I have reached that point in my decorating when I can simply enjoy Christmas.
Lulu thinks I spent way too much time decorating and is quite happy that I am now finished.
Spotting this sign on My Sweet Savannah the other day made me smile because shopping is not part of our Christmas at all this year.
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| Farolitos on Canyon Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico - 2010 |
Our family began vacationing for Christmas in 2003, but this year is different because we all agreed to NO PRESENTS.
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| Homewood, Lake Tahoe - 2009 |
Time together
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| Canyon Road, Christmas Eve - 2010 |
is our gift to and from one another.
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| North Star, Lake Tahoe - 2008 |
And this year, there will be 6 of us instead of 4 - we leave for Kauai in 10 days !!!!
With no need to hit the stores or shop on-line, there has been a lot of tweaking the decorations and using up supplies.
This quilt I made 35 years ago has seen better days and it was cut up for projects inspired by all the Christmas ideas on Pinterest, blogs and Instagram.
I have always wanted to make stockings out of old quilts
and now I have finally done so.
Little stockings are hanging here and there around the house
and tucked into a little tree in the entry.
The last bits of drop cloth
were sewn into ornaments that will be mailed off tomorrow to a friend.
The making is done - the sewing machine is put away until 2016.
Decorating is complete
and now I just need to take pictures for the Creating Christmas Link Party hosted by Jann of Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson.
Check out Day 1 of the link party at
Day 2 is hosted by Cecilia of My Thrift Store Addiction.
Cozy Little House Holiday Party
.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Cozy Little House Holiday Party
.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
I posted the pic of Lulu with her ball on Facebook
and my neighbor altered it a bit!
Sounds wonderful to me. The agreement your family made to have time together instead of presents is so smart. We all reach a point where we just need more time and less stuff.
ReplyDeleteI love your decor throughout your house. The dropcloth ornies are too cute. Your family trips for the holidays is such a great idea. Time with family is the best gift!
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful that you are set to Enjoy! That is so important! You have worked hard and now you can relax and celebrate! You will also have a wonderful trip - what a great decision - NOT buying gifts! The gift of presence is the BEST! Blessings, Cindy
ReplyDeleteCarol,
ReplyDeleteLulu looks so cute and ready to play. Glad you are done and can just enjoy the holidays now. I think it is awesome that you spend time together instead of exchanging gifts. Too sweet. How nice you have more family too to enjoy this year on your trip together.
Hugs,
Kris
Oh I love the stockings! Old quilts are the best aren't they? I know you guys are going to have the best of times together this Christmas. Stay safe!
ReplyDeleteCarol.
ReplyDeleteYour cottage looks very inviting and festive. It's amazing the amount of homespun pieces you finished this year and now the sewing machine is put away and it's time to just sit back and enjoy. Lulu is a precious pet and I just adore her photos. Cute altered photo of her, perhaps next year's Christmas card? Sweet your neighbor did that.
Carol I truly believe having time together with family is gift alone, your family vacation sounds like it will be magical. Looking forward to your holiday house tour.
xoxo,
Vera
Carol,
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful that your family will all be on vacation together in Hawaii. I was reading an article just last week about how experiences together are so much better for the family than presents. You were ahead of the latest advice.
Have a very Merry Christmas. See you next year when you are back home.
Judith
I've never been so in love with a cottage by the sea and the way you decorate..just love it all.
ReplyDeleteFamily vacations are the very best...I treasure all the ones we've taken with family.....have fun...and hurry back and show me more of your cute house...
Your sweet dog is so adorable...and now I have to find bottles to put greenery and berries in.....just like yours. :)
xoxo
Hi Carol,
ReplyDeleteYour decorating is so amazingly beautiful, so creative and I love all of the handmade things! There is nothing like something handmade, it is always the best...and so much better then anything you could ever find in a store!
