Where Bloggers Live: A Very Special Holiday Edition
Welcome to the monthly edition of Where Bloggers Live. It’s kind of like HGTV’s “Celebrities at Home,” but…Bloggers! Who doesn’t like to peek behind the scenes and see inside people’s homes? Over the next few months, a group of seven bloggers will be sharing their workspaces, their homes, towns and more!
Make sure you visit everyone to see where the magic happens!
Daenel at Living Outside the Stacks
Em at Dust and Doghair
Iris at Iris’ Original Ramblings
Jodie at Jodie’s Touch of Style
Julia at When the Girls Rule
Lisa at Midlife in Bloom
This month’s theme: A Very Special Holiday Edition, aka: The One Where All the Things are My Favorites!
I love Christmastime-the lights, the sense of something special in the air. I’m so happy when I have even just a little bit of this in my home.
I’ve always wanted a big collection of miniature Christmas trees, but it’s slow going!
There were some decorating malfunctions this year – as in some stuff is not yet accounted for since the move. I can’t find the little battery-operated twinkle light strands that go along tabletops, brightening the holiday things.
These little vintage Santas are my favorites. They were originally part of a light strand and they’re quite old. I inherited a lot of Christmas things when my mother passed away, some of which she brought home with her after they lived in Japan in the 50s.
Just adding a special thing or two to a tabletop, can make it seem more festive.
Also my favorites, these vintage Japanese lantern bulbs.
Katie gave me this little snowman box many years ago.
I rarely buy new ornaments, preferring the older things with a past and a story.
I got these large cranberry glass balls at the New York Gift Show over 30 years ago. I started with 18…and now have only nine left, what with normal breakage over the years. I’ve searched and searched for them on ebay, with no success. I’ll keep looking.
One of our traditions is me adding a “new” vintage Christmas tree pin to Katie’s stocking every year. This is the 15th year of doing this so there’s quite a collection now.
Several years ago I got a beautiful pearl Christmas tree pin. She found it in my hiding spot and has been asking for that one ever since. Since it’s a special one, I’ve told her she’ll get it for her first married Christmas…or when I die. Whichever comes first 🙂
Now I’ve started doing it for The Boyfriend as well, adding a vintage reindeer pin to his stocking each year. This is the second Christmas, so…two reindeer pins.
Another favorite, that my sister gave to me almost 30 years ago.
My mother had eight of these glittery reindeer lined up in pairs in front of a small wooden sleigh, with a plush Santa stuffed inside. The sleigh and Santa are long gone…and the deer’s ears, legs and antlers have been falling off, but I still like to nestle a few of them into the tree.
I like the old old ornaments, even if chippy or dull. These little bells have real clappers inside, so jingle when something causes them to move.
I didn’t get any of my outside decorating done (yet!) because Amazon screwed up sending me my solar lights.
My view from the computer.
No, there is no tree skirt. Yes, those are plastic garbage bags under the tree. I haven’t had a tree skirt in about 15 years since Madison decided Tree Skirt = Kitty Urinal. Boo. But this is the first year I’ve needed something cuz I’ve never had a tree on carpeting before so wanted the plastic bags under the stand…and now I need something to go over those.
It’s not a lot, but it makes me happy to have just a little sparkle, and some old favorite things around me.
Happy Holidays!
xoxo
Nancy
I didn’t realize you live that close to NY. Or at least it seems close! But it looks gorgeous and I envy you of living that close to water! That is so relaxing!
bettyewp
Well, 50 NY miles from here to the city takes about 90 minutes cuz you have to go over a bridge or through the tunnel and there’s always traffic. And THEN you have to find parking. That could be another 30 minutes, if not more.
Em
Oh wow…your pictures are beautiful. What a lovely place to live. I think that kind of serenity would be worth the drive anywhere.
