Winter Windowboxes: Stretching the Season's Sparkle

De-decorating is depressing. Every year I dread taking down all of the  "merry and bright" from around the house. I am always looking for ways to extend the holiday season's sparkle and shine well into the New Year. This year I figured out a way to go no further than our little front porch. I left our traditional crimson Christmas bows in their box and purchased some silver mesh wire ribbon. At the craft store I also picked up some inexpensive silver berries to mix in with the pinecones. Collecting the pine cones was a breeze; our neighbor's trees have been dropping them into our garden for months now. I just added a few branches from our Christmas tree being trimmed  and ta-da windowboxes that should be festive enough to leave all winter.

I added to some pinecones to the garland we draped around the porch.

Even the top of the mailbox got the pinecone treatment!

Linking to Melissa's other fabulous winter ideas!

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

Hello Blog World. For my first post about the cabin I want to share with all of you~ the accomplishment I am most proud of to date. The project we were looking forward to for the longest, the one that meant that our season at the cabin could be longer, the one that meant we would always be "nice and warm and toasty" there- the installation of the wood burning stove. Installing the river rock wall and hearth was no easy task and it took several weekends to finish. First, the wall had to be constructed then the wire mesh attached before we could even think about "buttering" our first rock. All in all, it took four seperate weekends just it get the wall and hearth ready for the stove. By the end of it, I was ready to begin my career as a mason. After awhile it was like a giant puzzle. My favorite rocks are the ones at the top- little hands barely able to pick the rocks up, "Daddy, this one goes there!"

The stove all set in place and ready to keep us warm.

The perfect place to dry the mittens.

Aftering rushing all fall to get the stove in so we could celebrate Thanksgiving at the cabin, the day after, it snowed. With the stove finally in I couldn't help but hum, "Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow."