I am so very late in putting together my ‘very Brindabella Christmas’ post this year! My poor tree is looking a little forlorn and wilted (aren’t we all?!) but I definitely needed to document the festivity our little farmhouse is adorned with this year…
We got a farmed tree this year (much to husband’s disgust) from the local soccer club, but $50 delivered?! Can’t go wrong. And it’s a goodun’! Very plump this year and needs a wide berth. In previous years the tree has gone in the playroom, but this year it wouldn’t fit with the play kitchen and craft table the girls got for Christmas last year, so I decided it needed to go front and centre in the lounge room – a real feature! We moved the dresser that usually goes on the old chimney wall (yes there is a fireplace behind that wall somewhere still) and for a mere three weeks of the year we get to have this behemoth tree in our lounge room. Fabulous.
Each year I seem to collect more ornaments and decorations, despite saying that I won’t buy any more, or I will after Christmas when they’re all on sale. I totally get caught up in the Christmas buying frenzy when it comes to beautiful decorations. This year I tried to justify by realising that such a plump tree as what we had needed more ornaments – because when it comes to Christmas: more is more. You will also notice that the bottom of our tree is looking a bit sparse…thanks to a certain almost-18 month old who likes to ‘re-decorate’. This year I’ve added a few more birds, some cute pears (from Coles!), more bells, as well as our usual linen and hessian wrapped baubles, the girls special ornaments with their names made by the lovely Ness from Marley and Lockyer, the Liberty wrapped angels made by Jane from Planet Joy, the fur booties I bought when pregnant with Eleanor, the ceramic rocking horse I bought when pregnant with Harriet, and the felt plum pudding I added last year. Each year I try and buy a ‘special’ ornament to go on the tree…I’m yet to get that one this year but am eyeing off a white Christmas fairy in a local shop which I know the girls will love. Mercury glass baubles, lots of galvanised tin, white stars and the angel made from a corn husk. It’s all very ‘us’ and I love it…
Around the house I’ve hung bits and bobs collected over the years – a simple wooden angel on the back door, our hessian stockings in the windows (gosh I miss having a proper mantle at this time of year!) but have made do with a flat surface of the heater to arrange the nativity scene, the much loved reindeer from The Colours Are Brighter and this year I added in a photo of Grandi: the ultimate Christmas fairy! The nativity scene is a big hit, bought from Target last year, I was lusting after many a beautiful ceramic and very special scenes…then realised I really didn’t want to be precious with it and got the more functional kid-friendly one. Good decision. The shepherd has had a chewing from Tessa and I am constantly finding one of the wise men in Harriet’s cot or a camel in the bathroom…perfect for a toddler friendly Christmas!
Our back porch is looking merry too, with the usual red wreath I made many years ago – this year I really wanted to make a big beautiful fresh wreath from some foraged bits and pieces around the garden, but of course that didn’t eventuate. Best laid plans and all that. There’s always next year… I also picked up this Christmas mobile of sorts, in a local $2 shop of all places, and it’s actually perfect to decorate under the porch. Added in a woodland garland this year also, which has got me thinking about decorating the back porch and kitchen window next year to another level (yes Matt, really!)
There is nothing more magical than the Christmas tree twinkling at night. Nothing. Fairy lights glowing on a Summer’s evening, cicadas chirping, a clink-clink of a nearby winch pulling up an irrigator, the smell of a pine tree through the house, Santa sacks at the ready and mum’s brandy cream being prepared – that’s Christmas to me. Wishing you and your families a very merry, happy and bright Christmas, may it be spent together and be full to bursting with joy, giving and food!
Elisha says
No tree here this year as we are off to Melbs today but I managed a vignette of sorts on the mantle. And ham in the fridge ready to be glazed and baked. The lights are so pretty. Merry Xmas to you and he family. I can’t wait to see what you get up to next year. Xx