Tarting Up The Old Gal For Christmas

(No, not me . . . it's That Old House we're tarting up for Christmas!)

Santa brought me a new camera this year.  Early.
In fact, he brought it on the first night of Chanukah.

He's an ecumenical kind of guy, that Mr. Claus.

Now I haven't watched the entire CD of instructions that came with the camera.

Or, any of it.

But I did read the "Quick Start Guide" and quickly got started, taking some test pictures.

Above is a beautiful Christmas centerpiece Howard's sister and husband sent us.

Below, gorgeous flowers from Josh's parents.

 Ask me why I didn't use the Macro setting to take these.  Well, I don't know.  Oops.

But they still look beautiful!

My Christmas Cactii are all merrily bursting with bloom, right on time.  They usually bloom for Thanksgiving
or Easter or Groundhog Day, so I'm pretty pleased by their first-ever on-time performance.

I wandered around our creaky old house, taking some random shots.

(Creaky is right; you can't sneak anywhere in this place.)

Come into the front hall with me.  The girls and I decorated the stairs.

 The greenery is a mix of white pine and cedar.

I wish it could smell fresh all through the season!

This shot makes me dizzy.

Just off the front hall, the Parlor sports twin trees.

No stars on their tops, but bunches of gilt feathers,

twisted into swoopy, fantastic shapes by daughter Anne.

On the tea table, the big blue and white bowl from Martha, with red berry garland.

I'll add some bling to this bowl . . . hopefully by Saturday.

 The mantel is just simple cedar roping, with white lights, and one poinsettia at the end.

I think there's enough going on in this room, without too much around the fireplace.

Basically the same picture as above, but a different camera setting.  Which do you like better?

Through the parlor, into the dining room, where . . . 

. . . the chandelier sports three tiers of poinsettia bracts for color.

 Mr. Dion DiPoochy wants to know

what is going on in his house.

"Hey Mom, is that my crate under this stupid tablecloth?"

Sigh.  "I guess I'm just going to have to sleep behind that tree,

where no one will find me.  Go away!  I'm hiding."

And through all the holiday hubbub, the Cinderella pumpkin from October is still holding court.

I haven't the heart to toss her outside to the chipmunks and squirrels.

Not yet, anyway.

Tomorrow . . . more of the trees and decorations here at

That Old House, and a couple of recipes for Christmas gatherings.

Is there anything harder to photograph than a Christmas tree?  Sheesh!!!

 

Merry Christmas! -- Cass

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