OK…here’s the rest of the decorating.

As you come up the front steps, you are greeted by two large red bows and 5 foot lighted trees in bronze urns on either side of the door.  You’ll have to take my word for it, I didn’t get a pic of the trees at night…and they are not very pretty if they are not lighted.

The old butcher’s table in the foyer is filled with a collection of my silver mercury glass ornaments.

There are the 3 trees to the right…

And on the other end is a small lamp I found with a mercury glass base.  I really need to get a different shade, but no time yet…And next to the lamp is a set of bells that I found last year.  I finally found some hooks to hold them, but decided to only use one of them…

In the middle, is a big, very rustic box.  In it I put all the largest of my silver mercury glass.  Mixed in with pine and holly and all piled up high!

Moving on to the back foyer, I put up a tree with only top branches and a wreath and more balls at the bottom.  I used this table for the desserts at the party, and with the this tall tree it freed up a lot of space.  On the branches are a few of my favorite birds.

The big kitchen cupboard is the last place we will visit.  I so enjoy decorating this space for the seasons.  Here I put my Mistletoe Manor angels.  I had 3 of them, and had always wanted to add to the collection. 

But they were discontinued last year, so I thought there was no chance.  I had been on line looking and no luck.  Then, one day, on a stroll through TJM, there they were!  Sitting up high on the top shelf!  Just waiting for me to come and get them and bring them to their new home.  And, since they were waiting just for me…could I disappoint them, and leave them there?  Why, no…of course not!  I did the right thing and brought them home.  And, they seem so happy here, I’m glad I did. 

  And, lo and behold!  The next time I went, I found the Santa and Mrs. Santa.  They are from the same collection, but I had not intended to get them.  But, once again, I went all soft, and let them talk me into coming to live at my house. 

And, they look just perfect here in the kitchen, don’t ya think?  Yes.  Good decisions, both.  On the top shelf are three topiaries with colorful berries, and a decorative plate, vase and sign.  The little music box is a favorite treasure we bring out at Christmas each year.  We gave it to Alex on his first Christmas.

And, last but not least, in the studio, an old red pick up truck  bringing home the Chrismas tree!

I  have such fun playing with all my treasures, and placing them here or moving them there.  Nothing in this house is ever in the same place 2 years in a row.  I just don’t like ‘sameness’. (Is that even a word?)  And, it usually takes me several weeks looking at a particular vignette to decide if I like it or not.  Like the mantel…I do not like it this year.  There is not enough color, and it seems to fade into the stone.  So, next year…who knows where they will end up?

I’ve had several requests to show the decor I used for Christmas.  So I will show some today, and the rest tomorrow.

I must not take all the credit.  My sweet friend, Tina, took a day off work to come and help me decorate.  We have such opposite personalities.  As scattered and ditzy as I am…she is organized and focused.  She has tried over the years to help me work in an orderly fashion…start at one end and go to the other…instead of starting 6 projects and doing a little bit here and a little bit there.  And, I do pretty good, as long as she is with me.  But, when she is gone…so am I!  Her daughter, Amy, came over and helped us and ran errands, too.  And, my friend Patty came over and added her willing hands.  Patty helps keep me straight, as well.  I am so blessed to have friends like these.

First, the mantel.  I used the trees that I used on the table last year for the mantel.  I did not want the trees to be in the way for the party.  Remember these trees were the ones that Mom had bought for me before she died.  I love them as much this year as I did last.  And, friends, if someone tells you that your whole stone fireplace will crack and crumble and fall to the ground if you put a nail in it…..don’t believe it!  See!  safe and sound!

On one side of the fireplace, I put these 3 trees.  And, on the other side I used this lantern on a pedestal.

The buffet, I kept simple also.  My mixed berry garland, and the teeny, tiny seed lights, and these two very rustic candlesticks.  Oh, and two super glittered snowmen….guess, it’s not too simple after all…:-)

Now, to the table.  When we began building the Creek House, my sweet Daughter-in-Love, Suzanne, began getting me these beautiful pots.  I have had them sitting on a bakers rack, and have had plans to fill them with plants.  But, I had an idea that they would look good down the center of the table…filled with something.  After I had decorated the tree, I had quite a few mercury balls left over.  (Can we just say ‘excess’ here?)  Anyway, I gave Tina my ideas and away she went.  We tweaked a little here and a little there, added in some votives, and it was done.  What do you think?

