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My NEW blog address is
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thanks, bj

Thursday, December 18, 2008

My CHRISTMAS HOUSE TOUR...

NEW EMAIL ADDRESS: bjconklin@xanadoo.com
Finally found out that it was SBC/ATT that was my problem...
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Since my computer was ACTING UP...I missed all the fun of the CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE on the 15th...
I just wanted to show you a few festive spots around my CHRISTMAS COTTAGE...


FATHER CHRISTMAS...
he stays out, in this very spot, all year long !!


my Mackenzie-Childs looks mighty festive at Christmas time !!


little gifts, all ready for neighbors and friends....

my bronzy lady, all decked out with a little sparkle around her lovely throat....


some of my goofy, little DARLING granddaughters..
aren't they having FUN !!
and, don't they make my heart swell ... O HONEY





the making of THE cookie.....

The CANDY CANE COOKIES that I have made for my children all their lives...
and even at 39 and 44, they STILL want these cookies on Christmas Eve...
AND....of course, the grandchildren start looking for them when they walk in the front door on Christmas Eve...
(i have to hurry and make another batch because I CAN NOT STAY OUT OF THEM.....
just your basic butter cookie recipe, divide the dough and tint one red, the other green...powdered sugar glaze tinted red..

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THE stockings are all hung by the chimney with care.....

6 on one side of the fireplace....

and 6 on the other...


the moms, dads and g-parents are hung from the mantle...
my mother made this stocking for DAVID when he was a little bitty boy.

and one for STACY, too....
Both still want their stockings to be here, at my house, and I guess that is a GOOD thing....
they say it just feels good to have them hung at their mom's house.....eventually the stockings will move into their proper place.....(boo hooo) ya know..'.pass the torch' and that sort of thing!!

i love my stocking holders..they are nice and heavy and don't fall off the mantle when you put goodies in the stockings...oh, excuse me...when SANTA puts things in the stockings!!
stained glass...JOY, PEACE, NOEL and HOPE....

these are tiny, little card or photo holders.
a penguin..a Santa and a Christmas tree..
I need some more to hold MORE Christmas with Santa pictures.... ;O)
(i haven't learned how to do the pictures together thingy very good yet...but i'm working on it)

little whimsical wreaths hanging in my windows in the living room......

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I'll show you my tiny, little CHRISTMAS TREE next....
Have a blessed day and
MERRY CHRISTMAS !
LOVE, bj

41 comments:

Pink Princess said...

I love your decorations, esp the Bust and the pretty Santa!!
OH and the loverly Delft items you have. Yes I am Dutch so they caught my eyes immediately.

have a wonderful Christmas with your family.

hugs from Marian

Sue said...

mornin BJ, you have a Christmasy feeling all thru your house, it's looking festive! Can you believe the big day is upon us, I'm not one bit stressed this year for some reason, oh well!! Can't wait to see your tree! xoxo

Anonymous said...

BJ, everything looks so perfect. I love the stocking hangers too. Everything is so pretty, can't wait to see your tree. And I'm so happy for you that you got the problem all solved,I look forward to having my first cup of coffee with you. :)

Love ya,
Chris

Sue said...

LOL!! I bought a pre-lit tree last year, makes setting up so much easier, except that the darn thing weighs a ton, the poles are stuck together so its in 2 pieces instead of 3, which makes it even heavier to bring up from the basement, and it was stuck in the box this year so I tugged and tugged til my hand went flying into the tin star and put a half inch gash into my baby finger, but we survived and its up and been decorated over and over til I stopped when I put the grapevine on and now I love it! LOL!!! Fa La La La La......xoxo

Anonymous said...

It sure is looking pretty and festive at your house. I love all of the stockings. The sight of them all hanging is heart-warming.

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Kathleen Grace said...

I love seeing all your pretty holiday displays. I am so glad you're back:>)

squawmama said...

Good Morning Bj... My what beautiful decorations and I LOVE your stocking hangers... How original... Isn't it great having a tradition you did when the children were little carry right on as they grow older... Loved the cookies... Can't wait for the rest... Have a great day...

(((HUGS)))
Donna

Marcela said...

Oh, my Goodness. I love your Christmas decoration BJ!!!
Everything looks festive and beautiful in your home
Blessings
Marcela

Tardevil said...

Love all of your decor! The cookies look great too! If I don't get back over before Christmas, I hope you & your family have a great one!

SmilingSally said...

Your father Christmas looks like a Jim Shore creation. Nice. Isn't it wonderful when our babies (no matter what age) want to keep traditions?

Your home is lovely; it looks as if you're ready for Christmas.

Susan @ Blackberry Creek said...

Everything is so festive, BJ. Thanks for the tour. I love your Jim Shore Father Christmas.

Bo said...

Good morning BJ...it really looks like Christmas at your house... I love what you did with the MacKenzie Childs tier and Father Christmas is just precious! I'll bet you are in the kitchen right this moment baking up more goodies!
Big Hugs...♥ Bo

Anonymous said...

I love it all BJ! There's just one problem! Where's my stocking! lol
Be a sweetie,
Shelia :)

Stacey said...

BJ, it's all perfect. I'm so glad we got to tour your home. Also glad that you are up and running with your computer again!

niartist said...

BJ! I just read you're in West Texas!!! I'm from San Angelo, it's more central, but still west. Do you know it? I moved to NY 3-years ago, but I still miss those W.Tx. skies. Anyway - love your Christmas tour, everything is just beautiful. The fa-la-la on the chalkboard is so cute, what a great way to spread christmas cheer!

Rue said...

