Smiles Go With Tears

Good friends, Good times, Good Music…the Front Porch

There’s something about early September light that feels like a quiet promise. The porch is still holding onto summer, but autumn is already humming in the background — in the apples on the wreath, the golden edges of the trees, and the blankets waiting on the rocking chairs. This week’s porch is a reminder that good friends, good music, and good moments don’t need a season. They just need a place to land.

Happy Sunday, everyone… welcome back to my front porch. A touch of fall is in the air—just enough chill that my comfy throw has become a welcomed friend. It isn’t cold, only cozy. What have you been up to? Let’s catch up and share a smile or two.

Sometimes I can be too serious—yet I love to smile. My humor runs on the dry side, and I enjoy a quick wit so long as it doesn’t wander into sarcasm. I don’t even mind being the one who gets laughed at; those moments remind me not to take myself so seriously.

I’ve noticed that smiles often arrive holding hands with tears. Sometimes those tears come from out‑of‑control laughter 😂, but other times they’re simply the balance between something happy and something sad.

When I was a child, my siblings and I waited for the first Christmas album Mom would play each year: Cricket on the Hearth. Not one song was traditional, yet we sang every one—including Fish and Chips. Another favorite was Smiles Go With Tears. Years later, my brother discovered the album belonged to a Rankin & Bass Christmas special of the same name, voiced by Danny and Marlo Thomas. He invited us over to watch it together, and suddenly all those childhood songs made sense.

Why am I wandering down that memory lane? Because this week, I experienced my own version of smiles with tears.

My nephew came for a visit to spend time with his grandpa and to play guitar with me. We’ve always been close, but this past year he has been a bright spot in my week. Teaching him guitar—watching his confidence grow—has been a dream of mine since he was little. I look forward to those visits, and now they’re coming to an end as he prepares to move.

During his visit, we played around with the recording interface he and his parents gave me for my birthday. We recorded a song together—his rhythm track, my solo, and my vocals. We ran out of time before recording his vocals, but the moment was perfect anyway. Perfectly imperfect.

We ate supper, he spent time with his grandpa, and the house felt full in the best way. Later, after he left, I shed a few tears. I’m going to miss him. I’m not sure how to replace the light he brought to my week.

But he has a plan. Once he’s settled and working again, he’ll buy a computer and the same interface he gifted me. His hope is that we’ll continue playing and recording together through the Internet. So although there are tears, there are smiles that will last beyond the miles between us. In the meantime, I’ll stay busy.

👩🏻‍🎨 Studio News

The studio certainly keeps me busy, even if progress always feels too slow. My Hello January wreaths are now in the Etsy shop—two listings, one fussy cut and one easy cut. Each wreath comes in four sizes so crafters can use the same design in multiple ways without resizing.

My desire to give crafters what they need inspired me to begin curating high‑quality embellishments and presenting them on one sheet for easy access. I won’t overwhelm anyone with bundles of 250 items. Instead, I seek out watercolor‑style clipart that feels soft, usable, and versatile.

🎨 Seasonal Designs & Useful Crafts

By Thursday, I assembled a sheet of 26 Christmas watercolor embellishments. Although they aren’t painted by my hand, they carry the gentle watercolor vibe I love—perfect for scrapbooks, journals, greeting cards, envelopes, gift tags, and whatever crafty crafters can imagine.

You might wonder why I curate artwork created by someone else. The answer is simple: right now, I don’t have the time to create everything my mind dreams up. Curating allows me to offer more high‑quality items sooner, while still designing my own pieces. Sometimes I even hand‑embellish curated items so a little part of them carries my touch.

More hand‑painted work is coming to the shop, along with additional curated sheets. If you enjoy these kinds of craft supplies, please visit my Etsy shop as I continue listing items—hopefully in a timely fashion.

Speaking of timely fashion, I’m hopeful that I’ll soon be able to share a sneak peek of The Dawn of Evergreen Valley. It has gone through its first test print and is nearly ready for release. Once it’s available as an e‑book and print‑on‑demand, I’ll begin work on the next story: The Great Autumn Caper. Stay tuned—there are more Evergreen Valley adventures ahead.

As for Evergreen Valley, another friend is stepping forward. This puppy brings smiles with tears—either you’ll be crying laughing at his antics, or simply wet from his unabashed joy of splashing. Ducky is an incorrigible, puddle‑loving black lab. Wet or not, you can’t help but love this impetuous little guy. His heart, full of love, will have you warm and dry in no time. Please remember to download this piece of the puzzle and add it to your ever‑growing vision of Evergreen Valley.

Don’t forget to download your newest story card! Ducky has officially splashed his way into Evergreen Valley, and something tells me he’s about to splash right into your heart too.

Be sure to visit Inspiration Gallery as well. I’ve decided the gallery will now hold your completed coloring pages — whether they’re colored by you, your child, or another generation of your family. If the page comes from your Secret Garden, you’re welcome to share your finished gift here, adding your touch to the gallery’s growing collection.

📧 Stay in Touch and Claim Your Gifts

Do you have a need for a special product that you cannot find anywhere? My studio awaits your request! You can always send me an email at: paula@evergreenyuletide.com

⛲️ Newsletter and Your Garden Gifts

By signing up to receive my weekly newsletter, if you so choose, you will be given the password that opens Your Secret Garden. You can always access the garden by clicking on the golden key at the bottom of this post. Within that garden, you will find every gift that has been given since the inception of this blog. Nothing ever leaves—it is ready when you are.

Gently tapping the below images brings you to your treasure chest and magical book. The newest button takes you to Inspiration Gallery—a great place to view the work of your Creative Kindred Spirits. Don’t forget, you can always email me a photograph of something you’ve created with one of my products, or send in a colored coloring book page that was shared with you in the garden. I would love to feature it in the gallery.

🌞 Closing Reflection

Well, another Sunday morning is slipping away, and it’s time to say so long for now. I’ll be thinking of you during the week with a smile on my face… knowing we’ll be right back here together next weekend. I’ll leave a few extra blankets on the front porch, and you can expect some hot apple cider waiting for you.

Until we meet again, may your week be filled with sunshine, and may each endeavor bring you joy. And remember—you can always send me a message. If there’s something you need for your crafting project, it would be a delight to create it for you.