At Home: A Rude Homecoming and a Delightful Celebration

I had to head home for some appointments, and perhaps the timing couldn't have been better, given the wildfire smoke at the lake. They even cancelled parts of Gaylord's annual Alpenfest. Not that the smoke was better at home, it was just a better place to be at the time. 

Meanwhile, in the Yard

One of the best things about this time of year is seeing things "wake up" and being able to be outside. I don't have a great garden and the backyard is more weeds than lawn, but I've been enjoying the birds, blooms and critters.

 

I think I've given up grass for Creeping Charlie (which is actually kind of pretty.)

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!)

Decking the Halls 2020

The halls are finally decked! Welcome to my happy Christmas house!

I thought (for about 30 seconds) about phasing back this year for many reasons, mostly medical. Then I said, aloud, to myself: "What are you thinking? If this was to be your last Christmas on Earth, would you have wanted to spend it in a house where you didn't do the thing you loved?" 

Coming into the hall we meet the greeting angel and the arrangement I made through the virtual Southern Exposure. I've never had a tree in the hall before. It was time to reimagine my decorating!

This tree usually has all silver, white and glass decorations. That box didn't come up. I toyed with the idea of leaving it with just the lights.

Then I realized that I had a bunch of decorations that didn't fit on the big tree so I pulled the red ones and voila!

 

This is the living room. My house is very small -- right now it looks more like a Christmas store than a living room!

And here's another view. That poor red chair cover has been a favorite of Lizzie's! Hence enough throws on it to prevent more scratching! 

The pillow was made by my friend Suzanne years ago. It's one of my favorites.

 

The small white tree with red balls next to the chair was a Southern Exposure project and one of my all-time favorites.

 The photo above was before I moved it. Here it sits now.

Santa gets his due in a flocked white wreath (bought at a ridiculously low price on sale a few years ago and enhanced with some red and white). 

Above, on the bookcase, is yet another swag with one of my favorite Santas.

The Woodland Tree stays up long after Christmas to give light during the winter. Its ornaments are wintry -- snowflakes, birds, snow people. 

 

It's one of my favorites.

And here is the happy tree, now decorated!  

Some of these are my felties and some gifts, others purchased. Pretty much everything on this tree is cloth or felt, either stitched or needle felted. It's a "safe" tree for little ones of enthusiastic pets. 

This is my "Happy Tree." I just get happy looking at it. (The mouse above was purchased; the French-style bear below is one of my felties.)

Heading toward the dining part of the room, some garland, lights and a favorite wreath. (The little white tree used to be there before I moved it!)

I love the cottage feel of grapevine wreaths and rustic things.

I hadn't brought up the snowman tree for a few years because I didn't have outlets in the right places! This year I decided to take some art off the wall and bring it back. This one will stay up a little longer, too!

Atop the china cabinet a few cheery things. I showed these in more detail here.

And in the hutch, behind the doors, a few of the Santas from my collection. 

For a very long time I would try to get a Santa when I traveled, along with a tree ornament. This fellow was purchased in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, in 1994.

This one, in Arizona.

And this was a craft show find. I adore him!

All together now!

And one quick look up! Because I didn't put up the small wall tree with the Radko ornaments, I decided they needed to have a new spot! 

The chandelier was a perfect spot!

The creche my friend Jacqie gave me last year moved from the bedroom to the living room. I like it here -- a perfect spot.

The faces on these china figures are so very sweet.

And finally, the big tree. It looks pretty much as it does every year, crammed with ornaments that tell my life story.

There are ornaments made in grade school, memories of our travels together, photos of family and dear friends. 

I'm lucky to have some that were on my parents' and grandparents trees.

Many gifts are on the tree, like this sweet ornament made by Laura from Decor to Adore with vintage hangers.

I've had the winter wonderland ball as long as I can remember. It is first on the tree...

...along with some glass ornaments and a Victoria from England (and yes, Rick has Albert. And yes, that was a turkey on the top of the tree. 

I'll share the family room and kitchen in another post. But today I will leave you in the bedroom with dad's tree -- a tree with things he would have loved...

...like ornaments related to fishing.

And we'll say farewell with the unofficial queen of the household. 

Meowy Christmas.

Happy Christmas!

Home Sweet Home at Christmas

Time to deck the halls! Join me for a guided tour!

                         

Start in the hallway. The lights don't seem to work too well in the photo, but we have the wall tree and a small one on the table next to the angel with a bit of pretties dangling over the art in the entry!

Go straight and you're headed to the living room, the land of many trees.

                            

This one is mostly "woodland" -- snowflakes and birds. It's one of two that comes down last, bringing some light into the days of January and February.

                    

I'm a sucker for snowflakes, silver, white, birds and snowfolk. So of course this might be my favorite!

Or is the big tree my favorite?

                          

Every ornament has a meaning. There are the three clothespin wise men made by a colleague nearly 40 years ago when I worked at a community dental clinic. The turkey topper is a puppet made by my friend Andrw when I was doing a puppet theatre production in grad school. Turkey Lurkey has been at the top of the tree for years! Of course travels are represented (there are more than a few Eiffel towers!)

This guy is one of the oldest, from the old family tree. I love his jolly elfin face!

                       

My living room is long and skinny so there is a dining area at the far end. In the window, atop Grandma's marbletop end table is another winter tree -- this one stays up for a bit longer.

And against the wall the Solstice tree (which in this photo doesn't yet have the sun, moon and stars ornaments that now grace it!

                             

The bookcases gets the treatment, too...

...and so does the top of the china cabinet.

The family room is another small one. This room is the reason I bought the house -- the knotty pine walls remind me of the cottage up north. Meanwhile, Lizzie can enjoy her bird's eye view of the feeder from the bay window.

                            

There's a gas fireplace in this room but it is unreliable so this year I took a hint from Southern Exposure and put flame lights inside. I love the look and I think I'll leave it like that long after the holidays.

Standing on the hearth, a tall skinny tree. I call this one the "Mom" tree -- many of the ornaments were her favorites and if anything more gets added to it, it fits the theme of fairy tales and the warmth of the kitchen. About a year ago I wrote a story about the ornaments on this tree for this blog -- "The Giant Gingerman." You can see it here.

                         

Opposite the fireplace on my little dry sink is a small tree and lots of lights.

And, to the left, yet another display. These battery branches from Tuesday Morning make for a perfect arrangement -- and one easy to move if I need the space for serving.



Take a quick left and you are in the kitchen.

There's not a lot of space here, but some sparkling silver, a little tree and a few cheery bits on the shelf make it pretty festive!

                        

On the way down the hall to the bedrooms, stop in the bathroom! There's the "pink" tree with some vintage garland and bells, along with my favorite Santa. I call him Bruce because the twinkling eyes and great smile remind me of one of my favorite professors and mentors in grad school. (The pink gown? Not so much! Though it would be something to see!)

Here's a quick look at the "Dad" tree in my bedroom. Most of these ornaments reflect things he loved -- fishing, water, outside.

My big Santa sits in the window.

                        
There are more than a few wreaths and swags in the house.

And even the clock gets it's share of decoration!

There are other spots of cheer too -- a snowflake painting that blocks a view of the kitchen clutter, the guest room "Angel" tree and a wee one in my office. Right now both of those rooms are such terrible messes that there's no way I'm even venturing in there with a camera!

Of course, my favorite decoration decorates the house every day of the year. She has recently chosen my rolling cart of Christmas cards and holiday tags for her current bed (along with my new totebag!).  Always keeping an eye out for Santa Claws!