Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Meowy Christmas

I got home late one night and this is the site that greeted me.
 

Our cats truly think of themselves as presents to us.
Of all of the places this feline could go snuggle up somewhere (usually on top of a pile of clean laundry) this cat decided that he needed to be under the lit Christmas tree.
It made me smile.
I've been decorating.
But not as much as last year, in fact I have scaled WAY back.
I'm just doing things that are meaningful for us and I don't have every nook and corner decked.

Our dining table has our Christmas candle wreath. Our tradition that we have had for 20+ years is to light one candle on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, two candles the following Sunday and so on, until on the Sunday before Christmas all candles are lit. I didn't do this one year and my teenage children rebeled.
I didn't think they noticed.
Next on my list of favorite decorations I have a very rough cut Nativity that my mother-in-law brought back from Jerusalem over 27 years ago. I love this Nativity.
We have a very elaborate one with all the camels and fine carvings.
But this is the only one I put up this year.

I love how simple it is.
About 15 years ago I made Christmas stockings for all my kids. As they left home I gave them their stocking. I still have three of the originals. I had to buy some to fill up the hooks. The three I made are the center three.
There are days that I wish all of my original stockings were hung......

I miss my little kids that had to get all grown up. sniffle

After the birth of my second grandchild I wanted to do something to preserve their tiny hand prints or foot prints on something besides my walls and picture window. So I decided to make throw pillows and put their print on that. I made one pillow for me and a matching one for the parent of that child. I'll have a new pillow to add for next Christmas.
I love the pillows.

The grandkids get a kick out of seeing how big their hands or feet have gotten.
I have a love affair of Snowmen and started collecting them a few years ago.


This year I got a bedspread from WallyWorld. I'm not sure how I feel about it.

It wasn't big enough so I bought two and did some sewing and used the extra fabric to make a couple of throw pillows. I am not sure if I love it it sorta looks like Hallmark barfed in my room but it was cheap. And I wanted a new bedspread.
So that's my Christmas tour. Simple. Laid back. Kinda like me.
I'll be glad in January that I didn't go all out.
My better half will be gone for most of the first three months of the year and I hate putting Christmas away alone.
I get all weepy and sad when I have to take it down.
So this way the weepy sad part won't last as long.
(I hope)
Anywayz
From my house
 

To yours
 

Meowy Christmas!
Keep testing the Mistletoe!
BTW don't ya love the little snowflaky thingies going across the blog?

31 comments:

Kristina P. said...

I need to find a really nice nativity. I have part of one from Pier One, but it's missing Baby Jesus.

Julie Harward said...

Love the cat under the tree..mine was in the top of my tree yesterday! I too love snowmen so much! and i too am scaling back this year with the kids going other places. Clever what you did with the spreads too! Have a good season! Come say hi :D

Grandma Yellow Hair said...

So happy that you found me so I could find you. Isn't the world of blogging the best friend finder yet.
I can not tell you what your comment you left means to me.(especially about my writing) What a generous good person you are.
Of course working in an ER you would have to be.
You work 12 hour shifts too. They wear me out but we do what we have to do and I am so thankful for my two jobs.
Looking forward to following you and so far I really have enjoyed what I have read.
Take care
and thank you
Maggie

Grandma Yellow Hair said...

Opps I forgot to tell you how creative you are. I love your pillows and stockings. What a great grandma you are to think of these things to do. But I have to admit from your picture you don't look old enought to have grandchildren.
Maggie
PS
Goodlooking better half too. hehehe

Ann Marie said...

I love your kitty!!

My naughty little kitten keeps pulling off the ornaments when he sneaks in the house.. My sister put aluminum Foil under hers.. and the cats won't TOUCH it.. so I may have to lay down some pretty/shiny stuff if it keeps happening!

Your Christmas Decor is cute! Scaling back?? Psh.. It looks lovely! I love that you do pillows for the grandkids. My Mom does a cross stitch ornament.. and our kids LOVE it.

I'm grateful your kids love the traditions.. it's a good reminder of how important they are...

Your tree is pretty! I love how you decked your halls! XO

Camille said...

oh, cats... they love being the center of attention, don't they? I love your idea of the handprint pillows! And I'll bet your grandkids do too!
Meowy Christmas to you!!!

Connie said...

I'm glad you mentioned the snowflakes on your blog, I was afraid my eye sight was going again! Cats DO think they are the rulers of the house. They can relax where ever they want because they own us.
Love your simple decorations. I too have gone simple. There are 4 totes filled with Christmas decorations that I have left in the garage. Less to take down.

Beth at Aunties said...

Look at his/her innocent eyes. She is a smart kitty to lay under the tree and enjoy the lights. I still like to do it and look up through to all the treasures. It takes me back to a memorable childhood dreaming about Christmas.
Your stockings are so cute and I took had a sniffle or two when our kids left home with their stockings. I loved your darling pillows with their precious little handprints are a great idea!
They all grow so fast... Isn't shocking at times how much our simple tradtions mean to our kids?
They truly are important. Liked your Walley World special for your bedroom...it looks great!
I enjoyed all of your Meowy Christmas and especially getting to know YOU!
~♥

Debby@Just Breathe said...

You have some wonderful treasures.
Thank you for sharing them with us.

Kimmie said...

Beautiful! We have the same taste in decorating our tree. Love your homemade ornaments and love the "dried oranges".

I have been scaling back my holiday decorating for the past few years. A few years ago I sent on 3 or 4 large boxes of decorations.

I am still in the process of getting Christmas put up. It has been constant chaos and interruptions for the past week. Hopefully by Thursday, I will have some holiday cheer going on at my house.

