe we can do it, Be a goldfish(mistakes will be made, move on), and make connections within your community. We can’t lose the game y’all!

**Shop local all year long! Support local restaurants, businesses & retailers. We need your support in 2024**

blogging, challenges, change, End of Year Reflection, entrepreneurship, hardware store, Hardware Store Life, loss, memories, nuts and bolts, old hardware stores, plumbing, Resilence, Shop Local, southern living, Supply Chain, work

Reflections and Highlights of 2023

December 27, 2023 hardwarelifewife 2 Comments

Who knew what 2023 would bring??? We surely didn’t plan on the unexpected… loss of dear friends… a beloved staff member and friends who shopped with us/visited us weekly. 2023 brought challenges…dealing with continued short-term shortages, a slimmer bottom line, and renewed focus on key product lines that our customers love…our essentials in 2023.

**2023 was the year of the Milwaukee marker… if you have used one… then you just know it’s the best thing ever!**

2023… was all about KEYS!!!! We make keys all day long, here’s a link to a blog from January 2023 which reveals a little bit more about what we do…. https://hardwarelifewife.com/2023/01/11/more-than-nuts-and-bolts/

In 2023, we experienced loss and grief multiple times. Losing dear friends like Monty and Tracy is difficult. Tracy was a regular customer, stopping by often for a chat after work or coming by to pick up essentials. Other dear customers losing battles with cancer, or experiencing other serious health issues makes the daily routine a bit different from 2022 without them in our midst. We loved Monty dearly and his loss was hard to bear as 2023 began.

Our staff becomes an integral part of our daily lives. As our younger staff members prepare to leave us and have grown into stronger members of our community, we wish them well, especially as they leave us behind for other opportunities… whether they are heading off to college, or seeking jobs that connect to their future career paths. Richard and I still connect with them as much as we can. They are our family, never forgotten… it’s not bittersweet event as they depart… just sweet souls who are moving forward with their lives, creating beautiful lives and light .

https://hardwarelifewife.com/2023/02/01/dark-skies-and-beautiful-light/

**Wilkes County Hardware launched a kids scavenger hunt in 2023… have you brought your kids or grandkids in yet to check this out ???**

**In the quiet months of February and March of 2023, we were busy resetting the lawn and garden section and moved it up front and center**

**The locally sourced section also got a major reset this year on the back ladder wall**

**New products are always a welcome addition to our store: in 2023 Blue Door Houses by Kim Reid**

**These beautiful flowers were painted on our store front windows this spring by Andrea Baldwin**

**Another yummy treat we added into our snack line in 2023!!!**

**You can’t beat sunglasses at $3.99!!!**

**Welcome back to North Wilkesboro Speedway!!! We got you back! Thanks for stopping by y’all and shopping locally.**

**New shirt in 2023! Short sleeve and long sleeve**

In case you missed this blog post earlier this year… this one is a must read!!! 8 Things Your Plumber Wish You Knew… link below in picture caption….

https://hardwarelifewife.com/2023/04/29/8-things-your-plumber-wishes-you-knew/

**Another area of the store that was examined was the home hardware area… a HUGE reset of this area was done in 2023!**

Looks much different now!!!

**The back area has been reset with stove pipe, kerosene replacement wicks, chain, and tubing cut to length.**

**Handmade pottery keeps customers coming back to Wilkes County Hardware find the perfect present!**

**Andrea Baldwin made our dream come true in 2023, a mural on the front side of the building!**

Gorgeous!!! Why the chicken logo??? You can read a bit more of our history in this blog link https://hardwarelifewife.com/2022/11/21/mr-ee-eller-chickens-and-turkeys-nothing-but-clucking-gobbling-and-plucking-out-the-truth/

**Hannah Crow Photography stopped by to do a quick photo shoot. Thanks for the amazing photos and capturing a bit of what we do everyday!**

**Friday mornings.. a gathering of friends and local business leaders – morning coffee**

**In 2023, we welcomed Tim Billings to our staff. His skills as a glass cutter has been invaluable. Stop by to see Tim soon! He can help you with any hardware question you may have.**

**New local artist in 2023… stained glass by Badger Glass**

Keegan has had a fantastic year in 2023!!! Did you see his award winning stool at Wilkes County Hardware on Apple Festival Saturday???? Keegan announced his big win in the Made in NC Awards in October. Looking forward to seeing him in the February edition of Our State Magazine! Congratulations Keegan!!!

