My Christmas "Wreath"!

Horse "Wreath"

I'd posted photos to Facebook, but when Butch got home last night - he asked if I'd posted something to my blog?  I hadn't!  Here's how it came about...  I'd heard about Pinterest for a while before I decided to join & set up a page.  That done, I started looking around & finding some really beautiful, interesting & smart ideas from everywhere!

One of the first photos I found~

Looking at different decoration ideas I ran across the pin above.  It looked like a lot of work & I wondered what they'd used for the wire base?  I pinned this to my page & soon it was re-pinned by someone else.  Checking out her ideas - I found the pattern for the base.

Pattern sold at Amazon.com

Without the time to order one, Courtney & I had already scheduled this day to make our wreaths at Machias Nursery.  I emailed my husband & asked if he could possibly find some wire & make me one?  He's been my "go to" guy for a long time now!  :-)  He came home with the wire re-bar that's used in brick installations - currently going on at his construction project!

He cut & bent by hand a freehand version of the pattern above!  That's when I got worried & really thought I'd taken on more of a project that I was up to!  I'd also sent another photo to Chris at Machias Nursery & she recognized the greenery for the mane as White Pine.

White Pine mane

With plenty of greenery - all fresh - (Since we were making these a week earlier than usual.) I had what I needed.  I'd searched for ribbon, without any luck - but Chris had found the nice dark red with a burlap look.  Once I had it home - I remembered that I have a amber, diamond cut glass piece & that worked for the eye!

It took all afternoon to get put together - but for my first attempt & I'm pretty happy with it!

Night Lights!

It's dark early!  It's Cold all day long!  It's frosty & the frost lends a touch of white to early mornings & late afternoons!  All this is our clue that it's time to light things up!  Of course - we do keep some lights up year around - I enjoy the glow.

Cottage & Bridge at Squirrel Tail x-ing

The lights on the wood shed are called "Celebration" & they actually twinkle.  Not the obnoxious twinkle that is more of a blink - I can do without those.  We've not been able to find any more like them.  I found them in the bottom of a box of lights - never used until we put them up last season & they're still working!

The red bucket above was one of those real finds that you're always so happy that you went ahead & bought!  We found it years ago in a junk store in Arlington - I think we paid maybe $5. & I've never seen another like it.  Every year it goes up on the wood shed.

Barn & Sequoia

We planted the Sequoia for our 25th wedding anniversary.  It's first year in the ground, it lost almost half of the new growth - we were so worried about it's survival that we checked back with Machias Nursery.  They assured us that it would survive & thrive.  Now, it's getting large enough that in another few years, it will own the hill!  They are almost impossible to decorate, the limbs are so soft - but Butch managed it & the result can be seen over the top of the cedars at the bottom of the pasture & down to the main road.

Twig Tree

Finally, the little twig tree with it's antique bell ornaments lights up the front porch.  The wind sock we bought in Redmond back in the 80's.  Since it only flies once a year - it's held up well.  I hope you've enjoyed your night time visit to the Homestead during the holidays!

Christmas Cottage~

The Cottage~

It's the time of year when we use the Cottage pretty often.  Sitting out with the dogs for our weekend morning latte's, or in the evening with hot tea...  wrapping gifts & reading when the weather doesn't allow for much more.  I love decorating it both inside & out.  The dogs come in, pass out in front of the heater & give me moral support.  This after they've been busy following us everywhere on our quest to get the lights & decorations up!

Once inside the door that's on the right~

I feel like I'm a kid again - walking into this little cottage at the edge of the woods & finding it full of the warmth of the holiday spirit.

Our seating~

Way back when, I came up with the idea of building a cottage to act as a welcome spot prior to taking a walk in the woods.  We situated it as a privacy block from the road & it's the first thing you notice when driving up to our gate.  The ice-cycle lights can be seen at night - all the way from the valley as you drive north.

Room for books, magazines & other seasonal decorations.

Butch had the idea of putting in the re-lights & that really made the Cottage the bright, happy place that it is!  I always have to put a jar of mint candies out here for the Grand-kids!  When their mother's say; "No candy before dinner" - its funny how they all disappear into the Cottage!

Mini tree

This little tree is the one I enjoy decorating the most.  I use miniature, antique glass balls & tiny pine cones.  Also - just a couple of my very favorite ornaments that have traveled over many years with us all the way from Colorado.

Tiny pine-cone girl~

This morning the dogs helped, while I put the finishing touches on the tree :-)  It was sleeting outside & cold - but we all had a good time!