Keep Smiling

Keep Smiling

Thursday, December 1, 2016

It's Begining To Look A Lot Like Christmas :)


 Changing out the Thanksgiving
decorations for the
Christmas ones.

Making a new sign.



 Thanksgiving Gate.
Christmas Gate.


Our daughter and granddaughters visited 
and while they were here they
 helped Grandpa put up the outside lights,
and the nativity. 

 I tried to get night photos,
but they didn't turn out well. 


I've decorated the mantle . . .
(I should have moved the fan for the photo,
but we use it year round)

 and a small table on the other side
of the room.

In the bathroom, I put up
a white and red checked shower curtain,
red rugs and decorated these shelves
with a little bit of Christmas cheer :) 
 

Then to add to the country theme,
I covered Styrofoam balls with fabric
and placed them on a little shelf in the window.
 
While I was outside getting a photo of the new gate sign,
these two girls were riding past.
Just another perk to country living :)

No snow here,
and we like it that way,😊


My idea of a perfect winter is
snow on Christmas Eve,
that is gone by New Year's.

 ❄❅❆❇❅❆❇❄

Happy Decorating
&
Keep Smiling!

❄❅❆❇❅❆❇❄
 
 I hope that you are enjoying the season.
Your blogging sister,
Connie :)

51 comments:

  1. Oh Connie, what a lovely post.
    Your photo's all look lovely and it is so nice to see your decorations.

    Your Christmas Gate is great and how nice to spend time with your daughter and granddaughters.
    Those outside lights and the nativity ... perfect!

    Enjoy the month of December - it will soon be here!

    All the best Jan

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    1. I can't believe how fast time flies. Seems like just last week I was picking and canning tomatoes and now December is right around the corner. Is it because I'm growing older?

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  2. All of the twinkle lights and candles make everything look festive! And I love those polka dot skates on your wreath. You make every holiday special! Sweet hugs, Diane

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    1. Thank you so much. The only problem with putting up so many decorations, is that after the holidays I get to take them all down again, LOL.

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  3. Connie, I love the attention to detail in your bathroom. I need to put a little Christmas in ours...I also love your handwriting on your signs! Now that's talent!! :) Ho ho ho!

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    1. Last year was the first time I ever thought about decorating the bathroom, but it's kind of fun :) Smallest room in the house, so it doesn't take much, LOL.

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  4. It's always fun to see everyone's holiday decorations. Your new sign looks awesome on your fence. Keep having fun.

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    1. I know Blogland is filled with so many holiday ideas. It's fun and addictive to sit down and start going through favorite blogs this time of the year . . . there is just so much eye candy :)

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  5. Love your Christmas decorations - everything looks so pretty! Your fireplace and mantle are especially stunning. No snow here in northern IL either, which is just fine by us! I'd like some on Christmas though, but we'll see. We've had plenty of Christmas days with no snow, just extreme cold.

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    1. I remember how cold the Midwest winters can be . . . our weather here varies so much. Last year in early November we had frozen water pipes. This year I'm still wearing sweaters during the day.

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  6. Hi Connie, You have gone all out with decorating for Christmas! Everything looks so pretty! I put the material covered Styrofoam balls on a list of things to do!! Did you just use glue or decoupage. Will have to look at your pinterest site to see if it is posted there. Love the outdoor nativity set too. Glad to read your blogs again! Still not in house. Nancy

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    1. Hi Nancy, I didn't use either. I just stuck a straight pin through the fabric and into the ball to hold my starting place and then started to wind the fabric around the ball. When it was covered I stuck another pin into hold it :) It can't get much simpler than that :)

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  7. Nice photos! I agree that snow on Christmas eve that's gone by New Years would be just right.

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  8. What lovely decorations, Connie, and I do like your hand-painted signs! A lovely greeting to passers by.

    Thank you for your visit, and I quite agree with you, that church is quite amazing, isn't it! Extraordinary what is on one's own doorstep.