**Charcuterie boards or serving boards**

**New in 2023! Rolling pins selling out quickly each time they arrive!!!**

Our bolts, screws, and all sorts of fasteners are frequently visited each and every day inside our hardware store. Yes, you can purchase pieces individually and not have to pay that bulk price like you would at the “box” store 🙄

**Fall arrived and so did Wally!!! He was a huge hit with our customers and made everyone smile a bit wider when they see him on our front door.**

**2023 Fall t-shirts were a huge hit! Thanks for wearing our logo gear y’all**

**New rubs made their debut inside Wilkes County Hardware… have you tried these yet???**

**Ok, let’s talk about this BBQ sauce! It’s a staff favorite hands down!!! Thanks Keegan for making this one happen!!!**

**A new Pepsi cooler arrived keeping everyone on 10th Street caffeine filled and ready to meet the day! Thanks to our neighbors and customers for purchasing drinks all year long!**

**First wood stove fire of the season on October 16, 2023**

**So glad to be a small part of this event! We enjoyed y’all! Thanks for coming out in 2023 and making year 2 of Spooktacular bigger and better than year 1!!! Watch out 2024!!!**

**Toys for Tots drop off site for the second year… a HUGE thank you to all who donated toys this holiday season!!!**

**When a big rig pulls up outside our hardware store… you make them keys that work.. Thanks to Richard!**

**Wally got a winter makeover to bring in the winter weather season in 2023.**

**A huge thanks again to Andrea Baldwin for the winter windows!!!**

**Santa dropped in during Light Up Downtown**

**Holiday cookies, granola bars, gift sets, handmade soaps, almanacs and calendars all sold out during the Christmas shopping season!!!**

Thanks to all who read the blog mini series…A Sprinkling of Christmas Memories… here’s the link to the last one in case you missed it https://hardwarelifewife.com/2023/12/18/a-sprinkle-of-christmas-memories-christmas-eve/

**These beautiful trees sold out during Christmas shopping season!!!**

**Watercolor artist Tom Carnes stopped by to do a few Christmas themed drawings a few days before Christmas!!! Thanks Tom!!! These were amazing!**

**New sweatshirt crew to bring in 2024!!!**

**Wishing you a very happy 2024 and a HUGE thank to all who shopped with and supported us in 2023!**

In my closing reflections of 2023 I would like to say that the challenges are ongoing each year… the list might be endless for a local business owner… increased costs of doing business, dealing with shortages, managing and maintaining staff, or even a slight downturn the economy means less money circulating into small businesses in our community. In that case, folks tend to hold back on spending… that is understandable. But the impact of those choices creates a ripple effect for many businesses. I’m encouraging everyone to make a conscious effort to shop locally. Think Local!

With one click, you can shop online and have it delivered to your door. It’s so easy to do!!! Right??? What about the quality??? Will that product last??? What kind of customer service are you going to receive as a result of a product failure??? Worried about price??? Quality products outlives the cheapest product every single time. We need quality businesses in our local community and they will not be there if we don’t make the continued effort to show up and shop there. So that’s my call to action for you in 2024, Shop Local, Eat Local, Play Local. Our community needs you in 2024.

**You have a few days left remaining on the holiday punchcard!**

blogging, Christmas, Christmas Eve, Christmas Memories, family, hardware store, Hardware Store Life, Home, memories, southern living

A Sprinkle of Christmas Memories… Christmas Eve

December 18, 2023 hardwarelifewife 2 Comments

The opening paragraphs are the same if you read the first blog in this series… but just wanted to share the beginning again with those who may have missed the last two blog posts in this series of Christmas memories.

When my son was much younger, he loved sprinkles. We literally put sprinkles on everything… cookies, ice cream, cupcakes… anything he deemed sprinkle worthy. I had a specific kitchen cabinet where the bounty of sprinkles were stashed away, ready for a quick, special treat. We had multiple flavors and colors to select from and it was such a joyful experience for him.

Christmas memories are very much the same way, a sprinkle of sweetness in our hearts and minds of a very special Christmas moment. These moments can be recreated by establishing traditions that are repeated year after year during the Christmas season… like the sprinkles of sweetness on top of a very special treat.

