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Snippets of Christmas!

Snippet...I like that word. A small piece of something.  Everyone needs "a small piece of something".  I was quite busy during December and didn't participate in any of the Christmas decoration link up parties, but did want to show you a snippet of of my favorite things.  I'll start with one of my favorite rooms in the house, the laundry room.  Since I spend so much time there, I better like it.  During Christmas, it is turned into Santa's Wash and Dry! The red wreath was made by my maternal grandmother.  I treasure it and put it up each year.
I made this wreath for the laundry room door in a matter of minutes to match the toile in the laundry room.  A styrofoam wreath, leftover fabric, and a little greenery was all I needed to tweak this into a happy wreath.  Maybe I should have trimmed the strings before taking this picture!
We have manger scenes throughout the house, but this is one of my favorites.  Our oldest son sets up the scene each year. Joseph is a little top heavy so that staff must be strategically placed! Not to worry, our oldest is an aerospace engineer.  He is terrific with critical elements!
This is our reading room off of the kitchen.  During Christmas, it turns into my husband's Christmas Village and he has his "train tree' in here.  He is an avid train collector and the tree is dedicated to trains.  There is another set of houses in here, but we didn't get them in the picture.  I like the way the mirror gives you the ability to see the scenes from the back as well.  I have always been fascinated with Christmas village scenes.
I like to decorate the dining room.  My china cabinet is decked out in gold and greenery.  The Santa picture on the left hand-side was purchased from Lands End as a charity event for children's cancer.  He is a jolly ole Saint Nick!
Here is a shot of the den from an upper balcony.  Over the years I have learned to organize the decorations in each room prior to storing away.  I can literally put up the decorations in a few hours. Our main tree has never been a themed tree.  I like to see the ornaments our children made as well as those we've collected over the years.  Taking each one out brings back so many wonderful memories that you just can't get when you "theme" your tree.  I made our stockings our first Christmas together and added the boys' stockings as they came along.  Each is made of the same quilted fabric with a cross stitched scene and our names across the tops.  As you can see, we collect nutcrackers!
These are special to me as they were on my first Christmas tree as a baby.  My goodness, that makes them..ummm...old!
I can't believe that we didn't get a shot of the kitchen.  It is another favorite room in the house and is decorated in gingham and gingerbread.  Here is a special gift I received this year!  His name is Luke Bailey.  Luke for the chapter in the Bible telling of Christ's birth and Bailey for George Bailey in my favorite Christmas movie, It's A Wonderful Life. He is a sweetheart.  Our two big labs don't know quite what to make of him.  More about Luke later.
 I don't think I have ever shared a picture of my family with you.  We took this one for our Christmas cards this year with minimal fussing! Our oldest son, our aerospace engineer, is to the left of the picture and our youngest son is to my right.  He is in his junior year at MSU majoring in electrical engineering.  I must say, they do not get their analytical brains from me!  We have thoroughly enjoyed having them home during the holidays.  Of course, the guy on the right side of the picture is my sweet hubbie.  My family and I wish you and your family a Happy New Year and many blessings for the coming year.
 
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Comments

  1. Love all your "snippets". What a beautiful nativity, and I have to say I got a giggle out of the thought of needing an aerospace engineer to keep Joseph in place :) Your new pup is just too cute!
    Happy New Year!

    Jeanette

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  2. Hi Jeanette. Yep, we all need an aerospace engineer in the house! Thanks for stopping by and Happy New Year!

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  3. WOW is all that I have to say about your Christmas Decor ! It IS a wonderful life in your house! :)

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    1. Hi Debra. I come from a long line of Christmas decorators...it is in my genes. BUT as I said, I have perfected the process and it doesn't take long. Happy New Year! Thanks for stopping by today!

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  4. I love your decorating! A very handsome family also!

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  5. That darling puppy does not even look real he is so darn cute. Happy New Year and what a lovely warm and gorgeous home you have.

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    1. Isn't he cute?! He looks like a Boyd's bear! We almost named him Boyd. Thanks for stopping by. Come back soon!

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  6. Thank you for stopping by to visit me! I am now your newest follower! Your home is beautiful and even more you have a beautiful family.
    Look forward to following you in 2013!

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    1. Hi Ann,
      Thank you for dropping by and the nice comments. Looking forward to being blogging buddies!

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  7. I just found your blog through Elaine's Sunny Simple Life. I enjoyed seeing your beautiful home decorated for Christmas and that cute puppy (oh my!). I'll definitely be back to visit again and will add your lovely blog to my blog list.

