CHRISTMAS AROUND THE COTTAGE - PART ONE...

Welcome Christmas

Not a creature was stirring...

Not even a mouse.

You know when you have something new

 and you give it all your attention

 and you tend to ignore 

the old tried and true?

 That is happening to me

 this Christmas season.

As I told you at Thanksgiving,

 we have just finished the dining room.

 I am so happy with it 

that I have spent a whole lot of time

 putting its best foot forward 

and that doesn't leave much time

 for the rest of the Cottage.

Well, actually,

 there is enough time

 to primp up the rest of the place

 but, when you are talking about me,

 I don't always stick

 to my original plan of less is best.

 Every year I say

 that I'm going to 

and when I start out 

I have the best intentions,

 but for some reason

 I am just not able to stick to it!

 I have so many bins

 of Christmas decorations

 that I go through one

 and pick out the things

 I think I want to use,

 then the lid goes back on

 and the box is ready to go

 back into storage.

  Before it goes back, however,

 I have removed the lid 

another few times,

 either getting something else out to use

 or forgetting that I have

 already looked through it!

 Please tell me that you do the same thing!

But,

 I am trying to fix me!!!

 And I think I might just make it!

 And in case I don't,

 I believe that can be OK too.

  So welcome to the

new me just plain old me,

 and I hope you enjoy

 what I have done so far.

We are hopeful

 that the kids will be able

 to join us for Christmas. 

 If not,

 we will go down to their home

 and enjoy Christmas with them.

  Either way, 

we will all be together.

 However, 

I have set the table in anticipation

 and the Captain and I

 eat here every night

 and it is so much fun 

that we have six seats to choose from

 (of which two chairs still have not been painted).

The very first Christmas

 that I began blogging,

 I saw these really cute dishes

 from WalMart all over the place. 

 I don't have close access to WalMart

 but whenever I was able to shop there,

 these dishes were always gone

 until just a few weeks ago.

  The set has different woodland scenes

 but this particular time

 there were only the tree scenes in stock

 and I was able to

 pick up the amount I needed. 

 I did find two of the deer plates

 that will work for when

 just the Captain and I

 are having dinner...

...I have paired the

 Better Homes and Gardens Heritage Collection 

from WalMart

 with The Old Curiosity Shop,

 made in the USA, 

that I picked up a couple of years ago

 at Good Will in San Diego...

...I put the table centerpiece together

 to tie in

 with the plates.

In the little corner cupboard 

I added the cow picture

 that I painted from a paint-by-number kit

 from Country Living

 along with the best smelling

 Christmas pudding scented candle.

I wanted to share with you

 what my sweet daughter 

gave me for my birthday.

 Tami is the best gift giver,

 she always picks out small things

 that have a strong meaning

 to her and the receiver,

 and they always are so special.

 This little sign 

has the words to a song 

that I used to sing to her

 when she was little and

 we haven't spoken of it in years,

 but she still remembers...

...she also included

 these two beautiful little angels,

 one from the heart

 and one with a phrase

 we always said to

 Jake as a baby.

I have had this little tree

 for a few years

 and have always used it

 in the dining room.

 In years past

 it was decorated in vintage Shiny Brites

 and tinsel garland 

that matched

 the yellow and pink rose wallpaper

 that was on the walls.

 Now it is dressed

 in a more country primitive manner

 with ornaments that I have kept

 from years ago

 but haven't used much until now.

  It is sitting

 in a small tin wash tub

 that I found

 at an antique store

 a few years back.

The star of the room though

 is this blanket chest

 that my dad made

 in wood shop

 when he was in high school.

 That was eighty years ago.

Somewhere along the way

 the lid got broken and lost

 so we had this old top

 from a dresser

 that fits pretty well.

 I love how it is

 chipped, crazed and distressed

 and I have thought about

 painting the chest

 to somewhat match

 but still have not made up my mind

 on that score.

  My mom was always

 painting pieces of furniture 

and my dad was always 

on board with her,

 so don't think

 he would have

 a problem with it.

"Christmas is a spirit

 that flows from one heart

 to another. 

 It is more precious

 than rubies 

and better 

than gold."

Agnes M. Pharo

Now,

 I need to get back

 to the decorating 

so I can share more with you.

  

Today,

 I am joining in

 a new Christmas Open House Link Party,

 Come As You Are,

 at Common Ground and Cozy Little House.

  Thank you,

 Debra and Brenda.

 It will be lots of fun,

 and in the meantime...

...guess what

 Kai 

is spending his time

 doing?

...Judy...

Sharing today at:

BTTCG at Bernideen's

No Place Like Home at Rose Chintz Cottage

Come As You Are Christmas Open House Link Party

Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

What's It Wednesdays at Ivy and Elephants

Share Your Style Link Party at 21 Rosemary Lane

Feathered Nest Fridays at French Country Cottage