Friday, December 19, 2008

Holiday Spirit (and where we got George)

As I write this, it's my last day of school for two weeks. And finally, finally it is beginning to feel like Christmas around here.

My husband has been decorating while I'm at work all day.


Over the weekend, I looked for and found several boxes of Christmas decorations in the garage that I emptied and put on the dining room table. And slowly, I started putting the decorations around. My husband put up most of the rest, including 3 different sets of lights.





These pictures are of the mantel in the dining room.



The little Santa riding the polar bear is a Jim Shore collectible that I bought on a super sale last year. I was thinking of bringing it to the dirty santa game at my in-laws home as a gift, but decided to take something else instead.

I guess now it's mine.


And for the past two days, I've home come to rooms transformed by cuttings of fresh greens, strewn with little white lights, and little decorations set here and there.


And those of you who mentioned the tree thing, well I confess that I think you're right. If I don't get something in this house, it just won't be complete.
And I have a new favorite gift which I'll tell you about at a later date.


For now, I'll telll you briefly about where we acquired George.


It had been over 2 years since our beloved border collie, Ralph, had passed away. My husband had taken it particularly hard as the dog had been with him all through his brain cancer the first time. And years later, he was finally ready to get another dog. I will admit here that I was totally against the idea. A puppy would be so much trouble, I told him, and travelling would be more difficult.


But then I realized that we didn't really do a lot of travelling. And when he began showing me ads on the internet, I began to relent. Those puppies were absolutely adorable! And I began to notice that he only really liked the ones that had similar markings to that of our Ralphie.


We finally found a litter of puppies that we liked, but the breeder lived in Ellsworth, Maine. However, they were willing to meet us half way, so we drove up to CT in early September 2007 to pick up our new puppy.
And the rest, I guess, is our history.


Until tomorrow, my friends . . .


My prayers for the people who are having difficultities due to the weather in this country.

30 comments:

dlyn said...

Lovely decoration - and I am glad you got George! And ya won over on my blog - come and give me your address!

Deb said...

I just love your decorations. Your husband has a terrific eye for decorating. Unlike mine! Needless to say...I get to do it all. Oh well, enjoy your vacation!

Ellen said...

Your husband is to be commended on this decorating ability. What your have shared looks great. Mine is creatively challenged. He does the nuts and bolts (puts up trees, outside lights, drags the boxes up from the basement) and I do the execution.

George is a handsome young pup. Aren't they just wonderful companions?

Anonymous said...

Such beautiful decorations, and I love the Jim Shore Santa! George looks like such a sweetie :)

Mental P Mama said...

I love that Santa. Glad you kept it. And George? There could be no other ending.

Sue said...

Well that sounds like the best road trip you could have ever taken...aren't dogs the best...

Tiffany said...

Your decorations are gorgeous, where did you get those lights, I love them!
Just discovered Jim Shore pieces a week ago at Christkindlemarkt and fell in love, don't blame you for keeping this one!
Sweet story about George, the pictures of him are always so sweet.

Pat - Arkansas said...

Your decorations are lovely, and the photos wonderful.
I'm so glad you have George; he was definitely worth the trip!

Wishing you a lovely vacation.

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

I happily read this post about George on the 4th anniversary of the night Edward came to live with us! I am smiling!

So is Edward!

Debra (a/k/a Doris, Mimi) said...

Lovely decorations, Kate. I'm glad to see you and hubs getting into the spirit of the holidays. And the story of George? Well, they have a way of finding us, don't they? Each of our fur children have a unique story about becoming a part of our family. Dee was adopted at 11 months, Kady eased the pain of losing Edward, and Leo is our 5 pound alpha dog. They melt our hearts.

What did you say, Kady? She says she loves Georgie...so do I.

Goodnight, sweet Kate. See you tomorrow...

Tess Kincaid said...

I am so impressed that your husband does the decorating! Wow...it looks so nice!

Our Ralphy dog (yellow lab) passed away last year and we miss him terribly.

ELK said...

such a peaceful homey post and my how I relate to the dog in your life...we are on our third golden ...such friends.

Carin said...

