Holiday Countdown

The Meads like to stretch the season by opening one gift apiece each day during the Twelve Days of Christmas. These merry packages are wrapped with such care that the family likes to display them at eye level, rather than lose them in a pile under the tree.

They use kraft and scrapbook paper, colorful tissue, rubber stamps, and as a time-saver, double-sided tape. They always make their gift tags by hand, too.

Boxwood, roses, and vibernum are incorporated into ribbons and bows for a festive touch. Matthew makes each gift its own work of art by “never skimping on the embellishments.”

During the rest of the year, the dining room’s open shelves hold antique dishes, so Matthew can set the table in an instant and show off his extensive collection.

Polly Bannister

Polly Bannister was a Yankee staff editor and a favorite of readers for more than 20 years. She is continually inspired by New England’s beautiful and diverse landscape—from cranberry bogs, sandy beaches, and granite-topped mountains to thriving cities, white clapboard houses on village greens, and red-brick mill towns.

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