Red white & blue Christmas tour.

It's that time of year.

I love everything about this time of year.
I've spent this past week tweaking my decorations
while my favorite Christmas tunes play in the background,
and here's how it all looks......today.

 Welcome to 911!

Let's start in the living room.

I dressed my recently painted Mora clock with a pine swag I put together
and a mercury glass ornament where a pendulum should hang.

My pie safe has settled in nicely now that I've cut an additional 3 inches off the legs.
I guess they're more like feet now.  As you can see, the piece has lots of flaws character.

After downsizing my holiday decor collection, I vowed not to buy anything new.
 To top the pie safe, I unpacked my Swiss chalet music boxes I've been collecting
 for bedroom number 3, since that project is going nowhere fast.

Several of the music boxes play tunes from The Sound of Music, including Edelweiss
and my personal favorite, The Lonely Goatherd.

  Children's part:
O ho lay dee odl lee o, o ho lay dee odl ay
O ho lay dee odl lee o, lay dee odl lee o lay

Miniatures and twinkle lights bring out the magic.

I found a mama Dala horse to go with my baby and they pair up nicely
with my Swedish candlesticks.  One or two little selfies (gifts to myself) are allowed.
  My old church window returns, but I nixed the glittery banner in favor of
old wool children's stockings hung from a string.

My basket of white wool yarn sits on the hearth next to the red clogs that claim this spot
 every year.  I can picture it now.....an unnamed 4 year old boy will slip his feet into the clogs, brandish his Ninja Turtle weapons (knitting needles) and tie up the bad guys with yarn.
(The 3 little bad guys will love the game, but please don't ask me how I know.)


Perhaps I should rethink the basket.

Nothing looked right on this table
 until I gathered up my old churches and added a forest of trees.

I only unpacked 3 of my vintage angels, because my decorating theme these days is....
Safe, Unbreakable, Replaceable & Washable.....and a glass of wine.
As you can see, the angel on the right has already lost her wings,
so we may have a matching set by the end of the season.

After 11 years of living with the furniture brought from our previous home,
I finally made some changes.  Our old upright piano was moved to our youngest
daughter's house, I sold our too large armoire to a friend, and I donated our
wicker coffee table to the Salvation Army.  That created breathing space in the room,
and allowed me to pick up a few old pieces that function better in the space.

I found this clover leaf table and my round coffee table at a local antique mall
for a steal.  I couldn't believe my luck to find the 2 pieces I wanted for the room
at the very first place I looked for well under a Benjamin!

 I painted over the navy blue base and my handyman stripped the paint off the top.


My round coffee table.

I love this table.


It was a full height newish kitchen table that was already painted and the top
 had been stripped.  We cut down the sweet cabriole legs (it was painful,
 but worth it in the end) to slightly higher than standard coffee table height
 and you'll see why in a moment.

  I applied a stain/sealer to protect the top from stains.
Psssst......Have you tried Candy Cane Hershey Kisses?
Don't!

I am seriously challenged when it comes to making centerpieces.



Did I mention that I love this table?

We left the table high enough to accommodate the children's chairs
I've collected over the years.  Just right for a Christmas tea.
I know in reality it would be spills and chairs tipping over,
but let me have my Norman Rockwell moment please.  :o)

 Late afternoon in the north side of the room.

Running out of daylight.....

 The south side of the room with plenty of space for our small tree.

 Looking into the front entryway from the living room.

 Now for the dining room....

I made a red table runner to give my poor grain sack runner a rest.

 The pine cone garland was an autumn clearance item from Target,
but I think it works for Christmas, too.  The sneaky gnome is back to
ensure the children eat their greens...or no dessert!

The toy soldier lamp has found a new home on the buffet.

My sheet music wreath survived another year in storage.

One more recent find.
For only $2.50 he was too tweet to leave behind!

Whew!  This is the last photo.

Santa's elves were remiss on their toy making duties this year, so if you don't hear from me
 again this holiday season, we're knee deep in dollhouse building.

  Do you remember the dollhouse I showed you last January
that we planned to build before Maggie's December 26 birthday?

We started it December 1st.

Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo!


Thank you so much for visiting and have yourself a Merry Little Christmas!
Vickie

I'm joining the parties at:
The Wicker House Create Share Inspire
Essence of Home Share Your Style
Come as you are Christmas Open House
hosted by Common Ground and Cozy Little House