Christmas Tree 2010

Caution: this is photo heavy! But I can make my jpgs very small in pixels so it should not take long to load for anyone, but I'm just warning you that there are about 40 photos, which is not my regular amount. I only do it for special parties on the blogs.

As most of you who read me regularly know, we're empty nesters. We usually stay home for the Christmas season unless we can be absolutely sure we can get over the Sierra mountains to go back to California to visit kids or head off to Seattle to visit our granddaughter and her family. This year we're staying put! But we don't decorate the house like most people with little children do. It's just too hard on me, not HIM, to do it anymore. So he puts up lights and decorates outside and I just do a tree in the house.

I've been feeling unmotivated for a couple of months. Yeah, that's a good word—unmotivated. It took me a long time to decide if I would participate in Sherry's Share the Decor Party. So yesterday I had Love Bunny put up the tree. Let me deviate here for a minute.

Last year we had a green tree that we got 2 years ago so we wouldn't have to keep putting money out for something we were going to throw out. I dreamed about a white tree but didn't think Mr. Scrooge (hubs/love bunny) would spring for it since he's a traditionalist. Lo and behold, 2 weeks ago he suggested we get a white tree because he knew I was lusting after one! I demurred but he would have none of that. What a sweetheart he was when he put the white tree in the cart at WM! I guess he's a keeper. Anyway, it is now decorated and I'm going to just comment on a few of the photos for those of you like me who love the romantic, shabby chic, froufrou decor.

I don't do a traditional type of tree. For the most part I add things friends have given me or what I make. I have a few bulbs here and there but for the most part...well, you'll see what I mean.

I start with putting the lights on the tree and then using yards and yards and yards of netting and then yards and yards of pink and white organza ribbon to wrap it, I tuck and pouf for the most part.

I made these little faux cupcakes and put a few on the tree.

I added pine cones I've painted pink and added roses to.

I added 40 snow flakes to which I've added pretty papers and ribbon roses.

I add as much bling as I can and then put little faux candies in the netting.

Little paper flowers I crafted and stuck in the netting.

I made this tree topper with a wreath, paper roses, bling and faux pearls and just wrapped and tucked it also.

Very few balls on the tree, but I couldn't pass up these polka dot ones.

More faux candies tucked into the netting.

More scrunchy flowers I made from paper.

A little beaded angel sent to me from Pat at the Urban Chic.

One of the very few bulbs I've added this year.

Another cupcake I made a few years ago and tucked into the netting also.

Little birds I've tucked into the tree.

A little silk embroidery give to me by a member of my eBay group I've had for about 4 or 5 years now.

As I said, being unmotivated lately, I simply added a ruffle to this felt tree skirt. I wanted to buy one but I can't find a single shabby roses one now! About 3 or 4 years ago you could find them all over eBay but none now. I wanted to make one but I just got lazy and didn't. So I simply stuff yards and yards and yards of pink netting under there to tone down the red.

A little faux cake tucked in the netting nice and tight.

Almost finished here.

Wrap around and tuck.

And pouf and pouf and pouf.

After adding the lights and netting.

And the finished tree. I tried my best to get good pix in this room but it was an overcast day so this is the best I could do.

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Accessorizing Your Home

Accessories are what makes a house a home. Try to get some ideas from these photos as to what you might be able to do to help make some areas of your home more flattering.

Personally, I love the idea of a dramatic quilt, matching pillows, a vintage quilt rack and some vibrant colors making a statement in an entry way or a corner of a room with which you have no other solutions. Small area, big effect.

I absolutely love this little pink bench and these gorgeous end tables made to look old.

Group pictures in a charming but different way such as the photos below—the last one on the left not centered but off kilter just a bit.

Or one partially in front of the other. I have done this; it looks unique and is truly stunning.

Just a very homey atmosphere here in this darling cottage.

Isn't this armoire just lovely? I just thought you'd like to see it.

Artfully arrange several different items together for a bit of pizzazz.

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Pink Saturday 12/11/2010

First of all, I want to update you on our son's condition because some of you have kind enough to ask. Most of you newbies to my blog will not know what I'm talking about so if you'd like you can go here Keith's Trial and see what he went through last year.

