My 12 Days of Christmas

Day 6 - Father Christmas

A gift from a long time friend, Father Christmas has had a place of honor in our home for years.  She painted several sets of Santas for her friends and family.  We are proud to have one of them.

Somehow he reminds me of the giving and not all the craziness of the season.  Clearly he's Father Christmas bring light, or "LIGHT" to the world.  Can't get much more clear than that.

 

PS:  Please see Anneke's note.  Turns out he's actually Sinterklaas - does that name sound a bit familiar?

My 12 Days of Christmas

Day 5 - Oh, Tannenbaum!

Truly one of the big, big days of the season -

The 1st (and prettiest) White House ornament.

the day the tree is trimmed.  One can't have too many Christmas trees, altho I find myself limited to two at the moment - a tiny one in my office and the real one in the living room.  I want one close at hand so I can enjoy it all day long.We've collected ornaments forever.  There are tiny glass balls left from childhood, along with a felt bird (Girl Scouts in the 6th grade) and the purple Merry Christmas ball inherited from Dad.  There are ornaments collected from places we have traveled - a flamingo (Florida), Chinese kissing fish (San Francisco), a gourd (Pennsylvania), red pepper (N.M.) and a cut-out of Texas.

Some of these are as old as I am - horrors!

Many are handmade - a clothespin deer, copper stars, an angel made of nails, the tin star on top.  There's a collection of angels and one of Santas.  A dill pickle for luck and a teddy bear for fun.  Many are gifts from friends.  Each a reminder of some place or some one  - a part of our history.

One of a legion of Santas - mostly old fashioned.

Made in Florida from the scale of a Gar Fish - honest!

Peace on Earth, Good Will to Women.

I'd leave it up all year, but some folks in our house are against that!

It's Monday ... There Must be Flowers in the House!

Well, there's a tree and a bit of Chrismas cheer on the mantle and on the table, and even on the sideboard, but there would not have been actual flowers except that my sweet boss sent me a dozen roses.  Guess she liked the Holiday Party!  Am planning a "real" arrangement for Christmas weekend, but this is the best I could do today.  Go join Jane's party and see what people with talent can do!

Artificial [duh!] fruit and berries in a natural wood bowl.  Festive, but not fussy.

Leftovers from the office party.  Might as well put them here ...

... and there.

A mixed dozen of red, pink and lavender plopped in the cut glass pitcher.  You can never go wrong with this. 

My 12 Days of Christmas

Day 4 - Shipping

Gathering all the pretty boxes and packing them in cartons, then anticipating the pleasure they will bring when they are opened Christmas morning.

How did all those packages fit into just four boxes?  

 

It's another high point of the season. 


Take good care of them, FedEx.  They have a long way to go to Georgia, Tennessee and New Mexico!