Tried to finish the outdoor décor this afternoon but it was cold, snowy and windy, so I came in for a glass of wine and started on the interior.
Sorry for the dark, blurry pics, my 12 yr old camera is pretty awful. I have asked Santa (ok me...) for a new one :)

oops - in the middle of faux painting my mantel...

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And putting on window trim. I will never be ready for Christmas - sigh ....

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Ready for Santa, hope Santa appreciates my tacky but joyous, "Joy" marquee;)

Because our house isn't finished, we are doing very limited decorations. Last year, we were camping in the basement, so we are making progress! The first pic is last years' live Norway Spruce, along with a faux fireplace, in the BASEMENT! We planted the tree, and it has little white lights on it this year. The second pic is our big 6' barn wreath. I made a backer out of plywood scraps, and I just staple pine branches on it. Not that impressive close up, it looks fine up on the barn. Lastly is our 'construction' wreath, which I have vowed to use until the house is DONE. It has that indistrial look of a construction site!

I just wanted to pop back in and say I've enjoyed looking at all these decorations...especially this last "wreath"! That's genius, MushCreek!

Alex I love your wreaths, they show so much flair and I love your tree just as it is ... .something about the backdrop of the dark wall that looks great as well as the.... is it a red lining in the wicker container?

it just looks perfect

Mtn, it's a plastic tablecloth I put in there to cover the rail car spring (giant size spring, basically) that's holding the tree upright. It's stuffed with a couple of old kitchen towels to stabilize the base, so not pretty. Thank you for the compliments!

Here's the decorated tree...kids insisted!

All of the pictures are wonderful. Sueb20, your cherubs surrounded by evergreen make for a sweet look on your mantel. Allison0704, I like your interpretation of the Pinterest wreath. It look like something Ralph Lauren would make. Bonnieann925, doggies make the best decoration and Billie is a cutie. Aputernut, what a good idea to capture all your festive decor in a video. It adds so much to see the decor accompanied by Christmas music. Rtwilliams, I really like the contrast of Christmas red and evergreen against your white trim and black door. I want to sit down in your living room with a cup of coffee and a good book. Mtnrdredux, you achieved a lovely casual elegance, as always. I love the look of the magnolia leaves. Houseofsticks, neat wreath and dignified pup. He looks so important posing on the steps like that. I love your marquee letters on your mantel. I've been enamored of those kind of letters forever, but I have absolutely no place to use them. :-( Maddielee, your bows are gorgeous and I love the J-O-Y you've added to your entrance. Alex9179, I am seriously in love with your wreaths. It's a good thing that I don't know where you live because those wreaths might disappear into my car one dark night...just kidding...but they are wonderful. Dawnt, if I had your view out of my windows, I might never decorate the inside of my house. I couldn't see the inside very well, but I think the tree with lights is outside? How fun is that? Mushcreek, you're my hero for decorating for the holidays in the midst of construction and keeping your sense of humor intact. Your construction wreath is priceless.

Here are some bits of my decor...the top of the armoire in the living room and the lanterns on either side of the front door on the inside. I'm thinking that next year I should hang a wreath inside the front door to break up that expanse of white.

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I'm in love with the ducting wreath. I'm going to have to remember this!

My decorating is minimal this year and I made it easier by using this shelf instead of spreading it out.

The wall looks icky yellow in this picture. lol

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These are my favorites.
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I'm off to a late start. We delayed celebrating Thanksgiving until my DIL could get a day off, then DH & I were in Barcelona on business all last week. So here is a Thanksgiving/Christmas holiday blend table setting -- it will segue into full Xmas mode as soon as I can get caught up.

yes, this weekend working on it. still need a few more things to be done.

I'm slow and sparse with the holiday decor this year. I've left about half the usual decorations in the attic, deciding to keep it simple. I can't skip my Santa collection, though. Sometimes I scatter them around the house, other years I have clustered them all together on a console or bookcase. This year, they're on the dining/library radiator cover. I know the tree is weird, but it does well in this window -- and maybe the Santas feel like they're on a tropical island!

