Christmas Decorations - The Family Room

 Design - "Milk and Cookies Santa"

Designer - Sisters and Best Friends

Fabric - 26 count Hickory Heatherfield

Fibers -DMC
Started - 26 December 1997
Completed - 14 February 1998

Ready for Part Two of the Christmas tour?

Lots going on here!

Fitz and Floyd salt and pepper shakers.

More Fitz and Floyd salt and pepper shakers.

Emma Bridgewater 1/2 pint mugs.

Emma Bridgewater 1/2 pint mugs.

Emma Bridgewater 1/2 pint mugs.

Fitz and Floyd salt and pepper shakers and Emma Bridgewater 1/2 pint mugs.

Two small trees with bird house ormanets

On the left

And on the right.

My sister's wood Santa collection.

My Santa collection.

Two trees with cardinal ornaments.

Marjolein Bastin cardinals.

Bottle brush trees.

More cardinals

Snow Birds

Nature themed tree

The hearth and mantle

And my mom's BIG bird tree.

A Barn Owl

And a Saw-whet Owl!

Whew!

Signs of Spring in December

Design - Reindeer motif from "Christmas Ornaments"

Designer - Niky's Creations

Fabric - 32 count Lambswool linen

Fibers - DMC - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 9 December 2012

Completed - 9 December 2012

Even in December, there are early signs of Spring to Come.

I have primrose blooming now.

They are pretty scraggly looking what with all the rain.

And look at this clump of Narcissus.  Yikes!  It'll be interesting to see just how soon it buds up and blooms. 

The Hellebores are harbingers of Spring too.

Several of the plants have budded up and one has already set blossoms.

A couple of the pots I planted with Spring bulbs are also showing signs of life. 

This one has crocus.

I've managed thus far to keep my cyclamen happy, healthy, and mildew free.

As we've yet to have a hard frost, there are Fuchsias still in bloom.

The Agastaches and Salvias in the mudroom flowerbed remain profuse too.

The Anna's hummingbirds appreciate the opportunity to supplement their bird feeder nectar with the 'real thing'.

Better Late Than Never - Wednesday's Walk on Thursday

Design - Partridge

Chart - "A Prairie Christmas"

Designer - The Prairie Schooler

Fabric - 32 count Lambswool linen

Fibers - DMC - 1 strand over 2 threads

Started - 26 December 2011

Finished - 28 December 2011 

I think this is the prettiest one yet - love the pears!

I am so glad I decided to stroll about on Monday afternoon, as it began to pour Tuesday evening and hasn't yet let up.  We've had over 2" of rain thus far.  The creeks are now churning along, and there are lakes puddles everywhere.

Let's take a pre-rain storm look at the outdoor world.  

I think the young pines look like bursts of fireworks - large geometric spirals of needles.

The deciduous forest is a blue / gray tableau - moss reigns supreme!

Or should I say moss and lichens reign supreme...

One of the few things that is still green and growing is the wild honeysuckle.  I'm beginning to wonder if it isn't the Kudzu of the Pacific NW. 

And the moss to has a star burst pattern similar to fireworks, but on a micro-scale.  

Some of the wild roses still have a few leaves as well.

The Big Creek (pre-storm) - I can only image what it looks like now.  Probably deeper and muddier.

I think part of Santa's beard got caught on this branch. 

Not holly, this is the shiny new growth of a Mahonia (Oregon Grape).

The tree ferns glowed under a gray sky.

Dorothy's Creek - moss covered - gurgled along.

And how could I take a walk, without spying a mushroom on the forest floor?

 This is the last walk of 2011.  I look forward to many more in 2012.

A Catnip Christmas

I started on the PS "Partridge" ornament.

Each year, on Christmas morning, my sister presents Solomon, Padma, and Parvati with new Catnip Mice.

Chaos then ensues.

Solomon licks his mouse to death

Padma rolls his mouse to death

Parvati claws her mouse to death

 Tom-Cat looks on in supreme disinterest, immune to the siren call of Catnip.