I’ve had a number of comments asking if I would share our Christmas tree that’s twinkling in the background behind my table and recent recipes. It’s not a theme tree, just ornaments collected over 20+ years. I highlighted some to share along with a holiday tradition and poem, “A Visit from St. Nicholas“, or more commonly known as “The Night Before Christmas” by Clement Clarke Moore.
From our home to yours, wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas!
‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds;
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow,
Gave a lustre of midday to objects below,
When what to my wondering eyes did appear,
But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny rein-deer,
With a little old driver so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment he must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:
“Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!”
As leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;
So up to the housetop the coursers they flew
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too—
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a pedler just opening his pack.
His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples, how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly
That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight—
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”
What a truly delightful post. I read that poem every year near Christmas. I have a beautifully illustrated book, but your rendition with those special ornaments takes the prize. Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas.
Thank you so very much for taking the time to illustrate that poem in such a creative way…lovely ornaments in your collection and I appreciate your sharing them with your readers.
Have a Merry Christmas…you bring so much joy to others:)
What a beautiful tree and so many gorgeous ornaments!! Using your ornaments to illustrate “The Night Before Christmas” is genius, and your expert photography makes it even better. Thanks for creating such beauty for your readers. A Merry Christmas to you and yours!
I loved the telling of the poem with thru your ornaments. You are the most creative and artist person I have ever known. Thank you for another year of gorgeous, inspiring and delightful posts. I can’t wait to see what the next year brings. I hope your Christmas is a Merry and Blessed one. Hope Chloe and Gracie gets lost of presents from Santa!
Mary, I so appreciate you giving us the gift of seeing your beautiful ornament collection!!! And I plan to show it to the two oldest grandgirls late Christmas Eve so we can enjoy the poem and the photos together! Hope you have a splendid Christmas!
Loved the tour, so many to adore but I was most smitten with Santa and the moon :-) it’s a real treasure tree, gorgeous with ribbons and beads! Thanks for sharing, ask and you shall receive~
Thank you for showing your tree!! The ornaments are gorgeous!! 🎄🎄🎄
BTW: I found the dishes you are showing in this piece at WalMart. They were only about $3 ea. So I bought 4. They are adorable. Going back after Christmas to see if there are any left!! Thanks again..❤️❤️❤️
I’m so glad you shared your stunning tree Mary, your ornament collection is simply breath taking! I love how you matched them with the night before Xmas! I tried a version of that myself today {great minds think alike?} but yours is so much cuter :) I know you must have a lot of fun with all those memories, a labor of love getting them out and putting away…how do you keep wagging tails from knocking them off? Your tree is a vision of sugar plums for sure!
Jenna
Awww now that was beautiful and your ornaments synced perfectly to the ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, and I smiled all the way through it!! The last ornament was the perfect ending. Thank you for sharing your gorgeous tree with all of us to see and enjoy, Mary.
Merry Christmas to you, your hubby and Chloe and Gracie!
Spectacular!!! Thank you so much for the beautiful close-up shots, Mary. I’ve been straining to see them in prior posts. Some look like Christopher Radko ornaments that my DD has. She tries to buy a significant one for each child each year, depending on their activities. This year, Ms. C. was in the Nutcracker & I can’t wait till tomorrow night to see which one she picked for her!
LOVE the Mickey Mouse one the best…having lived in FL & only 2 hrs. from Disney, it was a favorite happy place.
Thanks for the smiles & the memories.
Thank you for this beautiful Christmas post today Mary. I will roll through it several more times before I am able to go about my day. Thank you also for your time and energy in the production of all your post. They are pure pleasure to those of us who follow you. Again, Merry Christmas to you and yours.
I just wanted to thank you for a year of beauty and creative inspiration from Home Is Where The Boast Is! I happened upon your blog a little over a year ago and have enjoyed it so very much. Your December posts have helped to put me in the holiday spirit and given me fresh ideas to share with my family and friends. Your talent is a gift and I thank you for sharing it with us. Merry Christmas to you and your family and may your 2016 be happy, healthy and fulfilling!
