Getting Ready for the Holidays

 I like to put up my Christmas tree the first week of November.  Thanksgiving and Christmas come and go so quickly and I do love the decorations.  I have to combine my Fall decor with my Christmas decor and it seems to work just fine.  I now have a little Thanksgiving, a little Fall and a little Christmas.  The house looks very nice.  This year was a bit of a challenge as I just don't have the room I've had in the past.  The new furniture and placement of the piano and furniture have eliminated some areas for decorating.  And I needed a change this year on the tree.  I decided that I would like to try all white decor on the tree.  So Neal and I drove to Modern Display to get some ideas and ended up spending - well, let's just say a lot - on white decor for the tree.  We didn't buy as much as we really need because we wanted to make sure it is what we really wanted.  When we got home we put what we had purchased on the tree and we love it.  Nice change from the all red and gold.  We may do this for the next few years.  I will have to go back and buy some more large white balls and a couple more white leaves.  There was also a wreath at Modern Display that I want to hang off the balcony but will have to wait for pay day to purchase that.  Everything is so expensive.  Here is a picture of the tree that isn't quite finished but close.

I also put up the Jim Shore Nativity set that I got from Lila Mae.  I love looking at it and thinking about my sister and all the amazing memories we created and had together.  Whenever Annie and I get together with Susan I always feel like I need to pull up another chair at the table for her to join us.  I like to think that she actually does join us every time the three of us have lunch.  Love her and miss her so much.