January Tabletop with a Quilted Runner

I think many of us this week are literally freezing our tootsie rolls off. Winter has finally hit us here in southern Missouri and we had a bit of a mini blizzard. It was so cold that even the birds and squirrels didn't want to come out for their late afternoon snack. Blowing snow and low temps have made me need to keep busy getting my house back to normal after Christmas.  

7 Easy Tips to Transition Your Home to Winter Décor

Okay, I can't really say that these are mine alone. Because all you have to do is take a look on Pinterest to see that there are a bunch of bloggers who follow these same tips to change up their Christmas décor to a cozy, comfy, feeling of winter.

Common Ground Top 10 Posts

Welcome Friends, as I share a bit of what happened here during this last year, 2023. Here are my Top 10 reader favorite posts, not in any particular order. Thankyou so much, each one of you who comes by to visit and is a part of my blog and life. It's been a long journey this last 14 years and I'm grateful to have spent it with you all!

Last Minute Ideas for a New Year's Eve Tablescape

Hi Friends, I wanted to share a few images and ideas in case you are thinking of an impromptu New Year's Eve dinner or small celebration. I'm not a "tablescaper" like some of you, but I thought it would be fun to see a few vintage inspired tablescapes and gather some common themes that will work for a last minute plan.

Heavenly Holiday Entry

I've realized at Christmas I lean toward a white and ethereal look on the entry console; white lights and white and neutral colors with a light and bright look. For Christmas this year I've tried to bring out a few pieces that are some of my early Christmas décor that I haven't shared for years. 

Holiday Dining Room with Holly Topiaries

Hello Friends, Wow what a weekend. Filled with family and so much fun and so many blessings. I hope you all had an equally Happy Christmas. I'm playing "Christmas Catch-up" this week, trying to get in a last couple of Christmas posts for my video diary. I like to do this for myself even if it's on the back side of Christmas. I try to mix it up each year so I won't get décor lazy. A Home Tour each year gives me a visual of what I've done for Christmas décor. Hopefully, you might enjoy it too. 

Welcome Home Christmas Tour 2023

Many Christmas Tours are done at the beginning of the Season, but since it's a work in progress here from late October until Christmas Eve, it becomes a pictorial blog diary of our home at Christmas room by room. 

Garden Girl for the Holidays

Over the years I've picked up a few old garden statuary pieces, but I can't let them be outside in the elements any longer. Some of them have survived for about 100 years, so they deserve to be in the comforts and safety of shelter. I found this precious Garden Girl fountain around 13 years ago in a little hole-in-the-wall antique shop in St. Louis. I spied her in an alleyway along with many other old pieces. Her graceful lines and sweet face called out to me. 

Reindeer Games on the Christmas Mantel

In middle November while browsing ideas for my Christmas mantel I came across a pair of woodsy reindeer that checked all the boxes for decorating my large hearth room fireplace. I had told myself that I didn't need any new decor items, but well... they ended up on my Thanksgiving mantel, then stuck around for Christmas.

Christmas Front Porch

Invariably I get down to the last few days before Christmas and I start running out of time to share all my pics of Christmas around my house. So here are a few from the front porch. We went through a really cold snap about the time I was decorating it, so it sort of got lost in the fact that I wasn't going to turn into a popsicle working on more fluffing.

Out-of-the-Box Vintage Christmas Tree and "The Mystery Box"

One of the first things I do as I start thinking about an upcoming season or holiday is to start with Pinterest and spend time reviewing past posts and photos. We all have pics from Pinterest that we consider our favorites; those that come to mind each season. For me they are in the "vintage" category and I revisit them each year for a fresh new look and take on décor themes and ideas that I can include in my own seasonal décor.

Christmas Cheer in the Cupboard

Welcome Friends, to Christmas in the Holiday Cupboard! Each upcoming Christmas Season you'll find me playing in this old Pie Safe and transforming it to the Holiday Cupboard. It's one of my first decorating spots that I look forward to each Christmas. I love to bring out the red transferware, and this year some Tartan Plaid Christmas plates from Pottery Barn are added to the mix.

