Twelve Days of Christmas

For heaven's sake, I had not intended to be gone so long.  Just as at your house, things are in full swing around here.  I finished the diamonds in the foyer (the pattern will eventually - hopefully by the end of Winter Break - go all the way down the hall) despite the amount of bother they have caused.  The doors are Farrow & Ball Dix Blue and the color is delicious.  Details on all of this after the holiday.

And, the lantern is in place.  The fabulous folks at the Light Shop in Kansas City helped me with the canopy.  Turns out that it is possible to order a light from Visual Comfort without the wiring.  I am pleased as punch.

The chairs are finished and the fabric is off to the upholsterers for the cushions.

And I WON A WATERWORKS FAUCET.  I so rarely enter giveaways.  Oddly, as a blogger, I feel like they aren't really for me, but I entered the Waterworks giveaway on Grant Gibson's blog (which is terrific, by the way) as I love their product.  Waterworks has introduced Studio, a new more moderately priced line and its Three Hole Cross Handle Faucet from the Flyte Collection is sitting snugly in a box in my basement waiting for installation.  (The boys were most delighted by this development.  "You WON a faucet?  How does someone win a faucet?"  It was a Christmas miracle.)

As I was going through all my magazines from 2011 to see if I could come up with a "favorite rooms" post, Elle Decor reached out to say, "Do you have a favorite room from 2011?"  I do, and you can find it here, along with other terrific picks.

Finally, (well, Christmas will be "finally" - this is nearly finally) we hosted twenty-five friends for dinner on Wednesday.  I spent yesterday getting ready and most of today cleaning up.  Parties are a gift; there is nearly nothing I enjoy more than having our friends in our home.  I loved every minute.

I hope your house is filled to overflowing with joy this season.  We are wishing you the best.