Merry Christmas!!! What a delightful post…it is just too cute with all the ornaments and you applied the story to it!!!
Love it!!! Thank you so much for all your inspiration I look forward to your blog every day!!!!
Best Wishes for a Wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year!!!
love
Dee in Texas
What a beautiful tree decorated with old fashioned Christmas ornaments. My MIL gave us some of her old glass ornaments. Your Night Before Christmas theme is well done. May you, your husband, Chloe and Gracie have a wonderful Christmas. Glad your MIL is able to be home to recuperate. May the New Year continue to bring happiness and good health.
You are a genius, to match the poem with and ornaments is fabulous! I enjoyed every single one and love the Santa on the 26th:) CUTE!!! The whole tree is gorgeous. I want to thank you again for another year of beautiful, inspiring posts. I know it takes alot of work and VISION to do each one. Your photos are always so beautiful too. I need some lessons! Wishing you, your hubby, Chloe and Gracie and all your family a merry and blessed Christmas and the bEST 2016!!! XO
Wow, Mary! The tree is stunning with all the gorgeous glass ornaments, I have many of the same Radkos! Each year as I unwrap, so many memories flood my mind! Ii know how labor intensive it is to wrap and unwrap each ornament! Thanks for sharing your beautiful Christmas! Merry Christmas to you and yours! Pam @everydayliving.me
Studying your tree with great interest!
I too have a Radko Tree but it seems I run out of spots to hang them,( I use a white tree.) How do you get them so dense? It looks like you put them on in order of… Ornaments, Ribbon, Glass Garland… correct? Do you bend the hooks around the branches? Its really lovely! Merry Christmas !
Mary, I’m thrilled you shared this spotlight on your beautiful tree filled with exquisite ornaments. What a treat for the eyes. I love to see what others hang on their Christmas trees. Your collection is exceptional!
Merry, Merry!
Merry Christmas and special Yuletide blessings, the photos of your tree and all your other decorations brought the spirit of the holiday to our home.. Thank you for sharing.
Wow oh Wow what a lovely tree ! and the story along with the ornaments so perfectly done as always!!
Mary, you are such a gift with all you do and share with us. Thank YOU !!
Merry Christmas to you Mary and your family, and a blessed New Year !
I am so happy that someone asked about your tree….It is so beautiful and I enjoyed each and every ornament that you showcased….so very special…..I love a tree of memories!….Merry Christmas Mary!!…
You know I’m all about the ornaments Mary! Your tree in very pretty, I love the NOEL and the pup and kitten sleeping is really sweet. Merry Christmas, give The Girls a goodie for me:@)
I’ve just stumbled upon your blog from Eye fo Design:Decorate with Quilts for Cottage Style Interiors. They have a lovely poem about quilts, and your blog is featuring such lovely ornaments. I can start my day with beauty in my heart. Thank you so very much! I’ll be back later to read more. Merry Christmas To All!!!!!
Love, love, love this entire post! I have a lifetime love affair with glass ornaments and your tree is astonishingly beautiful! My tree doesn’t have a theme either. It simply includes all our ornaments collected over 31 years of marriage, but yours looks so much fuller! Obviously I need more ornaments! Thank you, Mary, for once again bringing us the magic of Christmas!
WOW!—I think this is the best post I have read all year. I love that poem and it defined Christmas for me in my childhood. Church was one story—and Santa was the other. Love your gorgeous photography and all your fun ornaments. Happy New Year, and I’m so glad I went back to see all the posts fromeveryone. Sandi
Mary, You tree is so beautiful. You continue to amaze me. I don’t know how you can decorate and cook and just do all you do. Your pictures are beautiful too. Merry Christmas!