Good morning Bj :)

I have never seen that many stockings all together, but it sure brought a big smile to my face because I can see how much love is with each and every one :)

Oh and I stole... um I mean took one of those cookies. I hope you don't mind ;)

Merry Christmas hugs and love,
rue

Anonymous said...

YOUR DECORATIONS ARE JUST AWESOME.I SO ENJOY LOOKING AT YOUR HANDY WORK...ANN

Michele said...

Good morning BJ ~ oooooo, I love all your decorations, especially the stockings! And those cookies look so yummy!

Have a wonderful Christmas!

Hugz,
Michele

Susan @ A Southern Daydreamer said...

I am sorry to hear your computer has been giving you fits. I love all the whimsy... your Santa can come visit my Santas!!

Anonymous said...

As always BJ .... your home is filled with love and charm.... I love that your love of family takes center stage... even in your Christmas decorating
HUgs
Linda

Anita said...

You just keep coming up with more and more goodies!!
I don't blame you for leaving Father Christmas out all year long... and the bronze lady!! I LOVE her!

Alice said...

bj, you've got some pretties around the house. know it looks good all over. i know how happy your blog friends are to have you back. it's getting closer to christmas and i can hardly wait since i'll have my entire family here this year.
love you. al

Anonymous said...

There so many things I loved about your decorating. I loved how you hung all of those stockings around the fireplace. Great idea! The picture of your granddaughters is my fav, though. Love that photo.

I saw a blackboard on someone else's blog. I really like that you can change it for each holiday and it looks so cute.

BTW - we have SBC/ATT and have never had a problem and we've been with them since they were ameritech. I'm sorry you had trouble with your connection. I guess it depends on what area you live in. Did you find out what it was about them that caused the problem?

nikkicrumpet said...

Your home is always so beautiful and charming. Filled with love and joy. You have a very lucky family!!!

Anonymous said...

I loved the tour BJ! Your home is so pretty!

We have a Jim Shore Santa, with a lighthouse/seashore scene in his "apron". He's holding a sailboat. He stays out all year. There is a little space in the trim above the breakfast bar, he fits in. We put him up there a couple of years ago and forgot to take him down. By the time we remembered, we decided we like him right where he is.

Terrie's Lil' Piece of Serenity said...

BJ, you're back!! I am so.. happy!
I love your Christmas decor. I especially love the little wreaths on your windows. Everything is wonderful! Hugs, Terrie

BittersweetPunkin said...

Hi BJ!! I love all your decorations!! Everything is lovely. We are having some weather here and our internet has been up and down for days...very frustrating indeed!!

Hugs,
Robin

tea time and roses said...

Hello BJ!

What beautiful decorations and Christmas pretties!:o) I just adore your Santa...so lovely! Your home says Christmas all over!! Merry Christmas to you and your family!

Smiles...

Beverly

Anonymous said...

Gosh BJ, I have been AWOL waiting for your computer to get straightened out and then I was out of sink for a few days. We had to put our precious poodle down on Tues. and my life sort of stopped for a couple of days.

Then my sisters all came for Christmas cookie day on Weds. We did have fun. I know how my family look forward to my cookies too. LOL. after yesterday they will have a huge choice of cookies to eat. Mmmmm.

You home looks so fabulous with your Christmas decorations. I love all the stockings hanging in a row.
Your father Christmas is a beauty. and I love the photo of your grands having so much fun together.

It looks like a Merry Christmas is coming to your home.

Christmas love...Jeanne

Libby's Library said...

Loved seeing all your lovely Chrismas Decorations! I'm new to blogging and all things technical..how do you get the "falling snow" on your pictures. So Very Cool!!!

Andi said...

Everything looks so festive and pretty at your house BJ. And would you pass me one of those adorable candy cane cookies please? Those are so cute!

By the way...you've been tagged over at my place. Stop by.

Hugs, Andi

Betty said...

Dear Sweet BJ- I am so glad to see you back and all your lovely decorative touches. I have been hit and miss with my normal blog visits, afraid I have been rather sick and don't seem to be shaking it to well. I had a Dr's appt scheduled for tomorrow so I will see if it needs help to be gotten rid of or just the Michigan crud! That is if the winter storm warning we have up doesn't change my plans! lol
Take care of yourself.

Betty

Salmagundi said...

Enjoyed the Christmas tour of your house. Looking forward to more!!! Sally

Becky said...

Oh BJ, everything looks so pretty!! I LOVE your Father Christmas! And those stockings oh my goodness girl you have a ton of em' don't you! Did you have to take out a loan to fill them all! LOL!!!

Hope said...

Your house looks beautiful, BJ! Nothing could have made it look any more homey than it already was except Christmas decorations!! :)

Hugs,
Hope

Dena said...

Hi BJ,

I think that those cookies are so sweet! I want to come have one too!! Everything is looking very festive at your place :)

Hugs,
Dena

Sandi McBride said...

Everything is so beautiful, I'm glad you did your post on your lovely home...thanks for sharing, BJ...you're a doll! Merry Christmas!
hugs
Sandi

Helen said...

Hi there BJ! If I remember correctly this time last year I was getting ready for hip replacement surgery and you were also in the midst of something just as unpleasant. Aren't we glad that's all behind us? Have a wonderful weekend.

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

I enjoyed my tour of your Christmas decor. You have some of the prettiest stockings I've seen. Thanks for the tour.

Unknown said...

Hi BJ,
Loved your Christmas tour. Your home looks great with all of your festive touches.
Diane

Ruey said...

Helllo Dear Sweet BJ!!!
Just strolling through you post makes me so happy and put's me in the Christmas spirit! Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful, warm, home with me. You are such a blessing!
Merry Christmas sweet friend!
xxxooo Ruth