Decorating for the Holidays
"Crimson mingles with gold and russet; leaves crackle and sweet spices perfume the air; home beckons..."As she begins arranging pumpkins and Indian corn in the brisk November weather, Valerie Parr Hill recalls the convivial holiday gatherings of her Kentucky childhood and looks forward to celebrating Thanksgiving, and in turn Christmas, in the company of family and friends once again. For Valerie, seasonal decorating lies at the heart of creating a warm and welcoming home that will heighten the holiday mood and create a store of happy memories to nurture loved ones for years to come.With lavish photographs, Decorating for the Holidays offers a wealth of ideas for beautiful seasonal dress-ups for the home-all firmly grounded in practicality.  Like many working mothers, Valerie keeps a schedule that ranges from merely busy to nearly whirlwind.  Although she finds holiday decorating soothing, Valerie is as pressed for time as the rest of us.  Her book is brimming with suggestions for quick, festive ways to bring home the holiday spirit.  Looking for a quick dress-up for the Thanksgiving table?  Valerie shows how beautiful natural autumn leaves and acorns look scattered along the length of a table runner.  Simple touches for Christmas-a glowing arrangement of candles in the fireplace; a red rose and fresh pear snuggled into some greenery to create a quick, original place card-take little time to do but transform an ordinary setting into a scene of extraordinary magic.Step inside and treat yourself to an abundance of ideas for easy, innovative ways to wrap gifts and display holidays cords, trim the tree, spruce up the mantel, and much, much, more.  As a special bonus, Valerie includes several of her family's favorite holiday recipes.Happy holidays!