Happy Boxing Day and Kwanzaa! We hope you had and are continuing to have a wonderful and magical time of year. Around Colehaus, Mom’s enjoying another day or two of Christmas-y house stuff before switching over to a lesser/more minimalist New Year’s and beyond kind of decor. Think no Santa, nothing red, less gold, lighter greenery. She has this down to a science. And she gets antsy for the return of things in order. Here’s a few photos:

The day after Thanksgiving, Mom went for the win and pulled out her old, packed away holiday decor which proved to be almost identical to what the stores were hawking at exorbitant prices. It’s been years since Mom’s bought anything for any kind of seasonal home decor for she knows, eventually, everything old is new again. After cleaning and organizing closets and flip-top boxes over the past year, she had pared down items to those she always gravitated toward and boy, oh boy, was decorating easier and faster with the same smile-worthy results from previous years.

The decor on the buffet and this mantle will be significantly reduced but Dad’s favorite snowy owl will stay throughout the winter. Regrettably, the fake greenery on the buffet had to be removed and we can all thank Quint’s chewing on things for that.

The paper Mache Monrovian stars had to spend time behind closed doors this year. Those pointy points are a favorite of Quint and his nibbling habit.

Simple curling ribbon and reflective plastic diamonds on fishing line hang from the chandelier. Mom has hung these for years and they still make her smile every time she goes up and down the stairs. These will stay up a while longer.

Going outside, visiting neighbor cat KeeKee (once called Mr. MewMew) wonders what took so long. “Lady, I need me some chicken catnip treats! I can’t wait forever, you know.”

We always thought of Rosemary being a hot summer blooming herb. Apparently, this old potted Rosemary doesn’t listen to the local weather people, as should be the case. Our overwintering Anna’s hummingbirds sure enjoy all these blooms.

The brown/black eyed Susan is just about done for the year. We’ve yet to have a hard freeze. Once that happens, this and the salvias will sleep until spring.

Visiting neighbor cat Zerbe is looking good! And soft! We think he spends most of his time indoors with his family and wish he was an indoor cat always, though, then we couldn’t enjoy his visits.

Winter wouldn’t be winter without Mom gushing over moss, lichen and mushrooms. All are signs of a healthy garden, something she very much cares about. She’s a big moss fan, you might remember.

We used to think our last blooming plant was those crepe myrtles, or maybe the heather. Then, around November, the pineapple sage salvia reminds us we’re wrong-O! For a perennial that looks so terrible, boring and half-dead most of the year, this salvia wows us every late fall/early winter. And the hummingbirds are never far away.

Lastly, Mom’s cyclamen Dad bought her back in 2017, is growing beautifully. Honestly, we’re surprised this little greenhouse grown, seasonal throw away plant has made it with us after 8 years and looking like it could go another 8 easily. The only real babying it gets is a fresh bunch of hazelnuts shells around its base to keep slugs away, a sprinkle of granular fertilizer once in late spring and once mid summer and a flimsy fabric dome cover only if Mom suspects snow or a very hard freeze is due. You keep being you, little pretty plant!

Before taking Dad to work yesterday, we opened the Christmas cards we’d received over the past couple of weeks and Quint, Tessa and Viola thoroughly enjoyed laying on each and every one of them. Our cupboard has cat food and people food, and the litter container is full as is our hearts. Thank you all for your thoughts, kindness and generosity.

Due to work and other hectic obligations, we’ll be away from blogging until after new year’s day and will return Friday, January 2nd with our 2025 Year in Review. Have a very happy New Year’s eve and please, stay safe as the world rings in 2026. Thank you for visiting us!

~ ~ ~

A Colehaus Cats flashback:

2024 – No post
2023 – No post
2022 – Happy Boxing Day with Olivia
2021 – No post
2020 – No post
2019 – No post
2018 – No post
2017 – No post
2016 – Sharing Secret Paws
2015 – No post
2014 – Christmas Cards for Christmas!
2013 – No post
2012 – Wordless Wednesday