Well . . . I've just started decorating this past weekend and have still so far to go. But, I thought you might get a chuckle out of the mess I've created so far.
We had to get a new main tree this year and have had it out in our garage for over a month now. DH was too busy with charting in his study to help me yesterday, so I put it up, sans ornaments, by myself. We'll have a little tree decorating party this coming weekend when DD is home from college (this is finals week, poor kid).
And then I pulled out all the Christmas plates, glasses, mugs and serveware and packed the everyday stuff away. This morning I've already hauled all 19 boxes of decs and gift wrap in from our garage closet.
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And then I went through all of my placemats and cloth napkins, separating them for the holidays. This is a pic of 156 (seriously; I counted them for the first time ever) that I'm packing away in one of the empty Christmas bins. Still on our dining room table are 54 red, green white or navy that I'll still be able to use during the holidays. This doesn't include approximately 24 actual Christmas placemats and 36 napkins that I haven't unpacked yet. Yes, I know, it seems excessive. OK, it is excessive, but I love setting nice tables and I've been married for 32 years, so they add up!
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I still need to address my Christmas cards and mail those and then make 10 dozen farolitos to put outside. I haven't wrapped a single gift yet, and still haven't finished up my Christmas shopping.

I do have one dec actually up, though!
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I hope this makes everyone feel much better about how far along you all are compared to me (LOL). If DD wasn't such a Christmas lover who looks forward to all of these so much . . . and, if we didn't host a big group here every Christmas Day, I would drastically cut back on decorating. If DD went to college locally, I'd be having her help me, but she's about 600 miles from here. In the mean time, I'll be a decorating dervish this week . . . and probably next!
Just sign me
Mrs. Scrooge (LOL)

Lynn, even with the boxes, i love your foyer! That ceiling!
I am all done the holidays! Shopping, wrapping, decorating, cooking, ... it is Dec 26 here! It actually did not feel that odd, except the kids had homework!

I have a question about table linens, which may sound facetious. Is there such a thing as ghost stains? I always throw my linens in cold water before guests are out the driveway. Then the next day I inspect them and treat any stains, wash them etc. If there are a lot I have them ironed and folded (perfectly) at the drycleaner's. Even so, I often find stains months or years later. Ideas?

Lynninnm - Oh my that looks like alot of work. When my 2 kids where still at home I did more decorating with 4 trees to decorate. Now I just store the 2 artificial trees with a bag over them after I take off the breakable ornaments. Now I have 3 large plastic totes and I really only used part of the stuff this year.

Mtn - You have inspired me to put more effort into my gift wrapping. I have gotten very lazy in the last few years and just use gift bags. I have some gift bags that I have been using for over 5 years now! I will wrap at least one gift for each person nice in what I call Martha Stewart style! Sorry I am no help on the stain question.

House of sticks - love your fireplace and decor and especially the reindeer - ( are the deer in trouble, looks like they are standing in the corner LOL) I had a JOY like yours made by a friend a few years ago but the Y did not survive very long and would not stay glued.

Fun2bhere - come on over for coffee anytime. I enjoyed reading your thoughtful comments to so many. Yes a wreath on that door would like nice. You could even paint that door black!

The 2 Christmas decor posts are confusing me.

This post was edited by rtwilliams on Mon, Dec 8, 14 at 14:15

Lynn, I am feeling much better about my obsess....er collection of placemats. I almost bought more yesterday but stopped myself by refusing to look further. I like pretty tables too and placemats are more beautiful now than in the past. My collection isn't near as large as yours but I have them stowed in a buffet and more in a pull out in my kitchen. I think this year I will stow my Christmas placemats with the rest of my Christmas décor.

Rtwilliams, the door IS black on the outside...lol...but I like the inside to match the rest of the trim. Thanks for the invitation to coffee. I'll be right over.

LynninNM, I'm so happy to see another lover of linens. I have to switch out what is stored in the dining room between spring/summer, fall/winter and holiday at the appropriate times.

Mtnrdredux, I have a topper and some napkins soaking right now as a full mug of coffee with cream was spilled Saturday night at our first party. As for phantom stains, they are probably some sort of oil-based stains that show up after they have oxidized from the heat in the dryer or the iron.

Fun, So the things is, you put it all away, thinking you are set, and then when you take them out to use, last minute, find out you don't have enough napkins or whatever. I guess you just need to check in advance! Thought i was going crazy.

No, you are not going crazy. I'm bad about not checking linens and silver in advance which sometimes means I'm scurrying around at the last minute to polish a piece or substitute different napkins. My mother is incredibly organized and checks all the holiday linens and all the silver in early November so that she has time to replace, repair, polish or re-launder them, as needed. Somehow, she failed to pass on that do-it-early-don't-wait gene to me...lol.

