I love snow, I love Christmas, I love sweaters and good food and family and friends. I love fires and cocoa and scarves. It really is the most wonderful time of the year!
So, here’s Christmas! Not much different from last year, but that’s okay! It’s starting to finally feel like everything Christmas-wise has a home. I have SO MANY pictures, so I won’t chatter about them too much.
I wanted to see how big of a live tree would could handle in the Entrance Hall. We love having one live tree, and are deciding – since the Entrance Hall tree needs to be 10-12′ tall – if we should do an artificial tree there, and move the live tree elsewhere. This tree is about 10′ tall, cut down from the tree farm of one of my former students. It’s beautiful – but certainly hard to wrangle. Good experiment, but it might be an artificial tree for the “Main” tree from here on out. It’s just so HEAVY.
The Entrance Hall has the live tree, and two small trees. And lit garland up the stairs!
If you can’t move the salvaged sink sitting in the middle of the room, throw some ornaments in it!
The first small tree is the “12 Days of Christmas” tree, hanging out on an old sled.
The next small tree is one I’ve been trying to get started for a year or so, after getting the idea from some gentlemen at an estate sale. They told us they had a tree that was all antique toys. I LOVED the idea, but it’ll definitely be a collection in progress. I just have a few things now, but this could be an AMAZING tree in the future (and bigger). Give me your vote for what would be a good base – we have too many great ideas to decide! An old pedal car? Doll house?
The mantle, with my bird ornament collection, and tree small trees all in jewel tones in the parlor. I have a dream that this room will be restored by next Christmas – but I know that’s a long shot.
The dining room, with a small tree with the ornaments from our wedding. Fourteen years this December!
The Butler’s Pantry, Kitchen, and Laundry Room. Totally ready for some holiday cooking!
I dreamed of the bedroom being done for this Christmas, but it won’t be. In my hopes, I bought a tree for it. So, I put it in there! It’s red tinsel, and JUST the perfect amount of sparkle and tackiness.
The guest room has a few touches, including a lovely old copy of Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates.
And then, the outside. We made a plan last year, and loved it some much it’s just cemented now. Doug does the lighting, I do the rest! Last year was tragic, because it didn’t snow ONCE while the house was decorated. I can’t wait to see the house with the porch all decorated and lit in the snow. Because remember, this is only the second winter for the porch – so I’ve never seen the house in this form in the snow decorated for Christmas. I’m super excited, enough that I might leave everything up until February if I need to to make it happen.
I still think that tying ribbons to make throw pillows into presents was one of my favorite ideas ever. So cheap and crazy easy! And another chance for mixing pattern and texture. And Christmas pillows are nice and all, but they’re ridiculous to store (says the woman with 13 Christmas trees).
Unbreakable ornaments are getting prettier and prettier.
See that “For Sale” sign? Come be my neighbor! I’ll lend you eggs if you run out!
Merry Christmas! I’d love to see what your tree and house look like. Please show me!!!