Since I live in a very snowy region of the country I can do one of two things….
Embrace the snow and cold or bury my head in the snow and pretend it doesn’t exist.
The former works much better than the later…believe me.
For me…pine cones and snowflakes are nature’s decor for winter.
I know snow makes sense….but pine cones? I have no idea why I think this. Maybe it’s just an excuse to decorate with pine cones. And faux snowflakes. I like those much better than the kind that melt. Though I must say, looking out the window and seeing the landscape with a fresh blanket of snow is pretty special. Last winter I had fun using both pine cones and snowflakes in my decor. Click here and here to see more and maybe even pick up a little inspiration for your winter decor.
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Catch up on all that’s Extraordinary…
this week at An Extraordinary Day!
Here’s a rundown of this week’s posts:
Opportunity…A New Year’s Quote | The Week at a Glance 12/28
A Gift of Necessity | Joy Day!
10 Popular Picks of 2013 | Top Post Awards
Blog Stats, Surprises, Blessings, and the Future
New Year’s Quote and Printable for 2014
On a Personal Note:
You all are the sweetest kindest most encouraging people I have ever ‘met.’ Thank you for taking the time to leave your thoughtful remarks. It really means the world to me. [hugs] I want to apologize for being behind on replying to your comments. I have read every one…but I have not had time to respond. I’m working on it….so please be patient with me. There’s nothing like a holiday party or two to three to help a gal get behind. [wink]
Today was a beautiful almost perfectly clear sky day. The kind that starts with temps in the double digits….below zero. Brrrr! Did I say it was beautiful? It was the kind of day where you go outside to shoot a few pictures and go back inside almost immediately because your fingers are frozen. Cameras and gloves to do not make a happy association, do they? Anyway…I got a few frozen shots which might make an appearance soon.
I’ve been playing with birch again and there’s a table setting and centerpiece involved. And some fun and easy tutorials. And I made snowflakes…the kind that look good. Not the kind where you want your friends to think your kids made them. Would you like to know how to make them too? And then there’s Valentine’s Day! Any romantics in the house? My mind has been spinning with fun ideas to share with you. But, first…the Christmas decor needs to come down.
How about you?
- Is your Christmas put away already?
- Does it feel like Christmas happened months ago?
Wishing you an Extraordinary weekend!
Diane
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I’d be delighted if you’d share the goodness here with your friends.
Enjoying your winter decor and NO my Christmas is not down or away. I have a long way to go!
Thanks for celebrating the New Year at Seasonal Sundays.
– The Tablescaper
My neighbor always took her tree down on Christmas afternoon. But….I think it can come down whenever. There is plenty of pressure to get things up in time for Christmas…we certainly don’t need the pressure in reverse. LOL!!!
Thanks for always hosting a lovely party, Alma!!
Still putting away the Christmas decor. Then I’ll add a few winter touches here and there. I save my snowmen for January. ‘-)
I loved your birch wreath and I love your pine cone decor. Before I know it my house will be an exact replica of your house. You are fabulous.
Cheers
Stephanie
I’m so jealous of your snow! I just move to a warmer climate, and my snowfall this year has been exactly 0″. Your winter decor is so pretty, very nicely done. I’m a fan of pinecones in the winter too – I have pinecone trees and wreaths on my mantle right now, in fact.
I’d like to invite you to a new link party, called Happy Tuesday. We’re sharing anything that makes us happy – we want to spread good vibes and positivity throughout blogland. You can find out more info at the link below. I hope you’ll come and join us!
http://holidays-at-the-harris-home.blogspot.com/p/happy-tuesdays.html
Thanks,
Jenny
I missed this post last year so I’m glad you reported. I too like the pinecones and especially how you combined the whitewashed boards, crystal , and pinecones with a variety of unusual snowflakes. I’m slowly changing things to look more wintery. I purposely used whites this year so I could do this and then I shall then easily turn into Valentine decor as well. By mid February I’m ready for some spring looking displays. Ways to showcase camellias but for now, although the only white is the very gravely dangerous pollution particulates, it resembles snow inside!!!
I think I missed JOY day. I’ve been sick. Did I delete it? So its Sunday. I must count my Joys
1. Faithful spouse, friends and family in troubling times
2. A relief when I lie down
3. Good sermons
4. Memory of verses so they pop in my mind just as I need them
5. Jesus bore my sickness or I could not bear it….He took my sins…He sends Joy and living
6. Stamps to mail a note to someone
7. Improvement in severe infection of sinus on my daughter that landed her with IVs and now oral antibiotics but I don’t even know her looks… Heal her heart, her strength, her mind, her body…she carries such a heavy heavy load
8. Getting to talk to Mom daily
9. Fun picture of a cousin taken long ago
10. Christian programs
I love your pinecone and snowflake decor–makes perfect sense for a snowy January climate! Our climate is rainy and grey during this time of year, and I put holiday decor away on January 1st and jumped right in with something bright and fresh for January. Happy New Year to you.
