I'm still 'mourning' my Christmas decor gone. I guess I'll try to get in Valentine mode the end of the month tho.
Its always sad for me to see the colors of Fall and Christmas go. And I sort of dread Spring/Easter as I'm NOT a pastel person, plus Spring means our 100 plus degree weather is starting for 6 months. I want to enjoy NOW a lot longer. LOL.

Wishing you an early Happy Anniversary by the way, in case I forget end of the week. My memory is long gone.

hugs, Karen

Lynn,

I am wanting to do a Now & Then but I've used my silver set so not sure if I still will. We are busier than ever at work so I may just sit back and enjoy everyone elses. I've used some of my red I should of saved for my Valentines table but I would still like to use my little plates I have.

Presidents Day sounds interesting and I would of never thought of it if you hadn't mentioned it.hum I may need some help for this one to get me started. TIA

May you enjoy your 27th anniversary on Friday. I'm like Karen and don't know what I will be thinking or doing come Friday.

This will be a fun post to follow so thanks for getting it started. Punk

Hey Lynn..
To tell you the truth...I'm still putting away Christmas things - S-L-O-W-L-Y !!
It's been so cold, the outside decorations will probably be there for quite a while.
I haven't given much thought to what's next. After having months of decorations from Fall to Christmas, the house does become kind of dull and dreary once everything's put away.
Last year I remember someone did a nice Valentine Tree..and I think DD decorated her mantel for winter and then Valentine's Day.. that's always a thought.
What I usually do is catch up on organizing my photo albums..seems I always have so many pictures floating around that need to be put in albums, and winter is the perfect time to do it.

I'll join in early, with the others, and Wish
You a Very Happy Anniversary on Friday..
I'm known to have periods of 'Brain Fog'..so
early is better than not at all! lol

jane

Valentines is next for me. I usually do all the holidays & then some seasonal ones, my basketball one was new this year, to transition from xmas to V Day!

I am on the hunt for some really cute red & white cups & saucers, saw them on someones decor blog & they were so pretty, that now I don't want to settle for anything but them!!!

Well, I'm glad that I'm not the only one still working on my Christmas decs! As much as I enjoy seeing the house clean and fresh after they're all put away again, I do miss them. I love the rich beauty and color they add for the one month a year they're up. Yachter, hope you find your cups and saucers. Let us know if we can help in the search.

Speaking of Valentine's Day, I've just acquired a few new pieces to use for my V-Day table this year. I'd been on the search for them specifically for a couple months and had almost given up finding some. But, the online auctions came through once again! I'm really excited about them.
I used to put up a V-Day tree, but DH accidentally walked it into a door frame taking it back to storage and knocked half the branches off of it. I used it for V-Day and Easter. I need to make another one, but guess I'll have to wait until my friend prunes her apple tree again. Up here in the mountains, I'm surrounded by 99% evergreen trees . . . which don't make good Easter trees IMHO ;^D

Thanks also for all the early anniversary wishes. I'm sooooo right there with you when it comes to "brain fogs" and memory lapses lately!

Well, back to packing away my Christmas decs. I've just counted them, and I have three 3-drawer plastic storage boxes for all the ornaments, nine 30-gallon bins for all the decs and Christmas linens, 7 small-medium sized boxes (for holiday dishes, glasses, serving pieces, my creche and Christmas village), two 25?-gallon bins just for wrapping paper, bows, ribbons, tissue, gift bags and boxes . . . and 3 large, 2 medium and 2 small artificial trees to pack away. Oh, and our large collection of Christmas books and movies is packed away in a trunk in the MBR.
To say that I don't enjoy this week of packing it all away again would be an understatement!
Lynn

I hear you, Jane.
The outside decorations are frozen in place..
Inside everything is removed and packed, but not tidied away in the basement.

Lynn, I don't do very much decorating for Valentine's..and then it is on to St.Pat's. And we are lucky if we see the first signs of Spring here in late April, regardless of what the calendar says..:)

My next big project is finding new furn for the den...I have been looking and can't find what I like
Everything..furn, rug, window treatments...so that will take up a lot of time. The furn that is there will go down to the newly finished basement.

