A Little House Tour

Finally, I'm as decorated as I'm going to be! (That's not true. I will probably be bringing things upstairs till Twelfth Night when I start taking it down again!)

Join me on a little home tour! The nice parts, not the cobwebs and piles of stuff. Come on in! (Cue the Music!)

(Warning! This is a long, picture-heavy post; I'm not sure how much time I'll have in the coming days with early family holiday celebrations so may as well get it all in at once!)

 

The Entry Hall

Some trees stay the same. Some change. This one has changed the most from being all white, silver and red in the past to -- well, a little of everything.

This year, a VERY little of everything. I skipped the wall tree with the small Radko and Shiny Brite ornaments and put them here instead, with a few other things, doing my best to keep it simple. I'll sort through what I didn't use this year to see if it makes the keep or share cut!

The Living Room

 When you walk in, probably the first thing you see is the sofa! Poor sofa -- the cushions need restuffing! I took an idea from a fall post by Debra at Common Ground to cover it with a seasonal quilt. I look at it now and I'm happy! It may stay this way through Valentine's Day!

Also straight ahead is my happy tree. This is a favorite with some fairly old felt ornaments, some of my own felties, a few purchases and a garland of bright blue pompoms made by the granddaughter of a dear friend.

 It's a flocked tree. (Note to self: When it goes back downstairs, to not wear black fleece while carrying it.)

A quick turn to the right and you see the Woodland tree. 

I left a few things off this one this year, too. It's another favorite. My new bird looks right at home!

To the right of that, look up. My favorite Santa and his own little forest!

And finally, complete the turn. There you have the big tree. My life story in ornaments. Everything here is either from family or friends, handmade, old or purchased by me because it had some personal resonance, like the travel ornaments. 

The kids helped decorate this year, and apart from moving a very few things (mostly for security!) I changed very little of it.

This tree always seems to look the same to the uninitiated, but I can tell the difference from year to year. And, it's a new tree! I found it for $65 on Facebook marketplace this year! Best bargain of the season. (Only bargain of the season!)

To the right of that, a table with my great grandfather's recipe book (a post on that is coming in the new year).

My Fontanini nativity is there, too. I only have a few pieces but treasure it.

In the dining area, the china cabinet has a small tree I made at Southern Exposure and another favorite Santa, all in front of my friend Wally's Wisteria in the Cotswolds photo. 

The figurine is one of Mom's Royal Doultons. She comes out every Christmas.

This fat Santa is another favorite. The cat was a gift from my late friend Mary Jane.

Over my desk, a white Hummel angel, crystal and a portrait of my girl!

And finally, this jolly old elf I bought years ago on a visit to Flagstaff, AZ!

And yes, some Santas in the cupboard, too!

 

Even these two animal-loving ladies got a tree this year!

 

The Family Room

This room gets minor changes each year. This time, an angel my parents bought in Mexico, hangs over the mantel.

Rick says the mantel has too much stuff. He's probably right. Too bad! The swag over the fireplace is a Southern Exposure creation.

I bought the little gnome at the last farmer's market of the season up north.

Everything else is an old friend.

Here's my feltie tree...

 

...and for more light, some branches.

You've seen this one before! The dry sink with a woodland Santa...

...and wee lit churches. (I didn't show the bad corner again, which isn't as bad as it was a week ago.)

 The Kitchen

This shelf sits atop the microwave.

....and this is the top of the baker's rack with its little cocoa and tea center. (Those towels wouldn't be my first choice for decor but they mask a mess of stuff that doesn't seem to fit much anywhere else!)

Also in the kitchen, a small shelf, this year focusing on my nesting dolls.

The Bedroom

The Mary Engelbreit quilt is back on this year, after a break in 2021.

And my pottery nativity, a gift from a friend who was downsizing a few years ago, by the window.

It stands next to dad's memory tree.

 

So there you have it! A house decorated -- literally -- one step at a time as bringing up things from the basement was especially challenging this year. But at some point in the not too distant future, I will be downsizing and not able to have room to store all this. So I want to do it up as best I can, while I can.

I'll be visiting as much as I can and maybe even getting up another post. Till then...

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

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