Welcome to a little tour of our 2020 holiday decorations. It’s a little skimpier than usual, but more than enough to sparkle up our lives. On this page you’ll find six little photo galleries — one for each room we decorated this year. Merry Christmas!

THE LIVING ROOM

Every year, since our first Christmas tree, Keith and I have purchased two matching ornaments to add to our collection. Because of the pandemic, we sacrificed the tradition this year. Then came my sister Carey with her exquisite gift of her handmade “wine cork” ornaments (which you can see on the close-up of the tree decorations). You will also note the adorable Keith and Mary magi on the buffet. Carey made those for us too. Clearly, there’s something she’s not telling us. We suspect since her retirement, she has been moonlighting at the North Pole. (Bonus Note: the bronze sculpture made by Keith is our granddaughter Ada when she was a little girl. She is angelic in every way).

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THE DINING ROOM

My favorite things in the dining room: 1) the bronze statue by Keith of our grandson, Jaspir all bundled up in a scarf and hat for the holidays, 2) the tree topper that our nephew Lucas made, and 3) the tree itself, chocked full of ornaments — all but a handful unbreakable). This is the tree the little grandkids help decorate most years. I missed their help. And, finally, 4) my mother’s collection of Cathedral Mice scattered about the tree. I will cherish them forever.

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THE NAKED ROOM

This room is home to crafting supplies and a “Creation Station” under the TV that we made for the grandkids. The skinny tree has a little mouse ballerina for each granddaughter and little sparkling seahorses for each grandson. It also doubles as our TV Room where we celebrate our fantastic football team - guess who. (Note: There is a funny story as to why we call it The Naked Room - a story for another time).

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THE KITCHEN

I love having twinkling lights in the kitchen so much. Although I pack away Christmas in mid-January, I leave most of the kitchen decorations up until St. Patrick’s Day to savor the sparkle. The two large gnome heads were gifts from my previously lauded sister Carey, who made them with cleverness and love. I am mad about the little snowman my granddaughter Kallie made so many years ago. I put them up on the fridge every year. I also adore the three little bronze sculptures Keith made of the old men. He glued rabbit hair on them to make their balding little heads look hairy, covered by their Christmas hats. There are usually two lanterns on either side of these beloved gentlemen, but I can’t find where I stored them last Christmas, so it’s a little bare.

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THE POWDER ROOM

Himself the Elf sitting on the window sill is employed by the North Pole NSA and torments the children from December 1st to 24th. He is the $5.00 version of the pricey shelf-sitter and is filled with whatever Christmas candy is in surplus — this year, M&M’s. We get one piece for every good deed we share or wrongdoing we confess with regret. I best love the photo of Kallie when she was a little girl in the frame she decorated for us with stickers.

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THE BEDROOM

This is our bedroom and also serves as a shrine to Ada’s goodness via Keith’s two paintings of her. It is easy to Christmas up so much of my house because I adore green and red is such a natural complement. Keith designed the headboard to match the fireplace, the face of which he also designed. Please notice “the stockings hung by the chimney with care.” They were also made by my sister Carey from the woolen jacket our father wore when he was a young man in his early teens. I would rather be in this room than any place on earth. It is my sanctuary.