It’s that time again! In fact, it crept up on me this year. I was on Twitter last night, and I saw the link to The Tour of Tours and realized it was already up and running and I had missed out! Oh well, better late than never, right? I immediately set about taking pictures of our various Christmassy decorations, and when I got to the family room where my husband was watching the Eagles, he started in. “Those are never going to look right.” “You need to use a tripod.” “Why are you holding down the flash? You should use a setting for that.”
I am not and have never proclaimed to be a fancy photographer, although I routinely drool over photos like Emily’s and Dawn’s.
Finally my husband said, “Just stop. I’ll do it. Hand it over. Go to bed; I’ll upload them to iPhoto when I’m done.”
And that, my friends, is why I’ve never bothered to figure out how to take pictures like Emily and Dawn.
Needless to say, I gladly handed over the camera and went to bed. And when I woke up this morning, THIS is what I found in iPhoto. (With a few tweaks and edits from me in Photoshop Elements.) (Actually, this ended up being a joint effort. I took a bunch more pictures this morning in the daylight.) (I think I am rather fond of parentheticals.)
Welcome! Won’t you come in?
Please, take a peanut butter ball on your way out. Oh, you want the recipe? It just so happens that I have a post with that, complete with a vlog showing how I dip them. I got this recipe from my aunt many years ago, and I make them every year.
I hope you enjoyed your tour! Feel free to stay a while and look around, but I know you have a lot of houses to visit. Be sure to leave a comment if you stopped by so I can return the visit.
And one more thing before you go. If you’ll allow me a moment of shameless self promotion, I’d love it if you would take the time to rank this video using the stars you’ll see beneath it. (You have to be logged in to YouTube to rank.) I’m in a competition with 8 other bloggers, and I’d love to have your vote! Thanks ever so much!
This post is also linked to Melissa’s Holiday Linky Friday.
If you liked this post, you may want to subscribe to Musings of a Housewife.
Follow me on Twitter. I'm JoLynneMusings.
{ 44 comments… read them below or add one }
Your house is gorgeous!
Ok, I have total decorated house envy. We’re heading to Minnesota on Thursday so we’ve done nothing and while it’s bringing me down, I just don’t have the time. Thank you for letting me live vicariously, your house is gorgeous.
Thank you. We’re hosting Christmas for 22 this year so I figured I needed to go all out. We still have to finish the village displays. And I WANTED to set up a second “fancy” tree. But I don’t know if THAT’s happening.
Your home is gorgeous! I LOVE your front door, stunning! Thanks for the tour, I loved it! Merry Christmas!
Very beautiful, JoLynne! You’re hosting for 22? Wow. Now that is a houseful!
I KNOW! Yikes!
Your home looks beautiful. I love your Christmas village.
Beautiful! I love your Christmas card.
I loved the Christmas tour of your lovely home. Your Christmas photo of the family was beautiful. You have much for which to be grateful. I always enjoy reading your posts when I visit.
Blessings,
Debbie
Your home is beautiful! I love the big fat lights on your tree:) And your village is so pretty!
Merry Christmas!
Beautiful. I can’t take pictures of all my holiday decorations because my house is a MESS!!!!
Everything is just beautiful! I especially like the village grocery.
Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Seeing your beautiful Christmas things is making me itch to get into our new place and decorate!!!!
Thanks for sharing!
Your house is beautiful!
Merry Christmas!
Beautiful photos and what a gorgeous home! I love all of your decorations!!
I’m visiting from the Nester’s party – beautiful home! And YEA for real trees! Anyway, the main thing that attracted me was the PEANUT BUTTER BALLS – is there a recipe somewhere? I love PB cups, and those look delightful!
Blessings!
Very lovely holiday home! I adore the wreath on your front door!!
Your home looks so cozy, I just want to sit down by that fire! And your card is so lovely too. Merry Christmas to you and yours! : )
I love your decorations. I especially love the way you displayed your village. Also, you did a great job on the staircase garland.
I love all your greenery! I don’t have nearly enough (read: any) of that in my house!!
I love your village. I so want to start collecting one of my own. And your angel is so sweet and pretty. Thanks for the peak inside your home!!!
Your home is beautiful! I’m hoping that someday I will acquire a knack for decorating. As for this season of my life, you get what you get.
The only thing that would have made this tour better is if we were actually able to eat those peanut butter balls! They look delicious!
Thanks for letting us have a peek at your home!
Looks lovely! You are WAY more Christmas-y than I am (I didn’t get much out this year since we’ll be travelling). And guess what! My husband took my pictures this time, too! How funny.
Great job!
I LOVE to take part in the Home Tour. Thanks for sharing your home.
When I went to bed (Irish time) the post was not up. At 6.30 am today, there were already over 400 links!!!
Do you have a nativity set? If so, please join in my Nativity Set Carnival on 21 December.
Carrie, YES! The recipe is right here.
http://www.musingsofahousewife.com/2008/12/vlogging-peanut-butter-balls.html
loved your home! those peanut butter balls are making my mouth water…. i LOVE the story about your husband. reminds me of mine. so very sweet and kind
The pictures of your village are beautiful!!! Well, actually all of the pictures are beautiful! Your hubby does a great job. I’d love for him to come over and show me how to use my camera. I suspect it will do some pretty nifty things if only I knew how to work it!!! Your Christmas card is adorable, too!
Blessings,
Julie
Your house and photos are lovely. I feel like I’m right there in it! Merry Christmas!
Everyone looks beautiful. I love how you did all your photos. Very nice!
Lara
I meant to say “everything.” Geez! I need to go to bed
)
Beautiful home, beautiful decorations, beautiful photos (I especially love the shot up the stairs)!
I had no idea about this tour of homes. I was hoping there would be a link up somewhere, sometime before the holidays, but I didn’t get all my pics together before today. I still may do a post, but may not be able to link up! I’ll let you know when I do post, so you can at least stop by even if not a lot of other people do…LOL!
Wish I could have one of the peanut butter balls right now!! What a welcoming entry – love the way you’ve decorated the front of your home. Merry Christmas!!
The photos all turned out BEAUTIFULLY!!! Great team work!
Your house looks beautiful!
Excellent Christmas card picture!
Thank you so much Jo-Lynne!! I can’t wait to try them!
So pretty, Jo-Lynne. I love the village and the wreath on your door.
So beautiful and Christmas-y! I love it… someday when I have a house I’m going to look back at these pictures and decorate my banister and fireplace like yours. Thanks for the inspiration!
Your home is beautiful! I’m still waiting for my tree to arise!
This post has my correct blog link~ Your home and pics are awesome!
It looks beautiful!!! I love the mantle and your tree!
What a lovely and warm home you have! Thanks for giving us a tour.
A. I LOVE your blue door. Adds so much character.
B. I mentioned this in previous years, but your photos over the mantle are my favorite part.
you so rarely see a tree decorated with colored lights any more. i think yours is just beautiful!
and this was not a christmas decoration but i love the photographs of your children over the fireplace.
Your husband is a keeper! I really like the stair rail shot and and guess your tweaks with the Christmas tree lights.
Oh my Gosh – I love your house! You have done such a beautiful job with it, Joy-Lynn! And your Christmas card is adorable.
:–)