Monday, December 3, 2018

Around the Kitchen Table: Decorating for the Holidays + #Giveaway



SHEILA: We've made it through Halloween and Thanksgiving, and now it's time to track down all the holiday decorations and put them up. Assuming that you can find wherever you squirreled them away last year, and they haven't gotten crushed under all the other boxes in the attic. Or you've already decided to take a lovely vacation on a beach somewhere and forget about dressing up your home.

Why do we decorate in December? Because it's the darkest time of the year, which explains why so many decorative schemes feature lights. The tradition goes back to prehistoric times--check out the stone circles in Europe, which are aligned with the winter solstice. Various religions later adopted the existing tradition.

There seems to be an incredible range of choices for decorating. What's your favorite? Do you have ornaments inherited from generations of family? Did you succumb to the one-color scheme whose popularity comes and goes or are your ornaments a hodgepodge of colors, shapes and sizes? How many strings of lights do you use? Do you have to use everything you have, in honor of all the ancestors who collected and carefully saved them? Do you have a cat that thinks your ornaments are a special toy and insists on batting them to the floor and chasing them around the house?

I do have a few favorites, including sequined balls that my grandmother bought at a high-end florist in Manhattan, that date from the 1950s. But I'm also fond of the plastic Joe Montana that my sister sent me one year. Think there's a Tom Brady version?



 

LESLIE: I admire people who can manage a decorating theme -- nothing but snowmen, or tasteful combinations of gold and dark red, or maybe silver and a crystalline blue. I am not such a person. But instead of "hodge-podge," I'll call my Christmas decorating style "classic, with a touch of whimsy." Meaning "anything I like," from a snowman candle to the Putz houses my parents bought in the '50s to red tapers in my collection of glass candle holders. And I'll tie a ribbon on almost anything that doesn't move, like my late mother-in-law's pig weather vane.

But since this is the first Christmas since my own mother's death, I'm planning a second, small tree in the library window decorated with angels, most from her own collection, with a gold ribbon woven in. It better turn out well, because I'm pretty sure she'd have something to say if it didn't!

🎅

DARYL: I have had the same ornaments for the past few years. For a long time, whenever I run across a Christmas store and my husband and son were with me, they'd look at each other and said, "Uh-oh." Meaning mom had to go in. I've collected nutcrackers, stuffed snowmen, a few Santas, and some whimsical David Frye artwork. I love putting it all out because there are memories attached to each collectible. But it's time for me to purchase a smaller tree. I can't talk myself into the fake kind yet, so I have to "carry" whatever tree I buy into the house by myself. A little smaller is better. How I love the scent of pine!






LUCY: Since we are in Key West in a condo for Christmas these days, we don't do a live Christmas tree--they have to travel too far and get dried out too fast. We put lights on our Norfolk pine and out on the deck, and we love taking the trolley tour through town to see the decorating contest. Key West residents take this very seriously. I do miss New England at Christmas time but I love lights on palm trees too--so pretty!





LINDA: My mom loved to crochet. And knit, embroider and she even got into rug hooking at a later age. I have inherited none of the patience or talent needed for such things. But what I do have is a collection of awesome stars that she crocheted and they have pride of place on my tree. The other item that makes her memory to dear is the tree skirt she hooked so many years ago. I also have her bells and birds, circa 1950's, all of which I treasure.


PEG: I don't have a theme for my Christmas tree decorating unless it's called "memories." My husband and I collected ornaments (or things that could be turned into ornaments) on our travels so we have a boat from Portugal, a weather vane from Cape Cod, a steel drum from St. Thomas, and many more. I also still have the "first Christmas" ornaments for each of my girls and the two silver ornaments we bought from Tiffany the first two years we were married. And, of course, the pine cones covered with glitter that the girls made in school.

As for the rest of the house, I love wreaths! I have them hanging in the three sections of the kitchen bay window, on the French doors to my office, the door to the coat closet...really anywhere I can manage to hang one! Some are plain and some have big bows. They're the first decorations I put up during the season.