He is still having vertigo from the gang beating along with migraines. About a week ago he had to go to the emergency room. He was in such bad shape they gave him 3 liters of water for hydration. He hadn't eaten for 2 days because while trying to put in a new sink in his kitchen and going under and above for that length of time the vertigo and migraine was intense.

But the sad part is that the trial for 2 of the men resulted in a hung jury. We cannot believe how it could have ended like that when the video from the convenience store was so readily available and showed the beating. I asked him how he felt about seeing it for the first time as the police wouldn't let him see it before the trial. He said it just happened so fast he couldn't believe it. So he'll have to go through another trial for these gang members. We're very sad to say the least. Such is the justice system that the perpetrators have it so easy.
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Again, another Pink Saturday is here. Please visit the other participants to view all their blogs and pink items. Click on the logo below to visit Beverly at How Sweet The Sound.

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I have a sweet friend, Lorena, who has a gorgeous blue formal dining room very similar to this one. Though I do love blue, she loves the color much more than I do. I think this and hers are gorgeous though.

While this isn't especially the shabby chic romantic style, it is still froufrou-y and feminine. And I like it.

Here's that Chesterfield sofa I love so much, but in a plain white fabric but with nail headtrim. While it is the same sofa, with a different fabric and different pillows it doesn't look formal; it looks more Americana.

I love these chairs also. When I get ready to buy, it will be from Ethan Allen, but I may have a hard time deciding on these and another style I like.

The harlequin pattern draws me every time. I don't know why but I just love it mixed in with the romantic style. The diamond is reflected in the coffee table, the points on the window coverings and the decorative boxes on the lamp table.

Another romantic bedroom I knew you'd love to see. I have a chandelier that I'm having a friend paint in exchange for lifetime use of my Cricut machine. I think it's a fair trade since she's a talented perfectionist. I have this "thing" for chandeliers. ;-)

Even an old basket full of spotted just-picked apples can make a fashion statement. Plus red rooms are lovely and very inviting.

French country is especially loved among you bloggers. I also love French and English styles, but I think Americans have as much style, while lacking in the antiques available to the French and English though. Just beautiful.

I have no doubt this room will appeal to some of you. To me, it looks like homes we would find in the south. Just from books on southern style and looking at the blogs, the southern part of the U.S. tends much more toward formality as does the northeast, while out west here we tend more toward relaxing style.

Different view of the same room. It's very symmetrical and I love symmetrical rooms. Asymmetrical rooms throw me off balance. They are rarely a favorite of mine although I've seen some I like.

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Soliloquy

I try to always start with something beautiful—eye candy—for you and this time isn't any different. I love the vibrant pink of this big pompom hanging in the corner of my office behind me to my left. It cheers me whenever I walk into this office.

Just a beautiful roses print I have in my home.

What I'm working on today. Do you think you know what it is? Easy guess I'd think. ;-)
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Are there times when I long for the times of my youth? I think to myself yes of course there are but they are very infrequent. I love being this age, don't I? But at this period of my life, youth is relative. I think now of 45 as my youthful years also. I now whisper to friends who are in their 30s that the best is yet to be and it is. The wisdom of age overtakes the foolishness of youth.

I sit in my chair in the living room with the bright light there for reading a good book, which has been a pleasure of mine for many years, and look at the dry spotted hands of my old age and think of the youthful ones that hubby grasped so tightly and lovingly on our wedding day.

My step is still as sprightly as it always was. I notice a wee difference but I doubt it's noticeable to anyone else. Is it, Connie? I think this is true.

My eyes have always been the same vibrant shade of green and haven't lessened with the passing years, which is prevalent with those of my generation. I've always thought the eyes are not only windows to my soul, but always gave away how I think of something. I am also more than willing to espouse my views on things as hubby, relatives and friends know.

The wrinkles are increasing but my 31 year old granddaughter calls them dimples and is quite serious about it, and I assure myself they are not. I love her for thinking that way about me though.

I've never been a beauty, although hubby would differ on my opinion. (I'm only being honest with myself here.) At best, I've been "attractive" or in other words people are attracted to me. I've never given it much thought; I've just noticed how people will look at me. My presence is commanding as one person told me many years ago. I'm not imperious for I don't want to lead. I'd rather just drift along. I realized this many years ago when I took sailing lessons and one day I had to captain the sailboat with the other students. I hated it. I'd much rather be a sailor than the captain. Too much responsibility for me I guess.

