Sunday, December 22, 2013

Our Colorado Christmas



I opened up bins and pulled out Christmas decorations I haven't seen in a few years to decorate our home this year--our first official Christmas season living in Colorado!  The past few years my husband and I  traveled west to spend Christmas with our son, daughter-in-law, and grandsons, so I did not decorate in my house in New York.  Two years ago, after my daughter and soon to be son-in-law also moved to Colorado, we stayed at their apartment in Denver, near the Governor's Mansion, where we took an open house holiday tour of the same (click here to see that post). Last year, we were busy packing for our own cross country move, which took place a few weeks after Christmas, so all our decorations remained in their bins for another year.
So, it was fun to finally be able to decorate again this year and reminisce, as I put all our special memory ornaments on our Christmas tree. Some date back to the 70's when we were first married, and many were bought over the years in special places we visited, or were homemade by our children and now our grandchildren. Our Nativity set is displayed in a place of honor, as it has been since we purchased it on our very first Christmas. Santa Claus stands at the bottom of my staircase, where all our gifts are now wrapped and displayed, while a new little elf sits on my mantel.  I have enjoyed collecting Santa Claus figurines over the years and have some on my kitchen counters...


..while others sit on a table in my living room.


I even had room for a small Christmas tree in my kitchen this year, complete with a "Big Apple" felt tree topper ornament that a co-worker of my husband made for us!


My granddaughter had her first visit with Santa Claus at a very pretty Santa Land in the Park Meadows Mall this month. She did quite well, with no tears shed! Meanwhile, this year my grandsons, wearing their cute Christmas pj's, had an evening ride on the Santa Train at the Colorado Train Museum.


We also celebrated my grandson's fifth birthday this month!  He likes tales about Knights and Castles, so I made him a castle shaped cake complete with knights defending it.  Special effects in the photo are courtesy of Google Picasa who added them on without me doing a thing after I upload them to their web page.


Look at this cute effect Google Picasa added to a photo of my kitchen Elf figure hanging.  Santa Claus left a note to my grandsons in the envelope! ;)



My husband and I also took a day trip up to historic Georgetown, Colorado, last weekend, to enjoy the Christmas festivities in the Rocky Mountains.


Georgetown had its beginnings in 1859 as a gold and silver mine town. Now, much of it is a Historic National Landmark full of charming old buildings, especially 6th Street, which is full of shops and restaurants. (All photos will enlarge for easier viewing by clicking on them)


We enjoyed listening to carolers sing, having some roasted chestnuts and a big freshly baked pretzel to eat, window shopping, and taking a horse-drawn carriage ride around town. I bought my husband a cowboy hat in one of the stores, as I thought he looked great in it! What do you think?


Another Google Picasa effect in this photo we took of a creek in Georgetown. 


Christmas Nativity in front of the Denver City and County Building -- part of the illumination of Denver for Christmas--click here to see that post.


Now, in these last few days before Christmas, I am busy baking and planning my traditional Italian "Feast of the Seven Fishes" we have on Christmas Eve, while we look forward to joyfully welcoming the birth of Christ the King on Christmas Day!  We have much to be thankful for, and much to celebrate, as the year 2013 comes to a close.  The greatest joy of my life is being close to my family again and being able to watch. my grandchildren grow up. That is what life is all about for me!  It has been a wonderful first year living in Colorado, and I look forward to what 2014 brings. May good health and happiness be ours, and yours!



I wish you all a very Merry and Blessed Christmas!




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36 comments:

The Quintessential Magpie said...

What a lovely post, Pat!

I love your decorations, and I can't get over how big the birthday boy is! I can remember when he was born!!!

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and all the joys of the season.

Be blessed...

XO,

Sheila

Barbara F. said...

Love your photos and I cannot believe how fast this year has flown! Seems like you just had your Brooklyn home on the market! Merry Christmas to you and your family! xo

genie said...

So you are now in Colorado. How exciting. It is beautiful out there. Your post is filled to the brim with fun and colorful seasonal pictures. You always go the extra mile with your posts. Love the snow falling. I need to check into that. I have always wanted to know how to do it. genie

podso said...

I can imagine the joy in unpacking your Christmas treasures and seeing them again after a few years in bins. It looks lovely. Wishing you and your family a wonderful Christmas!

Sarah said...

I know you are thrilled to celebrate Christmas in your new home this year. Must have been fun to see your Christmas things after having them packed away for a few years.
Happy Birthday to that big boy and Merry Christmas to you and your family. ~ Sarah

Kathleen said...

I am glad you had fun decorating your new home this year! Looks like you are enjoying yourselves!
Merry Christmas, Pat!

Pallavi said...

How beatiful dear Pat. I love what Picasa did to your pictures! The snowfall and the little lights in your grandson;s picture look really pretty. Hope you have a blessed christmas . Much love :)

The Gathering Place said...

How fun to finally be able to pull out all your Christmas decorations! Your Colorado life looks like it is rich and full. Merry Christmas!

