Monday, December 17, 2007

Our Christmas Open House!

Twas an Open House ………

Twas a few days before Christmas, at our Open House,

Not a space was undecorated, not even the couch.

The stockings were hung, including the dogs,

In the hope we would be visited by many other blogs.

The egg nog was made and spiked with some rum,

And put in nice cups for the people that come.

With me in my red sweater and my husband in black,

We hoped many people would stop for a snack.

When out on the porch I heard a bell ring,

So I jumped from my chair to hear my friends sing.

Away to the door I ran like a deer.

To greet a few guests and wish them good cheer.

The candlelight glistened as they walked in the door,

This was just the beginning of my Christmas décor.

When what to their wondering eyes should appear,

but a reflection of crimson and gold in the mirror.

With a cute little tree, all decked in white lights,

They knew they would enjoy my other delights.

With eager excitement, they ran through my home,

Finding red birds and Santas placed under a dome.

More rapid than Helio, the bloggers they came,

And I greeted and shouted and called them by name!

Hi BJ, hi Karen, hi Janet, hi Pat. There’s Boo mama and

Terri and Alice and Matt. Hi Penny, Manuela, Sherry and Julie.

Hi Rose and Dena and Robin and Millie.

To the office, to the great room, to the kitchen, and hall,

They wouldn’t stop looking until they saw it all.

As they ate and they drank, they noticed there was more,

A village of houses with a church and a store.

So away to the village they flew like a flash,

Like kids in a candy store they did a quick dash.

And then in a twinkling, I heard someone say,

We have more blogs to visit so we must be on our way.

They sprang to their keyboards and entered more sites,

And I heard them exclaim as they took their last bites.

“Happy Christmas to all my blogging friends

and to all a good night!”

Welcome to our home.
The lights are on.
A peak at the window.

A decorated sled greets you at the door.
Bubble lights in the windows.
Candlelight.
Candles on the curio.
Stockings, including Bailey the beagle's.
The crimson and gold tree. Small but shining.


I like this poinsettia gift wrap.
Close up of the poinsettias on my tree.
A new ornament from a friend. It plays silent night too. I love it.
Lots of crimson and gold balls on the tree.
I've been adding picture ornaments of the nieces and nephews.
These balls are red and green but look like pink and green.
My round little wooden Santa.
Santas under my cloche in the kitchen.
Would you care for a cookie?



My Santa Chef!
Would you like a cup of tea? It's not exactly Chritmas but the colors worked.
New kitchen dishes on the plate rack.
These are my cardinals under my cloche on the coffee table.
Santas, Santas everywhere. I love all kinds of them.

This one has a great beard.
This one too!
I like this one's curly beard and eye brows.

A night picture.

I like how the red awning in my picture kinda frames Santa. He looks like he's had a hard night.
This one is by the baker's rack.
This is my little red chair from when I was a child. I'm sitting in it on my sidebar photo. Wouldn't get my butt in it now, I don't think.



These are my vintage skiers, skaters and sledders. All the ones displayed are actual 1950's ones that were under my husbands Christmas tree when he was a kid. My MIL was sweet enough to give them to me. A couple of years ago, I was lucky to find some reproduction ones to add to it. You can see the boxes in the background.

Please bring your bags and stop at the hotel for the night. Then you can spend an evening at the theater on the left. We'll bring a horse drawn carriage to escort you through the rest of the village. So grab a blanket and hot chocolate and enjoy the ride.
Here is the hotel during the day.
Here is my baker's rack filled with my village houses. I have been collecting them for years and I actually have about 60 houses but only a third are out right now. I try to combine some of my early ones with a few newer ones. I am a Dickens purist, you might say. I actually have a train, train station and all of that as well but we didn't get it all out this year.
The house on the left was a new purchase this year. It's the university. You can see the graduates on the bridge. Off to the right is the solarium with all the people that actually move and dance around.
The left house is the brewery. Every town has to have it's local brew pub. And, of course, stop by the poulterer's for a chicken for dinner.
Make a stop by the coal merchant to stock up on fuel for the winter.
These are a couple of my early houses. The one on the left is a toy shop and on the right an antique shop. The early houses were much smaller and less detailed than the houses today.
This is the East Indies trading company.
Of course, a doctors office, on the left, is important to any town.
My vintage tree in the office with ornaments from Mom and some vintage looking postcards.



My Barbie and Ginny doll and a toy I bought to represent my beagle, Bailey.
I just love the movie/book "Scrooge" or "A Christmas Carol". I had to have Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim and Scrooge himself. A couple of carolers also stand in front of my Christmas Carol book in the office.
This is my husband's Indianapolis Colts Nutcracker in our home office.

This is the Santa in my hallway. I think I like his face the best of all my Santas. This is about the only wallpaper I have left in my house. I always kinda liked the books.