    Have a great week.
    Shoshi x

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    1. In your part of the world, that may be on your doorstep . . . not so here. Here in the western USA a church that is 100 years old is and old building, and not made by the craftsmen of old UK :) Thanks for stopping by . . . Happy Holidays.

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  9. Hi Connie! Nice Christmas decorations. I'm planning on decorating tomorrow. I spent the day today wrapping gifts for a surprise advent calendar for my sister and cousin! I agree with you 100% about the snow!!!

    Cindy

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    1. Do you remember when you were a kid and you and your classmates sighted the first snow out your classroom window. The poor teacher would be put on the back burner, because of all the excitement. Now, I see it and think of icy roads and slippery sidewalks, LOL.

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  10. I love everything! You are so crafty and inspire me!

    Happy Holidays, Connie!

    Jane

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  11. Connie, your signs are always fabulous! Love the polka dot skates and the rag balls are so cheery. I love the looks of snow, but I'd be happy if we only got it for Christmas as well. Love it when I'm inside and it's falling. So pretty to look at, but don't love the cold when I go outside.
    hugs,
    Jann

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    1. It's beautiful there is no doubt to that . . . but icy roads are a fight. Even when you are not driving on them, you worry about your spouse and children who are. I have given up on Christmas visits from our daughter and granddaughters, because there are several passes that they must travel through if they drive.

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  12. Your decorations are very creative, festive and pleasing to the eye.

    Happy Holidays.

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    1. Hello Gail, well, you are just a sweetheart, thank you :)

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  13. Hello Connie, your handpainted sign is a perfect greeting for passersby. I like lots of candles, too. It's such a special time of year.

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    1. Hi Lorrie, I decorate mostly because my sweet Steve loves Christmas . . . I would still decorate for myself, but not as much. It's fun seeing his excitement at Christmas. He loves everything about it . . . the lights, the tree, the decorations, the family and friends, the caroling and the cookies . . . he especially likes the cookies, LOL.

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  14. Your decorations are soooo pretty! In fact, I had to go back and look for the fan you mentioned. Nothing like having a daughter and granddaughter home for visit. Your signs are great!

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    1. We had a marvelous visit . . . we cooked together, we crafted and sewed together, we shopped a little, we worked of jigsaw puzzles, played games, they even gave grandpa a book of coupons that he cashed in for caroling, and impromptu plays, LOL. It was sweet having them home :)

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  15. I get a smile on my face every time I read your blog. You are so ready for the holidays, wish I could say the same. I agree with you about the snow.

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    1. Good Morning Karleen, You have made my day . . . it's a great day when you know that you have put a smile on another sweet blogging sister's face, dido on the smile! :)

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  16. Connie, I was cleaning out my profile page, and accidently un-followed you, so here I am following you again. :) Your Christmas mantel looks beautiful. Love those polka dot skates and the horse picture. Wishing you wonderful days this Christmas season.

    ~Sheri

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    1. Good Morning Sheri, thank you so much for following me back . . . I have done that on accident, too. They keep rearranging Blogger and adding and taking away buttons. I say that if it ain't broke don't fix it. Once I get used to a program; I like it to stay the same :) I am delighted that you like my Christmas decorations, thank you.

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  17. Looks like you're ready for Christmas. Everything looks so pretty.
    I love your Nativity. Simple and pretty.

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    1. I have always wanted one of those nativities, but our last home had too small of a yard. When we moved here to the country, I ordered the pattern and put the project on my "Honey Do List". I think that it is very important to remember why we are celebrating this holiday :)

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  18. Connie I love everything you've done to decorate! I can't seem to get in gear and still recouperating from Thanksgiving and all the cleaning and cooking! So happy you had your family there to "play" with! Your mantle is just gorgeous (green with envy for that beautifiul white mantle!). I didn't even see the fan until you mentioned it.. then had to go back and find it! hee hee..... and your Christmas sign with the polka dot skates... how cute is that??? You have inpsired me to decorate my bathroom... I used to put a little hanging "swag" of snowmen across my lower mirror, but haven't done it for awhile now as have kind of cut back on decorating as like you said... after Christmas it all has to come down! I don't like that part of it. No snow here yet either in central Oregon and I'd be just as happy not to have any! But our forecast says some is coming later this week or weekend.. just hope not too much as I too worry about walking on it, and it usually gets icy too. I must admit, though, it is so magical and gorgeous when the world is all white. Have a fun upcoming week! Blessings to you... Marilyn

