It is so much fun to see all the Christmas decorations. In the store windows, on the street, and in the homes of people we love as well as our own homes. When the days are short, it certainly brightens up not only the landscape, but our moods as well (at least mine)!
It is the time of year that we reflect on our blessings. Last year, on December 17th, I published my first post on this blog. I’m very thankful for the opportunity to get to know so many of you. Thank you so much for visiting with me. Next week, to celebrate my 1 year blogversary, I’ve got some special things planned so I hope you will join me!
Now, on with the tour!
Here is a little of what is going on this Christmas in my home and the homes of some of my family.
First let’s stop by my mom’s house. Mama lives in Ponca City, Oklahoma.
Frosty's on the kitchen windowsill.
The tree.
This is the tree before it was decorated. Mama is sending pics of the decorated tree to post next week. I was accused of having had a Christmas cookie cocktail before taking this pic (ha, ha). Actually, Mama took this pic. It kind of reminds me of when I was kid and would kind of squint my eyes when I looked at the Christmas tree.
Okay, we’ll come back to Mama’s next week.
Now, let’s head farther out west to my sister, Tammy’s house in Brighton, Colorado.
Garland on the porch.
Reindeer in the yard.
I’m trying to get Tammy to send me more pics too. She has a ten foot live tree in her living room. Would love to show you a pic of that. I’ll keep after her.
Now, we’ll go back South to my sister Linda’s house. Linda’s daughter, my niece, Taylor, sent me her pics. I need to send her to fetch pics from the rest of my family!
There's Taylor (the tall one) with her little sister, Brenden, in front of their house.
With Christmas trees . . .
and wreaths . . .
in every room.
Now, let’s head East, to Virginia to visit my nephew. He took pictures with his cell phone.
Stockings were hung by the pics of the dogs with care. . .
in hopes that Frosty would soon climb the stairs!
And, then back to my house in Arkansas. You may have seen some of these recently 
This table pic is from last year before I learned from Susan at Between Naps on the Porch to take better pictures (and more of them).
Christmas table.
A little Christmas tree.
With an even littler Santa and sleigh.
One more shot of the fireplace.
And, when I step outside:
Even the sky is dressed in red and gold.
Thank you for stopping by. And to each and every one of you – A very merry and blessed Christmas! Y’all come back and be sure to visit my new Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/a.southern.life!
To see lots of beautiful home tours and great recipes and more fun, visit:
With Designs by Gollum
Today’s Lagniappe: Betty’s Fruitcake
My grandpa’s wife, Betty makes this fabulous fruitcake soaked in cream sherry.
1 lb. butter
3 cups sugar
6 eggs, separated
5 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
pinch of salt
3 oz. lemon extract
3 tablespoons sherry
8 oz. candied cherries
8 oz. candied pineapple
1 lb. white raisins
1 quart pecans
Sift flour, salt and soda together. Add fruit and pecans. Mix well. Cream butter and sugar, add egg yolks, lemon extract and sherry. Add to dry ingredients. Fold in stiffly beaten egg whites. Pour in a tube pan (grease bottom only) and bake at 200 degrees for 4 hours.
Cool cake.
Soak cheesecloth in sherry and wrap around cake.
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I love that you included your family! How special! I am stopping in from Nester’s Place. To see my tour click on the ‘Christmas 2009′ Tag on in the left sidebar!
Great decorating all around!
I just HAD to squint at my tree when I read your post!!! And yes it went all twinkly!! Merry Christmas!
What lovely homes!!! Thanks for sharing!
All the homes look wonderful. Thanks for sharing!
lovely home! awesome.
Isn’t family great!?! Thank you for sharing your lovely and welcoming decor!
Everything is just beautiful, you have a lovely home. Love your tree and snowmen collection are my favorites.
Merry Christmas!
I love that you’re showing everyone’s tour! Too funny! And I love your nephew’s dog photos (I have a Boston as well!) Super fun and festive way to celebrate with your family that live far away! Merry Christmas!
Hi! just beautiful home and xmas deco!
thanks for sharing with us!
xoxo
Love your decor! Very pretty! The snowman display is sooo cute!
Summer :0)
Thanks for sharing pics from all your family.. that made it a really fun tour
I love the small tree on the mirror and all the little frosty the snowmen!
Have a blessed holyday season!!
