Pull up a chair and stay awhile. At Evergreen Yuletide, we celebrate Christmas in every season — the cozy, the joyful, and the everyday magic that lasts all year long.
Ahh, another Sunday at home with you… it’s great to be here! Experiencing this past week’s heat, it seems like Mother Nature was giving me another opportunity to practice balance. My previous reflection on my love of summer and light is being tested. My, how it heated up quickly! Now, I’ll be afraid to look at my checkbook balance after the next electric bill! All joking aside, Mother Nature always finds a way to keep me balanced.
Happy Birthday USA
I hope you all had a wonderful 250th Fourth of July. Did you host a small gathering? Did you recruit a small team of helpful elves to plan your event? I sure hope you did, because each small gathering for which you fine‑tune preparations and create a supportive team with whom to work, each bigger celebration becomes that much easier to plan and enjoy. Working well together helps make every event feel balanced and joyful.
Looking Back
Before I share a resource that I made just for you, I need to take a moment to comment on the gallery of photos that I am sharing with you. They are from a childhood visit to Santa’s Land in Putney, Vermont. As you can see, by the clothing we are wearing, this was a summer trip. It was a small family outing that included my parents, sister, and brother, along with my aunt and uncle and two cousins. I don’t have permission to share their image, so I needed to blur their faces.
The purpose for sharing these images centers on nostalgia. There can be no positive nostalgia if we, as families, forget to provide those opportunities. Little things, such as eating dinner together, playing a game, or eating popcorn while watching a show together, leave a beautiful footprint in our hearts. The food, game, and show will most likely be forgotten, but the togetherness will be remembered.
Sometimes those memories feel like yesterday, but the calendar shows a different picture. Later in life, it is too late to establish those deeply rooted feelings of nostalgia, so I encourage you to take the time now to do the little things that mean so much more throughout the later years. The joy experienced in those memories gives us an opportunity to live them a second time.
Summer Christmas Destinations
Many of my childhood summer vacations — and even the ones we took as adults — inevitably involved Christmas in some way. Whether planned or happenstance, the summer heat and sunshine temporarily gave way to icy cold air‑conditioned stores, museums, or Christmas theme parks. My first vague memory is of Santa’s Village in Jefferson, NH. Santa’s North Pole is another summer vacation memory — I might still have my “magic” block and the opera glasses that my parents purchased for me.
Finally, the picture gallery below displays our trip to Putney, VT. These theme parks weren’t known for rides. It was more about living Christmas even though it wasn’t December.
Although the photos have faded, the memories have not — and in their soft colors and worn edges lives the nostalgia of a summer day wrapped in Christmas magic.
If living a little Christmas in July appeals to you, below is a link that will open a curated list of places to see. Maybe one of those places will align with your vacation plans. Even if you are not traveling this summer, some of the places on that list have great online presence. Maybe a new ornament chosen by you or any other member of your family might create a Christmas in July memory.
Christmastime Summer Crafts
For many people, vacations are not a possibility for one reason or another. There is still so much that can be enjoyed during the summer season that reminds us of Christmas magic. Even if you find that you will not be able to hold a special Christmas in July celebration with others, take some time for yourself — and your children if you are a parent — and enjoy some Christmas crafting.
Avoiding certain crafts during the summer heat will make the experience very pleasurable. It would be wise not to work on any craft that involves the oven. Secondly, choose materials that won’t melt in the heat. Thirdly, if weather permits, craft outdoors where clean‑up will be easier.
If you’re looking for simple and cheerful craft ideas for Christmas in July, I like to curate from a few reliable sites that keep their pages updated. Today’s Creative Ideas, Fabulessly Frugal, and Simple Everyday Mom all offer a wide range of kid‑friendly and adult‑friendly projects that work beautifully for summer crafting. These three sources give you plenty of inspiration without overwhelming you with a long list of links.
Some of those crafts will be to simply enjoy the pleasure of watching young children be excited about Christmas crafting in July. Craft time might just be enjoyed by you as you craft some gifts in July for Christmas in December. Now is always a good time to celebrate.
Greetings from the Valley
All this talk about celebrating reminds me to share with you another beautiful reason to celebrate. This reason comes from the valley. Until today you have only heard me refer to this beautiful place as the valley, but it does have a name. Our beautiful friend joining us today loves light, and she’s asked me to shed a little more of it on the valley by sharing its name.
So, my friends, today I introduce you to Evergreen Valley, home to Uncle Bernie and his buddies. And without further ado, today I am happy to present to you Sunny. Her personality is filled with warm sunshine, and this lemon‑white pointer loves exploring the meadows in the early morning light and running through the valley’s many trails. She loves to share the bright side of any situation, and she is thrilled to now be a part of your life as well.
Enjoy your new puzzle piece and story card. As always, tap the image to arrive at the puzzle piece treasure chest or the magical story book room. Add the piece to your puzzle piece grid and continue to watch Evergreen Valley appear before your very eyes.
⬅Tap the image to arrive at the Puzzle Piece Treasure Chest.
⬅Tap the image to arrive at the Magical Book Room.
Sunny’s coloring page is also waiting in Your Secret Garden. Membership to this garden is my gift to you. Simply subscribe to my weekly newsletter and you will receive your monthly password. The garden grows monthly and with every valley reveal piece. You are never behind, as Evergreen Yuletide begins when you do.
Until Next Sunday
Now, we have once again arrived at the moment when I must begin to say so long until next Sunday. May your week be filled with sunshine. May you find a cool refreshing spot. May you embrace each day with love — and may you laugh a lot. Y’all come back now… I’ll be sitting on the porch waiting for you!
Come and see 🌹.
There is so much more waiting for you.
As a gentle reminder, subscribers have their own secret garden where, occasionally, gifts appear. A golden key opens the gate, and subscribers receive the monthly password in their welcome newsletter.
The golden key can be seen below. Tap it to step inside the garden.
I hope to see you again next week—
Same day, Sunday.
Same Adventure.
Another piece of the story waiting to be revealed.
With an open heart and a quiet corner saved just for you,
Paula
You are also invited to click the subscribe button at the end of this post. You will be transported to the home page, and at the bottom of that page is the subscribe form.
Your Secret Garden Key
⬇
🌹