CHRISTMAS IS HERE...FA LA LA LA LA

 Thanksgiving came and went without much fuss, and ushered in the Christmas season with all its glory.  I love Christmas.  I have made it mine by eliminating stress and focusing on what is important.  My daughter, my husband, home decor, and food.    At the beginning of December, I sent gifts to my daughter, and baked cookies for gifts: peanut butter and oatmeal/pecan.   Just for fun, I made a coconut cake the weekend before the holiday, and for Christmas Eve, we'll enjoy a red velvet cake.  By mid-December, the tree was up, and the fireplace was adorned with an evergreen garland, angels, lights, and ornaments.   In the morning when Sadie and I come downstairs, and the chores are done, I play Christmas music instead of turning on the TV.   It's a wonderful time of year.

I was with my Mom when I purchased the angel tree topper. It was the early '70s, so she's seen a lot of Christmases perched atop the tree.

Dining Room

Sunroom. Candle from Melanie

The silver is polished and on the kitchen table. The dining room had a pre-Christmas deerscape table setting, and tomorrow I will replace it with Old Country Roses as I get ready for Christmas Eve and day.

Dining Room:  Deerscape

I love a silver tea set, and my Mom's Johann Haviland, Petit Point tea cups coordinate nicely with it.  The tablecloth is April Cornell, Merry Black, and that pretty silver tray was a bargain find at a nearby estate sale. Vintage white linen napkins were my Grandmother's.  

Kitchen:  Coconut Cake and Silver Tea Service

It's Christmas Eve, and our dinner tonight will come to us from D'Franco's, our favorite local restaurant. Starting with a tri-color salad and clams oreganata, we'll finish with mussels fra Diavolo over pasta.  To compliment this lovely meal we'll sip a chilled, bubbly Cava.    I made peanut butter cookies for Santa today, and we have coconut cake for later.   The table is set with Royal Albert's Old Country Roses atop a black velvet tablecloth.  

Christmas Eve and Christmas Dinner

Surround yourself with what you love...