It's That Time of Year Again

[teddy_radiator]

for my annual Christmas picspam. This isn't quite everything (I still don't have the bedroom quite in shape yet), but it's about 95% of everything. This is the first Christmas in several years that I've displayed my dad's Christmas village. I don't know why I haven't been, really. It was a breeze to display. It's also the first year we have the main tree in a different part of the room. When we moved furniture for the kids' visit, we freed up a place where the tree can actually be seen through our front door. I think I like it there. We were also able to put one of the large nutcrackers beside it, so it makes a nice feature.

There are a couple more trees I haven't photographed yet. I'll try and get to them tomorrow.


The little alcove that divides the house into two parts. My mum gave us the reindeer, and we added them to the brass versions we already had. We decorate a lot with stockings; this one is a brown knitted one with a fur cuff, but alas the lighting doesn't show it well.


This little tree is mainly for our most delicate and sentimental ornaments. The baubles were my grandmothers'; the red birds belonged to TheHubs™' dad. If the top looks a little bedraggled, it's because we can't remember what topper we used and we can't find it.



The mantle is greatly pared down this year. Last year it was just too cluttered, so we tried to keep it simpler. I'm not crazy about the firescreen - I think it's too twee, but it's all we have. The little foxes dressed in fox-hunting garb (I know) are from Highlands, NC. I got them about 30 something years ago. They are very special to me. The cross stitched piece between them was a gift from an ex-Mother in Law from about the same era as the foxes.


This is the kitchen-food tree. It contains lots of teapots and pastries and kitchen elements left over from the tea room days. We have these really cool lights in the kitchen (you can see two of them beside the angel) but they really don't look all that impressive in still photos.


Our main tree. I am a firm believer in the 'at least 100 lights per foot' rule. I also have some of the last C25 bulbs this year. They are a pain in the arse (they blow out too easily) but I like the large bursts of light. To the right of the tree is Bert, who, along with his partner Ernie have been guarding us, first at the tea room and then at home, for the past 7 years. Ernie is sadly getting very faded, but he's still an impressive sight outside the house.


Another angle of the tree. I love ribbon, but I'm pants at decorating with it. I think I'll relegate it back to gift-trimming next year. The large snowman at Bert's feet was one of our Three for a Dollar finds at the now closed Goodwill Store in Greenville. You can't really seen him, but at Bert's left is a little soldier bear, another $.33 find.


A close up of the tree. I think the little bird with the glasses looks like Harry Potter. You can see the back of the Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans bag just to his right.


Another tree detail. The little Elf on the Shelf is an original, and is 50 years old. It was a Christmas present from my kindergarten teacher. He's very fragile now, and so faded, but I just love having him on the tree.


Another detail of the foot of the tree. The Santa in the boot was a gift when I was four or five.


Another tree detail.


Another tree detail.


I freely admit this was a Pinterest idea. I happened to have some clear baubles and my old high school graduation tassel. It's very faded from traveling for many years hanging from my rear-view mirror, but I was glad to give it this forever home.


The triple heart was from Cracker Barrel. I love their ornaments, and I adore going there this time of year, especially early in the mornings for breakfasts.


This little tree is in the Steampunk Library. It features all things British. Behind it is my autographed photo of AR, which I treasure as well.


sabrebabe was very kind to send me a pair of ice skates last year. They are in fab condition, and again this is another Pinterest idea. It was the hit of last year's decorations, and I love it.


I have a little surface in the front room where I place little bits and pieces that don't really go anywhere else. The tiny fireplace on the left is a favourite, but it's held together with a ton of glue. We manage to break it every year.


This is one side of the Christmas village. The lighthouse light blinks, and of course I took the photo after it blinked, but it looks really lovely.


The is the other side of the village. All the tea lorries were purchased in England.


A detail of the village, showing Krispy Kreme. This is the first year I've been able to display the couple fighting over the last doughnut. I also have an idential tree ornament of this piece.


While I disagree with their stance on LGBT, I will continue to display this little Sally Army band because it was one of my dad's favourites.


Another detail of the village. I adore the omnibus. It actually says 'Victoria Station and King's Cross' underneath 'Lipton's Teas'.


Fear not, there are more to come. I still have two more trees and the bedroom to photograph! LOL

Comments

[lemonade8.livejournal.com]

Aww, my favorite is the little elf with the sweet face. I also dig the skates. Very nice!!

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Thank you! He's been around for a long time - almost as long as me! The skates were one of those Pinterest things I've wanted to do, and Sabrebabe found them and sent them to me as a gift.

(My mysterious gift is WILD!!! by the way. I love it!!!)

[lemonade8.livejournal.com]

He's actually really cute. We used to have a little ladder with wire elves similar to him that climbed up to the tree every year, but they had more of the elf-on-the-shelf monkey faces about them. Those skates remind me of when I was a girl and diligently putting them on to skate on Grandma and Grandpa's pond. I loved it, even though I think I probably got brain damage from them rattling around in my head over the bumpy ice. It's not the same as a freshly zambonied rink, that's for sure.

Excellent!!!!!!!!!! It's a book, so I figured it was right up your alley.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

I've never even put on a pair of ice skates, much less skated! In our local downtown, they create an 'ice rink' every Christmas season. I don't know how many people actually use it. I'm hopelessly clumsy. I could only just barely manage roller skates, and then I was awful. With my rubber ankles, I think I'd end up in the Emergency Room if I tried to ice skate.

