Today, we’re sharing our living room decorated for Christmas!
Christmas 2020 has been a challenge at our house, which shouldn’t surprise anyone at all, because it’s right in line with the rest of this year.
I’m usually not one to wish time to go by quickly, because I feel like it does that already, but I have to say that I won’t be sorry to see this year come to a close.
I know many of you have asked where I’ve been, because I’ve sort of “dropped off of the map”, so to speak. So I thought I would fill you in on what’s been going on in our world, and then I will show you our living room decorated for Christmas!
For the last year, I have been dealing with quite a bit of back pain.
I’ve always chalked it up to moving furniture for too many years, and getting older. But after we moved last year, the back pain seemed to progress and get much worse.
After seeing a Neurosurgeon and getting numerous MRI’s, I was finally able to get some relief with injections.
It turns out the the “getting older” was definitely a problem resulting in degenerative discs in my lower back. For now, the injections seem to be working and enabling me to put off surgery until I absolutely have to have it.
Our middle son got married at the end of November, and while it was definitely a joyous occasion (we adore our new daughter in law!), planning a wedding in 2020 has been a bit stressful!
Plans had to be moved and changed a couple of times, and right up to the wedding day, we held our breath, and crossed our fingers that it wouldn’t get canceled! In the end, the wedding was beautiful and everything turned out perfectly!
Right after the wedding I woke up one morning with intense pain in my neck and shoulder, and I thought that I had just slept wrong and it would work itself out.
Unfortunately, it didn’t and continued to get worse with my right arm and hand going completely numb. After weeks of hoping it would go away, I finally went in to see the doctor, and x-rays showed that I have a herniated disc in my neck.
Obviously, my body has decided to protest everything I’ve put it through all of these years! I have never had any pain, since giving birth to my son, as intense as this. It literally brought me to my knees. I’m currently receiving multiple treatments and procedures every week to alleviate the pain and pinched nerve, and thankfully I’m slowly getting better.
The icing on the cake is that in the middle of all of this, hubby and I both contracted COVID-19. I had it first and a few days after I started having symptoms, hubby caught it.
Thankfully, our cases were very mild with cough, runny nose, some conjestion, and tiring easily. Neither one of us ran a fever and after about a week, we felt fine, though we had to quarantine for 14 days. So, as you can see, it’s been a challenge to even decorate at all! However, I did manage to get the tree up and decorate the mantel with lots of help from hubby!
Our Christmas tree is a slim flocked tree that I’ve had for a couple of years from King of Christmas.
I love a flocked tree, and I’m sure it’s because I grew up with a mother that insisted on a flocked tree every year.
Unlike the mess of flocked trees when I grew up, today’s flocked trees really don’t make much of a mess at all.
Many years ago I purchased a cast iron urn that is specifically designed for holding a Christmas tree, from a local Christmas shop. We placed the flock tree inside of it, and I love the way it elevates the tree.
Turquoise, blue, gold, and white Christmas balls look great against the flocking on the branches, with bits of blue and white ribbon entwined throughout. I poked a few pieces of faux elephants ears and baby eucalyptus in the branches and called it done.
Of course, we never have a Christmas tree without adding our traditional bird’s nest and bird among the branches.
When I was a child, we always cut a fresh Christmas tree. My mother always insisted that we search for one with an old abandoned bird’s nest in it, because it would bring us good luck throughout the following year.
To honor my mother, we always place a bird’s nest in our Christmas tree each year!
I covered the fireplace mantel with garlands of faux seeded eucalyptus and preserved boxwood. Layered into the garlands are tiny fairy lights, petite white Christmas balls, and faux sugared fruit.
You can see how we made our sugared fruit HERE. I am obsessed with this sugared fruit and it was so easy to make!
The faux elephant’s ears and baby eucalyptus was also added as well as battery operated flickering candles.
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On the front of the mantel hangs my grain sack stockings. Two are made with authentic antique grain sack, and two are a DIY project using burlap stockings and stencils.
I added a simple preserved boxwood wreath to the Trumeau mirror, and that’s it!
The only other addition is the old urn on the coffee table filled with sugared fruit.
Our Christmas living room is simply decorated, without a lot of effort, because I truthfully didn’t have the energy for it this year!
But I’m so happy with the way it turned out. I love sitting here in the evening with the twinkling lights, flickering candles, and a fire in the fireplace (it’s finally cold enough here to have one!)
My precious old French Madonna exudes the spirit of the Christmas season all year long.
The only thing I added is the flickering candles to the altar sticks.
Miss RubyLou has been a very good girl this year, and she is patiently waiting for Santa Paws to come see her!
