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2008 Christmas Tour of Homes

It’s time for Boo Mama’s 2008 Tour of Homes. You can travel all over the world and see homes all decked out for the most wonderful time of the year.

A very warm welcome to you from ellen b.  in Washington State and Southern California.

The tree above is our first annual Mystery Tree. I started a new tradition last year. I walk into Home Depot look at all the tied and wrapped trees, pick one without unwrappping it, bring it home all wrapped up, and surprise our Mystery tree is unveiled and we can laugh or cry at what we ended up with. Actually it’s quite fun to pick a tree this way. Good way to lighten up during the season…

 

Like many of your homes Jesus is at the center of our Christmas celebrations and Joy! This is what you’ll see at our entry in Washington.

And this is from our condo  in Southern California.

Let me serve you a festive drink and some chocolates and let’s start our tour before I serve dinner. These chocolates are the easiest things in the world to make. Just melt 1 bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips and 1 bag of butterscotch chips then throw in some pecans or walnuts or whatever nut you like, spoon them onto a parchment lined cookie sheet and let them cool and voila you have candy. I’m so darn sorry I forgot whose blog I saw these on. If you happen to visit here let me know if it was you and I’ll give you credit!!

Another collage of my little fake Christmas tree with lights that I bought for the condo from a local thrift store here in Camarillo, California. I’m usually in the State of Washington the whole month of December and only put up a tree there but this year is different and we’re not flying to Washington till Christmas day so we need something at the condo so people won’t think we are part of the Grinch family!

Now if you visit us in Washington I could serve you at this table.

Or from this Christmas table in Southern California.

Here is what I will be serving and what is part of our traditional Christmas Eve meal.

We’ll have a Rib Roast, Creamed Corn, something green, and Yorkshire Pudding. (Ok, it used to confuse me that they called Yorkshire Pudding pudding when it’s not pudding but a popover type bread that you bake using the hot drippings from the roast, I’m way over it now. You can make it in any pan but I bought this great popover pan that works great for them.)  After dinner we can sit by the fireplace and enjoy the tree with a cup of cocoa or coffee. If you stay for Christmas morning we’ll have those yummy Swedish Pancakes above that Dear makes for us every Christmas morning after we open our stocking gifts…

Now for some of the people God has put in our lives to share all the wonder of Christmas with…

I’d like to introduce you to our family. Our daughter Katie and DIL Laura. Our oldest son Josh with Dear. Our son Dan. Josh and his wife, our DIL, Laura. Another shot of our son Dan. Dan and Katie live in our home in Washington and take care of it while Dear and I are living in California. Josh and Laura live in Washington, too.

More shots of the family and extended family. The top left photo is of my sister Lana G! and I. She has a tour happening at her blog too, Above the Clouds . We have a great time blogging and tablescaping together. Dear, our daughter Katie, and me at Molbaks in front of the Poinsettia Christmas tree, Our girls…Katie and Laura, ellen b. and Dear at our 34th wedding anniversary celebration.

Thank you for taking my tour and meeting some of my family…

To see more tours click over to Boo Mama’s.

132 thoughts on “2008 Christmas Tour of Homes”

  7. I LOVE your mystery tree in front of the bookcases. How absolutely awesome your home(s) look. Love the place settings too. Nice touch. And I would love to taste your chocolates, please and thank you!

    MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and your loved ones!

    Reply

  12. Well, Your home looks so warm and cozy! We were in the San Juan Islands not too long ago! I wish I were ther now!

    I also thought your table was beautiful and I would love to come over and eat with all of you!

    Thanks for sharing your home…it’s wonderful!

    -Kim

    Reply

  13. Loved your tour! All the details were great! Christmas Eve and Christmas morning meals… Yummy! Gorgeous table settings. How neat to include photos of your loved ones!!!

    A Very Merry Christmas to You!

    Reply

  16. How wonderful to get to decorate TWICE! Both have beautiful decorations. We have a holiday cottage by the coast in N Ireland, but we won’t be there until after Christmas, so I don’t usually decorate it. Maybe I will next year!

    Hope you get a chance to visit my Northern Ireland blog.

    Merry Christmas to you and yours.

    Reply

  18. Oh my, my, my! Thank you for inviting us into your homes! I tell ya, I’m thinking sweedish pancakes this year, for sure. My stomache is growling at the thought! Oh dear! Tahnks for the great EASY candy recipe. I love those kind, especially ones that contain large amounts of chocolate. 🙂 Hope you’re enjoying the warm California weather. We had snow here in Puyalup today! Merry Christmas to you!

