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On Sutton Place

Decorate. Bake. Create.

Home for the Holidays ~ 2011 Our Tree

Christmas 2011, Family Room

The ritual of the Christmas tree On Sutton Place
has changed with the different stages of my family.
 
When my kids were younger they always helped.
My son would carry the branches
up from the basement and build the tree.
My daughter would do the lights.
If they were both still hanging in there,
we would decorate it together.
My husband always disappeared about the time this was all happening.
Let’s just say it wasn’t his favorite thing to do…
 
 
Now since I’m on my own I have a lovely, little tree
that I can trim myself…
 
It stays assembled with the lights on and sits
in the basement for 11 months out of the year.
 
Our tree has moved around but for the past couple of years
I have put it in our family room.
I don’t have to move any furniture…
it just sits nicely in the corner.
 
I decorated the table with a grain sack, fresh greens,
berries and pine cones.
The stripes in the pitcher go nicely
with the stripes in the grain sack…
and I didn’t even plan it that way.
Don’t you love it when that happens?
 
I got the huge pine cones a few years ago at Hobby Lobby.
I bought all they had which was about 6.
I have looked every year since and have not ever seen them again.
My halls are pretty much decked.
My shopping is finished but not one thing is wrapped.
I’d really like to bake some cookies.

Looks like I’m not going to get that snow day I was praying for either.
How many more days are there?

Comments

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  1. Sue says

    Wednesday, December 21, 2011 at 1:29 am

    Very simple and very pretty, Ann. Have missed seeing you drop by. I know what it is to be busy and getting ready for the holiday, as well as working, too. Here's wishing you a very Merry Christmas. ~ Sue

    Reply

  5. Grace @ Sense and Simplicity says

    Monday, December 19, 2011 at 3:00 am

    Your home looks beautiful all decked out for Christmas. Thanks so much for the nice note you sent my way – I've enjoyed getting to know you this past year and watching your blog take off. Have a wonderful Christmas.

    Reply

  7. Ivy and Elephants says

    Sunday, December 18, 2011 at 2:47 am

    What a gorgeous tree! Your ornaments are each so unique, especially that little bowl with the berries. I would LOVE to be able to leave my tree assembled,
    (that's the only part I don't like!).
    Thank you so much for sharing it with us at "What's It Wednesday".
    See you next week. It's not a party without you!
    Hugs,
    Patti

    Reply

  8. Babs says

    Saturday, December 17, 2011 at 11:47 pm

    Your tree is perfect in size and shape and you decorated it beautifully. Great centerpiece, too. Hope you have your cookies baked by now…LOL I have none baked. But I'm thinking about it. :)

    Reply

  12. Lizabeth @ Infuse With Liz says

    Friday, December 16, 2011 at 4:44 pm

    Love the tree and your table setting! Yes I miss having my helpers around! It's hard to get the spirit without them around! Thankfully my husband was helpful getting things brought up from the basement this year. Looks like you are all ready for the holiday! On to the baking!! Oh yes and wrapping! I'm in the same boat, nothing wrapped yet, but I tend to make that a marathon in one day!

    Reply

  13. Jen says

    Friday, December 16, 2011 at 2:41 pm

    Love your tree Ann! No snow here either but I'm thrilled about that since our kids have to travel so I can easily do without!
    Have a wonderful Christmas!

    Jeannette

    Reply

  16. LL from KS says

    Thursday, December 15, 2011 at 2:31 pm

    I love how you have decorated. It's sweet and looks like love to me! Hobby Lobby did have those huge pinecones but they were bagged in 3's and were so much more expensive. Btw, I bought one of your pillows and absolutely love it. You do such lovely work. Your prices are very reasonable too. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas and a blessed new year.

    Reply

  24. Tammy @BeatriceBanks says

    Thursday, December 15, 2011 at 1:12 am

    That is beautiful! And I love the pitcher full of berries with pine cones. Lucky girl to have all your shopping done! I have a few left and lots of wrapping to do too. Christmas will be here before we know it!

    Reply

  26. Kelly says

    Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 10:28 pm

    Your tree and table decorations look so pretty! It's pretty warm here, so no snow for us either. Darn! I plan on doing some baking soon too. That always raises my spirits at Christmas.

    Reply

  31. Pamela Gordon says

    Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 8:43 pm

    Your tree is so pretty! I love the old table and the way you decorated it. Simple and elegant. I wish you and yours a very happy Christmas! Blessings, Pamela

    Reply

  34. Karen says

    Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 7:27 pm

    Hi Ann, your Christmas decor is so pretty. How great is it that you don't have to assemble the tree every year, that would be like heaven for me. The Michaels in my area has those giant pine cones, if there's a Michaels near you they may have them too. They were in the candle section… why? Love the grain sack runner.

    Reply

  35. Jane@Cottage at the Crossroads says

    Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 7:03 pm

    Ann,
    Your tree is gorgeous! I love the ornaments on it, and how wonderful you can keep it in your basement and just bring it up in Dec. The grain sack runner and the pitcher look amazing together. Leo just gave me some huge pinecones that were in some straw he raked up this morning from a neighbor's yard. Hang in there!

    Reply

  37. Calypso In The Country says

    Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 6:41 pm

    Your tree is beautiful and I love your table vignette. I feel so behind because we haven't even gotten our tree yet!…and I don't have one present wrapped!
    -Shelley

    Reply

  41. Terry says

    Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 6:13 pm

    Your table looks great. The tree is gorgeous. I love that you're able to keep it in the basement, pretty much assembled. Great idea! I'm pulling for that snow with you. :)

    Reply

  44. Shannon@Cozy Home Scenes says

    Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 5:42 pm

    Everything looks lovely, Ann! I like the ornaments and other things on the tree. The little bowl with berries is my favorite. One would never suspect how busy you are since your home looks all decked out and ready for Santa. Heehee. Hope you get time to enjoy doing whatever you would like to do– maybe like baking.———Shannon

    Reply

  45. Cindy says

    Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 4:46 pm

    Hello dear lady,
    Your tree is beautiful and looks so lovely in the corner of your pretty dining room. I love the grain sack with the blue stripes that echo the stripes in the pitcher. Perfection! It doesn't seem to happen very often, does it. Not for me at least.
    Do you miss the days when your children were still at home and they helped with so many little things like setting up the tree? I really do, I am missing them something terrible right now.
    Sorry to hear that your days are so busy, leaving little time for baking. Hopefully you will squeeze it in somewhere.
    Have a lovely day.
    Hugs, Cindy

    Reply

  47. Pondside says

    Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 4:14 pm

    There are not many days left, but I'm not worried. The cookies will be baked and the gifts will be wrapped. For some reason, I'm just not fretting this year.
    Your tree is lovely in the corner, and I think that your table arrangement is beautiful.

    Reply

  49. Honey at 2805 says

    Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 4:01 pm

    Your tree is beautiful, Ann! And the table with the grain sack with the centerpiece is charming! There is still time to link up to the Christmas Tree Party. The link is open until Saturday and there is a $100 Pottery Barn Gift Card giveaway!

    Reply

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