Small town life sounds good to me. As does living in the country. We had a few acres when I had horses and other animals back in the 60s and 70's. Phoenix is soooo big, too much traffic, and I hate driving even if it didn't cause my leg to go on the warpath. I was born in a small town, in Ala. I don't really going places alone either, and won't go out at night except to family gatherings at one of my kids. I'm waiting the arrival of my toile plates I just bought. Tho heaven knows what I can find to do with them, but will try just because of all the support I've gotten here. Any table settings I do will be just for ONE, maybe two if you're lucky. LOL. I'm going to be a one-trick pony, sorry about that. I just can't do full tables for many reasons. I've been 'planning' my Christmas decor. Really planning this year. Thought it might take some of the load off me being so over-whelmed with it when I go to unpacking a zillion things in the middle of the floor while telling two cats NOT to help me. A zillion times! One sleepless night I started plotting different places to put things this year. I want my newly begun collection of Nutcrackers (started last year) pretty much together. But I think the purple one should go with the Santa. And I have two golf Santas and two golf Nutcrackers that should stay together. Last year they were with my two other special Nutcrackers, a policeman and a fireman. These have a lot of meaning! I'm going to put my Village in the antique china cabinet in my entry hall this time I think, instead of Painted Pony Cabinet in familyroom. Tho I still have to move over a 100 statues from BOTH. I was thinking of putting Xmas horses and reindeer in the pony cabinet. I have quite a few of both now. Anyway, its fun to mentally decorate. It also doesn't wear me out or hurt my body. LOL. I think I'll start my Village next week in fact. First I have to make room for all those dog statues to safely go on closet shelves for the next two months! Ugh. hugs, Karen

Love All your Trees in the windows..so festive..Cudos to DH on the outdoor decos...but I have to add to what others commented on.. Dottie!! She might have signs of wear and tear on her...but there's Nothing like 'Experience' and I'm sure Dottie has lots of stories to tell! Ahhh if trees could only talk. I can tell how much you love your home, you've done a beautiful job, both inside and out. jane

Look at all that snow!!! How pretty that is just by itself ;-) It depends on your budget, but I could see two wreaths hung above the garage door on either side of the window, or from the carriage lights to the side of the garage door, and one on the front door of the house, or a nice floral arrangement. Your house has nice lines... outlining the roof line in white lights would look nice. You could also wrap the columns in lit garland. Don't know what you have or if you want to buy, but I have a 3-ft tall old world Santy that would look awesome standing left of the front door. A smaller Christmas tree would look nice there too. If it were me, I wouldn't mess with the trees, but you might think about the bushes, especially the one that looks like a Christmas tree. I have yucky boxwoods that I put white lights only on the top of so it looks like snow on them, LOL! It usually doesn't happen here around Christmas time (I'm in Texas). As for the windows, you could hang snowflake ornies with ribbon from the inside tops or this looks easy and inexpensive... Here is a link that might be useful: Felt snow in the window...

Mitchdesj - your urns look wonderful! I have a wrought iron planter on the front porch that I am going to try a similar look - thanks for the idea. Also, kind of an upgrade on the tomato cage and topiary form suggestion, I clipped pics from an old cottage living - actually two different issues where the editor decorated her urns - one for fall, one for Christmas. She used the grapevine trees - the tall (3 ft.) slim ones. They sit in the urns and I am thinking both pics had magnolia leaves around the base of the tree. The Christmas pic she had some more greenery added in around the tree and a few ornaments. The fall one had ivy along with the magnolia leaves and small pumpkins/gourds placed in the urn also. Both look great. I like the topiary forms and we use tomato cages ourselves (upside down) in warmer months for some of our vines. But with nothing growing on them and during the daytime when not lit, they look a bit sparse. On the grapevine trees, you can also use lights. I was actually able to find the trees prelit. tina