And, speaking of the tree…here it is…

And, last for today, I reused the twigs from fall, and added ivy and holly to this tall basket.

That’s it for today.  I’ll show you the rest tomorrow. 

I just LOVE Christmas!  I love the colors and the smells and the sounds and the parties!  And, I love to decorate my home.  We are blessed, and give thanks to God for all he has given to us.  But, please know that as much as I love all these ‘things’ about Christmas,  that’s all they are…things.  All that will last, and all that really matters, is that one perfect gift…Jesus.  That must be the focus of all we do during this season.  It’s His birthday, and He deserves our praise.

Oh, what a fun and busy weekend!   That’s what helps make Christmas such a fun time, isn’t it?  On Friday night, Don and I hosted our Sunday School classes at our home.  We had about 35 people attending, and fun was had by all.  We ate, and talked, and played games, and prayed and laughed and sang and laughed some more!  It was cool weather, but the men were able to eat outside by the fireplace, and we ladies ate inside at the table…and on the floor…and on the couch!  Don and I provided turkey and ham and everyone else brought all the other food!  Yummy!

Just a few random pictures…I didn’t manage to get a pic of everyone…I kind of lost track of whose I had made.  Go figure!

Our teacher brought everyone a pair of Christmas socks.  Then she decided that this would make a perfect ‘class picture’.  And, she was right!  Can you tell which one I am?  🙂

Here is the whole group:

On Saturday, Joy had gotten us tickets to a play in Montgomery…about 100 miles north of us.  She has a broken foot…and Pop has macular degeneration…so I was the designated driver.  They arrived at my house around 10…and off we went…

We stopped and got a quick bite to eat and headed to the theater.  Montgomery has a wonderful theater called The Alabama Shakespeare Festival.  They have plays of all kinds, all through the year.  Many are suitable for children and schools from all over the state take groups there.

The play we were seeing was Peter Pan.

It was delightful!  There were quite a few children there and it was fun to watch them and their enjoyment.  But, it was very entertaining for adults also.  I don’t think I had ever really known the story of Peter Pan.  Maybe I did and just forgot, but parts of it were new to me.  Wonderful actors, and fun music.  The children really enjoyed seeing Peter Pan and the children flying through the air!

We went by a favorite smoothie place and got us all one for the road and took off for Dothan.  Pop had stories to tell and some we had not heard before!  So blessed to have this time together!

Great fun!  Great people!  Great activities!  Great food!   What more could you ask of a weekend?

This is the picture of my boy’s nativity set.  I bought it for them when they were small.  They would lie down on the floor and have ‘shoot ’em up’ games.  Little know fact  that the Wise Men and the Shepherds had a long-running feud, which the ‘angel boys’ in the Owens’ home chose to participate in.  I’m still not sure who won out…but, I seem to remember the Wise Men had more to bargain with.

A post by my friend, Jill, brought this memory back to mind and I wanted to share it.  I began to notice that Baby Jesus would disappear all day…leaving the manger empty, just the hay.  I didn’t know where he was going, or who he was going with.  But, late in the afternoon, he would reappear.  Spending the night in his manger next to his Mama, only to take another day trip the next morning.  This went on for several weeks.  I didn’t say anything, because, he was always returned…and this was their Nativity set, after all.  All I knew, for sure, was that one of my boys was taking Baby Jesus with him as He ventured out into the world.  To school, to play ball in the afternoon, to do homework…all the things that little boys do.

