The Exquisite Beauty of Mona's at Christmas

Every year my friend Mona & her husband host the PASA holiday party in their home.  And for the last several years, I have gone over the day before to help them prepare the house.  It's something I enjoy doing.  The dogs get to come along and play with their siblings, we all get to visit and create, and I get to watch the beauty grow.  She's got the touch.

We start in the kitchen.  Line up the mop & bucket, cleaning bottles, dusters, rags - festive rags, of course.

The staging area

Table in the den waiting for appetizers

Take breaks in the family room.  Have a snack, visit, watch dog shenanigans - must get all the toys out.  Must make more dust bunnies.  Must check the trash can again - just in case.  Must make tracks across the all the wet floors. Slop drinking water across the clean floor. 

I'll just wait here until dinner is served

Jemima makes herself at home.  Both my dogs have spent lots of time in this home, from puppyhood on.

Fire will be blazing

Details.  Festive dog head-wear hanging off the chair back, i.e., LED reindeer antlers.  Santa photo over mantle.  Wire crate in front of the tree with green & red tartan mat, ready to host a 4-legged napper. 

St. Nicholas says hi

Details.  Small, old, jolly, white-bearded greeter in the entry hall.  Wee Westie.  Candy jars.  A doorknob for leashes.  Hooks inside the door for more leashes.  And people coats.

A pleasant scene in the loo

Details in the guest bathroom.  Little house has lights in the windows, piped in music (!) via tiny hidden speaker. 

Aussie stockings

 Formal dining room. 

The house is sparkly.

To cap it off, Starbucks for the trek back over the mountain to Boulder Creek. 

Speaking of sparkle ...

 

Eye candy in downtown Saratoga on the way home