On the Fifth Day of a Feminine Christmas
This idyllic Christmas doorstep really stirs me. I love everything about it…the light in the upper floor windows, the beautiful evergreen wreath, the snow. It’s old-fashioned and wistful and conjures up a feeling of hiraeth – that deep feeling of longing for home, even a home that never was.
Year after year, I always want to make my house look like this. I hang a wreath, often one I have assembled on my own – I keep a few bright lanterns on the stoop and a basket of pinecones. I prefer natural outdoor decorations and use real greenery whenever I can. But I love traveling about my town at night to admire others’ twinkling lights. There are so many this year. One of my favorite December excursions is to take a night drive to see the lights and stop for hot cocoa or make some at home. It’s a peaceful and enjoyable activity especially if you still have young children.
In the winter, I spend far more time in my second floor rooms where it is much warmer than downstairs and so I did a little bit of whole-house decorating this month. I placed a small silvery tree on a bookshelf in my den alongside a few lovely Christmas cards I received. And I trotted out a tartan throw for the foot of my bed, both for warmth and Christmas color. By now, your decorations are well underway. Do you decorate your entire house with a few treasures? Or only your tree and door?
5 Comments
Ann
I have Christmas everywhere…really had to consolidate when we downsized to an apartment home, but kept our favorites. Our tree – which we kept ( artificial because of allergies) looks even better in the new spot here. My favorite decoration is my husband's mother's Nativity Set. She passed away a year after we were married and every year when I put it on display I feel that she knows and is smiling. You can see it on my blog…www.ournewvista.com
Laura Jeanne
I have treasures scattered about – cards, candles, stuffed Christmas teddy bears, festive tablecloths and some fresh new beeswax candles on the kitchen table – and I always buy a nice big poinsettia to put in the livingroom. Also, there is always a basket of Christmas books next to the sofa! But the most important decoration is definitely the tree. We always get a real one, as plump and jolly as possible, and it adds such a warm and happy feeling to our home, which is otherwise quite dreary and depressing (long story).
Donna Macdonald
Sounds festively wonderful! Books in a basket – charming!
Carol W
This year I used a light touch to decorate. We will be spending Christmas at my daughter's (and my husband hurt his back) so we decided not to put up a tree. I put out decorations that can, with a few tweaks, stay up until February. Antlers, pheasant feathers in greenery, buffalo plaid plates layered over plain colored ones on the hutch…Happily our neighbors brought us a beautifully decorated wreath which we hang on the double windows that face the driveway. A lovely surprise! Carol in VT
Donna Macdonald
Sounds absolutely lovely Carol! Merry Christmas and best wishes to your husband!