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    1. Good Morning Marilyn, when you wrote of the magic of winter snow, I had a mental flashback. When I was around ten years old, my brother and I went shopping together to buy our Mama a Christmas present. The town that we lived in strung lights across the street, back and forth across street the way they used to do. We also had churches in town that took turns every-night playing Christmas carols on their organs and broadcasting them through the town. It was dark and it began to snow, that special kind of snow where the flakes are huge and you can catch them and see the design in each one. That was sixty years ago and I still remember how magical that night was. I remember the gift we bought, too. I think the saleslady saw us coming, LOL. It was a light blue dress that buttoned all the way down the front with big navy blue buttons the size of half dollars. I only remember Mama wearing it once . . . probably just because she loved us and didn't want to hurt our feelings. Thanks for sparking a wonderful memory :)

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  19. Your decorations look great. You're way ahead of me. I totally agree with your idea of a perfect winter

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    1. It's it funny how your appreciation for snow changes as we grow older, LOL.

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  20. Connie. That is just such a cute gate sign withe polka dot skates...and I love the girls riding past it. Your mantle looks lovely and so does everything else. Hoping your week is wholly wonderful. xo Diana

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    1. Good Morning Diana, I'm sitting here with my morning coffee visiting with my blogging sisters . . . that's a good start to what I know will be a lovely day. It's cold outside, but for December it is really quite mild. I think that I am finished with my decorating. The tree is up and if I put anything else up, I'm afraid the burden of knowing it all has to be packed a way will spoil my holiday fun, LOL. I enjoy decorating, but not so much the tearing down at the end of the season. Have a happy day, by friend :)

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  21. Love it all! I'm in the process of decorating and for the first time, I am decorating my bathroom! Hubby would die if I decorated his! LoL

    Grace & Peace,
    Pam

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    1. Maybe you should hang a sprig of mistletoe with a red bow in there and see if he has a sense of humor, LOL.

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  22. Today is the last day of November. It's hard to believe that autumn is over and winter is beginning. Everything looks so festive, it definitely cheers the heart on these long dark rainy days. Blessings Connie!

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    1. I find that the best part about long winter nights is that I am in my pajamas by 6 o'clock and ready to cozy up with a cup of tea and go to bed early. It doesn't effect my husband that way, but I love long winter naps.

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  23. it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at your house Connie! Everything looks great! Love the gate with the new sign! The white mantel is gorgeous all spruced up for Christmas. I hope life is treating you well....it looks like it is! Have a blessed rest of the week.

    Hugs, Vicky

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    1. Hi Vicky, it's great to see your pretty smiling face among my comments. I'm happy that you like my mantle, I have been enjoying so much. You haven't posted for a while, I do hope that everything is going well for you and our family. I miss you:) Happy holidays!

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    2. I am doing well...just staying busy. I posted a couple weeks ago and am hoping to again this weekend. Try as I might, I just can't seem to post regularly like I used to. Not too much to blog about I suppose. Hopefully I will get back in the groove someday! I miss it and all of my sweet blog friends...like you! Have a wonderful weekend!

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  24. I totally agree with you about the snow. Maybe a little snow for Christmas, and then I'm done! Love your simple decorations.

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  25. I am waiting on snow and don't think we will have much this year. I love it
    You house looks so warm and homey with your Christmas decorations
    Love seeing the horses go by

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  26. Love your nativity, we have wanted to make one like that but haven't yet, so nice you had help getting the lights up, your mantle is so pretty, I have a basket full of fabric balls too :) I am with you on the snow, anymore around Christmas is good enough for me but I don't think that will be our luck

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