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!
Thanksgiving may be over but my personal season of gratitude extends to you. Thank you all for such kind, supportive words. I'm pleased to say the pacemaker implant surgery is over and while I'm still sore as all get out at the site, I'm back home, getting itchy to be back in holiday mode. I'm finding typing a bit challenging, between the sling and some soreness there, so if I don't visit as often or answer your comments directly (if I have contact info for you), I know you'll understand. And again, I am so grateful for you good thoughts.
In the countdown till Christmas one must make time for a little fun, a little friendship.
My friend Suzanne (from Canada) came for a short visit -- partly to come to Cork Poppers, partly for Christmas shopping, partly for VERY belated birthday celebrating (my birthday is in August; we tend to do each other's about four months off. We'll do Christmas in January.)
I think the house is about as ready as it's going to be for the holidays. Time to move on to shopping, wrapping, mailing, baking and cards! Oh my!
So, here is the rest of the living room, family room and kitchen, starting with the living room.
Everywhere I visit on Blogland I see people's beautiful holiday decorations and lovely trees. Meanwhile, I'm still working on it!
But I thought I'd offer a bit of a progress report! I'm getting Christmas up, one tree at a time, one Santa at a time.
The week between Christmas and New Year's is one of my favorites. Things calm down -- and even if they don't quite calm down, it's a gentler, more relaxed feeling. A good time for naps, tidying up, quieter gatherings with friends and looking forward to a new year.
In our case, it involved saying goodbye to Rick's mom as we met up with Rick's brother and his wife, where she would spend the next few days, our annual Christmas song celebration, a quick hug with an old friend and lots of rest!
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!)
I really wanted to have a little craft time with the grandlittles when they came. But what project would be easy enough for a four and five year-old with a minimum of mess and easy to complete before they moved on? I opted for easy matchbox ornaments and they were a hit.
Our Thanksgiving weekend was a terrific one and I'm eager to fill you in -- except that we're still having it! So, before I do, a little more from Gardenviews and town of Northville to put you in the holiday mood! (Cue the music)
This window made me want to buy a pink tree! (I refrained!)
We've been Covid-careful this year, not attending Southern Exposure workshops in person. But Jan and I decided a winter walkthrough at Christmas would be safe, mostly outdoors and easy to distance. So, off we went to see what S.E. was doing for the holidays this year.
When I had my mortgage paying party, we gathered in a private room here. That was over a year ago. Now it has been converted into a "Santa's Workshop."
My house is a 1960s ranch, about 1,250 square feet. The living room is long and and the far end serves as the dining room. Between the two spaces, there are four trees. I love trees.
Do you rotate art in your home during the holidays? I do. Well, at least some of it! In the case of my hallway, the Paris wall comes down and the holiday wall comes up! Most of this year's wall features the work of Muppet master Caroll Spinney, along with a special piece by a good friend. (Cue the music!)
The centerpiece of the wall this year is a costume design for The Ghost of Christmas Present, done by the late Gretel Geist Rutledge. Gretel was a mainstay of the Michigan State Theatre department during my time there as an undergrad and until her retirement, probably about ten years ago. She went on to pursue her art in a variety of ways. After her death, her family allowed friends to choose from her many costume renderings. This watercolor holds pride of place.
I've started bringing out the fa la la, getting the house decorated for the season. It's a time I always enjoy and yet for some reason, this year I am a little slower, perhaps a bit more deliberate. And maybe that is a good thing. (Cue the music!)
We've had a little snow -- and then it goes. I'm OK with that. I dream of a White Christmas often -- but I'm not that big on the days before and after!
While I don't start decking the halls till Thanksgiving, my official start to the holiday season is the annual Northville greens market, which I always attend with my friend, Jan, like THIS LAST VISIT in 2019.)
We missed it last year for Covid reasons, but this year we ventured out to do our traditional day -- the market, shopping at our favorite store (Gardenviews), lunch at a favorite restaurant and then a stop at Trader Joe's!
We prepare, we decorate, we eat, we play, we celebrate. And then we crash!
These post-Christmas days haven't been terribly productive. (The dishes are finally done!) But the holiday leading up to them was wonderful. Different. But wonderful, nonetheless.
We spent Christmas Eve at Rick's. We decided to do something we'd never done before for dinner -- make a tourtiere, a French Canadian meat pie, traditionally prepared in Quebec homes, eaten on Christmas Eve. Ours wasn't the prettiest (we could have used more crust!) but it was filled with marvelous spices. We used blogger Marie's more or less, but took advice from Quebec blogger Monique, who said the spices are what makes it smell like Christmas! It did!
While Rick was doing the lions share of the cooking, I read our Christmas journal with notations from 2002 through last year.
