Today I decided to do some Christmas decorating. I had planned to do it in stages, so that I wouldn't get too overwhelmed. I started with the indoor decorations. I hung up a beautiful garland that a friend in Europe made for me. It's so sweet. It has little hand stitched felt ornaments, and they smell like cloves. It gives such a homespun European feel to my home. I love it.
I put out my favorite Christmas card from my friend Mark, in New York. It looks like a vintage stove, and has a tiny gingerbread man baking in the oven. I treasure it. It's so sweet and cozy looking.
I decided to hand the icicle lights around my porch. They were all still working, and it was quick and easy to do. I figured that I would finish doing the Christmas tree lights tomorrow. That involves using four strands of colored LED's, and climbing up on a ladder.
Surprise! I was on a roll. I went ahead and finished with all of the outdoor lights. I brought out the ladder and carefully hung two strands on each tree. I connected them to their extension cords, and the house is now fully decorated! It's so exciting. Have you started your decorating? It's time to sing along with Christmas carols and eat some peppermint bark. (my favorite holiday treat.) What's yours?
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I love Christmas lights. So far only one of my neighbors has decorated their house.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite thing is to drive around the neighborhood at night to see decorations.
I love doing that, too, Nil. There are three homes that are decorated on our street. It looks so bright and cheerful!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely card.
ReplyDeleteI haven't started yet, but it won't be long, I love all the glitter, sparkle and lights, just everything about it all.
So do I, Living Simply. Having the decorating done is such a relief! Now I can sit back and enjoy everything.
DeleteYes, indeed! We put our trusty plastic (I know!) tree up last weekend and have been loving the lights and all the little ornaments a bit early this year. I'm saving the door wreath and other bits like the sprayed pinecones and what not until December. I don't want to alarm the neighbours on our floor! The street decorations are already out in Sydney and our local park has its tree up as well. I for one, love it! So cheering!
ReplyDeleteYour pine cones sound pretty, Pipistrello. I love seeing the festive decorations, too.
DeletePlease be careful climbing up ladders. Keep your phone in your pocket just in case you slip..... now that's the warning out of the way.. :-) I love your little snowman wreath. It has made me think about making one so it might now be on my 'to do' list.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Cherie. I love that snowman, too. My mom gave him to me.
DeleteYour cottage will look extra pretty with it's Xmas lights, Stephenie. We will hang up our lights soon ready to turn on for the first of December. My son helps his Dad do this. Many houses in our little pocket of suburbia have lights and all the young children love to see them ... as do I. It's quite magical! Meg:)
ReplyDeleteIt is magical, Meg. Lighting really changes the feel of a place.
DeleteI love seeing Christmas lights. It makes everything look more cosy.
ReplyDeleteSo do I, Tania. I got up at 4:30 a.m. this morning and plugged in the Christmas lights. I'm snuggled under an alpaca blanket, drinking coffee by candlelight.
DeleteSo pretty! Now you can sit and enjoy your decorations. So far, I got out a couple of St Lucy decorations. Next, when the weather cooperates, my husband will put up our outside lights. Tree will go up later. I do the same thing...want to do it in stages and then just usually put it all up...lol. I do take it down in stages though as it is sad to see it over. Andrea
ReplyDeleteThanks Andrea. My mom used to take hers down in stages, too. It must be more of a challenge to put up lights in your area. I bet the snow makes it beautiful, though.
ReplyDeleteOooohh! Love Christmas decorations! No matter how simple or sophisticated, I love them!
ReplyDeleteMy parents went all out at the holidays. Not really gifts, although that was part of it, with the emphasis on giving. It was more a feeling of tradition (a few treasured family ornaments carefully stored each year), with emphasis on family and friends and welcoming and helping others. My parents revelled in the warmth of California winters, so decorating grew over the years. My ex and I continued the traditions for many years, decorating for two or three weekends, then undecorating for five or six weekends. Any idea why it takes so much longer to remove the decorations than to install them?? lol
This will be the first time in three years that my apartment will be decked out for the holidays. Last year I managed a tinsel garland and a string of clear twinkle lights on the media center. Think early 1980s, about six feet square with clean lines, thank goodness! No decorations the previous two years, as pain reigned supreme.
I'll be decorating my little patio today with ornaments made with Sunbrella fabric and fabric paint. No lights; it's a royal pain to connect them to an electrical source. Next weekend the three-foot tree will be installed on the tonsu and decorated. The jewelry tree made by my BFF for my mother has its own wall near the front entry. I love to turn on its lights when I walk in the door at night! A few more things will be hung on the walls throughout the apartment and throw pillow covers changed. It is so nice to feel good again!
It sounds wonderful,Taja. I keep mine fairly simple to put up and disassemble. I find it's easier if I'm not dreading doing it. Happy Holidays.
DeleteI was honestly contemplating not putting up very many decorations this year because neither son will be home. You would have thought I was thinking of popping off Santa Claus from all the fuss from Steve and my father. We don't do outside lights, but our suburban area does luminaries. The Boy Scouts sell the kits, deliver the sand on Christmas Eve and set up the luminaries on the main streets. Just about all houses participate by setting out the bags and lighting the candles at sunset. 1000's of cars drive up and down our streets to admire it. Anyhow-I will put up the tree and decorate the house mid-December. I always take everything down on December 26. Christmas after Christmas Day makes me sad. Your house sounds lovely! Oh-peppermint bark is just about the best thing ever. I knew we were kindred spirits!!!!
ReplyDeleteThat's funny, Anita. I think Christmas brings out the little boy in men. Wow, you take your decorations down right away. I leave mine up until New Year's Day. I remember the luminaries when I lived in Santa Fe. They were beautiful.
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