I love Christmastime.
It has been a wild run of a year, hasn’t it? So much so that I can’t believe that at last we are here, preparing for our first holiday season in our new home.
It feels kind of wonderful.
So much so that I didn’t want to come up with a “theme” for the decorations. That seemed more awkward and “put upon” than need be! I just wanted…to find the joy in putting them out that I felt when I was kid…and to let this house do what it does best, to shine in its perfect imperfection.
On my morning walks with the dogs, I would gather up stray pine cones and branches that had been knocked over by the Mistral gusts from the previous night. Each day, there would be a few more, so many that I could pick and choose à la Goldielocks.
As always, we are the only people in Provence not to build an elaborate crèche filled with santons depicting characters from traditional village life but rather we will stick to our nativity scene made out of banana bark and bought during a safari in Tanzania, which makes it all the more special to us.
Remi’s insistence on choosing the bright red cords for our light bulbs in the small salon seems especially fortuitous now, a festive touch for this time of year.
Despite my glee in thinking, “Where can I put this?” I tried not to get too carried away and so the guest bedroom only has one woodsy garland on the old shutter headboard (I feared anything more might fall on the heads of our guests!)…
…and certainly, Mr. Zen Buddha in our bedroom is far too deep in his meditation to be concerned with such frippery…
…even if it is tempting to bebauble…
…and bedackle even le benitier in the bath!
But there is only so much austerity a girl can take at this time of year…come on, it is Christmas!
And so with trembly fingers I pulled out the crystals from their storage in a vintage glove box one by one. But rather than spend hours patiently affixing them to the tree as I usually do, I balanced on our ladder for a few minutes and attached a few to the iron chandelier in the entry to help welcome the winter light in. Et c’est très bien comme ça…
All in all, the house doesn’t look that much different really, which is what I love. Proud to the rafters, it is a house that retains its own character no matter what. I still feel so lucky to live here, I can’t quite believe it!
So tell me, do you find the happiness that I do in this one little act? Or has it become a chore? Are you already counting down to midnight on the 31st so you can breathe a sigh of relief for the arrival of the New Year? I know that for me, I feel a lot of freedom here in France in knowing that nothing has to be the “ultimate.” Not the gifts, not the tree. Hey, they don’t even grow perfectly shaped sapins here so there is no point in searching for one (although I have to admit that I am so excited to finally have room enough for a proper tree. Begone the Christmas Branch)…
It doesn’t matter, not in the least. Not for Christmas at our house this year.
Now, is the time to turn on the lights – on the tree, inside your heart, on the roof if need be! – and let them glow.
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To see the Monster Tree from my first year of blogging when we lived in the amazing apartment, click here.
To read more about the differences between Christmas in the States and France, click here.
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I am actually planning on posting during the holidays, albeit on my currently scaled down “Shh, it is winter” schedule. For those of you that are in the midst of an especially hectic and tiring time (like my my wonderful Mom and her Husband, Leonard, who are working so hard right now – I love you both!), please know that there is a redhead in Provence who is sending you good energy filled with calmness, strength and joy…
Heather, everything is so beautiful! Your Christmas tree is to die for!!!
A wonderful Christmas to you and yours!
xx
Greet
I love everything you have pictured about your home at Christmas. To my taste, it is perfect, including your lovely tree (take seriously this comment from one living in Christmas tree country). If you ever get a chance to take a photograph of sunlight (and/or candlelight) dancing through the crystals on the chandelier, please do and post it to us. Every time I look at the wild animal figures I brought back from Tanzania gathered around our creche that Scott's mother carved, I think of you and Rémi, as well as Ben and Kipling. Merry Christmas all! Love, Leslie in Oregon, with Scott, Henry and Bob
I'm concur with the others: crystals on the chandelier year-round!!! It is ALL SO BEAUTIFUL!!! I'm glad that you have space for a big tree, and all of your decorations are so classy yet warm and wonderful (I especially like those enormous pine cones!!). It's funny how you mentioned the relief of having things not be "the ultimate". I think, growing up as we did, with Christmas and birthdays always being "the ultimate", there develops need for over-the-top everything: gifts, decorations, food, etc. Of course, it was done with so much love for us, but it is nice, too, to acknowledge that "mellow" can be just as nice! Even nice, sometimes, as it removes the pressure! Either way, "the ultimate" Christmas for me would include you and Remi, but I'll just have to send my Christmas love, and presents, across the ocean!
I LOVED the GRAND TOUR………..OF THE CASA!The shutters behind my bed!!!The crystals on the CHANDELIER………can they stay full time???The tree in its corner full of GOODNESS.Those tiles on the floor!!!!!!!!
Perhaps, you have forgotten but I have the same type of chairs you have around your table!I also have two little holes in the wall that I made GIAMPY put in when we re-did the house!I see YOU have a candle in it……and I have small old leather books and a cement lion………he has a name and I cannot recall!He really is a book end!MUst send you a photo one day!LOVELY LOVELY LOVELY……………..THANKS for sharing YOUR part of FRANCE!XOXO
So pretty Heather!
Your theme is an authentic, meaningful Christmas.
Wishing you, Remi and your loved ones a very Happy and Healthy Holiday!
xo
Brooke
I love your Christmas decorations – they are personal and reflect your experiences and what is important to you. Our decorations are understated, mostly handmade and mean something to us. We are neither competing with our neighbours or chic shops, nor are we copying suggestions from glossy magazines. For us Christmas is a personal affair filled with memories and making new one. Amicalement
Gorgeous! I'm glad you will be posting. Happy Christmas my friend.
Beautiful touches that respect the character of your home. There's not much of a theme around here, either, just bits and pieces gathered over the years. Each one holds a memory. Love the chandelier with the crystals. So sparkly when they catch the light. Remi's red light cords are wonderful!
Merry, merry days to you both!
Something tells me those crystals might well "adorn" the chandelier long after the Christmas season … bringing light and pzzazzzz to your beautiful home. Mele Kalikimaka from Kauai !
I love seeing all of your subtle sprinkles of bedazzlement. You're right, your house speaks for itself, the little embellishments bring on the shine and sparkle of the season, I love all of your little vignettes. Enjoy!