Christmas of 2011 - Better Late than Never!

Larry began getting the flu Monday before Christmas and I followed suit 3 days later.  This was the first Christmas in my 56 years that I have not been with my mom on Christmas Day.

Of course, it all worked out in the end, however on Christmas day, I was watching "The Christmas Story" a dozen times and missing Mother and crying a lot.

Susan, my sister, was hosting Christmas Day at her home.  She is 4 months pregnant and we could not risk anyone being near me with my fever.  Larry and I were feeling too bad to enjoy the day, anyway.

I love Christmas.  I love everything about it.  The shopping, the decorating, cooking, wrapping presents and being with my family.  I have a large collection of Christmas movies.  I love the spirit of Christmas.  Everyone seems so different at Christmas.  Celebrating the birth of our Lord and keeping him in our hearts seems to be renewed.

I go a little nuts at Christmas with decorating.  Before I got sick, I was able to get a lot of new decorations...all on sale.  It is so rare that I pay 100% for anything.  I realize some prices are marked up, but I feel good knowing I did NOT pay the regular sticker price.

The first thing I HAD to have this year was purchased in Austin, Texas when Larry and I went to a friends wedding there.  We stayed at the Barton Creek Country Club and Resort.  After brunch, we saw a lovely shop filled with Christmas goodies.

Sugarplums and sweetness dancing in my head. 

We could have purchased the entire tree for just a few thousand dollars....or NOT!!! 

Did I forget I wanted to do a silver, white and blue Christmas this year?   I must have because 3 of these precious nutcrackers came home with me!!!

Then came one of many Hobby Lobby trips. 

When I saw this angel, I had to have her and she was 50% off.

I wanted to take a few days off from work before Christmas to complete my decorating, shopping and wrapping.  I still had 5 days of vacation left.  However, we had a major project going on and I couldn't.

My living room furniture finally arrived on the Tuesday before Christmas.  The new carpet for the stairs and the media room came in and was installed before Christmas, as well.  My furniture was the best Christmas present I could have received after waiting 13 weeks for it!!!

Chair from Restoration Hardware....The feather seats go flat after awhile.  I am thinking of filling with upholstery foam.

We purchased 2 navy blue recliners.  I am going to have brads added to the arms and side backs, if possible.

My beautiful sofa...I never thought I would see this in my home!!!

I did take that Friday off.  I shopped Friday morning and by early afternoon, the flu was full blown.  I was so sick and came on home.

It was cold and raining outside Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  I would take a wonderful hot bath, feel better for a few minutes, then back to bed.  I changed from flannel pj's to a summer gown and still could not get comfortable.  I would wrap a present and go back to bed.

My Christmas tree never was finished and the top shelves of my family room bookcases were bare.  I just didn't have the strength to complete them.  My gifts started going into gift bags instead of my lovely hot-glue decorated packages.

My daughter and son were at their respectful in-laws out-of-town....in Dallas and Austin.  So, we planned to have Christmas with them Monday night.

I made a lot of pictures of my decorations, then fever came again and I was down.

This picture was made after Christmas.  The beautiful candle holders on the top left shelf were from my daughter.

Angel Centerpiece on my coffee table:

Deer Centerpiece on sofa table:

Santa display in bookcase:

Pine cones and Cardinals in bookcase:

I only made a few pictures of family.   

My beautiful Mother.  I finally got to be with her and celebrate Christmas 6 days later!

Larry...my wonderful husband.

We unwrapped presents in our usual way...going around the room...one person at a time...one gift at a time.  I hung in there, but it was difficult.

Tuesday morning came and there was no way I could go to work.  I was miserable.  I went to work the rest of the week, and for a bookkeeper, the last week was the most important.

On Saturday night, we had my mom and sister, and her family, and my children over.  It was a lot of fun having another Christmas on New Year's Eve...strange, but fun.

Wishing everyone good health in 2012.

Hugs,

Living Room furniture selections

Back in September, 2011, Larry and I compromised on the living room/family room furniture.  I didn't want a formal living room in my cottage.  I don't like rooms I don't use.  I want a family room that everyone can enjoy.

Also, as I have mentioned before, I have AnnaBelle.  She belonged to my beloved sister, Karen.  AnnaBelle is as important in this home as the humans.  She sheds, she cleans her feet on the sofa and gets it wet.  Yuck!!!

Then, there is Larry.  He has recliners in his media room and a recliner in his study.  He loves recliners and has ALWAYS had one in the family room.  I don't want him upstairs in his media room all of the time.  I want him with me!!

So, instead of my dream of a white, slip-covered sofa, we ordered a leather sofa in the style and color I wanted....ok, not the color, however white leather is a little too much for me.

I really didn't get a good picture of the sofa and ottoman, however this should give you an idea.  You can see the swatch in the lower left corner.   

Next came the decision of Larry's recliner.  Since my dream has been a sofa AND 4 chairs in the family room, I decided on TWO recliners!!!  Would this make matters worse?  So, what color should I choose?  

Our last house has this huge brown leather sectional AND love seat AND recliner.  I was really tired of brown.  

In my first cottage, I had navy blue leather.  It was plushy and soft.  I was really able to get a warm, coziness with pillows and throws on navy blue leather.  

So, navy blue it was.

I was so excited on that day in September, that I didn't look at the estimated delivery date....

Between 12 and 16 weeks!!!

I called Town and Country Leather the week before Thanksgiving and begged for my furniture.  I explained that I didn't even see the delivery date on the order I signed until I was in the car.

I was told that I ordered all Natuzzi leather and my furniture was coming either from Italy or China or some other overseas country.

I don't care.  They have had time to raise the cow, make my furniture and get it to me.

Well, it just doesn't work like that :(

I explained that I was hosting Thanksgiving.  That really does NOT get your furniture any quicker.

So, I have learned a valuable lesson before having any special ordered furniture made.

On with the story.........

My style passion is a mix between industrial, shabby chic, cottage and French country.  My colors are white, cream, turquoise and blue.

So, Restoration Hardware was having a sale a week ago.  I have had my eye on something from them for a while.

I ordered two of the Lyon chairs AND an ottoman.  These SHOULD be delivered next week!

There are so many more decisions for the family room...drapes, tables, paint color, etc.


I wanted to wait on the main furniture before doing anything else.


We have beautiful living room table set...coffee table, 2 end tables and sofa table.  Yet, I just don't know that I will like these with my new furniture.


Until next time......

                                                                 

My office - craft - hobby room November 10, 2011 update

I wanted to give you an update on my office.  

Paint color:  Tropical Tide by Behr

My son, Richard, is doing all of the painting and crown molding and it's looking beautiful.

I didn't get pictures of the first color I chose, however it wasn't bright enough.  I wanted bright and cheerful and very turquoise in my office.

I love the color!!!

The crown molding begins.  There is not one straight wall in this house. 

It is beautiful!!!  Richard is doing a wonderful job on the molding.  This is his first time to work with crown molding,   I remind him that wood putty and caulk work wonders with bad walls and ceilings.

My 6 Home Depot pantries are in.  These are stock cabinets.

 Some doors open to the right...some to the left.  I will re-hang the doors when time permits.    

Finally, I will have plenty of storage for my crafts and office supplies!

These are, also, stock cabinets from Home Depot.  My fur-baby AnnaBelle is always with me when I am home.  You can bet I will be getting her a matching bed for my office.  She deserves chic just as much as I do :)

The top over-hang doesn't allow the top drawers to open.  We will be adding a piece of plywood and molding to this. 

There is much more to come on my office.  This is going to be a fun room...MY room!!!

Have a great day........