Decking The Halls

If you're looking for this week's Hodgepodge questions you'll find them here. Today's post is linked with Talking About It Tuesday, hosted by Joanne. 

I like to post a few pictures of our holiday decorations each year a) because it makes me happy, and b) it's a point of reference for next Christmas when I'm wondering where the fat red Santa sat or which ornaments were on my range hood.

We said we were doing less in terms of decorating this year because, while it is our year to have the girls and their families for Christmas, my oldest is still across the pond and my youngest has a baby so we said we'd come to her. 

And I guess we've done less, but we haven't done nothing at all either. Typically we have more than one decorated tree and I've kept it to just one this year. Wait! two...but only one is decorated. The other tree is on the dock and hubs just puts lights on that one which is fun to see from both the water and the house.  

Wait...we have three trees, or maybe 2.5 is more accurate. We always have a little tree on the bar and it does have ornaments on it so I guess that counts but that's it. 

There is also a teeny tiny tree in my powder room but I don't think that counts even though it's cute. 

We did not put a tree on the screened porch like we normally do, nor did we put a big tree in the pool table room so I guess you could say we simplified.  A little. 

I always like to decorate my mantles because they make the house feel Christmasy. Just seven short years ago this was our mantle-

And here we are in 2024-

Love grows y'all. 

My fireplace is two sided and the keeping room mantle is all Santa. Except for the Nutcracker standing guard, but other than that all Santa. 

I like my kitchen to feel festive and we debated whether or not we'd put up the wreaths this year, but in the end we said yes because who doesn't love a kitchen decked out for Christmas? 

It's hard to take pictures in my house. There are so many windows and also I'm not very good at it with my crummy phone camera, but mostly I blame all the glass. 

We have a big piece of furniture in our entry and we put lights and garland on top then hang ribbon down the side to hang any photo Christmas cards we receive. One of my favorite things. 

My king's guard always gets a bow this time of year. I know it's not part of the official uniform, but we make an exception at Christmas. 

I've had my nativity set since our very first married Christmas. The original Joseph broke many years ago and I found a stand in with a slight pituitary problem, but it works. I love getting this out every year. 

Are you sentimental about the ornaments on your tree, or is yours more a 'designer' tree? Mine is definitely heavy on the sentiment, which is how I like it. My favorite British taxi, specially made by the artist for the women's club I was part of when I lived in England. He put our club initials on the license plate. I always hang the taxi near Big Ben which is another favorite. 

The year the Queen passed away I got this one for each of my girls and one for the hubs too. 

This is the kiddie korner...ornaments my girls made in kindergarten-

And now there are ornaments those once-upon-a-time kindergartners own small children have made for us, the grandparents-

I sit in a chair beside the tree in the early morning hours and like to read my Bible there. Seeing all these grouped together reminds me to pray for each precious child, the littles and the bigs. 

Daughter2 gave me this one last year because she knows me. I enjoy choosing a new ornament for everyone each year and that's always part of your Christmas stocking. I try to find something related to that particular year, a favorite hobby, a geographic location that is meaningful, a pet, etc. It's personal in some way and is one of my favorite things to buy each year. 

Wishing you a Christmas that's merry and bright!