Kitchens are the heart of the home. The place where everyone ends up, not only to eat, but to hang out. No matter the size of the kitchen or the number of people, it seems this is where we gather. I expect the same will happen during the holidays this year for our family. So hang out with me as I share a simple idea for a table setting, my idea of a farmhouse kitchen at Christmas and one of my favorite holiday traditions.
When my half of the family gets together for the holidays there are 6 adults and 2 kids so fitting around the dining table is cozy! And I wouldn’t have it any other way! It also means, table decorations and eating equipment must be kept to a minimum. The toy trucks will be a temptation for my grandson and in the end he will probably be playing with them, anything goes at Grammy’s house! Maybe we can divert his attention to the chalkboard, he loves to leave Grammy and Papa a picture when he visits. Check out how we made the chalkboard here. If you look close enough you can see his artwork in the picture above.
I continued the vintage farmhouse theme on our table starting with the red and green plaid table cloth. I borrowed these green holiday plates from my friend Karen and layered them with our white dinner plates. I love the little bits of holy on Karen’s plates. Shhhh – I used paper napkins, don’t judge, do people really use cloth? The red plaid “paper” napkins are held in place with mitten tree ornaments. The focal point of the table is my favorite antique tonka truck carrying a fresh cut tree and toy wheelbarrow filled with clippings from the tree.
I added a wreath to the farmers market sign above the chalkboard and added a new candy cane sign. You can see how I made them here. I kept the kitchen decorations pretty simple by adding peppermint candies, red plaid ribbon and greens to the jars, flour sifters, and antique kitchen utensils I decorate with throughout the year.
I shared with you how to style this antique farmhouse scale in this post. I use this scale year around on our kitchen island. So styling it for Christmas was a must! I absolutely love the “hot cocoa” theme. Perfect place for Santa to find his cookies…………..sure hope he remembers my sewing machine!
One of my favorite holiday traditions is our annual cookie day. We bring our favorite cookie recipes, all the ingredients and gather for a day of baking. Mom brings the cut out cookies, a favorite recipe that belonged to Christine Sheldahl (my step dads mother). Mom still has the original recipe card, hand written by Christine. Knowing how special this recipe is to us, I had an idea so mom could share it throughout the holidays! See the special gift I made for mom here. I only took one picture during our cookie day, and I am pretty sure Mom and Whitney will kill me when they see I have posted it for all of you to see, but I had to……it was Ava’s 1st Annual Cookie Day!
And I couldn’t end this post without a picture of two of my favorite little people………..
Merry Christmas from Lyndale Drive.
Jodi, your house looks beautiful and welcoming as it always does. I don’t know where you get all your talent!!!! I love your blog and all the info on it. It got me in the mood to decorate this year, even if I didn’t do as much as I used to.
Only one comment on your Cookie Day picture: We promised each other that we would not post this picture as none of us had showered, done the hair and make-up!!! Oh well, Whitney and I have a whole year to get back at you!!!!! It was still a fun time!!!!!!! Love you.
I think we agreed it wouldn’t go on Facebook?
Love your blog – you inspire me to “get going” – – – xoxoxo to
I love the farm house set up it is perfect.