Holidays

Years ago our dear friends Doug and Susan suggested that we go with them to cut down a live Christmas tree straight from the field.  It was fun and so much more rewarding than buying one at Home Depot, so it quickly became an annual tradition.  This past Friday we made our trek to check out a new tree farm in the quest for the perfect tree. 

It was freezing cold, and we bundled up Cora as much as we possibly could, but we weren't about to let her miss out on this important experience!  Brennan was beside himself with glee, and he was more excited about the hunt than he was about the actual tree we chose.

It is usually a whole second day before we get lights, ornaments, etc. on the tree.  I absolutely hate doing it.  But this year putting the ornaments on was actually a lot of fun.  Brennan handed them to me very carefully, one at a time, suggesting where I might want to hang them.  He loved showing me the ornaments as though I had never seen them before: "Oh look, Mommy!  It's an angel!"  In the end, he was very proud of his work.

I have always been a fan of fake trees for their convenience and symmetry, but over the years I have been won over to the live tree thing, as long as we go cut it down ourselves.

Recently I have gotten hooked on popular blogs featuring brilliant women who make their houses look like showpieces yet still manage to keep perspective and allow their families to live comfortably in those houses. Jim laughs at me and tells me I'm "obsessed" with the blogs, which may be true, but sometimes obsessions can lead to good things. Recently I've cleaned up a huge mess upstairs with some inspiration from one of those blogs, I'm beginning some sewing projects that I have needed to do for some time (also a result of some online motivation), and I have even started rising early to have some quiet time with God after finding a link to 5:16 AM Club that gave me food for thought.

This week several ladies are hosting virtual Open Houses on their blogs, and this has inspired me to invite everyone to come to a cyber Christmas party at our house! So, help yourself to some Starbucks (you have to provide it, unfortunately), and come on in!!

Here is a view of our lovely living room, all decked out for Christmas:

One of the items I have started making for my business is ribbon wreaths. Here is one hanging from our breakfront in the dining room. I just love the finished product, even though making one takes forever!!

Gotta love that garland that I learned to make from The Nester:

So, these carolers are a funny thing. Jim used to have two of them in his house growing up, and he told me that he had bought one (or more?) for his grandmother when he was little. I really thought they were kind of frightening, but they were so sentimental to him that I couldn't ban them. Well, now I have bought him two more, and they're sort of growing on me. Maybe they become less intimidating in crowds?

And speaking of Jim's grandmother and sentimental attachments, she made this stocking for him when he was little. She was a whiz at needlepoint. I am quite crafty myself, but needlepoint takes such patience!!

So, there you have it: A small tour of our rental here in Nashville. If you're ever in the area, we'd love to share some Starbucks (or Folgers) in person! If you haven't had enough Christmas cheer, head over to Kimba's Holiday Open House and see hundreds of other women, showing off their abodes as well!

Merry Christmas!