Christmas

Christmas will soon be upon us, my friends.  There is a flurry of activity at our house as we get ready for the holiday.  What a joy to spend time with family ~ and this year, our daughter, Amy, from NY, and Bruno and the two grandchildren, Esmé and Felix will be coming south!   We don't see them very often, so this is a real treat.  And, of course, our oldest daughter, Jen, and Rob, and granddaughter Maddie, will also be here.  I couldn't ask for more!  

Our tree is decorated, most of the shopping is done, and gifts are wrapped.  The stockings are hung..... one for Esmé, one for Felix, one for Maddie, and one for Otis.  
That gives me time for cookie baking and a few more decorations here and there.  

This time of year I like to cozy up by a warm fire with a cup of hot chocolate and enjoy the the pretty lights of our Christmas tree before the celebration.  

I hope all of you have a wonderful and joyous holiday!  And as we go about our activities and preparations, let us not forget the really true meaning of Christmas.  

  

The fall garden

I wanted to snap a few photos of the garden this week while we still had flowers blooming and bees buzzing.  Sunday the weather changes for us and there will be frost on the pumpkin when we wake up on Monday morning.  

We had a fire in the fireplace this morning to warm up a bit and to take the chill off.  I guess this is what we can expect for November.  Enjoy your day!

Is anyone else tired of this crazy winter weather?

Looking out the window right now, the snow is coming down fast and furious.  We've had warnings to stay inside and off the roads because of icy conditions today.  This is North Carolina.  Crazy, crazy weather.  Yes, I know it's crazy everywhere, all over the US.  

So, what do we do while being confined to the house?  

How about sitting by a nice warm fire, reading to your hearts delight.  That's what I've been doing.  Catching up on some old Belva Plain books.  

And drawing in my sketch book.  
These birds will eventually end up on note cards in my etsy shop.  Next comes the paint.    

I hope you're enjoying whatever it is you're doing today!  

And I am wishing and wishing for warmer weather to hurry up and come soon!

Brrrrrrrrr

It's 32 degrees.  I walked outside this morning with Otis to check things out.  As you can see, the water in the bird bath is frozen.  Otis high tailed it back into the house already, no doubt, straight to the sofa and under his blankets.  

 Not a bad idea.  

I might just stay here 'till spring.  

What have I been doing?

Trying to stay warm, mostly.  It's been so cold the past few days I find myself (and Otis and Riley) sitting by a warm fire in cozy blankets.  I celebrated my birthday on Sunday and Galen bought me the most beautiful pink tulips!  They remind me of spring and I yearn for springtime weather and working in the garden.  

We had a bit of snow on the weekend and it was so pretty.  Big fat snowflakes falling from the sky.  It didn't last very long but it was nice to see.  My youngest daughter, Amy, and Bruno and Esmé (our NY family) are coming down this weekend to visit.  I can't wait to see my now five month old granddaughter, little Esmé!  I haven't held her since she was a baby.  We are all really looking forward to this.

So cleaning is on my list this week, along with some cooking and baking.  Isn't it funny how the house gets a good cleaning when visitors come.
Have a good week, everyone!

The Christmas mantel

Happy December, everyone!

While travelling home from Pennsylvania over the Thanksgiving holiday Galen and I decided to take the "scenic" way home and avoid 95 as much as possible.  Travelling along the back roads we were able to enjoy all the bright Christmas lights and decorations that were on display and enjoyed the Christmas music in the car.  

I am now in the Christmas spirit and ready to decorate Mourning Dove Cottage for the holidays.  

I always start with the mantle for some reason.  Maybe it's the easiest place to start.  

  

I decided to make it simple this year with two hurricane lamps, candles and a white ceramic and gold angel.  I wrapped the greens with a light mauve and gold sheer ribbon and added some red berries.   

It gives off a warm glow at night when the candles are lit.  

I hung Otis and Riley's stockings (my two very spoiled dachshunds), and I'll be adding the granddaughter's stocking soon.  (I have to buy new ones this year.)

So, while I enjoy my coffee by the warm fire this morning, I am thinking of new ways to decorate the tree and the dining room and the kitchen and the outside and all the other nooks and crannies in the house, not to mention the outside.  

The boxes have been brought down from the attic.  

Now I just have to find a place for everything and let my creative juices flow.  

How about you?  Are you in the holiday spirit, and have you started decorating?  

Decorating for the season

One of the things I love to do this time of year is plant pansies.  

These pretty flowers are certain to bring color all winter long, and carry through to the spring season here in the south.  

You can buy cascading pansies for hanging pots and hang them outside your window where you can see them every day!  

I am also catching up on my inside fall decorating here at Mourning Dove Cottage.  

I dried these large hydrangea blooms late in the summer.  

I like to put them in urns on the fireplace mantel.  

A few ceramic pumpkins and some berries.   

Pumpkins everywhere.  

I'm a bit late with my fall decorations, but better late than never ~ 
next week we will be getting out all of our Christmas things, right?

Hope you're enjoying this beautiful season!    

Garden decor.....

...for the new year. 

It's January, can you believe it?  Happy 2012 everyone! 
Over the holidays our family played Secret Santa at one of our gatherings and this is the gift I ended up with.  I love it!  It's a metal garden stake temperature gauge in the shape of a flower adorned with marbles.  It's perfect for the garden.  And as you can see the temperature is only in the 20s.  Brrrrrrr.  There was ice in the bird bath this morning.

So what's the best thing to do on a really cold bitter day?  Cozy up by the fire with a hot cup of coffee (or tea or hot chocolate) and enjoy reading your favorite magazine.   

Hope you're staying warm in your neck of the woods!