Wellington at Christmastime 2014

It's Christmastime again at Wellington.  As usual, there is no snow on the ground, but we have had our share of rain.  Finally.  I love Wellington every day of the year.  But Christmas is especially nice. This year we are particularly happy because our beloved kitty has surprised us yet again and is apparently going to make it through another Christmas.  This will be approximately her 21st!

So for those of you who, while still enjoying your own Christmasses in your own Wellingtons, are not fortunate enough to be experiencing Christmastime at Wellington in person, here are some pictures to give you the essence.  The merest smidgeon of an inkling of the wonders and pleasures found herein.

If one listens to neighborhood gossip, it is the general consensus that the following cat is 21 years old or so.  We have only had her for a little less time than we've had Wellington (about four and a half years), but we'll take their word for it.  Readers of the blog know the lovely story of how Hugo came to be our very own kitty, so I won't go into that at this time. If you don't remember, or have never heard the story you can find it HERE. Let me just say that we have recently expressed our love for Hugo in the best way possible.  We have given her the most expensive present under our Christmas tree.  It's called "A Trip to the Emergency Vet" which has caused her life to be extended considerably, we're hoping indefinitely.  So far it has been three weeks.  This is her way of thanking us for her Christmas gift.

Ah  Heaven.

Here is Nordmann.  He is our Christmas tree.  Some of us decided we didn't need a large tree.  Why not get a very small tree this year, etc.  But as you will notice, this tree is about as large as possible in this room with high ceilings.  And some of us cut quite a bit off the top knot.  Some of us are in the Christmas spirit, I'm not naming any names.

Here is Nordmann ready for action.

 The Christmas cactus is from last year and it just started blooming in time for Christmas!  What a coincidence.  Below is a little Christmas quilt I bought at Romancing the Home, a downtown Benicia shop for which I have been carrying a Gift Certificate for a couple of years.  I was saving it for something perfect, and here it is!

 This is a little blown-glass heart one of my closest friends gave me on our Christmas Outing.  She is the same friend who gave me the Gift Certificate for Romancing the Home!  She knows me pretty well.

 The birds were purchased at the Dickens Faire a few years ago when I went with The Dot.

 I didn't make a glitter house this year.  I think the collection is a pretty good size.

Every year I hang some antique glass balls from ribbons in my window.

This year when I was downtown I bought a new icicle glass ornament to add to the collection.  I got this gold one at Steffan Antiques in town for $3.  Yesterday when The Hub and I were in the shops I found two more, a pink one and a larger blue one, in Charlie's Attic antique store for $1 each!

Loyal readers will remember that a tradition in our house is the annual Christmas Stocking.  It started in 1982 when I made The Hub a little stocking of his own.  The next year I made him another little stocking.  The tradition was set and I haven't been able to weasel out of it.  Every year I pretend like I'm not going to make one this year and every year The Hub pretends to believe it.  Until a few days before Christmas when he notices a new stocking hanging among the many (34?  I haven't counted) hanging throughout the house.  Actually I have counted but I can't remember the final count.  It was in the 30s.

This year he walked in on me right as I was finishing it.  Oh well.  It was bound to happen.  Here it is.

It's a wreath made of felt ornaments with felt holly.  I particularly like that there are bits from the past incorporated into the design.  The dress that the gingerbread woman is wearing is cut from a piece of lace that originated as my sister's 8th grade graduation dress, which later became my dress, which was later cut down to be one of The Dot's dress-up dresses.  One of the buttons is made from a piece of fabric that I used to make the kids their Christmas outfits one year when they were about four and six.  The bow tie of the gingerbread man comes from a bag of fabrics that a dear friend gave me years ago.  The fabrics belonged to her grandmother.  The little reindeer that sits in the wreath has beans in his bottom so that he sits nicely on a shelf (except he doesn't, he sits in the wreath) and there is one bean in each of his hooves to make them dangle nicely.

Another tradition is something I like to call "chocolate truffles."  Both of the kids have made these over the years for their friends and I hear that The Dot's truffles this year were so popular she made a second batch.  I always send a box to my favorite brother and I often include an ornament that I have made.  This year it's a little squirrel with a holly leaf.  I made a little girl squirrel very similar to this one and gave it to my dear friend whom I previously mentioned numerous times.

These are the truffles.  And there is also one fruit and nut cluster.  I understand from the Post Office that this box arrived at my brother's house this morning where they are probably chilling themselves in a snow bank.

What would a Christmas Blog be without a nod to the Creepie Santas?

 There were two additions to the Creepy Santa collection this year.  One is in the top picture, leaning on the little tree and tipping his head at a jaunty angle.  The Dot found him a couple of months ago at a thrift store and nabbed him for me.  The other is below on the left.  The Hub and I were in Santa Rosa with The Dot and Mr. Dot.  We found this little Creepy in an antique shop in the downtown area.  He is so perfect.  First, he is made of wood, carved by someone who is not a professional carver.  Likewise his costume is made by what I would refer to as a hobbyist.  His hair, which came from a real sheep is falling off his head and down his back.  The best part of all is he was only $5!  We couldn't believe our great fortune and The Hub absolutely would not let me leave that store without this little guy wrapped in tissue and tucked under my arm.  Seriously though, he allowed me to nestle him into the trunk of the car and bring him home.  He rounds out the collection very nicely.

There are too many great ones to even pick a favorite.

Now I'm sitting at my kitchen table while my turkey brines.  I have a pot on the stove that smells like turkey stock.  My boys are playing a game and The Dot is coming over tomorrow for a pre-Christmas visit.  Soon the whole family will be together and smushing will ensue.  That is a teeny glimpse into the splendor I call Christmastime at Wellington.