Tuesday, December 18, 2012

PREPARING THE NEST

 
 
 
 
Hi there,
Did I mention I love to decorate the Cardinal Nest for Christmas??
 
 
I found this red glass cardinal in a junk shop in Canada last year.
Now it guards the window, and the strands of Christmas lights Mr. Cardinal has draped across the house front.
 
 
This year I have made a pair of Christmas cushions, with fabric featuring,
ahem, Cardinals ...
 
And my latest decorating ploy,
photos of the 3 grandsons wearing Santa hats.
New Little Bebe in the blue frame,
wearing a blue Santa hat at 2 weeks of age...
 
 
 
The Christmas pudding, firming wrapped in calico, is boiling away as I write.
Thank goodness the temperature has dropped a bit today,
what with all that steam in the kitchen...
 
 
Cheerio for now!
 
xx
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

26 comments:

  1. Lots of lovely festive ideas in your nest. That red glass cardinal was just sitting there waiting for you to catch it, and the fabric is just perfect for a cardinal's nest.

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    1. The Canadian junk shop was a big dark dusty old barn crammed full of lots of rubbish, but I spotted that bird in an instant!

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  2. I love Christmas decorations and yours are top-notch! Your cushions are gorgeous - really beautiful material. Love all your Cardinal touches.

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  3. Every year I try to do something different with the decorations, which is always fun. It is probably just about time to rein in the cardinals, but they work well at Christmas!

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  4. That red cardinal was just waiting for you. Lovely decorations! x

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    1. Absolutely, Suzy, he was indeed, and only $9! x

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  5. The red cardinal household is looking very festive indeed Patricia and the glass cardinal is pretty superb..a great find.
    xx

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    1. Thanks Annie, we are looking forward to sharing the house and decorations with family, especially Little Aussie. I have told the glass cardinal that he is quite a hit in blogland!
      xx

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  7. Your home looks so cheery and Christmasy. When I first saw that glass Cardinal, it looked to me like it was 5 feet tall sitting on the outside railing and I couldn't imagine how you got it home from Canada. Then I realized it was sitting on the window, looking out. Fun!

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    1. Thanks Beryl, he he when I saw the photo, I was surprised at the size of the bird too! Funny how a camera angle can play a trick. He is a bit fragile, and was a pain to bring home even at his regular size, but where there's a will ...

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  8. The nest looks lovely. Great pillows. Of course the babies in the Santa hats steal the show.

    Darla

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  9. Dear Patricia,
    It all looks cosy and warm at the Cardinal's..
    The red Cardinal was waiting for you!
    Wishing you and your family a wonderful Christmas.. thank you for leaving your comments on my posts... I have enjoyed blogging with you, and look forward to 2013
    Family arriving now.
    God bless.. stay well.
    val xxx

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    1. Dear Val, well, it is certainly warm here... My family is arriving soon as well. It has been a lovely year blogging with you, and learning about Portugal at the same time. You have a wonderful Christmas with family, and God bless you too. All the best. P.xxx

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  10. My mother loves Cardinals. I think they are her favorite bird. You decorated beautifully and it looks very Christmasy. I did absolutely no decorating. Maybe next year...

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    1. While we have lots of colourful birds in Australia, I love the idea of a pure brilliant red bird! Despite many efforts, I have never managed to see one in real life. Maybe next year for me too.

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  11. On my goodness, Patricia. Beautiful ... all of them! As lovely as anything I've seen in an Etsy shop, a Pottery Barn or Saks 5th Avenue.

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    1. Hi Debra, and thank you. I do have fun and amuse myself greatly with my mix and match, budget decorations!

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  12. How festive you are looking! Love all the colors, and your pillows and the ornaments. Enjoy your pudding! (Is the English Christmas Pudding kind of like fruitcake?)

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    1. Festive we are, Sanda. It might be the bright sunlight, but I love the vivid colours of the baubles and ornaments. The pudding is the one like fruitcake, boiled in a calico cloth - quite like something out of Dickens, really...

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  13. I cannot wait to eat Christmas pudding, I love it so so much, I just wish it wish so fattening.
    Your house looks lovely, my favourite is the beatuful little house in the tree.

    Have a wonderful Christmas!

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    1. Hi Tabitha, darn Christmas pudding, and the cream, brandy sauce, custard, and icecream (which Mr C. demands, er, requires) don't help either. Glad you like our take on Christmas, and the little felt house, which came from Quebec, a version of the traditional Quebec cottage of the early French settlers. I love it!
      Happy Christmas to you, too!

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  14. Patricia, I love all of your Christmas decorations. We live in a shoebox-sized flat, so the tree is all I have attempted to do this year. I especially love the banister decoration. Have a terrific Christmas xxx

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    1. Hi Fifi, ah, that brings back memories, living in the tiny flat! We did that too way back when .. it was such a big deal when we bought our first little tree. The pink on greenery decoration is my favourite this year, too. Glad you like it. Merry Christmas and all the best for 2013, Fifi xxx

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