Karen...I'm so sorry your hurting..no wonder tho
My Word...you've done so much! Did you have any help?

What AMAZING Christmas Collections you have.
I don't know where to begin...Your Mikasa Santas and figures are just beautiful as well as your Mikasa Reindeer.. I love all your Beautiful Cardinals and the Painted Ponies are wonderful.
I love the Vintage Reindeer on top of your cabinet...wow,
the list goes on and on...AGAIN...no wonder you're hurting so...I'm hurting just looking! lol.
Actually I've been recouperating all day today after yesterday's family party...I really over did it and I'm just so worn out.

But again...let me say, I just love All your displays in those beautiful China Cabinets. Where do you ever store it all?
What a wonderful Santa & Nutcracker collection.
I love how you decorated the Glass jar on your kitchen table. You've thought of every detail..and I can't believe you're NOT done! Girl...slow down and step back, and enjoy it as you go along.
I've enjoyed looking and keep going back...there's so much to see. Your house could be on one of those Holiday Tours, and people would just love it.
I've enjoyed looking..and look forward to seeing more.

jane

Karen....so Excellent! Great collections and a feast for the eyes!

Well at least your got worn out for a good reason and you have the evidence why. lol

Oy--I need somebody to put a quarter into me so I'll get started.

Jim

OMG! I love your horses collection! Your china cabinets are huge and amazing.

I know that I'm not a "decorator" (I don't have the time or inclination), but after looking at many of the photos posted on this forum I can see that you guys are in a whole different league. So many have amazing homes, furniture, and (of course) holiday collections and decorations. It's about as real to me as skimming through a magazine. lol!

Your collections are beautiful and well displayed. I love, love ,love the marble table.

Wow! That is an incredible amount of work! So impressive and lovely

You sure have lots of gorgeous eye candy, Karen. Everything is just beautiful and how wonderful to have those large china cabinets to display your treasures and keep them safe from the mischievious kitties. Your jar turned out nice, but does that mean no stacked plates this year? Or are they still in the works? Be sure to share a pic of your cookie jar collection too, I'd love to see them.

I'm exhausted from putting my things out, and you have waaay more than I do, so no wonder you are "feeling" it! Jane has good advice, take time to sit back and enjoy it too. Thanks for all the great pictures.

Luvs

WOW! I can't believe how much work you've done. All of those collections AND the trees/wreaths/swags. You are a trooper to have done all of that while you aren't feeling well.

It's all just lovely. I share your love of cardinals, reindeer, and horses so it was especially fun for me to see your collections. I love sight hounds, too, and hope to adopt one some day.
I'm off to go look up the painted ponies!

Thank you SO much, Everyone. Hearing such wonderful comments make it all worth the effort. I really had a time making myself start. Seemed like the Grinch stole my Christmas spirit at first. But I've been plugging away and think he's gone now.
Jane, no I don't have help. Other than DH put the bins from the storeroom and garage on the back patio for me.
One look at all that stuff is what made me decide to pare down and I'm so glad my DD and DDIL took quite a bit, plus I donated some. I still have way too much tho. LOL.
I'll sit back and enjoy it once I get the other table trees decorated and all those ornament bins out of my family-room. I'm sick of the mess and want it done!

Jim, did you notice the extra "hand" I had in one of the photos of the large white Reindeer in my china cabinet? I had to laugh when I saw the picture. On one of my small curios, I was sprinkling the loose "snow" on the shelves before putting figurines in it...that stuff is messy and I was being real careful to not get it all over the floor. I got a lower shelf covered with tiny flakes,turned to pick up a figurine and in that few seconds, Jazz had jumped on the shelf and lay down. I couldn't drag him out as I didn't want all the flakes to come with him. He refused to get out and lay there hissing at me for trying to gently poke him into getting up. Finally I gave up, drug him out and vacuumed up all the snow flakes AFTER shaking off the cat. LOL. He is SO trouble!

hugs, Karen

Purplemoon...I am always just (almost) speechless when I see your Christmas decor posted...everything is just SO BEAUTIFUL! I can see the love you put into each pc ... and enjoy sharing your home with you via the web.

Knowing that it makes you feel so good to see your lovely collections & projects come to life, makes it all worthwhile (even though you physically pay the price).

So now, like everyone says, sit back and relax for awhile...and enjoy every adorable pc.

I am still in the process...and will share pics later...getting better each day & DH also...kind of cold/flu virus...yesterday was my first day out since Mon. & today we got groceries before the "big snowstorm" hits tomorrow (forecasted, anyway).

Hugs to your DD & DIL...I know they must appreciate the beauty of your home, too! TFS! Jeanne S.

I love it all, Karen! My eyes were especially drawn to the mercury glass deer and the arrangements on your marble-topped tables.

Great job on the Christmas decor! Love the collections and extra touches everywhere! Amazing decor!
Bonnie

Karen,

I love all your decorations. Thank you so much for taking the time to do all this decorating when your not feeling well. So do you refill your cabints for every holiday or just Christmas? Woo hoo and then some, just wonderful to look at. Punk

Punk, normally my china cabinets aren't touched. But last year, thanks to the Orange Tornado cat, I moved my Painted Ponies and set up my Village in their big cabinet. I really enjoyed it and had planned to do same this year. But I just didn't have the energy to do the Village and sadly it stays packed. Then I decided to move the Ponies anyway and do some of my Christmas collections. I had some that wouldn't fit, so emptied another very small curio of Lady with Greyhound statues. Its kind of nice to have something different. Luckily I have two large linen closets with big shelves, that are my "Christmas closets".
So when the holiday stuff came out, my figurines are safely stored in there for now.

Alex, how neat you are interested in horse stuff and sighthounds too. I've owned several breeds of Sighthounds since 1967, but have had and shown the Whippets since 1972.
They are totally spoiled bed-hogs and couch-potatoes, and have me well-trained. Sighthounds are very different from most breeds. If you ever want to chat about them, just email me. Meanwhile, enjoy looking at the Painted Ponies.
A lot on eBay, plus they have an official web site that is fantastic.

Thanks again to ALL of you. You sure know how to make me feel good.

hugs, Karen