DECKING THE HALLS?

I am so behind! Usually by this time in November my house is fully decorated for Christmas and the carols are playing. I get it done early so we can enjoy it and it is all ready for our annual Christmas Party the first Saturday of December. It takes me a week to decorate the farmhouse. Everything is down and put away January 3rd. There has been so much going on in my life lately I have just fallen behind. The weather has not helped. I have not finished outside yet because it has been cold, windy and a bit rainy here.

The other thing that is holding me back is the fact that I just don't know what I want to do this year. I have a lot, and I mean a lot, of decorations. I mentioned I opened the "Christmas Cupboard" and was overwhelmed. I really want to keep it simple, very Scandinavian, but there are so many decorations that I love and have a lot of meaning to me. What to do.

I really want to bring natural greenery back into my house too. With 3 cats I have not had that for a while. I use really natural looking artificial pieces of boughs and flowers but I miss that smell.

I use real wreaths outside and they look so lovely. Maybe I can do something like these candles and the cats won't notice.

And the Advent Calendar! I make one every year and have not even thought about it yet. I love these ones, simple but really cute.

Being a creative person my mind is always ticking away with new ideas. I see so many on Pinterest and the blogs I follow that I want to keep making new things for Christmas. I saw these adorable Mad Hatter Hats on SEEING THINGS THAT AREN'T REALLY THERE Blog today. Would they be adorable on an Alice in Wonderland tree. If you like these there is a complete tutorial and they are really simple to make.

Well, I had better be off and get started on something today or Santa won't find my house, he won't recognize it without all the trimmings.

 By the way, thanks for all of your lovely comments about my punch bowl dilemma. I have actually found a complete set, on Ebay I am bidding on. Two other people also are bidding so I hope to get it at the last minute.