Home Sweet Christmas

This is an exceptionally long post, so I hope you don't get bored before the end.

As you walk into my home, this is what you see.  I've used this napkin holder tree for years and years to hold my Christmas cards.  I used to hang them with scotch tape to the window sills and sashes, but realized the tape left horrible marks on the wood, which had to be painted over.

I always have candy for guests, and I've filled my green tree with chocolate bits.

Golly this looks busy when you see it from this angle.  I actually put some of the candles away that normally sit here, but it's still very busy.

I was really trying to show the tree candle holders I put out this year.

One holds a taper candle,

one a pillar.  I'm not sure you can tell I color code my accessories, but the living area has maroon accessories, while the dining area has green.  The back candles on the buffet act to tie the two areas together.

Yes, that's me taken a few years ago.  I've often said I don't want my face shown on my blog, but I decided you have seen my legs, you can see my face, too.  That's actually not a very flattering photo of me, but I guess we all feel that way, don't we?  My friend Kathy and her husband are in the background.

On my writing desk are several trees and of course, the rocking horses that live there all year long.

I got lazy and didn't move the lamp to storage this year, as I normally do.  The more I look at this, the more I dislike the arrangement.  I often used my tree on this table that sits on my dining room table this year.  It had lights up till last year, when I removed them because some had burned out.  That meant I had no need for an electrical outlet.

I didn't realize I had skipped around so much, but we are back in the dining area.  This is the only area that is always constant: the stockings.  I have no other place to put them.  This year there are four, because Squiggles got one.  I always provide an extra stocking in case someone drops by.  I fill it with a few goodies, like an orange, a candy bar, and a decorated match box filled with little tidbits.

This is the first year I've placed these trees on the sidebar.  In the past, I have used bottle brush trees or a stuffed tree I didn't bring out this year because I was too lazy to put the antique clock away.

Trees and rocking horse, rocking horses and trees.  What better way to celebrate Christmas when you have a small home?

Talk about lazy.  I didn't even remove the doily I had just found among some of my grandmother's things, but left it on the plant stand that is now holding this tree.

Of course I had to add a rocking horse to play with the bear.

Another rocking horse that's holding a tree, this one filled with some yummy scented potpourri that I purchased last month.

When I found this mini muffin tin, I knew I had to have it for the decoration, since it was not in good enough condition to be used for baking.

I like how the light plays off it.

In this view, I was trying to show my sideboard that I added a metal tree and rocking horse to the knobs.  It's a decent overall view of the living/dining area, as well as various cat toys, too.

This may help orient you, since I seem to have skipped around so much.

Although it's incredibly cold outside, the sunny day adds a touch of warmth to this room.

We're moving to the living area now, where

my grandmother's old treadle sewing machine takes center stage.   And that is NOT dirt on the baseboard, but where I have scrubbed the paint off the wood.

The tree was a gift from a wonderful friend who has since gone to heaven. 

I added the little rocking horse ornaments to the tree the year she died.


So why are these three very different objects placed together, you ask.

(Ignore my camera strap in the photo, please)  Although they are nothing alike in finish, design, or appearance,

they all hold a secret inside their trees.

Finally, it's time to go outside and view the desk that sits on my front porch.

I showed it before, but I immediately cleaned the bean pot after I showed it the first time.

And finally, the basket I reworked, as well as the other items on the desk, which include a metal lamb that originally was a cake mold, and a ceramic tree that holds some of my new potpourri.

I hope you weren't too bored, because I was delighted to welcome you into my home.  Bleubeard, Squiggles, and I have enjoyed the visit, even though I did far less decorating this year than last.  Since I'm sort of a minimalist, the trees have a tendency of take over every year, but this year I was lazy due to my hurt left shoulder and right hand.  I left way too many things I normally put away, and in some respects, I fear it looks a bit stifling.   Thanks for your comments and opinions, because they are truly appreciated.