Merry Christmas Everyone

 

 

These are some random shots around the home this Christmas.  

 

 

 

I never posted the mantel and hearth so here it is! 

 

Merry Christmas Everyone!

 

The Nativity

 I have a new nativity.

We haven't had a lot of sun lately so when It came out and saw it was shining right in on the Nativity I worked quickly to capture some pictures.   Minutes later it was gone!

 I found the 5 piece Nativity set half off after the holidays earlier this year.

 I think they're beautiful and elegant.

 We stopped in at Bronner's Christmas store and I found this Fontanini by Roman, Inc. "Donkey With Pail"

 and I found the lambs there too but they were by an un-named source.

I nestled little broken twigs in with pine boughs for texture and color.

 I found the angel while rummaging through all my stuff that haven't used for a while.  I think it pairs well with the nativity.

 These golden urns were picked up back at the same place as the angel along with the large creamy white ornaments (2011).  I layered two candle rings on them and really like the affect I got.

The two palm trees are Fontanini by Roman, Inc. and are available through the internet.  I got mine at Bronner's.  They do come in various heights and combinations.  I really like them and feel it really made the scene look complete.

I ordered this background arched piece from an online company that took a long time to come in.

Now it's complete!

Though I do love the other Christmas side with Santa and all the trimmings I always have a nativity scene out to remind us what the first reason for celebrating Christmas was!

I will be joining:

Dishing & Digging It

My Little Nativity

A tradition I learned from my mother and continued on I've always put out a nativity set.  Though I enjoy all the fun stuff like Santa and the decorative elements I always remember the original reason for the season. 

 Two years ago I found this one piece version and liked the idea of it's compact size.

I set it by this same little pine tree last year and the candlesticks too.  I like to keep it in a spot where it can be viewed easily and separated from all the other holiday decorating.

I found these gold mesh poinsettias at Bronners here in Michigan.  It's a crazy big Christmas store.  I like the simplicity of these flowers for this vignette.  They clip on easily and work well with these ultra soft needles.

This is my other nativity set but I didn't use it this year.  I also had a hand painted one Dan's mother made for me many years ago that I gave to my daughter and she now treasures it.

The Little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay….

The First Noel

Good Sunday Morning!

I love music and this version of 

Oh Little Town of Bethlehem 

is really beautiful.

 

and The First Noel

I guess you can spell it Noel or Nowell. I didn't know there was more than one way to spell it.

I did a little research and here is an excerpt from what I read.

 The word “Nowell” is indeed an Anglicized version of the French word for Christmas, “Noel,” he says. However, all historical evidence indicates that the song emerged from the remote Cornwall region of southwest England in the mid 16th century. Whether the name was changed by a Francophile publisher or just a lazy typesetter seeking a shorter word is unclear, but sometime between 1870 and the early 20th century, the switch was made. Regardless of how or why it happened, the new title stuck and confusion over the birthplace of this much beloved carol has reigned ever since.

(from this article) 

I hope you have a blessed Sunday and a beautiful week ahead! 

December is here and I know we're all in the countdown mode for Christmas. 

Remember the reason for the season!

  

Mantel and Living Room Christmas 2012

Finally- a sunlit day that allowed me to get some photo's with natural lighting!

I've rearranged the furniture once again- LOL- (those who know me know this is an ongoing thing with me!)

I staged the two wing back recliners and moved the big sofa over a bit. 

Ok, I'm a geek traditionalist! I'm pretty pleased this year with the mantel and since hubby walked in and reacted rather pleasantly I guess I got it right!

 I've used a combination of a garland with some soft green boughs slid in to build it up a bit. The red hurricane vases were from Kirkland's last year.

  I put fake snow in them with the greens and the striped stems that reminded me of porcupine quills. 

 I wanted a little more cabin/woodland accent this year so the huge pine cones seemed like a good choice!

Zooming in on the wreath I put together a couple of weeks ago.  Acorns, pine cones, berries and a rose accented ribbon fit my cabin/woodland desire!

 Next to the tree this year I set up one of my end tables covered with a cloth and my nativity. 

 The big gold panels are from Gumps last year (they still sell them) and there is an angel with a harp in the center.

 

 On the tree are some new and old ornaments. These big pears are my favorite this year!

 I've got a mix of greens, golds, coppers, whites and crystal on the tree.  The gilded leaves are a favorite but I need about 3 times as many as I have.

 Of course it's more engaging when the lights are on!

 I split up some copper colored branches and put pieces of them around the tree. They pick up on the same colors in the wreath.

Tucked just behind and to the side of the sofa is my linen chest that I decked out with an arrangement of glittery pine boughs, feathers and eucalyptus I put together. 

  The little angels were from Gumps last year. I also attached two gold leaves on the sides of the vase for more shape.

 A simple tree adorned with vase filler pieces. Hobby Lobby 2 or 3 yrs. ago.

 Just to the right of that chest is my other built in cabinet top that my Santos Doll sits on.

 I decked her out with two boxwood wreaths, another over sized pine cone and red beads... Her theme is Christmas decorating this year!

  When our daughter was home for Thanksgiving she 
dubbed it my Mardi-Gras Santo's  Cage Doll!

We both laughed about that one!

These two antique gold finished urns bring your eye around the corner! 
The large milky white ornaments were from a specialty store 3 yrs. ago.

 Our tree is a tall skinny pencil tree- it fits easily into the room.  

A couple of evening shots

Thanks for visiting! 

 I hope you like!! 
Liz 

I'm joining Savvy Southern Style
 for
A Homespun Christmas/Vignettes and Mantels Party