    Reply

  21. How beautiful – I’m so impressed that you decorate TWO places! Your mystery tree idea is really fun, and I love that you showed us your family too. Merry Christmas!
    Susan

    Reply

  23. I love the idea of a mystery tree! We always go on the coldest worst weather day to pick out our tree. We usually can’t stand being outside, so we don’t spend too long picking out a tree. This year we chose the second one we looked at. It leans LOL! Thanks for the tour – I enjoyed it!

    Manuela

    Reply

  25. Thanks for the candy recipe!! I can’t wait to try it! Your homes are lovely and I especially love your bookcases!!! This is so much fun – it’s my first time “touring” and blogging – next year I will have learned from everyone and will enter in to the Tour also! This year I don’t know how to put the pics up on the blog!!!
    May you have a Blessed CHRISTmas! I love how you call your husband “Dear” – how cute is that!!! We have been married 46 years and I call mine, “Honey”!!!
    Carol in Michigan

    Reply

  28. i love your new tradition! sounds like so much fun. a bit late visiting for pink saturday but i’m glad ’cause i enjoyed your christmas tour so much. have a great week!

    Reply

  30. OKay, okay, where to start?? Love that mystery tree, too funny! I love your Russian St Nick – my husband got a bachelor’s in Russian. Oooh, those Swedish pancakes look soooo goooood!! Oh, and forget the chocolate (I’ll just eat the chips out of the bag…) I want the recipe for the drink!!!!!!!!!
    Thanks for the tour!

    Reply

  34. Your table settings are just beautiful! And I love the tradition of picking out a tree sight unseen–you did well this year–that tree has a great shape!

    Reply

  36. Thank you so much for the hospitable tour! I seriously felt like you were walking with me through your beautiful home, and I am absolutely swooning over your beautiful Christmas tables. Your menu sounds perfect, and I LOVE your wall of books in your cozy living room!

    But all that pales in comparison with your gorgeous family. The best gifts! Thank you for the glimpse into your life.

    Jenni
    http://onething.beautifulheritage.com

    Reply

  40. Beautiful! Your Camarillo, CA home is about 1-1/2 hours away from me here in Santa Barbara county! We also have relatives in Washington State (Renton and Bellevue). Merry Christmas and thank you for sharing your beautiful homes!

    Reply

  57. Good morning Ellen B.,
    What a fun tour of your lovely home. Is that your library with the wall to wall books or your living room. Whichever it is it’s very inviting especially with a roaring fire to read by.
    I hope you stay toasty and warm and out of the rain today. It’s coming down so hard that some of the train tracks were closed on my way into work so I had to backtrack and go around the other way. It’s a good day to stay off the roads.

    🙂 Cori G.

    Reply

  63. This is truly one of the most elegant stops I’ve made so far! Absolutely beautiful table setting…and your living room is truly gorgeous, yet cozy!
    Thank you so much for a wonderful tour!
    Hope you can stop by my humble place during the tour~
    Blessings,
    ~Tammy (Lattes and Lollipops)

    Reply

  65. Both your homes are lovely – definitely happy happy joy joy all the way. The table settings are different yet still carrying out the holiday theme – oh baby the menu looks delicious! Yes yorkshire pudding had me confused for years – now I figure we southerners call something sweetbreads that is neither sweet nor bread so folks are entitled to their naming peculairities.

    Reply

  66. Your homes and decor are lovely. My kids are wanting a live tree so at some point I should try the mystery tree idea! I believe it is a novel idea. Honestly when I first read “Mystery Tree” I thought – oh that is fun… Cause I thought there were clues or something that tell a story. Maybe there is an idea for the forest my daughter beckons me to get…

    Anyway. Your trees are quite lovely and you set an elegant table. I could almost taste the roast and Yorkshire Pudding – it all sounds thoroughly delish!

    Thank you for having us into your home – I enjoyed our treats as well. I’m going to try making those hard candies for Christmas Eve – I think they will go great with Snowman Soup!

    Blessings.

    Reply

  70. Ellen! You’re on the front page of wordpress today! It’s no wonder..your home is so inviting and lovely!! (I’m so glad that I get to be with your family on Christmas!)

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  74. I just love your home and all of your Christmas decorations! It looks so homey and comfortable – just what I like!

