Blog by Beebe Cline, PREC*

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Have Yourself a Rustic Christmas

It’s hard to ignore the allure of the “old-fashioned” Christmas. Many of us grew up with the fantasy of the good old days, when everyone traipsed through the snow to get a tree, decorated the cabin with live pine branches, hung simple yet classic homemade ornaments and sipped hot chocolate while singing carols around the fire. We’d love to re-create it, even if, as in my case, while growing up you were more apt to traipse through low, thick fog for the tree at a lot, pine branches were few and far between, and ornaments on the tree were a homey (yet very happy) combination of family heirlooms, souvenirs from vacations and clumsily crafted Christmas projects brought home from school.

If you suffer from delusions of fantasy Christmases past, it’s not as far-fetched as it might seem to re-create the look, even if you live in a high-rise apartment in the middle of the city. You don’t even need to change your everyday decor. With some well-placed greenery and plenty of softly lit candles, burlap ribbon and decorative objects made of unfinished wood, plus a few pinecones and berries, you’ll have a look that just might have you heading back to reread Little House on the Prairie. All you’ll need to provide is the hot chocolate and singing voices.

Finally, remember that this is your home and your family, not a magazine photo spread. So even though it may seem out of place, go ahead and hang that Styrofoam ball studded with sequins and put out the “Merry Christmas” plate your 5-year-old made. After all, these are your memories. Who knows, you might just start some traditions that will one day be looked to as part of “the good old days.”
A garland around the door and a welcoming wreath say Christmas no matter what your decorating style. Simple round balls on the garland brighten the entry to this wonderful Texas ranch home. The whitened skull is a bit more unusual, but you can’t say it isn’t country and natural.

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