Christmas Wreath Emerald & Diamond Necklace

An Authentic
New England Christmas

I grew up in a big old farmhouse on a hill in Gorham, Maine. Our Christmases were celebrated in a big way. My mom loved Christmas more than anyone I’ve ever met. Our formal room was called the “Best Room”. It had a Christmas tree with presents beneath, and a fireplace with three stockings hung.

We had a formal dining room with a table always set, another fireplace and more stockings, another Christmas tree, and more presents. Then there was the kitchen with a big old Queen Atlantic stove, more stockings, and a fire burning all winter where stewed beef, potatoes, and carrots drenched in butter would cook. There was a fireplace in the kitchen too. Christmas cards received were lined up on the mantle and pinned at an angle along the leading edge. All these rooms were decorated to be seasonally appropriate.

Then there was the Christmas room. The Christmas room stayed up all year round. There were two Christmas trees in the Christmas room, three windows with authentic 200-year-old Indian shutters, also decorated appropriately, while Christmas decorations remained up year-round. And of course, this room had a fireplace with stockings.

The farmhouse was painted white with green shutters. You can imagine what a lover of Christmas would do with that. – R.H.P.

The painting of our farmhouse was done by my mom, Joan Pride. The farmhouse had green shutters and Christmas wreaths below each window. My mom would have loved these green Christmas wreath necklaces.