~Dashing Through the Snow~

  

Front Porch

&

Winter Garden

 

 Hearth Room View

~Linked to Mary’s Mosaic Monday~

 

This Nativity scene music box plays O’ Little Town of Bethlehem.

   For Christmas and winter, I switched from the cream duvet cover to the red cover and shams.

  

This is my last regular post, until after Christmas.

Merry Christmas, from our family to yours!

Pat, J and Molly, too!

~Christmas in the Kitchen~

In the meadow we will build a snowman.

Instead of ribbons I’m using raffia, for gift wrapping, this year.  I didn’t have enough in my supply, so I needed to stop by Michael’s, last week.

I saw the snowman, in October, when he was first placed on the shelves at the front of the store.  It was love at first sight, but I resisted the temptation to invite him home.

I saw the snowman again, as I was checking out with my raffia and a couple of other things, because we all know you can’t pop in at Michael’s for just one thing!

He was sitting on the floor, wearing his original tag.  I spied a 50% off sign.  With hope in my heart, I asked if he was included in the sale. Yes, he was.  Without hesitation, I scooped him up and brought him home, where he found a new home on the little chest, at the end of the kitchen island.  It was meant to be!

A Christmas Story~1983

 Cleveland Elementary School, in the foreground and Ralphie’s house, under the cloche.

 

  

 

 

Breakfast for Two

Dinner plate, Lenox Holiday, mug, Lenox Holiday Tartan, salad plate, Certified International Florentine.  The napkin is vintage. Stemware is Mikasa.

I purchased four of the snowman stockings when I stopped at Michael’s to pick up the raffia.  The placemats are about 20 years old, a gift from eldest daughter.  I have them turned on the reverse side, for this setting. There is a blue house on the top side.

The houses on top of the refrigerator and two snow figures are Jim Shore~Heartwood Creek.

The snow figures and winter scenes will remain in the kitchen and breakfast room through February.

Christmas morning brunch will be served from the kitchen island.  I’m still working on the menu that will include fresh fruit and veggies, bagels, biscuits and a casserole, among other things.

Answer

Christmas at the White House, mentioned HERE, is a beautiful new book available from Fife and Drum Press. Click the book title for information.

I’m linking this post to Tablescape Thursday.

The Inspired Room Holiday Linky Friday.

Deck the Halls Tuesday

(December 22)

Merry Christmas!

~Country Christmas~

It’s time for Rhoda’s Home for the Holidays tour of homes.  Stop by, Thursday December 10th, to see beautifully decorated holiday homes.

  

 The Christmas pony was found at a garage sale last summer. 

When I decided to do a country Christmas, in the hearth room, I thought of the pony.  He fits in perfectly.

I posted the photo at the Back Porch, Monday evening, and turned off the comments.

It wasn’t long until the phone rang. It was 2nd oldest daughter, who recently moved  with her family to Kansas City. 

This is the first time she’s lived away from the home area since college.  That was just up the road at Kirksville.

She saw the post and wanted to know why there wasn’t a story to go with the photo!

No story, just old timey photo effects to go with our country hearth room Christmas.

  

We didn’t decorate as many trees as we usually do.

All the unused ball ornaments are on this tree, along with a few blown glass ornaments.

We are truly enjoying the colorful tree. 

 

 I purchased this Father Christmas at a home tour and open house, during the early 1990’s.

I made this Father Christmas around the same time I bought the smaller one.

 

 The farmhouse table is set, for breakfast, with odds and ends and this and that.

   

 Pinecone flatware from Bass Pro Shop.

 

 The Christmas plates, are Sakura Holiday Greens.  I don’t remember where they were purchased.

  

 

 

Joy is the middle name of this sweet girl. 

Molly has brought joy to our family since Christmas 2002.

The hearth room wing chairs are hers.  She lets us borrow them once in awhile.

 

 Thanks, so much, for your well wishes.  I am feeling much better than I did, last Friday, when I wrote Christmas at Kringles.  I still have a cough.  From what I understand, this may stay with me awhile. 

We have temperatures in the teens (F) today, with a pretty cold wind chill factor. I cancelled an appointment and will stay in, until later in the week.

I want to be healthy for the annual house tour, in our town, this weekend.  The last time I missed it was four years ago, when J had his appendix out, the night before.

This year, the home of a friend and fellow blogger is part of the tour.

I also want to thank you for your wonderful response to my tablescape.

I have a few more Christmas decorating posts planned.  Next…the kitchen.

I am also linking this post to Susan’s Tablescape Thursday.

Melissa’s Holiday Linky Friday.

The Nester’s Christmas Tour of Homes

Julia’s Hooked on Holidays House Tours