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Sunday, December 11, 2011

NO, MY LAST NAME IS NOT GRISWOLD!

They haven’t contacted me to use my home for the next Griswold’s Christmas movie, but I do think it would provide the perfect excessive and tacky Christmas décor.  Some blog visitors have asked that I show close ups of my Santa collection.  You had no idea what you were asking!  Warning!  There are a lot of pictures in this post!  There is no escaping Santa’s watchful eye at my house.  He greets you at my back door, along with Elsie, who is a little timid about that singing, dancing Santa.back door He watches me cook (and even worse, eat) in my kitchen.  (I just wish he’d pitch in and help now and then-with the cooking, not the eating.  I don’t need any help with that.)
kitchen mos
kit mos 2
And he’s all over the family room!  (No, this is not a Christmas store, and it’s not the Griswold’s home.  It’s my home.  Yikes!  Kind of scary, huh?)
fmly rm mos 1

fmly rm mos2
fmly rm mos3
fmly rm mos4
fmly rm mos5
FULL HUTCH BTR
HUTCH MOS1
HUTCH MOS2

MISC
picnic bskt-horz



No, you are not seeing repeats of the same pictures.  There really is this much Santa junk in my house!  It’s Santa overload.  Suddenly, everything has begun to look like Santa!
EVRYTHNG LOOKS LIKE
And now, even his elves have started moving in!
ELVES
Don’t ever tell friends and family members that you are collecting something unless you want to get a LOT of that something.  You could become a hoarder like me. When someone has to shop for a gift for me, they usually think they should get another Santa for my collection.  For the record, I have been collecting Santa figures for 42 years.  I’m out of space for displaying them, and I’m not adding on a Santa room (although it would be nice – I could just lock the door to the Santa room until Christmas, and I wouldn’t have to search for places to put them each year. Hmmm, maybe that’s what I should do with that room we call an exercise room, ‘cause I sure don’t use it for exercising!)
COOKIES-mlk mos
Can you guess who I’ve been entertaining?
cookie tbl mos
Yes, it’s the big man himself!  (I’m still having fun putting Santa into my pictures at Capture the Magic.)
294943b97cb94fefba4dd6d566dbce5e
I know, you can’t believe what you just saw.  I can’t believe it either, and I put every one of those Santas in all of those shelves.  Please wait until the new year to take me to the loony bin.  After all, I have to get all of these Santas put away!  Thanks for coming to visit me.  Laurie

26 comments:

vignette design said...

Wow Laurie! And I thought I had a lot of Santas! 42 years is a long time to collect them, so it does make sense. How long did it take you to get it all set up for Christmas? Your grandkids must love it at your house! Hey, I spied those adorable plaid plates. If you ever need someone to take them off your hands.....haha!
Enjoy the holidays! ~Delores

Mid-Atlantic Martha said...

Laurie....you do have THE most fabulous Santa collection EVER! Love it. Whew! I can only imagine all the time it takes to put those guys up....well at least now we know where Santa hangs out....at Laurie's house!

Blondie's Journal said...

Oh, Laurie...this is just magical! You should have an open house for young and old alike, what a kick that would be. This is all so worth sharing! it must take weeks to organize and set this up! I enjoyed each and every picture. You have a wonderful collection!

XO,
Jane

Tardevil said...

I have been waiting for this post for a long time! I love seeing every.single.Santa! I don't think it's tacky at all! It's magical! I aspire to have a collection like yours! Merry Christmas, if I don't get back by! ;o)

Sonny G said...

Its Official- You win the santa collection award. I'm thinking your collection should be in a magazine or maybe the local paper. You are The Santa Lady and what a great title that would be.
I can only imagine how much energy it takes to put all those displays together. Thank you so much for sharing your home with us.

xoxo
Sonny

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

Every year I see it...and every year I can't believe it! I think it is just amazing...but girl, I would ask Santa in honor of him taking over your house, that he build you that Santa room!!

Glenda/MidSouth said...

You get the award for the best Santa collection !! I am amazed at your seasonal decor collections ! I started a Santa collection years ago, and ended up giving almost all of them away - only have a couple left.

Sarah said...

I can't imagine how long it takes you to put every one of those Santas in the shelves. :-) I just have a small box of Santa figures and still don't have them arranged for this year. Hey, I'm just happy I got the tree done this weekend. LOL
Obviously I'm running way behind all of you organized individuals.
Thanks for sharing, Laurie. It's always fun to see your house decorated for any holiday. ~ Sarah

Cindy (Applestone Cottage) said...