Kind of a shame that it isn’t more walkable for a small town. Is it bikeable? Or would you risk being run down by texting drivers. Otherwise I think I would ride a bike everywhere. Either way, it looks like a great place to live!
bettyewp
I think riding a bike here would be suicidal 🙂 Forget TEXTING drivers…as it IS people don’t stay on their side of the road. I’ve always got oncoming cars crossing over the lines to my side of the road. It’s all curves curves curves hills hills hills, no sidewalks or shoulders. And for every hill you ride DOWN…you have to ride back UP. No thank you!
Em
Yikes, I yield to the wisdom of the one who lives there!
bettyewp
Ha. Just this morning I came around a blind curve and a car practically ran into me they were so far over the line! Sorry, this is a pet peeve of mine.
Lisa Harris
Centerport looks and sounds like a very peaceful place to call home, even if it is temporary! The north shore would be my go-to beach because I don’t get in the water, and I prefer to see the sun set into the water. Beautiful photos!
Lisa
bettyewp
Ha, yeah I’m a water girl. I like the waves and the surf and watching the tides go in and out. But the sun setting over the water IS a nice perk.
jodie filogomo
I can see how the water could be such a draw. And those sunsets!!
But I’m a city girl at heart and I’m not sure I’d do okay out there. At least there is online shopping!! LOL
How far is it to get to work for you?
XOXO
Jodie
bettyewp
If I could afford the city (or Brooklyn or Queens) that’s where I’d be. It broke my heart when I had to move back to the island 7 years ago.
I *am* close to work. It’s 6.5 miles and takes me about 20 minutes each way. Being close to work is not a real bonus to me but it DOES cut down on gas and wear and tear on my car…which all equals $$$
Cheryl
You live in a beautiful place. I live on a farm surrounded by hills, the area where I live is beautiful and quiet. There are a great variety of birds and wildlife here. We moved here when we retired after working for 40 years in stressful jobs. I have a long commute to go to the nearest town but the solitude is worth it.
Cheers,
Cheryl
bettyewp
I do love hills. It’s hilly here on the north shore, but “Long Island hilly,” not like HILLS.
I really just wish I was not so far from my friends. There’s no last-minute “let’s meet for coffee” for me, cuz it’s like an hour and a half trip there and back…45 minutes if they meet me halfway…
When you’re a renter you don’t really get to choose where you live. I have to go where I can afford that will take the cat. So I’m far from friends.
Deborah Stinedurf
I have always wanted to live near the water…it’s really beautiful there. I actually think our habitats are similar (although I’m landlocked). We have less people than where you live & it’s definitely more stereotypically redneck rural here, but we do have a few more businesses & shopping options. So cool to see your reality! xo
Debbie
http://www.fashionfairydust.com
bettyewp
The water is like a MUST for me. When I think about leaving LI someday, I trace all down the east coast, jump over Mexico, then start up again in CA. I can’t imagine living inland. Even now, seeing water Every Single Day, I still get a little jolt of joy when I first catch a glimpse of it.
While any local shopping is like small boutiques (in the next town), I WORK in like the retail capital of Long Island. It’s just houses and stores and restaurants. There are no parks or ponds or woods. Just store and houses. So when I have big box store needs (which is rare), I just do it during lunch or on my way home from work.
julia
Thanks for the tour. I feel like I have a pretty good feel for your area from all your photos and previous blog posts. I can totally relate about paying for quiet and privacy and beauty with a long commute. Of course, having less people around makes it quiet and beautiful!
Téa
I grew up on Long Island and really enjoyed reading about where you are *currently* living. Your mentions of the laser light shows at the Vanderbilt Planetarium brought back memories – I think Pink Floyd was the soundtrack?? along with DAIRY BARN!!! I didn’t know they still existed! You might have to do a blog post about the fabulousness of having a “drive thru” dairy store!! I fondly remember all our milk came in big, glass gallon jugs and they your brought back the empties. I dream to live in a town where I could walk down the street to a BAKERY, a restaurant, a nail place and the like…sounds like heaven! As beautiful as the North Shore is, nothing beats the convenience of walking to the train station in Rockville Centre, catching an express train into the city and landing at Penn in about 35 minutes. Oh, yes…and the beaches!! Amazing!!
bettyewp
Pink Floyd, yes! I actually went just a couple years ago with a girlfriend who’d left LI and was back for a vist…and it was STILL Pink Floyd!
