Here, for your viewing pleasure (I hope), are some images from our home in the week before Christmas. We started decorating a few weeks ago.
The thing above is our unusual Advent calendar.
Before Advent officially began (December 3 this year), we wrote notes/quotes and put them in the tiny drawers. Important reminders of love, slowing down and appreciating our blessings.
Next, we brought out an oldish but favourite Christmas book.
Inside are pop-up scenes marking the 12 days of Christmas, which traditionally don’t begin till December 25.
Then the tree got properly decorated…
Except for the lower branches. We ran out of lights, planned to replace them before adding more decorations, but forgot.
Then I assembled this centrepiece — using birch-bark candles by the talented artist Jean Long, pine cones, baubles, whatnots….
And Santa’s sleigh, of course.
Husband had already filled this very old basket with logs for the fire….
Finally, the table was set with Christmas plates ….
And then I apparently ruined the “tablescape”.
Husband asked: “What on earth is that?”
“Those are real autumn leaves and real fake berries,” I replied.
“Hmm,” he said.
I didn’t tell him I planned to replace the leaves with green sprigs. A woman must retain some mystery, after all.
Wishing you a good week before Christmas and – whatever your special celebration or preparations — I wish you all the best of the season.
Cynthia Reyes 
Love those real fake berries! Merry Christmas, Cynthia.
Utterly charming. What a great idea for an advent calendar. Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Loved to be able to peek inside your house. I have the 12 days of Christmas book as well. We get it out every year. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas.
Beautiful! Have a very Merry Christmas!
I like your advent calendar idea. Best wishes for a lovely Christmas. 🙂
I agree with some but you’re all mystery, love ya!!!
You are so creatively talented!
What time is Christmas dinner? 🙂 Everything looks lovely, Cynthia.
Thanks for sharing your heart, hearth, and home (maybe your next book title?) with us Cynthia. I enjoy your decorations and humble wit. May we keep the spirit of love and play alive for Christmas and throughout the year. Holiday blessings to you and yours.
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Wow! Love the table setting especially:). Looks very inviting. Wishing you and your family a warm, wonderful holiday, Cynthia!
I feel the ‘real leaves’ with the ‘real fake berries’ shows a down home designer touch Cynthia – good job!! I do like to see how you folks in winter celebrate the festival. 🙂 Though it’s a bit wet here today we have been melting in (Celsius) 30 degree heat……. but still the tree is up!
Lovely holiday decorations and traditions, Cynthia. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas! 🎄
Lovely decorating, Cynthia! I like the leaves and berries, too. Those beautiful birch bark candles also caught my attention.
We have too many cats here to put up any decorations. They are too much of a temptation for idle paws. 🙂
So lovely to be included in your week before Christmas. It all looks very merry, berry, and bright. Christmas cheer and love to you all.
Gallivanta, your site appears to be down. I can’t get to it anymore.
@Lavinia, it did happen to my blog a few months ago, too… but I rebooted my “machine” and it showed up afterwards… well, some WWW pathways are still inscrutable… 🙂
It’s back now. Not sure what happened.
Phew!
Cynthia, The Decorating Diva!! It looks great–warm and inviting and just a little quirky . . .
Beautiful decorations, Cynthia! Have a very Merry Christmas!
So lovely to see, Cynthia, and I love the forgetting of the lights – it all looks perfect, so who needs them! A very merry Christmas back to you. 🙂
Those little drawers on your advent calendar are such a great idea and your centerpieces turned out wonderful. Everything looks perfect!
Every mickle mek a muckle…and what and enchanting muckle this is. Have a wonderful christmas
Charming!
Beautiful decorations Cynthia, I wish you and your family all the best for Christmas.
Beautifully festive Cynthia. I particulaly like that amazing advent sleigh. WIshing you and all yours a lovely festive season.
Beautifully festive, Cynthia! Thanks for sharing the Christmas cheer! 🙂
and thank you for your lovely reply, Natalie. Have a great Christmas!
It all feels so homely and festive Cynthia. Hugs and seasonal sparkly wishes flowing to you and your loved ones, with much ❤ Xxx
Thank you, Jane. A Happy Christmas to you!
Sending you wishes for a wonderful holiday with your beautiful family, Cynthia. ❤
Thank you, Carol, and wishing you many blessings — for you and your family.
Gorgeous. Thanks for sharing the comments and the pictures.
So festive and I love the table.
Thank you. Merry Christmas to you and your dear family, Tina!
How nicely you have decorated your home! The tree looks lovely without the missing lights and I love the centrepiece with the birchbark candles. A very Merry Christmas to you and yours, Cynthia and have a happy and healthy New Year!
Thank you, Clare. It’s nice having family members to help! Thank you for the good wishes. Merry Christmas!
My pleasure, dear Cynthia. Merry Christmas!
Fabulous Cynthia … you have inspired me to do a table setting. Thank you! Merry. Christmas lovely 😃
Wow, Julie. In recent years, I have not inspired anyone to do anything domestic. So having read your comment, I am beaming! Hope your summer progresses well.
Great to see your all set for the coming days, Cynthia. Like your advent calendar, thoughtful idea. Best wishes for Christmas and the New Year 🙂
Thank you, Annette. My best wishes to you too.
Cynthia, everything looks lovely!I laughed at the lack of lights on the lower branches, because when I had 3 cats, I ended up having no ornaments on the lower branches. While I was gone to work, or overnight, the kitty elves would have a good time knocking down what they could reach and smacking them all over the room. And I would dutifully replace them. Finally, I just left them off! Have a wonderful, wonderful Christmas! Jeanne
Your home is beautifully decorated and I hope you are enjoying your Christmas.
We really have, Karen. Hope you did too. Happy new year to you and your loved ones!
Beautiful Cynthia. I hope you had a beautiful Christmas and wishing you a wonderful New Year. 🙂
Thank you, Debby, and a happy new year to you!
Thank you. 🙂
If all looks fab. I love the advent calendar too – we did run to an advent candle but otherwise it was Lego star wars … not quite so classy.
Hope your Christmas was fantastic and all the best for 2018.
Cheers
MTM
I like the idea of a Lego star wars advent calendar — maybe you should create one for sale!
they are way ahead of me! Lego I mean. We have the star wars one.
Okay! I get it!
Cynthia Reyes
Author, A Good Home, An Honest House and just published: Myrtle the Purple Turtle.
Available at online booksellers and through bookstores:
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/0620773421
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Cynthia Reyes’ books Myrtle the Purple Turtle An Honest House and A Good Home are available through bookstores and online bookstores in Canada, the U.S., the UK-Europe, and Australia, such as amazon.com, amazon.ca, chapters.ca, amazon.co.uk (Britain), barnesandnoble.com. If the books are not on the shelf of your local store, please ask the bookseller to order it. http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00F1HTQQ6
Wishing you and your whole family a very happy New Year 2018! X
Thank you very much! Wishing you a great 2018.
Happy holidays!
Thanks — and to you.
SPLENDID post, as usually… ❤
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1000 MERCI for dropping by my virtual playground and my very best for the coming year: health, joy, love and peace… wish you oceans of inspiration & good luck in all your endeavours! 🙂 last but not least: I ❤ your country and your city… cheers! 🙂
Thank you, Melanie, and thanks for visiting too. All my best wishes for the new year!
Good weather to stay near the Yule Log burning in the wood stove. Happy New Year! -Oscar P.S. The Magi are bringing a gift soon, as the Post Office has nothing to do now that the holiday catalogues and packages are delivered.
That is a fabulous and fun series you have been doing on the trip to Bethlehem, the birth in the stable and the journey of the magi. I’ve enjoyed every one!