We finished decorating our tree today, Sunday, and it is so cozy and sparkly in our family room now; with a fire going in the fireplace it is the best room in the house.
Friday night we got the tree placed right where we wanted it; we released it from its wrapping, added lots of water to the stand, and then let it “rest” all night. Actually, we needed to rest, not the tree.
We like our Christmas trees to be filled with all kinds of ornaments; each one holding a special memory or two. There isn’t any room for garland or tinsel on our trees, and that’s okay with us. It may look like a mass of ornaments to you, but it represents decades of wonderful memories to us.
I may be able to dress dolls, but I cannot dress a window if my life depended on it, so please don’t judge my windows. They’ve been like this since we’ve moved in. (How embarrassing!) I think I should ask Santa to send me someone to help dress my windows.
Thanks for stopping by! Have a great week!
Bye for now!
Cindy Rice Designs 
Hang what anyone else would say, but those sliding door/window covers are the best. They have been in our house for years now and over the years have changed from curtains to vertical blinds. Been through children, cats, and dogs. Easy to clean and functional. When the children/pets are not a problem, then replace with nice drapes. You can make them!! Easy. That’s what I need to do. Must put on the to do list. 🙂
Your tree is like ours, should we put it up. All the kids ornaments as well as those my grandmother made for me years ago. Yours is beautiful. Love it.
My family came to the US from Denmark in the 1870’s. Settled in Chebanse, Ill. Then moved to Alta, Iowa by 1880. My other side also came to Illinois and were in Cumberland County from Indiana, before going on to southern Missouri/northern Arkansas. How did you come to your area? Your nationality? I love family history.
Thanks for understanding my window treatment woes. Including all of your reasons, they also block the light nicely; lots of reasons to love verticals, just wished they were prettier.
How wonderful that you have ornaments that your grandmother made. My grandfather made the stable for the baby Jesus that I cherish. I even have my grandparent’s plaster characters that they had when I was young; they have nicks and chips, but I love them, zillions of memories in them.
My mother’s grandparents came here as young adults from Slovenia and settled in Chicago and central Illinois. My dad’s father came here from Poland and his mother’s parents came from Poland. My dad’s parents met each other and married in Chicago. Out of 11 cousins and siblings, I, and only one cousin are the only two left in the area. I often daydream how nice it would be if everyone lived close by, so we could all be a part of each others every day lives. Oh, well!
Thanks for telling me your family story. I find it fascinating too. I remember that when I was young we would go around the school classroom and talk about our nationalities.
Have a great day, Joy!
Wow, your tree is fabulous glistening with all of the lovely and special ornaments!
Thanks, Joy! It is indeed magical.
Really special. I still have the tea cup ornament you gave us, and put it up every year. Thanks for posting this 🙂 Made my day!
Awww, I remember that, Heather. That was such a special Thanksgiving holiday for us; I have lots of wonderful memories from your visit. ❤
What a beautiful tree! I love all ornaments!
Some of our ornaments already belong to my mom when she was little!
Have a good week!
Friendly yours!
Hi Catherine,
Wow, you have some precious ornaments! My oldest are from my childhood. I don’t think that my elders felt about old pieces the way that I do. My grandmother was going to donate her nativity set when it was chipped and just plain old and tired-looking. I am glad that I was able to claim it before that happened; it is so precious to me. I hope you have a very nice, first week of the season.
Cindy, your tree is lovely! All the different pretty ornaments, with memories make it so special!
My tree is decorated with many different types of ornament, also. Most of them are blown glass that I have collected from my travels. I went to the Germany Christmas markets in 2012. I went to, Berlin, Leipzig, Nuremburg, Rothenburg, Dresden and Munich markets. It was a dream come true, as I wanted to go ever since I was young. The blown glass ornaments there are amazing. I had to really bubble wrap them to get them home! That is one tour, that everyone should go on, at least once. However, I would go again! Christmas at your house, looks like it will be cozy and beautiful!
Hi Sonia and thank you,
Your tree must be beautiful with all of those glass ornaments from Germany. They are gorgeous! I don’t know how you got those home in one piece, they are so delicate. What a trip you had! You must of had the trip of a life time traveling to all of those German cities and towns. Thank you for sharing, Sonia.
HI Cindy,
Okay, I worked and worked at combinations and think I have it now…silly me… I wrote it down this time.
Your tree looks like something from a magazine. I love them when they are filled with ornaments from top to bottom. I think you must have used the BIG lights on it…right? It makes the light really pop out at you!
I’m not sure if we will be putting up our Christmas tree this year. Reuben is still a bit of a puppy and he likes to grab things that are low and run off with them. I think he thinks they are a chew toy. We might just decorate a small tree and set it on the buffet. But we’ll probably get out all my hubby’s nutcrackers and set them on the fireplace mantle and hearth.
I’m working on the Little Darlings Christmas dress today and hope to make some headway.
I looked again last night at your sewing room post… somehow I just get inspired when I look at it. It just looks so cozy and inviting and some place where I know love is happening! :o)
Thanks Cindy,
Blessings, Jeanne
Hi Jeanne,
I had to approve you again, so you must be using a different something or other, no problem though, but that is why your comment didn’t appear right away.
Our tree is lit with the basic small lights. My husband puts a strand of colored lights around the center for a little extra color and white everywhere else. I had my camera on a tripod and the shutter speed was super slow, maybe 1 second. It’s possible that had something to do with the lights. Just a thought, but you could put your ornaments up high (like we used to do for small children). lol Reuben may try to eat the tree though, so you know best. I had little sand dollars that I made into a few ornaments and my chihuahua thought they were a treat when he was a puppy. He ate the sand dollar and left the ribbon. Now he’s good, know what is a toy and what isn’t.
I can’t wait to see what you make for the Little Darlings. I am glad my little sewing space inspires you. You are so sweet, Jeanne, thank you!!!
Your tree is lovely Cindy, as are all the ornaments. I’m the same, my tree is covered in things that bring back memories to me, including some little plastic deer that were on my mum and dad’s tree when they first got married, and I remember they still used them when I was a child.
As for your windows, they look fine to me. We don’t have curtains in our house, we have blinds, they are far more practical with the strong sun that we get here….and easier to keep clean with the Andalucian dust from the olive fields!
Big hugs Sharon in Spain x
Thank you, Sharon. Isn’t it wonderful to unpack all of these memories every year? Christmas is such a magical time.
Thank you for accepting my plastic vertical blinds. They are a bit beat up, but get the job done when we need to block the sun, which isn’t too often. I love letting in the light; our sun isn’t as strong as yours. I am trying to imagine your olive fields, but I have no idea what olive fields look like; I do love olives though, all kinds. (yum)
Have a great week, Sharon!