I Spy

I am back and just about ready to get us through the rest of our 2025 Christmas tour. I have the last of the pictures still to edit but thought I would visit today and play a little game of "I spy". A few things have been tweaked or added to in places we have already visited so let's see if you can spot them.

The first is from the primary bedroom and they were there when we toured but just not so close up. I went back to these because I find myself stopping and looking at them so often. They are the little angels on either side of the smaller photos in the foreground. They are actually meant to "hang" on a candle but I didn't use the candle this year but still wanted the angels so I just slipped them around the frames. They were my moms and I remember her bringing them out every year. The one on the right must have suffered a "broken leg" somewhere over the years but she got put back together and can still sit pretty every year. Their little wings are wired, glittered fabric so, even after ALL of these years, they can still be adjusted to flutter away. Those small pictures are just a sampling of old pictures from my first Christmas and then early Christmases from both my hubby's and my early years.

And then there are two things that I simply forgot to put out this year until I spied an old photo and realized they were MIA.

The first is a picture that we bought at one of the "Festival of Trees" that we went to in Savannah. We used to try to get there every year and this particular year the artist was there signing the pictures so we just had to grab one. It's hard to get a decent picture because of where I hung it but it sure brings back so many sweet, special memories of those trips and our favorite city!

And then there is this guy...who is a favorite of mine and I'm not sure how he got forgotten.

He has never been in this spot before but since every other spot in the house was already spoken for, this is where he landed...and I love him here! I think he has found his new home...until I forget him again and then we shall see where he lands next. Lol

 So that brings you to today. I am still running behind but I don't care as all of the "heavy lifting" chores are done so now all I have left is the fun stuff-like visiting with you. We had our "Girls" Lunch on Thursday and, as always, it was a highlight of the year!

Jen came over on Wednesday and we decided on table settings and food and drink areas. Lucky for her, I have LOITS of "stuff" so she was able to mix and match to her heart's content and being the decorator that she is, she loves to do that! "Mom, no one does "matchy matchy" anymore"! Lol

We came up with this. She brought over a big box of fresh greenery so we put some in the faux centerpiece and didn't mind it sticking up too high because by then we had decided that we wanted the food all on the table so the centerpiece would be moved once it was time to sit down and eat.

Jen did most of the food as well. Our menu consisted of beef tenderloin, my broccoli/cauliflower/cranberry/pistachio/bacon salad, dilled potato salad and rolls and butter with a chocolate/peppermint cake and petit fours for dessert.

And, of course, we started the day off with a champagne toast and delicious appetizers!

We used these napkins for our appetizers. They are the same appetizer napkins that I have used every Christmas since 1987. Back then, my husband and I chaperoned a cheerleader sponsored Christmas dance and we offered to get the napkins made for the food table. Either those high school kids used their sleeves instead of napkins or we just ordered WAY TOO MANY because I still have a bundle of them left! The girls got such a kick out of seeing these and, of course, that opened up conversations about the dance, boyfriends, school, trips, our pool, and on and on and on. Lucky for me that I got ALL of the house clean and ready because those girls went through every square inch of this place and had memories of every one of them. The laughs and giggles that came from this house that day made my heart so happy!

So now I am down to baking, wrapping, watching holiday movies, etc. And, somewhere in there we will get this tour finished. I'm off now to make my lists but I will be back before you know it. Until then, stay safe and stay tuned.