A few seasonal decorations as I'm not big on creating a Christmas Store look. I like the house to look festive but homey and warm and a reflection of us.
The stockings are all hung by the chimney with care. I handmade all of them, starting with Kyle's when he was a baby. Camille's stocking was the most time consuming -- counted cross stitch on linen with a VERY intricate pattern. She didn't think much of it when she was little (Kyle's had sequins which was way better in her mind). She loves it now. Brett's was a lot of fun -- I used fun threads (silk, metallic, wool) and fun stitches. Mine, well, I like the theme but the colors and overall composition don't do it for me. I keep saying I will make myself another one but now that we have Aspen Meadows (and I've discovered blogging), I just don't have the time or inclination.
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| It was fun making Santa's fuzzy beard, the curtain tassels and using all sorts of beads. |
There are a gifts under the tree.
A basket with Christmas cards received sits by the front door. The card on top is from Brett's daughter, Jen, and her family. Both of his daughters are beautiful, with beautiful families. We wish they weren't so far away (Seattle area and south of Denver) so we could spend more time with the grandchildren.
I've started my Christmas baking -- Brett's favorite cookie (gingersnaps) and mine (my Grandmother's recipe for sugar cookies). When the kids were still at home, we would do cut-out cookies of Santa, snowmen, bells, and Christmas trees with elaborate decorations. On my own, I just do circles. Bah humbug.
The thing that I enjoy most about Christmas, and that I miss, is the liturgical richness of the season at church. I love Advent; the music, the colors, the focus. We live over an hour from the closest church so we don't go anymore. And, to be honest, I have some issues with my Church right now. I love my faith, but not my church.
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| On one side of the hearth, Mary, Joseph and a shepherd adore baby Jesus. |
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| On the other side, the wise men are making their journey. |
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| And inbetween, the wood stove gives us warmth. |
Perfectly lovely!
ReplyDeleteI am wondering if Santa will bring me a pony this year, I've been patiently waiting for 50 years....
Thanks for sharing your holiday world. Your cross stitching is beautiful and just amazing! I cross stitch so I know what a labor of love those must have been. It would take me years to do one of them!
ReplyDeleteToo bad about church being so far away. I'm sure God understands. It's all about your personal heart and soul, after all.
thank you, dear annette! same to you!
ReplyDeletethose stockings are beautiful. the cross-stitch ones would have driven me to drink! :)
Beautiful pictures of your decorations. I especially enjoyed the stockings, and the nativity. It looks to be quite large.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you and yours. :)
I love a homey feel of Christmas and you certainly have created it in your home. I enjoyed this post very much. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE your nativity set........you can come and decorate for me any time!
ReplyDeleteVery nice. The cross stitch stockings are beautiful. :)
ReplyDeleteAh, Annette,you sure are a lady of many talents! Your place looks so homely and cozy!
ReplyDeleteYour Cross Stitched Stockings are beautiful! I have had patterns for years..I applaud you on your commitment to do three of them. I also like the way you wrapped your packages with big bows! :)
ReplyDeleteI have that same pattern for a stocking you made for Camille and have been thinking of making it, but now i have a horsey one and I dont want to do that much work either.
ReplyDeleteI love your decorating, looks very Christmasy and cozy. I too was thinking i was missing the Christmas Plays cause we live a long ways from a Church to so we dont go anymore either.
What wonderful Christmas displays you have. I love the stockings (Camille's in particular). I've been looking for a great nativity scene to remind my boy of the true meaning of Christmas. I LOVE yours!!
ReplyDeleteYou sure did a beautiful job on the Christmas stockings....a lot of effort. Your decorations are a perfect reflection of the warmth you have generated with your pictures and words. Enjoy the season! All the best to you and Brett...and the ponies, donkeys, goaties, dogs, kitties and chickens...almost forgot the bunny(ies).
ReplyDeleteThose stockings are just amazing, and your home looks lovely.
ReplyDeleteGosh so many lovely memories in those photos. I sure enjoyed them and I too made ONE of those cross-stitch stockings. OMG - so time consuming and yours all turned out absolutely lovely! I can't pick a favorite photo in the bunch though I so loved them all.
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