The dining room table.
Our sweet little Christmas tree..
I love Christmas. I love the lead up to it – the parties, markets, baking, decorating, shopping. And I love all the buzz. Way back in September, we made the decision to spend thanksgiving with my family in the US and then head to Australia to spend time with Robert’s family in January. Then we would get to have our very own Christmas together in Stockholm. Instead of traveling as we have for the last seven years, we would have our own tree and decorations. It seemed like a good idea. Fun. Even practical.
But when I left Cincinnati, I wasn’t sure that being practical was such a good idea. I wasn’t sure that we could do Christmas on our own without all the family parties and traditions. I cried.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care.
Even the reindeer skin looks festive with a few pine boughs, candles and star lights behind it.
And when we got home to Stockholm and pulled out the holiday decorations last week, I unpacked ornaments and decorations that I hadn’t seen in eight years. I found my dog’s Christmas stocking. As he died in 2005, that made me tear up. And then I found a quilted pillow that my grandmother made for me before she died in 2008 and I cried again.
Debora at work with the cool IKEA metal tree she brought me in the background.
In preparation for a party the next day, my artist friend Debora came over to help me decorate. She brought over pine boughs, a metal tree and more ornaments. Debora put boughs in the windows, on the fireplace and dining room table, then moved my candles and decorations around just so. The next day, Robert went out and got the most fragrant and perfectly shaped Christmas tree and decorated it with lights and ornaments as a surprise for me.
Our home has exploded into Christmas. And I love it. With a little help from my friends and Robert, it’s looking to be a happy holiday.
All the windows in the dining and living rooms are decked out.
And the dining room sideboard is also.
{ 6 comments }
Just beautiful! It is beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!
Thanks Bryn! Wish you could stop by!
Great photos and sentiments Sand!! Thanks for sharing and Merry Christmas to you and Robert (and Deb & Stig too!!). Love the decor,
Jul xo
Thanks Julia. Will you stay in Paris for the holidays?
Looks so nice. 🙂
Glad you are starting to settle in and enjoy your first Christmas in Stockholm! It is always such a sentimental process to break out the ornaments and decorate. Have a merry, merry holiday!
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