Tempus Fugit!

 I'm still trying to get the "big ticket" chores out of the way this week so I can concentrate on the decor details for the luncheon next week and then, if my plan works, have the week leading up to Christmas pretty much free except for baking cookies, wrapping gifts, etc. And, the way I'm going, I will be writing out my Christmas cards as well with a note of apology in each for once again being late. Lol

Today I set my sights on cleaning the floors in the kitchen and dining room and then putting all of my throw pillows in the dryer on "fluff" to brighten them a bit and get rid of the dust. I use Bona on my wood floors so that really only requires a good vacuuming and then spraying and scrubbing. But, since I have had so many dogs visiting of late, it also requires getting all of their hair off of the bottom of the chair and table legs as well as all of the other places it may have gotten caught and able to avoid the vacuum. It also gives me a chance to wipe down the legs of the chairs and all of the scroll work on the bar stools. And, by the time I have done all of that, moved everything out and then back in again, most of the day is shot...as well as my back. Lol I will admit that once I get the rooms stripped down this far I find myself cleaning baseboards and everything else that doesn't move. Lol Also, I never quite remember just how big my house really is until I see it empty of furniture.

I must admit that once I got everything back I was tempted to call it a day but then I caught a glimpse of the calendar and decided I had better get it together and get us into one more room of this very late tour...so, welcome to the kitchen.

I only changed up a few things in the kitchen this year. 

The Santa that I got at one of our favorite antique stores still sits in a sleigh that my mom found for me in a different antique store. It was very obviously made by a home craftsman as it has no fine detail but I love it...not only because it makes me happy to think of someone somewhere many years ago crafting this for use in their home or possibly as a gift but also because my mom found and it got it for me because she knew how much I loved things like that. And, the small Santa and bag salt and pepper shakers on the shelf were a gift from her another year and also found in an antique shop.

I changed up the embellishments on the pizza paddle this year and added one of the timered candlesticks on the shelf.

And, even though I had so many other places I could have used that "My Texas Home" tree that I was so excited to find before it sold out, I decided to use it here and I think it's a huge improvement from the live plant-that really didn't speak to Christmas at all-that has been here in the past.

I also found spots for the small bowls and cocottes that I found. I love those colors-those are the colors that say Christmas to me every time. And, another candlestick. Lol 

I added the candlesticks here as well. I figured since I already had them...

And, I went ahead and brought back the dough bowl from last year. I like that I can fit in my cookie mold, chocolate molds and all of the bee's wax Santas I made from those molds so many years ago. I also still love those candy canes that I made a few years back. I made a lot but still wish I had made more.

Here's a close up from last year-I forgot to get one today. Lol

I told you I have been buying the new "real touch" garlands when I can find them. The plan had been to get rid of some old garlands I had that were shedding more needles then they were holding on to. Except, I must have done that last year because the ones I have left are ones I bought from a designer years ago and they are still too nice to throw away. So... that meant finding even more places for garlands this year. I decided to try to area above the cabinets in here. That seemed easy enough and, if I hadn't gotten myself so excited about it, it probably wouldn't be there because it turned out anything BUT easy.

I got out the ladder and headed up. I thought I could figure out a way to attach the garland onto the crown molding but that wasn't happening. And, from the ladder apparently nothing else was as well so up I climbed on to the counter top. Now I used to do that all of the time in my younger days when I was painting or cleaning or whatever. But, these days my balance isn't as good as it once was and, let's just say that I am lucky I figured this out as quickly as I did. I really did not want to give in. I ended up balancing the most weight of the garland behind the crown and then just folding down a branch here or there. I love it but this may be the only time you see it. We will see what next year-and one more year of age-brings. Lol

So that is it for today. I'm going to try to get back tomorrow after I tackle a few more things on the list-the end is in sight. Lol Stay safe and stay tuned.

And We're Off!

 With all of the fun activities as well as the actual holiday approaching so quickly, I think we need to start our Christmas tour. It's a bit gloomy outside today so we'll skip the porch for now and start in the living room...which is a good thing because it is still the only room I've had time to photograph. Lol

I was going to try this Santa sign on the mantle in the family room this year but I just couldn't get it how I liked it-those darn white lights are still throwing me off in there-so it is back where it was last year and maybe I'll have time to figure it out next year. I guess he works here because he is right inside the front door so he announces what is to come everywhere else in the house.

As I look at this vignette, I realize how much I wish that I could throw on everything that lights up for you but, as I have said, I'm trying hard to get everything I can on timered lights and, if I threw them all on now, I would have a heck of a time getting them all back in sync when it turns dark. Suffice it to say that everything looks beautiful when all of the lights are twinkling at night.