This is my dress form in the guest room with red lights. I know they look pink in the picture.

The little stocking is hanging on the armoire in the guest room. It's the one I made from my sweater. You may have seen it in my previous post.

These are a couple of Santas in my guest bath. I like the picture the best since it's a little more old fashioned looking. But I've never met a Santa I don't like

This is a hand-painted ornament from St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands. We went there last year on a vacation. Our friends live down there and this reminds me of them.


This is my little blue tree in our bedroom. It's one of the few places where I actually have snowmen. Our bedroom is mocha colored with blue and turquoise accents. I love snowmen, but I have a passion for Santas. I just love all their facial expressions.
Most importantly, the reason for the season!
I love my hand-painted nativity. I have it displayed on my dresser.
While religion is not part of everyone's Christmas, hopefully peace on earth and good will toward men will be. Have a blessed Christmas and be thankful for family and friends. I'm thankful for you.

Your friend Nan from "On my Porch".


53 comments:

Karen H. said...

Good Morning Nan,
Well, it looks like I'm your first visitor. So that means plenty of Eggnog and Cookies for me. LOL. I'll try to save some for the rest of the visitors. Your home is just absolutely stunning. It is breathtaking. I love all of your Santa's. And your Villages are just to die for. It looks so real. Since I'm your first visitor, please book me in the best and finest room at the hotel. LOL. That was wallpaper? I thought it was a real bookcase. It looks so real. I so enjoyed your home Nan. I felt right at home. I love how you started out with the poem. You are very talented my friend. Well, take care my friend and have a great Monday. Good Luck again on your new job today. May God Bless You and Yours.

Love & Hugs,
Karen H.

Susan P. said...

Wow, your home is absolutely breathtaking! I can't even pinpoint a favorite thing because I love it all!! Merry Christmas!

Hootin Anni said...

Oh boy...wonderful
That's all I can say...
No, on second thought, those Santas...my dream girlfriend...love 'em all.

Mine's posted. I have two versions.

A thumbnail short version
and
a
slide show long version.

bj said...

That poem is just precious, Nan...good grief...it must have taken some time to get that together. Your house is just lovely. Beautiful decorations!
Good, good luck to you on your first day on your new job!
Hugs, bj

ellen b. said...

Oh my what a lovely tour of a Christmas filled house! Beautiful. Blessings...
Ok I can't leave without saying those cookies look amazing...

Janet said...

Nan,
WOW. Well first, I loved that poem, you clever girl..er...woman you!! And your house is so festive, I can't even imagine how long it takes to decorate much less undecorate. It is so warm and cozy, thanks so much for inviting us.
Janet

Southern Heart said...

Amazing decorations...just beautiful! You have a lovely, lovely home! I especially loved the sled and that wonderful village!

Merry Christmas,

Andrea

Jenni said...

Now THAT is a whole lotta Christmas going on!! I can't even express how beautiful I thought it all was!

I especially liked the sled at the door, and the santas in the cloche, and the postcard ornaments!

Thank you for sharing!

Jessica said...

Where do you find room to store all of your decorations! Liked the poem! I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmss!

windycorner said...

Everything looks beautiful! The Santas are fantastic...I can't decide which one I like best. Merry Christmas!
Holley

Unknown said...

Your home is just beautifully decorated for the season. Thank you so much for the tour.

Katy said...

I love your decorations!!! They look fantastic! :) And you have a beautiful home!!!

It's a Mom Thing said...

You have a great house. Everything looks so beautiful. I'll have to come back and lood again later. I love your tree, dishes, and those glass candlesticks filled with wintry stuff.

Mycrazylife said...

What a gorgeous house! I can see that you have put a lot into the details which make it so special! Beautiful!

Blessings,
Mycrazylife

Celly B said...

Your home is beautiful! It is evident that there is great attention to detail, and one of the small touches I really liked was the silverware tucked into the stocking on the place settings. Thanks for sharing.

Taya @ Delightful! said...

Your home is so lovely and inviting! I love the bearded santas and your villlage! Thanks for the tasty cookies! Blessings!

Susanne said...

What beautiful, interesting decorations you have. Your home is so inviting.

Kathy b said...

You take your Christmas decor seriously! Beautiful collections, and I love your Christmas dishes

Sandra Evertson said...

I'm speachless!! This is Terrific!
Seasons Greetings!
Sandra Evertson

Talk..to..Grams said...

Your house looks so beautiful!! I loved it all!! I hope your first day at work went real good!! Hugs, Grams

Unknown said...

you have been busy huh! look at all that baking you have done!!!! lovin all your santas and the villiages, your home is beautiful!!

Anonymous said...

OMG it is a good thing I don't know where you live id be in jail lol. I love you home and the Santas are to die for. The ones under the cloche are so uniqe.
BEAUTIFUL

Queen of My Domain said...