DENISE: We do two versions of holiday decorating. The years we host the family Christmas party we put up all the decorations we own--a traditional tree, a feather tree, candles in all the windows, greens on the mantle, figurines, wreaths, pictures. You name it we put it up. The two off years we do what we call Christmas lite--one tree, the mantle, and the outside stuff.

🎄

KRISTA: I'm afraid I'm of the school that believes there's no such thing as too much Christmas or too many lights! My father hated to cut down pines, so after several miserable attempts at live trees with roots, I grew up with artificial trees. I will admit that I love the ones with the lights built into them. To compensate for the missing pine scent, I gather live pine scraps and use them in decorations around the house.

Leslie, I love your angel tree! While I often put up two trees, this year we just have one big one with ornaments from my childhood through now. I have to admit that a few years ago I decided I had gone into Christmas overload, and I have quit buying new Christmas decorations unless it's replacing something that's a goner.

A few years back, our electric company decided to raise rates. I'm sure they must have told someone but it wasn't the customers. The new and higher bills arrived at the beginning of January. All the neighbors were calling around to find out why the bills were so high. And I mean $1000 for a month! No kidding. Ultimately they had to reduce our rates and give us a break for a few months. But I was determined not to be caught in that mess again. Ever. I gave away all my outdoor decorations and bought battery-operated decorations. My favorites are the six three-foot tall-trees with lights that go across my back terrace. They're just so cheerful in the early darkness of winter nights.

CLEO: The most unique thing my husband and I do is collect little Christmas village buildings. The mini village thing is something we both threw ourselves into as kids, you know, model train stuff and the like. As a married couple, Marc and I buy one building every year, and we try to make each one memorable for our writing life. Here are a few fun examples...

The little "Cooking School" (below on the right) reminded us of our amateur sleuth's daughter and her years in a New York culinary school (French Pressed). The little "Jazz Cafe" building (below on the left) came out the same year we wrote about a relaxed jazz supper club opening on the second floor of our fictional coffeehouse (Dead to the Last Drop).

Click the photo to enlarge.

Click the photo to enlarge.
One year, we even found this tiny coffee truck, which reminded us of the coffee truck we featured in our Coffeehouse Mysteries A Brew to a Kill and Once Upon a Grind.

Every year, we also have a little Christmas tree, and a creche that I saved from my childhood home, along with three little angels that I cherish, given to me by my dad before he died. The value of decorations is always relative, isn't it? The meaning and the memories are what make them treasures to us. Happy Holidays, everyone!



GIVEAWAY!

Here's what's inside...



* Daryl Wood Gerber's new Christmas-themed 
Cookbook Nook Mystery, WREATH BETWEEN THE LINES

* Leslie Budewitz's latest Food Lovers' Village Mystery,

Krista Davis' second Pen & Ink Mystery, 
THE COLORING CROOK. Read the mystery. Color the cover! 

* Cleo Coyle's new Haunted Bookshop Mystery,

* An Advance Reader's Edition of Sheila Connolly's 
seventh County Cork Mystery, THE LOST TRAVELLER
which will be released in January.

* Linda Wiken aka Erika Chase's Christmas-themed
Ashton Corners Book Club Mystery, READ AND BURIED

👇

HOW TO ENTER

Join our Kitchen Table chat: 
Leave a comment below.

How do you decorate 
for the holidays? 

Be sure to leave an email address so we can contact you
if you win the drawing.  Good luck and happy holidays!







88 comments:

  1. We do everything - the tree, outside decoration we have lit nutcrackers. Inside I do the garland on the staircase with big bows. We have lots of cookies for snacking. Last year I found a set of small white feather trees that I set up and put white lights around. Jcook22@yahoo.com

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  2. I have been using an artificial tree for about 10 years now. I do miss the pine tree, it just seems so much more Christmassy! There are two things that are a must when I do Christmas decorating: the very top light on the tree must be yellow and all of the Santa Mouse ornaments must be on the tree. Each year, this year being 20 years, Santa Mouse leaves a new mouse ornament hidden in the tree. It is wrapped in tissue paper, tied with yellow string. This was started when I read my then baby girl the Santa Mouse books.
    Thank you so very much for the generous book giveaway. What a wonderful Christmas present that would be!
    debprice60@gmail.com

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    1. Oh, Santa Mouse! So cute. We have one, from an ornament exchange a million years ago, and it may be Mr. Right's favorite ornament!

