happy holidays!

welcome to my front porch all decked out for the holidays!

using NO money.

i just pulled together things that i already own with treasures from the garden.

this was not hard at all......

i stuffed newspaper down in the artillery basket,

jabbed in some branches and artemesia (the silver foliage),

added fresh greenery, ivy and huge pine cones.

topped it off with a fluffy bow (well, i did spend money on the ribbon last year)

and there you have it.

it's similar to potting up a beautiful planter...

something tall and spikey

+

something round and fluffy

+

something hangy downy

isn't that nice of mother nature to provide a natural green and red backdrop.

(nandina and bishops weed)


i pulled my daughter's childhood chalkboard out of the attic
for an instant festive greeting.

wreaths and garland i have had for years...

relocation makes them seem fresh.

i set down those two wreaths, not knowing where i would put them, and then realized they looked fine right there.

a collection of watering cans sits here all year long.

sometimes i put fresh greens in them.

i borrowed one of the watering cans from the porch

and plopped a live branch into a glass vase sleeve (easier to change the water than emptying the whole can), and hung tiny mittens on it.

happy holiday's!

thanks for stopping by!

i know some of you have already had SNOW this year...

i sure wish you would send some of the white stuff my way!

take a breath...

grasp a moment...

or two...

gaze...

ever so closely...

the beauty,

and magic

is there.

waiting

just

for

you.

light...

as the morning light starts to dance around the room...
and the house starts to wake up...


i savor this quiet opportunity...

these peaceful moments...

and this warm glow...

and embrace the

light.

i hope a light shines on you today.

welcome new followers! i am so glad you are here!

come sit by my fire...

i have finished decorating my mantel for the holidays.

until i decide to change it AGAIN, that is!

hubby and i are very casual people and after decorating 3 very large, very traditional mantels for my client.....

you can view them HERE.

i wanted to decorate mine light and airy and slightly whimsical.

i was inspired by this cute gift tag i received on a gift last year.

i can just imagine a small child selling snow balls for 5 cents.

i love snow! i would buy them!

instead, i had to make mine.

i adorned this little tree with trims from my sewing box.

like drifts of snow hanging onto the delicate limbs of a tree.

my hubby's collection of antlers add a rustic element to the mix.

some of these were sheds, some are from his hunting expeditions.

he is the hunter. the only thing i ever shoot are photos.

my handmade stockings.

two with button cuffs. two with vintage ponsettia tablecloth cuffs. two hiding in the back, waiting for some sort of embellishment, when the inspiration hits......

we found the windows in an old barn that was about to be torn down.....back when we lived out in the country.

this is where we relax together.

nothing fragile here.

you can take your shoes off and put your feet up.

wrap yourself in a blanket.

and get

comfy and cozy........

thanks for stopping by!

you are welcome here.

anytime.

i am joining

layla and kevin over at the lettered cottage blog

for a christmas mantel party.

and kathleen at faded charm

for white wednesday.

come join us!