Pages

Monday, November 30, 2009

Decking the Halls

I have been pretty busy the past few days decorating for Christmas! Oh how I love Christmas! I love all Christmas movies, Christmas lights, Christmas candies....all of the festive holiday spirit. I go all out at Christmas! Things didn't go quite as planned this year! The bow that I have to put on top of the tree was a wee bit bent out of shape! It is the same material as the ribbon I have running through the tree. I steamed it, flat ironed it and tugged at it....but it just didn't want to straighten up. So I had to improvise until I can get something else to stick up there. I had those little glittery sticks, so I used them for the time being. I need to buy more stickies, and find something for the topper. My tree also has scoliosis. It seems to get worse every year. This year it is tied to the wall with fishing line! LOL!!! Gotta do what works! I have a huge collection of crosses that I hang on the tree. I also collect ornaments from places I have visited. You can see the Paris ornament at the bottom right. I purchased this ornament at the Eiffel Tower about an hour before I fell down it and broke my tailbone! I have several Hawaiin themed ornaments, since we were married in Hawaii. I also have a New York ornament that I couldn't find when I was snapping photos, then I realize one of my furry friends had knocked it off! The Hunter also has a tree. It is the hunting themed tree. I love this tree. I hope one day I will have a bigger house and I can make it a full size tree. Notice the owl at the top? The owl symbolizes the owl that flew into my head and knocked me out! My Christmas trees tell a story!
Some of the ornaments I use on the hunting tree
I gathered Magnolia and Holly leaves from the hunting camp and made several decorations. This is one of them. I made a centerpiece for my coffee table. I used a piece of cardboard that is about 6" wide by 24" long. I glued magnolia leaves to it, then placed the candle holders, and filled in with holly.
This was my mom's Nativity Scene. She painted it when she and my aunt took ceramics. I have no idea why she got rid of it, but I am glad she did. It is very sentimental to me. Know If I can just keep Kiki from pawing at baby Jesus!
I love garland! Anywhere I can stick a piece of garland, I am happy! This is the entryway into the kitchen/living rooms. I totally re-do my mantle at Christmas. When I put up the mantle garland I plugged the lights in to make sure they worked. The next day I plugged them in and left them on for about 2 hours before I decorated it. Not 10 minutes after I completed it, the lights on one end went out! Go figure! I know ya'll are totally jealous of my turkey picture over the mantle! Sigh....It was a losing battle. I had a nice print that I bought in Paris over the mantle, but The Hunter wanted a turkey (its his house too is what he says) so there you have it!
I bought this glass container (I know there is a proper term for it...but I can't think of it right now), then other day while I was out with my mom shopping. I added some moss, and then part of a Nativity Scene I had. I also used ornaments on the candle holders for extra pizazz! I added some holly and magnolia leaves to the base.
Up close of my new "container"
I have a Southern Miss santa as well....since that is where I graduated from. My brother has an Auburn one
If you haven't noticed already...I LOOOOOOVE nutcrackers! LOVE THEM! I get one every Christmas from my mom. We went to New York a few years back, and our hotel lobby had a HUGE nutcracker in it (see the photo on my header). I fell in love with it. From that point forward I became obsessed with finding a life size nutcracker. I found the exact same one our hotel had online, but it was $2700.00! After Christmas my mom came across this one on clearance at a local store. I loved him, so he came home with me! Isn't he great! He needs some company though!
Most of my nutcrackers reflect things that I love, or places I have been. I am on the lookout for a hunter, a gardener and a princess! It is pretty male dominated up on the mantle so far!
Besides my life size nutcracker....the purple nutcracker with the bow is my favorite. I don't collect the name brand nutcrackers....I like them all!
Especially him!
Tomorrow we will check out the kitchen, and then we will head on outside!

21 comments:

Tootsie said...

Oh girl!!! you have outdone yourself! I haven't done a thing with mine yet...after the weekend maybe...I love all your little stories that go along with your decor...it looks wonderful!

Darla said...

You have been a busy little princess haven't you? Looking good. I haven't drug the first thing upstairs yet!!

Autumn Belle said...

Wow, I really enjoy visiting your blog today. It's like Christmas is heare already. How beautiful!

Erin @ The Impatient Gardener said...

Oh wow, you really do go all out. Everything is gorgeous. I particularly love the centerpiece. How festive!

Peggy said...

Hi from Ireland,I could not even contemplate putting up the decorations so soon!Here the 8th of December is a big religious holiday and that is when we usually put up the decorations although I have seen some lighted houses already. The shops and city lights are up since last week and Santa will be arriving in all of the stores by this saturday!