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  3. I don't have a theme, unless the theme is "past kids decorations and buy what I like!" The kids help decorate the tree and it is loaded with things they have made and I love it!
    Wendy
    clarskrfun at gmail dot com

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  4. As I live in a small home, I mostly do outdoor lights & decorations. But each year I do put up two Christmas trees inside. One is a small tabletop one that my Dad & I used for years as decoration. The other is a lighted wall hanging that my mom bought for me years ago.

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  5. Since my kids are so young right now we don't decorate as much as we will in the future. Right now we only decorate the tree with all of our unbreakable ornaments since my son likes to rearrange them. He thinks all of the round ornaments are baseball's. I decorate inside with just christmas themes kitchen items and our stockings. Outside of course is another story. Lights everywhere!
    ashleylianeb@yahoodotcom

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    1. Christmas is so magical when you have young children!

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  6. I’m at my daughter’s this year helping out with a new baby. I’m missing putting up all my usual decorations. I told my husband that he had to get out the Christmas plaid tablecloth at least. Have fun with your decorating while I snuggle baby girl.

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  7. We don’t bother decorating for the two of us.
    sgiden at verizon(.)net

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  8. I don't decorate much I live in a very small lie income apt. Can't have Christmas at my place I celebrate out with family. I used to decorate a lot before I list my house.

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    1. Even a few decorations brighten things up, don't they. I'm glad you're able to celebrate out with family.

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  9. Forgot to put my email address is usersns8800@aol.com see above for comment. Thanks.

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  10. We fill our living room with all our decorations but just put a wreath outside because it's gotten too dangerous for hubby to get up on ladders to string lights. We have an artificial tree that is beautiful. Nothing matches. It's just things we've been given and things we like. Lots of memories of family and friends in each decoration. ckmbeg (at) gmail (dot) com

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  11. I don’t decorate since I go to my brothers for Christmas. I do have lighted deer outside.

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  12. We put the tree up this past weekend and my village. Decorated with a few candles and table runners and Christmas things around the house, but really don't bring out a lot, I tend to really overdo it, so met my husband in the middle this year and scaled back a little. tami.norman@gmail.com

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    1. I have a village, too--not enormous--but I no longer have a spot for it. I'm urging my daughter to take it to her house and continue the tradition.

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  13. My husband and I put up a tree and decorate it. We have been collecting ornaments from places that we go on vacation, but recently we decided to get smaller trees, so that means less ornaments. Thank you for the wonderful giveaway, and Merry Christmas! aut1063(at)gmail(dot)com

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  14. Our decorations are not themed. And usually are an amalgamation of Christmas decorations collected over the years or inherited. On a few years where we were too busy and tired to search and unpack these things, we made do with pine cones (lightly sprayed with gold paint-son had spray paint for an art project), clove studded mandarins, red ribbon and gold ribbon. We decorated the tree with the items. It worked great and then we didn't have to worry about packing and unpacking everything. We had a couple of holly trees in the garden so brought in some of the greenery for placing with candles to decorate the mantel and side tables.
    little lamb lst at yahoo dot com

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  15. We have the menorah lit every night of Chanukah and when the little ones come over I have the table set with blue and silver dreidels, gelt and decorated cookies in the shape of dreidels and stars. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Menorahs are so beautiful, aren't they? And I love that silver and blue combination -- reminiscent of the starlight against the deep blue sky, or bright sunlight reflecting on winter snow. Happy Hannukah!

