It's Beginning . . .

We haven't put this wreath up in a good many years and I'm really glad Joe decided to do it this year. We have two of our children and their families visiting us this Christmas and I think we both felt more of an impetus than in recent years to do the decorating.

Joe put the candles in the windows yesterday and we've decided that rather than turn them on and off each day, we're just going to leave them on around the clock, except for the ones in the bedroom.

We haven't picked out a tree yet. The past two years I've bought very tiny trees at Whole Foods; they came with a string of miniature lights and straw ornaments. They were cute enough, but there was something lacking.

We haven't had a floor tree in a long time. The table-top trees seem to work best for us now. So I think perhaps tomorrow will be the day to take care of that.

Meanwhile . . . 

These three guys came home from Stockholm with me a few years ago.

These Swedes have moved around from the windowsill to the mantel and now this year they've landed on the buffet. The collection has grown over the years.

A tray from my counted cross-stitch period, some angels, and The Thorsens who join us each year at Christmas.

We bought our Nativity set the second Christmas we were married. We were living in Pensacola and couldn't afford to go home for the holidays. It turned out to be a lovely Christmas nonetheless.