Stopping by from the Nester home tour… Loved your decor. You must’ve had to work long and hard to get that sky decorated just right! (giggle) Seriously, it’s all so lovely!!
Click here for MY Christmas open house
Isn’t it wonderful when nature adds so nicely to your decorations!So funny that you added that pic.
Decorating sure runs in your family!
What a fabulous tour! Loved it!
What a lovely dining room table!
Merry Christmas!
How beautiful! Makes me regret not decorating outside this year… Yours looks lovely!
I think it is great that you included various family Christmas pictures. I like your Mom’s frosty collection.
Is your small tree on a mirrored table or just glass? I bet it reflects the light gloriously!
Beautiful home and loved visiting..I am so happy to have a few hours to catch up on blogs…I am finally finished with trees. New pictures are up on the Christmas blog!
http://grammyababychangeseverything.blogspot.com/ then
read about a miracle and forward on to anyone that is feeling hopeless….Christmas is the season of miracles..
Beautiful decorations. I like snowmen, too.
Have a wonderful week.
Hope you can visit my blog.
Loved your family’s sharing their decorations with us, I so enjoyed my visit.Thank you for the fruitcake recipe. I will be baking mine this week.
Sue
I enjoyed your decorations so much.
Debbie
What a beautiful home you have! And what a neat idea to include the other members of your family in your post for the holiday tour. Hope you and your family have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
What a beautiful home you have!! Everything looks so pretty!! Merry Christmas!
Beautiful…thanks for sharing!
Your home is just beautiful. May many wonderful Christmas memories be made within its walls.
Our home is having an old fashioned handmade Christmas this year. I hope you will stop by.
I always think how fun it would be to decorate the bedrooms but I never get up there…so cute!
sandy toe
Very pretty house!
What a gorgeous home!! So so beautiful!
You can see our Christmas Home Tour here…
http://bethouaknight.blogspot.com/2009/12/christmas-at-knight-home.html
I live in AR also. The homes are beautiful. I love your recipe. Have a great week. Doylene
Thanks for the tour! Also, thanks so much for posting to Crock Pot Wednesday. I really enjoy seeing what you have to offer.
Congratulations on one year of blogging! It’s been so nice getting to know you this year.
What a fun post! Love how you took us around to different family members’ homes.
Thanks for joining my party! Have a wonderful weekend.
What great decorations and lighting. Very nice indeed.
Thank you for sharing, I enjoyed viewing.
Love all the photos! Thanks for sharing!
Your fruitcake sounds AWESOME!!! THanks for the recipe.
Geri
What fun to gather family pics from all over! They’re all beautiful, but somehow for me, the Arkansas sky is the show stopper.
Your fruitcake sounds really wonderful. It’s good to know that we are not the only folks left in the country who enjoy it. Have a great Foodie Friday.
Beautiful! I am originally from Colorado…that sky is perfect if you ask me…Brighton….whoa, this all brings back some wonderful Colorado Christmases for me.
Mine’s posted now…it’s another new one for my collection of Holiday Decor..La Befana
How wonderful that you shared pics from your family and a family recipe to boot! Everything looks so festive and the sky is just the icing on the cake. Thank you (and your family) for sharing.
What a lovely home! The fireplace looks so cozy!
Hope to see you next week for the Holly Bloggy Christmas Bash!
HI Christi!
I had fun “visiting” your family and your home! Everyone’s house looks so festive!
Hi, Christi,
I enjoyed touring your family’s homes! Everything is looking so cheerful and festive. It really is putting me into the Christmas spirit! That sky was just breathtaking! Thank you for sharing and blessings to you! Vicki
It is fun to look into others homes and their decorations…..yours were no exception.
Love the sunset too!
How festive and pretty! I haven’t put up any decorations yet, but you’ve inspired me. I’ll have to try your sherry-soaked cheesecloth on my (storebought) fruitcake for Dr. G.
I love the way your yard is all lit up! Your house is very festive!
Susan
What a fun family tour!
Thanks for sharing and thanks for the recipe!
Leann
What fun that you showed pictures of your relatives’ houses, too! Christmas must be a special time for all of you.
I love fruitcake — and we have one every year!
Christi, This recipe looks wonderful, so olde world Christmas.
I will have to make this and have my mother over for tea. She would just love this. I can always count on you to post a great lagniappe!
Yvonne
That fruitcake sounds wonderful and your home is beautifully decorated.
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