Keep Smiling

Keep Smiling

Monday, November 26, 2018

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas.


It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas.
I went out to the 5th wheel and brought
in these pillows.
I like this woodland cozy cabin look.
So I decided to use what I had on hand
and make this our Christmas theme.


Pumpkin pie fueled me during the start
of my Christmas decorating :)


You may remember this old window.
It is a window taken from our 1905 home,
the first autumn 
when we installed the new windows.
☃☆★★☆☃
My dear friend and neighbor Shirley
and I each made one of these Christmas windows
during that first Christmas season
here in our country home.


The mantel is decorated in woodland
snow, berries, pine-cones and birds. 



 It was fun going through our stuff
and deciding what to bring in 
and what to leave packed away.

I went overboard last year (and it was fun)
but this year I'm paring down on my 
indoor decorations. 


I'm using this very simple nativity
this year . . .


I think that the simplicity of this nativity
boldly states the true meaning of this 
Holiest of Seasons. 


This little wooden basket is 
new to our decorations.
It was a $3 find at Goodwill
just a couple of weeks ago.

How could I walk past it
without adding it to my cart :)


Now, I need to think of something 
else to bake  . . .
to give me energy to put up the tree, LOL.
Let's see . . .
cookies, cheese cake, banana-nut bread,
I do enjoy the sweets of the holidays :)

Have you started decorating yet? 

☃☆★★☆☃


Before I say good bye for this post . . .
let's take a trip down memory lane.






Does anyone remember Glass Wax and Glass Wax Stencils?
I loved doing this as a kid each Christmas.

☃☆★★☆☃
Keep Smiling!

☃☆★★☆☃
Your blogging sister,
Connie :)

52 comments:

  1. You have been busy making your home so Christmassy! We dont start till later in December, and will be keeping things simple this year.

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    1. I think simple is good. I would do much less, except that my dear husband loves Christmas. I feel like decorating and baking are two things that I can do to please him and been more joy to his holidays and that makes me happy, too :)

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  2. Love your mantel. It is so pretty.
    Don't remember the wax stencils. We did window stencil but don't remember what we used.

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    1. Glass Wax was a very popular product of the 50's. I'm happy that you like our mantel :)

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  3. Oh my, that pie! Looks good. The basket that you found at Goodwill is cute. Don't you just love a good find like that?!

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    1. I have so many lovely things that I've purchased at the Goodwill and at yard sales. Even my lovely white nativity was a Goodwill find.

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  4. Hi Connie, Your house is decorated very meaningful and lovely. The kids put up our tree and decorated it while I mostly sat in the recliner! I use to have a pair of those white birds like on your mantle. I don't know what happened to them. I know the kids broke one and Bob glued it back together! Your pie looks so pretty. It would not tempt me though as I don't care for pumpkin pie. My husband would like a piece though! Nancy

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    1. I think it is wonderful of your children to visit and set up your tree for you.

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  5. It looks very nice at your place!
    I do remember doing glass stencils. We thought they were so cool!
    I'm working on putting out decorations tomorrow, and will find a spot for that cute Joy banner and will post it next week so you can see it. :)

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    1. I can't wait to see your decorations and I am delighted that you like the little banner. I was thinking of making one just like it for myself and putting it in the kitchen window :)

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  6. I love all your decorations!! They are all lovely but the very simple but ever so beautiful nativity ornament is my favourite.
    I've got my trees up and trimmed, and have started baking. Today I made the second fruit cake, a light one this time, also made shortbread cookies. That's a good start.

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    1. You are way ahead of the game . . . so much baking, your home must smell heavenly :)

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  7. Your decorations look wonderful. I do remember glass wax and stenciling the living room window every year. A few years ago I mentioned it to someone and they had no idea what I was talking about. They had never heard of glass wax

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    1. I am so surprised that someone hasn't brought it back. Children could paint the windows with stencils and then when Christmas was over wiping off the Glass Wax cleaned the windows. It's a win for the kid and a win for Mom. Great fun, too!!!

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  8. I am keeping it simple this year as we won't be here, just a few touches here and there. I love the nativity scene you have created in that beautiful window frame, stunning.

