I Will Honour Christmas In My Heart

I will honour Christmas in my heart,
and try to keep it all the year.
I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future.
The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me.
I will not shut out the lessons that they teach!

~ Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

Sunday, December 27, 2020

Christmas Traditions, Churches, Tablescapes and More Decorations and Crafts, 2020

 

 

 

 



Welcome to my Christmas Blog, A Debbie-Dabble Christmas!!

 I am so happy you decided to stop by my Christmas Blog!!

 I want to mention that since Blogger changed to a new format for posting, if you can click on each picture if you care to enlarge it...... 
 
 Every room in our townhouse has a different Christmas Theme and Color Scheme!!
 
 I prove that you do not have to live in a large home to have several Trees, over 20, in all shapes and sizes!!

The majority of my Christmas decorations are placed in the same room every year and I know that this is not what most Decorator's care for but to me, it like seeing old friends again when I decorate each year for Christmas as many of my decorations were gifts from family and friends........... 

I do try to add a few new things and change up things a bit but for the most part, these decorations are part of my Christmas Traditions and bring back a lot of treasured memories.....


Well, Christmas is over and for us, we were BLESSED to have been able to celebrate it like we have always celebrated it regardless of the pandemic.....

My Word of the Month for December has been Blessed.......

 

 Click HERE if you missed that post.....

Sadly, on 12/22, Joe's Mother's long battle with Alzheimer's ended and now she is in peace and not suffering anymore.....

 

 Click HERE if you missed that post......

Our family has many wonderful memories of Eleanore and she was a very loving and caring Grandmother to my sons......

We were BLESSED to have had her in our lives.....

But just as with this Pandemic, Christmas will not be cancelled......

Life goes on.....


 In looking back over pictures, I realized a forgot to share a few Christmas decorations......

This is our back door which I have to add that no one really sees but the birds and squirrels right now!!

 

I made this wreath several years ago and hung it on my neighbor Elly's front door so it looked like someone was living in her home when she was in the Nursing Home....

I also forgot to share the hallway from the Living Room to the Kitchen......

 
This is a narrow dark hallway......
 
Definitely not handicapped accessible as I was barely able to make it through with a rolling walker when I had my knee surgery and there is no way a wheelchair would ever fit through this hall..... 

When I had a contractor replace the original sliding doors on our coat closet, I opted for bifold doors to provide an easier access to the storage area under the steps and hot water heater....

I then stained the doors myself using a fruitwood gel stain that I find much easier to use than regular stain.....

I put vintage knobs on the doors and I hung stockings for Christmas from them.......


Touching these doors up is on my 2-3 Year To Do List....


Joe bought the B ornaments on Clearance for under a Dollar each.....

Above the closet doors on the pediment I bought at a yard sale, I hung a vintage styled heart that I crafted......



I changed things up in the hallway this year.....
 
 
 
I decided to change out the swag that I normally hung here for one from the Living Room...... 



Before I pack Christmas away, I will change out the bow on this swag for one made from the same ribbon as the wreath on the opposite wall......
 

This year, I hung it above the mirror because Joe kept hitting it as he walked down the hall and knocking it down.....



I made this wreath many years ago for the Living Room faux window and moved it here when I replaced it with another wreath.....

I hung a vintage styled Santa plaque in the center of the wreath......

Under the wreath, hangs a Santa sign that I bought at Dollar Tree this year and embellished with red tinsel trim......

I bought a box full of Christmas greenery at a church Flea Market a few years back and there were 2 of these vintage plastic poinsettias.....

I decided to use it in making a simple wreath......

I wired it to a small evergreen wreath from my stash and make a small box our of the same poinsettia ribbon as the one on the larger wreath.....

I do love the glitter on this poinsettia!!!

 
You know the saying that one can never have to much glitter.......

 
I made this piece of chalkboard art a few years ago, copying from an ornament that I bought......

I originally had it in the Kitchen , then last year, I used it outside and now this year, I moved it inside to this hallway......

