Monthly Archives: December 2013

We’re Rollin’ for Christmas!

I am almost finished decorating the family room for Christmas…sans tree.  We do not put a tree up until the eve of Christmas Eve.    We like a “live” tree, and I don’t want to worry about a tree drying out.    But still..I don’t wanna wait until that close to Christmas to have that Chrismas-y feel!  Here’s where that pretty tree will go when it DOES arrive…right in this corner.   I can just see it…smell it!

Mendota Burley Tobacco Basket

This is a comfortable room. It used to be a garage, and we turned it into a den to try and keep the doggies out of the house for at least a portion of the time. It worked until they became too feeble to climb steps. 🙁

Den With Christmas

Do you see the little wooden truck on the hearth? This post is about that little truck and what it’s hauling. It’s full of gourds. While putting the garland up on the front porch…I thought “what the heck am I going to do with the gourds?” Last year, I had loads of them–perfectly round– and I spray painted them gold and piled them everywhere. This year, however, I just have a few gourds…all of them looking like large pears. Here they are in their fall clothing…before they got all fancy for Christmas.   They were really into fall…they even wore a monogram.

Blocks and Gourds

And they were hanging around on the porch…that’s where I found them today.

Fall Grape Cart LP With Sam

Begging not to be thrown away, they asked about a spray tan. “What?” “Yes…a spray tan…we want a spray tan like the gourds got last year!” I then realized they were talking about being spray painted gold. “Oh…sure,” I replied..”why not?”    And here they are!

Spray Painting Gourds for Christmas

And now they are ready to roll with their new look. I don’t think I can trust these flashy gourds. They’ve went out and got “lit.”

Flaming Gourds

And do you know what I hear when walk by this little truck? They giggle and say “Merry Christmas!” Really!

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Wreath Rings From Preserved Boxwood

I’m still decorating around the house using natural items and what I’ve got on hand. We live in a rural area, and there is plenty of greenery available.

I have enjoying using the preserved boxwood made last month. I don’t have to worry about it drying out. Here’s one of the wreath rings. I ran a wire through the ring and gathered the burlap fabric that is pretending to be a table runner.

Wreath on Table Runner

My wrists are hurting from twisting and turning greenery on wreaths. In year’s past, I’ve had a wreath making party and I’ll definitely do that next year. For the wreath making party, all the greenery comes here. With my making the wreaths by myself, I have to go hunting for the greenery!

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Wreaths for the Inside

I bought four wreaths at my True Love’s this morning. They were $10 each. I got them home and they were so dry–I am returning two of them. The two I’m returning were going inside my house. No way — that would be asking for a mess all of the time. Sorry True Love–I’ll be giving you your wreaths back and wanting my $20 back. I can make my own, and they’ll be fresh.

I like the mixture of greenery in wreaths. I just drove around and clipped things from my neighbors’ trees.

Wreath 1

After I took this picture, I submerged the wreaths in water. I’m letting them dry out now and tomorrow, they’ll go on the door. I’ll take a picture.

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NOEL on the Mantle

I’ve been off of here a few days. It’s good to be back. I’ve missed you!

On the Wednesday before Thanksgiving at mid-afternoon, we had a BIG SURPRISE which surrounded identify theft. Without dragging you along on all the details, we temporarily found ourselves with no money via ATM or credit card for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. Nada. It’s unweaving and being “fixed” now but it was a wake up call.

I think in the long run, it’s a good thing because Mike will finally get involved in our household budget.

So…I’m decorating the house for Christmas on a budget. I’d planned on going down to Hobby Lobby and copying this “Noel” which I found on Pinterest from Once.Daily.Chic

However, rethinking my newly non-existent budget, I went in a slightly different direction shopping our house, the woodshop, etc.   Lo and behold, I had an “E”.  The rest is the preserved boxwood wreath (read How to Preserve Boxwood in 20 Days here) I made last week and a couple of pieces of wood.

Do you like it?

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