My childhood home since I was 5 years old, is still the dwelling place of my dear wonderful parents.
"Mimi and Dee" are proud grandparents now, and their tiny ranch is still the coziest place on earth. Every so-many-months, and especially during the holiday season, we climb aboard a craft and fly away into the Great White North. Upon landing in the Philadelphia airport, we hail down "Santa's sleigh". This is what we sisters affectionately call my parent's Volvo. Shout out to all y'all out there in your 20's, 30's, and 40's who still get a full sized gift pile on Christmas morning. The gleaming heap has a big tag on top that says 'Love, Santa'. You trample your toddlers as you run out screaming with glee!
Amen. Amen to my parents. And Amen to Drew's parents too. Shout out to Drew's Mom, Marmie, who is also quite the embodiment of St. Nick.
Anyways, the Volvo nickname comes from her many travels 'to and fro' on the east coast, heavily laden with packages, gifts and surprises. She's quite the sleigh y'all. When I see her I get a nervous shiver just thinking about Christmas Morning.
We then drive the sleigh to Lancaster County. We enter Mama's house, shut the door, and stand at the threshold and inhale. The smell is a mingling of pinesol, leather animal hides and stove simmerings. The floors are waxed, the sheets are the softest flannel plaid, and the food is abundant.
"Head strait to the fridge like a boss YO. Heck yea, Mama went to Costco". Back home Ballers. Our sister anthem. Thank you SNL. Even though you say bad words.
Anyway. Mom and dad's home place. She's a small little ranch cottage. With the tiniest living room you've ever seen. But cozy. Cozy, cozy, cozy.
My sweet mama wanted some help making 'The Upper Valley' a little festive this year for our Thanksgiving family party. So I came up with a Birchwood game plan before the plane wheels hit the tarmac. It wasn't too tricky though.
You see. My dear mom and dad's basement is like your very favoritist-bestest antique store. On crack. Not kidding. The best stuff on earth can be uncovered in that musty cellar. Family heirlooms, braided rugs, blue mason jars by the antique wooden crate! Every type of amazing home-canned food you can think of. A chest freezer full of deer jerky. Every toy I've ever played with, every school-boy novel my dad ever read. And everything else under the sun. It's a dream. So at first I was sort of overwhelmed. But then I was like, "pull it together girl-we can make this stuff perfect." And we started to cozy-up the cottage.
If you're ever overwhelmed, just clear the space out. Put your items, piece by piece, in a separate room, and think. Think: "What is this piece really great at doing? What is this space really great at being? What can I do with this piece that I haven't been doing with it before?"
Below is the BEFORE AND AFTER tour for y'alls enjoyment of how we changed it up at Mama's house.
BEFORE:
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AFTER
We picked out a new couch with a washable slip cover. Perfect for grandkids. The lighting went behind the sofa on an antique table. The space already feels brighter and more inviting. A fat ottoman serves as extra seating and a squishy place for tired feet.
AFTER
Mom's antique North Carolina Tobacco basket is used as a large focal point on the wall.
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Dad's antique sleigh bells fill a wooden dough bowl.
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The stockings are hung by the chimney with care. I gifted mom with this antique fire screen many-a-Christmas ago.
AFTER
Mom's love of vintage busts comes through with this handsome hunk, nestled in the bookshelf. Great Grandma Mary's wooden sugar bin peaks out from the greenery.
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Under the tree we placed lots of grandbaby play toys. They're adorable and it's a great place to stow treasured toys from years gone by.
Below are some additional rooms I helped decorate for Christmas at Mama's house. She's got quite the talent (Where the heck do you think I learned everything from?) Enjoy the rest of her spaces as a fun Christmas tour.
AFTER
In the spare room, a wreath welcomes Christmas guests. The Hudson Bay blanket is never forgotten on cold Pennsylvania Christmas Eves. The bird-study was found at this year's "Country Living Fair" in Stone Mountain Georgia.
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The Kitchen is filled with Christmas cheer.
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Mom's home-made Christmas ball wreaths always sparkle under indirect lighting.
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Pair together pewter and mercury glass. It's gorgeous and festive! Dad's pheasant feathers are happy memories of good hunting with the son-in-laws last January.
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An old green seltzer bottle (also a Country Living Fair find I wouldn't let her leave without!) is the perfect hue of Yule Tide.
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Mama always wanted a kitchen tree. This year we helped her reach that goal. An old wooden potato crate makes this evergreen even taller!
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The very antique table Mama changed our diapers on, is now a side table for an evergreen. We moved it to the living room because it's scale was good in contrast to the new sectional.
Love you Dad and Mama. Thank you for instilling in all of us girls, your love of history and all things antique.
Ashley