Merry Christmas



 

Christmas candles lit








 

 

 

Mark the elf, a gift from Aunt Lynda 4 years ago, travels to Chicago to watch the children

 

The four "littles" ready for the Christmas pageant-a play by the grand children for the adults as a gift

 

 

 

Cole as a "horse"

 

Audrey as  Dorothy- complete with the wig

Connor dressed as his favorite dinosaur

 

 

 

 

 

the final bow

 

 

 

Addie is exhausted from the pageant

 

 

 

 

time for brunch

 

 

candles are lit

 

 

 

 

time to open presents

 

 

 

 

 

 

gilded peacock on Christmas tree

 

 

 

I think I saw Santa!!!!

 

 

 

 

Audrey singing "somewhere over the rainbow" in the Christmas pageant

 

 

 

Christmas Day is finally here!  Up early to see what Santa left- 12 people on the steps for the traditional "step" picture. Cook the brunch, drink champagne. take pictures. Say grace and give thanks for blessings of the year.  Eat Brunch, give out the checks, lottery tickets,and poppers!  Next, the big present opening!  Several trash bags of wrapping filled up!Pork shoulder in the oven.  Play with toys-  play games.  Daughter taken to airport- sad goodbyes. Ball game comes on- grand kids to bed.  Dinner is ready.  Grab a plate and help yourself- relax- snuggle by the fire. Fall asleep.  Life is good!   Merry Christmas Everyone- hope you had a merry one!   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Sights of Christmas

A glimpse of the decorations at our home

 

I love Christmas time at home.  It's all about the bows, lights and glitter!

 

the dining room buffet- ready to serve

this year we decided to go red and green in the dining room

 

 

 

antique stemware washed and ready to go on the table

still working on this centerpiece - love the new little battery operated lights-perfect for this use!

 

Santa by the stove

 

urns in the dining room filled with greens, cabbages and icy branches

 

new pillow via Etsy - suggested on Splenderosa's blog- thank you Marcia!

 

kitchen dining area- cozy and ready for breakfast

 

 

 

festive chocolate passion mini torte from the local bakery- for dinner tonight!

My son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter arrived  last night for Christmas. Today we will spend the day doing last minute shopping.  A light dusting of snow fell last night, just in time for Christmas. I still haven't finished my tree or done any mantels- but no one seems to care! Also need to finish the dining room table.  Maybe tonight????

 

 

 

 

 

Santa Delivers a New Family Room

Front Entrance to this charming vintage home

New heated stone floors, a new comfy slipcovered sectional and new leather chairs arrived in time for Christmas

Love these Aidan Grey lamps on the console behind the sofa

A collection of interesting artifacts covers the center of the mirrored console

new down pillows of cotton velvets and a great faux bois print are added to the textured linen sofa

a little bit of Asian influence in the perfect sized console for between the doors.
The tall zinc mirror emphasizes the new height of the ceiling.

Holiday Owl swag is perfect on the top for the season

find me nesting  at Romancing the Home

a big dough bowl of antlers, pine cones, moss balls and mercury balls dusted with snow

snow and little battery operated lights turn this everyday setting into a magical winter wonderland

faux amaryllis from the store really do fool the eye

oh my  - my favorite part of the room. Horns with perfectly real looking cedar garland
from Romancing the Home lit  with battery operated little white lights
over a new set of gas logs!

ready to party???

Debbie and Jim were ready for a new family room and called me to help.What started as a simple replacement of family room furniture, turned into a major re-model job.  We took the opportunity to add height to the room addition and dug out the old floor about 8 inches lower and added a heated stone floor.  The fireplace could then be converted to gas.  The entire room gained height and a better entrance to the outside terrace. Laurell worked her magic on the ceiling to create a weathered timber look.  While quite a project, the results were worth the hassle and wait.  We purchased a slipcovered sectional to be the center of the room- deep and luxurious seating- very very comfortable.  I love the quiet colors in the room. I think its the perfect setting to read, watch TV or just listen to music and watch the snow come down.  Yes- Debbie- there is a Santa Claus!

A New York Christmas

Breathtaking!

Truly shows the magic of the season

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mariterese is in New York City this week and sent me these pictures from her IPhone this morning.

I am so jealous.  These  pictures are from the windows at Bergdorfs and from ABC Carpet and Home, simply 2 of the best retailers in the country.  It is so wonderful to know that they are keeping the tradition of "over the top" Christmas decor in a day where most retailers are pulling back! Owls and peacocks - I think we are on it!    Okay girlfriends - next year's Christmas shopping get away must be a trip to this incredible city!  Thanks Mariterese for sharing these- now where can I get some wispy white feathers??????