A Peaceful Cottage Christmas 2017

Welcome to our Christmas cottage 2017.


The heavens have opened up and dropped a white blanket around our red cottage. It covers the garden and walks, the pines and the dried flowers, making everything prettier. Last year by this time we had three feet of accumulated snow. This amount is much more manageable.

December has been quiet and peaceful here. As usual, I keep Christmas decorating simple. A wreath on the front door is our only porch decoration.





This year I dusted off my sewing machine and made a Christmas tree for the mantel.





I really like this plaid fabric, and since I had a lot leftover I decided to use it along with other scraps from my stash to make pillow covers.


I'm enjoying these pillows so much I plan to keep them out all winter. 

The newly restyled hutch (which I showed in my last post) gave me a place to do a little more decorating this year.


Most of these Christmas decorations were given to me.


I'm really liking the red touches with the light blue of the hutch.

We designed the cottage with plenty of windows, and in the winter it's especially nice to have the sunlight streaming in.



I happened upon the cute placements at the thrift store. They still had the Danica tags on them, and at 50 cents for all four I couldn't resist.



The bears, given to us by one of our children, come out every year. This year they greet us from the garden window.



At night the glow of our beloved nativity warms our home and hearts and reminds us to slow down and remember the real reason we celebrate Christmas.



"And there were shepherds residing in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night. Just then, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the City of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord! And this will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.'"
Luke 2:8-12

We wish you a very Merry Christmas, filled with God's blessings and love. May He protect you and your family, and keep you well.







51 comments

  1. Merry Christmas to you, dear friend. You've been on my mind and I'm glad to have a chance to see your wonderful Christmas home.
    ~Adrienne~

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  2. Merry Christmas, and thank you for the gift of seeing your lovely cottage at Christmas. Your mantel is just right for the red cottage and I love the sunny windowsill with geraniums in it. I've never had geraniums inside until this year when I brought one small pink one inside before frost. It has faithfully given me two or three blossoms at a time continuously, more joy than I got from big pots of them outside.

    I do love your sunny kitchen, Nancy!

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  3. Merry Christmas! Your red cottage looks fabulous with its decorations and the white landscape.

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  4. Merry Christmas Nancy. Loved seeing your lovely cottage ready for Christmas. Lovely light coming in through your windows.
    Joy

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  5. Your Home looks so cozy for Christmas. I wish You and Your Family a Very Merry Christmas.

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  6. Have a joyful Christmas, Nancy! Your Christmas cottage is so beautiful.This garden window is really like an oasis.

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  7. Dear, dear Nancy, the cottage looks AMAZING! Your mantle is so lovely in all its simple beauty. The texture of the wood and the stove below are just what I love. We decorate very simply as well, with natural elements such as dried branches, pinecones and twigs. It's lovely to see you, and I wish you and Dennis a fantastic time of reflection and a wonderful 2018!! Anita

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  8. Your home looks lovely. Love your mantle and your hutch.

    Happy Christmas to the both of you ~ Love & hugs ~ FlowerLady

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  9. Your cottage looks beautiful Nancy. Best wishes for a peaceful and happy Christmas.

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  10. Nancy it all looks so beautiful at your home - and having the snow is so special at the holidays - none here unfortunately.
    The tartan tree is awesome - and I love the pillows - you are a wonderful seamstress. Placements very pretty and a bargain. I was concerned my red Christmas items would perhaps not look good with all the blues I now have going on in the living room, but lo and behold, it works really well and I like the new look after being surrounded by white for so many years - goodbye shabby chic, let's enjoy color too!
    Sending love and blessings to you for a wonderful Christmas. We are home too this year, enjoying the quiet moments and having time to remember the true meaning of Christmas.

    Looking forward to your posts over the coming months.
    Happy Christmas to you and Dennis.
    Hugs - Mary

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  11. Just lovely and wonderful to "see" you again! Wishing you abundant blessings at Christmas and in 2018! I hope to connect with you again in the new year. xoxo

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  12. Hi Nancy, it was so funny I was just thinking about you and as soon as I opened up my computer there you were in my inbox. I was so happy to get your post. Your sweet cottage is so lovely and beautifully decorated for Christmas. I can tell that it is filled with love. Have a very Merry Christmas and a beautiful New Year!
    xoxo Jo

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  13. it's all so pretty and creative
    and perfectly simple. i love it!

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  14. Merry Christmas sweet friend. Your pretty cottage looks so cozy and warm for Christmas. Wishing you and Dennis a very Merry Christmas. Wishing you much happiness, great health and wonderful new blessings in the new year.
    xoxo
    Kris

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  15. Merry Christmas Nancy from one Idahodian to another!
    Good to see you back, especially showing us you hoilday decorations. Very cute!

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  16. Good Evening Nancy, How exciting to have a smattering of snow just in time for Christmas. You look like you will be nice and cosy inside your beautiful cottage.
    I love how you have used remnants of material to create 2 beautiful cushions and yes I agree, they are too lovely to be tucked away after Christmas. They must be enjoyed.
    Have a lovely Christmas and I wish you love and joy for the new year.
    With warmest wishes
    Daphne

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    1. Wonderful to receive your visit, Daphne. Best wishes for a fabulous 2018.

