Have you ever wanted to attend a book event hosted by an author you’ve wanted to meet? Well, now’s your chance to meet at least three authors, Sarah Loudin Thomas, Cindy Sproles, and me. All of us have written stories set in the Appalachian Mountains. Sarah has set all her books somewhere in the mountains. Her new release, The Right Kind of Fool, that features a hearing impaired main character is getting great reviews. So is Cindy’s book, What Momma Left Behind. You can check out both of these books and more on Sarah’s and Cindy’s websites. My featured book will be An Appalachian Summer. Maybe thinking about Piper and her summer in the mountains will make us feel warmer as winter pokes us. We had snow this week. I always think snow should wait until January.
We are planning a virtual get together with our readers next Thursday night at 7 p.m. EST. You can check out the invitation and register here. It’s a Zoom meeting but once the “seats” at the meeting all get filled, they’re filled. Right now, we still have plenty of room for you. So I hope you’ll pop over to register and then mark the date and time on your calendar to join us. We’ll talk about our books and why we like writing about mountain characters. We’ll even talk about some of our own traditions that we love in our families on Christmas. You’ll have the chance to join in the fun to ask some questions and maybe win a copy of one of our books. I hope you’ll join us for An Appalachian Christmas.
I know it’s Thursday and not Wednesday. But things got busy last night as the Christmas tree went up and all my Santas escaped from the attic. Once they escaped I had to corral them and try to get this Christmas decorating underway. Even Frankie tried to get in on the act with the Christmas tree or at least take a little credit after it was up and shining with lights. Next will be getting some gifts wrapped and under the tree. That always makes a tree look better. My son and his girls came out to help fluff the tree. I don’t like to fluff trees and my grandgirls are good at it. They’ve had lots of practice since their mom has trees all over the house. I think at last count it’s around ten trees 
they put up. Not me. One is fine. Well, one and my little dog and cat tree that I put up in what I call the dogs’ room But it is about three feet tall and all the decorations stay on it. I pull it out of the bag and plop it on the table. That’s my kind of decorating. LOL.
I do appreciate all the entries in my blog giveaway to win a choice of one of my books. If you comment on this post you get an entry too.
So have you put up a Christmas tree or other decorations? I think what I enjoy the most when decorating at Christmas are my nativity sets.
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No, I haven’t taken down Thanksgiving yet!! Hopefully will get to it this week! Have a great week!
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You’re more of a decorator than I am, Kathy. I do well to decorate at Christmas time. But I’m sure your house looked lovely for Thanksgiving.
Merry Christmas 🎁
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And Merry Christmas to you too, Debra. Thanks for stopping by.
Most of my decorations carry memories. My dad built the stable for a ceramic nativity set I made. That stable has become a favorite since his death.
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That does sound wonderful, Diana. I know you think of him every time you set up that nativity set. That’s the best think about having decorations that have memories attached to them. It does bring up special thoughts of our loved ones.
Ann, your home looks so festive! I haven’t decorated in years.
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Then perhaps you can enjoy the decorations of others, Caryl. I love the joke picture that went around on social media not long ago of the two houses with one decked out with many lights and decorations. On the other house the owner had put up lights spelling “Ditto.” Makes me laugh when I see that and I could do that for the house across the road from me. I’ve never decorated the outside of the house but I enjoy the lights of others.
I will have 3 Christmas trees this year. I usually have a couple more small ones but have decided it is time to cut back! I have decorations in every room.
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Sounds as though you have the Christmas decorating spirit, Joan. As I told Donna, I can’t imagine putting up more than one tree, but I do have some extra decorations I don’t have room for on the one tree. And I guess I do have two trees if I count my dog tree. 🙂
I have the tree up and hope to decorate it tonight.
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Hope you got your tree decorated, Margaret, and can sit down and enjoy the beauty of the lights and decorations.
I am in the process of bringing Christmas into our home. We have many lovely reminders of Christmas from years of celebrating but this year will be different for sure. Maybe the real meaning of Christmas will be a dominate feature.
Amen! My thoughts exactly. More time to ponder His birth and reflect on His presence. 🙏🏻
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We can certainly remember the Reason for the Season. Jesus. But it is good to turn our homes into a beautiful Christmas place that we can enjoy. At least after we get it done until we have to put it all away, Elaine.
I have three trees, and with all of my other decor it takes me two weeks to get all the way I want it to look. A lot of work but I love to do it and enjoy it after it is finished. Merry Christmas Ann.