Susie said...

Well you have obviously been very busy. Your home looks so festive. We collect ornaments from places we visit too and my mil collects nutcrackers. She has a lot of neat ones too.

Dirt Princess said...

Autumn Belle thanks! I know each country does things different, so I am excited to see how everyone will celebrate the holiday season, and how we all decorate.

Peggy, I know what you mean. I know it may seem early here, but I am behind compared to most. The shopping malls are generally decorated after Halloween (Oct 31). Most people have their homes decorated by Thanksgiving. I however, don't particularly like that. I like to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family. I always decorate the Friday after Thanksgiving.

Erin thank you so much. I love it as well! Just a few leaves, and add some candles and you have a centerpiece!

Darla it is a lot of work! Usually when I am decorating, I question my sanity! But in the end I love it.

Susie you will have to take some pics of your MIL's nutcrackers for me!

Tootsie thanks!

Becca's Dirt said...

I am so impressed. It looks so beautiful DP and so festive. You are just so creative. You inspire me.

Lou Cinda @ Tattered Hydrangeas said...

Everything looks so beautiful!! I love the magnolia and holly centerpiece with the candles!

Love the nutcrackers!!

Lou Cinda :)

Cathy S. said...

Very impressive! Love the candles with the magnolia leaves.



-Cathy

Lona said...

DP you have a wonderful Nutcraker collection. And what a big one too.
Your themed tree is just terrific. Is there a rattlesnake on it ;-)

You are all set and sparkling for the season. I have got to get started.

Your magnolia leaf arrangement is just so pretty.

You are really getting me in the mood to decorate.

Blue Creek Home said...

Let me just say that you did all of us Southern, nappy haired, folks proud with your festive Christmas decorations! It is all just so cheery and bright!
Love the hunters tree too!
Rhonda

Catherine@AGardenerinProgress said...

You really do go all out, and it looks great! I love all the color you use, not just the usual colors of Christmas. We're getting our tree this weekend and I'm getting anxious to see it all decorated. I'm crazy for Snowmen and buy a couple of new ones each year.

Vetsy said...

Dirt Princess, the decorations for the Hunters tree is unique and whimsical..I like to see different themes on a tree it is so much fun to do! Every once In a while I try to change up the decorations I use.

I haven't put up my tree yet, I know you had lots fun putting up yours.

Hey..thanks for stopping by my blog.

Ellie Mae's Cottage said...

Gorgeous! I love the mantel with all of those nutcrackers. There is so much to see everywhere. A tree with scoliosis? You are too funny!

Stephanie said...

DP, love that garland at the entreway very much! Looking at your photos and decors, I feel Christmas already. Hope you will find something suitable for your topper soon. Btw, I have posted a picture of the seeds & card that I received from you in my earlier post. Someone said your seed packet is cute ;-)

Dirt Princess said...

Becca thank you so much!

Lou Cinda they were so easy to make! All you need are some trues and a hot glue gun!

Cathy wait to you see the arrangments I made for the outside!

HHG...LOL!!! No but I need to add that to the hunting tree!

Rhonda too funny! I am Southern through and through! When people from Mississippi ask you where you are from...you know you got it bad!

Catherine I have been drawn to snowmen in my kitchen. Seems that I have a lot of them, and I didn't do it on purpose. Strange. I like different things.

Vetsy thanks! I love that tree. i would love to have room for a full size tree. Then I could REALLY go all out! I enjoyed visiting. I will be back!

Ellie Mae....sigh...that tree! It has a mind of its own!


Stephanie Thank you! I actually found something today for my topper! I just have to get my mom to help me with it. I also recieved your package! I LOVE the card! I am so excited to plant my white zinnias! :-)

Serena Bates said...

My goodness I am most impressed. So far we have done the tree more will follow but this is impressive!

Stephanie said...

That's great! Thanks for your Zinnia too. Once I have the space I would plant them. I have sown the hibiscus seeds ;-D

Happy gardening and decorating your home. I can see that your home is looking better and better each day.

Derek said...

Wow, you've done a lot of work! Looks great! And that glass container you have is called an apothecary jar.

Hope ya'll have a Merry Christmas!

Danielles Garden said...

oooohhh. I have that same large nutcracker. He is beautiful. I am happy to see how someone else uses him in a Christmas scene. My guy is in the garage. You can see him here.
http://copelandchristmas.blogspot.com/2009/11/copeland-christmas-garage-is-nearly.html

Please sign my guest book :)

Blotanical

Blotanical

Translate

My Blog List

My Blog List