Christmas Decorations

The Christmas season blew by so fast this year that I hardly remember it actually happened.  I put Christmas decorations up in time for a Christmas party at our house on December 21st. Naturally, that is way later than I've ever done so.  But none the less, it was on my mind as the holiday season started back in November this year.

The merriment of the season begins.

I started putting Christmas decorations up in early November and quickly realized that my white Christmas tree was sporting a rather shady shade of white.  With this in mind I decided that I needed to spray paint a few coats to revitalize my precious white tree. So out the door I went with my white tree to the back yard with my cans of white spray paint.  I did this on a rather busy Sunday morning so it actually got to sit outside for many hours.  This helped with the smell.  Something I didn't take into account before I started spraying.  Fortunately, the smell was mostly gone by the time I took it back inside.  Also...it rained.  For which I thought my tree was ruined.  Again...safe. 

While I was in the backyard spray painting my Christmas tree naturally somebody sent me a text to see what I was doing.  My answer..."Oh ya know, just out back spray painting my Christmas tree."

Meanwhile...back inside

I gathered some new velvet throw pillows for the sun room sofa to add to the holiday cheer. The other pillows I have been using are bright yellow linen and I decided to change the fabrication for the winter season.  The thing is I like these new pillows so much that they may just get to stay on the couch year around.

About a week later, the tree found some decorations and we were ready to celebrate the holiday season.  Since my husband works for the church it doesn't seem like the holiday season did when I was growing up.  It just seems like work now.  Isn't that sad? SO many joyous components of the season though I must say.

Around the house...

I will admit that I do still have some of my decorations still up.  My tree has turned into a Valentine's Day tree, which I can convince myself of for now. But in a few more weeks I will have to put it away. Until then, I have some new light to shed on the house for the new year.

Over the river and through the woods...

 As I was about to write a post this evening I noticed that I had put this post together and never hit "publish". It's from Thanksgiving. My heavens. So...back to Thanksgiving holiday before I talk about Christmas!

Here are a few photos to commemorate the holiday's travels.

Over the (Mississippi) River and through the woods (of Arkansas and Oklahoma) to my Mother and Father's house we went....

Hello.

Mom and Dad's house...

Tasty beverages....

Handsome, maxing and relaxing.

The dresser in my room at Mom and Dad's house.

...one of the many things that looks different since I lived there.

I can remember begging my parents for this bed. 

It is from Restoration Hardware. 

When I was younger, it was the be all and end all! 

My....how my style has changed. 

Now that I'm about to hit "publish" I'm thinking that the reason I hadn't done it before was largely due to the fact that I wasn't finished writing it.  But...because we are now many weeks past said holiday and have moved into a whole other year. I will leave it at this. 

Thanksgiving 2012, the end.

Things of interest...

Photos : Google Images

Thanksgiving Table

Thanksgiving at Mom and Dad's house.

It's always a happy place to see upon arrival.

Everything meticulously placed, and decorated.

Beverages chilled and served.

Hello, again.

Grandmother Dow's bread recipe. 

...oh geez, I'll NEVER be able to make these!

Brussel sprouts, upon request from our Canadian.

At the table...

and NO...we did not eat all of that butter.

With full tummies, it's time for a Turkey Day Nap.

Eureka, Kansas

My hometown...Eureka, Kansas

Have you seen the movie "Sweet Home Alabama"

...one of Reese Witherspoon's "classics"

....that's kind of what Eureka is like. 

More to follow.

The ocassional "dump"

Handsome...enough said!

Choral festival at St. Mary's Cathedral.

That's Bruce Neswick, he's kind of a big deal.

A few folks from St. John's attended. 

It was an Ol' Miss football game, obviously that detoured some members.

I'm looking for a chandelier that looks like this.

This one is HUGE, probably 60" across. 

Let me know if you see one. 

A $15 chair from Gary's Antiques got a new hide!

A new favorable "saying" to add to the pile. 

I've been spending a lot of time at NPR-WKNO 91.1

lately.  It's a lot of fun, but a new kind of stress to learn to manage. 

Also, these photos were taken on different days and I am wearing 

black and white in both and I have the same mug apparel.  

I'm such a creature of habit. 

Some new coffee table reading.

The orange book on the right is a fabulous book. 

It's by Heather Clawson. She's got a killer blog! 

The book on the left, it needs no introduction.

A new restaurant in our  neck of the woods. 

"Local" is what it's called...I think. 

It might be "Local Gasto Pub" but I really 

can't tell based on the excessive signage.

Anyway....fabulous addition to the 'hood.


AND.....

Handsome.  The end.

Thankfulness

Photo: Geoff and Hilary in Prince Edward Island, July 2012

Our study of "thankfulness" has begun at St. Mary's Episcopal School (where I work). We teach the girls that thankfulness means being grateful for the things we have, the kindnesses shown, and the world around us. When we talk about the things they are thankful for, they ask me, "Mrs. Ward what are you thankful for?" The very first thing that comes to mind is my darling husband, Geoffrey.

As we continue to study what we are thankful for this month with the girls, I know my list of gratefulness will expand in response to their question.  But for now, I start with my most precious friend and companion, my husband.

Bits of my week...

 White tea roses in my black vase.

 Always something going on in the sunroom.

More on THIS CHAIR soon. 

Turns out, it was the deal of the century. 

 my WKNO-NPR playlist on my hand.

 Inside the studio

Visitor mic tree

 transition between summer and fall make up.

thank heavens it hasn't been as hot. 

 My fave fall shoe/bootie.

Miss Wilson and I went for the black and white

 stripes with red look earlier this week.