Sometimes as I am working inside our hardware store, I often see glimpses of these special Christmas memories from interactions with our customers, or stocking the shelves with products, and yes, even the endless search for new product offerings to bring to you, can create a sense of nostalgia of Christmas past. So here’s a small sprinkling of Christmas memories through my eyes as I wander through the hardware store… I hope you will enjoy this mini series of blog posts centered around on of the most wonderful times of the year, Christmas.

Christmas Eve

Last year, Christmas Eve, 2022, ranks in the top 5 of one of the hardest days as a hardware store owner. The extreme cold snap had caused tremendous damage to many of our customers homes.

*Our neighbors tree came down in our driveway during that big cold snap last December 23, 2022. It was inches away from hitting Richard’s truck and B’s car. We were very lucky!*

Frozen pipes were everywhere and the water issues that come with that… Power was out, and devastation was impacting our community. If I’m remembering correctly, Power outages were commonplace on Christmas Eve in some parts of the county.

*Warming by the fire is always a sweet memory that our customers love to share…*

Many of our employees were already spending time with their families, so Richard and I were left to deal with the day. Normally the overtones of Joy of the holiday season abounds on Christmas Eve. But the tone of our conversations with customers last Christmas Eve, was somber and often sobering… learning of the devastation that many were facing during the holiday. Gratitude and exhaustion set in by the end of that workday. Richard and I survived last Christmas Eve through the small smiles of our customers who found what they were searching for and the tired faces that thanked us for being there to help them.

*Just ONE of the many items that was in popular demand last December during the extreme cold snap .*

It took us both a long moment to readjust and reframe our mindset after we closed up for the day that last Christmas Eve in 2022. But that’s the thing about memories, some are absolutely beautiful and precious and some are very powerful. This one was powerful. I began to think about past, poignant, Christmas Eve memories from my childhood and adult life. Christmas Day memories are something of a blur because of the endless hours of play, joy, and pure excitement of the day. I don’t truly remember a specific toy or year that I received something extra special. Each year was special! But, THE EXPERIENCE and EXCITEMENT of Christmas Eve and build up to Christmas Day seems to fit perfectly! I hope that you will enjoy a few Christmas Eve memories I have selected for you in this blog post.

*Christmas Eve Memories opening presents at Granny and Papa’s house every Christmas Eve!!!!*

1. The Trip to Granny and Papa’s House… Christmas Eve was the day that was selected for my mom’s side of the family to gather together and celebrate Christmas. A traditional big family meal was always planned and of course, presents! As young children, the morning of Christmas Eve, absolutely was the longest day ever!!!! My sister and I looked forward to seeing our cousins and opening the FIRST Christmas presents on Christmas Eve at Granny and Papa’s House. I’m not really sure how Mom survived all those Christmas Eve days with us… the excitement bubbling over all day long, the building anticipation of Christmas Day, and preparing food for the holiday meals.

Mom was a pro, and she kept us busy every Christmas Eve. The day steadily progressed and before we knew it, we were loaded up into the car, gifts in tow, all giggles and smiles… our destination, Christmas Eve at Granny’s and Papa’s House. I think before Dad could turn the car off, we were both running around the house grabbing hugs, and kisses and then we were off to play before the feast of a meal was placed onto the kitchen table. Then it was finally time to gather around to say a prayer, eating a meal together prior to celebrating the occasion of Christmas with presents.

We would OR could hardly eat anything because the presents under the tree were simply too much to resist! As our parents wanted to linger in conversation after dinner, the quick reminder came from all of us kids, that it was time to open the 🎁 presents! Hearty laughter from throughout the kitchen could be heard and footsteps would be trod towards the fully lit Christmas tree in the front living room. It didn’t take long for the litter of the remnants of Christmas wrapping paper to be found across the floor… mostly by the kids in the family. We played with our new toys/gifts while the kitchen was cleaned, and the was car packed to leave. Everyone said their final goodbyes and Merry Christmas. Mom made final plans for breakfast at our house, (Granny and Papa, made it a special treat to visit each of us on Christmas Day, they had breakfast with us, then went to visit our cousins afterwards each Christmas morning).

My sister and I loaded up our enthusiastic little bodies back into the car to await Santa’s arrival. I’m not really sure how much sleep we actually got on those childhood Christmas Eve nights. I feel pretty confident that our parents were sleep deprived the next morning… but these Christmas Eve memories were joyful and some of the absolute best Christmas memories ever.