We recalled current events of those days, those who left us, and were reminded of fun and parties, good recipes and great times. We were also reminded of Christmases that were more challenging, with someone missing because of illness or the year both of us were sick on Christmas day!
After dinner, Rick made a wonderful bread filled with apples that would be part of Christmas breakfast.
Then we took a drive through our old neighborhoods to look at Christmas lights. There were lots of pretty ones, but this message said it all!
When I went to bed on Christmas Eve, the lights on the "Dad" tree and carols keeping me company until I drifted off, it was a good, peaceful sleep and when waking Christmas morning. I was almost as excited as my first Christmas. Yes, a different Christmas for so many of us. But that didn't mean it was bad. It was calm and lovely. There was time to "be" with it all, whether I was by myself or with Rick.
I headed down the street and before breakfast, we opened one present, from Rick's son, Greg. He had taken cuts from an already downed tree he found in the woods and turned it into the most magnificent centerpiece.
It's about two or three inches thick, sanded many times before getting varnish and poly. It was a most remarkable and surprising gift.
That went on the table and then Rick made French toast from that wonderful loaf of bread.
After opening presents and hanging out, I headed back home. I had a table to set!
This time I went for the more formal tablecloth, one with loads of golden threads.
A few cedar branches, red ribbon, fairy lights and my mom's Royal Doulton winter girl and I was almost ready to go!
I just needed plates and yes, party favors. Candy bar snowmen went in Rick's stocking AND on the table!
For a little hint of spring, my paperwhites offered me a special Christmas gift -- lovely, fragrant blooms!
The afternoon was filled with Zoom meetings, first with Rick's family, then with my cousins.
Rick picked out a beautiful bottle of wine for my stocking. It didn't stay in the stocking long!
And finally -- after the roast should have been done an hour before -- we ate!
We capped off the evening with a Zoom with Kevin, Greg and Molly. Occasionally the toddlers flew by in a state of overtired, over-sugared energy! That, and a snuggle with the resident cat-girl made for a wonderful day.
It was different, yes. We would have loved to see those babies in person (Well, maybe not after the sugar!) or had dinner with the friends we often see on Christmas. But we couldn't. And it was fine.
Now, on to the end of the year! Books to read, things to do!
May the rest of your holiday season be filled with light and love.
The Christmas music is blaring as I go between computer and kitchen! Lizzie will be your guide!
You've seen the living room. Check out "Christmas" in the family room, kitchen and office.
My family room is one of the main reasons I chose this house. The pine walls remind me of the cottage and while the fireplace isn't currently functional, it still adds a warm feeling to the room. It's one reason why my mantel is a bottlebrush forest -- it just seems to fit here!
This tree I call the "Mom" tree, because it has ornaments that either she collected or made or things I know she would choose if she was doing that tree herself. My dad made the gingerbread tree topper, back in our days of having a contest to wrap a gift in the most original way!
Lizzie's feeding station is at the window, where she can watch the birds, so of course she needed a cat tree!
And beside that on the window seat, a selection of faux greens with little lights within to brighten things up at night.
Opposite the fireplace is the little dry sink I found for a ridiculous price at a garage sale one year. It matches some of my other Hitchcock furniture and makes me smile! On the top is a swag made at Southern Exposure with one of my favorite Santas and a tree that has some of my felties.
I wish I had hanging tags on the rest of the felties! Or a few I'd sent away this Christmas.
Here's another look at my feltie friends.
Here's that Super Santa. Isn't he rustic and fun? This room feels like my "up north" room.
The family room bumps up to the very tiny kitchen. Rick just rehung my rack above the sink. The silver bells at the top come from a friend who has sent one each year for decades.
And the creamer and sugar was a hostess gift for a Cork Poppers party once. I had to stick in a few of my many bottlebrush trees here!
It's fun doing holiday vignettes!
On the other side of the room is the baking rack safe and the shelf-that-should-be-hung-but-sits-atop-the-microwave. Hey, real life.
A few of my Santas have found their homes on the rack above the micro.
There's a small hot cocoa/tea/sweets spot. (I replenish the M&Ms often!)
The face on this fellow reminds me of one of my friends!
And my friend Kate's bird calendar is flanked by more tiny trees.
More of my favorite holiday friends are on the baking rack.
I was thrilled the day I found the teapot for my Spode Christmas dishes!
And this fellow was a craft show find about 30 years ago.
Ready for baking!
Finally, a quick look at my little office. Again, very bad lighting!
Another Vintage by Crystal figure, under glass!
Two small trees are in this room. The small blue one was a steal at Home Goods.
This has been around a little longer!
Your guide, Lizzie, is hunkered down by her bowl, waiting to be served.
Till next time, Be Merry.