    Happy New Year!
    Sandra
    Ravenhill Cottage

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    1. So glad you found my blog and I have now found yours! He is a cute puppy, but at the moment, he is trying to eat the keyboard!
      Blessings from Still Woods!

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  8. I'm so glad you visited my blog and left me precious comments about my party! Your home is so beautifully decorated for Christmas! It must have taken lots of time to hang all of that lovely garland. What a beautiful nativity scene you have. That's something I hope to own one day!! I'm a new follower! :)
    Blessings,
    Leslie

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    1. Thanks for dropping by. We bought the nativity at (of all places) Sam's Club in Gulfport, MS many years ago Not sure if they have a Sam's Club in your area, but it is similar to some of the larger warehouse stores. I label all the garland and I can hang it in the attic, so it can be taken down and put up quickly without all that fluffing. We just can't keep fresh greenery too long here, but I do add sprigs in various places and replace it as needed. thanks for following!
      Blessings from Still Woods

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  9. Thanks for the blog visit& kind words. I am a huge Wonderful Life fan also and I think it's so cute that you named your sweet pup after George. New year's blessings to you! Jane

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    1. Hi Jane,
      I enjoyed visiting your blog and an thankful that you stopped by Still Woods. Luke Bailey is a sweet puppy! We are used to outside dogs, so it is taking some getting used to. I will have to devote a blog post to him one day soon.
      Blessings from Still Woods

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  10. Everything looks beautiful, as it always does. We indeed have so many lovely memories at Christmas and all the time. Dad and I are so blessed to have two very talented daughters who love Christmas decorations as much as I and also Grandma. She absolutely loved getting the house all decked out for Christmas. All the pictures are beautiful but of course I am partial to the one that includes our two terrific grandsons! Mom

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    1. I need to post a blog about all your beautiful decorations you put up each year and of course, your hand painted ornaments. As I said, I come from a long line of Christmas decorators!
      Love you Mom!

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  11. Everything looks beautiful, as it always does. We indeed have so many lovely memories at Christmas and all the time. Dad and I are so blessed to have two very talented daughters who love Christmas decorations as much as I and also Grandma. She absolutely loved getting the house all decked out for Christmas. All the pictures are beautiful but of course I am partial to the one that includes our two terrific grandsons! Mom

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  12. I just found your blog thru Elaine's at Sunny Simple Life and so enjoyed reading thru your posts. Your home is beautiful and your family even more so. We are a military family that just left Keesler AFB to come home to New England. Found memories of the different ways to celebrate the holidays in the warmer climates. Your little pup is sooo cute. What breed is he? I have two that we rescued while in MS; a french bulldog and a boston terrior. I volunteered at the amazing Humane Society in Gulfport during our stay there. Ok I'm rambling now so I'll stop. Happy New Year!

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    1. Hi Donna! It was so nice to read your comments. So you know first hand about these winters! My dad was military as well and we lived in Rockland, Maine for many years. Talk about a different winter! Luke Bailey is a malti-poo. My sister's dog had a litter of two puppies and even though we said we would never have an indoor dog, I fell in love with him. We also have two dogs from the Humane Society in Gulfport. They are sweet labs. In fact, all of our previous dogs came from there. Do you have a blog? I would love to follow along.
      Blessings from the MS Gulf Coast and Still Woods!

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  13. Your home is decorated beautifully for Christmas and Luke Bailey is just the cutest pup ever. I am a new follower and off to browse your archives.
    Wishing you and your family the best 2013! xx, Sherry

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    1. Thanks Sherry for stopping by for a visit and following my little blog. As I said, I am looking forward to reading more from No Minimalist Here!
      Blessings from Still Woods

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  14. Happy New Year. Your photos are great, and I love the little dog.
    Your newest follower.
    Rick

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    1. Thank you for visiting me at Still Woods. I appreciate the comments regarding the photos. My youngest son is a pretty good photographer so he took all of the ones for my last post. We love our newest addition to the family as well!
      Blessings from Still Woods Farmhouse

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  15. Excellent Blog Post!

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  16. What a beautiful family photo. Cute wreath too. Thanks for sharing and happy New year to you.

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    1. Thank you Debbie and thank you for hosting another terrific party!

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  17. Looks like we have the same decor on my Bonifacio Global City condo's window. Thanks for sharing this very inspiring photos! :)

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  18. It's all so beautiful, thanks for linking up!

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  19. Oh...Just look at your darling laundry room. I love your addition of red and white toile. Your home is lovely...so inviting and splashied with luscious pops of red!
    Thank you so much for sharing about your darling laundry room!
    Blessings,
    Carolynn xoxo

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