Merry Christmas!
Cindy
Did any of you see the Christmas star last night?
Everything is so beautiful. May 2023 indeed hold much more serenity, good health and peace for you. Besutiful home!!!!!
Hi Cindy,
This post is lovely! Your Christmas decor is absolutely beautiful. And I’m impressed you were able to get all that done and deal with the pain in your neck and covid to boot! I had a herniated disk in my lower back years ago and it was no fun!
Hope you are feeling better soon. Thank you for sharing your lovely home with us!
Michele
Welcome back! It is obvious from all the comments that you’ve been missed. I adore your blog and all the beauty that you share. I’m so sorry about the pain and stress you have endured throughout the past year. I hit the big “70” this past August and can really tell the abuse I put my body through has caught up with me! Blessings to you and your family for a healthy and happy New Year!
So sorry to hear all you’ve been through! Hoping you will have complete recovery, soon! Everything is simply beautiful! Including Miss RubyLou! Glad you were able to share! Merry Christmas and may the new year bring good health & happiness!
Thank you so much, Cecelia! Merry Christmas!
Dear Cindy, I just discovered your wonderful page and business last evening. I am so sorry for the difficult year you have endured in 2020. What courage and determination you have to be able to push through the pain and create such a lovely home. Thank you for sharing your story. I absolutely love your beautiful white flocked tree with the aqua blue accents. Congratulations on your son’s wedding. Merry Christmas and God bless you generously in the New Year. Dianne Ranes
You are so kind, Linda, thank you! Merry Christmas!
Your home and Christmas decor is stunning! I understand the level of pain you describe as I have had similar attacks in the past 20 years. Horrible events…take care and Merry Christmas!
Thank you so much, Mary! Merry Christmas!
Bonjour Cindy, je suis désolée d’apprendre vos problèmes de santé et j’espère sincèrement que 2021 sera une meilleure année pour vous mais aussi pour nous tous…
Votre décoration de Noël est magnifique!
Je vous souhaite de bonnes fêtes de fin d’année
Ruby Lou est très mignonne dans son habit de Noël
Cathy
Glad you and your husband got recovered from COVID-19. I’ve seen my mom struggled with her degenerative disc disease so I know what you have gone through. I will pray for your health. Your simple, drop-dead gorgeous Christmas decorations have put my Christmas decorations to shame! May your new 2021 be a blessed one for you and your family!
Many blessings to you and yours, Diana! Merry Christmas!
Dearest Cindy, Oh my goodness! You certainly have had a time!!!! I am so very sorry. I , too, have had black issues and my husband deals with it frequently. It definitely is NO FUN!!!!! Covid visited our house as well. I had a pretty severe case …absolutely the sickest I have ever been in my whole life! So glad to see that in the rear view mirror. My son got married in November, as well. I can really relate to the difficulty of having a “ Covid wedding”. It was beautiful though. In spite of all your obstacles, your home looks incredibly beautiful!!!!!! I pray that you continue to improve. I know how difficult it is to be down for extended periods of time, especially when one is in pain. Take care, dear Cindy. Sending you much love and I hope you have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS❣️❣️❣️
Thank you my sweet friend! Many blessings to you and your family! Merry Christmas!
Hi Cindi. Your 2020 Christmas living room is amazing. So are you! I hope you feel ok. The weather sure affects pain. I have had 4 Thoracic and lumber spine fusions’ and osteotomy’s. I am fused fromT9-S1 and have 5 rods in my spine. 2rods on each side and one at the lumbar area as a brace. Really. It is not fun but I am going along sing a song…..It is great to hear from you. Merry Merry Cheers!!!
Oh my goodness, Jenny! God Bless you!
Hi – So sorry that u have come to know BACK + NECK pain – it can be very difficult, AND THE PAIN CAN BE OVER THE TOP!!! All I can say is don’t wait to long to research the next step (surgery) – if u do it in time u can be a candidate for an Artificial Disk, it u wait too long then your vertebrates are not in good enough shape to accommodate the ADR and u end up with a fusion. There are some gifted neuro-spine surgeons out there that believe in minimally invasive surgery, and some different approaches to the surgery based on the location of your nerve compression and herniated discs. Good Luck, deb
Deb, thank you so much for this information! Merry Christmas!
So sorry this has been a tough year for you! I hope 2021 is better! Happy holidays!
Thank you so much, Laurie! Merry Christmas!
Everything is just lovely. Merry Christmas to you and your family and health blessings for the coming year.
Thank you, Chaya! Merry Christmas!
It’s lovely Cindy. So sorry you are having these health problems and pray you will be up to your usual speed soon. I have missed you but enjoyed the reruns.
