The Rural Voice, 1999-12, Page 41Home Decorating
My favourite things at Christmas
By Patti Robertson
It's hard to believe. but here we are
— Chris'tmas time once again. In fact
the last Christmas season of the
Millennium! As 1've stated before my
goal at this time of year is to slow down
and take everything a little less
seriously. appreciating and enjoying
family. friends and my good life.
Each Christmas I'm amazed and
delighted with how all events and
preparations in the end just "happen".
amongst which 1 thrill in people's
imagination and creativity in making
the festive season more interesting and
love tilled. So for this Christmas
column I salute the people and
activities that have made Christmas my
tavourite holiday.
My favourite Christtnas event last
year was the Walkerton "Christmas
Home Tour" (hosted by the Majorette
Corps). I saw so many unique and
beautiful ways of decorating one's
home. My very favourite decorations
were the angels made from chicken
wire — in a variety of sizes and very
versatile for both interior and exterior
displays. 1 also loved the tea -lights set
into large gallon glass jars lined along
the driveway, guiding visitors to the
front door. They were festive and cost
effective.
My favourite gift wrap is always
from my daughter Heidi. Each year
Heidi creates her own personalized
wrap. Using inexpensive brown
packaging wrap she creatively stencils
stars, moons, hearts and trees onto the
packages in an array of metallic copper,
gold and silver paint. Then she tops the
gift off with simple binder twine and
raffia. What fun and no need to feel
guilty about disposing of it, when all
the gifts have been opened.
My tavourite Christmas greeting
was from my sister-in-law Sherry.
Sherry custom crafted her own cards
using a good quality colour paper. Next
she cut a pear in
half and.using
goldleaf, stamped
every card with a
perfect pear
shape, topped oft
with a hand -
painted stem and
leaf. A
personalized
message enclosed
made this card
very unique and
special.
My favourite
surprise: each
Christmas 1
Best gift:
age
of time
ensure there are fresh flowers
throughout our home. This past year
things were going pretty fast and that
nicety did not get done. At about 5:45
p.m. on Christmas Eve a knock came to
our door and here was our local florist
with a beautiful bouquet from my co-op
student Jayme Sutherland. Wonderful!
The colouration of the bouquet was
gorgeous — a mix of white Alstermaria
with throats of deep rose, pink lilies
and a coral red carnation, lots of baby's
breath and pine boughs — very unique
and most fashionable.
My favourite gifts last season were
the numerous angels I received to
create my "Angel Garden". I decided a
year ago that in the spring of '99 1
would turn my courtyard area into an
Angel Garden. This was more than
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enough incentive to get hubby and girls
involved, so work is well underway and
there are many precious memories from
the gifts of angels.
The favourite gift 1 gave to someone
else, was the gift of time I give to my
Mom. The first weekend in December
is always spent with her. We decorate
her Christmas tree, (all three feet of it!)
put the lights on the inside of her
window for easy removal atter the
season, and shop for family Christmas
gifts. This makes me feel very
worthwhile and like a "good kid" and it
takes a lot of pressure off Mom.
Last year I was amazed by Debbie
and Mike Jardin's Christmas tree.
Debbie had decorated their lovely
spruce in a folk art style and used a
raffia as tinsel. It was very effective
and lots of tun!
1 enjoy decorating my own tree to
some very favourite Christmas tunes:
Aaron Neville's "Soulful Christmas",
Jimmy Buffett's "Christmas Island",
Kenny G's "Miracles The Christmas
Album", Elvis' "The Wonderful World
of Christmas", Dwight Yoakam "Come
on Christmas". There are so many great
tapes and CDs available and 1 find
music sets the 'festive mood and keeps
me happy while performing my
seasonal tasks.
And of course there are the great
movies that I love to watch while '
wrapping my gifts. Over the next few
weeks Ward and I will once again
watch "Trains, Planes and
Automobiles", the original "A
Christmas Carol" with Alistair Sim,
Chevy Chase's "Christmas Vacation"
and an all-time favourite Bob Clark's
"A Christmas Story".
And finally my favourite blessing:
When my kids, friends and family all
arrive safely from the various points of
departure to celebrate our good fortune
and bounty for one more season.
So perhaps amongst my "favourite
things" you'll find the odd tidbit to
assist with your Christmas preparations.
Until next column I extend to you and
your family a tremendous Christmas
Season with the knowledge that in our
area of the world we are truly blessed
with abundance! 'Til the 2000 issue
"Keep Well". Patti.0
Pani Robertson operates Classic
Interiors in Wingham.