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
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:
