Sunday, December 12, 2010

Christmas Preparations

     This year, we decorate for Christmas in a new house, figuring out where and how everything is going to go. I have been so excited for this season to truly begin. It feels like it's been a long time coming...the celebratory spirit, anticipation, music.
     Because of allergies, we finally bought an articficial tree (I know, gasp!). We usually are gifted one by my granddad's Christmas Tree Farm. Each year we went to choose it around the time of Thanksgiving. Since we bought the artificial one...which is actually very pretty and is embellished with pine cones, we decided to get a small live one from Granddad to plant and decorate year after year. We have even already named it, hoping that it will go down in perpetuity as reminding us (and in later years, family additions) of our heritage. It will be our Legacy Tree!
       The tree that we just bought is huge! It's a nine-footer. And, since it doesn't have memory wire, it takes a lot of fluffing. (Working in the silks department at a florist's taught me how to do this very well.) 


This is a non-fluffled branch...

So much better after we've done our work.
 

 
    We took a Sunday afternoon to bake up some delicious delicacies (perhaps there will be recipes forthcoming) and decorate it. Parts of the house have already been livened up. Because we don't have a mantel over the fireplace, we're trying the stockings close to the entryway.
    We set up our Christmas village in the old fish tank..the effect is beautiful. I think the look is *just right* for the style of our house.    
  

All our years of planning to actually put fish in there have not yet come to fruition; in the meantime, it serves as a seasonal decorating venue.
     Our antique piano has been graced with poinsettas and white "twinkle" lights. Very romantic.   




 
     The best stockings I've ever seen and made with love by Mom. The hangers come from Target and are part of a very cute collection.   
   













   
     Finally, we wound garlands with bows around the front porch railing and columns. I enjoy the simple elegance of this place.