Dressing Cardinal House for the Holidays

I have been playing with the Christmas decorations for two weeks - not kidding. The truth is, I likely will fuss and move things around throughout the the entire holiday season. Decorating for the holidays is about layering, freshening the live greenery and plants, right until the moment it all has to come down.

Since this is our first Christmas in Cardinal House, it brought the opportunity to play a little with the decorations and figure out what would go where. I dragged it all out - two tree's {yes artificial}, garlands, and ornaments. I arranged and re-arranged the treasures with my ipod playing a holiday music mix. What a hardship. Honestly, if Richard had come home and said he would help decorate the tree, I would have insisted he relax and watch an old movie. Note - I think he was thrilled that I was happy to do all the decorating myself.

Here's a look .... so far........

Living room mantle.

The nativity set and large white tree's are new this year {HomeSense}. I use a deep green artificial garland with layers of fresh cedar draping over it. Wilt Proof helps keep the greens fresh and I will have more bunches set aside for the week of Christmas to freshen pieces that get too dry. 

Crossing my fingers that the marble surround on the fireplace is installed for Christmas.

Looking from the front of the house through the living room, dining and into the area between the piano room and family room.

I almost threw this wreath out. It had been packed away for years with old ornaments stuck to it. I stripped the wreath down, fluffed the greenery and added one of my garden angels.

The new tall Angel {also from HomeSense} fills the wall over top of the sideboard in our living room. I'm not thrilled with the adornments underneath and will probably make a small change as soon as I figure exactly what I want there - I'm thinking fresh greenery mixed with the white branches would perk it up.

Simple greenery - again a mix of artificial and fresh with white satin ribbon adorns the new banister at the front entry.

The BIG tree upstairs in the family room area.

I've had this little Angel for years, he is one of my favourite things to place on the tree.

Bubble lights that I originally bought for the tree for my own children had been packed away for the last few years. The lights were added to the big tree this year to the delight of our Granddaughter.

 

This lucite drum soldier seems to waiting for Richard and Kya to sit and play a tune with him at the piano. 

A fresh wreath {treated with Wilt Proof} hangs on the stove hood. Another one of my garden Angels adds just enough accent. 

 

I have my eye on soft blush tone Poinsettia for a few spots in the house and hope to find a couple of special treasures to add to the mix. The outdoor tree and greenery is in place and most of the media room decor is finished {more on that in another post}.

Because I couldn't decide which colour of nativity I wanted, I bought both with the intention of trying them on the mantle and then returning one. They are both so beautiful,  so now the grey and white nativity adorns a French sideboard cabinet downstairs in the media room.


And isn't this what Christmas is really all about.

'A King is born in Bethlehem'