Monday, December 15, 2008

I can't believe I actually made it to the party!

BooMamaChristmasTour Because I had my doubts this past week. For those visiting for the first time, I'm a southern girl who kept going south, all the way to sunny Argentina. We moved into this little house in October. We've been cleaning and painting although there's still more of both before we can totally unpack and get settled. But I was bound and determined to at least get the living room ready for BooMama's Christmas Tour of Homes! Before we get started though, would you like to grab a little party parfait to enjoy during your visit? If you like chocolate at all, you will enjoy this since there's a double dose of chocolate in the brownie and the pudding :-)

I finished sewing the last curtain at 5 p.m. on Sunday but then we discovered we didn't have enough hooks to hang the last panel :-( But 8 of the 9 are up and our two walls of windows are looking mighty fine, we think. Also on Sunday we visited a friend who has several pine trees in her yard and she was happy to let us trim enough to create a lush Christmas swag. Inspired by The Nesting Place, the hubby did a phenomenal job of forming the swag and then I went to town with a few ornaments and some ribbon. I have BIG plans for a much grander swag next year, after we've had time to dry some hydrangea blossoms and gather pine cones, eucalyptus, and other goodies.

Not all of it was last minute, though. After picking up these green and blue ornaments during our shopping marathon last Tuesday, I filled a bowl for the table (and the rest we used in the swag). And prior to that we put up the tree and the Christmas quilt. I made the quilt a few years ago, before I learned about how to square things up. But we like the wonkiness of it :-) The tree skirt was also quilted, by a dear friend and supporter in Michigan. My cell phone camera isn't quite up to the job (no rude remarks about the photographer, please!) and a lot of the photos are too blurry to use. So let me just tell you about the handmade silk poinsetta blossom that I received many years ago from a lovely lady who has since died. Every year when I unpack that blossom and put it on a basket or around a candle stick, I think of her talent and generosity.

Now before I go, I just want to share a couple of favorite ornaments. Back in our Florida days I participated in an annual homemade ornament exchange and accumulated quite a stash. But not all of them survived their sojourn in mini-storage. I'm so happy a few of my Wise Men did! Here's one of them; isn't he just the cutest thing?! And this ornament never fails to elicit a surge of love and joy. It's just a cheap plastic frame that was part of a portrait package from Kmart but it's value to me is priceless. In 1982 my firstborn had just turned a year old and was wide-eyed with wonder at Christmas. I'll be sharing more about him on his birthday this Wednesday.

Finally, here are our ornaments for this year. For the first time in 27 years it's just the two of us again. So we picked a pair of pears :-) Can you guess who's green and who's blue? By necessity we've gone for a more minimalist look this year. As I've mentioned before, we didn't bring a lot of Christmas decorations with us, and it hasn't been easy finding things down here. The few stores that carry anything have limited stock. But I'm thinkin' we kinda like this new pared down look.

hehehehehe (Sorry, couldn't help myself.)

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sometimes just alittle says it all. I love the swag over the doorway though.

Robin Lambright said...

Just beautiful! For "pared" down it looks great!
Blessings
Robin

Willys and Elizabeth (Lizzie) said...

I think everything looks so nice... I really like the swag... I am thinking maybe I should make something like that too.
Thanks for sharing!

Carolina Mama said...

Love your pretty colors. And it is fun to see the 1982 ornament and realize one day my ornaments will be 26 years old. I'll probably be sad about it. :) And happy all at once. Blessings.

Carol said...

Beautifully done! Thanks for sharing your home with us.

Merry Christmas!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful, I love it all! Thanks for having us all in your home.

Anonymous said...

Argentina, huh? Wow! Your home is beautiful, and I love the little things like your son's ornament and the wise man. Merry, merry Christmas!

Momtothreebabies said...

Your decorations are beautiful! I LOVE the quilt! Beautiful!
Merry Christmas!
Jaelle @ www.momtothreebabies.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Hi, Kim! Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by my blog today from BooMama's! And it is most certainly a pleasure to meet you and stop by your blog as well. The closest I've been to Argentina is Panama. :) You've done a wonderful job decorating for Christmas, and I love your swag. I also love your special ornament you featured with a picture of your son...a very happy birthday to him this week! You've got me dreaming about the parfait! Merry Christmas!

Debbie said...

Wow. Your place looks great. I can't believe the curtains. They're fabulous.

Cat said...

Hi there from one warm climate to another :-)

Your house looks lovely, and I loved the pears - very significant for this new phase of life.

Thanks for visiting my blog and Merry Christmas!

Cate in New Zealand

http://momentsofwhimsy.wordpress.com/

Leslie Ruth Petree said...

Thanks for the sweet comment on my blog! I love your simple but colorful style. Well done on the window panels! And yes, us southern girls are raised to appreciate some good chocolate :)

Anonymous said...

Everything looks beautiful! Great job. So nice seeing your new place in Argentina!

Anonymous said...

Love the wall hanging!

Unknown said...

Love the green and blue color combination. Enjoy your new home!

Merry Christmas!

Stonefox said...

I LOVE the swag! It's funny because being overseas makes your tastes change and I for one have begun to appreciate the simple, natural beauties.

Thanks for your comment on my blog. I'm glad to have found yours! Blessings to you this season!

ellen b. said...

nice to meet you Kim. I love the colors of the swag and your new ornaments. Hey I have a little guy who was born in 1981, also. Our firstborn was a 1979 baby. Your drapes looks beautiful. All the way to Argentina...that's pretty much south, I'd say :0) We crack up cuz we moved south leaving 2 adult children in our home in Washington care for it. We say that we had to leave the nest...

riTa Koch said...

I love what you've don. Everything is b.e.a.i.u.t.i.f.u.l!
I have always admired your taste.
Enjoy, and experience the WARMTH of the season ;)!
LOVE YOU!

Melodie Norman Haas said...

Your curtains look great! My Mom-in-law helped me make mine :) Everything looks great and may God keep his hand on you and shine his light through you to a people in need! Thanks for sharing :)

Mari said...

It looks beautiful! I love your color scheme. And - Happy Birthday to your son!

Keetha Broyles said...

Thanks for inviting us in for a tour.

Merry Christmas!

Keetha Broyles said...

Oh, somehow when I was here earlier, I MISSED the part about you being in Argentina!!!

Thanks for the return visit to my blog.