It is 8 yrs old, was good Clayton Marcus,( which I am told has been bought out by another co.) but we rec'd a wide screen TV as a gift from our son, and I don't want it over the fireplace, so everything needs to be rearranged. Plus I am tired of the color of the furn, and the Lazy Boy recliners are shot..those got the most use.
I don't like those big overstuffed ones, no leather or microfiber, so I am limited..

If you ask again next year at this time, I could still be working on it! LOL
No, I am really looking, but nothing appeals to me!

We painted the dining room in the Fall, so I have been on the hunt for fabric to make new drapes for there..

I am already working on my Valentine buffet display and should be finished by Friday. Since I don't have much red, most of my Valentine decs are pink (I might can scrape up some pink around here). We are debating whether to have our Mardi Gras party this year, drinkers and driving scare me to death. And I'll be ready for Easter the minute Valentines is over. Unlike Karen I just love the pastels, the earth tone colors of fall are harder for me to decorate around in my house. I went to my local TSs for the first time this week since Christmas and found these treasures. Christmas was 1/2 off. The vintage spagetti santa was only fifty cents and I really have a hard time finding them lately. And I got a boot for my santa boot collection, some great glass navitity pieces, a bell cloche and things to use for Valentines and Easter too.
Syble

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Oh golly, Lynne. I'm so happy to hear that you've got so many boxes of Christmas stuff. I thought I had weeded out all my stuff last year, but when I went to put it all away I had a room full of it left over and I'd run out of plastic bins! I guess I didn't do a very good packing job this time around. So the stuff just sits in a little office off the hallway, waiting for me to get up the energy to buy some more bins and pack it all away.

I, too, have a big collection of children's Christmas books and a whole slew of Christmas movies. The vast majority of my books are children's books, although I have a few that aren't (old Christmas cookbooks and a couple like the obligatory Christmas Carol. It is always so pleasing for me to see adults (and many times it's the men) reach for a book and thumb through the pages.

I'm going to do some sort of January table before the month is out. Just don't feel like jumping right into Valentine's Day yet. In fact, I'm not much of a Valentine's Day fan, but I know I'll have to get into it because of the grandchildren.

Kathleen,
I'm going to spray a plastic flamingo white, hang a little medal around it's neck and send it to you to use for your granddaughter's Confirmation. You can thank me later.
OA

This has been a fun post to read. You gals had me chuckling. OA,it's probably a good thing you are so far away from Kathleen or she just might throw a skillet at you! LOL

I was just remembering the Groundhog day tables OA and Kathleen did last year. So unexpected and just so darn cute!

I hate to admit this, but I've got some things I can't find since I put them in a safe place before Christmas! My plates, candlesticks and some greenery that I had on the mantel. The plates are two of my most favorite ones of Karen's Mom's that Karen intrusted to me! Because of that, I know I've wrapped them up really good and put them in a safe place--I just can't remember what that safe place was!!!!!! Isn't that just crazy? I know I will run across my hiding place soon--I'm thinking I need to check the floor in my closet--maybe I stashed them there. This "old age" thing can be so darn irritating! Wish me luck, I know they are in this house somewhere!

Lynn, like you, I have a hard time moving on to the next season. I've been seeing some Valentines things in the stores, but nothing that seemed really "special" yet. I think January is just good for undecorating and cleaning and decluttering a bit--then we will be ready to decorate for the next holiday and have some fun.

Luvs

LOL, she just made her First Communion, so hold off. In that many years I am sure to misplace it...:)
I have many many bins..too many..and I weed, then feed every year! I don't know why..it is sick!

It seems everyone I talk to has either not started taking down Christmas decorations, or just getting started. It's as though there are many who don't want the season to end~that includes me, too.

As for what i'll be decorating next, you'll have to put me in the category of non-decorator for other holidays. I do spring/summer/fall wreaths on the front door, and maybe a few Easter things inside, but that's about it for me.

