Christmas at my house

Here are a few scenes from my small-ish house at the edge of the forest. This will also be my post for the Holiday Home Tour for Notes From a Cottage Industry. When you are finished reading here, head on over and get the information for joining in.

I've been married for thirty four years (lots of time to collect Christmas "stuff") and I've been collecting snowmen for about eighteen years. There is definitely a snowman theme going on.

I did have a creche that I sat beside the front door but it finally fell apart so much that I couldn't put it out. I'll be looking for another at garage sales during the year.

The Santa sleigh is very, very old. I bought it an an estate garage sale in Detroit. It reminds me of my childhood.

The packages in the sleigh have their original paper which looks to be from the 1940s or 50s.

All my poinsettias are silk. I did this at first because I had a curious cat (Storm) who ate plants.

It is quite nice to bring them out each Christmas and tuck them in an area that needs "color".

An overview of a corner of my family room.

Many of my snowmen (and ladies) were given to me as gifts.

The little snow couple in the front with their feet dangling over the edge and cuddled together inside a quilt, was a gift from Stephanie one year. It actually stays out all year round.

The three happy snowmen in the middle were hand painted for me by my dear friend, BB, in Texas. I think of her each year when I display them.

It's hard to get a good picture where my tree is located but here are a few views. Many years ago I heard a designer give advice for people who like to have a lot of different types of Christmas ornaments on their tree.

She said it can work if you first place bulbs of one color throughout the tree, near the middle. That's why the red bulbs are placed all around the tree. It truly does work to bring everything together.

The decorated tree is beautiful and unfortunately, the pictures just can't do it justice. Good camera... not so good photographer. :)

I have parted with so many of my Christmas decorations since I now have a smaller house. However, I find myself drawn to them at garage sales, thrift stores, and antique malls where one can still find very inexpensive items. I recently found three vintage ornaments at the Mission thrift store for only 15 cents each.

It's amazing how cheap Christmas decorations are in July and August at such places. :)