Lorrie said...

How fun for you to pull out your decorations once again. Love the Big Apple ornament on your kitchen tree. I imagine you are loving being so close to your children and grandchildren - there's nothing like family.
Merry Christmas, Pat, to you and yours. May the blessings of the Christ Child be yours throughout 2014.

Billy Blue Eyes said...

You really go to town, we just have a Christmas tree but it does us. Happy Christmas

Ann said...

well it sure is Christmasy around there. Looks great with all those cute decorations. I like that elf that holds the message
Georgetown looks like a place I would love to visit

eileeninmd said...

Happy Belated birthday to your grandson, he is a cutie! Pat, your home and decorations are all beautiful and festive. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Old Kitty said...

My goodness!! The cowboy hat has transformed your hubby! He totally looks like a cowboy - seriously! It's the hat! With the tache! Excellent!

Awwwwww happy happy birthday to your adorable grandson!! And what a cake!

Your first official Christmas in Colorado is looking fabulous! I wish you and yours a fantastic Christmas and New Year! Enjoy your Feast of the Seven Fishes too! Yay! Take care
x

Gardening in a Sandbox said...

You have made your new home look so Christmassy. I know that your family will enjoy to be together this year. Meryl Christmas. Valerie

Ola said...

Perfect decorations!
Merry Christmas!

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

Pat, you must have felt right at home in Georgetown with the roasting chestnuts and pretzels. Perhaps a big apple out west :) Vinnie looks quite at home and fits right into the west in his Stetson.

Love your tree and all of the ornaments that mean so much to you. Merry Christmas to you and your lovely family.
Sam

Lynn said...

Looks like you're having a very special Christmas Pat-Enjoy every minute! Merry Christmas!
PS-I see a cute piggy:@)

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

It all sounds and looks wonderful! Enjoy your first official Christmas in your new home!

Yogi♪♪♪ said...

It looks like you are adjusting to Colorado very well. Great decorations!

GailO said...

Looks like you are catching up on lost time decorating! Gorgeous!

Love the hat:) and now I am off to check on Google Picasa!

Bonnie said...

Glad you are enjoying decorating since you have had your things packed away. You find the neatest things to do. Georgetown sounds like a fun place to visit. Your pictures are great. I love the effects from Picasa. How did you do them? I have Picasa but didn't figure out how to add the snow effects. I am sure you are too busy right now at Christmas. It can wait until after but I would really like to know when you have time to tell me.

Have a Merry and Blessed Christmas. Bonnie

Judy said...

What could be better than a Rocky Mountain Colorado Christmas...with all your family nearby? Wishing you all a joy-filled Christmas.

ellen b. said...

You have settled in so well in your new state and community. A very blessed year indeed.
Your Italian feast sounds fabulous.
Merry Christmas!

diane b said...

Great Christmas post. Your decorations are beautiful. The trip to Georgetown looked fun. Google added snow to one of my beach pictures which I thought was a bit odd. You must be thrilled to be spending Christmas at home with all the family.

Barbara said...

Beautiful pictures -- all of them. The castle cake you made for your grandson's birthday is a work of love. I really like what Picasa did for your photos with the snowfall! And I LOVE Georgetown at any time of the year! Merry Christmas, Pat!

Trotter said...

Hi Pat! Hope you are having a great holiday season! Sorry for the absence, but work and concerns are keeping me away from Blogtrotter... Anyhow, enjoy my latest post at Tobago, and have a great season!
Wish you all the best for 2014, hopefully better than 2013!

Beverly said...

Pat, you must feel like you are in heaven to be there with your family in your new home.

Merry Christmas to you and all you hold dear, my friend.♥

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Your decorations look lovely. Merry Xmas!

Vee said...

Merry Christmas! I really liked the Google Picassa effects...cool. And I'm tickled pink that you were able to decorate this year...it's fun to find all those treasures and use them again. Your granddaughter is heading for toddlerhood at breakneck speed. She and Santa are obviously old friends.

Sara at Come Away With Me said...

Looks like you are having a lovely and blessed first Colorado Christmas at your house. Wishing you and yours all the best in the New Year too.

MastHoliday said...

Great informative article with beautiful collection of pictures!!!
Have a great day..

Sweet Woodruff said...

Thank you for being a new blog follower. I look forward to seeing more of you. These pictures are fun. I like your snow effect. :) I wish you the Happiest of New Years. Take care.

La Petite Gallery said...

Merry Christmas, a little late but computer is nuts , it's a Dell Not American. I feel so
priviliged, seeing your beautiful Grandchildren, growing up. Like a distant part of family. Wishing you all a wonderful and Happy New Year. yvonne

CatHerder said...

Great pics..Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Cheryl @ TFD said...

It looks like you had a beautiful Colorado Christmas! Love your photos and the special effects that some have. Wishing you and your family all the best in the coming New Year!

Anonymous said...

I can't believe it's already been a year since you moved to Colorado. Looks like you had a wonderful Christmas. Those effects are very cute!