I’m in the process of turning my home into a cozy nest of Christmas-y cheer. Christmas is the bright spot in a season I could otherwise do without and I love to “deck the halls”. Here are some before and after pics of what I’ve been working on:
This table is just inside our entry way. It’s oak and belonged to my great grandmother. Here it is dressed for Autumn. The lace tablecloth was my maternal grandmother’s.
And here it is all decorated for Christmas. This is always the first thing I decorate. I love setting up the Nativity which was a gift from my aunt and uncle either our first or second Christmas. You can’t tell in the photo but the tablecloth is dark purple which looks pretty with the Advent candles.
This is my “redneck repair” of a broken angel wing. Duct tape rules!
My dad found this antique buffet at an auction and it was a Christmas gift from my parents just before I got married.
Here it is covered with another lace tablecloth that belonged to my grandmother. As the Christmas cards begin arriving, they will be displayed here.
Under the fall tablecloth and Jack Sparrow puzzle is the sweet little antique oak table that David bought for me on my 16th birthday.
And here it is in its Christmas finery, with yet another of Grandma’s lace tablecloths layered over a burgundy tablecloth.
I moved the puzzle to our coffee table. The stack of books under the bowl of fruit includes a set of books about Christmas traditions in other countries, plus the Cajun version of “The Night Before Christmas”.
And yet another table. This belonged to David’s grandmother.
I actually bought this tablecloth. It’s pretty but there is no comparison to the quality of the vintage ones.
Chris and I have been watching “Home Alone” while assembling the tree and stringing the lights all afternoon. David has always done this part and I never fully appreciated what a pain it is. Literally. My hands are burning and itching. But it’s almost done and then I’ll decorate it tomorrow. After we eat dinner we will turn off all but the Christmas lights and watch “It’s a Wonderful Life”, our annual tradition. It’s my favorite Christmas movie and it never fails to get me in the Christmas spirit.
What is your favorite Christmas movie? Any special holiday traditions you’d like to share? I love hearing about other people’s traditions.
So you have the same itchy problem with fake trees? I get a terrible rash and itch and burn after putting ours up as well. And yes fluffing the tree and putting the lights on are the worse parts. I like putting the ornaments on but the other is a pain.
I told your dad not to get any ideas about me doing that part again. 😉 I do always "fluff" the branches for him but somehow putting the lights on caused the backs of my hands to come into contact with the branches more.
Today I will start decorating it. That's the part I like. 🙂
you have such a charming place here, it was such a pleasure reading your posts 🙂 Congrats. Lovely photos 🙂