Christmas Trees
I know most sane people have one, possibly two Christmas trees in their homes. I think we all know that I am not sane when it comes to Christmas. I HAVE FIVE TREES!!! The tree here is the tree in my family room, the one I look at the most. It holds my dearest ornaments, the ones that have years of memories attached.
The tree in my sunroom has a pine cone theme. These beautiful glass ornaments are magical to me.
My Annalee tree holds the my collection of grey Annalee mice. My Aunt Sue started this collection for me when I was in high school. I now look for grey Annalees to add to my collection.
The tree in my foyer is decked with ornaments I made with mirrors, beads and crystals. Bright and shiny!
I have a bay window in my dining room that is the perfect spot for a small tree. This little tree sits on my Gran’s tea cart and brightens up this space.
So, if you only have one tree, maybe you should think about upping the ante!!
Santa’s Key
When my son was little we didn’t have a fireplace, so how was Santa going to get into our house? A friend gave us this magic key. We made sure it was on the front door on Christmas Eve. Santa 
🎅 was always able to deliver the presents 
Sweet Tali
Nothing escapes decoration in my house. Even the girl dog has a Christmas collar. Look how happy she it!
Ornaments, Ornaments, Ornaments
Each year as I pull out ornaments to decorate my Christmas tree I relive so many memories. I’m sure each of you go through the same thing. Please be patient with me as I walk you through some of my memories.
My mother-in-law, who is an amazing artist painted this beautiful bulb.
My grandma Grace knitted this sweet mitten for me. At one time it had a mate, but like most children I lost it. I’m so glad that I still have this one. Many years ago I came up with the ingenious idea to hang it on my tree every year. Instead of being tucked away in a box, I am able to pull it out each year. It is one of my most precious possessions.
I have had this little ornament since I was in Kindergarten. I got it from my Sunday School teacher and it was filled with CANDY!
I gave this beautiful ornament to my grandma Grace and a couple of years before she died she gave it back to me. She loved it so much that she displayed it all year long. I lovingly pull this ornament out each year and remember the love that was my grandma.
Another ornament from my grandma Grace. She had made for her each of her grandchildren. They hung on her tree for years. Another thing she made sure I got.
The German pickle! It is supposed to be the last ornament
on the tree and whoever finds it first on Christmas morning gets a prize. We have never done that since there is only one child in our family. My Aunt Sue gave me this special ornament.
Another beautiful ornament painted by my mother-in-law Rozanne. This is a painting of my Cocker Spaniel Casey. He was our first baby and then became Cameron’s protector. We had this sweet boy for 16 years. He could be a pickle, but he was loving and loyal.
My sissy, Amy, gave me this bee hive. My name means bee. If I wasn’t The Domesticated Maven, I’d be the Queen Bee! Amy is always on the lookout for bee themed ornaments. I just love this one
These two ornaments are from Dublin, Ireland. I took a group of high school students on a mission trip to work in a youth camp. I loved being a youth leader. The relationships and memories I have from this trip will be with me forever!
Christmas Foyer
It took me awhile to find the perfect tree for my foyer. I wanted a tall, skinny tree. I’ve had a couple of different versions. Meet Foyer Tree 3.0 – it’s finally the right one! I handmade all of the pretty ornaments using beads, mirrors, crystals and bells.
These ornaments are very difficult to photograph, so take a close look.
I have all kinds of treasures in the secretary. Treasures from my mom, my Gran and my Aunt Sue.
When we built our house ten years ago, I was so excited to have a banister! I couldn’t wait for our first Christmas so I could decorate it.
Elf on the Shelf
Many of you are working feverishly every night to come up with new mischief for your Elf on the Shelf. We have many in our house that resided in my husband’s home when he was a little boy. That was way back in the 1960s! Way back then the elves didn’t cause mischief, there were many of them and they had new hiding places every morning. When my husband and his brother woke up, they would look all over the house to find all of the elves. We continued that tradition when our Cameron came along. Now that he’s grown the elves only get hidden once. Hiding the elves is my husband’s job!