Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Tie One On and Love Your Holiday Home



Today’s Better Homes and Garden healthy countdown task is “Tie One On,” a theme that will resonate with a lot of you. Yep, it’s about donning a festive holiday apron to get you in the mood for delicious Christmas baking.


I made this simple Christmas toile apron last year and the oven mitt this year. It makes me happy to use things I make myself. As I look around my house this holiday season, I am somewhat surprised and certainly delighted to realize that most everything is homemade—by me, my husband, a family member or a friend. Blessings indeed!

Loving Your Holiday Home

Karla’s Cottage is hosting a “What Do You Love about Your Holiday Home?” party today.



I’ve been thinking about what I love most about my home at Christmas. The major thing is something that I can’t photograph—that special sense of divine spirit. In lieu of that, here are a few tangible things I love.



Originally, a Christmas tree in all its evergreen finery represented the life cycle and the stamina required to survive winter. Although surviving winter here in Tucson isn’t challenging, the symbolism of the Christmas tree isn’t lost on us and still resonates in our hearts.



Our tree is representative of the full and blessed life my husband and I have and is chock full of ornaments we’ve collected over the years from family, friends, and our travels.



This is a simple glass ball ornament I painted using a gold calligraphy marker and then tied with a gold bow. I love the spiral symbol as it means the continuity of life and that is what we are celebrating this time of year.

I already shared the hand-blown glass ornaments that I make each year in a previous post.



This is one of a large set of southwestern clay ornaments especially made for us by my talented mother-in-law when we got married and moved to Tucson. They are hand-formed and cured in a kiln. I so love gifts from the heart.

I’ve been collecting Annalee nativity pieces over the years. We found the stable at Costco years ago that perfectly accommodates the nativity figures, each of which is about 7-inches high. I have a few more pieces to find and then I’ll call it done. Most especially I need Mary as poor baby Jesus hasn’t any mother right now—how sad is that?


My house is decorated and overflowing with the joys of the season but the best part of Christmas is what it all means. The tree and the nativity—what more can I say?

Most of all I love my holiday home because it is just that—my home and sanctuary—no matter the time of year.

23 comments:

Rosie's Whimsy said...

I Adore you apron and glove....so cute. Your tree is fantastic, too. I am sure Christmas in your home will be filled with wonderful moments. Have the Best of Weeks..........Rosie

iSew said...

What a beautiful tree, looks like a shot from a magazine. Mine is covered in cartoon ornaments from Hallmark, lol. As for the apron, well, I'll add it to the list.

Jennifer W. said...

Lovely lovely tree. i love its placement, too.

Pamela Jane said...

Lovely sentiments that give meaning to the joy and effort of the holidays.

Anonymous said...

Ooh, beautiful tree and ornaments. I love your apron and mitt. I think toile is sublime. We have many blessings, too, starting with a 4-year-old really into Christmas and ending with my dad home from the hospital.

rohanknitter said...

What a cute apron!
And your tree is lovely. I really like those nativity figures - I don't think I've seen any exactly like those before.

Jessi Nagy said...

yumm on the cookies! your home is delightful. thanks
jessi

Stephanie ~ Angelic Accents said...

What a gorgeous tree & beautiful holiday home! I so agree with what you say about your home being your sanctuary! Me Too! Please hop over to my blog!

Merry Christmas!
Stephanie
Angelic Accents

Brittany said...

I just love your tree!! It's just gorgeous! Your apron is lovely as well.
:)Brittany

Alice Regan said...

I love the tree, it's so beautiful. I also adore the apron and glove. It would be wonderful baking with those!

Southern Heart said...

Beautiful tree---so pretty! and those cookies are making me hungry! :)

xo, Andrea

black eyed susans kitchen said...

Great tree! I just love homemade ornies. Susan

Thimbleanna said...

Oh Junie -- I've been so far behind on blogs and had lots to catch up on with you today. Your posts have been just wonderful -- I'm loving this advent theme you're running with. I especially enjoyed your comments about your wooden choir and shopping in East Berlin as it brought back wonderful memories of our shopping trips there too -- before the wall came down. It was so sad and fascinating all at once! I just can't wait for your next post!

Alison Gibbs said...

What a lovely christmas tree.
Thanks for sharing your christmas decor with us.
Alison

Valita said...

Your tree is beautiful! Love all the ornaments. Hmm, now I need to make me a holiday apron! Love the idea.

Sandy said...

What a wonderful holiday it looks like you will be having. Your home is so warm and inviting and I bet it smells like cookies! Merry Christmas and thanks for the tour. Miss Sandy

homespun living said...

What wonderful thoughts on your home at Christmas.
Everything looks lovely!

Deb

a pink-bee said...

Such a warm and cozy home Junie :) Your decoratin is perfect ! Merry Christmas wishes :)
crystalxo

The Wooden Spool said...

love your darling oven mitt and apron. so homey and festive. Love your tree!

roseroomnz.com said...

As it should be, well said:) Merry Christmas and Blessings:)

hogan said...

Thank you for that lovely and enchanting holiday tour ! I am on the tour as well stroll by when you catch moment :)
Mary

Lena said...

Your tree is so beautiful!

Paul-ene said...

I wanna a cookie! Love that photo of you making your cookies.

I too made cookies(I'll be posting about those next blog party-ha).

Love your holiday home you shared and your tree is really pretty!

I'm still making my rounds to the holiday home tour.

Merry Christmas!