Just a few of my favorite Christmas photos are in here while the rest are scattered throughout the rest of the house. And, just like Halloween, there are a lot! With three children and seven grandchildren, Santa pictures abound and I will place them anywhere there is an empty spot!

This area always distracts me for a few minutes because it holds so many memories. I made that wreath many, many years ago with so many of my favorite ornaments-some from my childhood tree, some from my own children's first Christmases and others made by me or gifted to me commemorating a special occasion. As I look at it I am transported back to so many wonderful times. And then below the wreath is a piece that my mother-in-law got for me on a trip she took back to her native Norway soon after my husband and I were married. She had the same one in their home for years and I must have mentioned it once to her and she remembered and gifted this one to me. And, the Santa on the right was given to me by the mother of a very dear friend because she knew how much I loved Santas. They're both gone now but what a beautiful trip I take down "Memory Lane" every year when these things come out.

I cross stitched that Santa before getting the statue but I am always in awe of how similar they are.

And now we move to the portion of the blog that shows you why I never seem to be able to stay on course and get things done and off of my to-do list. Here is how I started this space...and I loved it...I thought...until seeing these pictures. I loved the way the new picture of the book stack looked in the middle cubby-at least I liked it in person. But when I saw it here, I felt like it may be too large and I didn't like the "dead" space where the small gold frame was. Let's carefully check the "befores".

With everything else I have going, my plan really was to live with it for a bit and see. Of course....check out the "afters". Lol

Ahhh. So much better-I think. Lol I just like the larger picture on the chest filling up a bit more of that space.

And isn't that live poinsettia so pretty. In this picture it actually looks like to is made out of paper. I picked it up in Target yesterday for only $8 and it is so much prettier than the others that I bought and have outside...and paid twice as much for!

These are actually the only "plug-in" lights left in this room and if I get back to HL one more time, that might change too-although I do like the wispiness of this garland here.

So that is the living room for this year unless I tweak it a bit more. I did run a few places yesterday to pick up some fill-ins and I was able to find them but I was amazed out how many empty shelves there were in both HL and Target-at least of the things I have bought this year and for once I was happy that I was actually early in my purchases or I would not have been able to find them.

I'm off to the sunroom. I started my "heavy duty" cleaning today-mostly to get ready for the luncheon I am hosting in a week. Since I don't think there will be any puppers here between now and Christmas, the plan is for things that get cleaned this early to stay clean until then-fingers crossed. At least there won't be dog hair rolling along like tumbleweeds. Lol

I will be back soon in between the next round of cleaning chores. Until then, stay safe and stay tuned.

It's the Little Things

 So today was to be my countdown to Christmas...and it still is...sort of. Lol Today was the day that I set aside to make a calendar of everything that needs to be done/cleaned/purchased before Christmas and all of the things I have committed to for the holiday.

The day started off well. I made a very long list of all of my chores and then got them onto a calendar of to-dos for all of the days leading up to December 24. Today's list included lots of little "Monday" chores as well as to then find Christmas cookie recipes and address and mail Christmas cards. I was so proud of myself that I actually bought my cards several weeks ago but....

...as I was walking through the living room I saw the mail truck pull into my circular drive and discovered a package at my doorstep. It was an item that my tracking told me would be arriving tomorrow so I was not expecting it-which meant it wasn't on today's list. Lol But, what's a girl supposed to do? You know I threw that calendar to the wayside and tore open that package as fast as I could.

Let's go back to Black Friday. Daughter #1 told me about a place that she uses for art prints of every kind and they were having a 30% off sale that day. I had been looking for some framed Christmas art but every place I checked was sold out so I decided to take a look and, since they have SO much for all holidays and seasons it was hard for me to limit myself-but I did. I placed my order and waited.

At the time, I really had no idea where they would go so choosing sizes was difficult for me. I ended up with three 8X10s and one 11X14 because I was thinking they would probably all end up on shelves or leaning somewhere where size might play a hand. But, as I was in Home Goods the other day, I noticed a frame that held a mat for an 11X14 image but was significantly larger and I grabbed it thinking I would use it for the one larger print and maybe hang it in the living room.

 I checked it out with the print and I loved it.

This frame was so easy to use and in no time I had it ready. So, here is what I had...

And, I think he looks good there. But, since I added that gold framed tree to the shelf, I thought perhaps the new picture might fit better and so...

I think I like that better...especially since I also got this.

