I live in a little New England Village where we do not use front doors. Coming through my “mud room” into the kitchen one is first greeted with this forest which has grown much this year.

in front of the fireplace there are a few new additions this year. I started to get “blow mold fever” but have settled on the 1978 Empire Plastics on the left, and another you will see later. The great camper and station wagon are new, and more on that collection later below. The mantle has not changed, with one of my favorites with ceramic fruit second from the right.

On my Pennsylvania Dutch Pie Safe is a chalkware Santa I found in November – a bargain price. In his hollow sack a previous owner put pieces of coal – too much fun.

I changed out the kitchen table from years past – more about “Me and Santa” (the red folder) later on.

Even my computer table in the kitchen has trees (and many others in the kitchen and elsewhere I decided not to overload you with this year.)

out on the porch you find an Airstream in a small forest, and two groups paying homage to Louise Penny’s “Three Pines.”

I have collected old wooden boxes for fun for years. One never knows what you can stuff inside and try to keep inside.

On the kitchen table you saw some red dinner ware I found this year – just beautiful, and considering $12 for 20 pieces, Salvation Army Stores are now on my list of stops. Below in the dining room is the classic German Christmas Tree dinner set I have enjoyed for years. No, I have no idea why I collect these trees, and have a good number out all year long.

I unpacked my Putz Houses for almost the first time ever. You can see them above. More on those next year. Below the side table, and then part of the cabinet top in front of the side windows.

You had better be curious about my toy “canned hams” above, and before you email and ask, just click this link to learn more about them in my tale, THE TWELVE DAYS OF “VINTAGE CAMPER TOYS“

You may have other things to do on this NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, so enough of my trees. Yes, adorning three more rooms, but little changed from previous years – I just like those arrangements.

But before you go, I found something misplaced for well over twenty years a couple months ago in a box that had been unopened almost forever. But I had a vivid memory of my photo with Santa at Macy’s in White Plains, New York, probably in 1955. I asked him for a Western Town. That Christmas it was not under the tree, but my father exclaimed, “what is that over in entrance hallway?” Santa had remembered, but with a little teasing. Of course I found and acquired another for memory sake a number of years ago with most of the accessories.

You are never too old for Santa. I visited with him at Santa’s Land in Putney, Vermont, in 2015 and 2017.

I mentioned to you I curbed becoming obsessed with hoarding “blow molds,” but on the way home from Old Sturbridge Village two weeks ago this 40 inch Santa begged to come home with me to protect the Common. Here he is taking a break from that task.

and, what is Christmas without a “Major Award?” If the “old man” can have one, so can I. And, proudly displayed out the center window upstairs is MY “Major Award.”

A week ago on the 17th, in preparation, I wrote and posted HOLIDAY TRADITIONS AND RITUALS – 2022. If you missed it, click on the link above for that tale, and A CHRISTMAS CAROL REDUX – one of the funniest renditions you will ever hear.

And, speaking of traditions, on Christmas Eve 2020 I compiled a post of my Christmas Season Festivities and traditions going back to 2013. this summary linked below has links to the full stories which you may also enjoy. Please click below and enjoy —

CHRISTMASES PAST and HOLIDAY TRADITIONS

MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR, love, RAY