Please, please share where you purchased the bead garland. It would be perfect for my Old World glass ornament tree. This post is breathtaking….subscribing…
Your post and creativity are beautiful and stunning! I have been thinking of adding a sentimental tree each of the different bedrooms my daughters will stay in while they are here for the holidays. I LOVE the story “Twas the Night Before Christmas” and lovely ornaments that you showed along with story. I believe that would make a sweet tree to have in one of the guests bedrooms. Thank you again for sharing this posts!!! I love it and am very excited to work on creating this themed tree for next Christmas. Merry Christmas!
Mary, I’m so glad you linked to this post because somehow I missed it last year and as an ornament addict I loved seeing each of your beautiful collection. Your tree is perfect and must sparkle and dazzle at night with the reflection of the lights on these wonderful ornaments. I love the one with Santa in his sleigh with his little dog riding along, and the garland is just the right finishing touch. Merry Christmas! Linda
MERRY CHRISTMAS, MARY….. Thank you for sharing your amazing talent in each & every post!! The gorgeous Christmas Tree is just a tiny peek at all you do all year. I look forward to many more “treats” in 2017. God Bless!!
So pretty, and you even have a puppy! Partial to Santa and the moon 😉 thanks for all the joy and beauty you have shared, watched you since your first post, it’s been a magic carpet ride, wishing you and your loved ones a very merry Christmas 🎄
Beautiful ornaments!!! I love glass ornaments and your collection is stunning!!! Merry Christmas!!!!
This is so beautiful! I love it! I hope you have a very Happy Holiday! :)
Your tree is beautiful! Thanks for sharing. Always so much inspiration to visit your site! Merry Christmas!!
Gorgeous tree, Mary! I bet all your collectibles are Christopher Radko. They are so beautiful! Have a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!
The most gorgeous tree and creative way to recite such a classic poem!! Merry Christmas to you & yours!🎄🎅🏼
What a truly delightful post. I read that poem every year near Christmas. I have a beautifully illustrated book, but your rendition with those special ornaments takes the prize. Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas.
WOW….all the colors of Christmas so beautifully displayed. What a fun tree. ( Do you own stock in bubble wrap?) (-:
Merry Christmas Mary, you made MY day!
Merry Christmas to you and and enjoy the special season. Love your post and enjoyed seeing the Christopher Radkos!
Beautiful! Merry Christmas Mary!!
Thank you so very much for taking the time to illustrate that poem in such a creative way…lovely ornaments in your collection and I appreciate your sharing them with your readers.
Have a Merry Christmas…you bring so much joy to others:)
Hope you have a very Merry Christmas!!! Thanks so much for all your posts
What a beautiful tree and so many gorgeous ornaments!! Using your ornaments to illustrate “The Night Before Christmas” is genius, and your expert photography makes it even better. Thanks for creating such beauty for your readers. A Merry Christmas to you and yours!
I loved the telling of the poem with thru your ornaments. You are the most creative and artist person I have ever known. Thank you for another year of gorgeous, inspiring and delightful posts. I can’t wait to see what the next year brings. I hope your Christmas is a Merry and Blessed one. Hope Chloe and Gracie gets lost of presents from Santa!
Wow is all I can say! Such a beautiful tree. I wish you a Merry Christmas and the best New Year ever. Hugs.
Merry Christmas! Your ornaments are just beautiful! We need to see a picture of Chloe and Gracie in there Christmas outfits!
Mary, I so appreciate you giving us the gift of seeing your beautiful ornament collection!!! And I plan to show it to the two oldest grandgirls late Christmas Eve so we can enjoy the poem and the photos together! Hope you have a splendid Christmas!
Your posts add so much beauty, joy, yummyness, and charm to the Christmas season…and always. Thank you Mary, and Merry Christmas!