Wonderful picture of George. Dogs are such great friends, and it looks as if you have got the most perfect friend in him you and your husband could have.

Egghead said...

I am so glad you can come home to some lights and decorations. There is something about lights that make it a little more cheery. God knows you need cheery. I love the story about George.

abb said...

Just nothing like a doggy to love. You have George, we have Stella, Mental has Dora...all such wonderful, unconditionally loving doggies!

And hubby is doing a heck of a job with the Xmas decorations!

Country Girl said...

Thank you, all. And Tiff, I got the lights at Smith & Hawken about 3 or 4 years ago. I'm not sure if they still carry them.

~ C.G.

brneyedgal967 said...

Love the polar bear ornament and the colors of your pictures - they are so muted, warm and homey looking.

'Course that ain't a bad lookin' dog either. I heart George!

Annie said...

Great to see you are getting jazzed up at last Kate ..for Christmas. A few lights and things does wonders for us. I know I struggle with Christmas, as my husband died suddenly and accidentally just before Christmas 25 years ago. So it is often the kids who help to cheer me up at times. My mother passed away two years ago on Christmas eve, so life for me at Christmas is a quite different story. However we all did have a wonderful week at the beach, the kids and grandkids and I and I have had my son and daughter in law and their gorgeous three kiddies here for a week since then which has been fun. One takes the time to appreciate the special people in our lives more, I think, when life is throwing tuff things at us.

Thinking of you this year, my first bloggy Christmas, and yours was the first blog I ever read...what a great intro to the blogging world! It is such a great way to preserve precious memories.

Annie

Skogkjerring said...

I love Jim Shore, I became familiar with him last year when visiting my parents in the states while my mother was in the hospital in Dallas. Dad and I had nothing better to do then wander around the halls and the gift shop was a major attraction...they had tons of Jim Shore pieces and my Dad got (from both he and my mom) a nativity set from Jim Shore...was and is one of my most treasured Christmas pieces now!
George's markings are really lovely, they sell border collies left and right here in Norway and I've been trying to look for a pup with his markings since seeing George for the first time but it's not that easy. Still, I don't need another dog, so it's probably best I don't find one!
And you are getting a tree (Big smile on my face) I am so happy for you guys! My work here is complete....have a great weekend!!!

Anonymous said...

Can I have those lights, because I love them! They are so beautiful Kate....they look old school which is why I love them.

KathyB. said...

I like a road trip that ends with a puppy going home with me!I have had 2 such trips to other states and both dogs were such wonderful additions to our family.

The decorating is so beautiful,thank-you for sharing pictures with us.

Mary said...

Your mantle looks beautiful -- I love those lights! I'm glad you're keeping the Santa -- love that, too. Enjoy your vacation, and have fun with George. I hope Santa got him something good...
xoxo,
Mary

Torsdag 1952 said...

Finally you got a wonderful "George" and a lovely decoration too.
Hartmut

Hilary said...

Those photos are just beautiful. I'm so impressed with your husband's and your decorating talents. You're as creative as George is beautiful.. and you know that says a lot. :)

Anonymous said...

I'm glad you found George...and that you share him with us!

Your mantle looks so beautiful...I want lights for my mantle...

Maria said...

Those photos and their colors are beautiful and just the kick in the pants I need to get my house decorated in the next day or two.......or three.

Oh dear. Cat on the lap. Coffee just made. Looks like the procrastination has started again. :-)

Anonymous said...

Your pictures and stories and the snow are absolutely miracleous, just perfect, also like George too, I greatly admire the border collie.

Woman in a Window said...

These pets that live with us, that even give us difficulty sometimes (Often in my house) well, I think they were just out there waiting for us. Strange, maybe, but something that feels like truth.

Chere said...

If must be fun to come home every day and find something new decorated. I also enjoy reading blogs about your George. Since our children are not at home any more we have "the girls". They are oldest to youngest Katie, Lab, 8yrs, Dixie, Cocker, 7yrs, Molly, Cocker, 6yrs and Bella, Chihuahua, 3yrs. They are our girls.

Noe Noe Girl...A Queen of all Trades. said...

Beautiful lights, beautiful George and Beautiful you!
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