I embellished the edges of it with red tinsel trim......

 
So that is our narrow hallway......

I forgot to mention that when we bought the house, there was no light in this hall and one of the first things I did was I had my Dad install one.....

 

I also did a bit of simple crafting.....

I added some trim to 2 things in the Kitchen.....

I bought this sign in Target last year and lamented over whether I should paint the frame red .....

 

I ended up leaving it the way it was because the green color went well with a green jadite bowl that I had on the other side of the sink for my scrub pads....

 

After doing another project where I used red and white candy cane pipe cleaners, I decided to use them to embellish this sign......

 

This way, I got to keep the green and got the pop of red that I wanted.....

 

I am thrilled with how it came out......

You may remember this sign that I bought at Gabes last year......

 

I wanted to paint the frame red but didn't get around to it.....

I found some red trim in my stash so I hot glued it to frame of this sign.....



Again, giving it the pop of red that I wanted.....

When I cleaned out my neighbor Elly's house for her sons after she passed away, I found this!!!!

I guess Elly had bought this but never got around to starting it.....

I will be working on this over the next year so I can hopefully, proudly display it next Christmas.....

I do have the glass dome for it......

With the arthritic nodules that are forming on my fingers and the pain and numbness that I am starting to experience in my hands because of carpal tunnel syndrome and arthritis, I think it will take me a long time to complete this project.....

These are all mini ornaments.....



You have to use pliers to hook these tiny ornaments onto the Tree....


 
This is really going to be physically challenging for me to do but we will see how it goes......

These are some of the things that will go around the bottom of the Tree.....

I may not use all the ornaments on this Tree but maybe also use some in my Doll House.....

Wish me luck on this project because I am really going to need it!!! 


As I mentioned in the beginning of this post, our family has been BLESSED that we have been able to celebrate all of our Holidays this year just like we do every year....together.....

Our kids come here for each and every Holiday so I like to try to make it special and relaxing for them......

For our Christmas Eve Polish Holy Supper, I set a simple tablescape using new dishes that I bought last year on Clearance after Christmas.....

I bought the dinner plates at Dollar General for $1.00.......

They are melamine!!

I bought the dessert plates at Target for 50 cents each!!

The flatware was bought a few years ago at Wegman's.....

The glasses are vintage Ruby Red Depression Glass.....

I bought the tablecloth at Boscov's last year for under $2.00!!!!


For the most part, I try to keep the traditions of my parents and serve Polish pierogies......



I bought 2 dozen homemade pierogies from a local restaurant, Pierce Street Deli.....


They were only $7.95 a dozen and I added the butter and onions.....


Polish Holy Supper for Christmas Eve is traditionally a meatless meal.......



Shrimp for Jim and Danielle......
 

 
Scallops for Joe and I and Jim and Danielle...... 

 
 Joey will not eat fish so we get him chicken fingers.....

 
 

 
 I buy all of this already made up from a local seafood retail and wholesale distributer, Valley Seafood.....

All I have to do is heat it all up in the oven.....
 
I also order Polish nut roll like my Mother used to make.....
 
 
 
I serve whole potatoes with butter and mushrooms as a side dish....
 
 We don't do presents for Christmas and have not for a very long time......

Joe and I do not exchange gifts for any occasion....

 I started to give the boys money for Christmas, at their request , when they turned 18 years old......

So what is under our Tree for Christmas is very simple....


I give Joey, Jim and Danielle cards with money in them, containers of home made cookies and fudge that I made and Joe gives them cards with Lottery Tickets in them.....

And of course, I made up a gift bag with Doggie treats and toys for our new Grandpuppy, Fay.....

I do LOVE not having to rack my brains for what type of gifts to buy everyone, not having to shop and fight crowds and for not having to wrap gifts.....

The great thing about Christmas not being about opening gifts is that it shifts the importance back to sitting and eating a traditional meal and enjoying each other's company and spending time together.....

And this year, little Faye was the center of our attention!!!
 