I have a space at a local antique mall, so that's where I really get my 'fix'. I've already started Valentine's day, and will do Madi Graus for Feb., St. Pat's for March, and then take off w/spring. I have a lime green Christmas tree that I picked up before Christmas, and will leave that up to decorate for the different themes, as well as a smattering of things thorough-out the space. ;o)

OA, do you have these three Christmas books? They're all by New Mexico author, Rudolfo Anaya, and they're wonderful!
The artist who illustrated the first two is the well-known NM artist, Edward Gonzales. He lives nearby and is a great guy. I love his paintings.
Lynn
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No, Lynne. I don't have any of those. But I'm so glad you introduced them to me.

You see, after collecting the usual classics (e.g. Rudolph, The Grinch, Littlest Angel, etc.), I made sure to pick up Christmas books illustrated by award winning illustrators (e.g. dePaolo, Wildsmith, Spier, etc.) Then I began to look for Christmas books whenever I traveled. It's hard to find them when on the road. As a teacher, my traveling time was always during the summer and bookstores don't tend to carry children's Christmas books in July. It sort of became an obsession with me to locate them, and I was often not successful. I'll check Amazon for the ones you have. They look beautiful.

Here are a few I've picked up on my travels:

Nantucket, Japan and France
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Don't you love the French word for "pop-up"?

Has a familiar ring to it! :)

Nantucket..I have been there, but not Japan or France, and there is no travel in my future..:(

I'm going to claim the title of Queen of Denial! LOL All of my Christmas decor is still up, getting dustier by the day probably altho the house always gets cleaned really well before I decorate so I'm not concerned. Are there Swiffers for artificial trees? We're still enjoying it so I'm in no hurry. Winter is long here in the north and I like the extra lights and decorations. DH took down the outdoor lights tho as the weather is really mild right now.

I've been busy crafting, goofing off, and making plans but will have Christmas put away in another week or two. Then I'll put up some Valentine deco's. Also thinking about doing some Spring things, wonder if I can combine the two? I painted all my curly willow branches white before Christmas and they've been out on the verandah in urns so I might bring them in, repaint if necessary, and use for Valentine's trees or use somehow in a spring arrangement. Have some ideas floating around in my head and have to see what pops out when the time comes. I'm not planning on buying much altho a trip to the city is coming soon so I'm sure there will be something I can't live without! ;-) I'm planning to buy a few houseplants for a spring look altho I don't do houseplants year round any more. I can't be bothered because we are away too much.

Happy Anniversary, Lynn!

LG, I think its great you are still enjoying your Christmas Decor! Last year I left mine up till nearly the end of Jan.
I like how some gals keep a holiday tree up all year too. Some use a big tree, some a small one, but they just change out the decorations. I am so tempted to do that with a smaller tree myself. But somehow the green
Christmas trees just don't look right for me to use for Valentines and Easter and summer decor. I wish I'd bought a small white one on sale this year! Hindsight..mine is 20/20! But I think next Fall I am definitely going to get out one of my 3 ft or 4 ft trees and decorate them early for Autumn, Halloween, and Thanksgiving. I know I'd really enjoy that.

Oh, Lynn, I meant to say I'm glad you are at the tail-end of decorating seasons. That means we all get to enjoy pictures much longer for them!

Speaking of pictures, I checked my PFC files and have over 40 photos saved that need to be added to our Photobucket Inspiration albums. Accckkkk, I can't keep up with y'all this last month. Most are from here, tho a few are from other sites. I'll try to get them loaded soon tho, in case some of you are as nutty as me and like to look at Christmas decor any time of the year. Otherwise, they'll all be 'new' to you next Dec. LOL. I'll post a note when stuff is loaded. Quite a bit will be going in our Christmas/Winter table-setting album of course.

hugs, Karen

Lynn and everybody,
I won't take everything for Christmas down; I'll leave greens on the mantel, and maybe put in some snowflakes. Unlike everywhere else, it's not as cold as usual this year and we have had only a brief bout of snow. Maybe it's coming...

I never get excited over Valentine's Day; I do have some pink dishes and a candle holder with one red and one white candle. When spring comes I'll add some white flowers and maybe some new leaves to my decor. I can't wait until next year when I'll have pussy willow and maybe some quince to force inside.