A Homespun Kitchen for Christmas

Hey Friends, Welcome to a fun gathering today, as I'm joining in with a great group of gals who are sharing their ideas and inspiration for a Homespun Christmas. Thankyou to Laura at Decor To Adore for putting this great group together. If you're coming from Lora's place at Create and Ponder, thanks so much and I'm glad you're here continuing the Hop!

Christmas Vintage Collections on Display

Hi Friends, Welcome to the Christmas Edition of our Lifestyle of Love Gathering hosted by our wonderful friend Cindy of County Road 407. If you're coming from CoCo's Blog, The Crowned Goat, you're so welcome here and I'm so happy you're following the Hop. 

Vintage Christmas Ornament Boxes

From the very first vintage ornament I saw many years, I fell in love. With the tarnished, chipped, and worn metallic finishes especially of Shiny Brite ornaments, they reflected my love for timeworn beauty.  I started out with every color I could find, then began to focus on the metal colors of silver, white, and gold. 

Father Christmas and the Woodland Wagon

My Father Christmas seems to think of this French goat cart as home each Christmas. He ends up here because after 40 years he has a bad back and needs some support. (can any of us relate?) It can't be seen from here but this year he's sitting in my old Tartan Plaid train case.

Plaid Greetings from the Christmas Baker's Rack

Hi Friends, the combination of Thanksgiving weekend and decorating for Christmas can be a lot of work, as you are probably experiencing right about now. I had a lot of things out and felt like I had a plan, but the more I puttered, the more I needed to do. Is that a sign of age...? Maybe just someone has too much fun Christmas stuff. But I've always been one to "decorate" up until December 24, no matter what, so I guess that explains it.

Christmas Centerpiece Basket with Greenery and Guest

I'm sure most of you are doing what I'm doing this weekend...

Recovering from Thanksgiving and getting started on Christmas décor. I have to admit, I did get started bringing in a few Christmas things and brainstorming last week. I did my Thanksgiving decorating early this year so I was able to transition to Christmas without feeling like I was giving it short shrift. I thoroughly enjoyed it by starting early.

Thanksgiving Greetings and a Mantel I Almost Forgot

Friends, wow, I almost forgot to share pics of my Thanksgiving mantel. I like to keep a visual diary of what I do each year but I've been in a bit of chaos with packing away "fall" and transitioning to more Christmas décor. 

Dressing Up a Centerpiece with Gold Gilt Pears

It's easy for me to get into a bit of a rut in my Dining Room with Christmas decor. If I find pieces that I like, I tend to rely on the same look from one year to the next. I have a lot of vintage "kitch-y" fun stuff that I use in the Garden Room, but in the Dining Room I like to do something a little more French Country with some "rustic elegance". Tartan plaid can still be found in here, but I've wanted to try some new and different ideas with a more frenchy country vibe.

Thanksgiving Baker's Rack and a Peek at Christmas

I still have a few bits left for Thanksgiving, but now I'm working on decorating for Christmas. I love Fall so much I always go overboard so moving from Thanksgiving to the Christmas Season can mean lots of packing up and storing away before I can really get to Christmas. I've been trying to make it easier, but as you know there's just no way around it unless you're a total minimalist, which of course, I am not. 

French Country Urn and Thanksgiving Centerpiece

Hello everyone, so glad you're here today to join us for the Grateful Gatherings Thanksgiving Hop hosted by our wonderful friend Laura from Decor to Adore.  If you're following the Hop and coming by via Lora Bloomquist at Create and Ponder then an extra special welcome and Hello. What a wonderful time of year to have a gathering of friends as we share our own way of celebrating a grateful Thanksgiving occasion.

Savoring Thanksgiving into Christmas in the Garden Room

Hi Friends, how are you coming along with this seasonal transition time? Have you put away all your Fall decor and going cold turkey (pun intended) headlong into Christmas?