DECORATING FOR CHRISTMAS

It's the Christmas season and time to decorate at our house.   Cinnamon is next to one tree and she just realized she can stand on the couch and look out the window.   I may never have quiet again.  LOL 

Dickens knows he is safe here.  This will be his first Christmas.  Like all the other Christmas rescues, he didn't celebrate before with love, and health and safety.  This year he will!  Look at his coat!  And he has on a Christmas harness!  (Thanks Joy.) (Share pictures of your holiday Pekes.)

Paddington and Piper are very curious about all the changes.  They just had a bath, but in true Piper fashion, he already looks like a wind went through.  

The main tree stands between the family room and the dining room.  The stockings of so many years are in the basket.  The bear is a nod to all the years grandchildren were here for Christmas.  Just about everything evokes a memory of love. I need to make the snow to put on the tree.  My mom did it, my grandmother did it.  Here's a blog to show you how if you want to try this.  

Must Love Pekes: MAKING CHRISTMAS TREE SNOW

There are many Pekingese ornaments on the tree.  

I've made so many of Pekes that have been here-- some for a long time, some for a short time.  

You'll know the faces of some of them.  Precious Starlight- the face of PVPC for a long time. 

Fluffy was only here for hospice care-- and she was loved the whole time.  

Zoey, my Zoey-- another little one who didn't have long enough once I had her-- but she left such an imprint on my heart.  

Bogie now lives in Richmond, but his Sissy stayed here-- she didn't have long enough either.  Bogie has a best friend there from the Maryland 5 rescue, Rey.  They are such close buddies.  

I did an ornament just for Sissy.   She was such a sweetheart.  

My boys-- Chumley, Max and Kai Kai.  So much love in three little bodies.  

Nala and Sissy-- they taught me so much.  They taught me how to fight hard and it was worth every moment even though they both didn't make it.   I'd never give up the time I had with them.  

This year I made the Camp Runamuck 2025 ornament.  We call our house Camp Runamuck for so many reasons.  A lot of dogs, a lot of grandchildren, a lot of chaos and so much love.  

I have Melinda's ornaments up.  We've known each other a very long time now, even though we've never met in person.   She lives in Australia, but we have become good friends.  

My manger scene is very old- over 50 years old.  I lovingly put it out every Christmas.  

My mom handmade these ornaments.  They have their own spot in the dining room.  (My dining room is used a lot because I study there-- it's special.) 

This old "china closet" was my grandmothers and is probably about 100 years old.  It wasn't used for china-- she was a farmer's wife, but it held a lot of other things. The long red ornaments on top were my mom's.  They're fragile and some of the tips are broken, so they are held in the candle holders.  So many memories of love in my home.  I cherish each one.

This star came from the Philippines when we lived there for 4 years.  I thought it was lost many years ago.  I found it in my mom's attic after she died.  It was such a gift.  It hangs every year at Christmas and is the first thing I put up each year 

She sheep, the angels, and the light. Yes, it's a memory light.  A globe that was on a hanging light of my mom's.  It was so old that the cord wore out, but I kept the globe.  Now it holds ornaments and lights.  

Another nod to my childhood.   My mom and dad always put up a tree with blue lights (those big blue bulbs) and blue ornaments.  Tinsel was added.  So, this little tree in my study is a "Mimi tree" and holds many memories. 

Dickens name will be added to the memory rocks.  

So many dogs that have been here have a rock with their names on it.  This stays out all year long. 

All the dogs "helped" me get the house together.  

The gates were open so they followed me around. 

The dining room at night.  A quiet place that has my pictures of Scotland in it.  

The hallway holds a little impishness.  The koala looks ready to play a trick on us.  He was given to me by Melinda in Australia.  

The mantle is totally transformed at Christmas-- candles, little trees, pictures- even a little gnome.  

A song of Christmas, too.  

Helping me was so much work.  They all had to rest.  

Cinnamon came at Christmas 2 years ago-- this will be her third Christmas here.  It will be a joyful one for all of us.  🎄🎄