Thursday, December 13, 2012

A Few of my Favorite Things...

The fire cleanup crew finished up yesterday.  They were in our home for 2 weeks.  TWO weeks!  During the time I use to decorate the house for Christmas.  ::whew::  Can you say "added stress" to an already busy time?  :-)  But they were lovely people, and did an amazing job.  They re-painted the ceilings and walls of:  Our kitchen, dining room, living room, family room, the hallway, our bedroom, master bath the guest bath, up the stairway, and the hall upstairs.  The cleaning lady part of the team scrubbed our kitchen cabinets and took everything out of them, cleaned INSIDE of them, cleaned the items and put them back!  She vacuumed the whole house, even under our bed, and cleaned our bathroom. We were very impressed.  
Our mantel is decorated now.  Santa and his team of reindeer are flying across it.. stockings are hung with care.  I crocheted the two knitted looking ones.  I made the patchwork one, too.  Things are looking bright!
The tree below is one of my favorite things.. my daughter-in-law Kristi made this beaded tree for me and picked out all the little miniature things out that are under the tree.  
Notice the Scrabble game in progress?  I love Scrabble!  I play it on Facebook a lot.  The lever on the package turns on the twinkling lights on the tree! :-) 
We got the Dickens Christmas Village set up on the baby grand piano, and the skating rink is going.  The grandkids are fascinated by the skaters that go around and round. 
The twirl around, having so much fun! :-) 
A year or so ago I got this Swarovski crystal ornament and hung it in the center of our wreath. 
Jim Shore Santa.. he makes the coolest stuff! 
My small collection of 4 vintage cherubs from Italy made by Fontanini.  And my porcelatin ornaments with shell motifs by Margaret Furlong.  And my own crocheted hearts.  I have written up a pattern for them - free - click on my side bar to get it. 
I had to get this glass barn ornament.. it reminds me of ours, there is even a tractor on the side of it. 
I crocheted this little stocking ornament, this one for Dayle, and I've made one for each of my kids, kids-in-law, and grandkids.  But I can't find the one I made for me! 
A Jim Shore ornament.. patriotic. 
This is a train lantern ornament I got to support a fund raising effort to build some barns for the historic steam engines that a local group has restored.
I just opened the box of these neat hand made vintage inspired snow globes - I want to put them in my family antique Hoosier cabinet.  These are made by a blogger and Etsy seller named Judy Clark - to visit her shop, click HERE
I snapped this photo of my cat Lucy, she actually spends a lot of time curled up on our pellet stove!  Isn't she cute?
I am about ready to head off to Multnomah Falls to volunteer.  I hope you're having a nice week.

❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉
*M*E*R*R*Y* *C*H*R*I*S*T*M*A*S*!*
❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ 
((hugs)), Teresa :-) 

24 comments:

  1. Love, love, love your decorations Teresa. Lots of memories in most of them aren't there? Those are the best decorations.
    And my, aren't you lucky to have such a nice clean and newly painted house for the holidays. Almost worth that little fire!!!! Just kidding.

    Have a wonderful day and thanks for sharing your pretties with us.
    Blessings,
    Betsy
    Http://Betsy-thesimplelifeofaqueen.blogspot.com

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  2. Love it all Teresa! Everything looks so grand, from top to bottom your home is all dressed up for the holidays. The miniature tree and the presents are so cute, but I am partial to miniatures of every kind. Scrabble is my favorite game too. I love card games also.
    (((HUGS))) Susanne :)

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  3. Your house looks great. I am glad everything was finished in time for you to decorate. It all looks so nice.

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  4. Such beautiful decorations, Teresa. I especially love the barn, the Scrabble under the tree and, of course, Lucy the cat! :)
    Abi x

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  5. Teresa I know you are so relieved that the cleaning and painting crew are now done! What a fabulous job it sounds like they did! Maybe I need a fire? Just a small one?
    Love all of your Christmas decorations. The tree from your daughter in law is so thoughtful. I love it. You better crochet another mini stocking for you.....hurry, you have time!!
    Hugs,
    Kris
    PS Kitty is beautiful!!!

