Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Did Someone Say Christmas?

Mostly pictures in this post .... and lots of them!  I will be hosting Christmas this year - all 17 in my house...at one time.  So, it took me some time to dig through many years of decorations.  But, this has kept me quite busy!

A few years ago, I was a volunteer for a local  Senior Citizens organization - a very special lady made me this centerpiece, which graces my dining room table every year.  She has since passed.  I miss her....
My very talented Mom painted this ceramic piece for me a few years back "The Night Before Christmas"
Isn't he adorable?!
He is resting with his Mom and Dad on my formal living room coffee table.  Side note:  I have lived in this home for 11 years and no one - including me - uses this room....does anyone else have this problem?!
I LOVE candles!
My mother gave me the bisque for these ceramics - I painted them through the years - with my Mom sitting next to me!  The small one towards the bottom right, waving his right hand, my mother painted - true ceramics, as it was fired again after painting
More snowmen...there is a pattern here!
Christopher Radko - my favorites ornaments EVER...geez, another snowman!
I have several cookie trays all set up - just waiting for me to fill them (ugh...lots of baking ahead!)  Oh my, I just noticed that this is yet another snowman! Apparently, I have several addictions...
I always find time to make jewelry!  Gorgeous disc beads by Sue Kennedy (visit her shop here).
Sue's shimmer beads - I LOVE THESE!
Gorgeous lampwork by Genea - with citrine and garnets.  I made this on Monday and sold it to a lovely friend / customer today.  It was hard to part with!
I have two trees in my house.  The "white tree" is in my front hallway and holds my special ornaments, like this one.
The green tree is in my family room and has all gold, red and silver ornaments  Except these two.  This is the 3rd Christmas without my Abby.  And it will be the first Christmas without my Sam. I miss them both more than I could possibly convey.  I know they are running together - free of pain - and they visit me daily.  But, it was not easy putting these ornaments up - trust me.  There is NO LOVE like a pup.  NONE.
Thanks for bearing with me on this picture-laden post!  I love to read your comments!  Have a wonderful rest of the week!

8 comments:

  1. How i would love to visit your house! I adore the formal living room' s bears. The hand painted decorations are beautuful.

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  2. You've made me feel all Christmasy and expectant. Not an easy task this year. But it all looks beautiful and makes me want to dig out my Christmas ornaments. I laughed when you talked about your formal living room. We have a large and spacious living room and almost never use it. Instead we tuck ourselves away into the smallest room of the house where we have TV, music, reading lamps, dog beds, and a door we can close on it (hiding the mess of daily living, ya know).

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  3. Great Christmas decorations,and I love the they are so special to you. We have a two story home and use every square inch. I'd love to decorate every room for Christmas but my husband is not so keen on that idea. Bah Humbug! Thanks for sharing these special pieces with us!!!

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  4. Thank you for the jump start! I've been so busy helping my son get ready for his move to college in Oregon that I am behind. I love all your little stories about each picture. I need to get my decorations out and remember my mother.

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  5. I loved seeing all your decorations and the memories behind them. I do a lot of decorating and have memories for a lot of the things I bring out every year. Our "family" tree in our family room is full of ornaments that I've made for almost 40 years,some that were my mother's, and ornaments that people have given us. It's my favorite thing, to bring them all out and remember making them or the people who gave them to us. Thanks for sharing your Christmas!

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  6. Patti, thank you for taking us on this picture tour of your holiday home! It is just so fun and festive!! I see you have a snowman collection - so cute! I can't resist a cute snowman either. My husband and kids started decorating the house while I was in CO, but we still have to put up the big tree. We'll be gone to Harrisonburg this weekend so it looks like it will be early next week - and time will just fly by (way too fast!).
    I understand about your pup's ornaments. Last year I went through that when I unwrapped Hodgie's ornaments and it was really sad. I know it will be the same this year. But as you say, they visit daily in our thoughts and in our hearts. sigh, it is so hard.

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  7. I love all the pictures!! Thank you for sharing :) What a festive, joyful post. I love the handcrafted red centerpiece from a friend you miss, and your mom's special handpainted ceramic scene! Also, your jewelry is GORGEOUS!! Love SueBeads and Genea. I also have several Christmas trees in my home, and how I can feel for you about missing your sweet Sam and Abby, and yet being comforted in knowing they are happy and visit daily. I feel that also this Christmas. We are hoping to get an additional, very special tree this year, a live one to enjoy and then plant in honor of my daughter :)

    Thank you for your lovely post! You filled me with Holiday spirit!
    Rita

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  8. Thank you for this beautiful post on the joy of Christmas at your home! You have really captured the spirit of all our treasured memories of Christmas past as well as looking forward to Christmas this year and for years to come. I love seeing the handmade creations from your Mom! (Hi Mary!) I love seeing the cherished centerpiece and ceramics. How lovely it all is! And the beautiful jewelry is a BONUS to this post. Thanks for sharing such a lovely, Christmas post! Blessings to all there!

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