Of flocked deer, flocked trees, and The Night Before Christmas (a giveaway!)....

Don't you love this darling flocked deer family?

I have just two things out for Christmas this year.  

The vintage deer family on the table next to the wing chair...

...and the flocked 'Craigslist' Christmas tree that we picked up this afternoon.

There's a section of the tree that won't light. We're not sure if the lights are defective (it was supposed to be in excellent condition) or if we haven't found the plug for the last section of lights (it took us forever to find the others among all the flocked branches). In any case, I've been pricing my dream (flocked) trees and 7.5' tall prelit flocked trees are so far out of our price range, it's not funny. So for the very reasonable Craigslist price of $50, I'm definitely not going to fret about a small section of lights not working!

Last year we purchased a slim tree because our living room is so small... 

... but I couldn't even fit half of our ornaments on it. So when I came across this full-sized flocked tree, I couldn't resist.

The previous owner left all these beautiful prisms on the tree.
Snow and ice.
Beautiful on the tree.

Not so beautiful on the vehicles.

And tomorrow they're predicting freezing ice/sleet on the roadways during the morning commute. Yes indeed, winter has arrived. 

But on the plus side, along with winter comes Christmas!

Just look at this beautiful version of The Night Before Christmas that I picked up while out thrifting! And I want one of you to have it!

As some of you know, I have an extensive collection of Night Before Christmas books. Our family has been reading this story every Christmas Eve since our girls were born (back in the 80's!). And the tradition still carries on, with each of us picking a book from the stack and doing a 'round robin' reading around the table on Christmas Eve.

I already own this edition with stunning illustrations by Christian Birmingham... 

...so when I spotted this one, I knew that one of you would love it!

It's an over-sized copyright 1995 edition, full of eye candy artwork!!

To be entered into the drawing, just leave a comment before midnight, Friday December 13th. And if you don't have a blog, be sure to leave an email address so I can contact you if your name is chosen!

Until then, "Merry Christmas to all, and to all a Good Night!"

This week I'm joining Brenda at Cozy Little House for Tweak It Tuesday
Debra at Common Ground for Be Inspired,
and Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show & Tell Friday.

Donna

A palette of green and peachy-pink...

It was time to give the top of our little recycling center a little pizzazzzzz...

...for the spring.

It's a nice change from winter's white-on-white cat and battenburg lace runner.

The white cat hasn't gone far though. He now sits on the floor next to the recycling center.

I love the cover of this old 1913 Bobbsey Twins book. When I was a young, I could always count on a new BT book being under the tree each Christmas.

Although this one is titled The Bobbsey Twins at Snow Lodge, the illustration on the front cover is very spring-like.

I also added a few bells from my small collection. My favorite is the Carmel Junipero Serra Mission bell with the cross handle.

Once upon a time, little vases filled with creamy white buttons sat on the recycling center. That was BB (before Baby). I shudder to think of the mess she could make with  hundreds upon hundreds of buttons scattered all over the floor...

I hope you are all enjoying Spring wherever you are. I'm loving the warmer temperatures we've been having! (Although this evening's weather forecast just predicted FROST for overnight and cold temperatures tomorrow... hardly spring-like, but at least it's not snow!!)

I'm linking to Show & Tell Friday at Cindy's My Romantic Home. Cindy posted a touching tribute to her mom this week, so be sure to stop by and visit her and all the other bloggers sharing something this week.

Donna