Love your homemade socks and pillows!! Traditions and little kids handprints are priceless!

I LOVE snowmen as well. You can't have too many snowmen this time of the year.

Sorry to hear Howard will be gone alot the first three months of the year...you both are troopers. I don't know how you do it. I'm glad you have your cat to keep you company!

The snowflakes falling on your Blog are festive! It makes you feel like you're looking out the window and it's snowing outside.

Thanks for your friendship and for always lifting our spirits with your humor! Your comment about Hallmark card made me laugh hard!

Yvonne said...

I love snowmen, too--haven't found very many this year.

Your nativity is BEAUTIFUL. I love it.

The stockings are beautiful. What a great idea to do pillows for your grandchildren--love them. You are so creative.

Thanks for the tour ; )

Unknown said...

darling home, darling cat, who looks quite comfy under the tree!

Elaine said...

Your house looks so HOMEY and COZY!!! At least you have decorations... My husband and I don't have any at all! We've been so busy with finals in December that Christmas decorations are the last thing on our minds!! I need someone as creative as you to help with that! ;)


clothedmuch.blogspot.com

Nikia, May and da kids said...

I love the nativity set. It is simple and very earthy. I'd take that one over an elaborate set any holiday. Reminds you about the humility of the birth of Christ.

I also love your pillows with your grandkids hand prints, which i might as well admit to stealing for future use. So thanks for that.

I also like the comforter and throw pillows. Wow if that is simple you should come to my house. Halloween is our BIG to do holiday and I would love to buy a tree and decorate now but we're in the middle of a snow storm, so I can procrastinate 2 more days. Yayy!

May

Jeppesens said...

I love your cat!! I guess your cat felt the xmas spirit too. Can you believe this cold weather? I miss working with you!!

Tin said...

I am not putting up much this year either. Just keeping it simple.
I do love the pillows. You made one for me with Makaila's hand prints. It is sad to see how much she has grown.

American Homemaker said...

After my cat knocked down our tree the first night it was up she's thankfully stayed away from it. Musta really scared her LOL

Chandy said...

Tauna, thanks for dropping by my blog and the great comment.

Your home looks adorable, I love the cat under the tree. We have a cat and she goes nuts over dangling things, so we don't have a big tree this year to her sane. lol

MaRiN said...

I love the handmade stockings! I hope someday I can learn to sew and make some for my family. Very cute!

wendy said...

Oh yeah, I do like the snowflake things going across your blog, for a minute I thought I'd consumed a little to much "Christmas cheer" Tee, hee.
nice decorations my dear. simple is great. It is always nice to stick with the favorites and the traditions.
I didn't put up a tree this year and it feels so "empty"

I will enjoy my kids trees though.

wendy said...

Oh yeah, I do like the snowflake things going across your blog, for a minute I thought I'd consumed a little to much "Christmas cheer" Tee, hee.
nice decorations my dear. simple is great. It is always nice to stick with the favorites and the traditions.
I didn't put up a tree this year and it feels so "empty"

I will enjoy my kids trees though.

gigi said...

I do love your tour of your home. I got some great ideas for next year cause all we are getting around here this year is the tree!
Every year once the tree is up that is where the cats stay until I take it down. Strange animals :)
Cute new blanket and very clever.

Thank you for cheering me up, I'm struggling still!

Sandy aka Doris the Great said...

I love that Hallmark barfed all over your bed! What a great line! (Can I use it in future?)

For me, that's part of the joy of Christmas is having that barfy Hallmark look that we wouldn't be caught dead with otherwise.

PS - Thanks for the lovely comments on my blog. I'm not sure if I've ever been someone's hero before!!

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

I love your nativity set! Your cat looks very much at home under your beautifully adorned tree. This Ozarks farm chick had a cat once who kept climbing the well lit creation.
Your home sings Christmas.

From the Missouri hills and hollers, ya'll have a wonderfully blessed day!!

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

I just wanted to thank ya'll for poppin' in with your sweet comment. I would love to show ya how I rock and roll with my cleanin' process. It's probably quite a sight from the outside lookin' in.

Take care and ya'll come back!

God bless!!!

RatalieNose said...

I LOVE the snow!! Since I live in Mesa Az I've only ever seen it a couple times!
Three of my four older siblings have moved out and my favorite time is when they all come home and bring their familirs!
The candle tradition is awesome!!
It's like Christian Hannakuh!

R Allen said...

That is so cool... my cat loves under the tree too. And he loves being a hood ornament, until we start the car, then he tries to sneak back under the tree. We are not fond of shredded presents, so out he goes!

CB said...

Tauna the snowflaky things were making me a little dizzy - or is that ditzy??? I think they both work - Ha HA!!!
I love all your decor - especially your candle tradition, your pillows with the children's prints (I do a tree skirt), nativity and I truly love the bedspread - I am loving how colorful it is!! Very festive!
I don't know what it is about animals but they really seem attracted by the Christmas tree - Your kitty is cute!

Meowy Christmas to you too!

Sherrie said...

My Dachshund loves to stay under the Christmas tree every year. That is her spot I guess. Very Cute! Love your decorations and I love your bedspread.

Brittany H said...

ya I do how do you get those snow flakes there anyway?? I like all your traditions and the fact that Hallmark barfed on your bed--it's quite festive and probably doesn't smell bad either!

You are awesome you know that? and I'm not just talking about the yummy treats either!

also known as shell said...

my cat lives under my tree too! I think she's trying to get eat the fake plastic pine needles to get rid of a hair ball. good luck with that right:)