Fun2BHere,
My late mother was like yours! She used to come to my house and polish the silver and check the linens before each holiday. I miss her every single day, but the holidays bring back such fond memories of how much she helped make them seem effortless. Sometimes, she would take my linens home for her "special treatment"! She was amazing, but, like you, I did not seem to get that gene. Oh well! I just check the linens, and have eliminated 75% of what I used to consider "essential". Less is more!

LOL . . . I definitely agree that less is more some times. For instance with my having over 200 placemats (BTW, those stacks are just the placemats; the napkins are in a laundry basket on the dining room table). I need to store mine seasonally, like Fun does. Good idea!

I'm glad (I think) that you all brought up polishing the silver. I forgot to and need to add that to my unending list of things to do! Thank goodness that I did remember to schedule the window people to do our windows this Saturday morning. At this time of year I can't function without my spiral notebook of lists!

Mtn: thank you. the ceiling is a Boveda ceiling and the bricks are 100+ years old. It was fascinating to watch the gentleman build it, brick by brick. Our front door was hand carved for us when we had this place built, 22 years ago, and is quite heavy. Too heavy some days! The light fixture is from San Miguel de Allende.
OK, that was my time out to rest. Back to work!
Lynn

Bonnieann925, mothers are special, aren't they? I've lived far away from mine for most of my adult life, but we always spend a significant amount of time around the holidays at my parents' house. I'm sure that it will seem strange and a little sad to not be at their house for Christmas in some future year when they are gone.

LynninNM, I always schedule my parties for nighttime. With low light, there's no need to clean windows and any dust is less noticeable, too...lol.

Fun: OMG, me, too! We just had a dinner party the Tuesday evening before Thanksgiving and I planned it so that it would start after the sun set! I was so glad that Daylight Savings Time had ended (LOL)!
Lynn

LynninNM, great minds think alike!!! LOL!

My white napkins sometimes get orangey or yellow stains on them if they sit too long. And the shelves are stainless steel! If that is oxidation I should start keeping them in vacuum bags.

Lynn, years ago I had a huge garden club event and needed 50 matching napkins. Luckily there is a mill here in town that no longer weaves cloth but still makes things for many catalog companies, and at their once a year sale I found the Christmas napkins I needed. They aren't super nice (serged rather than hemmed edges, which means I have to trim the fuzzed broken threads at the corners with nail scissors, of all things) and they are not even that absorbent, but by God they MATCH! They are quite pretty, and that many of anything makes an impressive show!

Lynn and Fun, now I like the idea of the sun setting earlier! One good thing about seasonal decorating, I finally clean the surfaces that are above my eye level!

While I no longer go all out for my home anymore, I will do up my dollhouse for Christmas preparations and the holiday and little foods and such that I make

Mmmbeeer, that is amazing! Can you share more photos of your dollhouse?

Everyone has been busy! So much to see and all so pretty. Yet, It is depressing me. We have had some family loses this year, so I have not much felt like decorating.

I did manage to get the outside decorated last week after being out of town for Thanksgiving. (photos below) Then, after three attempts to find a tree during a rainy week, we finally settled for the smallest tree ever! DH and I set it up on Friday night. Saturday, I awoke to the beginnings of the flu (oh, the joys of being a grandparent). I was down for the count Sunday and most of today. Progress on the inside is slow (photos to come later). The tree remains without ornaments, but we do have lights. It's pitiful!

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This post was edited by newhomebuilder on Tue, Dec 9, 14 at 9:05

Love all the decorations!

Thank you, WMA89--how nice of you! Here are some Christmas pics of the dollhouse:

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Wow, Mmmbeeer, what incredible miniature rooms! Did you say you make the food yourself? How long have you been doing this? What a lovely hobby!

OMG, I am blown away . . . and totally enchanted with your doll house and your incredible talent, Mmmbeeer! Thanks for sharing it with us.
Lynn

Mmmmbeer, that's adorable. Can you buy most of those miniatures or do you make some of them?

New home, the entry is beautiful, and pooch is perfect. Sorry about your losses this year.

oh, boy, lots of stuff going on in this thread. the wreaths! especially the duct wreath.

Lynn -- too much stuff! One or two boxes is my limit anymore to store. Wait till you see my tree -- you will laugh!

I love your home, NewHomeBuilder!

lucky people with red doors!

WMA89, Lynn, and mtnrdredux: Your posts are so encouraging--thanks for your very kind words!

