The stockings were hung...

I hope Santa has a Garmin or a Tom Tom to find the Muir family this Christmas. I've finally gotten the house decorated, 95% of the presents purchased, cards bought (but not sent) and I'm generally happy with the status of my Christmas preparations. This year we will be traveling "home" to my brother and sister-in-law on Long Island. My MIL stays here and we end up having Christmas twice, once in each location. I can't wait!

The stockings you see here were each handmade. My mom was insistent that she keep our childhood stockings so when I moved out I needed to make a stocking for myself. (Not shown is my DH's stocking. It's made from one of the felt kits for stockings and has Santa coming across the tree and house tops with his sled and reindeers.) The stocking on the right I made for myself. It has the Twelve Days of Christmas in counted cross stitch. The stocking on the left was made for Alexa by the mother of my oldest friend, Jan Moran. Her mom was one of my mother's best friends for over 50 years. Mrs. E is a wonderful sewer, handcrafter, cook - you name it! Mrs. E was kind enough to make this stocking for Alexa's first Christmas. It has her name and her birth year on it.

Here is our mantle in the family room. I've had the wreath for about 15 years. We got it shortly after we moved to the Finger Lakes at a craft show held every year in the village of Hammondsport. It has wooden apples, cinnamon sticks and little santa on it. You can also see most of my Santa collection. I love collecting the large Santas but I'm very, very picky. Alexa's advent calendar this year is compliments of Starbucks. Very cute!

I have a small collection of nutcrakers and my mother's nativity that sit in the living room. I've got a lot more but I thought this would be a nice glimpse into what we do for the holidays.

We had a nice snow storm yesterday. It dumped about 10 inches on the Buffalo area making it a perfect day to stay inside and do 'whatever'. So I think I'll do just that. Hope 'whatever' your plans are you have a great week before Christmas.

P.S. - Yes, we put up a tree. I'll try and get a picture of it up before weeks end.