Thank you, Ann! Merry Christmas!
…and there’s Ruby Lou. I was worried about all of you. Weren’t you just about ready to purchase a new house? What a year you’ve had! We can only hope that 2021 will be much better for all. I wish you improved health! Your Christmas decorations look wonderful and I think I must try the “sugared” fruit!
Thank you, Teddee! Merry Christmas!
Your living room is breathtaking! I love every part of it. The candleholders on each side of your trumeau mirror, are they available somewhere to purchase? Thanks!
Hi Carolyn! I found the sconces several years ago at a thrift store! They are vintage, and unfortunately, I don’t know who made them.
Dear Cindy,
Sorry for pain you’ve been subjected to this year. Prayers up to you and your family. I am so inspired by your positive attitude despite life challenges. I am grateful that I read your story today, and was reminded that this too shall pass. Thank you for sharing your pictures of beautiful things. Peace to you, and wishing you a blessed Merry Christmas!
You are so sweet, Carrie! Thank you so much for your kind words! Merry Christmas!
Dear Cindy, you have a lovely Christmas home that words cannot describe. Yes, 2020 has been a challenging year for all of us. However, it seems you had alot on your plate. I will pray for your recovery. My daughter had to postpone her wedding. We live in Texas and the state closed down one week before her wedding date. Her new date is January 23, 2021. We are keeping our fingers crossed and hope for the best. I did see the Christmas Star last night, but it was not too bright and it was cloudy. My friends and I made best of it and had Mexican Hot Chocolate and Pan de Polvo(cookies) to celebrate. May you have a Very Merry Christmas and Happy 2021. Take care.
Sincerely,
Sylvia Zapata
Thank you so much, Sylvia! Prayers that your daughter will have her wedding without any glitches! It’s so stressful not knowing! I love how you celebrated the Christmas Star! I may have to try those Pan de Polvo cookies! Merry Christmas!
It is all just beautiful! I too suffer from spinal injuries and had the surgery in January. Bless all you this season and the coming year.
Thank you so much! Merry Christmas!
MERRY CHRISTMAS! PRAYERS AND HUGS! EVERYTHING IS BEAUTIFUL!
Thank you, Nancy! Merry Christmas!
Wow, what a year you have had. Wishing you and your husband good health in 2021. As always I love your decorating blogs, you inspire me all the time! ❤️❤️
Thank you so much, Pam!
It is all so beautiful!!! Stay safe and well. Merry Christmas
Thank you, Donna! Merry Christmas!
My goodness you’ve had a rough go. And then you decorate like a boss! Even on my best days my house isn’t going to look like that. Kudos on digging in and doing your amazing work. Blessings for a better year all around in 2021.
Thank you so much, Susan! Merry Christmas!
So beautiful!! You and your hubby did a fabulous job!! I wish you and your family health, happiness and healing in the coming year. We all need it!!
Thank you so much, Linda! Merry Christmas!
I knew something was up because we haven’t heard from you. I’m so sorry for all your health issues. Nothing is as important as our health. I’ve had my share. Let’s hope 2021 brings all of us a better year! Love the living room…tree and mantle are gorgeous. Merry Christmas to you and hubby.
Merry Christmas to you and yours, Linda!
Cindy – So sorry to hear of your health issues. This certainly has been quite the year and do hope that you will continue to improve. Your living room decor is beautiful as always. Sadly, it was too stormy here last night to see the Christmas star. Wishing for you a new year filled with good health and many joyous blessings. Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Thank you, Kathy! Merry Christmas!
So sorry to hear of your health struggles this year! My dad had that same pinched nerve in his neck and it brought him to tears! He said it was just so painful! I hope you get relief from your procedures. It does seem like as we get older, we go from one pain to the next. Just as I’m getting over one health crisis, a new one pops up! I can totally relate and am so sorry you are going through all this! Thankfully we have weddings and decorating projects to distract us, right? Your home is just lovely! Praying for peace and joy for you in the new year!
Thank you, Lauren! Yes, it’s the worst pain I’ve ever had! Merry Christmas!
Great to finally see your blog. Beautiful as always! Wishing you a much healthier & pain free 2021. God bless & Merry Christmas!
Thank you, Robin! Merry Christmas!
Oh my, what a challenging year for you! I’m thankful that you are getting some relief with treatments. I have had similar problems – yes, perhaps all that DIY and gardening in prior years, who knows? It sure is hard to accept and deal with, especially this year. Yes, we DID see the planetary event! My husband has a pretty good telescope. Seeing Saturn with its rings and Jupiter with all four moons through the same eyepiece was miraculous! Merry Christmas and hope your pain gets better soon!