Dairy Barn isn’t actually “Dairy Barn” anymore. Now they’re like “Dairy Farm,” “The Red Barn,” etc, but they’re in the same little Dairy Barn red “barns” with the silos! I actually have THREE near me right now!
Oh, I’m not walking on my road down to the bakery or anywhere. The roads are hilly and winding with no sidewalks and no real shoulders…and it’s all uphill to get back home. It’s convenient to drive to, though.
Is Rockville Centre where you lived? How long have you been gone??
Iris
As always your pictures are gorgeous and inspire envy in me. You, too, live in a beautiful area. And, thanks for the geography lesson – I don’t know anything about the area where you live, so this was a treat.
Grace & Peace,Iris
http://www.IrisOriginalsRamblings.com
bettyewp
Yeah, I’m excited for the LONG ISLAND Where Bloggers Live post cuz I know most people who don’t live in the tri-state area (NY, NJ, CT) don’t generally understand about NY and Long Island (like how I don’t understand about the Michigan Mitten ??) so I’m looking forward to dispelling some misunderstandings.
Daenel T.
I think I’m a suburbs girl who’d love to be a city girl if I could avoid people. LOL
Centerport seems kind of like every town I’ve ever lived in, except without water. The photos are gorgeous…
bettyewp
Yeah, Brooklyn was great for me, cuz there are billions of people all around all the time, day and night…and I didn’t have to actually INTERACT with them to feel like I was not alone. They were all around me. I could hear them, watch them…and didn’t have to TALK to them. On Long Island, people are sequestered away in their little boxes and fenced-in yards and I FEEL ALONE.
Em
Hello, Bettye!
You know, I pretty much raced to your blog this morning because I knew it would be special…and you did NOT disappoint. Your holiday home is lovely and curated and charming and filled with meaning.
The vase of ornaments, cherished mementos, the stocking pin tradition, cranberry ornaments…so much joy and beauty in your home.
I love your staging, like the bookshelves with the frames…I have no real eye for that kind of thing, and you clearly do. Your photos are beautiful.
My Jack has the same manners as your Madison…which is why I use a roll of garden burlap as my prime source for tree skirts!
Thanks for hosting and sharing! Have a wonderful Christmas with Katie and the BF.
bettyewp
Ooh, burlap! That’s a great idea! No hemming needed!
bettyewp
“I love your staging, like the bookshelves with the frames” – ha, at first I was like, what is she talking about? I literally had to walk into the living room and look around and thought, oh. Does she mean the frames propped up on the floor cuz I was 1) too lazy to figure out where to hang them and 2) too lazy to hang them? Yes, LAZY is my home decor theme. But thanks 🙂
Iris
Very strange – all these comments seem to be from November.
At any rate, I love your Christmas tree, and all the little touches around. I’m like you – my favorite things are the older things. No new ornaments on my tree either. Love your stocking idea with the vintage pins.
Merry Christmas to you and a blessed New Year,
Grace & Peace,Iris
http://www.IrisOriginalsRamblings.com
Deborah Stinedurf
This is so beautiful Bettye! I’m like you in that everything is my favorite this time of year…lol! The Japanese ornaments are absolutely gorgeous, even more so because they’re special. The pin on the stocking tradition is so cool. In my opinion it’s the traditions that make the memories. The pins are a tangible reminder for your daughter & a tradition that I bet she’ll continue in her own home someday too! Merry Christmas to you my friend! xo
Debbie
www. fashionfairydust.com
bettyewp
This is my favorite comment! Ha 🙂
Happy Holidays to you, My Friend!
xoxo