Wow, your home looks amazing. I love your sled and your gold/red tree. And your Santas are beautiful. But I must say that I just love your plate rack. Have a wonderful day and thanks for sharing your home with us.

BittersweetPunkin said...

BEAUTIFUL!! I didn't know where to look and had to go back around a few times to make sure I didn't miss anything!! How sweet of you to bake all those goodies for us!!!
Everything is just breathtaking...you keep a beautiful beautiful home!!
Thanks for the tour!
Blessings,
Robin

kari and kijsa said...

WOW....we are so glad you posted this...absolutely beautiful! Your home is truly lovely!

Merry Christmas blessings,

kari and kijsa

Anonymous said...

Merry Christmas! I'm flabbergasted! You must have a huge home to fill it with all your special decorations. Thanks for the huge tour! Can we see it in person if we visit your town?
; )

Joyful Days said...

I don't know what I liked more--your great poetry, your yummy food, or your gorgeous decorations. All fabulous!

Kim said...

Your crimson and gold tree is stunning! Enjoyed my visit. Merry Christmas!

Antique Mommy said...

Wow you go all out sister! So much fabulous stuff to look at! I don't think I've ever seen a dress form decked out in lights!! You are an original. Merry Christmas to you and yours

Anonymous said...

What a great Christmas home! Absolutely perfectly done, not overdone. Merry Christmas!

Unknown said...

That was a wonderful poem. Your gold and crimson tree is stunning. LOVE all your 1950's skaters. Thanks for sharing.

Merry Christmas to you and yours from Northern Ireland.

Unknown said...

Wow! It must take you a while to decorate for the holidays, but it's all worth it - it is beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

a woman who is said...

That was an amazing tour! Thanks for the invite. I really enjoyed it all.

Kim said...

Wow! Wow Wow Wow

I mean WOW!

His Doorkeeper said...

I loved yur little 1950's figures that belong to your husband. i don't know yur age but we must be near the same age because I had a "Ginny" doll too and that brought back many memories! Loved all your decorations...thanks for sharing. Blessings to you and your family.

Susan said...

Oh my, I sure had fun looking at your home.

It's BEAUTIFUL!!


Merry Christmas...

Susan

mama2drama said...

Your Christmas village is so neat! I'd love to sit and look at the details for hours. I feel like I got a grand tour! Thanks so much. Merry Christmas!

KC said...

WOW everything is so beautiful.
Thank you for the tour
Merry Christmas

Mercy's Maid said...

Your nativity is beautiful!

Thanks for sharing your home with us.

Parkison Family said...

You have a ton of stuff and it is all so beautiful!

annette said...

Thanks for sharing your home...I totally love your skiiers, skaters and sleaders

Mary said...

Nan,

This is a wonderful tour of your home. I love all of your Christmas decorations. Thanks so much for sharing. I certainly enjoyed my visit and thanks for the cookies. They were delicious.

Blessings and a Merry Christmas.
Mary

Nise' said...

I so enjoyed visiting your home today! Your decorations are wonderful and thank you for the awesome treats!

Anonymous said...

Wow! Beautiful! Amazing! Merry Christmas, and thanks for the tour.

Cherdecor said...

Thank you for inviting us in to see your lovely home. What beautiful decorations! I think I will have to come back and look some more at another time. Save me a cookie!

Jennifer said...

WOW - you go all out! What gorgeous decorations you have. I just love the vintage Christmas tree & all the houses and villages. Thanks for sharing. Merry Christmas to you & yours!

Jennifer

Unknown said...

What a great tour! I love your puppy's stocking. So cute!

Fizz
Fizzledink

Loretta said...

Nan, I couldn't leave without posting a comment! I think I like your house the very best so far, in the Christmas tour. I'm only on House #56 and probably won't get to see them all. I LOVE your village and all the neat vintage items. You've done a marvelous job! Merry Christmas from a complete blogging stranger! Loretta from Canada

Becky said...

Nan, your home is GORGEOUS! Are you sure that's not a Better Homes & Gardens display? Because if it's not...it should be!

Muddy said...

Nan, I love your Christmas house! I especially love how you put little lit trees in your flower boxes. How pretty! Thank you for visiting me too. :)

Michelle said...

I had to come by since you were so kind as to "visit" my home. You have absolutely beautiful decor - oh my I love it all!!!!! I'm going to have to come back soon so that I can take it all in. Have a Merry Christmas!

Anonymous said...

Your decorations are beautiful! It looks like you did so much work! Thank you for sharing with me. I have a village that I haven't put out in years because I haven't had the room for it. I love the idea of putting it on the bakers rack! I also love the way you displayed the ornament from your vacation in the bathroom. What creative ideas. Merry Christmas.

Mabiana said...

I love your decoration, it's very beautiful! :-)