Joey is the first one to grab her when she comes through the front door...... 



She finally let Danielle put a Christmas sweater on her......

Maybe because she is colder since she was groomed....


She goes in her play pen while we eat......



She took a nap while we ate!!

Then she got passed around and spoiled even more than she already is!!


On Joe's lap......



Jim and Danielle had gone to work for 3 am on Christmas Eve day and got home at 1pm so Jim came in comfy jammy pants!!!


They work overnight at Target and worked long , stressful hours this Christmas Season....
 
Joe and I were gifted Big Lot's Gift Cards, Amazon Gift Cards, Buffalo Wild Wings Gift Cards, money and lottery tickets which I won $20 on!!
 
Our kids are very appreciative of what we do for them and they are very generous to us....

I reset the table for Christmas Day Dinner.....
 
 
 

 
I do love having a Christmas Tree in the Dining Room
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Again, a simple tablescape......
 

 
 The dinner plates were $1.00 each at The Christmas Tree Shop and the chargers were bought in Michael's on Clearance for $6.00 for a set of 6!!


 The Christmas Tree dessert plates were bought at a yard sale and Joe bought the gold flatware when Service Merchandise was going out of business for only $20 for a serving for 12.......
 

The gold leaf vintage glasses were bought at a flea market and the table cloth was also bought at Boscov's last year on Clearance for a little over $2.00!!!


 
I love the design with the red cardinals and the post marks......










I know many Bloggers change up what they serve for Christmas Day Dinner but I stick with the traditions of my parents.......

I make my Dad's recipe for Sausage Filling.....

 
A 3 lb. boneless ham......
 
 
 
Polish kielbasi , of course......



This is cheese kielbasi......


 
It was really cheesy and Joey loves it!!


And turkey kielbasi......


I used to help my Dad make his cooked kielbasi by helping put the casings over the nozzle attachment on the hand grinder and then turn the handle, filling the casing with the meat mixture!! 

My Dad's brothers made smoked kielbasi in the smoke house on the property that was once my Dad's parent's house which was my Uncle Joe's when I was growing up.....

I also made a 7 lb. turkey breast.....



Along with mashed potatoes, turkey gravy and corn......

This is the same meal that my parents made for Christmas Day Dinner when I was growing up and like my son Joey says " If it ain't broke, then don't try to fix it"!

We don't dress up for the Holidays because with me having had to work either the Eve night or the Day night of every Holiday, I was lucky that I was able to cook and get dinner on the table and get out of my nightgown after sleeping only 2-3 hours......

This was Joe's outfit for Christmas Day!!!

 
He did not even realize that his slippers matched his shirt until I pointed it out when he came downstairs......
 
 
 
 
 

And again, Little Faye was the center of attention........


Danielle had a new Christmas sweater for Faye!!!

 
Yep....6 foot 4 inch tall Joey is down on the ground with this sweet little 5 pound pup!!!



Then after being passed around, she wanted her Mom......






It was funny seeing Jim with those big "Guns" of he has from weight lifting and exercising, holding this tiny pup!!!!


 
She likes to lick Jim's bald head......

LOL!!!!!



We had a lovely Christmas Eve and Christmas Day spent with our family......

Another thing that I thoroughly enjoyed this Christmas was being able to watch not only our church's Christmas Mass online but other Christmas Masses at our former priest's new parishes and other local churches......

And I truly LOVED seeing how beautifully these churches were decorated!!!!

Here are a few that had pictures of their churches posted on the Scranton Diocese's Face book Site!!!!

Our church, Saint Maria Goretti, Laflin





Saint John the Evangelist, Pittston



Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Swoyersville
 

Saint Therese's, Shavertown
 

 Saint Nick's, Wilkes Barre




Saint Peter and Paul's , Plains




I hope you all had a Merry Christmas......

In my next post, I will be sharing my friend, Anne Marie's home all decked out for Christmas.....






So I hope you will stop by to visit again soon!!