Loved the tour, so many to adore but I was most smitten with Santa and the moon :-) it’s a real treasure tree, gorgeous with ribbons and beads! Thanks for sharing, ask and you shall receive~
Thank you for showing your tree!! The ornaments are gorgeous!! 🎄🎄🎄
BTW: I found the dishes you are showing in this piece at WalMart. They were only about $3 ea. So I bought 4. They are adorable. Going back after Christmas to see if there are any left!! Thanks again..❤️❤️❤️
I’m so glad you shared your stunning tree Mary, your ornament collection is simply breath taking! I love how you matched them with the night before Xmas! I tried a version of that myself today {great minds think alike?} but yours is so much cuter :) I know you must have a lot of fun with all those memories, a labor of love getting them out and putting away…how do you keep wagging tails from knocking them off? Your tree is a vision of sugar plums for sure!
Jenna
Awww now that was beautiful and your ornaments synced perfectly to the ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, and I smiled all the way through it!! The last ornament was the perfect ending. Thank you for sharing your gorgeous tree with all of us to see and enjoy, Mary.
Merry Christmas to you, your hubby and Chloe and Gracie!
Craciun fericit!Sunt superbe globuletele
It’s beautiful, Mary! Merry Christmas, good health!
Spectacular!!! Thank you so much for the beautiful close-up shots, Mary. I’ve been straining to see them in prior posts. Some look like Christopher Radko ornaments that my DD has. She tries to buy a significant one for each child each year, depending on their activities. This year, Ms. C. was in the Nutcracker & I can’t wait till tomorrow night to see which one she picked for her!
LOVE the Mickey Mouse one the best…having lived in FL & only 2 hrs. from Disney, it was a favorite happy place.
Thanks for the smiles & the memories.
Thank you for this beautiful Christmas post today Mary. I will roll through it several more times before I am able to go about my day. Thank you also for your time and energy in the production of all your post. They are pure pleasure to those of us who follow you. Again, Merry Christmas to you and yours.
I just wanted to thank you for a year of beauty and creative inspiration from Home Is Where The Boast Is! I happened upon your blog a little over a year ago and have enjoyed it so very much. Your December posts have helped to put me in the holiday spirit and given me fresh ideas to share with my family and friends. Your talent is a gift and I thank you for sharing it with us. Merry Christmas to you and your family and may your 2016 be happy, healthy and fulfilling!
Thank you for sharing your talents. You make my life more beautiful each and every day! Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas!!! What a delightful post…it is just too cute with all the ornaments and you applied the story to it!!!
Love it!!! Thank you so much for all your inspiration I look forward to your blog every day!!!!
Best Wishes for a Wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year!!!
love
Dee in Texas
What a beautiful tree decorated with old fashioned Christmas ornaments. My MIL gave us some of her old glass ornaments. Your Night Before Christmas theme is well done. May you, your husband, Chloe and Gracie have a wonderful Christmas. Glad your MIL is able to be home to recuperate. May the New Year continue to bring happiness and good health.
You are a genius, to match the poem with and ornaments is fabulous! I enjoyed every single one and love the Santa on the 26th:) CUTE!!! The whole tree is gorgeous. I want to thank you again for another year of beautiful, inspiring posts. I know it takes alot of work and VISION to do each one. Your photos are always so beautiful too. I need some lessons! Wishing you, your hubby, Chloe and Gracie and all your family a merry and blessed Christmas and the bEST 2016!!! XO
This is what I call a Christmas tree!!. Beautiful. Have a MERRY Christmas
Wow, Mary! The tree is stunning with all the gorgeous glass ornaments, I have many of the same Radkos! Each year as I unwrap, so many memories flood my mind! Ii know how labor intensive it is to wrap and unwrap each ornament! Thanks for sharing your beautiful Christmas! Merry Christmas to you and yours! Pam @everydayliving.me
Breathtakingly beautiful! So many gorgeous ornaments…
Thank you for sharing your stunning tree with us
Merry Christmas!
Studying your tree with great interest!
I too have a Radko Tree but it seems I run out of spots to hang them,( I use a white tree.) How do you get them so dense? It looks like you put them on in order of… Ornaments, Ribbon, Glass Garland… correct? Do you bend the hooks around the branches? Its really lovely! Merry Christmas !
