On Christmas Decorating

ON CHRISTMAS DECORATING

     Well folks, BizzyLizzy has been real busy decorating for Christmas and giving the bedroom a well- deserved makeover. 

     First off, here’s some pics of my Christmas tree.  I had painted the milk can blue back a few months ago, and really liked the color, so when it came time for the Christmas tree, I decided to put it in the milk can.  Last year the tree sat on a small table, and it just looked so forlorn, not happy at all.  I wanted something different this year and when I saw a pic on Pinterest, I thought it would be just the thing.

     I guess you could call it a Redneck Christmas tree because it’s sort of shabby and country and it is SITTING IN A MILK CAN!!!! 

     Then there’s my wreaths.  I made two.  One for outside and one for inside.  For the outside one I wanted something different from the usual ribbon, bows, Christmas balls, etc.  When I retrieved my Dollies from their resting place, this little snowman caught my eye.  He had on a pair of skis and had ski poles in his hands. This would not do, so off come the poles and skis and on he goes to the wreath. 

    His arms are wired, so I could arrange them so it would look like he was waving.  I had two burlap flowers left over from another project and thought they were just different enough to be interesting, then I just added a little greenery, and here he is.  And because the entire wreath is not so Christmassy, I can use it all Winter, at least until Valentine’s Day.  So cute.  And no matter how hard I tried, I could not get the glare from my neighbor’s house to go away. 

     And yes, the sign on the window says “Caution” oxygen in use – no open flames.  I do have COPD and am on oxygen 24/7, so I have to be extra careful around open fires.  That’s why you may see candles in my decorating, but they will never be lighted.

     For the inside one, I saw another pic on Pinterest of an angel wreath.  This angel sat atop our very large Christmas tree for years, but she is just too large for our small tree.  She spent the last couple of years tucked carefully away, but this year she’s out and about and looking very pretty in her new home.

     The balls have been around for years, the hot pink ones have been around for at least 60 years.  I remember them from when I was a child.  The others aren’t that old, they’re only around 25 years old.  And I love the “pearls” with the burlap.   I think she’s just elegant.

     And then there’s my dollies.  Every year I buy a new doll for Christmas.  This year it was this adorable little reindeer.  Isn’t he cute?  I’m not sure where his permanent Christmas home will be, I’ll just move him around until he looks at home. 

     I mean, just look at that face.  Who could resist that face? Adorable.

     And here’s some pics of some of my other Christmas dollies. 

     This Nativity was painted by Hub’s aunt in 1951.  It has been around the block several times and was looking worn out and tired. 

     This is a representation of what the entire Nativity looked like.  The paint was flaking and some parts were missing.  Notice the ears. 

     After brushing with a toothbrush to get all the loose paint off, I sprayed it with primer, then two coats of Americana Décor chalk paint, and when it was good and dry I sprayed it with ModPodge Hi-Shine super acrylic sealer.  I wanted it to look like porcelain, not the chalk ware that it is.  It is a complete set, with the wise men, the camels, a shepherd with sheep, a cow, a donkey and of course, Mary, Joseph, Jesus and the Angel.  I choose to use only Mary, Joseph, Jesus, the Angel, the wise men and the shepherd.  The animals actually took up too much room and needed a little more work than I had time to devote.  Maybe next year I’ll tackle the animals and use all of them.

     This next picture I added just to show some weird photographic effects.  I was playing around with lighting when I got this.  I had turned off all the lights and used the flash.  The clear marbles actually glowed under the flash.  As I’ve said many times before, I am not a photographer and anything can happen.  I think this was one of those lucky things.

     Not to call this little guy an afterthought, but actually he is.  When Hubs got all the stuff out, this little guy was left over, I just couldn’t figure out what to do with him.  He really was ugly.  Grey, and it was a dirty looking grey, not a nice grey, and the antlers were brown, yes, I know, in real life that’s the color, but you know me and BROWN!  Spray paint to the rescue.

     But where to put him?  On the dining room table, of course!  I cleared away the original arrangement I had and made this one with this little guy.  I like it much better.  And if you look very closely, just in the background you can see the angel candleholder that I inherited from Hubs Mother.  She has been around as long as Hubs.   

     And that’s about all I’ve done for Christmas decorating.  With a torn rotator cuff it’s a miracle I accomplished this much.

     This will be my last post for the year.  But BizzyLizzy will be back in January 2016.   OMG!!!!! 2016.  When I was in second grade (1952) we were talking about the turn of the century 20^th to 21^st and I thought that was such a long way off and I would never live to see it, well I have and then some.  Hoping for lots more.

     So here’s wishing all of you a very, very Merry Christmas and an excellent New Year.  May all your dreams come true, and may you get all your wishes granted.  But if you don’t, it’s for a good reason.

     And always remember – Never give in, Never surrender, and God bless.

Victoria a/k/a BizzyLizzy