A few trees ~

 

A few of my trees.

Everything Santa.

Kugels ~ both vintage/antique and new.  Kugel ornaments are heavy, German-made antique glass Christmas decorations from the mid-1800's to early 1900's, known for their thick glass, deep colors (red, blue, silver), internal silvering (mercury glass), and unique brass caps, often in shapes beyond simple spheres like grapes or pinecones, representing the the original heavy, ornate Christmas baubles before modern thin-walled bulbs.

My one and only antique feather tree.  Vintage cardboard houses and celluloid reindeer.

The BIG tree.

Everything patriotic.

Sweet little wall box with a Schooner plate.

A couple days ago I wanted to have a "play date" with friends.  Unfortunately no one could go play, so I played alone 😁.  I did come home with this little vintage cotton batting Santa and the vintage SC blocks.

With cash given to me by DSO, this Santa came home with me.  He was called Union Suit Santa and is a creation by Wisconsin artist Michelle.  You can find her here.

I am sad to see the Christmas season ending.  It has been my busiest but most stress free holiday ever.  Soon it will be crunch time, boxing everything up, hauling it to the attic, and putting out all the normal decor.  Then getting ready to head to rug camp in Florida with hooker buddy Sue in mid January.  When the trees are all put away and the hundreds of white lights are gone, the house seems so dreary for a few days until I get used to normal once again.

Thanks so much for following along on my blog journey for another year!!!
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Co-Existing ~

First of all, thank you so much for all the comments and emails regarding my son J and his cancer diagnosis.  If I haven't responded to you personally, it is because everyone is coming thru as a no-reply blogger and I don't have your email address.  (I sure wish blogger would fix this issue!!!)  His first round of chemo is behind him and though he doesn't feel great, he doesn't feel that bad . . . but they have told him each subsequent round gets worse.

I think there is only one time I have started my Christmas decorating before Thanksgiving, and this is the second time.  The 28th is the latest that Thanksgiving can fall and it just adds too much pressure if I don't get a little done beforehand.  Granted, I probably won't get much done, but something is better than nothing.  

I refuse to put my turkeys away so have to decorate around them 😁

I gathered black walnuts from the park (the squirrels were kind enough to remove the husks) and made garlands.

Papier mache turkeys

Candles

Here is the decorating that has been accomplished so far 😂

Topped with this sweet angel that Saundra gifted me a number of years ago.

Nary a loop has been pulled in a long time.  I have been working on these applique snowmen on antiques coverlets but that is about it.  They might be Christmas gifts . . . might not.

Son Bill who lives in Las Vegas will be home next week.  I still say home but it has been years since this has been his home . . . sigh.  He loves LV, is happy there, so this mama bear is happy.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Merry Christmas Eve Eve ~

This has been my most stress free Christmas season that I can ever remember.  It has been nice to kick back and relax, have a few friends over and even find a little time to hook 😉

I will bore you with more pictures of the house 😁

Figural light bulb tree.

Dining room cupboard.

Some of my vintage items.

Vintage celluloid Santas.

A little more vintage.

And still more vintage Santas.  The only repro is the skiing Santa on the middle shelf.

My old feather tree.  Mostly new but some vintage ornaments.

This cupboard used to reside in the kitchen but now on a wall in the living room.  I am so happy I purchased the charcoal drawing of the pug this summer.

Sweet little vintage ornaments.

My "Chris" tree.  Everything but the tree is from my friend . . . you guessed it . . . Chris.  The Santas below, too.  Some friends really understand me.

Part of my patriotic display.

Blow mold Santa from hooker friend Sue.  She "gets" me . . . 

. . . and so does friend Belinda.  This guy looks like he has his hands raised for the O in Ohio.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

The BIG Tree ~

 

The big tree is always the last thing decorated and the last thing put away, so it's only apropos to show it last.  I think I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with it.  My old artificial tree had seen better days, so last year after Christmas I purchased a new one.  I have many heavy ornaments and I love that this tree has stiff branches making it easier to hang them.  However, I have never had a tree with such a perfect shape.  I prefer a tree that is rather wonky.  This year on my Facebook page, lots of wonky trees kept popping up (I guess big brother is really watching, isn't he?) but I could not justify buying yet another.  So . . . this one will have to do for at least a few years.

A couple ornaments my boys made in preschool many years ago.  They are now 43 and 41 and pretty soon the ornaments . . . and my boys . . . will be "vintage" 😁  The candy cane grandson Jake and I made in 2012.

Older son Bill made this in 1987 (age 8).

And younger son J also made this in 1987 (age 6).

A favorite picture of grandson Jake.

One last Christmas picture.  It's not like I don't have a couple other sleds in the attic . . . much older ones . . . that have not been down in a few years.  I saw this at the antique mall the other day and found the small size charming.  I bought it thinking I would give it as a gift next Christmas, but love it here on the old blanket chest (aka coffee table).

Happy New Year's Eve.  My NYE will be spent "partying" on the couch, watching a movie and crossing a few Xs.  (One of these days I will finally pick up my hook!!!)  The perfect Eve, in my book.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs 😊

Lauren

Merry Day After ~

 

Another Christmas has quickly come and gone.  It was kind of bittersweet.  My older son, "Billy Vegas", sadly did not make it home.  After a couple of flight delays, the flight was cancelled with no hope of getting on another, except for one he found that cost $5200 one way.  Hopefully I will see him soon.

One more Christmas rug I forgot to share.

Some more of my decorating.  Patriotic decorations on my small landing.  So hard to photograph.

Salt glaze Santas and my choir.

Vintage look ornaments on wire tree.

My "Chris" tree.  Friend Chris gifted me with all the items, all vintage, except for the feather tree which has seen better days.  Not sure what happened to it, but the branches seem to have been scorched.

Thankfully the days are warming a bit and by the end of the week we should see 50*.  It was nasty for a few days but I know other places had it much worse.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs 😊

Lauren