Santa Claus is coming to town..

Or make that MANY Santa Clauses are coming to Lowfields Farm for Christmas!  

  
I know it is common practice these days to collect vintage Santas and ornaments but I started 20 years ago when there was an abundance of them.   I probably now have 100s of vintage Santas that always come out at Christmas.


One of my partners in Santa collection crime is my very best friend for almost 40 years, Patrick.  I met him on my first day at Loyola University in New Orleans and we have been inseparable since then.  This is his very first appearance on the blog!   And how appropriate we are introducing one of my favorite people during my most favorite time of year.  

Patrick with Clara Belle

Patrick has been collecting Santas for 40 years.  His collection began when he inherited an old collection from one of his mother's friends.  As Patrick likes to say every year, "The men come out at Christmas!"  


One of the main criteria in our collection is that they have to be OLD.   I favor plush ones from the 50s & 60s and we both love an old German St. Nick.  Over the years, the men of Christmas have acquired rather crazy & inappropriate names, which makes it even more fun.   I have spread the collection out all over Cold Comfort Hall to delight all of our Christmas guests!

Just a few of my jolly ol' men

A Santa from Nannie

Cat Man Santa

A German Santa head, a papier mache Santa and Raggedy Claus

Humpty Dumpty Santa & Mummified Santa

One of the many Santa's that Patrick has given me over the years

A gathering of the old men

Santa with vintage noise makers in a trophy cup

Mud Room Santas

Christmas Greenery

My dear friend Deborah is visiting Lowfields this week and yesterday we gathered greens on the farm.  We were able to pick cypress, pine, holly and osmanthus - all off of our property!  

Deborah and her dog Simon in the "Christmas-mobile"! 

We arranged all of our findings in outdoor urns, boxes and some indoor containers.  The cute plaid tin was one of my birthday presents from Deborah.    She will also be able to load up the car and take some back to Raleigh with her!   

Finished urns with greenery

Up close! 

It's the Holiday Season...Go BIG or go home.

We don't take Christmas lightly here at Lowfields.  As with anyone, we hang a wreath on the front of our home.  However,  I am not talking just about any ol' holiday wreath.  I was fortunate to find a huge wreath that was formally used at a department store and it's what I hang on the front of the Cold Comfort Hall every year.  It should be it's own special project as it takes a bit of effort to get it hung! 

The wreath being transported from the barn to the Hall via tractor

The placing of the wreath -
who says John Deere tractors are just for farming? 

Wreath - 2011

Here is the picture of the wreath from Christmas 2010 - we even had snow!  

Cutty's Toy Tree

We are anxiously awaiting Cutty's arrival for Christmas at the farm and with that, we have to start putting up the decorations!  


When Sister was here at Thanksgiving, we started with the Toy Tree.  This tree is on the island in the kitchen and is there mainly to delight my great nephew, but also the child within us all during this magical Christmas time.  I have done this tree in the past but never for an actual little one to enjoy (it's been more for my own enjoyment!).  

Sister decorating the tree for her grandson

It has old fashioned lights and millions of odd things on it!   A large majority of the ornaments are items that Nanny gave us on our packages at Christmas time.  She not only wrapped packages in beautiful ribbons and papers, but there was always a toy on the package as well.  I feel Nanny was far ahead of her time in coordinating beautiful wrappings and decorations!    I kept almost all of mine since I was in grammar school so they definitely have some meaning.    Over the years, I have also collected vintage angels and toys from all over the world so those are included as well.  There are dutch shoes from Holland, Storks from Alsace and bears from Germany & Australia.  The tree is topped off with an angel that was on one of Nanny's presents when I was in the fifth grade.   I can't wait to see Cutty's face when he sees it! 

  Those of you from New Orleans will recognize this guest on the tree - Mr. Bingle!  

I added a picket fence below the tree as a place for even more toys!

Cutty's Toy Tree