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  16. We keep it simple with greenery decorations which brighten up the inside main living area. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  17. I used to decorate anything that didn't move as well as put up my Village. Now, I put up my tree, my Village, and my snowman collection. Every year I scale back just a little. rgp1950@yahoo.com

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  18. I have a lot of Hallmark ornaments purchased through the years especially when I worked for them and had my discount. I have some of the old Shiny Brute ones from my parents. Those don't make it to the tree because of our thieving kitty. P.S. Hallmark did have a Tom Brady ornament in the past. Janb614@aol.com

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    1. Janet, thieving kitties can be annoying. LOL ~ Daryl

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  19. I put lights outside on our first and second floor balconies and a wreath on the door. Inside I've done less and less each year. We haven't had a full size tree in years, but this year I think we'll get the one out of storage that we bought for my husband's parents a few years ago. As for ornaments I used to buy one or two each year but quit doing that too. We've got old ones from way back, ones purchased for our son as a child, ones given to us, travel souvenirs, even plastic black cats from wine bottles!
    patdupuy@yahoo.com

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  20. We hardly decorate due to a mega budget cut but I do like to put up home made things on the wall and mantle. And then hope for snow on Christmas.

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  21. not much decorating any more....stockings and a small tree is all joanie13b@gmail.com

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  22. Keeping it simple this year since we are traveling (if you don't set it up, then you don't have to clean it up- ha!). I love the look and feel of traditional red, green, silver and gold.

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  23. We decorate a couple of trees; one is our Basset Hound/coonhound tree. We decorate some outside, then have lots of collected pieces around the house, some of which are dog-themed. I love nativities too.
    browninggloria(at)hotmail.com

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  24. We have two trees, a Charlie Brown tree and a larger tree. We decorate with a lot of snowmen ornaments and special ornaments we've collected over the years. We also have lights around the deck that we can see from the house. We also have some special decorations we've bought over the years that we also put out. Happy Holidays!
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

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  25. Due to downsizing I do not decorate as much as I would like to. I have a chocolate Advent Calendar & a Santa Advent with block numbers that count down the days. I recently painted a Nativity Scene & have it hanging up. On my dresser a couple of Hot Cocoa ornaments as well as a Gnome, felted Doggie with a festive hat plus a puppet Elf & Gingerbread Boy. Merry Christmas Everyone! Helena Georgette hgf0211@yahoo.com

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  26. Awesome giveaway! I have our tree up and decorated with a mix of ornaments. I put a few things on the mantle along with a couple of stockings hanging in front. We moved this year; so, we now have stairs. I would love to get garlands to wrap around the rail. My mother introduced us to Christmas crackers and plum pudding with charms. I continue the tradition. bluedawn95864 at gmail dot com

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  27. We do 2 trees, santas and a nativity. Thank you for the chance to win. Dmskrug3 at hotmail dot com

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  28. We decorate the outside of our house with lights, bells, stars and garland. We’ve been collecting the White House ornaments for many years and always put them up on a separate metal tree. Christmas pillows and throws make everything look so comfortable.
    donnaing1(at)gmail(dot)com

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  29. I love reading about how you all decorate. I see myself in several of them. I have some decorations that have to go on the tree or up every year. Others are hit or miss. This year I actually bought several new items for the tree and a few for around the house and especially in my new little hut. I cant wait to start decorating. Thanks for the chance to win this great prize pack kayt18 (at) comcast (dot) net

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    1. Kay, isn't it fun to have the "regulars" that must appear? I love that, too. ~ Daryl

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  30. Judy---- Our house and tree are full of homemade and kid friendly ornaments (some dating back to the 1950s) as well as snow globes, music boxes, and singing dolls. We love Christmas!!! judytex787@att.net

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  31. Now they we are older it's nearly impossible to do all that we have done previously but we decorate our front porch with white mini lights and this year will have an artificial tree on the porch and a fresh decorated wreath on the door. Inside we wrap our banister going to our second floor with white blinking mini lights and I hang beautiful Christmas stockings all the way up those same stairs. We also decorate our fireplace mantle and I will also have a small live tree done by this weekend in our living room with all of my sentimental ornaments on it.

    I also put Christmas placemats on my dining room table with a nice Christmas centerpiece as well as other candles and a ceramic cottage that I made 52 years ago. And we have our Elf on the shelf and our Randall reindeer for our grandchildren and each childs German pickle ornament on our tree.