2. Christmas Eve Cookies for Santa, Reindeer Food and the Santa Key

When Benjamin was little, we established the tradition of making Chocolate chip cookies each Christmas Eve before bedtime. B would put a few of the freshly baked cookies onto the Santa plate, ready for him to grab a snack as he was placing gifts from the North Pole, under our Christmas tree. Benjamin would always assist in making cookies, never wanting to alter the type of cookies, because Santa liked Chocolate Chip cookies the best!

After Santa’s cookies were made, we would turn our attention to his reindeer… And… Santa’s reindeer had to be fed! They must be starving by the time they arrived at our house!!! Carrots and celery were placed onto the plate next to the cookies and milk for Santa. Lastly, the Santa key had to be placed on the front door, hanging in view of Santa’s sleigh arrival. Sleepy slumber would soon follow and he was off to bed from the busy Christmas Eve activities.

*A sweet little sprinkle of a Christmas Eve memory… the Santa Key*

It was always so exciting each Christmas morning to see the “nubs” of the reindeer food that was left. Santa was always so kind, leaving a note to thank Benjamin for the cookies and reindeer food. That small little tradition created so much fun and excitement for B when he walked into the living room every Christmas morning, checking the empty Santa plate, FIRST, before moving to see what was under the Christmas tree.

Santa also had a “Santa Key” that we had to put out every Christmas Eve. Wilkes County Hardware has a tree full of Santa keys! Stop by and pick one up for your kids, or grandkids. It’s a sweet tradition to begin in 2023.

3. Christmas Eve Church

There’s absolutely nothing more powerful than a beautiful Christmas Eve service filled with music, and the celebration of the birth of Jesus. The joyful sounds of Christmas carols ushering in the reason for the Christmas celebration ending with a beautiful favorite, Silent Night.

The events of last Christmas Eve were heavy on the mind and in our hearts … the extremely cold temperatures, frozen pipes, busted water lines…. but as the Christmas Eve service began, the sadness of the day lifted and the joy of Christmas came to the forefront… “Silent Night, Holy Night…”

Everyone who attends Christmas Eve church brings an extra bit of joy, happiness and warmth into this special Christmas Eve service as they enter into church and leave with a glow of light and peace… “ Son of God, loves pure light… radiant beams from Thy holy face with the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth!”

Our family tradition of Christmas Eve church began many years ago when Benjamin was younger and involved in the children’s church Christmas play… held every Christmas Eve at the 6pm service. He loved to be one of the shepherds watching in the field during the play… “Silent night! Holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar,
heav’nly hosts sing, “Alleluia!
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born!”

*These nativity sets have been very popular this year at Wilkes County Hardware*

As he grew older, his role changed as his responsibilities became more important as an acolyte. He served as an acolyte in the Christmas Eve late service, beginning at 10:30 pm. This Christmas Eve service became the traditional Christmas holiday service that we enjoyed the most.

*B all ready for Easter service at church*

Nothing is more beautiful than enjoying the extensive variety of Christmas music (especially the vocals, strings, brass), the message of the birth of Jesus, partaking in communion, and the service ending with the traditional candlelight vigil and concluding with Silent Night.

Each person in the church holding a single candle, sharing the light of the flame with each other… “Wondrous star, lend thy light; with the angels let us sing
“Alleluia” to our King:
“Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born.”

*Make a sprinkling of new memories this Christmas Eve, star gazing, church, gather with family and friends*

The sanctuary is darkened and initially only a few small candles are visible… the flame begins to slowly spread across the room… creating light. In a matter of a few moments, as the first few verses of Silent Night concludes, the glow of candlelight can be seen throughout the entire church. and the many Faces of the crowd are highlighted by the candlelight. The old, vintage, stained glass windows are illuminated by the mass of candlelight across the sanctuary… “All is calm , all is bright.”

As I conclude this series of Christmas memories on the blog, I would just like to leave you with one more thought. Christmas is a very special time of the year. Make the memories, all the other things will fade with time. Memories will last forever in your heart and soul. Merry Christmas Y’all!

*Christmas Eve photos at Church… this one was from a few years ago but the laughter was a sweet sprinkling of a memory. Merry Christmas!*

blogging, Christmas, Christmas Memories, Christmas stockings, family, Hardware Store Life, Home, memories, old hardware stores, Shop Local, southern living

A Sprinkling of Christmas Memories… Blog Post 2- The Stockings

December 9, 2023 hardwarelifewife Leave a comment

A very happy Cowboy… a sprinkle of sweetness from a Christmas past

Wilkes County Hardware has been featuring unique hardware store Stocking Stuffers each day leading up to Christmas Eve! Head over to our Instagram and Facebook stories each day to find some great ideas for everyone on your gift list!

