Almost December!

Well, here we are with December approaching and as you can see old man winter has made his debut here!

We put this bird feeder up by our patio door so we can see the birds up close.  Of course they all hide as I approach.  They'll get used to me after a while and hopefully they won't scatter so easily!

My real plants have gone away and I've stuffed some greenery in this flower pot for a little holiday color!

More faux accessorizing! It's actually full of snow now and looks better but I'm too lazy to go out and take a new picture!

Speaking of accessorizing! The rooster statue moved over by the back door and is sporting a red lit wreath!  Notice the other fine accessories... shovels and salt!

I've decorated my kitchen window with some Christmas village pieces but my focus here is on the bird feeder that we finally moved over closer to the shrubs and now I can see it much better.

A quick shot shows a couple of the Junco's out on the ground feeding. They are fun to watch.  Some people call them "snow birds"

I noticed the red squirrel too but my camera focused on the brown hydrangeas instead of him!  That's what you get when you only use auto focus!! I need to play with manual settings more often!

Inside the home I've managed to keep my Christmas Cactus going since last Christmas when I got it.  

I"m tickled it's starting to bloom too!

There are more buds starting!

I'm told if you move it to a cool spot for a couple of weeks- such as outdoors in the fall and bring it back in it may stimulate it to bloom.  The gal at the garden center (bragged) told me how well hers was doing and that's her secret!

I hope this time of year is finding you all snuggled in and dreaming about next season's gardening!

Mantel and Living Room Christmas 2012

Finally- a sunlit day that allowed me to get some photo's with natural lighting!

I've rearranged the furniture once again- LOL- (those who know me know this is an ongoing thing with me!)

I staged the two wing back recliners and moved the big sofa over a bit. 

Ok, I'm a geek traditionalist! I'm pretty pleased this year with the mantel and since hubby walked in and reacted rather pleasantly I guess I got it right!

 I've used a combination of a garland with some soft green boughs slid in to build it up a bit. The red hurricane vases were from Kirkland's last year.

  I put fake snow in them with the greens and the striped stems that reminded me of porcupine quills. 

 I wanted a little more cabin/woodland accent this year so the huge pine cones seemed like a good choice!

Zooming in on the wreath I put together a couple of weeks ago.  Acorns, pine cones, berries and a rose accented ribbon fit my cabin/woodland desire!

 Next to the tree this year I set up one of my end tables covered with a cloth and my nativity. 

 The big gold panels are from Gumps last year (they still sell them) and there is an angel with a harp in the center.

 

 On the tree are some new and old ornaments. These big pears are my favorite this year!

 I've got a mix of greens, golds, coppers, whites and crystal on the tree.  The gilded leaves are a favorite but I need about 3 times as many as I have.

 Of course it's more engaging when the lights are on!

 I split up some copper colored branches and put pieces of them around the tree. They pick up on the same colors in the wreath.

Tucked just behind and to the side of the sofa is my linen chest that I decked out with an arrangement of glittery pine boughs, feathers and eucalyptus I put together. 

  The little angels were from Gumps last year. I also attached two gold leaves on the sides of the vase for more shape.

 A simple tree adorned with vase filler pieces. Hobby Lobby 2 or 3 yrs. ago.

 Just to the right of that chest is my other built in cabinet top that my Santos Doll sits on.

 I decked her out with two boxwood wreaths, another over sized pine cone and red beads... Her theme is Christmas decorating this year!

  When our daughter was home for Thanksgiving she 
dubbed it my Mardi-Gras Santo's  Cage Doll!

We both laughed about that one!

These two antique gold finished urns bring your eye around the corner! 
The large milky white ornaments were from a specialty store 3 yrs. ago.

 Our tree is a tall skinny pencil tree- it fits easily into the room.  

A couple of evening shots

Thanks for visiting! 

 I hope you like!! 
Liz 

I'm joining Savvy Southern Style
 for
A Homespun Christmas/Vignettes and Mantels Party 

 

A Visual Medley Inspired by Pottery Barn!

I was inspired by these pictures from Pottery Barn 

to create an arrangement on top of my cabinet 

that divides two of my rooms.

Pottery Barn

 I love the mix of elements

Pottery Barn

Mine is by no means a replica, but more of an inspired look which began 
with the pictures from Pottery Barn

Daytime

 Nighttime

I used several items I already owned and a few are new. 

The main thing I adopted from the Pottery Barn vignettes was about mixing different elements together and creating what I'm calling a visual medley.

 I do love it best at night with the
candles lit!

 I used some miniature boxwood candle rings to surround a couple of the pieces.

 I set everything on this deep olive green
runner.  

 This little votive is part of a set I ordered from Pottery Barn.  50% of the profit goes to 
St. Judes Children's Research Center.  

I've been picking up pieces from PB for this benefit for a couple of years now.  

I think it's a great way to contribute.  

I included a link above- no profit or monies received by me

 What do you think my favorite color is? 

Hmmm?

R_ _ 

I hope you enjoyed my PB inspired vignette!

I've got more to show you, but I'm going to 

s-t-r-e-t-c-h... it out!! 

I'm joing the 
 Knock off Decor Extravaganza party
at 
Debbiedoo's for the Copy Cat Challenge