I have loved tiny things since I was a kid, as did my Mother. I built her a small dollhouse for Christmas one year from a kit, then built one for me, and I have a larger one with an ongoing remodel (just like in real life) where I repurpose, paint, and customize little furniture that I buy or make from kits. I made all of the food shown (except for the eggs, those were cheaper to buy) and the tiny candies that a friend made. I make the rugs, curtains, shelves, garlands, some of the packages, little accessories such as the bulletin board, cookie sheets, spatula, pot holders, the fireplace hearth, fender and fan, the star cookie cutter, dough, Christmas cards, and the gingerbread house. The dollhouse for my dollhouse was made from a kit that is 1/144 inch scale that I assembled, painted and I made borders, rugs etc. to customize it.

I tell people this is the monster my parents created when I didn't get the dollhouse or the Easy Bake oven that I wanted as a kid ;-) Thanks again for the nice comments!!

Violet: agreed. I woke up at 2AM fretting about how much I "had" to do still. I finally got back to sleep around 3:15AM . . . but only by telling myself, over and over again, "Just simplify it all. You can do it. Just simplify everything". I'm going to work on doing just that today. It's my new mantra for the holidays.
I'm looking forward to seeing your tree.
Lynn

Mmmbeeer, I loooooove looking at your creations. I'm a huge fan of miniatures and your rooms are decorated so wonderfully well. Thank you so much for sharing the pictures.

NewHomeBuilder, sorry to hear that your heart is heavy with sadness this year. I hope 2015 is better. I love your tiny pup, BTW. He looks perfect with your outdoor decor.

Wow, mmmmbeeer. I wouldn't have realized they were miniatures if you hadn't prefaced that it's a doll house! Incredible.

Newhome, my condolences. My Grandad passed away in October and I miss him terribly. I think that's one of the reasons I'm into it this year because it conjures those memories of spending the holidays at their house. So hard to say goodbye.

Lynn, I think I would have looked at the 19 boxes in the garage and backed away and quietly closed the door!

Mmmmbeer, You should teach us all how to do this so we can do our projects in miniature!

Mmmbeer, when you get time, would you take more pics of your doll houses and post them all again in a separate thread for us to enjoy? Title it something like, "Mmmbeeer's Doll Houses" so that nobody misses seeing it. The details are incredible and wonderful and I know that I'm not the only one here who would love to see more of your beautiful creations.
Lynn

I agree! I would love to see a dedicated thread to the doll house, Mmmbeer. It looks incredible. Reminds me of the dollhouse that my grandfather built for my sister.

Thank you all for the kind words. The same to all of you that may be sad during this holiday season.

Also thank you for the encouragement in my Christmas décor. It's really been a struggle this year. The house is finished, though everything is less elaborate than I usually decorate. Some things I was getting sick of. I guess change is good. :)

I wil post more photos this afternoon.

Mmmbeeer, your doll house is the sweetest thing I've seen in a long time!

No outdoor lights? Here is a portion of ours:

Magdalena,
You are *%^#$%^ing me! That is magical.

By comparison, our neighbors get treated to a Shaker family xmas when they drive by. Mine is a lump of coal to your BB Rider (or whatever that reference is).

I need bling lessons.

PS Our architect took this photo. Would it be impolite to mention that the front door they proposed was not this one? Just sayin'

mt - I have always been in awe of those front doors!

Small Tree (for those that have seen my larger trees in the past, you will see a difference in this tree.

Angel Collection

Santa Collection (Latest from Russia and Sweden. A terrible photo)

Mantle (Very simplified from years past. No greenery!)

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Dining Room Table (Again, scaled back. Have yet to set places, though. :))

Candle (I decorated using an idea from Lowe's. In process of making two more.)

This post was edited by newhomebuilder on Thu, Dec 11, 14 at 11:20

A few more.

The entry
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Serving area in kitchen that's never used for serving. It's usually a dumping ground, so I'm glad I had something pretty I wanted to do!
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Mantle
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Everything is so pretty! It's really fun to get a "tour".

Happy Holidays everybody!

PS Thanks, Robo. Any word on your/their/my/our lakehouse? Can we put a bow on it yet?

Magdalena, More please!

They are all so grand! Love the dollhouse... makes me want to be right in there! The red and gold table setting is going to have a way my table, lol. So many beautiful ideas!

Here are some pics of our outdoors:

Christmas decorating? Yes, we have. :-)

North Pole:
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Santa Claus Crossing:
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Santa Claus Railroad:
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Nativity Scene:
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This post was edited by sunnysa on Thu, Dec 18, 14 at 10:07