Then I'll do Easter. Karen, I agree, I'm not a pastel person either, but somehow I like the decorations--rabbits, eggs, baskets...

- Magpie

Kathleen, my spiral xmas trees are frozen in place on my front deck, so they will be out there for a while, think I'd ruin them to try to pry them free.

Many in our area still have full yards of xmas decor out and lit up!!!

We did pull our timer to ours, so at least they are not still lighting up every nite, think many are in this situation with all the cold & snow this year.

My Christmas decorations are down and packed away...except...the snowflake lights on my back porch!! They look so pretty that I left them up!! I have snowman day flags and windsocks out, so the lights fit right in. In the house I have a lot of crystal and silver out...it looks so pretty in the west light from the front of the house. When Valentines day comes around, my red and white china will have to suffice. The only decos that I use are my collection of glass/crystal hearts. Kathleen, I do have a Beleek vase for St. Patty's day! I always think of you when I put it out!
Have a great week..
J

Last year I had a Valentines Day dinner, and am thinking of doing it again this year. They'll only be about 7 of us, but I can use my pink dishes w/crystal. Since I use *pink* for Christmas, I don't have to buy a thing. Now I need to think about what i'll make....hmmmm, beef stew sounds good and is easy, w/just a salad and some crusty French bread. I'll pick up a cheesecake, at the Cheesecake Factory~maybe they'll have something in *pink* for VD. ;o)

Mags, you're right, the Easter decorations are pretty and appealing even if one doesn't normally love pastels. I always end up enjoying mine and definitely enjoy others.
Plus this Forum actually did make me like Pink. LOL. I just tell me its a form burgundy or purple.

I still kind of laugh at myself decorating for every Holiday now. Something I never had thought of doing till I found this place. But there is something about at least having a festive centerpiece on a table as often as possible. Kind of brightens things up, and is fun to change out. Judith's stacked plates reeled a LOT of us in
with that. And cloches! I don't have a lot of Valentine stuff, and just do a bit in family-room usually on the mantle and a wreath by the front door. A small grapevine wreath that I redo for the smaller holidays. Fast and simple but just adds a touch of color to the front.
At least with Easter, I've got the bunnies! LOL, boy do I have the bunnies!

Speaking of which, why has Stud, errr Spud, been "missing" so long? He use to enjoy being decorated for holidays and then he got banished to the basement and not allowed out to play. What kind of trouble did he get into??
We miss Spud, we want Spud, FREE SPUD!!!!

hugs, Karen

Christmas is still going strong here! I MIGHT start taking things down towards the 22nd weekend but will see how DH feels about it. He gets even sadder than I do when Christmas is taken down! I will decorate with a winter theme then and tuck in some Valentine's once Feb. is here.

Luckygal, I was so pleased to hear you still have your Christmas decor up too. Your weather was sounding the same as ours so I looked it up and you live in B.C. too! Nice to have a fellow Canadian here!

Karen, you are so right about decorating a bit for each season. It really does brighten your home and your outlook on life! Yes, WHERE IS SPUD? Is he only allowed out at Easter now?

DD

OA & lynninnm...your posts touched a soft spot in my heart! I love books also...and one of my favs (from my DS for Christmas one yr) is:

The Christmas of the Reddle Moon
by J. Patrick Lewis, Gary Kelley (Illustrator)

The illust, Kelly, is a local artist, internationally known ... and the pastels he utilizes are beautiful! Look this up (Google ...available at B&N) & see if you would want it for your collections...the story is unusual...and the artwork spectacular! (this opinion is coming from an Asst. Librarian for 10 yrs., my 2nd career after going back to college in the early 90's). I do love books, esp. children's books! Jeanne S.

My Christmas is all packed away, and my current decor is looking a bit "blah". Will be fun to decorate for the next holiday.

I looked at the Valentine's and St. Pat's things at Michael's and didn't see anything that excited me. Will have to try to get by Homegoods soon.

I sort of wish I had left some of my snowmen out for the rest of the winter season. I love their happy little faces and it's sad they only get to come out once a year!