    There's more too.😉. But I don't take out my Christmas dish sets anymore and not as many other Christmas tea pots and cookie platters like years ago as it's just something I can barely do now. I did it for 55 years...time to slow down and make life a little less busy. 🎄☃️❄️ .If needed please contact me via FB at Cynthia Bayer Blain. Thank you.

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  32. The decorations are minimal - a muslin snow angel twisted in a string of lights and some candles. Little decorating is done as now that our daughters are grown they insist on hosting with each acting as hostess every third year. We still get lots of decorations but at a different daughter’s home each year.

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  33. I have an artificial tree that loses needles just like the real ones. Luckily it is covered with lights, ornaments, and tinsel. My mother used to take the tinsel off the tree strand by strand and put it on the cardboard form. I throw it in a ziploc bag. Also have ceramic figures on the shelves and my manger scene.

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  34. Put up our tree, put pine boughs over all the windows and fireplace, tie ribbons on the chandelier, and put lights all over. Also decorate with baskets and pine cones.

    faithdcreech at gmail dot com

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  35. It's fun to see how others decorate. I agree, can't overdo it for me. Christmas dishes and linens go into use the beginning of December, outside decorations turned on then, too. We've moved most of what used to be in the front yard to the back around the pond so we can enjoy it more and to the side and inside the front fence so the great-grandcooties can enjoy it while still "fenced in" when here. Last year because we are old and feeble lol we got a Balsam Hill tree rather than fight with the real tree. I must say it's beautiful and the lights are already there. Saving lots of headaches ;-). Great giveaway! Happy Holidays to all.
    sallycootie(at)gmail(dot)com

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  36. I really don't decorate although I have a few decorations hanging from my bookcase that I never took down! One's a red bird with long tail feathers. I also hang up any Christmas cards I get.

    I love the pictures of the Siamese cat looking cozy and the coffee truck.

    catbooks72(at)gmail(dot)com

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  37. Like Krista, I can't possibly have too much Christmas. The only themes might be fun, Christmas magic, and love; it's a very full, eclectic collection. I grew up in the forests of the Northwest, so a real tree is the only tree for me. Our Christmas is full of small traditions, some for each grandchild, and they never let us forget. December just isn't long enough for me!
    laineshots@gmail.com

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  38. I love Christmas decorations, but have a cat who gets into everything, so I have to keep things simple. I usually just do a small tabletop tree.
    turtle6422 at gmail dot com

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  39. living alone, I stopped decorating, but used to go all out, lights, boughs, figurines, and of course a tree with multicolored lights and a lot of ornaments, some handed down from my parents (my favorites) and a silly toy train running in a circle under the tree with bears in the engine car and caboose

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  40. I have a lot of handmade ornaments, quilted runners and quilts. I love snowmen too.

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  41. We have a Goebel Hummel Nativity set that is displayed each year.

    jtcgc at yahoo dot com

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  42. We’are usually traveling so don’t decorate much. Invested in a wall hanging tree this year, though! Dm_richards (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  43. We have a tree that we let the kids Decorate any way they want. All kinds of lights and Ornaments. xzjh04(at)gmail.com

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  44. I have not decorated in years. I have promised to decorate next year. When I did decorate I never had a theme. It was mostly stuff from my childhood. moonbay7399@gmail.com

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  45. I do two small trees, two wreaths, decorations in the front window and random decorations around the house. I stick to decorations that are lightweight. khpinelake at gmail dot com

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  46. My birthday is November 13th and I take that week off and start decorating for Christmas. I have accumulated quite alot of Christmas things over the years, probably too much, but I enjoy it all and each peice is a memory. I suppose my theme is Chrismas memories. My mother started a tradition of giving my sister and I a dated Christmas ornament each Christmas and so decorating my tree is very special because of all the memories.

