Merry Christmas!
What a joyous celebration we have already shared!! This season Hubs family discovered two first cousins who were adopted out of the family as very small children due to very sad circumstances and everyone lost track of them over 60 years ago. Lo and behold they had been living very near us all this time... We were brought together due to Ancestry.com and the DNA analysis! Knowing we were hosting a cousin's party this last week, We paid a little extra attention to our festive decorating and food planning!
I always get most excited about deciding how to decorate the mantel.. we hadn't used the "village" in some years, mainly because I couldn't find where I'd stored it!
Once I have it completed it seems to set the tone for the rest of the seasonal decor!
The years we decide not to have a live tree, we use our small trees which are so much easier to manage!
Since we were going Old English in theme, out came the stags and antlers!!
I love this wrought iron arranger. I keep the flowers in it all the time, then seasonally I add to it whatever is appropriate.. It always leaves a natural as if it grew there feeling Haha, I always leave the blue hydrangea there which seems to get lost in the overall look because blue flowers have a very appropriate meaning for me."Peaceful blue is said to convey serenity and openness. A flower delivery of a bouquet containing blue flowers may be a sign to slow down, relax and release the stress."
With that the west side of the room was complete!
I then revert to the dining room!
This year, Hubs so sweet to help with the house cleaning!
I love the simplicity of red and white!
I always enjoy doing up then hutch! Whatever did we do before battery operated lights.. I love to light up everything!!
The matching small tree beckoning one and all to come for refreshment is aglow with battery operated illumination! And don't you just love the leopard throw I found on Amazon for a song this season! It is so luxurious!
From west to east. all is done!
Even the kitchen got into the fun!
So our cousins' Soiree' was celebrated last evening.. everyone brought a dish and the evening was festive and full of joy and sharing..Stories were told and hearts were touched and love was spread abroad..
and a very warm welcome was showered on our beloved cousins we were able to finally bring into the clan!!
God bless us everyone!
Your house looks gorgeous with all the decorations up. Glad to hear that the two lost first cousins were found after all those years and they got to get together with family members. How sweet is that, what a great gift and story for your family to celebrate this year.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. Have a wonderful weekend!
You have a great talent in decorating - all beautiful. Would you believe that, thanks to Ancestry (not the DNA, just me noodling around on one of their free weekends several years ago), I was contacted by a cousin belonging to a side of my family I had lost touch with some 50 years ago. I visited my cousin and his family this past spring. I'm happy to know your "found cousin reunion" was amazing. It's remarkable what the Internet can bring about, both good and not good. Could we have dreamed of this when growing up? Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteI agree you have a great talent in welcoming us into the fold. I was so relaxed and truly loved to see these "cousins" meeting for the first time. Your home is lovely, thanks for hosting our 1st get-together of many I'm sure!
ReplyDeleteGood morning, Gwen! So great to see your visit! How ever did you find my little blog! I have been blogging since 2008. I really enjoy keeping up with my small group of regular visitors. Hope you and Michael have a marvelous Christmas! We leave tomorrow for Boston. I so wish I had Dorothy’s ruby red slippers and could click my heels together three times and be there! Anyway, be safe, and have a very merry Christmas! We look forward to our time together in January!
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