Winter White

Several years ago, my local stores began to feature a lot of mercury glass during the Christmas season.  As I was unwilling to change my Christmas colors, I decided to use the mercury glass as a part of my winter table scape.  I was already using a winter theme on my table, but the addition of the mercury glass was really pretty. 

I have decided that I like shiny things. 

I have collected several boxes of mercury glass over the last five years.

  I start my table by unpacking and unwrapping each lovely piece.

 

Then, I start spreading out the trees and the candle sticks. 

 I like to have those spaced out evenly.

 

I take my Christmas decorations down before New Year's Day

and replace the Christmas finery with the shiny silver pieces.

I have several tall trees.  I secretly wish I had bought the over-priced five-tiered tree

from Pottery Barn that I saw this year.  They had some in the stores that weren't

lighted (the on-line ones were lighted) and a little bit cheaper.

Oh well.  I think I really have enough that it won't be missed.  I'm just being greedy.

I especially like to use a lot of candles on my winter wonderland table. 

  Many of the pieces that I have collected over the years can hold candles.

Around here in the south, we have to make our own snow.
 

I am trying to learn to take better pictures, but let me tell you that getting these pictures...which are okay-not wonderful, took several DAYS.  We had rain or overcast skies almost every day last week.  To make matters harder on me, our dining room only gets a little morning sun-and that is at an angle.

We have been eating our family New Year's Day meal at our home the last few years. 

 I use these antique napkins for the meal.  They belonged to my great aunt. 

 I like to keep the place settings clean and white.

Our table set for our dinner.

 

Here's our table with the candles lit.  It is a warm and pretty table set to welcome a New Year.
 

 

Joining the party at:

A Stroll Thru Life Table Top Tuesday

Our Christmas

I have not posted all the things that I had envisioned posting for the month of December.  I got off to a great start with two posts and then I'm not really sure what happened*.

I am a new blogger and I had dreamed of cozy posts of my Christmas decorations and seasonal events. I had dreams of joining blog link parties and reading everyone else's fun posts....but it didn't happen.

So here is a quick and belated tour of our home for Christmas.

This is my coffee table in my family room.

This is the view from our sofa in the family room.

The details of my mantle.

I got this sled last year on etsy. I love it.

Part of my Santa needlepoint pillow collection.

The desk in my family room.

The tree in our family room.

A table in my family room.

My German chocolate mold on my kitchen counter.

This is the table in my kitchen.

I found the Santa's Diner plates at Hobby Lobby last year and I couldn't resist!

My table in my dining room.

 The tree in our living room.

The foyer.

Our backyard fireplace.

It was warm many days in December, but we had a fire outside on Christmas Eve.

 I love to entertain, so I took a few pictures of my table,
plates and set ups during different occassions.

I love these little milk bottles.

My Mom and I had a coffee and invited friends over for a morning of fellowship.

My favorite Christmas ornament.

 An appetizer plate for Christmas Eve.

A cookie tray for a friend.

*I know what happened.  Life.  Our high school football season ended on December 2 and we attended the out-of-town game (my daughter is in the band).  WE WON the State 6-A Championship!  I took friends to the Montgomery Curb Market.  I volunteered at two schools. I decorated our home.  I helped decorate our church.  I helped with the poinsetta sale at church-unloading the truck and organizing orders. I delivered fruit from the band fruit sale.  My daughter was in the Christmas parade.  I attended the Girl Scout Leader's Meeting.  I got our Christmas cards ready and in the mail. I attended the Girl Scout Cookie Training Meeting.  I attended a Christmas luncheon. We attended our Sunday School Christmas Auction to raise money for our Christmas Family.  I had my Scout troop over to our house to decorate cookies.  I made extra cheese straws for a wedding.  We had our Sunday School Christmas party at our home.  My daughter had mid-terms.  We helped deliver Christmas presents and food to our Christmas Family. 
We went on a three day trip to celebrate our 19th anniversary.  My Mom and I had a coffee for friends.  My daughter had a Christmas Concert for band.  I made cookies for my daughter's teachers.  Oh, and I had a terrible headache and had to get a shot (I lost most of that week).  I cleaned house, cooked meals and took my daughter back and forth to school every day.  I made Christmas goodies for family and friends...all from scratch.  I shopped for presents and wrapped them up.  But I had a WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS and hope to do it all again next year.  I wouldn't do a thing different except BLOG ABOUT IT!!

Victorian Front Porch Christmas

Have you ever been to Opelika, Alabama?  I'd love to share with you a special event that is held there each year at Christmas.  It's called the Victorian Front Porch Christmas and it takes place in the historic neighborhoods of Opelika.  For just a few days (and nights), you can visit the area and view the beautifully decorated porches.  There are about sixty homes that are decorated for the event.  You can read more about the event here : Victorian Front Porch Christmas .

There is a cheerful sign that welcomes visitors

 to the Victorian Front Porch Christmas.

Then as you drive down the street, you begin to see the lovely displays on the porches and in the yards.  There are Santas, angels, pretty ladies and even a carriage or two.

With a nod to Gone with the Wind, here is Rhett, Scarlett and little Bonnie Blue.

The decorations are on display for a few days every year.  The event starts today and ends on Saturday this year.  If you're in the area, be sure to attend.  If you are in the area at night--well, you're really in luck!  The displays are lighted and are just beautiful at night.  If you attend on Saturday, the streets will be closed and there will be a walking tour for you to enjoy the homes and their decorations.

This reindeer pulling the carriage is one of my favorite displays.

The colors of the displays coordinate with the colors of the homes. 

 Isn't this a pretty blue Santa?

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