Christmas Around the House

I'm posting a few pics of our Christmas decorations this year, as a reminder for future years. I've enjoyed being able to look back and see what worked -- and what did not! The baker's rack in the breakfast area is always fun to decorate.  I usually like a whimsical theme for this area, and this one includes polka dots and candy -- sure to be the favorite of my grandchildren when they arrive. 

This year I copied an idea seen on Pinterest for using small  houses, figures, and trees to create a mini Christmas village in my covered trifle bowl.

Here's a closer look:

This counted cross-stitch piece is old, but I still embrace the sentiment.  We are blessed to have both our children and their families with us this Christmas, as well as my 91 year old father-in-law!

Moving on to the living room, I used my late mother-in-law's Father Christmas collection on the bookshelves.  Last year, my sister found the little plates featuring Father Christmas at Kroger and sent them to me, and I think they are the perfect complement to all the figurines.

The mantel I kept simple, adding candy-striped candles and berry candle rings and tying ribbon around the topiaries.  Since taking this photo, my husband surprised me with a large lighted faux boxwood wreath, so we replaced the bluebonnet painting with the wreath.

I set up another mini Christmas village on a side table, using the tray from my silver service as a base.  This was a fun way to "play" without setting up a whole village.

The photo below appeared in my previous post, but I'm including it here, too.  I've had the horn candlesticks for eons, and I made the peppermint topiary several years ago.  The Norfolk Island pine spends most of the year outdoors, but it's inside for the winter, so is decorated with a few red bows.

Thank you for stopping by!  I hope everyone has a lovely Christmas with friends and family!

Red and White Christmas Table

Welcome to my house!  Here in the entryway, we have a peppermint theme going on.  I made the peppermint topiary several  years ago, and I still enjoy it.  In the mirror you can get a glimpse of the simple red and white table set for December meals.

My inspiration for the table came from a Martha Stewart image I pinned, although my table doesn't really look at all like the original one.  I like the simplicity of the table, as well as the red and white color scheme.  I also love this china pattern and would probably choose it if I were a bride today!

I knew I wanted to use the red linen table runner and the faux white amaryllis for a table that could be used throughout December.  Plain white plates and the candy cane striped napkins continue the theme from the entryway, and my Georgian Ruby glasses add a little more red.  The table looked a little too plain, though, even for minimalist me!

Then I remembered these little tidbit plates I found a few years ago in the after-Christmas sale at the Crate and Barrel outlet.  Better!

Here's a closer look at these cute reindeer plates.
Here's a look at the table.  As we get closer to Christmas, I will replace the faux flowers with either real white amaryllis or lilies.  I will also add some votives for evening meals.  I like the combination of tall flowers with low candles.


I will be linking to Cuisine Kathleen's Let's Dish this week.  Be sure to visit her to see other copycat tables!

You Know It's December

When your husband brings home the long-awaited Haagen-Dazs peppermint bark ice cream!  Our Sam's had it this year.  If you haven't tried it, you are really missing something!

On the Day Before December

Just in time for December, the Advent calendar is ready for the countdown to Christmas. 

This calendar is a beloved tradition in our family.  My mother made it from felt, decorating the tree and holly with miniature red glass ornaments at least 30 years ago.  Here's an old photo I found of our daughter with it on Christmas Eve in 1982.

Each pocket holds candy -- traditionally miniature candy canes or Reese's cups. Our daughter, and later our son, were delighted to learn that they were allowed to remove candy each morning and eat it, even before breakfast! The year my son was almost three, I remember explaining how the tradition worked, concluding, "And when all the candy is gone, Christmas will be here!"  He looked at me excitedly and said, "Let's eat it all NOW!"  Another year, we left the children with a babysitter one evening, and when we returned, I noticed that a few extra candies were missing.  When questioned the next morning, our son replied sheepishly, "Well, in the night...I got hungry."

Here's a closer look.

I continued the tradition by making an Advent calendar exactly like this one for our grandchildren.  I wonder if theirs is ready to go for tomorrow?

Thanks for visiting!

White Christmas

Kathleen of Cuisine Kathleen is hosting a White Christmas/Winter White party this week, so I did my best to set a table with only off-white, silver, and greenery.  If you've visited any of my tablescapes before, you know that I really like a lot of color, but this was a good challenge for me.  Be sure to visit Kathleen this week to see other White Christmas participants' tables!

I started with a textured pale ecru tablecloth and my Lenox Windsong, which has a subtle pattern and a platinum rim, and my silver, Lunt Belvedere.

To complete the setting, I added the matching napkins, tied with a sheer silver ribbon, and my crystal, Lenox Moonspun, a pattern several others in the tablescaping tribe also have.  I know that Debbie of Words on Wheels, Laurie of Bargain Hunting and Chatting with Laurie, and Sue at I Need Mom! all  have Moonspun.  I'd love to know if any others have it!

Each placesetting also includes a sparkly silver tree as a placecard holder.  Here's a closeup of one of them. I also have them in sparkly green.  I think I bought them at Fifth Season in Little Rock a few years ago.

For a simple centerpiece, I started with a pretty silver sandwich tray that belonged to my in-laws and added three cream pillar candles, clippings cut from the bottom of our Christmas tree, and some silver ornaments. Here's a bird's eye view.

The sandwich tray has very unusual claw feet!  I like this shot with the spiral shadow from one of the placecard holders.

Here's a view of the whole table, set for six.  I'll expand the table for Christmas, when we'll have eight family members -- and four generations -- around the table.

In this view, you can see the sideboard, with the blue and silver that I'm using in the dining room this year.  My son is getting married soon after Christmas, on our 38th wedding anniversary, and the wedding colors are blue and silver.  "Presbyterian hymnal blue," to be specific!  That's the color the bridesmaids will be wearing, so they'll coordinate with the hymnals in our church!

For the first time, I was able to capture some "blue hour" photos of the table, with the candles lit and Christmas tree lights glowing.

The slim tree also belonged to my in-laws, and my father-in-law was pleased to see it in our front window this year.  It is also decorated with blue and silver ornaments and ribbon.  Our larger tree is in the living room, but it's fun to have one in the dining room this year.

Finally, here's the host's view by candlelight.

Thank you for visiting my table this week!  I am also linking to Susan's Between Naps on the Porch, so be sure to check out other tablescapes there starting Wednesday night!