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  47. That is a regular day for me I have old mystery movies books & music & have a lovely day, my one cousin & I would talk for a while til its time to work for her.
    Clemmie.Jackson@yahoo.com

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  48. Love the Christmas tree covered in old bubble lights and ornaments...I have a giant red basket I wrap and put the presents in and I have a reindeer with gold balls in it...but the basket is easy to pick up and take to my Sister's for Christmas. She has the big event there... as it is her birthday too... She is a Christmas Baby...
    Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com

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  49. Just a tree, Santons and a few lights. We do more decorating at the shop so the home gets neglected. We do not celebrate until Christmas Eve.

    gibsonbk at hiwaay dot net

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  50. We normally have just our tree.. I want to put lights in the windows and possibly wrap the front door to be dicfdiffe this year. We love our tree, but not as much as our cats do. Boo seems to think it is her new home from the moment the tree goes up, until it gets packed away for next year. Our ornaments are Disney stuffed animals because they can't break them😁.. it started when our daugtdau was a baby and I worried that my Pooh ornaments would break, but then our cat we had decided it was theirs so we have been doing it ever since. ❤️❤️😊😊 Thanks for the chance. lilyanngill56(at)gmail(dot)com

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  51. Now that I am an emptynester (just me and 2 cats) I have my artificial tree and just a few decorations!

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  52. We live with our son and his family. I love decorating for Christmas and right now, it's all about the kid's. My husband likes to bake and make candy so we are contributing to sugar highs all over!
    Thank you for this opportunity! I hope all of you have a wonderful holiday season! Meg85242 (at) gmail (dot) com

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  53. My grandkids decorate the Christmas Tree we do holiday baking and we do Elf on the shelf my grandkids love getting up every morning to go look for Frosty the Elf and Little sister elf to see what kind of mischief they got into.Thank You for the chance.
    jewelz8084(at)gmail(dot)com

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  54. We buy an ornament wherever we go on vacation each year and when we are decorating the tree relive the memories of our travels together. We also have a few ornaments from our childhoods that we have kept and put on the tree each year as well. We have an artificial pre-lit tree and I use a Christmas plug in behind it to get the Christmas tree smell.
    ioncookbooks(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  55. I don’t decorate as much as I used to. I have a small table-top tree that I put ornaments on. I also have an outdoor Santa wall hanging that I put on the front wall of the house. cking78503(at)aol(dot)com

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  56. Just have a little tree with mini ornaments on it. cheetahthecat1986ATgmailDOTcom

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  57. We put up a huge lighted wreath on the big window above the front door, and put candles in the windows. Usually that's it, but we got a tree this year, so Christmas has basically thrown up all over the house. I have tons of Snoopy holiday decorations, which are all out. My poor husband! kkcochran (at) Hotmail (dot) com

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  58. I used to decorate a lot for the holidays but now have tried to make it more cozy and smaller..a smaller tree and a few items to set out.

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  59. When my kids were little I had a small tree with mini ornaments on a table (sort of) out of their reach. As they got older we got a bigger tree and my sister gave them each an ornament every year. Now we have a tree with color changing lights and we almost don't even need ornaments!

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  60. I forgot to leave an email address: kc20083@gmail.com

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  61. I used to decorate from ceiling to floor and the outside had a full size manger. We would start the outside a week before thanksgiving to have it done for after thanksgiving. The electric bill rose a lot for that 2 months. Now we live in a smaller home and I put out a few things and do manage to get a small tree up!

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  62. keep it simple. lots of lights inside and old fashioned christmas decs from 1940's-1960's. small artificial tree.

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  63. We put up the tree, decorate the rest of the house with a mini-village, trains, and decorations the kids have made over the years - then we bake. My daughter and I make at least 20 different kinds of cookies, then right before christmas we make pies. From the 2nd week of December until Christmas, our house smells heavenly :)

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  64. Since it is just me now, I try to hang a wreath & put out the wall hanging that my late sister made. doward1952(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  65. We order a fresh Scotch pine that is delivered via UPS (or such). We love the long needles and it's impossible to get them locally. Plus the local tree sellers have been set up for several weeks already. How fresh can those poor trees be?
    The shipping costs more than the tree, but, for now, it's worth it.
    Sadly, the lovely family we ordered from gave up when the shipping got so high.

