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Monday, December 5, 2011

Me and Mr. Claus, We Got A Thing Goin' On

This weekend, with no guests or visitors at That Old House,
Howard and I took on the roles of Mr. and Mrs. Claus
and began -- just began -- to decorate for Christmas.

Howard hauled boxes down from the attic
and I emptied them in my usual staging area, our poor long suffering dining room.
Which normally looks like this:
 
And now . . . look, if you dare:
Eeek!!!  Who ransacked the house?
 I had beautiful plans for the big blue and white bowl
that lives in the center of the dining room table.
When Howard went out to buy pine and cedar roping,
I asked him to pick up the biggest poinsettia he could find.
'Cause I just love me a good red poinsettia.
Well, he found a big one, all right.
The poinsettia equivalent of the 33-pound turkeys he used to bring home for Thanksgiving.
Witness:
It is so large, that when we put it in the big blue and white bowl,
the poinsettia hit the bottom of the chandelier!
Oops.
Change of plans.
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In the Parlor this year, we are doing two trees, one on either side of the fireplace.
The one on the left is about 70% fluffed.  The one on the right is 0% fluffed,
which is why it looks like the poster child for "Send This Tree To Camp."

Caption for this shot:  The Awful Truth.  Even the furniture is all askew.
We won't buy the fresh tree for the sunroom until next weekend,
so as to avoid having just sticks in a stand by New Year's.
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Confession:  We did all of the above on Sunday.
On Saturday, the other half of the weekend, we brought more things to my booth at
Somerville Center Antiques, and then saw a charming and very funny production of
It's A Wonderful Life at the Mile Square Theatre in Hoboken, New Jersey.
It was done as a staged radio play - and Howard, the old radio guy, liked it way better than the movie.
I didn't take an unauthorized picture.  I unauthorized-ly borrowed one from the website.
It runs Thursdays through Sundays until December 18th, and the fact that
our daughter Anne is the costume designer has nothing to do with my sharing this with you.
Although that is why we went to see it, but I can honestly say it was a terrific production.
The Jersey Journal agrees, in its review.  :-)
Plus it's perfectly suitable for children, with weekend matinees and nothing crude.  If you are nearby, go see it!
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Remember this table, below?
(The one in the lower left, shown in Friday's post.)
It went into the booth on Saturday, and on Sunday it went home with some lucky person.
Also now in the booth, the set of china I picked up in New York on Friday.
Theodore Haviland Varenne, service for eight.
For so old a set, this china is in amazing shape.

It's perfect -- not a chip or scratch, except that one dinner plate
must have been where decades of sunlight touched it, and is faded in the center.
Is it wrong that I hope no one buys this?  'Cause then it comes home to Mama.
**********************************

So today, errands, and finding a garden center that still has pine and cedar roping.
Everyone was sold out yesterday! 


We've got to drape the front entrance, the front stairs, the fireplace mantle . . . and
then it's time to begin hanging these old friends on the trees.


It may take me most of this week, what with one thing and another going on,
but I'll get That Old House decorated . . . eventually.
Meanwhile, I'll be happy when I can see the top of my dining room table again!

From That Old House to your happy home ...
we wish you a season of joy! -- Cass

Link Parties
Mosaic Monday at Little Red House.  Click here.
Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps On The Porch.  Click here.
At The House In The Roses, it's Show Off Your Cottage Monday.  Click here!
Visit Smiling Sally for Blue Monday.   Click here!


18 comments:

  1. Hi Cassie Pooh! I probably shouldn't call you that! I just love you so and tend to give nick names to my loves! :) I love the idea of two trees and I'm sure you're just fluffing away today! :) I sure didn't see little Dion any where. :) Those are gorgeous dishes you're selling! I'm sure that was a wonderful play! Now get back to fluffing! :)
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  2. Lovel the two tree inthe parlor I have started to bring up onebox at a time Less of a mess But i dont have anyone to help me so its easier to do it that way Cant wait to see toh decotrated fot christmas

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  3. So many lovely photos and mosaics. Your house is so wonderful!

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  4. I decorate my house for Christmas the same way you do: by making one horrible mess and then straightening it out.

    Happy Blue Monday to you, Cass!

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  5. That was a beautiful Poinsettia, hopefully you will find something equally as pretty to put in the blue bowl, because it would be a shame to let it go unadorned! I enjoyed my visit and your wonderful photos.

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  6. Great pictures--especialy the one of Dion in the Santa hat--his expression says "REALLY!"
    Love it.

    melinda

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  7. Lots going on at your house. Sounds like fun. V

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  8. What's with everything being sold out already? I went to HL yesterday and the shelves were half or more empty and just a mess, with everything 50% off. I checked my calendar to be sure it was only the beginning of December as it looked like the after Christmas sale, and yes, much is gone! Yea for your sales. I'm vicariously enjoying your shop adventure.

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  9. Beautiful decors.

    Come see the Blue at my page when you get a chance. Thank you!

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  10. It's looking good Cassette. And your chaos is very organized! My basement storage room looks like a bomb hit it!
    I'll be back to see the end product!

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  11. Sorry about the Cassette. I am using my iPad and didn't notice it had renamed you! :)

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  12. I so love your Christmas ornaments and that old China love it! I wonder how much was the price of that one.

    Tulips

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  13. What a beautiful home you have. I will look forward to your future post to see how this all comes out. I know it will be lovely. My house is much like yours, still have Christmas decorations everywhere.
    Hope you have a nice week decorating your lovely home.

    ~Emily
    The French Hutch

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  14. My daughter is also involved in the stage management end of things for "White Christmas". it's a wonderful opportunity for her but it means it will be the first Christmas that she won't be home so I'm feeling a little blue. I'm sure that your home will be dressed for the holiday season before too long. Have fun decorating!

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  15. you just made me feel so good. You see, my family room looks exactly like your dining room! I hope to have everything done in a day or two...or three! At least the tree is decorated and my Christmas china is now in my kitchen hutch. And speaking of china...LOVE yours! You are lucky I don't live near your shop...it would be coming home to THIS MAMA! LOL

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  16. beautiful decorations and photos..

    Visiting for BM! Hope you can visit mine too..

    http://www.heavenly-dreams.com/toy-story-toddler-bed/

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  17. At the risk of sounding very OTT....Cass I always feel uplifted after I read your posts....as if I've just had the best cup of tea and the best catch up with a friend. Yes - you do that.

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  18. I love decorating my own house for the Christmas, too! :D That set of China ware that you bought is so pretty. Those would be perfect for the Christmas dinner. :D And yes, I also love to use my old Christmas decorations on the tree. :D

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