Very beautiful tree! And I see you have quite a collection of beautiful ornaments!
Mary, I’m thrilled you shared this spotlight on your beautiful tree filled with exquisite ornaments. What a treat for the eyes. I love to see what others hang on their Christmas trees. Your collection is exceptional!
Merry, Merry!
Merry Christmas and special Yuletide blessings, the photos of your tree and all your other decorations brought the spirit of the holiday to our home.. Thank you for sharing.
~Mary~~
Wow oh Wow what a lovely tree ! and the story along with the ornaments so perfectly done as always!!
Mary, you are such a gift with all you do and share with us. Thank YOU !!
Merry Christmas to you Mary and your family, and a blessed New Year !
Hugs
Paula
IN
The poem could not have had better accompaniment! Merry, merry, Mary!
I am so happy that someone asked about your tree….It is so beautiful and I enjoyed each and every ornament that you showcased….so very special…..I love a tree of memories!….Merry Christmas Mary!!…
You know I’m all about the ornaments Mary! Your tree in very pretty, I love the NOEL and the pup and kitten sleeping is really sweet. Merry Christmas, give The Girls a goodie for me:@)
Lovely! Merry Christmas!
Beautiful tree and ornaments. May you and your family have a safe and Merry Christmas.
I’ve just stumbled upon your blog from Eye fo Design:Decorate with Quilts for Cottage Style Interiors. They have a lovely poem about quilts, and your blog is featuring such lovely ornaments. I can start my day with beauty in my heart. Thank you so very much! I’ll be back later to read more. Merry Christmas To All!!!!!
Love, love, love this entire post! I have a lifetime love affair with glass ornaments and your tree is astonishingly beautiful! My tree doesn’t have a theme either. It simply includes all our ornaments collected over 31 years of marriage, but yours looks so much fuller! Obviously I need more ornaments! Thank you, Mary, for once again bringing us the magic of Christmas!
WOW!—I think this is the best post I have read all year. I love that poem and it defined Christmas for me in my childhood. Church was one story—and Santa was the other. Love your gorgeous photography and all your fun ornaments. Happy New Year, and I’m so glad I went back to see all the posts fromeveryone. Sandi
Mary, You tree is so beautiful. You continue to amaze me. I don’t know how you can decorate and cook and just do all you do. Your pictures are beautiful too. Merry Christmas!
Please, please share where you purchased the bead garland. It would be perfect for my Old World glass ornament tree. This post is breathtaking….subscribing…
Thanks Barbara! I’ve had the garland for 20+ years. It came from Midwest Imports :)
Your post and creativity are beautiful and stunning! I have been thinking of adding a sentimental tree each of the different bedrooms my daughters will stay in while they are here for the holidays. I LOVE the story “Twas the Night Before Christmas” and lovely ornaments that you showed along with story. I believe that would make a sweet tree to have in one of the guests bedrooms. Thank you again for sharing this posts!!! I love it and am very excited to work on creating this themed tree for next Christmas. Merry Christmas!
Mary, I’m so glad you linked to this post because somehow I missed it last year and as an ornament addict I loved seeing each of your beautiful collection. Your tree is perfect and must sparkle and dazzle at night with the reflection of the lights on these wonderful ornaments. I love the one with Santa in his sleigh with his little dog riding along, and the garland is just the right finishing touch. Merry Christmas! Linda
MERRY CHRISTMAS, MARY….. Thank you for sharing your amazing talent in each & every post!! The gorgeous Christmas Tree is just a tiny peek at all you do all year. I look forward to many more “treats” in 2017. God Bless!!
Wow. Just Wow. Thank you for sharing your beautiful world! Merry Christmas, Mary! I LOVE you!
So pretty, and you even have a puppy! Partial to Santa and the moon 😉 thanks for all the joy and beauty you have shared, watched you since your first post, it’s been a magic carpet ride, wishing you and your loved ones a very merry Christmas 🎄