Saturday, January 02, 2010

Peace and Joy


From Christmas 2010

Claire and I couldn't get our peace sign right.  We tried it in different places around the house but it never quite worked.  So we gave up and hung it on the chandelier where the letters continually twisted and turned and it never really spelled much of anything, except for this one and only moment that the word "peace" was readable.


From Christmas 2010

Our decorating this year was minimalist.  At least our version of minimalist.  This was due to the late arrival of my helper elves, and all the different distractions that kept them from their decorating duties.  Anyway, we all ended up liking the way it all turned out.  Outside we draped a couple of fresh garlands over the timbers on the garage (above) and over the porch trellis (below).  We have some white lights around the columns and trellis and that seemed to be enough.


From Christmas 2010

The red came from the entryway.  A red poinsettia, red kissing ball, red bell garland on the door, and red on the flag which has rested there since the 4th of July and has become a familiar and welcome site.


From Christmas 2010

Inside the front door we hung natural looking ornaments, which replaced the brown bells which Emily thought looked like reindeer poop.


From Christmas 2010

I love this fake square wreath from Crate & Barrel.  The dove is something that remained from our Christmas card of many years ago where we posed as a magician family, with Rob sawing Claire in two.  Yet another Hummel Christmas card that doesn't have much to do with Christmas.


From Christmas 2010

I just love this scene below, with just a hint of decoration.


From Christmas 2010

Claire and Emily did the mantle, using another fresh garland and pine cones and berries and giant fake candles and things like that.  My "gnome Santa" (left) and little birdie (right) seemed to fit right in with the woodland scene.


From Christmas 2010


From Christmas 2010


From Christmas 2010

The girls decorated the tree with a third of the usual ornaments, but it was a thick tree and I'm not sure if it could take any more than that.


From Christmas 2010

The bear ornament was a gift from one of our Sunday School students, John.


From Christmas 2010

Our deer is still wearing the ornaments he was wearing from last year, which was a convenient way for me to avoid tall ladders.


From Christmas 2010

Em and Claire put these old-looking ornaments (actually from Restoration Hardware and Crate and Barrel) with pine cones and berries, on top of the table runner that Emily wove for herself a few years ago (but I like so much I won't give it up).


From Christmas 2010

The back yard was decorated with oranges.  This is the view from our bedroom window, and one of the few things that gets me out of bed in the morning this time of year.


From Christmas 2010

The ornament is a size reference for the oranges.  The oranges are monstrously huge.


From Christmas 2010

And last but not least is a gift given to me many moons ago by my friend, Joanie.  It hangs in the house year round as a reminder of what's important during Christmas and every other day of the year.


From Christmas 2010

2 comments:

emily said...

I'd just like to point out that the tablescape was all me - from the weaving to the giant ornaments ;)

Love the pictures and love you!

E.

Unknown said...

I want to come to Christmas at your house... it all looks so lovely. Please post a retrospective of Hummel Xmas cards through the years... there are so many great ones I remember! This year's is fabulous... Amelia quickly pointed out "Pirates of the Caribbean!"