Christmas Eve Morning

The table is set for tomorrow's Christmas Dinner. There will be 14 of us this year and trying to fit everyone was a challenge. I decided to forego the Christmas plates and use my transferware instead, varying the green and red.

My Welsh cupboard looking very Christmasy with the Mason's Vista, majolica and Paperwhites

The morning light is so beautiful that I decided a take a few more pictures around the house. My sunroom with the view of the redwood outside.

Pinecone urn in the entry. I'm hoping the poinsettias last one more day!

The Christmas tree in the entry.

The mini Christmas tree on the family room credenza decorated with family photographs.

In the living room, behind the sofa is this victorian urn, inherited from my mother-in-law, filled with paperwhites.

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and all the best for a healthy, happy 2010.

Maison Noel

Our friends Teresa and Glenn had their annual Christmas dinner party Saturday night. This is a much anticipated event for me on many levels. Besides being with dear friends for dinner, I look forward to seeing how Teresa has decorated their home for the holidays. Let me just say that it is magical and incredible!

Their home is the ultimate Christmas house. French Christmas House! On this credenza is an example of Teresa's attention to detail. The little photos are of her two sons from birth to present sitting on Santa's lap. They are now 22 and 19! I wish I had started this tradition.

The wooden Santas are just a few in her vast collection.

I love this lampshade! It's an example of the Provençal touches everywhere in the home. The lamp sits in the family room with vaulted ceilings and limestone mantle. If I didn't know better, I would think I was in France!

The living room has a lighter, more neutral pallet. I am loving the fabric on the chairs and the drapes. Teresa, like me has a thing for lampshades. The shades in this room are so elegant. Hmmmm, I wonder where she got them?

How beautiful is this bookcase? It is filled with classic leather bound books and objects d'art.

Dinner is served. In the dining room, Teresa's tablescape is just gorgeous. The candelabras killed me! I felt like I was in a French Chateau with the long refectory table, leather chairs and magnificent wooden chandelier.

The buffet all decked out with stone lamps and those wonderful shades. The trumeau mirror is perfect, as well as the iron sconces. Notice the mini white hydrangea pots.

Another table vignette of Santas and candles. Love that lamp!

Cute pine cone candles in this hutch. They're perfect in the little metal urns.

"Mettons-nous a table"

After dinner, I snapped a few more pictures. In the stairwell, is a most wonderful collection of antique oil dog paintings winding their way up the stairs.

We made plans over dinner for a girl's trip to Texas for the Round Top Antique Fair in the Spring. Here we are all excited about the possibilities. What will be buy? How will we get it home? And who will drive?

I'm hiding behind Teresa. Ricki is in front. She has no problem driving!

Thank you Teresa and Glenn for a most memorable holiday dinner party!

I'm linking up with Susan at Thoughts From Over the Rainbow for Deck the Halls. Visit her blog to see other wonderful Christmas Homes.

I'm also linking up with Susan for Outdoor Wednesday at A Southern Daydreamer. Be sure to visit her and see other indoor and outdoor inspirations.

Christmas Eve Supper

I'm joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday. The table is set for a Christmas Eve Supper. I used my fun Christmas dishes and mixed it up with tartan and toile.

Nothing too fancy for Christmas Eve. The plates are from Target, and I think they are so fun and playful. Christopher Radko designed them and they are still available.

The opposite view looking in to the entry and the living room.

I found these mercury glass containers and filled them with white roses and boxwood from my garden. I think it compliments the centerpiece.

The centerpiece is a silverplate wine bucket with deer heads on both ends. I purposely left it tarnished to compliment the mercury glass.

The setting including soup bowls. I envisioned the table waiting for our family's return from midnight mass. A large pot of soup is waiting, followed by a winter salad. Santa is soon to arrive.

Plates and bowls, Target

Mother of Pearl knives, vintage Sheffield

Tartan placemats, Marshalls, several years ago

Chargers, Bordello Pinheiro majolica

Silver, red wine hocks, napkins, wine cooler and vases are from my own collection.

Winter Wine Country Weekend

We went to our house in the Wine Country last weekend. It poured rain all day Saturday and in to the evening. It had been a while since we were there and it was a good thing that we went. A door in the guest house had blown open and the drapes, floor and rug were soaking wet! Also, a mouse got in and we found him under the bed!

So after we cleaned that mess up, we lit a fire.......

Opened this lovely bottle of wine and sat in the living room listening to music and the pouring rain.

I took a few pictures here and there while Mr. A put the steaks on the grill.

I love these photographs. Three out of four of our kids with their first fish. That's Melissa on the left with a trout from the Umpqua River. Alex and Aaron with their first steelhead from the Russian River!

This dining room hutch was one of our first acquisitions. It is quite rustic; a "married" piece that has made the rounds of houses in my life.

Sunday morning the rain was gone and the sky was clear. An absolutely beautiful day! We sat drinking our coffee and planning our day. Should we stop in Healdsburg for lunch? Should we go to our favorite antique store in Sebastopol? These were big decisions! I had fun capturing the morning sun streaming in while we discussed the possibilities.

Mr. A decided he had to clean up the garden and rake the leaves from the Mulberry Tree before we went anywhere. He also was obsessed with putting in a dimmer switch! I was supposed to sweep and mop up the muddy footprints.

But first I went outside with my coffee and took more pictures. This picture is looking east towards the neighboring vineyard. I can't believe all the leaves are gone from the Mulberry Tree.

The huge pack of wild turkeys are back in the vineyard too. They are so noisy and like to get in the olive trees and eat the leftover olives.

The leaves are gone from the vines and they have turned a lovely red. Absolutely beautiful! Absolutely beautiful weekend!

I'm linking up with Susan at A Southern Daydreamer for "Outdoor Wednesday." Please visit her to see all the other participants.