Every year, I dream of putting our Christmas decorations out the first week of November…of getting our house Christmas ready & winter cozy, washing curtains & slaying dust bunnies so that by Thanksgiving, the bulk of the work is done, our home is mostly decorated & all that is left, is our annual tradition of purchasing & putting up our live tree the day after Thanksgiving.

I always dream of this. But it never, ever happens.

Right now, there are ornament boxes scattered, totes full of silver balls waiting to be packed down, garland to be strung, cleaning to be done & dolls to be made.

But next year, I WILL have everything done the first week of November. You believe me, don’t you?

If you’re like me & are still decorating your home for the holidays….here are some of my favorite images to inspire. I come back to these again & again because they make me want to create the perfect country Christmas.

Enjoy! I hope you find them inspiring.

(Most of the above images are from Country Living magazine or Better Home & Gardens.)