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  17. Merry Christmas to you! A Peaceful Cottage is a blessing!

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    1. It's what I strive for, Linda. Happy New Year to you!

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  18. Merry Christmas to you all snug in your cottage, Nancy.

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    1. You know that in this part of the country we must do all we can to make this time of year cozy and warm. Happy New Year, Laurel!

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  19. The sun pourring through the windows make such a happy atmosphere. Merry Christmas to you!

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  20. Hi Nancy, I got so excited when I saw that you had posted again. Your home and all the charming touches of Christmas all around are so lovely. Love the plaid Christmas tree, but I do have to say I kind of missed seeing a Danish elf setting somewhere. Have you ever gotten around to starting him?
    Remembering the true meaning of Christmas . . . the day our sweet Savior was born.
    Have a very Merry Christmas.
    Your blogging sister,
    Connie :)

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  21. I have been thinking about you and hoping the you post a Christmas update. A simple Christmas is a beautiful thing when you look around and see just the things you love.

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  22. Merry Christmas, Nancy!

    Joy to the world, the Lord is come!

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  23. Merry Christmas Nancy . . .
    and
    Joy
    Peace

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  24. Wishing a wonderful Christmas time to you and family Nancy! May the new year bring peace, joy and good health!

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  25. It was so nice to see a post from you in our inbox! I trust you and yours had a wonderful Christmas Day! God bless you, sweet friend. :) Your cottage looks so beautiful, as always!

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  26. Your cottage is beautiful and with simple holiday touches - so much the better. The little plaid tree is sweet. I would of driven to Oregon just to get those place mats for 50 cents. I really like all the windows in your cottage...so important for those of us who are tiny/small home dwellers. Merry Christmas (late).

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    1. You're so sweet. Thank you, dear friend. I hope you're enjoying winter in your new home. xo

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  27. Your sweet cozy cottage looks just perfect for the holidays as always!! I love those placemats, what a great find!

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  28. Everything looks warm, cozy and festive, Nancy. I hope you had a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful week so far. Happy New Year my friend. It was fun to catch a glimpse of what you've been up to. That tree is darling. Perfect!! Hugs to you!

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  29. I love your cozy cottage. Your decorations are lovely. Happy New Year to you and yours!

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  30. Hi Nancy,
    I very late dear, but her to see your holiday beauty. It’s a perfect red cottage, and I know it was a perfectly all is calm Christmas. I love your hand loomed area rug placed, your hutch simply decorated, and the farmhouse cottage red is wonderful. A happy New Year to you and yours.

    Xx
    Dore

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    1. So nice to receive your visit, Dore. Happy New Year!

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  31. Adorei a guirlanda. Feliz Ano Novo Nancy.

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  32. How lovely your sweet cottage looks decorated for Christmas! I'm finally getting back to reading some blogs and it's so nice to catch up with you. I hope you and Dennis had a wonderful Christmas. Wishing you a joyful, healthy and creative 2018!

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  33. I love the red paint of your cottage set against the white snow. I also like your little fabric tree - I have one too except mine is knitted. Happy new year and sweet blessings for a beautiful year for the things that matter most to you.

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  34. Wishing you a happy New Year Nancy! Hope you will blog in 2018! I do enjoy your blog. Blessings!

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  35. I've saved your post so I could respond... better late than never right? Christmas has come and gone already.... and tonight is New Year's Eve. We don't really celebrate it in any way but it does feel significant.... rolling over to a new year already. I LOVE the simplicity of your sweet red cottage! My house is just too full of stuff and for 2018, I hope I can continue to pare down. I boxed up many things in the summer of 2017 and had a yard sale, but there is still so much to donate or give away. With my many Christmas decorations out, I feel almost smothered with it all. Just too much! Most of it is sentimental, from years gone by, and it's hard to part with, but I will, slowly but surely. Wishing you a blessed new year.... Marilyn

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    1. Sometimes just taking the first few steps to purge our stuff is enough of an incentive to keep going, and before we know it we've gotten rid of things we never thought we could part with. It's kind of addicting. :)

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  36. I'm a bit late to admire your lovely decorations and beautiful home, Nancy, but I'm so glad you had a white Christmas. We began 2018 with one day of proper winter - plenty of rain and a bit of thunder - and the country is in a state of collapse, flooding everywhere and people doing silly things and getting stuck here and there. But we are recovering today with a nice sunny day. Looking forward to following your adventures in 2018, Happy New Year my friend.
    Amalia
    xo

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  37. So wonderful to see a post from you dear Nancy! Oh my, Christmas at your house is simply perfect! I love your handmade Christmas trees and the gorgeous pillows you made too! I'm admiring your hutch so very much, adorned with such pretties! I love winter sunlight, and lots of windows too, here in the north, sunshine is a coveted thing :) I pray you had a blessed and special Christmas, and wish you the very best in this New Year! Many hugs to you dear friend :)

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  38. Hi Nancy,
    Nice to see a post from you...just love your cottage with the Christmas decor and your hutch looks so pretty. Love the color! Happy New Year!
    Warmest regards,
    Diane@babiesbridesandlavender

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