The Stockings

“Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas would soon be there…” Clement Clark Moore

*This classic Christmas story written so many years ago and is and read aloud to children across the globe*

Stockings are treasured memories of Christmases past. I can’t imagine a Christmas without Christmas stockings and a tree… or having to choose between one or the other. Yes, I have read that the Christmas tree did try to replace the tradition of the Christmas stocking, but luckily it didn’t come to fruition… both remain as solidified Christmas traditions that should continue on for many more generations to come!

*Our Christmas tree is full of family ornaments, a sprinkling of sweet memories of Christmases past.*

The history of the Christmas stocking is centuries older than the tradition of putting up a Christmas tree! Christmas stockings date back to the origins of Saint Nicholas … Christmas trees, well, a much younger history, Victorian times.

*Christmas stockings take center stage this year in our family room… family favorites are on display*

My Granny used to tell me about the Christmases from her childhood when a great Christmas meant that candy(like hard peppermint sticks) and oranges were in found in the toe of her Christmas stocking.

*Granny would have loved these* 💕*… memories of family can be found everywhere even in the smallest things.*

Did you ever wonder why an orange in the stocking??? The tradition of stashing an orange into a stocking reveals a legend of a very poor man who had three daughters who were unable to wed without a decent dowry. On Christmas Eve, St. Nicholas, placed three golden balls inside their home. The three young ladies were overjoyed with the gift. Over time, the golden balls were replaced with oranges as the legend reveals.

I may begin to stash a few oranges in our stockings each year… a great way to carry out a sprinkling of a Christmas memory of my Granny, and a bit of history of Christmas all wrapped up into one stocking.

The photo I provided for you today is a cherished Christmas treasure that is always found at our house each year, my Christmas stocking.

This is definitely a sprinkle of sweetness of Christmas memories from my childhood, Mom and Dad have shared several Christmas pieces with my sister and I so that we can each have a sprinkle of sweet memories of our Christmas times together even when we can’t celebrate Christmas Day together.

My mom made this Christmas stocking when I was kid… my sister also has a matching one with her name as well. Mom is an amazing seamstress, she could make anything she wants to make. Presents didn’t usually go in these beautiful stockings, but they were always hung up each Christmas. For some, I would venture to guess, that this might be the purpose of Christmas stockings, as a treat to the eye, hanging by the mantle as a symbol of each family member at Christmas time.

*Yes, our pups even have their own stockings too! These pups are worn out Christmas Day after opening up their Christmas stockings gifts! Snacks, toys, treats!!! What a great day!*

*Stop by Wilkes County Hardware for dog toys, and treats for Christmas!*

After I married, Christmas Stocking gifts were always a big tradition at the Searcy house. Christmas stockings were always completed FIRST before opening presents under the tree. Each one of us would begin to dig into the Christmas stocking gifts, eventually each family member revealing the carefully curated collection of small gifts from “the stash” tucked inside the stocking.

*Martha’s Christmas stocking… a sweet sprinkle of Christmas past memories*

Everyone had their own special Christmas stocking. Martha, Richard’s mom, made sure that each individual stocking was unique to each person within the family. None of the Searcy family Christmas stockings were alike, and that tradition still lives on in our house as well.

*Our stockings are hung, and now we wait! Notice, mine aren’t hung over the mantle*.

Christmas stocking gifts don’t have to be expensive or “only Christmasy” type gifts. The great thing about Christmas stocking gifts is that you can target the gifts to suit each individual person and what they need or use regularly. Christmas stocking gifts are much more intimate gifts… indicating to the recipient that you know them well enough to know what they need and love.

Teenagers, or young kids who have electronic toys, batteries are an IDEAL stocking gift of choice!

No matter how big or small your Christmas celebration might be this year, remember that making Christmas memories is the best way to celebrate the season.

As I conclude this blog post, I have decided to definitely stash a few oranges in our stockings each year. A new tradition to carry out a sprinkling of a Christmas memory of my Granny, and also a bit of celebration of Christmas history all wrapped up into one stocking. Merry Christmas Y’all!

The Hardware Life – A wife's journey into the hardware business