More Hall Decking!

Things are on the upswing here as my friend Suzanne visits this weekend. But I thought I'd pop in the last of the home decorating pix. I'll start with this amaryllis from Trader Joe's. $7.95 and it has given me five huge blooms, still going after several weeks. I'd never seen a pink and white one before! Decorating and I didn't have to do a thing except put it on the table!

 

 And these flowers, sent by dear friends, are still going strong -- perfect Christmas colors!

 

I mentioned that Rick was going to help me decorate the big tree! We got it done. Now I'm happily enjoying evenings surrounded by holiday lights!  

 

This tree is basically my autobiography. Pretty much everything on it was something from a friend, something purchased when traveling, things made by me and others, memory pieces and things dating back to my parents' tree. The things that were "bought" were purchased by me because I liked them! 

 

Standing guard at the top is the turkey my friend Andy made when helping me with a puppetry class in grad school. Andy didn't make it through the year after a long cancer battle so I'm glad he's still with me on the tree.

Also in the living room I added some lights by the computer. In the foreground are a few ornaments from House of Hatton designed by Vaughan and Stephanie Rawson (aka "The Whimsical Whittler," whom I wrote about in this post called "A Magical House" many moons ago. (If you go back to this post, know that I tried to edit so the font and photos were like my current posts, but it was in 2009 and blogger wouldn't let me do that!) The large Santa was a purchase I couldn't resist! And I haven't yet killed the geraniums I'm trying to winter!

 

There's a hutch in this part of the room too and things inside change through the seasons. This year I couldn't manage to bring up everything. (And I really didn't need to.) Father Christmas can hang out with the Royal Doultons. 

 

My small collection of sheep shares space with a another Father Christmas from Stockbridge, Massachusetts.

 

 Artist Linda Wonser's cute felted snowman is spending time in the "woods" with yet another Father Christmas.

 

Little Hummel Girl is enjoying a holiday book under the tree. Perhaps a cup of tea, too? 

I changed up the mantel in the family room, adding some red berry branches, lights and bottlebrush trees, and added a few cardinals to the wreath too. Sometimes I don't know how to stop!

We were having trouble fitting some of the framed family ornaments on the big tree this year (I don't know why -- it worked last year). So they're right where everyone can see them -- the bathroom tree. Because doesn't everyone need to hit the bathroom before they hit the road?

 

 

We are decked for the holidays! Now, I must get ready to do a little Christmas shopping! I have a ride, a shopping companion and a Visa card. Onward!

It's a winter world where I am. I hope you are having safe, holidays and if it is cold outside, you are cozy within!