Thank you so much, Donna! Merry Christmas to you and yours!
How sad I am to hear of all your health woes since moving to our wonderful city! I’ve thought of you often, wondered how the move was going, and even wondered if Covid had “visited” your home. Your Christmas decorations are beautiful as always! I do hope we can connect in person in 2021, and I send Best Wishes for a healthy, pain-free New Year!
Anne
Thank you so much, Anne! Merry Christmas!
I love seeing what everyone in blog land is doing this year because I have done nothing. Beautiful living room. Best wishes to everyone a better 2021!
Thank you, Claire! Merry Christmas!
Hi Cindy. Hope you are feeling better. We will all be happy to se the end of 2020.
Best wishes for a New Year and Merry Christmas
From Canada
Thank you, Anne! Merry Christmas!
Absolutely beautiful, these words do not describe the beauty.
Thank you so much, Jerrie!
It is so good to see your post arrive to my in-box. What a year 2020 has been for everyone, I am sorry for your back pain and Covid illness. I wish you good health and happiness in the new year. Your home is lovely and an inspiration to so many!
Thank you so much, Sherry! Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Oh Cindy, I hate to hear all you have been going through. It’s a wonder you were able to decorate at all!
I’m so glad you both are on the mend, and pray you get relief for your back soon. The living room is beautiful and hopefully brings you joy in this beautiful season. 2021 is just around the corner!
Merry Christmas and good fortune and joy to you and John in the new year!
Xoxo
Debbie and Kenny
Thank you, Debbie! I hope you and Kenny are doing well! Merry Christmas!
Cindy,
I am so sorry to hear of what you have gone through. I wish you good health and happiness in the new year. My turquoise ornaments turned French blue in the sun. I’m not sad about it either. I also have white, rose gold, and chinoiserie ornaments and magnolias. I have blue ribbon weaved through the tree.
Peggy, your tree sounds beautiful!! Merry Christmas!
I just want to say I love your posts and so enjoy seeing your exquisite taste. I’m sorry you have had so many health issues. May you get much needed relief fast. All the best.
Deb, thank you so much for your kind words! I appreciate them so much! Merry Christmas!
Oh Cindy, I’m so sorry that you had such a trying time ! I will keep you and yours in my prayers always and here’s to hoping that 2021 will be oodles better and that you will be blessed with good health, joy and loads of love !
On a much more joyful note, my goodness dear Cindy, is there anything that you touch that DOESN’T turn magical and breathtakingly beautiful ?? You are such a marvel my friend and it always brings me much joy to see what you do with your home and how it is always so gorgeous no matter what you come up with ! And kudos to you and John for putting up your lovely decorations after going through such hardships, it is a true testament to your resilience and your strong mettle. As always, thank you for sharing with us.
Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year dearest friend, may your awesome talent continue to shine and project it’s warm glow over all of us that follow you and may our good Lord protect you and yours and shower you with love, good health and lots of peace. 2021 will be better for all of us, I’m sure ! At least now there is light at the end of the tunnel and I, for one, am very grateful for that hope. Take good care my friend. xxx
Thank you so much, Linda. Your kind words mean so much to me. You always know just the right thing to say that makes my day better! I hope you and your family are doing well! Merry Christmas sweet friend!
Cindy,
Wow, what a year for you. You’ll be in my prayers for a full recovery from all the trials you’ve had this year. Congratulations on your son’s wedding. Our son got married in July and everything you said rang true here as well from the wonderful new DIL to having to change plans almost up to the actual day.
Thank you for sharing your heart and your beautifully decorated home for Christmas.
Happy Holidays to you and yours
Congratulations on your son’s wedding as well!! Merry Christmas!
Yes, my husband and I did. We looked at it through binoculars and it looked like one large star and a small one next to it.
Beautiful!
Yes, it was! Merry Christmas, Marian!
Oh my gosh, I love this home. I love Mary….and she must love you so very much as you display your love for her. God Bless you and Thank you for sharing all with us and for the beautiful things you avail us. Merry Christmas with much gratitude for all you do for us.
Bless you, Rose! Merry Christmas!
Wow, you have had a time of it. Hope 2021 is better. Everything is beautiful.
Thank you, Karen! Merry Christmas!
Cindy, I’m so sorry you’ve had such a rough year! Back problems are serious business and I’m glad you found good treatment. Everything looks beautiful, and I’m sure you could make things look like this in your sleep! It all seems effortless on your blog! (I’m sure you’re rolling your eyes and clutching your pearls!) I’m hoping with a big heart that you and I can meet sometime soon for stress-free, worry-free coffee! Merry Christmas to you.