Stay safe, healthy and most of all, HAPPY!!

Thanks to those who took the time out of their busy day to spend a little bit of time with me!!

If you do not have a blog, PLEASE  give me some way to reply to your comment, maybe by including your email in your comment.  If I can not find a way to reach you, I will reply on the post where you commented so please check back......


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16 comments:

  1. What a lovely Christmas! We had never exchanged with each other either. When first married, we had no money and then we spent what money we did have on the kids. This year, since I knew we would be alone, I picked up some "toys" and wrapped them under the tree. My husband loved his transistor radio that picks up weather and a rechargeable flashlight. It is the size of a nightlight and he likes it so much I am going to order some for stocking stuffers next year for my sons. I also bought him a new jar lid gripper because he complains about the one we have and for his "big" gift - new bedrooms slippers. We don't go in stores, but I made a special trip to dash in and pick someone out. They had some in camo and a dark brown. I sorted through quickly until I found a large in the dark brown and snuck them home. Well, guess what. They are LADIES slippers LOL. So I have reordered on Amazon which is what I should have done in the first place. I also ordered for me - a new book I have been wanting and a warm winter cap in case I ever go outside again.

    Those pops of red you added to your signs are wonderful! Just the ticket.

    Your meals look delicious. I married a Polish guy and for Easter I ordered homemade sausage for all our family from a place in Toledo. It came packed in dry ice. We dropped it off on porches as our Easter gift.

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  2. Gosh, Debbie. Your house is so very festive. I loved the table settings and the many trees. What kind of pierogi were they? My Polish maternal grandmother used to make them with cheese but also some with hamburger and saurkraut that were divine. Of COURSe they cannot be served without onions and melted butter. ha! Debbie, thank you so much for stopping by my blog and for commenting, too. It was a very changed Christmas but I am deeply grateful that it was a very blessed one, as well. Hugs. Susan

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  3. Oh my goodness, reading "Service Merchandise" brought back lots of memories of shopping there.

    Enjoyed your post about how you celebrate. And your "granddogger" is just too cute.

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    Replies
    1. Ellen,
      Thanks so much for stopping by!! I hope your Christmas was lovely even though it may have been different than other years,,,
      Stay safe, healthy and happy!!
      Hugs,
      Debbie

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  4. First, let me send you and Joe my condolences. I am so sorry for your loss. I know your mother in law will be greatly missed. Your home is always so festive and beautiful, Debbie. I love how you decorated your hallway for the season and your tablescapes are amazing. I agree with Jeanie; you should go all out and make your home the way you want it to be. There was no scaling back for me either in decorating. Lol. Thank you so much for sharing. Hugs, Melisa

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  5. so pretty and festive and I loved reading all about what is going on and your little dog is adorable
    come see us a http://shopannies.blogspot.com

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  6. I enjoyed looking at the photos of your house decorated so nice for Christmas. It's nice that you keep the traditions of your parents for Christmas eve and day. I looks and sounds like you had a Merry Christmas. Wishing you a happy new year.

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  7. I just love seeing other people's decorations!

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  8. Your table is lovely and oh, that sweet puppy! How fun -- I'm so glad you could be with people you love on the holiday. Happy New Year's Week.

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  9. OH wow; those churches are just stunning! Sounds like you had lots of yummy food and lots of great family time together. I completely agree that that's what the holidays are all about (though I still buy gifts for my boys since they're young enough to still want them).

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  10. Your decorations are amazing and so much fun. I hope you had a lovely Christmas, dear Debbie.
    Amalia
    xo

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  11. Thanks for linking your post was Fabulous as always!

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  12. I don't believe I have ever seen your hallway before, Debbie. It and your church photos are lovely! Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm!

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  13. Good luck on the bead tree! I hope you get it done for next Christmas!

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  14. Debbie, Thank you so much for sharing so many fabulous photos of Christmas in your home. The food, the house decor, the company, the church and little faye - look so beautiful.
    Much love.
    Naush

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