Revisiting Christmas 2012

 This is a photo of a weathered barn in Virginia, upon which the owners thoughtfully hung a lovely be-ribboned  wreath.

 The holidays started with helping out at a house tour for the local historical society.

 This re-purposed Chapel was filled with wonderful decorations including

 many, many Annalee Dolls

 The homeowner did an outstanding job of decorating with urns and live twinkle lit outdoor trees.

 There were Byer Dolls too.

Down on the farm, crocheted Christmas stockings made over the years hung over the fireplace.

 A John Deer toy tractor found at a local baby consignment shop, with the cut offs from the live tree.

The real tractor on the farm.

 

 The outdoor tree.

 We decided to go traditional with a live tree, but when we couldn't find one with a root ball that we could plant for the future, we bought a live cut tree.

  A galvanized tub and some  pieces of wood for a stand worked well.  We placed a plastic cloth under the woolen blanket and looked for leaks which never materialized.  I cut the star from two pieces of white paper.

We added wooden Nut Crackers and Jumping Jacks, and candy canes.

 Baked a few banana breads,

drew a silly scene on the large slate and recycled barn fencing framed chalk board,

 planted a Calicarpa from the nursery that didn't have a balled Christmas tree, and protected it from marauding deer,

 visited the folks next door and saw their Pug,

 looked at old and new photos of Christmas mall memories,

 looked at the mall decorations and

 silly hats,

and added to the Advent calendar.

 Back on Long Island went to the beautifully traditional Cathedral of the Incarnation, Garden City, New York where they had a  large nativity.

 Made several lemon cakes,

 saw the wreath that someone placed on the door of the Dove Cottage,

 saw another fantastic outdoor tree in Centerport,

 loved the variegated Poinsettia,

 finally discovered that all the while the Lenten Roses were coming out even in the coldest weather!  Happy New Year!