Joyeux Noel in the Kitchen

Ok.

Please, don't hate me.

I actually had all of my Christmas decorations up before Thanksgiving.

I know.

I know.

You think I'm smart crazy.

But I just couldn't wait.

I wanted a good month of enjoying the whole glorious season

instead of the three weeks that are the norm.

And since my OCD leaf blowing was completed for the year,

I now had time to floof for Christmas.

Up to the attic I went to start scrounging around in the multitude of bags and tubs up there

filled with balls and bells and boughs,

wreaths and wrapping paper,

lights, lights, and more lights...

and a lot of dead ladybugs.

Ewww.
How in the world do they all get in, anyway...???
Such is the life in a creaky, old farmhouse, I guess.

I ended up hauling down only a couple different bags

because I was going for a certain look this year.

No
red and green.

No
poinsettias.

No
velvet bows.

No
brightly colored balls.

Not the typical Christmas decor for Heaven's Walk this year.

A simple, pared back, neutral, natural look is what my heart was craving.

What would Christmas look like out in the garden....?

Can you guess what that certain look was?

Well, if you know me well,

you'd say ~

"Jeanne d'Arc".

Yup.
You'd be right.

I started sorting through the bags

while the butternut squash in the oven baked merrily away

filling the house with it's sweet scent....

and making my stomach growl.

New brushed stainless jewelry for the cabinetry will be purchased soon. Yay! The glass knobs will be stored away for future furniture projects.

Amidst this mess in the kitchen,

I was searching for juniper boughs,

white candles,

mercury glass,

pine cones and moss,

garden statuary,

terra cotta pots, 

and galvanized pails.

I floofed and floofed and floofed

all day long,

and slowly ~

gradually ~

the look was coming together.

I kept running back into the living room to refer to my
JDA Christmas issue
(which was breathtaking as usual).
I wanted my house to look like it jumped right out of that beautiful magazine.

Ready for the reveal?

Grab your cup of pumpkin spice latte

(me, too - please!)

and sit back...

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I love how the sunshine was washing the room with it's warmth that day.

Cement urn:  antique market

Mercury glass votives:  Hobby Lobby

Tiny LED tea lights were added to the votives that were tucked in the juniper boughs.

A few left over olive branches were tucked here and there.

Olive branches: Michael's

Nest:  Wayside Treasures

I later added a little bling to the nest.

Glass snowflake:  Target

I placed some crystal encrusted red dogwood branches across the top of the pie safe.

The subway sign is from Red Letter Words.
I love reading that verse every time I walk into the kitchen.

It's comforting.

"I have loved thee with an everlasting love;
therefore with loving kindness
have I drawn thee."
~Jeremiah 31:3

French script star:  Wayside Treasures.  Boxwood wreath:  Farmhouse Wares.

I recently won this beautiful grain sack pillow from
generous Marty at A Stroll Thru Life.

I adore it.

It was made by talented Ann at On Sutton Place.
She does beautiful work and has an Etsy shop called
Sutton Place Designs.

The darling ruffled Nest pillow slip behind it was made by sweet Shellagh
(a treasured friend of mine)
at Ticking & Toile,
who also has a wonderful Etsy shop.

I like it draped across the back of the wicker chair for now.

If you're looking for some beautiful Christmas gifts,
pop in and check out their awesome handmade treasures.
These gals are over-the-top talented!

Nest pillow slip:  Ticking & Toile; grain sack pillow: Sutton Place Designs. Chair color: BM "Wyeth Blue".

I purchased this topiary at a local antique market this summer.
I can't, for the life of me,
remember the name of it.

It starts with a "P", I do know that,
and it looks very similar to 'Angel Vine',
but it has burgandy stems, not dark brown stems.

Anybody have any ideas....?

It's happily growing on the window sill over the sink.

I am soooo loving my kitchen this holiday season,
and am glad that I lugged that ginormous frantel home with me this summer.

Always follow your instincts, girls!
God gave them to us for a reason.  :) 

Did you want to take a peek into the master loo, too?

Mercury glass acorn:  Target

Simple,
natural,
and
Jeanne d'Arc inspired.


Ok.

You can go refill your latte now....

Next week:  The living room!

{ Christmas Blessings }

Linking to the parties on the lower right of my sidebar.
Just click on the buttons and check out all of the
beautiful holiday ideas!

Oh ~ and don't forget to participate in the

Christmas Blogger Block Party

and

The Holiday Link Party!

Info on my sidebar!