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    1. Wherever you are at Christmas I hope that you are surrounded my family, friends and good cheer :)

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  9. Hi Connie- yes, you are certainly getting started on the Christmas Decorations early...I usually arrange our ceramic 'Nativity Scene' each year some weeks before Christmas Eve....ah, it is great to be nearing this special time of the year. Have fun with your Tree. Cheers. KEV.

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    1. I got the tree up. We went with a smaller one . . . it is tall but not so big around and takes up less space in our little home :) Merry Christmas!

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  10. That simple nativity looks so good.

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    1. Thank you. I love it! It was a Goodwill thrift store find a few years ago.

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  11. I like your woodland cozy cabin look theme for your Christmas 2018. Love the plaid fabrics and stenciling on center of pillows. All your decorations are great.

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    1. Hi Sandra, While at Walmart a couple of weeks ago I found some red and black buffalo plaid wired ribbon. I'm using it on the tree as a garland going around through the branches. That's what started me thinking about doing a woodland theme. I never do theme Christmas's but sometimes we need to mix things up a bit, LOL. I decorated our 5th wheel with a cabin feel, so I just borrowed the pillows for it :)

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  12. I just love it all Connie....the most wonderful and blessed time of the year....happy decorating!

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    1. To you too! Isn't it fun decorating and getting into the joy that Christmas brings :)

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  13. Your decorations are lovely! I remember my mom decorating windows with the stencils but she used the spray snow instead of the glass wax.

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    1. I do remember that, although I don't think we ever used the spray. You're probably a generation younger than I am :)

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  14. I love the woodland theme. And that is a beautiful pie.
    Lisa

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  15. Your home looks so inviting. I said I was limiting decorations, but now with grandkids, I keep putting it all out, just to see them peek at everything Mimi puts out in all the little areas of the house. I'm even going to let them "play" with my Christmas village. Let them move figures and trees and buildings around. If something breaks, well....hopefully they won't be hurt. Hoping you and your family have a wonderful Christmas Season.

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    1. I do remember that, although I don't think we ever used the spray. You're probably a generation younger than I am :)

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  16. You are always so creative in your decorating. And I love the addition of the pie crust stars on the pumpkin pie. A sweet touch. Gosh, I hadn't thought about the glass stencils in years. Yes, me and my sister loved doing those. My mom was a good sport.

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    1. I have thought about these old stencils and Glass Wax often and wondered why someone hasn't brought them back. It was so much fun and one of my favorite Christmas memories. It was great fun for a creative child.

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  17. I do love the woodland look for christmas, that basket is so cool, great find for a great price. I had not heard of glass wax and stencils.

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    1. Sweetie you are too young to remember them . . . they were a thing of the fifties and a lot of fun. The Glass Wax was pink when it came out of the bottle and you used it with a sponge like you would paint and a stencil. When it dried it was white and after Christmas the job of wiping them off the window actually cleaned the window. Fun for kids and a win for Mom :)

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  18. I love the woodland theme, too. I was hoping to get some things made with the red and black buffalo plaid but time got away from me. Maybe next year. I'm not decorating as much, this year, as I have in the past. I decided I simply didn't want all that stuff cluttering my already too small home! The pie looks delicious and I just bet whatever you decided to bake, gave you all the "umph" you needed to put the tree up! LoL...I've been baking for the same reason! UMPH! I need a lot of that!

    Grace & Peace,
    Pam

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    1. I have been enjoying all the foods (especially sweets) of the holidays. It's about the only time of the year when I just give in and eat what I want. I'm one of those short women that has to watch what she eats . . . I'm not over weight, I'm just under tall, LOL.

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  19. I love the woodland theme of your mantel! Your pumpkin pie is beautiful and is one of my favorites. Hmm, I don't remember glass wax or the stencils, but I'm a little younger than you (age 56). Maybe they weren't around anymore when I was a kid?

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    1. Hi Melanie, sweetie you are just too young to remember Glass Wax and their stencils. You'll just have to believe me, when I say they were fun, LOL.

