Christmas 2011 -- Still Decorating

I've been away (for the most part) from blog land all week.  I appreciate so much your visits and kind comments from last Sunday and Monday!  Please be patient, and I will be returning all your visits. :)  It never takes me this long to get back to people, but we are still trying to finish our shopping and decorating.


I thought I would share some more of our decorations for this Advent and Christmas season.  According to the Advent calendar, Christmas Eve is less than a week away.  Did I mention I'm still shopping and decorating?  Addressing cards and decorating? :)

This is the Nativity set that adorns our foyer every Christmas.  It was a gift from my husband's grandmother.  It just seems like it was made for this spot.

...such a pretty crescent moon pattern on this wise man's robe.

A view from the opposite angle.

This next nativity set was made by my mom in her ceramics class over 30 years ago.  She generously gave it to me when we lived in Greensboro.  Our home had a fireplace with a white mantel, and she said it would show up much better there than on her mantel.  We have a stained mantel in our current home, so I moved the nativity set to the dining room.  This is the first year I've displayed it on the plaid runner, and I love the way it turned out.

I love the way you can see the expressions on their faces so clearly.

Also in the dining room is a small, Old Salem Advent wreath with a Moravian star on top.  You can read about historic Old Salem here and here.

A treasured ornament Mr. Forest Manor bought me for Christmas one year.  I love all the details -- the snow-flecked, bottle-brush Christmas tree on his back, the stars on his tunic, and the soft fur on his robe and hat.

I'm sharing some ornaments from the Christmas tree in our den this evening.  I'll show the tree in the living room later this week.  Like most of you, I have a sentimental attachment to all the ornaments on our trees.  I remember where each and every one of them came from, and they all hold such sweet memories.

I can't resist the German wooden ornaments.  Home Goods had a wonderful selection this year and last at great prices.

Our son's very first Christmas ornaments from both sets of Grandparents.

Precious gifts from our parents' travels...

to Italy,

and Ireland...

...the "Big Apple"

Disney World...

Rock City, Georgia...   :)

...and an angel ornament from my mother-in-law's mission trip to Puerto Rico over 20 years ago.

This tree has most of the ornaments that our son has received from us and from his grandparents over the years.

"Percy" from our Thomas the Tank Engine Years.  :)

The tree also reflects our love of music...

...and birds,

Thanks for visiting the House at Forest Manor and for sharing some Christmas memories with me.  I'm joining Seasonal Sundays, hosted by the Tablescaper.  Please stop by The Tablescaper's blog to see some wonderful Christmas pictures!  I hope you'll come back for some more Christmas posts later this week.

On Monday, I'll be linking to the Room by Room Christmas Tour, hosted by Rene at Cottage and Vine, and Metamorphosis Monday, hosted by Susan at Between Naps on the Porch. 

Denise