A Winter White Wednesday

It snowed today-the world looked like a snow globe.  There has been very little of this fluffy, white confection this winter - so it is a treat!  I said to my husband, "Now I want it to be Christmas!"   I dashed outside and snapped a couple of pix then came inside for a hot chocolate.

 Finally it looks like Christmas.  It doesn't seem so long ago.  Want to take a peek?

Looking into the dining room.  Isn't the tree splendid?  It is decorated entirely in non-breakable ornaments.

              The corner cabinet is an 18th century English piece.  It holds a collection of transferware.

                            Cranberries add a splash of color to this basket weave candle holder.

             The English dresser in the family room holds more candle holders filled with cranberries.

  The fireplace mantle in the family room is topped with a swag and greens decorated with fruit pomanders.

                                                The dining room in jewel tones and copper.

The dining room center piece is an antique transferware bowl filled with bouquets of roses and faux greens.

 A huge, wooden dough bowl on the side board holds giant flocked pinecones, pomanders, greens and ornaments.

The Living room.  Swags of greens with white, twinkling lights adorn the top of the Dutch bombe china closet.
Crystal apothecary jars hold antique ornaments.  Ivory, silver beaded runners top each table.
And the piece de resistance - the tree!

Because of our newest family member, one little gray cat named Louis, all the ornaments on the tree are plastic.  We were almost afraid to put up a tree because of some of his past antics, but he behaved like a gentleman-much to our surprise.

Hope you enjoyed my little reminiscence.

Tablescape Thursday-A Holiday Table

Holiday Tablescape

The dining room is festooned with feathers & ice-dusted pine. Topping the table is a silk arrangement of feathers & poinsettias in an earthy terra cotta shade. It sits atop a faux block of ice-(a glass block window) atop a skirt of peacock feathers surrounded by faux berries, pine & orange pomanders studded with cloves & coppery glass ornaments. The tablecloth is a burnished bronze with gold accents-(a gift from my husband the previous Christmas). Three gold & embroidered runners cross the table. The centerpiece is flaked by a pair of English barley twist candlesticks & a pair of woven baskets with glass inserts filled with cranberries & two pillar candles.

The chargers are gilded melamine & the dinnerware Holly & Ivy by Portmeirion. These are my everyday dishes throughout the winter. I bought them all in bits & pieces on eBay throughout the years. The silver is my “company silver”. I call it that because it has to be washed by hand so I use it only for “special” occasions. The glassware is Bavarian etched crystal with deer, pheasants, grouse & ducks. They are lovely in the candle light & bring a bit of a “lodge” feel to the table. I bought them all at a yard sale this past summer for $1.00 each-(What a find). American Brilliant cut glass lends to the feel of sculpted ice. They all have some small imperfection but are beautiful none the less. Red plaid napkins complete each place setting. Sparkling votives twinkle in gold glass cups scattered around the table. The lighting is soft & intimate befitting a dinner of family & friends.

Portmeirion Holly & Ivy china.

Sideboard centerpiece lit with sparkling white lights.

The Pomanders are a tradition in my family. When I was young, my mother & I made them every holiday. The spicy fragrance always reminds me of Christmas. These pomanders are faux. I used real cloves to stud them but the oranges are from Michael’s & the Dollar Store. I made a pattern using mini cookie cutters traced onto paper for the hearts & stars. For the bands encircling the orange, rubber bands did the trick to keep the rows even. I used a permanent marker to place dots on the areas I wanted to insert the cloves. Using a tool to start holes-(It came in a mini screwdriver set of my husbands) I poked a hole just deep enough to insert the clove. The oranges feel like plastic on the outside but have an interior made of Styrofoam so they were fairly easy to work with. Faux lemons or limes would work just as nicely. Everyone thought they were real & but these pomanders will still be lovely next year.

Happy Tablescape Thursday to all. Be sure to Visit our hostess Between Naps on the Front Porch for more eye candy & fabulous ideas.

A Snowy Wednesday

Snow-Snow-Snow & More Snow!
No snow in the forecast today-but last Wednesday-WOW-18 inches on top of the 20 inches from the weekend before. We no sooner dug out from the first storm-when we were gifted with a second BIG snow. The second storm had near blizzard conditions by mid-day Wednesday. All major highways were closed. I dug a path out to my fishpond to check on their heater & air stone. After that we hunkered down, lit the fireplace & watched it snow! I baked cookies for Valentine’s Day - my grandma’s Sand Tart recipe, which you can find in my Recipes on the right side tab. They are delicious & fast disappearing-unlike the snow!
Our temps here in Central PA are only to be in the 30’s with teens and twenty’s at night-brrrrr! Time to snuggle up to a warm hubby & cozy cat. Mother Nature freshened up the scenery Tuesday afternoon & evening with a light dusting of about one inch. Thankfully-nothing to shovel.

So I am out-and-about today! The roads are clear, even if the sidewalks & parking areas are not. So happy Outdoor Wednesday wherever you are!

Be sure to visit Susan at A Southern Daydreamer for more Outdoor Wednesdays!

Snowy lane beside our house.

A snow garden.

The patio from my bedroom window.

The side yard from the attic window.

It's a blizzard out there.

Somewhere under there is my car!

Trumpet vine arch in the side yard.