Winter Wonderland

We're headed here today, Sunriver, OR.  We're not staying at the actual 

resort, but we've rented a house.  I'm looking forward to some 

family downtime for a few days.

The kids and I are going to take some ski lessons before we attempt the slopes here.

Maybe we'll see some of these beautiful creatures.

Photos courtesy of Sunriver on facebook.

Hope everyone is taking advantage of some family downtime this holiday season!

The Tree is Trimmed

We have done an ALL SANTA tree for the last several years and as much as I love the guy....I wanted something different this year.  I had these wooden ornaments that I ordered from a Southern Living party a couple of years ago.  They were my starting point.

  I was looking at ornaments in Target a few weeks ago and found
several that I really liked.  
I was leaning towards the browns, golds and creams.

I loved these guys.  They look great in the light of the tree.

These little gold pine cones were hard to pass up. 

These pretties were found at a Christmas Bazaar.  They were a great touch of

cream and I love the little crystals dripping from them.  

Kind of like tree jewelry!

Some pussy willow stems I had on hand are popped in here and 

there for some more texture and cream color. 

The tree skirt is a curtain panel I had laying around.  

I'm really enjoying my new tree color scheme.  My husband/kids like it too, after a little resistance.  Not to worry some of the Santa ornaments are hanging on a smaller tree in another room.  We didn't want to get on the 'naughty list'.

Merry Christmas to All!

Not Feeling the Holly Jolly

As I sit here with a bandana tied around my neck...

that I've been using as a muzzle...

while I cleaned up the dogs accident in the playroom...

where 3 little girls had a slumber party...

and after saying goodbye to the Sears repair man this morning...

who was here to check my washing machine that locked up LAST THURSDAY...

only to tell me they have to order a part that will be here in 10 days...

and realizing that all the photos I cleared off my computer last week...

also were deleted from my blog :(

I'm not feeling Holly Jolly!

But I want to feel Holly Jolly so I'm off to sort the laundry and head to the laundromat to get 10 loads done in 2 hours, I'll start taking more pictures and begin new blog file folders and I'll even let the dog back inside!

  Do you hear the optimism in my voice already? 

   

Happy Holidays!

Christmas Entry

Welcome and Happy Holidays!  

I went a little more "natural" with the decorating this year.  Branches trimmed from outside, greenery cut from the Christmas tree and pine cones that I've used year after year.

(Sorry for the dark pictures, there hasn't been a whole lot of sun here in the NW)

 

I love the reflection of the ornaments in the mirror. 

I picked up these mercury glass candle holders at Target. 

A little bit of greenery goes a long way.

 

I got this cute bird bath dish in Atlanta on our Thanksgiving trip last month.

More greenery touches.

Merry Christmas!

I'm linking to the following party:

Southern in My Heart Inspiration Friday Party 

Fabric Scrap Christmas Garland

This is a fun garland I made several years ago with leftover fabric scraps

from various projects.  All the fabric pieces are about 3x3.  I lined them up 

and sewed them together at the ends to form a long garland, then wrapped 

them around 1" cording; pinned, sewed and cut the edge with pinking shears.

I wrap it tightly around a shoe box lid for storage.

I didn't use the fabric garland this year because I've changed our tree color
scheme up a bit, but this is an old photo I found where you can see it 
in the background....if you can get past that cutie in the foreground. 
(My daugher 5 years ago!)

 

My garland was made with leftover scraps, but you could use 3 or 4 coordinating

fabrics as well.  Hmmmm, maybe a new garland in creams is in my future?!

I'm linking to the following parties:

Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays at Coastal Charm

Boardwalk Bragfest at Bobbypins Boardwalk 

Christmas Mantel

 With a touch of the beach...

This is the picture that sits on our mantel year round.  

The name of the print is "Neap Tide", by Gerald Bienvenu, a well known artist on the Mississippi Gulf Coast where I grew up.  Mr. Bienvenu has painted numerous landscapes and beach scenes from the local area. Shortly after college, 

I worked with his wife who owned an interior design shop.  

I bought several of his prints. 

This year I decided to add a touch of 'beach' to the Christmas mantel to tie in with the print.  The print is matted in red/green/cream, even the boat is red/green, which made for an easy color scheme to work with.

I added some branches from outside to the vases.

 A few baby starfish.

Santa's delivering some starfish too.

I'm really enjoying the layered textures.

I'm linking to the following parties:

Deck the Halls Party at Between Naps on the Porch

Amaze Me Monday at Dittle Dattle

The Hunt

We're typically artificial tree people, but for the last couple of years we've tried real trees. 

We've lived in the Northwest for the past 10 years and the trees here are hard to beat.  

Beautiful!

It was hard to find one we ALL agreed on.

We walked the entire lot to find just the right one.

"How 'bout this one, Mom?"

Mom liked this one.

We ALL agreed!

Let the fun begin...

...and, the work, everybody wanted to help saw.

Dad was enjoying the "help".

Shake the tree to be sure we leave all the critters behind.

It's a wrap.

Now, to get it on top of the car.

Let the decorating begin!

What kind of tree does your family like, artificial or real?