I'm actually thinking this might look nice in a thin gold wood frame-that I will look for tomorrow-propped up on the books in the shelf and then the smaller one can find its way down to the blanket chest. Of course this now begs the question of where Santa will go. I'm thinking the family room because that really is the room with the most Santas. We shall see.

And, I couldn't help myself...I got this one for next autumn.

And this one for Valentine's Day. And, I'm already sorry that I didn't get this one larger to frame like I did the tree. I'm guessing these won't be my last purchases from this company. They have SO many beautiful prints to choose from.

Of course this takes me back to my calendar which, after just starting this morning, is already behind! I'm off to roast up a bunch of veggies I bought the other day and by the time I get done with all of that, it will be too late to start on cards. If you're on my Christmas card list you will now better understand what happens around here and why, so often, my cards end up being New Year greetings. Lol I also didn't get any pictures taken today so our tour won't start for a few days but, I will be back. And, if I find any wonderful treasures tomorrow I will share, Until then, stay safe and stay tuned.

It's Been a Week!!

 It looks like we last visited a week ago...back when everything in my house was orange and brown and smelled of fall. I am having a hard time believing that it has been six days and I am still not done with my decor swap from Thanksgiving to Christmas. I have had a few interruptions but that isn't what has really slowed me down. I think I am consciously slowing myself down so that I can enjoy all of the season but I am also changing some things up a bit and that takes more time.

I bought a number of "real feel" garlands and branches this year to swap out with my very "tired" ones of years past. As much as I love the new ones, I have come to realize that they hang differently and it took me awhile to grasp this concept. Once I did, I just hung them as they wanted to go-mostly falling to the front-and shoved the lights in and let them fall in their own way as well. That took some time. I changed a few other things with my lighting-I'm trying to use "timered" lights wherever possible-but we can talk about that as we tour each room.

So, I snapped these pictures as I was just beginning last Monday morning. My plan had been to bring you along on my journey but then, life got in the way. I ended up with a handyman at my house pressure cleaning all of the drives, decks and brick pathways ALL day Monday-literally until dark-and then a hair appointment and some errands on Tuesday so I was already running a bit behind on my usual "hit the ground running and don't stop" kind of routine. Lol But, again as I said, I am determined to enjoy each step along the way this month and so, except for remembering to take some pictures and bring you along, I proceeded. Let the strip down begin.

I've shown you this chest many times before. It is one my husband and I got at an antique auction many, many years ago and I still love it so much. It is the most beautiful shade of green which is probably why I was drawn to it in the first place but the surprise was that it holds SO MUCH! Almost every bit of the smaller decor pieces for both the living room and kitchen fit in here. It makes decorating just a tad easier and, since I start in those two rooms, it makes me feel as if I am just rolling right along. Lol

Yesterday was marked off for the Historic Homes Holiday Tour but, because some severe weather threatened all afternoon and we were going to be on the golf cart, we decided to skip it this year. I was looking forward to it and was a bit disappointed until I realized that it gave me just the perfect amount of extra time to get EVERYTHING autumn still piled all over the place packed up and put away and now all I am down to is the elephant in the the room.

So everything is decorated except the tree and that is on the docket on this rainy day. I am going to put on some Christmas music and get going. I actually only brought out my container of "special" ornaments. My trees in the past have always needed two boxes of ornaments-one of the specials and one of just plain balls. I always started with the plain balls hung back into the tree as a good background and then the specials more out front but, again, this is my first real feel and they are different. Just by looking at it I am pretty sure it will not accommodate all of my ornaments-maybe that's why I have put it off so long. But today is the day and I am off. I will say that I have absolutely NO regrets about buying this tree. Its ease of set-up and lighting far outweigh the number of ornaments I can get on it. Honestly, if I had not set it up so quickly. I would have bought a tree turning stand-which is what I will probably do next year. I actually thought about dismantling it this year but it is heavy and I just never got that far. I think if it turns, I will be able to get all of my meaningful ornaments on and visible-but, we will have to wait until next year to see. Lol

The longest journey begins with the first step-so, I got on two of my very favorite specials-a Christopher Radko Pediatric Cancer ornament from the year my granddaughter was receiving treatment for liver cancer and a Waterford heart from my husband for our 50th anniversary which was two days after Christmas. No matter the size of my tree, those two ornaments are a must front and center. Now it's on to the rest.

And, just an observation after seeing this picture-this tree looks as close to my favorite fresh tree as I have ever seen!!

I am hoping for sunnier skies tomorrow and maybe I can get my photos and start our tour for this year. Until then, stay safe and stay tuned.