Decorating Bella Terra

The first exterior decorations to go up for the holidays are the multiple wreaths placed around our property.  There are two lighted Balsam Hill ones on the front entry gates.

The largest lighted one is placed on the front of the well tower.

Everything looks very different at night.

Since our daughter is living in our guest cottage during her last year in college, we simply added a lighted wreath beside the front door.

Bright red amaryllis and holly leaves are the perfect complement to the wreath on the forest green Dutch door at the back of the house.

My husband gets all the credit for erecting and lighting the 7 trees that grace the front entrance.

Battery operated candles are placed in each window.  Someone recently asked me why we do this.  Growing up in Connecticut, my mother always had candles in the windows. So I researched why and here’s what I discovered.

The tradition of lighting candles in the windows of homes during Christmas was brought to America by the Irish. The Irish were persecuted for their religious beliefs by the English. When Christmas came, they would leave their doors unlocked and a candle burning in the window to let the priest know he was welcome in their home.

Each year my husband and I have the debate about white vs. colored lights.  I am partial to white lights; he loves colored ones.  So we compromise~~he gets colored lights on the wreath on the well tower and a tree that is placed in front of the pool house. White lights are used everywhere else.

I was a bit ambitious on ordering fresh cedar garland this year (2 strands each 75 feet long) and I am using it EVERYWHERE.  On the outside back terrace, the garland is the main stay of the centerpiece.  I added faux bois vases I purchased from Painted Fox.

I then added seeded eucalyptus, red berries and a few pinecones.

The vases are filled with fresh greens, red roses and white hydrangeas. Every year we host our neighborhood board holiday party and this centerpiece was perfect for the wintery theme.

Two metal hand painted angels are hung on the master bedroom terrace fireplace.  I bought these years ago from a street vendor and have never seen them again. I love how whimsical they are!

My next blog post will be an interior holiday home tour.  I have tried a few new things this year and cannot wait to share them with you.  I hope you are taking quiet moments for yourself during this crazy time of year!