Friday, December 21, 2012

Solstice


"I live and love in God's peculiar light. "

~Michelangelo Buonarrati


Today marks Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, also marking the first day of Winter in the Northern Hemisphere.  Beginning tomorrow, the daylight will last a little longer!

We do not begin our Christmas decorating until this day, since I prefer to use fresh greenery...
This is what we have so far...

Pears and fresh evergreen boughs atop the Library mantel, a bust of Santa Clause sits upon an overturned capital.

Handsome Husband's Birthday gift to me!  My new Library bibliotheque!

This was a Craigslist find!  Can you believe it?  If I told you how much we paid you would hate me.  ;)  



Olive branch wreaths adorn the doors...I was inspired by Debra of Acquired Objects...she has a passion for laurel wreaths!



Magnolia wreath upon the newly painted pier mirror..

The bow is made of french script ribbon...

Wreath on sunroom door. The baby Jesus rests in its boughs.  The table is moved here because we place the Christmas tree in the center of the sunroom so we can view it from all sides.  Fresh boxwood and pomegranates rest on the table, entwined with hand printed, wired paper in French script.

I prefer apple green ribbon to the traditional red and green.  It cheers me! This little guy is encircled with gilded bay leaves...


This wreath is a special gift for my Mother in Law.  I already gave it to her, so I am not ruining her surprise!


We are busy, busy, busy, preparing for Christmas!  I have much more to share!

I am hoping that you all take a moment, away from all the bustle, to enjoy the Holidays!




xo

Andie

    I am participating in The Dedicated House, Make It Pretty Monday
No Minimalist Here, Open House Party
French Country Cottage,  Feathered Nest Friday
Savvy Southern Style, Wow Us Wednesdays!
From My Front Porch to Yours, Treasure Hunt Thursday!


28 comments:

  1. It'a all beautiful. Love the fresh greenery and your wonderful Christmas gift from hubby.

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  2. Hi Andie, Your Christmas greenery is beautiful and I love the bibliotheque. Happy Holidays!

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  3. Your home is beautiful my dear friend..I love seeing it in all it's CHRISTmas finest..You have impeccable decorating taste..Many Blessings to you and your family..Hugs and smiles Gloria

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  4. Happy Birthday, what a wonderful gift!
    And I love that you like that apple/limey green color for Christmas.
    Please post more pictures....I love seeing all that you do!
    XX MERRY CHRISTMAS! xxx

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  5. Andie, your house looks lovely. The real greenery is beautiful.
    P.S. When I was writing my post of today, I was thinking about you. Please, have a look and you will know why http://polonicahomeagain.blogspot.com/2012/12/animals-on-wigilia-christmas-eve.html.

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  6. My dear, you have wonderfully good taste!! It looks fantastic. No tacky Christmas here, it's all very elegant and suits your beautiful house to perfection.

    Hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas!

    Nicole
    xox

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  7. Your home is incredibly gorgeous, and even more so now that it is decked out for Christmas. I have a bay tree, and used bay leaves and branches in my decorating this year, so I love your gilded bay leaves! Happy Winter Solstice to you and Merry Christmas!

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  8. Your home is so beautiful! I love the style of furniture and accessories! The fresh greens make gorgeous wreaths! I bet your mother in law loved the one you made with the pheasant feathers. Merry Christmas! Hugs, Leena

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  9. Andie!!!
    Someone stole your fireplace and only left the mantel!
    And that's all the holiday spirit you're going to get from me.....
    (i love the apple green too.)

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  10. Hi Andie! OH, darling! Your home is gorgeous and I love how you're decorating with the live greens. For such a young one you have the most elegant taste and your home is beautiful! I wish you and your family a wonderful Christmas.
    be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  11. Hi Andie,

    I agree with everyone, you have excellent taste and I love how you wait till a few days before Christmas before decking the halls with fresh holiday greenery. I am so very happy to have found you and am excited to hang out with you in 2013.
    You are definitely my kind of girl!!!!
    Wishing you and your sweet little family a most wondrous Christmas.
    God bless,

    Love,
    Terri

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  12. Until recently, we had a wooded lot on our street. From that wooded lot, most of us gathered fresh evergreens and holly. Alas! The owner died, and the property was developed so that many houses now take up that space that used to furnish so many of us with material for our Christmas decorations Christmas isn't the same for us now. **sigh**

    Merry Christmas, Andie!

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  13. PS: What a wonderful birthday gift your husband chose for you! Perfect in so many ways!

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  14. WOOOO HOOOOO! Oh you have an eye for beauty, Andie....and so does your husband! WAY TO GO!!! Love that bibliothèque!

    Thank you for visiting and yes, LOVE came to show us how to engage in this thing called life. CELEBRATE!

    I have not forgotten about your request for the illustration. I am still working on a HUGE project that I will share, I HOPE, next week. It has to be delivered the first week of January so after that, I should be free...we shall see!

    BIG HUGS AND MERRY CHRISTMAS! Anita

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  15. I am Never disappointed when I make a visit to you, a home divine in every imaginable way, gracing the floor with pieces that rest in the pace with divine beauty.
    I have said this time and time again and again how I wish we were neighbors so I could see and touch your beautiful finds up close. Andie how are the lions? And have you found out any more information on them? In hopes that they are the ones thought to be?

    Have a beautiful holiday and à Joyeux Noël
    Xox
    Doré

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  16. You are just starting and i am ready to take down. I decorate so early for tours. I also use real and it is starting to loose it's freshness. I hate the mess it makes/ Still cleaning in cracks from last Christmas. We had snow yesterday, mostly all melting today/ Maybe it will come again. I bet you have a white Christmas, I have an ideal you will! Richard and Sissy Dog from My old Historic House/

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  17. You are a true original my friend! Wow! How you come up with these amazing CL finds is beyond me even with your sharing of how you do it...your wreaths are so lovely too. Enjoy the season!

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  18. Craigslist? Wow! Your home looks terrific:) I adore your bibliotheque. Great stylin'!

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  19. Oh my word, your fresh greens and decor are so stunning. I love it all, and such a fabulous BD gift too, wow. I hope you have a very Blessed and Merry Christmas. Hugs, Marty

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  20. Andie,

    Your house ought to be featured in one -- or several -- of the "shelter" books -- like House and Garden, Better Homes and Gardens, etc.

    HGTV would benefit from doing feature on you too.

    Have you ever considered approaching any of these sources, or do you prefer just to keep it just for family and friends?

    ~ FreeThinke

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  21. what beautiful decor come see us at http://shopannies.blogspot.com

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  22. It really is all just stunning! Thank you for sharing. You will be one of the features at Make it Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House. Pop on in and grab a feature button. Hope to see you at the bash! Happy New Year! Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

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  23. So gorgeous!! Love the apple green too~ it's perfect!! Thanks for linking up at Feathered Nest Friday!! Happy New Year to you and yours!!!

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  24. Coming over from 'Treasure Hunt Thursday' Party. This room is crazy gorgeous!!! Love the fresh holiday greenery!
    Rhonda

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  25. All very beautiful!! Thanx for coming to THT!

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