I love this time of year…everything about it makes me happy. I like cooler weather (I realize there are two distinct camps on this, I have friends that are warm-weather fans) I must have lived in Iceland in another life time! Anyway, here are a few of the things I like best about the season…
image via BHG
I guess it goes without saying, I like the decorating part of the season the best. I think it’s fun to create new ways to dress up the house. I’m a traditionalist at heart but its fun to try out new ideas for the home using greens and seasonal fruit, nuts and the like. I’ve not done this (above image) but once—hanging wreaths in windows side-by-side. I think it looks great indoors and/or out. The reason I haven’t hung live wreaths since the first time is that the hardwood floors were constantly filled with pine needles so maybe I need to find a different spot…but it does look festive and pretty, don’t you think?
image via Slim Paley (you will enjoy her site, visit HERE)
Right up there with decorating is entertaining. I’ve said it before, my house is definitely a winter house. It looks it’s best when I have a fire in the fireplace and candlelight is emanating throughout. (Maybe we all look better in candle light, I know I do). But having good friends over for dinner with Christmas music in the background—good conversation, decent wine and comfort food, what could be better? (Fans of summer need not respond :-))
image via Country Living
Along with entertaining comes using my Christmas Tree dishes by Spode. Many of you may know of my disease—I’m addicted to dishes, all patterns and makes, and I’ve read that there is NO cure. By the way, I don’t have the red transfer ware pattern above but believe me I’ve eyed it with more than faint enthusiasm!
image via Country Living
And at the end of a beautiful day of holiday traditions I like to climb into bed, between my flannel sheets and catch some zzzzz.
Don’t forget to get your rest during this busy month! Happy December.
Trish said:
Hi Karen…LOVE that bed. I used to go all out…garlands everywhere. But then..all the pine needles and work to take everything down. Still..can imagine tucking into that bed at night! Merci! Trish
Karen said:
Yep, I think the live garlands and wreaths are wonderful if I weren’t so determined to have all of the house decorations up by the end of the first week in December—they dry out before the actual holiday…can you imagine have pine needles in your bed! 🙂
Karen
Antonia said:
What a Christmassy feeling you have on your blog!
When I’ll have a house, I’m planning to be addicted to dishes too<3 (right now I just have nowhere to put them!)
Karen said:
Hi Antonia,
Thank you for visiting me. Its nice to know there are others with this “dish collecting” bug!
Happy Christmas to you!
Karen
Gretchen said:
I’ve always thought of myself as a sun person ( note how often Stu and I go to the desert) but my favorite time of year in the OC is winter. There are fewer tourists, the air is clear and crisp and there’s big waves at the beach – what more could you ask for?
The bench at the end of that beautiful bed is just what I’m looking for!
Karen said:
Gretchen,
Yes, the O.C. is truly paradise in the winter…especially considering how lucky we are that its been cool and somewhat seasonal.
I’ll keep my eyes open for a bench just like that! 🙂
Karen
Linda Coble said:
Karen,
I love the idea of wreaths in windows also but the falling needles kind of takes the fun out of it. I think I’ll opt for realistic fake wreaths some year soon. The red transferware dishes were lovely but I truly like your Christmas tree Spode better. Great photos!
Linda
Karen said:
Yes, I’m with you—give me faux on the wreaths that hang where the needles drop any day!
Thanks, Linda
Karen
Valerie said:
Such pretty pictures. I think I have your disease of collecting dishes. My eye always gravitates toward dishes, old, new, patterns, colors, doesn’t matter. Love them all and I imagine the beautiful tables I can create with them having friends over for lunch or dinner.
Karen said:
Valerie,
It’s a fun disease…I love old, mismatched dishes as much as new patterns. Fun stuff. Having friends over to enjoy a meal is the icing.
Thanks for stopping by.
Karen