Leslie Anne, my sweet Southern mother in law always believed that one should never wear just one strand of pearls, when several strands were so much better! I inherited her jewelry, including her many strands of pearls, and your comment made me think of her, and how she loved them! Yes, coffee would be wonderful! Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Your home looks beautiful! Wishing you Health and Happiness in the New Year. Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas, Eve!
So glad you’re feeling better. Merry Christmas. Yes. We were able to see the start last night!
Merry Christmas, Leslie!
WOW y’all have had it this year. I feel for you; This summer I was going to the mailbox and missed the curb. I fell in the street and completely messed up my already messed up back. I have my first injection tomorrow, so you give me hope that I can at least put off surgery til after COVID. But that’s my only challenge this year, so mine pales in comparison to yours. So glad y’all’s COVID was mild! And I understand your neck pain – have had issues there too. Goodness, you NEED this year to come to a close! Your decorating is gorgeous as always. God bless and keep you, my dear friend .
Jacki, thank you for your sweet words! I will keep you in my prayers as well! I pray that 2021 brings better times! Merry Christmas, dear friend!
Yes 2020 the year from Hell. I am glad you are feeling better. The tree and mantle looks amazing. Stay safe and Happy Holidays to you and your family.
Thank you so much! Merry Christmas!
Hello Cindy, your tree and mantel are so elegant & beautiful. There is just something magical about sugared fruit and you’ve incorporated it so beautifully. I always find that using natural elements in decorating catches my eye like nothing else. I admire your decorating style, it’s very clean and elegant.
I’m so sorry to hear about your ailments but I wish 2021 will bring you health, peace and joy. Congratulations on your new daughter in law and a very Merry Christmas to you and all your readers.
Thank you so much, Susan! Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Hello! So glad you are on the mend. Your decor is festive and lovely as usual. Better days are coming! Be well! Merry Christmas!
Thank you, Regina! Merry Christmas!
Dearest Cindy your home is always so beautiful that is why I have followed you all these years you give me inspiration.
I am so sorry for your health problems I will hold you in my prayers that you will get relief soon from your pain.
Very happy that you and your husband survived Covid 19 with mild symptoms. I am still trying to avoid it. Merry Christmas and a better New Year 2021. Yes I did see the Christmas Star I though it was beautiful. Gloria
Thank you so much, Gloria! Merry Christmas!
So sorry to hear of your health problems, prayers that the treatments help and you do not have to have surgery. Getting older is not fun, we all seem to have lots of aches and pain!!! You did a wonderful job decorating, it is beautiful…as usual.
So glad you and your hubby had mild cases of COVID, wishing you and your family a Very Merry Christmas.
Thank you, Daphne! Merry Christmas!
Wishing you much good health in 2021!! ♥️Your Christmas living room is gorgeous, as always!!
Thank you so much!
Your living room looks beautiful. Sorry to hear you had such a difficult year. Hopefully, 2021 will bring good health to you and everyone. Wishing you all God’s blessings for a wonderful holiday.
Thank you, Joan! Merry Christmas!
I have been following your blog for many years now, and even if I don’t comment very often, everytime I receive your posts I am delighted. Take care.
Diane, thank you! That means so much to me! Merry Christmas!
Everything is beautiful! So sorry to hear you’ve been struggling with health issues. Wishing you a speedy recovery and the very best health in the New Year.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful home.
Thank you! Merry Christmas, Jean!
Merry Christmas Cindy, sorry about all your trouble this year. Hopefully the worst is over and 2021 will be a better year. Your tree and mantle are beautiful, you are so talented. Congratulations on the new daughter in the family. Hug RubyLou for me.
Thank you so much, Sue! Merry Christmas!
Hi Cindy, I was so very sorry to hear what an up and down year you have had. I do so hope you will get relief for the pain very soon. Happy to hear the wedding was not cancelled and you had some joy in this awful year. Stay safe and hopefully pain free in 2021.
I love your tree and mantle, even though you are having a rough time you are still able to decorate beautifully.
I’ve used some of your ideas and paint colors so many of your ideas over the years.
Oh, your sweet comment makes my day, Olive! Thank you so much! Merry Christmas!
Your living room is Charming and so inviting,
and the color combination couldn’t be any prettier!
Now, just relax, breath, grab a cup
Tea and enjoy your and hubby’s masterpiece.
Merry Christmas and many Blessings in 2021.
Back and neck issues are the worse my hubby is going
through the same thing. Holding off as long as possible
On surgery!!
Thank you, Darlene! Prayers for you hubby! I feel his pain!! Merry Christmas!