As the name of my blog indicates, I spend a lot of time thinking about home. Of course, my Heavenly Home is the one that is eternal, so that’s where I need to lay up my treasures, and that’s the one I’m striving for. But in the meantime, I have been given this tiny piece of the here-and-now—this home on the edge of town, this family, this neighborhood—in which to serve Him. And, though this is in the earthly realm, I want the things that happen here to be investments in the Heavenly realm.




Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Farmhouse Christmas Tour ~ 2014



Every year, I enjoy taking my reader-friends on a little tour through our Farmhouse at Christmastime. I have always dreamed of being one of the houses on a walking tour, so this is sort of a way to do just that...without having to have the house spotless or make hundreds of cookies to serve or clean the floors afterward!  

Our home is not large or fancy or new. In fact, we have lived here for thirty-three years and for twenty or so of those years, we were fixing the place up and by "fixing up" I don't mean painting or changing out light fixtures (although we did that too!). I mean replacing windows, putting on siding, adding insulation, refinishing floors, laying new floors, moving walls, replumbing, rewiring, putting in heat and air conditioning, and so on. Limited time and limited funds demanded that we do the work slowly, over time. But now we have a home that we love...and we love to dress it up for Christmas!

So come on in and have a peek...


Entering the front door, you are in The Farmhouse living room. This where we have the family tree, decorated with ornaments collected through the years, a pencil tree to save space in this smallish room. (Pretend you don't notice the dark spot on our "prelit" tree where the "lit" has gone out.) There's lots of greenery and candlelight and a pineapple (a colonial symbol of hospitality) here and there.



potpourri in a pewter dish


I brought my pineapple statuary in from the front porch to decorate the "fantel" this year.


greenery and a jar candle tucked into an old box

Williamsburg-style fruit fan purchased after Christmas last year


Now let's walk into the dining room. This is an easy room to decorate for Christmas as it is already wearing red (checked curtains) and green (woodwork). Again, I add greenery and candles and fruit for a cozy, colonial look.


another pineapple...and yarrow from the herb garden



heirloom spoons

sideboard Ron made from a pattern featured in Country Living magazine

Bicentennial pewter tea service



della Robbia garland




The last stop on our tour today will be The Farmhouse kitchen, the heart of our home: our everyday dining room, our sitting room, our school room, a gathering room, the Thanksgiving room, the room where everyone ends up no matter where the party starts. 

I told you all about the tree in the kitchen ~here~.







cornhusk nativity, older than some of my children

a glimpse of the new floorcloth

bowl of pomanders on the island

tray near the coffee pot, including the crock of "mystery spoons"



atop the china closet



Thank you so much for joining me on the tour of our Farmhouse! My house is my hobby and I love sharing it with guests, whether in person or via the internet. I know that my home is a gift from the Lord and is to be used for His purpose. 

I came across this quote yesterday. It is referring to a different sort of dwelling, not that made of wood and mortar, but that of the soul. And so I leave you with this food for thought. What kind of habitation do I have?

And what kind of habitation pleases God? What must our natures be like before he can feel at home within us? He asks nothing but a pure heart and a single mind. He asks no rich paneling, no rugs from the Orient, no art treasures from afar. He desires but sincerity, transparency, humility, and love. He will see to the rest.  ~ A.W. Tozer


Merry Christmas to you as we celebrate the greatest gift ever given...
the Word who was made flesh in order to redeem us!


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Linking to The Nester's 2014 Christmas Tour of Homes, where "it doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful!"  (Hooray!)


29 comments:

  1. Your home is really lovely filled with wonderful bits and pieces! Your Christmas decorations are really nice.

    Enjoy your holidays ~ FlowerLady

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  2. Beautiful home--love the colonial look. So cozy, warm and inviting.
    Merry Christmas and blessing to you and your family. Sharon D.

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  3. Near perfect! Everything "fits" and the result is a welcoming holiday home. I especially noticed the shine of your island top and like the new floor cloth. Merry Christmas to your family and all who enjoy your hospitality - especially throughout this season.

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  4. Love a home tour...used to take them every other year...yours would be a fun one to have on the tour. Your love of primitive style comes through so well and your home is a wonderful showcase for your talents. I know that you use your talent for decor and hospitality for The Lord. I see one thing that I am going to copy as soon as I can get out to the garage and back again.

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  5. Oh I do love your style. Everything is so warm and inviting. I am quite a fan of corner cupboards! I really enjoyed having a tour of your welcoming home!