I wanted to say thank you for the little package you sent me for Vicky's ornament exchange, it arrived today and I loved everything...my husband was laughing as I opened it saying it's like she knows you! ;) The mermaid ornament is so pretty and the handmade heart ornament you sent means so much and it is something I will always treasure! And the bits from the sea, so special...I am an avid sea glass/shell/stone collector!
Thank you again Carol, I loved it all!!
Hugs, Kimberley
ps...have an amazing Christmas!
JOY
ReplyDeleteCUTENESS
HAPPY FAMILY
COLOR
You bring it all to me this morning, Carol. That Lulu is a doodle with her look and stance...hahahahahhaha
I so love coming to visit YOU!
I love when the decorating is done and we can enjoy all the other things that the season brings. I can't wait for your holiday tour, and I'm with you on the no shopping! I love that idea!
ReplyDeleteI just love your sweetly, simply decorated home.
ReplyDeleteOur families quit exchanging gifts many years ago.
It looks like your family has had some wonderful 'together' Christmas times.
Enjoy this years.
Happy Christmas holidays ~ FlowerLady
Now that's a great Christmas present to have family time in Hawaii and no shopping. Of course with Grands it's different for me but I still am keeping shopping to a minimum and enjoying the season! Your home is so pretty all decorated for Christmas!
ReplyDeletehugs,
Linda
I am so so jealous!! Enjoy your holiday and take loads of photos so I can enjoy it vicariously...
ReplyDeletexoxox
How wonderful to be traveling together at Christmas! What a great idea to give as a gift to yourselves. Love your Christmas décor. I too try and be done by the beginning of December to just enjoy the month. Going simple in decorating this year has helped that a lot!
ReplyDeleteMy sister is doing the same thing this year, Carol. With kids scattered all over the country, they are meeting in one place to celebrate together. No gifts...well, maybe one or two for their delicious grandbaby. Santa shows up on vacation, right? Enjoy!!
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy your trip. Love what you did with the old quilt and that clock in the first picture is so cute. I have to find one.
ReplyDeleteCarol, your family tradition of taking a special trip is a wonderful to gift to all. Making memories together is the most lasting gift one can give a family or friends. Your 2015 trip will be a change with sand and warm weather from the snowy slopes in the mountains. Loved the look into your beautiful home decorated for Christmas. Love the white sofa with the red accents. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteLove your decorating style. Where do you get your greenery and how long does it last?
ReplyDeleteI like your stockings and decorations from the old quilt. I like the old quilt. I bought twin baby quilts at an estate sale to do the same thing with but haven't gotten to it yet. They are very faded and well loved. I look at them and wonder what stories they could tell.
Your neighbor is very creative with the picture of Lulu.
Your house looks great! I love all the little touches and handmade items! How brave and wonderful of you to cut up that old quilt and give it new life in so many ways. Such a great idea! I also love how your family is giving one another the gift of time together instead of gifts. That could take so much stress from the holidays and make it a lot more fun. Congratulations that you're to the point of just enjoying the holidays now. Ahhhh! I love that! Now, for me to get to that point! ;-)
ReplyDeleteWell I was going to comment about the cute stockings and other things but in the end I had to bust out laughing at Lulu's alteration :)
ReplyDeleteI like your family idea of getting together and not buying presents. We barely are buying presents this year too. I know you'll have a nice time on vacation. Merry Christmas
ReplyDeleteI love how you used the old quilt! Very festive ~
ReplyDeleteI would love to eliminate presents completely from our Christmas too! You have chosen the best present to you all. Have a wonderful holiday together. That's a lovely picture of Lulu. Sarah x
ReplyDeleteWell another great Christmas of decorating on your part, great job. Love the stockings you made from the quilt, not sure I could cut one up regardless of its state but proud of you for being brave! Your house is just perfect ... and your Christmas plans are beyond perfect :)
ReplyDeleteMary
Love your quilted stockings. I have 2 that my mother-in-law made for us many years ago from a quilt that her mother made that was finally falling apart. Hope you have a wonderful time on your trip. Lulu is adorable with her ball/ornament!
