A River Cottage Christmas

I thought that renovating River Cottage was the most fun I'd ever had.  Decorating the cottage for Christmas was equally exciting.  It was like starting with a blank slate--a chance to create new traditions. Since we had agreed to participate in the annual Christmas by the River home tour on December 3, the decorating process had to start early.  Believe it or not, the tree was fully decorated by Oct. 31, and other holiday touches soon followed.

The cottage was rented over the Thanksgiving weekend and also the weekend before Christmas.   Holiday touches were spread throughout the bedrooms, and our guests seemed to enjoy the festive atmosphere.

In between rentals, our family was able to enjoy several of our own Christmas events at the cottage.  My favorite was a craft morning spent with my cousins, Julie and Lee Ann, making boxwood wreaths and centerpieces.  Not only did we leave with decorations for our homes, but we also had the best time just catching up and spending time together.

I guess the neighbors are wondering when the outdoor decorations are going to come down.  I know it's time, but it just looks so cheerful.Maybe this weekend I will have the heart to say a final goodbye to my River Cottage Christmas.