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  6. I LOVE everything about your home. So warm, homey, inviting, unique (love the tree in the kitchen!). It really is just perfect for your obvious gift of hospitality!

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  7. Oh, I so agree with everyone above...truly such warmth and coziness, all wrapped up into one. I love your simplistic style and homespun decor...also the way it is carried through in your Christmas decorations. I had a fantel once...when I was a kid, we had an old desk that sat in the livingroom which our tree stood on...and the stockings were hung from the drawers...lol! And now I know the truth...those orange pomanders that I thought I could almost smell through the screen were fakes!! Hmm...I wonder what idea Vee is planning on copying?? :)

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  8. Your home is warm and welcoming with homespun touches that fit so well together. It reflects you and your family.

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  9. I love your Farmhouse! It is beautiful and it does reflect your beautiful heart for your home and hospitality.

    Deanna

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  10. Cheryl, I love how you decorate for Christmas. Lovely natural touches here and there are just perfect. Thank you for the enjoyable tour. Merry Christmas to you and your family. ♥

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  11. Love your home it is so warm and inviting. That is the look I am trying to get in our home Have always had formal traditional things but about two years ago I discovered I am really drawn to colonial and primitive style. Spend all my time in antique shops searching for great things .Even my husband is getting into it . love seeing your wonder home.

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  12. Your decorating always seems to say to me "Welcome, and be at peace." The quote by Tozer is absolutely fitting for your virtual home tour... "He will see to the rest." Merry Christmas, Cheryl!

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  13. I am here visiting from Vee's blog. Your Christmas decorating is so lovely. I enjoyed the tour.

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  14. Your country decor is welcoming and perfect for a farmhouse.

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  15. Your Christmas tour of your Christmas home is just beautiful. I love everything, the pine and apple swag above the window really hit me, the pewter pieces, the goblets with the red napkins, so lovely. You have a very special touch, Cheryl. But then, you are a very special lady. Special x 10. Merry Christmas to you and yours.

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  16. I am visiting from Vee's and I think I have found a new friend! I love your Colonial decor and listening to how you and your family lovingly put in the time it takes to create a real home. Your words about your heavenly home were precious to read. Thank you for sharing!

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  17. You do know I am seriously sinning at the moment (breaking the coveting commandment). ;)

    It is beautiful.

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  18. I'm visiting at the encouragement of Vee and am so happy I did. I enjoyed the tour of your beautiful farmhouse very much. The large family kitchen is beautiful and I can see where it would be the centre of the hubbub for every occasion. Have a blessed Christmas! Pamela

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  19. So beautiful. I came by through Vee. I love that you still have primitive decor. I love it so much, but don't have much. Merry Christmas!

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  20. What a beautiful home! Thank you for taking us on a tour! I love your pineapple cookies. I have asked for that cookie cutter for Christmas. :-)

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  21. I feel like I'm stepping back in time, Cheryl. Your home is so warm and welcoming.
    thank you for sharing it!!
    Tozer's quote is definitely one to reflect on, on a regular basis!

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  22. It has been so nice to "be in your home" today. I can almost smell the coffee and enjoyed spending time here. Everything is lovely and I see some familiar pieces that we have in our home too--I think we are kindred spirits in love of home and love of old things. Most of all your home is so peaceful, welcoming, quiet beauty, and I know you share it with others to the glory of God. I loved the Tozer quote and reference to him (he and my dad were friends long ago.)

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  23. Oh - I'm so glad that Vee directed us to your blog!!! Everything is absolutely beautiful. I fell in love when I spotted your Noah's Ark painting - I have it too. You have inspired me today!!

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  24. I love your Christmas home. It is so warm, cozy and well done. I could feel very relaxed and at home visiting there.

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  25. Cheryl, I loved the tour of your home. It's simple beauty emits a sense of quietude, serenity and peace. In a day when home is often just a place to eat, and sleep between "more exciting" places to go. I'm with you, in that home is where I want to be most of all. You have inspired me to give more attention to the little details of homemaking in my on home as homeschooling has required a lot of my time that normally would have gone into homemaking. I so want to do well in both.

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  26. Cheryl, thank you for the tour! I love home tours. Your home looks so inviting. When people follow their own style, rather than constantly "updating" and trying to keep up with the "look" depicted in the current magazines, their home develops a patina that reflects the glow of the warm family in it.

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