ReplyDeletehugs,
Cindy
Carol, What a nice Christmas you will have. It's the love of family that makes it wonderful. I love Lulu's new ball. LOL. Blessings, xoxo,Susie
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful, fun, joyous family vacation!
ReplyDeleteLove the cute stockings and ornaments from the worn quilt. I would love to do that one day. Enjoy your time away with family! That sounds like a wonderful idea.
ReplyDeleteIt looks absolutely fabulously festive! I hope your family has an amazing trip!
ReplyDeleteCarol, what a treat to tour your lovely home and see photos of Christmas past at Lake Tahoe! That would be so nice to get away and just relax! Love your stockings made from your quilt, memories made! Blessings, Pam @ everydayliving.me
ReplyDeleteHow lovely your home is, full of creative touches made by you. You are right, family together time is the best gift of all. Enjoy your time in the sun!
ReplyDeleteYour house looks wonderful and it sounds like all of you will be receiving the perfect gift!
ReplyDeleteI just wrote on BJ's blog (after seeing those cute items from you) that the two of you are my shining stars, you give me inspiration and a push to do just a bit more to make this place warm and cozy. Happy days and happy travels to you and your family.
ReplyDeleteYour home looks so festive as always. Love the idea of using an old quilt to create new treasures. Wishing you all a safe and fabulous Christmas in Kauai.
ReplyDeleteOh Carol what a perfect Christmas. No gifts, vacationing with family and the decorating is done. I'm there too and it feels so good to be done and sit back and enjoy the house. Lulu is adorable and I love the edit from your neighbor. How cute is that. I see this a Christmas card!!!!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your holiday vacation~ xo
Oh how wonderful for you and your family to go to Hawaii together! I know you all will love that. That sure is a great gift to each other. Your home looks so pretty with all of your homemade Christmas decor in it.
ReplyDeleteMust be nice to have everything done. All that is left is packing and to enjoy your trip. Have fun my dear friend.
ReplyDeleteLove your stockings and ornaments you made out of the quilt.
Hugs,
❤️Ana
Your house looks so festive. You have made so many lovely things.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you will have a great trip.
Carol, your home looks very cozy and festive. Enjoy your Christmas with your family. Thanks for sharing and give Lulu and hug for me.
ReplyDeleteChristmas blessings.
Sandi
I love peeking at your Christmas decor! Everything looks so pretty. I love your new family tradition of NO presents. Time together instead. I'm so stressed out trying to pull it all together. Getting everything in time... all that jazz... and each year I say that I'll be more organized the next and it never happens. Maybe next year :) I finally got my ladder decorated, inspired by yours!
ReplyDeleteYour decorating is lovely! And, good for your family for giving time instead of gifts. Enjoy every minute of your time on Kauai! xoxo
ReplyDeleteHow exciting for you all! What a wonderful vacation you'll have together. Great idea!! Your house looks sweet with it's simple Christmas decor. Have a fabulous trip! Blessings, Pam
ReplyDelete... and may you have an absolutely wonderful Christmas Season
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
ReplyDeleteNow I am wondering does LuLu go with the family skiing?
love all your cute quilt stocking I did that years ago and still have one from the 1980's I made
Yours has now officially become my favorite Blog. I love your use of the primary colors. Especially red. You just give me so many great ideas. My former first choice blog has moved down as she has changed so much. You are #1 in my blogland!
ReplyDeleteCarol, please give me your secret. My parents and I have been trying to convince the rest of the family that a "no gift Christmas" would be a better Christmas for years with no success!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a pretty dog you have! Lulu has a very cute muzzle. It makes me wanna tickle it.
ReplyDeletefamily vacation and no gifts sounds awesome. I really like the stockings you made out of the old quilt. Re-purpose! Love the alteration of the picture of LuLu. Too cute.
ReplyDeleteHope you had an awesome Christmas and A Happy New Year