This is what greets you at our front door.

Come on in.

OK, we can sit on the porch if you want to.
I've even got a blanket if it gets chilly.

Gretchen

Santa visited our neighborhood on Sunday.

 Santa began visiting out neighborhood when
we moved here 21 years ago.  He always came
on Christmas Eve.

As the years have gone by and our area has

grown, Santa has to come much earlier. 

The children in the neighborhood get so
excited to see him and get the candy he 
gives them.


Hugs, Gretchen

My Favorite Santa

To me, this is a very special Santa.  When my oldest son Rick was a Navy Seabee in Japan he sent home this Santa for me one Christmas.  I've only ever seen one other like it and that was in a decorating magazine.


He was stationed there for about 5 years but it seemed more like 20 to me.

I don't know exactly what he's made of but it must be sea grass, wood and reeds.

Isn't he special?  The man who bought him is very special too.


Hugs, Gretchen

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at our house..

This is my 2nd favorite Santa that I got from one of the best guys I ever worked for.  (Well, the secret was his wife knew everything I loved.)  They used to take my husband and I out to dinner at a 4 or 5* restaurant every year at Christmastime and then we went back to their house and I opened packages from them for about an hour.  They were the sweetest people I've ever worked for and they still wine and dine us every year and I've been retired for 3 years.  She is one of my very best friends.

 This is a Santa I bought from an artist who is deceased now.  She used to have a show every Christmas and a friend and I never missed it.

Last year we gave away our big tree and went to a tabletop tree.  With my rheumatoid arthritis, it was just too much work for me. 

These are Goebel's that my mother gave to me at Christmas the last six years she was with us.  I found two I didn't have in an antique shop in PA this spring for $15.00.  These will go to my sweet granddaughter's someday.

These are more Santa's that I have gotten.  As you'll notice, almost all of them have birds, nests or bird houses with them.

I dressed up our chandelier with gold and silver this year.

More Santa's and some snowmen along with some china plates, cups and a tureen from my old boss and his wife.

I love to put groupings together that make me happy. 

Happy Holidays, Gretchen

My first post on Blogspot

After almost 3 years of frustration with Typepad, I finally decided to try Blogspot.

This is kind of a test post so hang in there with me.