Finally... I found Christmas!

  

Hello friends..as you might already know from my last few posts, I have been searching for evidence of Christmas around my home. I have been so behind in everything that I took a break from my Etsy shop so I could take the time to enjoy the holiday season. Well I have been very, very busy looking for Christmas and I think I have  made some progress. I have to warn you..this is a longer post than usual, so you might want to get yourself a cup of coffee and put your cell phone on mute, while you come along with me and let's see if we can find Christmas.

Hello there...come on in.........

Beautiful old sled I found at an antique shop..very cheap too ;-)

Well let's begin our search in the kitchen..cute metal bucket I picked up at an after Christmas sale that I filled with snow covered greens and a cute little snowman. Gives me something to smile at while I wash dishes.

                                     

Of course I have to have some red and green in my kitchen windows. All cute so far, but not really what I am looking for. Let's keep searching...

    

     

My friends will all get my special little Cream Cheese pound cakes and cookies!

                             

Pretty metal snowflakes hang in the dinette.. Let's look in the living room..maybe Christmas is hiding in there...

             

I keep my mantel simple with just snowy pine swags, berries, more snowflakes and little icicle lights.

Most of the Santas have been painted by me over the years. I love Santa, but he is still not the real thing I am searching for...

                

I love these pinecone lights and of course more snowflakes.....

My stuffed Santa doll and a tall wooden santa stands vigil at the fireplace...made by me.

I love painting Santas..My Blue santa is my favorite, he is painted on tin. I am also a fan of bottlebrush trees...so vintage looking....still not what we are looking for....on to the sitting room..

This little snowman is just styrofoam balls glued together and covered with Snowtex and German glass glitter..too cute and easy! Paint a tin can with white spray paint, add features and checks and add glitter and you have an adorable candycane holder! You can also collect fallen tree branches, strip the loose bark and paint for really cute Santas. As much as I love creating my holiday pieces, it is still not what I am searching for...

                       

This is my lovely bird tree..as you may have figured out already, I am a huge bird lover. This tree is my homage to all the beautiful birds who make me smile on a daily basis....Well I am running out of places to look...

                      

I don't know what it is about Christmas trees that make my heart just sing with real joy...I truly believe that their is no such thing as an ugly Christmas tree, as long as it is decorated with love and sincerity.

Most of my ornaments have been made by me throughout the years. There is the replica of my hubby's first Houston Police Badge (top half in red & green felt) , the glass ball Santa that is so old and transparent and bedraggled  that he is now referred to as 'the Nightmare B4 Christmas Santa' and the painted tin star Santas (bottom left, in red) Many were made by my son's when they were little guys and they are my favorite. My tree is the last thing I gaze at before I say goodnight, but something is still missing........as Charlie Brown said.." Doesn't anybody know the true meaning of Christmas!"

          

YES........this is what I was looking for! My mother made this lovely Nativity scene for me many years ago and I cherish it for it's simplicity and beauty..I love you Mom ....Merry Christmas everyone and I wish you all a Happy and Healthy New Year!