Decking the Halls, and Stairs, and Sunroom. . . .

Can you smell it? It's a fresh-cut Frasier Fir, it's in the corner of our conservatory, and it's filling the house with the piney scent of Christmas.


Since Christmas is a season when we indulge in a bit of excess -- whether it be food or gifts or decorating -- I am indulging in an excess of blog parties today. Find links to all 3 of them at the end of this post -- Met Monday, Mosaic Monday, and Show Off Your Cottage.

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It was a busy weekend at That Old House. We turned this:

into this:

After seeing so many beautifully bedecked staircases in so many blogs, I decided to try decorating our front stairs. Not so good; this is our first attempt, as we never had an open staircase before. It will be better next year, but for this year we'll just let the white pine roping and the red ribbon just carry the day.

Then, I turned this, the naked feather tree:

into this:

I think Mr. Feather Tree will live in the kitchen for the holidays.
Or, in the front hall. Or . . . . well, somewhere.

On Saturday morning, we headed for a tree sale to benefit a local historical society, and found a lovely Frasier Fir. Last year, the fresh tree in the sunroom looked good, but was in the way. This year, I told Howard I wanted the tree in the corner where this table and chandelier normally live:

My husband is a good sport. He moved the very heavy oak table, took down the chandelier, vacuumed (which you know is when a man is at his most attractive, right?), and put up the tree.

I love the shot on the right, Howard looking at the chandelier and thinking, "Is she kidding?"

On Sunday, he added 1700 lights.
Howard likes to best his brothers-in-law in numbers of lights on the tree.
I'm thinking there's no contest this year.

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Speaking of my family, on Saturday, my brother and his wife held their annual dressy
Christmas gathering. Howard took the picture, below, because he no longer
owns a tuxedo and was just wearing a suit, so he was not one of the Cool Kids.

That's my two big brothers flanking my 89-year old Dad, with my brother in law Bill on the right.
They clean up pretty nice.
My Dad is a big hit at the retirement home when he puts his glad rags on.

It's fun to get dressed up for Lindy and Carol's party; Dion was not invited, which is good because he only owns one coat, and it is definitely not formal wear.

Howard and I, and our two daughters, are hosting our annual family and friends Christmas gathering next Sunday; it will be fuzzy-slippers and reindeer sweater casual.


And now I am off to straighten the ribbons on the stairway swags; I noticed how wrinkly they looked in the pictures! I hope to have time to read so many more blogs today; I think I need a laptop, don't you? -- Cass

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Here are today's blog parties, all ready with fabulous posts:

There is Mosaic Monday, at the Little Red House blog, a must-see. Mary, who is both a gracious hostess and a remarkable photographer, has a fabulous Christmas mosaic of her own, and dozens and dozens from talented participants. Go!




Cielo at The House In The Roses hosts
Show Off Your Cottage Monday.
I love this idea!






And for a big, big list of fab posts,
visit Susan at Between Naps On The Porch,
for
Metamorphosis Monday! It's worth the trip.