Each year I knit a signature ornament of sorts. I usually make about 30 to throw into packages or stockings. Two years ago I made hummingbirds. Last year was tiny snowmen. This year was….drumroll please…toadstools.

I knit most of these cuties during car naps last spring. It was nice to be able to focus on my actual Christmas knitting (stockings and Pussyhats) this year.

I also needed some cheer for my tree, so I made myself a Hillary ornament. Now I think of our tree as our Hilla-tree. (I pun about a knitted item is the best kind of two-for-one).

Our Christmas decorating is pretty standard at this point. You know me: once I find the “right” place for something I don’t want to rearrange. After 6 years in this house, stockings go in the same order in the same place. Garlands are labeled with their rightful home and go there without much fanfare. But we have one new addition this year: Ellis also got a bead tree on his door.

I found 10 strands of beads at the thrift store when we were at the beach in April. They were 50 cents so I snatched them up thinking I would put them on the tree. Turns out our live tree was too busy for that, so those beads became their own tree. Ellis loves his bead tree almost as much as I love having a new seasonal cheer.