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  20. Your home looks so pretty. I love the woodsy theme. That basket was the perfect find for your home. It fits right in. I think it's boring when people decorate the same way every year. You gotta switch it up every year to keep it fresh and fun, right?
    xx Beca

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    1. Well, I have an old trunk that belonged to my husband's father and then a few plastic bins filled with Christmas decorations, so I can just pick from them and reuse them in different ways. Our neighbor, each year puts out green wreaths with candle lights in them. They put them on each window of their home and it looks so elegant. We look forward to seeing them each year . . . I hope they never get tried of putting them out, because we will never tire of looking out at them :)

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  21. Hi Connie, I love that woodland theme too, the pillows are great!! Oooh your pie!!! Make some kind of cake, that's what I'd do! :) Although my cakes are so sweet I'd probably pass out from the sugar rush and decline lol...

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    1. Tis the season for sugary treats . . . and I'm all for celebrating the season, LOL.

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  22. Wow, now thats a pumpkin pie! Love all your decorations. We have the Cabin theme in the masterbedroom its so fun to decorate. Have fun putting up your tree. Lisa @ Sweet tea n salty air

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  23. Wow, now thats a pumpkin pie! Love all your decorations. We have the Cabin theme in the masterbedroom its so fun to decorate. Have fun putting up your tree. Lisa @ Sweet tea n salty air

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  24. I love a woodland theme. It seems that a lot of people are simplifying decor this year. I've never gone overboard with decorations, so my house will be pretty much as usual, once I get to the decorating. I like to do it gradually. This Sunday is the first of Advent and I'll pull out my carved Nativity set and Advent calendar. There's a wreath on the door and twinkle lights around the kitchen windows.
    Enjoy the baking - it's true that you need ENERGY for the season!

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  25. Hi Connie what a lovely post love your xmas decorating and the basket you found at the goodwill center is so cute.
    Love what you did with the window you are very clever my friend.

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  26. Yes it sure is... at your house anyway! Love your mantel decorations and that window scene. Just wonderful and so pretty! Love your pillows you brought in from the camper. I have a few pillows I put out every year.. hard to find room to stuff them away with our small amount of storage space and I usually hand a Christmas quilt on the wall. I probably won't get started until next week as going out of town until Dec. 5th or so, but still gives me plenty of time to decorate a little. I'm trying to pare down on the decorations so have taken one full tub to the animal shelter thrift store where all proceeds go to the animals.... I like that. That pie looks wonderful and now I' hungry...... I usually make Christmas cookies but know if I will this year as only me and hubby here and then we eat them all! Trying to cut down on the sugar too which is so vary hard to do! Wreaths in windows with lights sounds so festive, especially as there's probably snow on the ground up there. We don't have any yet.
    I've never used the Glass Wax and stencils. Bet it was fun. We would get stencils and that spray snow from a can, and spray it on the window over the stencils. Was always a bear to get off! and made a mess,, but was fun as kids.
    Have a wonderful weekend! hugs.. Marilyn

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  27. How sweet to have you visit my blog again! So hello! Love all of you decorations and that window just is so beautiful and ties it all in together! Loved visiting your cheery today!

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  28. Your mantel looks beautiful and YES! I do remember those stencils....and spray snow!

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  29. Thank you for the post Connie!! It was wonderful to catch a glimpse into your home and see some of your beautiful Christmas decor~ (And that yummmmy pie; wish I had been there! : ) LOL Yep, my apt is decorated already and 2 sm trees are up. Merry Christmas! Hugs, karen o

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  30. Your Christmas decorations around your home are very nice. I love the bits of red you have here and there, and it looks so Christmassy. Your fireplace mantel is charming.

    ~Sheri

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  31. Hi Connie, I am a first time visitor who read several of your posts after seeing a comment on Donna’s Poor Farm blog. Glad that you are feeling better as a lingering cold affected both myself and my husband after Thanksgiving. Your decirations are lovely and I am a great fan of repurposing and of finds from thrift stores, some of which have made lovely gifts. My early childhood was in the 1950s but I don’t recall ever seeing those stencils...at least not in our home. Merry Christmas to you and Steve. Also do feel free to drop in for a blog visit to our place anytime as I also enjoy meeting new blog friends.

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