Deck the Porch with Greens and Berries, FA LA LA LA LA

Today was our traditional porch decorating day just in time for the evening Santa Claus parade in our home town. We live about one block from the parade route so our home tends to be a gathering spot before and after the parade for friends of my children. This year it really looks beautiful outside with the early covering of snow and the glint of ice crystals still covering some of the trees and bushes. I fill the porch wire baskets with gathered goods like pine, spruce and cedar branches, dogwood ( the beautiful red branches) , milkweed pods on stems, pinecones and Ilex verticillata ( also known as winterberry). I change the fabric on the lamp after removing the fall mobile. I chose some matryoshka fabric from my stash to go along with the russian theme. I made some ice wreaths yesterday and removed them from their forms to place on the porch and garden gate. I still need to retrieve a few things from the shed like the vintage sleigh and gather or make some festive cushions for the chairs. Tomorrow in between doing a million and one other things I am going to work on the kitchen and I have decided to finally take down the doily wash line that has graced my kitchen window since the beginning of summer. How is your seasonal decorating going?

Comments

[Jennifer]

How fun! What holiday cheer! I still am partial to your red felted stones with the crocheted white ones.

I don't like to decorate for Christmas until after Thanksgiving. We'll be out of town for Thanksgiving, so decorating will have to wait a bit.

[bluemountainsmary]

I love that ice wreath.

I will start decorating once the children break up for their long summer holidays on December 5th...

[Sam]

It all looks beautiful. How long do your ice wreaths last? I'm going to have a go at ice bowls (don't know how to do a wreath!) but they will melt quite quickly.

[Wendy]

Usually it doesn't stay cold for long enough to make stuff like this worth it, but this year's the worst so far. It has barely even dipped below freezing.

[Nikki]

This looks just lovely! I really love your ice wreath idea. Very clever!

[wren]

I love the ice wreath idea. Very smart. Here in Seattle it doesn't get cold enough to enjoy something like that. I have to move back to a snow area soon.
thanks.

[Elizabeth]

This ice berry wreath with the martyoshka ribbon is so merry!

[Kristena]

So Happy! :) You make me feel very festive.

[geek+nerd]

Those multicolored mittens are amazing! Are they thrummed?

[Caley]

Just stumbled across your lovely blog and I love the ice wreath idea. What is your blog name from? "Resurrection Fern" by Iron&Wine is one of my favorite songs.

[dutchbaby]

The ice wreath is brilliant! I'm going to try and make one from the leftovers from the wreath clinic I had last weekend. Unfortunately, here in California it will be short-lived, but I'm okay with that!

Thanks for the inspiration!

[ghd straighteners]

Maybe, change is a good new life.

[January Jones]

Tomorrow in between doing a million and one other things I am going to work on the kitchen and I have decided to finally take down the doily wash line that has graced my kitchen window since the beginning of summer. How is your seasonal decorating going?