Luvs

Luvs, make a note to yourself..next year your Snowman Convention runs longer. They say 'winter' like nothing else, besides...you really love those guys. Meanwhile I am making note to myself to leave up winter-looking decor and not pack EVERYTHING away with Christmas. sigh.

hugs, Karen

Karen, I have been thinking about that--maybe not leave all of them, but just use a few in vignettes around the house for another month. Of course, then I probably would have to completely repack that bin to make the leftovers fit in it!

I've decided to paint Christmas things off and on all year since I enjoy doing those--and maybe working on a snowy project will keep me cool when our temps get back up into the three digits! LOL

Luvs

Luvs, get a little bin and mark it for Winter things. That way you could keep them separated which might be easier. And you know you'll buy more. LOL
That's what I need to do too.

I had a list of things I wanted to make for Xmas myself, but as usual procrastinated my way out of it. Unlike you tho, I hate painting as I'm so terrible at it. Not fun.

hugs, Karen

My Christmas stuff is down (but not put away!), except for the outdoor lights and a couple of trees. One is in our front window, and has poinsettia lights on it. Another is pink and is in the bathroom. Soon it will be moved to become a Valentine/Easter tree. I decorate a lot for Valentines Day since our wedding anniversary is in February also.

cocooner

You'll have to post pics here of your Valentine's Day decs, Cocooner. Both mine and my DH's birthdays are in early February and, like you, I tend to decorate a bit more because of it. I'm always anxious to see everyone's great Valentine's tables on this forum here. Such creative ideas!
Lynn

Yes, we love pics here! Patty, did you ever get your camera, I don't think I have ever seen any pictures from you..we'd love to see your Valentine party setting..

Jay, that is sweet of you. I don't have much Beleek, a few pieces. My sister has tons of it. I told her to do a table with her Beleek china so I can use her as a guest poster on my blog..the way Susan does.
It is such beautiful china..I hope she does it..I will have to go the 90 min to photograph it though, she doesn't know how...:(

Spud is fine..I think..he was not up for Cmas..I think he is safe in his bin ...He will be coming out soon though..right after Valentine's day.
For the new people who never met Spud..He is my errant bunny who had to be sent to rehab after this incident..It must be 3 years ago, right, Ladies?

He has been on the wagon since..and is looking forward to seeing you gals again..:)

That's so funny! I hadn't met Spud - at least I don't remember being introduced (and who can forget that picture!!!).

I'm glad to hear the 12 Step Program worked for him. He's such a cutie.

Oh yes Kathleen, I did get a camera. I gave the old one to my GS last summer, but haven't found the newer one since Christmas! I hope it isn't in a box of Christmas decorations. ;o)

This year we opted to put less Christmas decs out. That sure made clean-up/put away easier. We like the less cluttered look and don't miss it at all.

I'll do a Valentine's wreath on the front door and a dining table w/ red and white transferware.

I'm really enjoying the downtime, having had several little brunches, dinner parties and our youngest DD's Yankee Swap party here. The last month was very busy!

Whew, glad Spud is ok. He's sure been in lock-up a long time tho. Poor guy, no Valentines for him huh? You're one tough prison guard. LOL.

hugs, Karen

Tough love, Karen..it works..he has been good...Maybe I'll dig him out..it is messy down there..Cmas waiting to be stacked in, then Val and St Pat's pulled fwd! :)

Oh how funny, so glad I had time to come back and read this post. I will be looking forward to seeing Spud, Kathleen.

Karen, your so right. That's harsh, sending such a cute little one to rehab for 3 years! Is there more to this story? Maybe Kathleen should give up tablescapes and become a Judge and things would change for the better for all of us.LOL

Punk

Kathleen, do you have any idea where your original post about "bad boy Spud" is? Might be fun to just bump it up for Punk and some of the other newer members to read about his escapades and rehabilitation. ;o) Luvs

I thought I'd saved some pix of Spud dressed for holidays, but checked some of our albums and he's not there. I think one was a super cute St Paddy Day.

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hugs, Karen