Waiting for Santa



This afternoon at the beach:
Happy Holidays, my little friend!

  Yes, here we are at the beach, waiting for Santa to arrive. So exciting!

I think I am on schedule [sort of] with my lists!
And the house looks festive and "Nordic" in its red-and-white Christmas ''dress"?

Someday I hope to do an all white beachy Christmas...but my traditional  German /Swiss/French style always prevails. So much of Christmas, is, for me, revisiting family tradition, cherishing their memories...my great-grandmother's turkey red tablecloth [above], my other great-grandmother's white lace pillowcases. The lighthouse tree topper we bought years ago on a snowy day in Greenwich Village, in NYC. My dad's Noah's ark, my mother's silver. My aunt's etched wine glasses, thin and sheer as soap bubbles. And I take joy in seeing these treasures each year, even though they are not the white and modern I sometimes aspire to....here

The wind was so chilling. I put my coziest white and lacy flannel sheets on the bed, the biggest poufiest down comforter, and my favorite holiday quilt, a Mennonite beauty from my mom...

And I hung up a pretty patchwork stocking, just for fun....(just in case!).

I washed and fluffed up my holiday apron. I made this when I was in college, it's travelled with me, and has made millions of holiday cookies over all the years. The trim was brought from Switzerland by my grandma when I was maybe 6 or 7, though I admit it is just a commonplace woven band. Special to me though. (My mother had asked for 10 yards of Tyrolean ribbon, I have no clue why,lol.)

We hung up our stockings...

Made the lasagna and did a bit of the Christmas Day food prep, but really...If I cooked it today by Tuesday night it would just be leftovers, so mostly it is just waiting for the proper time.
And I think the red velvet cake is a flop..the rum I poured on will redeem it though! Or so I am hoping...

I finished the decorations. I don't gussy up the living room until Christmas Eve because it just gets too cluttery for me. And I did buy strings of white lights [2.99 at Stop n Shop] for indoors, but I don't think I'll get them up this year.




19th century turkey red damask pillow;
American homespun linen c. 1900 heart pillow,
red and white w/ cheddar homespun quilt, c.1850? very fine and old...
blue Shaker end table made by my dad.



Entry hall...

Living room wall...

Angels from Cape Cod, from my mother....

Some close-ups of the tree...

I finished Anneke the rescued angel from the thrift shop. I hung her on an inside door.

Her garland needs work, but I think she is so adorable! And just look at these cutie feet! She is so happy now...

 


Some things old, some things new...a special heart from my friend LN, next to the souvenir crock from the NYC flea market.

I hope your holidays bring you joy, and good memories old and new. Celebrate, enjoy, dear friends!

love

      lizzy

gone to the beach....