The center of the home is where our heart lies, so they say. And in our home the kitchen is truly where all the action is. Since we spend so much time there, I always make sure it is dressed festively for the season because it lifts our spirits. Here are my creative twists on Christmas decorations for the kitchen.
In our New England home, we enter from the back door and immediately we are in the kitchen. All my harvest baskets hang ready for a trip to the garden, herbs and flowers dry in the rafters and LOTS of good stuff get produced in here. This year I just put up a little tree on the gathering table, a table my grandfather hand painted when my mom and her sis were wee girls.I always use the turned wood and pottery bowls that David made to decorate with; this year, filled with ornaments.I have quite a collection of fruit and vegetable ornaments and this year I also dried the last of the tiny-almost-full-grown peppers from the end of the season to hang on the tree.Mini baskets that mimic my larger harvest baskets also dec the tree. This collection of baskets have been given to me by a dear friend, made by the New Hampshire artist Sharon Dugan.The tree is topped with a nod to one of my favorite past times here.Christmas 2020 fun!
If you receive my studio newsletter emails you will remember that I decided to set my table this Christmas with a place for those who could not be here this year, as a visible intention that they are wanted and welcome. It will be just David and I but we plan to celebrate full out. Christmas eve: king crab legs, steamed artichokes, fresh sour dough bread from the oven and a nice bottle of wine. Christmas day: roast beef with yorkshire pudding, green beans, pear chutney, a great cabernet with eggnog pie for desert (waaaaay later – burp).
I purchased a boxwood wreath early in the season so, now dried, it has become a table decoration. A sentimental basket holds sentimental childhood ornaments to look at while seated.My grandmothers sideboard painted with a deep red always looks good with Christmas greens. I added topiary to the arrangement this year.A straw angel given to me when I was a child tops the topiary.Puzzle ready for a nice long week-end.
Merry Christmas and happy winter holidays! Stay creative and snuggle in for a long winters nap. Love, Jane
21 thoughts on “Decking the halls and the walls and the tiniest of places. PART FOUR: The center of the home.”
Jane, thank you for sharing – I feel like my heart grew bigger! I learned so much about you, and your family history – your stories are always rich and vivid and heartfelt – and the photography is pretty fantastic – I want to walk thru that backdoor soon! xoxox Chris
Thank you for this delightful presentation on Christmas day. I enjoyed your home inside. Still remember your post card with the picture of your home, when you first moved. You are truly talented and I look forward to seeing more. Hope you and David had a nice Christmas. Had Turkey sandwiches with a my son Kevin and Carolyn. Dinner is Meatloaf, gravy, mashed potatoes, assortment of vegetables, and a pumpkin/ cranberry cake, with Kathleen and Craig, who live with me. Hugs to you both, Dona Cook, Sebastopol.
Now you made my Christmas even better Dona, to hear your cheery family holiday. Thank you for taking the time to read, look and comment. Happy new year!
You are so welcome and this was my intent with this series; is to lift all our spirits! Thank you for taking the time to read and comment. Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas to you Jane and David! I love reading your blog as it makes me feel a little bit closer to family, and it reminds me that we are all in this together. Love you! Jill (and Mike)
Love to you too Jill. As was my intent with this series…to bring us all a little closer together. Sure hope to see you both soon since I am now retired! After covid settles out…ox
Thank you, Jane, for sharing. Everything is sooo gorgeous; but there is no surprise there! It’s a beautiful sense of calmness during these anxious 2020 times. Wishing for a much more normal 2021. Merry Christmas to both you and David.
Jane, thank you for sharing – I feel like my heart grew bigger! I learned so much about you, and your family history – your stories are always rich and vivid and heartfelt – and the photography is pretty fantastic – I want to walk thru that backdoor soon! xoxox Chris
Well, I just have to say that my heart is swelling with your comments. I sure hope you can also some day be here at Christmas. Love love love…
Merry Christmas Jane!
Everything is so beautiful!
💝
Dear anonymous, thank you for reading and commenting. Merry Christmas to you as well!
Thank you for this delightful presentation on Christmas day. I enjoyed your home inside. Still remember your post card with the picture of your home, when you first moved. You are truly talented and I look forward to seeing more. Hope you and David had a nice Christmas. Had Turkey sandwiches with a my son Kevin and Carolyn. Dinner is Meatloaf, gravy, mashed potatoes, assortment of vegetables, and a pumpkin/ cranberry cake, with Kathleen and Craig, who live with me. Hugs to you both, Dona Cook, Sebastopol.
Now you made my Christmas even better Dona, to hear your cheery family holiday. Thank you for taking the time to read, look and comment. Happy new year!
Thank you Dona for taking the time to read and share your life with us all here!
Beautiful, cozy and cheerful. Thank you Jane, just what we all needed.
Doneta
You are so welcome and this was my intent with this series; is to lift all our spirits! Thank you for taking the time to read and comment. Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas to you Jane and David! I love reading your blog as it makes me feel a little bit closer to family, and it reminds me that we are all in this together. Love you! Jill (and Mike)
Love to you too Jill. As was my intent with this series…to bring us all a little closer together. Sure hope to see you both soon since I am now retired! After covid settles out…ox
Thank you thank you my dear friend in art!
Absolutely brilliant, honey, traditional with a contemporary artsy twist. Amazing. Enjoy your lovely Christmas! ❤️
Thank you, Jane, for sharing. Everything is sooo gorgeous; but there is no surprise there! It’s a beautiful sense of calmness during these anxious 2020 times. Wishing for a much more normal 2021. Merry Christmas to both you and David.
Dear anonymous, thank you for the really nice wishes and exuberant comments; so appreciated! I send you back the same…merry merry. 🙂
From the ❤️Of my home to yours…thanks and fond best wishes…always! Mom
Back to you as well. ox
Wow, what a beautiful and inspiring series! Love, love, love everything and wish I were at one of those place setting with both of you! 🙁 Soon, soon…
Yep, one of those has your name on it. 🙂
Beautiful, Jane, just beautiful. The warmth of the season oozes from every image… Have a very merry….xox
Thank you Lori!