I finally discovered who the culprit was when I was washing the 5th load of blue jeans, which was a natural occurrence around our house.  I had talked to the boys over and over about taking things out of their pockets…but for some reason, I was talking in a foreign language, because they never understood it.  And, that day,when I reached in and pulled out the wad of stuff in a pocket…there he was.  Laying at the very bottom of the pile…he was covered up with 2 sticks of folded Juicy Fruit, a wadded up tissue, a sad little matchbook car with no wheels, and a broken Popsicle stick.  Was he hoping for a miracle …like new wheels for the car?  Or was he sharing his Popsicle?  Did he have 2 pieces of gum ’cause he wanted to share?  This boy always had ideas that no one else would ever think of.  So, I asked.  “Son, why have you been taking Jesus with you everyday?”  He looked up and said, “Am I in trouble?”  “No, you haven’t done anything wrong…I just wondered why you take him every day.”  That sweet face looked up at me and said, ”  Mom,  all I’m doing is just babysitting…just babysitting for Mary.”  And, off he ran.

He continued ‘babysitting’ the rest of the season.  And, after Christmas I packed up the set with all the rest of the Christmas decor…and away they all went into the attic.  The next year, I wondered if the baby sitting would pick back up.  But, no, Jesus stayed in his manger this year.  So, I asked the babysitter why he was not taking him for trips this year.  He looked at me like I had suddenly sprouted wings.   The whole episode was gone from his mind.  He just couldn’t imagine that he had ever done such.  But, he did.  And, it’s OK that he doesn’t remember it.  Cause his mama remembers…and holds the memory dear.  Maybe because  I understood just how glad Mary must have been to have a free babysitter…for a whole day…every day….for 3 weeks!  I, sad to say, was never quite that blessed!

I know who I am and I know I’m a lost cause.  I know I have ADD and when I start doing a massive project like decorating the whole house for Christmas, it shows up…BIG TIME. 

My plans are big tree in den, decor over TV cabinet, small table in den, buffet in DR, table in DR, cupboard in kitchen, back foyer round table, front foyer.And, that’s what I am sticking with.  But, here’s the problem…I have a little bit done in every space and NOTHING completed!  I know that’s not the most efficient way to work, and I don’t mean to do it that way…it just happens.  And, all of a sudden, I look up and am so strung out that I don’t know what to do next!

So, working away as hard as I can, and here comes Alex.  I have to take him all the way across town because his nurses at his visit with his Dr. yesterday wrote his prescription wrong…AGAIN!  This infuriates me because if Alex wasn’t aware, and checked it, he could get in big time trouble taking too much of this med.   And this is not the first time, either.   So, off we went.  It’s just not good for me to go away from a project once I start.  Then I get even more off task. 

I went to my closet to get a sweatshirt….it’s cold here today.  As I walked back through the den, I glanced into the library as I passed by.  When what to my wondering eye should appear?     A certain little dog had left a puddle….ON  MY  ZEBRA SKIN!!!!!    He’s not allowed to come into the main house, but sometimes he will sneak out when Alex does.  I think he had it planned and was just waiting for a chance to do it.  So, I had to stop and clean a zebra!  Clean a zebra!  Have you ever had the chance to say that?  Here’s the culprit!

Coming back home, I need to get some of my things in the storage room.  But to do so requires a t-a-l-l ladder.  Taller than the one I fell off the other day.  So I cautiously lean the ladder against the shelves, and begin climbing.  Uh! Oh!  Here comes Alex!  He starts fussing at me and telling me to get down.  “You’re old and fragile now, Mother”, he says. “Well empty out that box of ornaments and shove this old body in it there and be done with me!”  🙂  I do love that young man!  He is always looking after me!

So, why am I writing this post when there are boxes from the den to the studio to the kitchen to the storage room?  Don’t know.  Just saw the computer and picked it up.  Now, I’m not going to hold you responsible for slowing me down and taking my mind off decorating.  Why!  You didn’t even know when you started reading this that I should not be writing…I should be about my day’s work.  I know if you had known, you would have told me to sign off and get back to work.  You would have said for me to keep my mind focused on what I was doing because I have a BIG party here in 3 days!  I can just hear you now.  Ok, I’m going, I’m going!  BYE!

PS…I don’t even know what a ‘plum pudding’ is!  But, the meltdown, I’m familiar with……