Happy New Year Diane! Thanks so much for being a part of AMAZE ME MONDAY! Stay warm…
Blessings,
Cindy
I’m so happy I clicked over to check out your winter decorations. I redid my mantel yesterday using the snowflakes the kids and I had made in December. I forgot all about my pine cone collection!
I’d love for you to share your winter decorating ideas with my readers at my Motivation Monday linky: http://www.alifeinbalance.net/motivation-monday-linky-party-73/
I love using natural elements for winter décor, too. Hope you’re having a WARM week!
Ohhh. Bring on the snowflakes!! And as a keeper of pinecones, I love an excuse to keep them out, which is a part of why I enjoyed this display so much.
I’ll hang tight for the photos and tutorials…and maybe sneek around …all those links and soooo little time! LOL
This is darling. So clever and simple.
Hi Diane,
Happy New Year and may it bring you and your family much joy! I LOVE the cloche with the pinecones! There is just something about pinecones that I find so appealing. Faux snowflakes too. Like you, I prefer the artificial kind. Thank you for sharing at my HOME.
Blessings,
Sandi
I always thought pine cones and snow went together for winter, to me they just seem to look good with each other. Pine cones can actually be out all year, just depends on how you display them. Hubs spray painted several cones white for me and I sprinkled on some glitter and some with artificial snow so they sparkle, look so pretty in different lights. I used several of the white pine cones on a square wreath I hang on door after holidays.
I have a long basket, a bread basket I guess, I put pine cones around some of my fabric and ceramic snowmen up on our faux mantel (shutter shelf) with an old window behind it and cedar/pine garland on edges of window with couple of big cones on shelf. Just wasn’t ready to put my dear little snowmen away. Have several sizes. Also put ball jars with mini trees/snow in basket with them. Makes a cute decoration to tide me thru worst of winter at least until Valentines Day. Love your cloche and snowflakes they look so pretty, looks so pretty to get you thru worst part of winter. We haven’t had below zero as you have, just a few days/nights before holidays but I’m hoping for more snow. Mostly ours has been 20’s and single digits at night. We live west of Grand Junction,CO. Happy days
JaneEllen…your winter decor sounds amazing!! I think I would feel right at home.
Here’s to wishing more snow for you and a most Extraordinary wrap of to a very fast week.
Happy Winter!
Love the snowflakes! You, all my Christmas is down and boxed up. tomorrow I will put it away in storage. Thank you for joining us at TTF!
🙂 Isn’t it a great feeling Diann?
Thanks for your kind words and for stopping by!
Blessings!
I like a little winter décor in January, when the days are still so short and I need a little happy things to look at !
Oh yes….these long nights and short days really make it important to feather our winter nests in a lovely way.
Thanks for popping by Magali! Hope your weekend is Extraordinary!
I know exactly what you mean about winter. I too, live where we really get winters, and I love embracing the beauty of it! I love your pinecones and snowflakes! I use a lot of snowflakes this time of year, and now I need to add pinecones. Thanks so much for sharing. Enjoy your weekend!
Brooke…thank you so much for blessing me with your thoughtful words.
Have fun feathering your winter nest with pine cones and more!
[hugs]
HI Diane, I just love the winter decor ideas you shared on the Link It or Lump It link party. I would love to feature your post this week, but I am having trouble grabbing a photo. Would you please email me one that I can use in my feature post to go live on Sunday 7am? Thank you and have a JOYful weekend 🙂 – Melissa
Thank you so much Melissa!!
I’ll send you a photo…but whenever you run into this you can pin the photo and save it from Pinterest, or simple run your cursor to the top of the photo and down and you’ll notice that the “haze” goes away and you can click and save. 🙂
Hi Diane, I guess were on the same page whether it makes sense or not. I too decorated with pinecones for my Winter décor. I used them on my living room mantle and my kitchen table with snowy whites. Warm and cozy for Winter, whether they make sense or not.
hugs,
Jann
I love your winter mantel, and I love winter too! I’ve got pine cones on my mantel…to me pine cones lay outside all winter long once fallen, and it’s natural, walk in the woods in winter and you see pine cones. Thanks so much for sharing your creative inspiration at Sundays’ Best!
Love your winter decor! I still have Christmas decor to put away. Thanks for sharing on the HomeAcre Hop. Hope to see you again tomorrow! – Nancy The HomeAcre Hop
Looks wonderful! I do appreciate you sharing with Home and Garden Thursday,
Kathy