I am in utter awe Laurie! My mouth is hanging open so wide I could catch ones of those Santa's with it right now!
You are the queen of the Santas my dear, I love it all!
How many hours does this take you?
I think you are really the energizer bunny and haven't told us yet. lol.
big Christmas hugs to you,
Cindy

Unknown said...

You must see red in your dreams and wake with a Ho-Ho-Ho...okay so maybe not! I know I couldnt pick a favorite! Which one is your favorite? I know like kids..they are all the same..I love the Santa elf on a shelf..and one that looks like John Lennon...can you find him?
Enjoy the time...

xinex said...

Wow! You really are the champion when it comes to Santa collecting and your collection is fabulous. I love how you even put a santa under the glass table, lol. How long does it take you to put them out and does it take just as long to put them away? You can do my Christmas decorating for me since I don't have any here....Christine

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Your home is always so pretty and festive, Laurie! Love the Santas! Happy week!...hugs...Debbie

Debby@Just Breathe said...

Absolutely the best I have ever seen! You are so lucky to have all that space to show them off!

Debbie said...

I would just love to visit your home!! I have got to direct my mom to this post. She would love to look at all your Santas. (You're right about people giving them to you when you start collecting. I'm selfishly glad that they do give them to you, though. )

My favorite part is that shelf just FULL of Santas. I imagine your grandchildren just staring and staring. Do they bring their friends over to show them Grandma's Santas?

Amber Lyon Ferguson said...

I am in awe. You may be a hoarder but you have successfully incorporated everyone of your decorations to acheive a classically beautiful look without any tackiness!

Stop by to see my Santas on my Christmas Open House Highlights post!

Amber

Helen said...

Your post is like a magical catalog of Christmas goodies ... I got lost in space looking ... thank you so much for sharing all of this beauty. NO, I won't come help you put it all away ....

Sue said...

It is just amazing to see all of these Santa's, Laurie! Someone really does need to feature you and make you famous! Maybe you'll even get paid for a public appearance on one of the talk shows and you can afford to add on another room to house all of your treasures. :-) Nate- Ellen- Kelly- do you hear me?!
Love it all, my friend! hugs, Sue

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Laurie, I can't even imagine the stamina and patience you have to put all those santa's on all those displays. They are totally fabulous. Hugs, Marty

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

Girl, ya have the most amazin' Santa collection I've ever laid eyes on. I'm just in awe of them!!!

Only one thing though...you have to be very, very good 'cause Santa has many eyes on ya! Heeehehhee!

God bless and have yourself a marvelous day sweetie!

Pop over for my giveaway if ya get a chance. I'll leave the light on a put out a platter of fudge! :o)

~CC Catherine said...

Hi Sweet Laurie...I'm still alive and believe it or not have actually posted for the first time In FIVE months. I'm so bad this year...it seems that ever since my Momma had her stroke last December...I've lost track of life. She's doing remarkable now and life is getting more back to normal. Your SANTA collection is probably THE MOST significant collection I've ever seen and I have seen MANY collections. For 15 years I worked for "Christmas Around the World" and loved representing the company. My guess is if I looked long enough, I may even find one of my ole Santa's in your collection. ;) Your trees are SPECTACULAR! Wow - I did an Open House last year for our Garden Club for the Holidays and it took me two months to decorate all my rooms. This looks like it could have taken you THREE months... ENJOY!!! Merry Christmas to you and yours! ;) ~CC Catherine

Curtains in My Tree said...

Girl that is a lot of Santa's I mean OMG

I thought I had a lot since I have the entire stairwell full. Under mt steps

I am so glad there is someone who loves it as much as me LOL

I know I had all of mine out last 2 years and it took me about a slow month to get it out and 2 to get it packed away LOL


Merry Christmas

Janice

Palomasea said...

Good Evening Laurie!

I want to thank you so much for visiting my blog and leaving a kind comment!!
Your place here is amazing...what a lovely and gracious home you have.
And this collection..WOW!! :))
Absolutely incredible. What joy and whimsy..really shows how much love you put into it.
Many blessings, and a very Merry Christmas!
- Irina

Kristens Creations said...

Hi Laurie, I think your collection is wonderful!! You have some very unique items! I hope you are doing well and having a wonderful holiday season! Kristen

Susan (Between Naps On The Porch.net) said...

Laurie, I would feel just like a kid again at your house...love it! You have such a beautiful and amazing collection of Santas. Thanks for taking time to put together this post sharing them all with us. Merry Christmas to you and your family!

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

Nope darlin', your not too late. Your entered in my giveaway!

God bless and have a wonderful weekend sweetie! :o)

Martha said...

What a wonderful collection! We're never too old to Believe!