Decorating! It's What I DO!!!

I can't seem to help myself!

 If I were the only one to ever see and enjoy my Christmas House - I truly believe I would still decorate it all.....just for me ..... and I hope to do it for as long as I can.

I have been waking up early the last few mornings - all excited about the Christmas Decorating!

I sit in the living room with my book and coffee and then play my word games until Louis Dean wakes up.

I don't want to disturb him with the vacuum and hauling debris in and then out!
All the decorations are just outside the bedroom door scattered all over the patio and beyond.
Glad there hasn't been rain in the forecast.

It's not even December yet - but the bedroom, hall, baths and dining room are all done as I sit here writing about them tonight.

Louis Dean is grateful I do not overload his bathroom as I did the first year or two we were married. Amber told me, "Mom! You get to get all that stuff OUT of there!"

I used to decorate this bathroom with snowmen......Lots and LOTS of snowmen!!

It is much more subdued these days.....

Louis Dean loves his Santa clock that plays Christmas carols on the hour.

Easy peasy!

A candle is lit to declare it clean AND decorated!

Moving on to the dining room - which is a real biggie for me...

It took all day but it is DONE!

This year is very similar to last year's decor.

I use the tablecloths to cover both buffets as well as the antique cabinet.

My Santa walls are expanding!

I need to paint two more for the dining room - for NEXT year!

There may be some tweaking to come later.

All the China and stemware in the hutches have been washed and are ready to use for the holidays.

That took awhile!

The cardinal tree is one of my favorites.

Summer has given me most of the cardinals and the penguins are new from her this year!

Even the table is set for dinner!

All we need now is food and guests.

This is where I will host a lunch next week for my friend, Brenda.

I met her for lunch yesterday and we ate at Fuzzy Tacos.

We try to get together for lunch at least once a month......

sometimes that doesn't happen but we keep on until we are back to our monthly dates.

I'm a big fan of writing on my daily/monthly planner because - if I WRITE it down - it WILL happen! Usually!

I just love how 'clean'  sparkles!!!

Hold on to your hats! 

I packed up some old dishes to take to Goodwill and reorganized the China hutch!

It felt GOOD to get rid of stuff I didn't really love!

Note to friends - do not worry about me buying more debris every week - as I am wont to do on Tuesdays!

I truly recycle! At least some.....

I took a trunk full of debris just yesterday to my local Goodwill and I have the trunk already full AGAIN!

I am tired to the bone now but happy in my heart.

Louis Dean just went on to bed and I can still hear the Christmas music playing in the living room as I finish up this journal entry.

It's been a good day.

We read the Bible, had our coffee, did our projects and met back in the den to rest and watch a Hallmark Christmas movie this afternoon. Louis Dean and I make a good team.

He has been practicing his Christmas songs for a Christmas Tea coming up in December.

My favorites are Pretty Paper, Angels Among Us and The Angels Cried. He sings and plays them so well. HE is the entertainment for my annual Christmas Tea.....which I didn't have last year but will not miss again!

For supper tonight I made a hearty potato soup with lots of veggies and cubed ham.

It was delicious!

I will continue to weave the Christmas Magic through the house until the last room is done!!

But for now - I'm tired so I'm going to bed!!