Welcome to JOYFUL REFLECTIONS. Also welcome to APRIL!!!! Spring is AWESOME. Enjoy some beautiful TULIPS from Biltmore!!

Monday, December 11, 2017

Christmas at our Home, Part II ---- Inside Decorations

My gorgeous Willow Collection
Hello  Friends,   This week I have picked out some of my favorite little inside decorations in our home...   Many of these,  I have had for years ---and love thinking about them and the memories that rush back in my mind as I open them for another Christmas Season.

Several of my friends have said that they no longer put out their Christmas decorations...    I agree that it is a lot of work --but the joy I receive when doing it keeps me motivated to continue decorating as long as I physically can.

Hope you enjoy seeing some of the little cuties around our home during this season.   I am a collector,  and have a collection of things like bird ornaments,  Santas,  and all kinds of little angels....  The group in the above picture is my all-time favorite collection.   These are my WILLOWS  ---and are priceless to me... I can just sit and look at them forever.


My Advent Calendar  (very special to me since it was made many years ago by my sister-in-law,  Evelyn Banks,  who is no longer with us);   When my sons were young,  they would put an ornament on the tree beginning on Dec. 1st and ending on Dec. 24 (with the star on top)...  That way they would know how many days were left until Christmas!



This little guy has been with me for many years also.   I call him my Flower Pot  Santa since he was made using a small ceramic flower pot... 



Sitting by the fireplace are some of my little Christmas Babies  (a couple of snowmen and a couple of Santas)   I have gotten through the years!!!!  



 Here's a picture of our pretty Christmas Tree;   Other than a small tree on our front porch, and 4 little tiny trees in our home,  This is our ONLY large tree...  We actually purchased this pre-lit tree in 2004  (believe it or not) --and although all of the pre-lit lights no longer work,  we just keep on using this tree --and adding our own lights.   This year we added about 800 lights.  We have searched for another pre-lit tree just like this one but have yet to find one we like, since this one looks so real.  We also like the shape. SO--we just keep on using this one!!!!  We think it is still pretty!  I am one of the few people who still love the multi-colored lights.



In 2015,  while on our annual December trip to Ocean Isle Beach,  we purchased this adorable little Snowman at  one of the largest Christmas Stores I have ever been in,  Callahan's in Calabash,  North Carolina.   



Then the next year,  in Dec. of 2016,  we purchased Mr. Skinny Legs Santa...  I love this little guy!!!!!  (We didn't get to make our annual December trip to Ocean Isle this year due to family emergencies, but when we go back --I will visit Callahan's again to see what new 'cuties' they may have which may jump into our car!!!! ha)



Here are a few more of my Christmas Babies sitting next to the Christmas Tree and near the fireplace.     Besides the little snowman,   there is another of my Santas,  a Christmas Teddy Bear,  and a Christmas Cow.   How many of you have a Christmas Cow????? ha ha 



This is our living room --from my recliner  (you can see my feet all covered up).    I love to sit there with a fire going in the fireplace,  just enjoying the view!!!!!!    Christmas is just such an awesome time!



Finally,   the most important display in our home is our little creche.   This Nativity is from George's family and means so much to both of us....   Let's never forget the REAL meaning of Christmas....  Happy Birthday to Baby Jesus  (on Dec. 25)!
I could share many more  of the decorations  inside our home --including all of my many angels.  BUT---I will stop for today and let you enjoy all of these...

Have a great week, my Friends.

Hugs,