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  6. Glad that the cleaning crew have departed!!! Must be lovely though to have it all clean and sparkling. Gorgeous decorations. Have made a start now hope to get them all up before it's time to take them down :-) Anne x

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  7. Teresa, Your home looks so nice, festive and homey! I love all your villages and the skaters are so much fun to watch. I can see why the grandkids enjoy them. It's amazing all they did to fix up the house, you must have a wonderful insurance company!!!
    Enjoy the season, xoRobin❤

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  8. Oh my what gorgeous decorations! Now you can enjoy xmas with all that painting,
    cleaning done.

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  9. That DIL is one special gal. Love the bead tree. I've worked with bead in another life and I know that is a lot of work. Oh, I guess need to find those pine cone earring now, they will be perfect for this weekend. Great job decorating on the fly. Love the new colors, WOW....clean kitchen cabinets too. Now that's exciting. What did you find in the back, anything fun?

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  10. I'm so glad you are all redecorated in both senses Teresa. Everything is looking wonderful. That tree your DIL made is a real work of art..amazing. Enjoy the festivities,
    Jane x

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  11. Awwww, Lucy is so delightful. Your home is looking beautiful. My fave is that little bead tree with the miniature scrabble!
    Hen x

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  12. Everything looks fabulous but that beaded tree and everything under that cloche is my FAVORITE!! Just really beautiful!

    Love the barn ornament too. I bought a very similar one for my husband... but I have to say that tractor is the "wrong color" for our Farmall household ;)

    ~Chris

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  13. It all looks so very nice. I can only imagine how happy you are that the cleaning team is finished, but oh my! What a fabulous cleaning they gave your house! I would love that! BTW....LOVE those vintage snow globes.

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  14. Christmas time is looking exceptionally beautiful at your house. So glad the crews are all gone.
    Hugs to you and Dayle,
    Meredith

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  15. Beeeeeeeautiful, Teresa, and so interesting to learn the stories behind some of the decorations! The beaded tree is especially amazing...and I love the Scrabble game, too:) And you have caught Lucy at her best...very brave and regal:)
    xx from Gracie

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  17. Awesome and beautiful!! I think since you got such a late start this year with your Christmas decorating, that it would be fun for you to celebrate all 12 Days of Christmas OR if that isn't enough, you could even celebrate the season of Christmas till St. Canute's Day on January 13th like the Scandinavians do...:) I KNOW I will be doing that!
    Blessings,
    Aimee
    PS: Now we need some beautiful white snow, don't you think?

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  18. They really do sound to be thorough. What a clean up! Your home looks lovely with all the decs! Lovely to have things with so many memories....isn't it. Love the little Christmas tree under the glass! Joan

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  19. OHHHH, your home is decorated so lovely! I love it all. Especially your little village....that is something I need to start collecting. I am sure you are happy that the cleaning crew have finished up, now you can just sit back and enjoy all your pretty things. LOVE your stockings.I have been thinking on making some myself! Hope you have a wonderful week and Lucy is just beautiful!
    xoxoxo
    Shari!

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  20. NOW it looks like Christmas!! We will be decorating this weekend. Oldest got home last night, gave me the sweetest smile and said "You waited. Thanks Mom." Melt. Have a lovely weekend!!

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  21. Gorgeous pictures, Teresa! It is all looking sooo merry and bright!! Such a cheerful festive atmosphere in this post :)
    Wishing you a wonderful weekend.
    Helen x

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  22. Oh Lucy! Mommy took a beautiful photo of you with the PURRRRFECT light! What a gorgeous baby! I love all your beautiful treasures, Teresa! I needed to look at this post today...I know it wasn't posted today, but I needed it today! It just put a glimmer of a smile in my heart on a day when my heart is oh so heavy! So you play scrabble on Facebook...is that the same as Words with Friends? If so, we need to find one another! I play with Pammy Sue and The Garden Bell too. What fun! And I really am intrigued by that stocking you made with the patchwork! Pretty, pretty mantel! Love the way your tree lights reflect in the glass of the hutch/cabinet beside it! I'm famous for trying to place my tree in front of a mirror - to double up the glam of the lights. What a sweet daughter in law you have to make that very special beaded tree! Looks like a lot of work...and a whole lot of love behind it. Hugs to you. Annette

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  23. YOur home looks so amazing...such joy and happiness everywhere.....may your weekend be filled with love and sweet family moments.

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  24. Your home looks so lovely Teresa! And Lucy looks like she is sooo happy! Greta job decorating.

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