[lemonade8.livejournal.com]

I'm not nearly as good at rollerskating as ice skating. Ice skates aren't as heavy and bulky, I rarely fall, and the skates have really good ankle support. You don't have to worry about your ankle as much as your tailbone, imo. ;)

We have an ice rink close to my work. It's always so popular, but I think it would be in colder places, and you are in the DEEP south.

Hey, good idea! I can take my kiddo and his girlfriend skating this year at Christmas! Thanks.

[reg-flint.livejournal.com]

That's a great setup!

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Sir.

[beffeysue.livejournal.com]

You always have such lovely Christmas decorations! The 'at least 100 lights per foot' rule is makes for a very beautiful tree. I love Bert-- and give my love to Ernie, too please.

Happy Christmas!

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Beffey, I will! We have a lot of fun with it all. The hilarious thing though, is that we didn't think about the tree being so close to the thermostat. It keeps it warm, and we're freezing in here because the heat won't kick in! LOL

[beffeysue.livejournal.com]

Brrrrr... The temperature isn't always even in my house, and sometimes I find myself freezing when I'm at my computer desk (which is often). Instead of turning up the thermostat in the hall I'll just wrap up in my warmest robe (old and ratty though it may be) and plug in a heating blanket and wrap it around my middle under my robe. If I can just get rid of that chill in my core, I'll be very comfortable for the rest of the evening. The buildings my labs are in are kept chilly, and year round just about everybody wears long sleeve shirts or sweaters and even a hoodie is a big help. Brrrrr... Makes me cold just writing about it.

[laralee88.livejournal.com]

I've been waiting patiently to see these pictures. Your house looks so festive, I love it! The Christmas village is wonderful-I've always been a fan of all of the details hidden in the little buildings.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I don't know why I haven't been displaying it year after year - it really didn't take any time at all.

I'm so glad you enjoyed it. I always love yours as well.

[too-dle-oo.livejournal.com]

Dang! That's impressive.

I just hope that Krispy Kreme shop is filled with tiny puffs of sugar-glazed delight, all smaller than the eraser on a pencil. :)

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

I'm sure it is.

[gelsey.livejournal.com]

I adore this! Thank you for posting. My tree is going up tonight/tomorrow.

I love your decorations! I do wish I had room for a village or two.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I hope you'll post photos.

The village was my dad's, and over the years I've added a couple of things to it, like the Krispy Kreme shop and there's a little scene where kids are making snow angels, which is one of my favourites.

[snapebraille4tu.livejournal.com]

I really loved this post!!! Seeing all of your decorations made me feel all happy inside. I LOVED the two types of reindeer together- such a beautiful look- and the ice skates and vintage treasures- GORGEOUS!! I bet it smells good in your house, too. I imagine Christmas cookies! ❤️

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Bralley babe! It actually smells like breakfast right now. I haven't started on the baking just yet, but plan to next week.

[hikorichan.livejournal.com]

Wow, so impressive! I only ever manage the one tree and maybe one small display.
I love how you have so many vintage and old family decorations.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I never set out to have so many trees, but we love our ornaments, so...

[stgulik.livejournal.com]

Your house looks overwhelmingly lovely. The tassel ornament is a brilliant idea. I adore the fact that each tree has a different theme, sometimes tied in with the room it lives in.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I love the opulence of many trees. Sometimes it can be a pain to get them all up and decorated but when they're done I always think it is worth it.

[shadowycat.livejournal.com]

You do a wonderful job of decorating for the holidays! Your decorations are fantastic! :D

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! ♥

[madeleone]

I always love your Christmas picspam. Your house looks so festive. I have some of the same red and white ornaments that were my mom's, that are in your second pic. Also loved Bert, my daughter collects nutcracker figures.

I used to collect snowmen and have quite a few. We have one we call Lonnie. That was the name of a very dear friend, who is gone now, but he only had one arm. Anyway, this particular snowman had attachable arms and several years back one of the hooks broke off, but I put him out anyway and we started calling him Lonnie. (the snowman's missing arm is even the same as Lonnie's). He got a kick out of it when he was still alive and we still put him out under our tree every year.

It's fun to have special holiday traditions and stories like that. Looking forward to more of your pics. Maybe it will inspire me, as we haven't even got our tree out yet.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

I love the story of Lonnie the Snowman! Those are the best kinds of ornaments - the ones that remind us of others. I have quite a few of those, but the ones on the white tree are the most delicate and precious to us.

[hbart.livejournal.com]

Love how festive you are!

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Thank you! We try our best. It helps that our cats refuse to mess with anything. They are the most un-curious fellows.

[lenaa1987.livejournal.com]

These pictures are so full of love and warmth and happiness. I love to see them each year! The village too, is absolutely beautiful.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! It does give us a lot of pleasure. And with TheHubs™ daughter surprising him by arriving at Christmas, I really wanted to go full throttle.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! My dad loved creating the village each year, and I even have photos that show his first villages - first in 1989 and 1990:

[bambu345.livejournal.com]

I love your holiday pictures; they're rather awe inspiring.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

WOW! Thank you!