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I can’t imagine putting up three trees. One is plenty for me, but my daughter-in-law has a tree in every room. The grandkids have fun with their own trees in their rooms. They will have great memories of Christmas decorating when they get older. I know your decorations are surely beautiful, Donna.
Yes, I like the nativity sets, too, starting with the one from Mexico “nacimientos” and then the smaller ones from all over.
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Sounds as if you have some unique nativity sets, Birdie. I only have two regular size ones. One my daughter gave me years ago and it has somehow survived a lot of young grandkids wanting to rearrange it. I bought a wooden one for them that they could move around however they wanted, but of course, that didn’t stop the appeal of the glass set. Only one wise man has had to have a head glued back on. I have some small nativity sets I like too. One of them was supposed to be a giveaway gift, but it was broken when I received it and the store didn’t have a replacement. I glued it back together and put it out. You can hardly notice the angel’s wing was broken, but I couldn’t very well send it out as a prize. Had to get something else.
This is the first year in 60 years of marriage that we’ll not have a tree. There will be no gathering this year of family because of Covid. Our decorating was done for children and grandchildren and we see no point in climbing up to the attic at 80 years of age and lugging down those tubs and the tree. We have already had three family members test positive for the virus. We don’t need to add any more. I have put out a few decorations that are in cabinets and this year that will suffice. Your tree is beautiful!!! Tonight I’m starting An Appalachian Summer. Thank you, Ann, for sharing your talent.
Merry Christmas!
🎄🤶🏻🎄
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I can understand not doing the decorations if you can’t have company come in to enjoy it with you. I’m like you. I decorate for the family. I’m so sorry your family has been touched by the Covid. Such a scary time for so many and difficult time too with so many out of work at this time of the year. Praying 2021 will show a better hope.
I hope you will enjoy my second mountain story with the Frontier Nursing Service. I do appreciate you reading my books.
Hi Ann, I have not put up the tree yet. I am waiting for the grandkids to come over and “help”. They are 4 and 2. My oldest and youngest grandkids, 8 and 8 months live up in Kentucky near you. They will get to see the tree when they come down for Christmas. It will be an exciting Christmas this year for them! I better get busy! It will be here before we know it!!Merry Christmas to you and yours!
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Christmas does come fast these days, Janice. When I was a kid December took forever to pass. Not that way these days. I’m sure those grandkids will be a big help or at least make putting up the tree more fun. Some of my favorite Christmas memories is helping my aunt who was like a grandma to us put up her tree. She always got a skinny cedar tree that would fit in a narrow corner of her living room, but she always put lots of pretty presents under. After she died, a little of Christmas died along with her. But new memories have happened and I hope my grandchildren will have good memories of Christmas with us.
Just yesterday during my day off, I put out various Christmas decorations. My husband had previously put up wreaths on the outside of our house, but I finally got in gear. While I looked for appropriate places for my favorite decorations, I listened to instrumental Christmas music on my cell phone.
We stopped putting up a tree some years ago and leave an artificial bush up indoors all year long. On it I hang lights and some ornaments. That’s a lot easier than putting up and taking down a tree. As I age, I have less energy for all the decorating.
My favorite decoration is a gold cross that one of my students gave me years ago. I always hang it from the center of our mantel and then hang two stockings on the left end of the mantel and two on the right end. The focus is on this lovely handmade cross about ten inches tall and about 6 inches wide at the cross piece.
I like your idea of decorating a bush. We have one of those in our sunroom-more tree than bush. That’s a great idea, but, again, lights are in the attic. Perhaps when I can shop again I will pick up a couple of strands and follow your example. 😊🎄😊
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What a great idea with the artificial bush to decorate and keep Christmas going without as much work, but sounds as though you do plenty of decorating anyway, Suzanne. So nice that you keep the focus on the gift of Jesus with the gold cross. I’m sure your student would be honored if he or she knew you made it a feature of your decorations. Thanks for sharing about your decorations.
I have my tree up, decorations here and there, presents wrapped and under the tree.
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I’ve got the tree up with a little help from the granddaughters and son. But not presents under it yet. Maybe that will happen next week. But sounds as though you’re getting ready.
Yes I have put up my Christmas tree and decorations. I have always liked a “Victorian” looking tree and decorations.
Sorry, my email address came up wrong.
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I’m guessing your tree is beautiful in that Victorian look, Amy. I’ve got my decorations up with a little help from my granddaughter elves.