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  66. I do a little decorating, using quilted hangings and some handmade items I've collected over the years. My kitty died this November, so I can actually put up a tree this year, but will probably pass on that. I cover my bookcases with fabric to create huge 'presents' and top them with candles or other decorations. Thanks for the chance to win! ljbonkoski@yahoo.com

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  67. We use to really do a lot of decorating including 7 trees in the house and 3 train sets. With age, health and moving last year to downsize, are decorating is more limited. I still enjoy my little kitchen Christmas tree that I put on the end of the cabinet. It is about 16 inches tall and has three tiers of little elves all in cooking mode like two holding a giant pair of spectacles looking at a recipe in a cookbook or the one holding a rolling pin. Love this one because I do so love to bake - especially goodies to share during the holidays. Also we have a 14 year old furbaby, Snickerdoodle, who has his own chihuahua Christmas tree where the star at top is make out of bones, the garland is made of hotdog and the ornaments are fire hydrants and food bowls. He also has the chihuahua train that set in front of his tree. This is all on our coffee table.

    Thank you so much for the fabulous December prize package. Someone is going to have a very nice Christmas thanks to you all. Sharing and hoping! <3
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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  68. We usually put up a tree and decorate our living room and my daughter’s bedroom. I have several big penguins with Santa hats that we put around our living room (I have a lot of penguin Christmas ornaments). We decorate closer to Christmas and leave up until after New Year’s Day (my daughter’s birthday). My email is musiqmom(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  69. We decorate simply with the Christmas tree, Nativity Scene, wreaths and a few Christmasy knick knacks. Thanks for the chance!
    bernice-kennedy(at)sbcglobal(dot)net

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  70. Over the years I have pared down the amount of decorating, as it seemed such a time consuming and monumental job that I started to dread it. And I am a veteran at procrastination, so that meant a few times the tree got decorated only a day or 2 before Christmas. We always put up a few outside lights on the house, plus I have several lovely wreaths and 2 quilted Christmas hangings that always go up. Our tree is artificial for simplicity, though I miss the smell of a real one. My tree decorations are eclectic to say the least. I bought a special ornament for our daughter each year from her birth. When she had her own home I gave them to her, so had to seek out some new ones. We travel, so have picked up ornaments from China, Cuba, Croatia, Norway and more. Two years ago we did a river cruise in Europe and in Rothenburg au de Tauber, Germany I discovered the Christmas Store by Kathe Wolfhart. FIVE floors of nothing but Christmas decorations. I got out of there with my "plastic" not quite melted, and a number of new ornaments.
    gnluciow(at)gmail(dot)com

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  71. We decorate inside and out. Here in Western NY we don't usually lack cold weather or snow. Growing up,we had a mix of real and artificial trees. We we bought our first house, we had an artificial and it looked so tiny in it, I told my hubs we'd never do that again. The tree doesn't tend,to have a theme, but I always hang up an owl ornament the girls gave her for 'gramma'. We also hang some from hubs parents. A do know I prefer white lights over the colored I grew up on. I also collect snowmen. Some I leave up all year round from the kitchen to the bathroom, and places in between. I have different styles that go on each step leading to the second floor. Outside, I used to spend hours hanging up lights while,freezing. Now I prefer just simple larger white lights with green garland and burgundy bows just around the outside front door. There are still snowmen either painted on wood or metal that go,outside as well. It is more about the memories I have along the way than anything else.

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  72. We do an artificial tree but the ornaments are both old and new. I have some my parents had from the 40's, some when we were kids in the 50's and new ones if we like I buy them.

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  73. We also have an artificial tree and tend to use the same ornaments from year to year, although I do add a few new ones each year. I also collect Precious Moments figurines, so I always make sure to get out the Nativity and Christmas-themed figurines.
    mlduffer(at)att(dot)net

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  74. still do the tree and outside decorations, and I make cookies but nearly as many as before the kids were grown! jcook22@yahoo.com

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