A Few More Christmas Decorations

Happy Wednesday, everyone!  I hope everyone is well!  I feel like I’ve missed so much!! I forced myself to stay off of the computer for a few days so that I could get some stuff done before the holidays and be able to have the week before Christmas to just relax and spend time with my family.  You don’t know how hard it was to keep from popping in to read everyone’s blogs or visit a couple of social forums that I belong to.  But, my efforts paid off – I’ve gotten a lot of things done.  My house is all clean and decorated for the holidays, Christmas cards have been mailed, a few appetizers for Christmas eve are made and in the freezer, presents are all wrapped and everything I need for our Christmas eve get-together and for our Christmas day breakfast and dinner are all bought.  I’m all set – so bring on Christmas!!  lol

I have so much to share with you!  This post is a little lengthy and definitely laden with pictures!! First of all, last Monday my hubby and I made a quick trip to Amish country.  One of the little shops had a flyer laying on the checkout counter announcing a Christmas Open House at Ragon House that would be open to the public.  It was being held for 3 weekends, with this past weekend being the final one.  Most of you may be familiar with the many Belsnickle santas that they carry.  You can check out their website by clicking here.They’re located in Bolivar, which is about an hour away from me.  My hubby and I went Saturday morning and OH. . . MY. . . .GOODNESS!!!!!!  When I walked in the door, I literally went giddy!!  It was prim heaven!!  They had so much stuff and it was all marked down 50% off PLUS another 35% was taken off at the register!!  I could have gone crazy and bought a lot more than what I did, but I contained myself and was a good girl!!

A girl at the checkout said that this was the first time the have done a Christmas open house.  They usually hold one in May.  Let me just say that I’m definitely saving my pennies for that one!!!

Here are my goodies:

These ornaments were marked down to $2.00 and $3.00 PLUS the additional 35% off!

This lantern is about 15-16” tall and was marked down to $8.75.  I don’t really care for the color, but at that price, I’ll paint it!

I bought the santa on the left at the store in Amish country that had the Open House flyer for $18.95.  The larger santa, which stands about 16” tall, came from  Ragon House.  It was marked down to $17.50, but I got him for $11.38!!!  Can you believe it?!!

And now for the final item! My hubby was excited about this one, too!  Are you ready?!!

This fabulous guy was marked down to $48.00 and I got him for $31.20!!!!  The picture doesn’t do him justice!  I absolutely love him!!

 

When I decorate for a holiday, it usually entails making a few things.

Here’s some pictures of a couple of santas that I made.

 

I found the pattern for this guy at Patternmart.com.  It’s a free epattern so if you’re interested, click here to take you to the web page to download the pattern.  He’s about 37” long.  I think his clothes are too big on him, especially the pants, so I’ll probably remake some new ones later.  They don’t look that big on the model santa, but mine are huge!!  lol

This one is my favorite, although, it’s not a very good picture of him!  His pattern was in the Create & Decorate magazine from a couple of years ago.

I have another santa that’s in the works. . . I hope he turns out the way I’m envisioning him.  I’ll share him with you later.

 

Here are a few more pictures of my Christmas decor.

 

Did you notice my stockings are different than the ones posted in earlier pics?  I was tired of the cross stitch stockings that I made about 20 years ago.  Last year, I made these and hung them, but this year I felt kind of guilty and put the cross stitch ones back out.  After a couple of days, though, I decided to hang these back up instead.  The cross stitched ones, I think, looked busy.

 

I like to use mixed nuts (in the shells) to toss into my fruit centerpiece to use as a filler in the nooks and crannies.  I usually only find them this time of year in the produce section at my local grocery store by the bulk.

Save the Brazilian nuts and paint them to look like watermelons to use as bowl fillers in the summer.

This door is to a food pantry.  This is where I hang my Christmas cards.  I used to put them in a basket, but they seem to get looked at more hanging here. Our advent wreath also hangs on this door.  I started this years ago when my kids were small.  I bought 24 little ornaments and keep them in a little basket, which sits on a table to the left of the door.  My kids take turns hanging an ornament on the wreath every day until Christmas.  And even though they’re 18, 21 and 24 years old, they still like to hang the ornaments!

Do you see this guy?

 My opinion is that this ornament shouldn’t be hung until December 24th and every year, some one tries to pull a fast one by hanging it before that day.  Last year it went unnoticed for a couple of days.  Every once in a while I count the ornaments to make sure the correct number is up there.  One day Brittney and Justin were standing nearby, giggling, which made me suspicious, so I took a closer look and discovered that my son had hung the Dec. 24th ornament under the bow so it couldn’t be seen!  He said it had been there for a couple of days and I never knew it!!  The little stinker!!  This year, Justin is excited because it works out that he will get the honors of hanging that ornament on the 24th.  Sometimes, you just never grow up!!  lol

 

 

The other day, I received a nice surprise in the mail from Colleen (And Baby Makes Five). She sent me some of her homemade Mini Cinnis and Cinnamon Gingerbread boys, plus a homemade “Joy” sign and a “Sugar Cookie” Yankee Candle votive.  Thank you so much, Colleen!!   You are such a sweetie!!  I was so involved with the hustle and bustle of the holidays and this was a wonderful little reminder of what Christmas is all about.  You are such a warm and caring friend!  Thank you, again!

Thank you for taking the time to stop by – I really appreciate it!

Please check back on Friday for a couple of recipes that my family likes to make for breakfast on Christmas morning. Plus, possibly some pictures of my family room decorated for the holidays.

Until Next Time. . . .Kris