    Thanks for sharing! (I enjoyed the people pics, too!)

    Reply

  80. I’m from Washington too, but I long to move to So. Cal. My hubby, however, prefers to remain here. Thanks to you, I now realize it doesn’t have to be either or. We can have both!

    All of your decorations are beautiful, by the way, but I should have waited until after dinner to look at your blog. The food makes me hungry! It all looks delicious!

    All the best to you and yours for a warm and wonderful holiday season!

    Reply

  81. This was such fun to see two homes and meet your beautiful family all in one blog posting! Your homes are both wonderful, and all of your family is so good looking. Thank you for sharing this joyful Christmas post. laurie

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  83. Both of your homes are beautiful! Thank you for sharing them with us! I’m now craving Yorkshire puddings! Love those. We also make the drop cookies, but we add chow mein noodles as well as peanuts. Yummy! Thanks for introducing us to your loved ones. Merry Christmas to you all!

    Reply

  88. I love, love, love your tables and china! Both of them are stunning. Thanks for the candy recipe, that seems so easy!! I will have to try that before Christmas. I love the way you pick out your surprise tree, how fun!!
    Merry Christmas

    Reply

  91. Hi Ellen!!! What a lovely, lovely post!!! I am just now catching up on your posts. I hadn’t gotten on the computer the whole weekend because I was working my Christmas decorations… (with lots of breaks in between!)

    I can’t decide… can I be served at both your Washington and Southern California table?! 😉 Your Christmas meal looks yummy. So far, we haven’t had a set menu for Christmas each year. The must-have food items are slowly emerging. Every year, we have to have a cheesy spinach dip with chips to munch on while we open our presents. I am currently working on deciding what cookies to make. The chocolate clusters sound easy and yummy – might try those for hubby. 🙂

    I am off to your other posts…

    Reply

  92. I love how you have done all the pictures in sets. Great pictures too! I need to figure that out for my blog! Your house looks lovely and very festive. Thanks for sharing both your homes with us!

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  95. Hello! tonight i watched a Russian movie. In this movie the main actor and actress love bread. I can’t help looking for Russian bread recipe and stop by your blog home for a visit. I will try your Russian Easter bread recipe some time. thanks!

    You have a beautiful family.

    Merry Christmas!

    Reply

  98. Love all your decor! Very festive and fun. Do you live in Camarillo? My aunt owns Salon De Solace on Ventura Blvd. in Camarillo. I was born and raised there! Anyways, merry Christmas!

    Reply

  99. What beautiful homes! Your Christmas tables are stunning! I love setting the Christmas table every year! And such a lovely family! Someday I hope we get there too! Merry Christmas!

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  104. I love that you put the reminder on here the real reason for the season! Love your homes! The mystery tree idea is really kinda fun! If I were able to have a real tree (allergic) I would definately have to do it this way!!!!

    Reply

  105. Just beautiful!

    Thanks for opening up both homes. Your tables are great – I may come back for more ideas since my tables are not through LOL

    This touring is fun – my first year to join in.
    Sweet Blessings,
    and Merry Christmas!
    DeeDee

    Reply

  107. I Love everything you’ve done!! What a beautiful home…or should I say homes:) And I love the recipe you posted for the chocolates. We make them every year!! Merry Christmas!

    Reply

  110. Ellen your decorated home and condo are beautiful! I hope you enjoy your family gathering on the 24th in California-what a wonderful time that will be for all of you! Thanks for including me in the Goodwill trip in November…lots of fun stuff to be found there! I love the simple recipe for candy (I am really into simple stuff!)..I am going to make those for sure. Enjoy all the beautiful pictures; you and Lana certainly set gorgeous tables!

    Reply

  111. Your homes are beautiful. That last picture of your living room makes me want to grab a warm blanket, a cup of cocoa, and curl up with a good book.

    Thanks for inviting us in.

    Reply

  113. Your mystery tree tradition is so much fun, Ellen! As usual your table is absolutely lovely and your meal sounds delish. We are having roast on boxing day with my dad. I haven’t tried Yorkshire pudding in many a year. I do love it though.

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  117. What a tour and so many more to look at!! The food alone is making me feel in the holiday frame of mind!! Your nativity is truly the center of it all and puts the true meaning into Christmas!! God Bless!!

    Reply

  122. What a lovely family you have… And your living room looks so warm and inviting. I can just imagine the wonderful times that your family enjoys in that room. Merry Christmas to you and yours!

    Reply

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