Am I becoming melancholy lately? Probably so but there are and have been things to make me melancholy lately. Another year is coming to an end and there are more behind me than will be in my future.

I now have to pluck my eyebrows less frequently and they are becoming more gray/white than ash brown. So I wish for more hair there and less on my chin that I have to pluck. Sigh...

My feet have grown from an 8 1/2 medium 20 years ago to a 9 1/2 wide. And oh, how I miss the leg flattering high heels, but to walk in them now is just too hard to do. I wonder if my great granddaughter, Caroline, will see the wisdom in 1" heels instead of 3" heels. I sure do hope so for her sake.

I see her lovely, sweet fresh-faced beauty and realize she came not just from her mummy and my daughter, but from me and hubs also. Oooh, how sweet the feeling is to see her and hold her little face in my hands. To kiss that sweet little face, lips and even the drool is wondrous to me. I can never tire of kissing her and those little dimpled hands that will look like mine someday. Her feet are so small, her toes little nubs, the arches curling like banana peels as she pulls her knees to her little chest. I hope she remembers us fondly in her later years.

I think now of young motherhood as something I wish I could do over and do differently. Holding my sweet babies when they're fresh from heaven was one of the true joys I've experienced. But holding my love of 50 years is even a greater joy than that. He is my soul mate and my eternal companion. I need to treat him better than I do sometimes because he's so special and loves me so. I need to heed this advice! My heart is so full of love for him that I still get a thrill when I hear the door open and he enters the house and my heart. A kiss is always on his lips for me.

I wonder why my son and my daughter see me differently. This was brought to reality for me 20+ years ago when I voiced it to a friend and truly astounded me when I recognized it, but I think I've always known it to be true. I always try to be honest with myself. I think I am.

What would I say to younger women I wonder? I think the best advice I can give is to enjoy each decade that comes along. I've never regretted any decade but truly think the 40s are the best years of life. I looked great, was in great shape and had a bit of wisdom, some of which I didn't use wisely. But with a faith in God, a hope of things to come and charity, of which I need a whole lot more, I think I'll be just fine. I certainly pray I am.
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Last Year's Christmas

If you've followed or read me since last Christmas, you've seen my first froufrou tree. We don't do Christmas anymore because there isn't one thing in this world I need and I have very few wants. Well, to be perfectly honest, I have a lot of wants; it's just that I've learned to bridle my wants and desires. Nothing in this world or out of this world compares to my hubby, kids or grandchildren or great grandchildren. They are what life is all about.

Hubby and I don't exchange gifts anymore. We buy for our youngest grandkids and will now buy for Caroline, our great granddaughter, but we've talked with our son and daughter and told them not to buy us anything. We don't need it! But once in a while when our daughter comes to visit I'll buy her a box of Good and Plenty and that's her gift. You have no idea how freeing it is. Being Christian, we celebrate it in church and during the day on Christmas but there isn't the need for us to buy gifts. We don't have the hustle and bustle others go through and at our age that's very important to us. So the season is very easy for us. We do have a Christmas dinner however. Love Bunny won't let me get around that. ;-)

So last year's photos are below for you to see. I just had a little Canon point and shoot back then so the pix aren't very good. But this year I hope to be able to do better photos with the Canon Rebel I got in February of this year. And when I do get it up, I'll photograph it for all to see. Our artificial tree is green and I don't know if I can talk hubby into a white one, but I'm gonna try! Again, we'll see. [Update! Since I wrote this blog post the very end of November, hubby insisted I buy a white tree. Squeeeeeal, I couldn't believe it. The other night we were at WM and he actually mentioned buying it. I am just thrilled. Now we have 2 choices each Christmas—white or green.] And since we downsized we have to move furniture in the living room around since hubby wants it by the front window. Sigh...

If you'll recall, I spent several weeks making, painting and buying pink and white things for this tree. Yards and yards and yards of tulle went into it. Flowers galore were purchased and hung on it. Gifts people have sent me went on it.

I later put some pretty boxes under it to look like presents, but they were all for show. There were NO real presents under it.

And I ended up making this little topper for it. It will go back on the tree again.

Merry Christmas and may your holiday season be wonderful and filled with love and the Spirit of Christmas. Ooooh, and since I'm feeling a lot better, I'll be posting more now. Aren't you just thrilled?! :-)
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