Hello my dears. I thought I'd share the little holiday cheer I've got going here. It's not much but it feels right for me. In between rain showers I went out in the garden with my clippers and gathered a bunch of boxwood and berries.
It isn't fancy but I love the freshness of it all. I hope you are having simple, peaceful days and ignoring any stress that this season can bring. I'm doing my best too. x
Beautiful and elegant! I really love the wreath against the dark wood. Hope you're feeling better in every way for Christmas :)
ReplyDeleteD.
thank you D. x
DeleteMy Christmas decorating style is similar to yours. I've made a front door wreath out of rose hips, deodar cedar, some black berries, a branch of tiny cones and curly willow. I've encircled an urn filled with moss with some curly willow and I have a couple of pots of paperwhites. I just can't bring myself to decorate a Christmas tree.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully done! I decorated this weekend and every year I do less sparkly and more natural decorations. Magnolia leaves and cedar from my yard make me happy. 🎄
ReplyDeleteme too betty. as the years go by less and natural is best. x
DeleteSimple is beautiful. Doing what feels right for you is best. Your heart-aching loss is still so fresh.
ReplyDeleteyes lorrie. my heart is aching these days...x
DeleteYour decorations look beautiful! I'm sure Larry would be happy seeing you prepare for the holiday season. I hope your memories of Christmas past with him bring you great comfort.
ReplyDeletethank you anon. i like to think he's by my side. x
DeleteI love the Christmas tree! Can I ask if it is real or fake and where you bought it? I'm looking for a simple, lovely tree like that for my own home. Thank you! Hoping that you are being very kind and gentle with yourself this season.
ReplyDeletei'm glad you can't tell it's fake in the photo! we bought it 2 years ago the day after christmas at walmart. it was deeply discounted. i think we paid like $35 for it. if you can hold out, i'd wait. x
DeleteThat first image in particular is absolutely perfect.
ReplyDeletethank you lisa. x
DeleteJanet, Aren't "gifts from the garden" just wonderful?! I'm sure you got a lot of satisfaction, decorating your lovely home this way. I scaled back my Christmas decorating this year, since our holidays will be more low key. Instead of decorating several trees throughout the house, I did just one in our living room - a live tree as usual but instead of my usual red tartan plaid theme, I tried something new: A Black Watch Plaid inspired tree with blue, silver & white ornaments, white-sprayed pine cones & lots of "snow"-sprayed branches & berries, with Black Watch plaid & copper/gold ribbon weaved throughout. I took the day off before Thanksgiving, not to cook, but to put up our tree & felt like I saved myself tons of stress. Maybe that's why I love our tree so much this year! Thank you for sharing your beautiful home & design aesthetic again with us. It is so lovely & so "you"! xxoo Katie from Huntington Beach
ReplyDeleteoh katie that tree sounds gorgeous and v ralph lauren. my black watch ribbon came from RL when my son worked there. i wish i had more of it. x
DeleteThe simple green touches are what feel right in our small homes...
ReplyDeleteI think it's because we love our gardens so much.
Your tree is divine and I love that you have it in a vintage basket.
I wondered about going out in my garden and picking some sepia coloured dried hydrangeas for a tall copper vase that we have...I am not sure if the cats would leave them alone but we have oodles of them so I may get out there today...you've inspired me again Janet!
XO
oh leslie if i had access to lots of fading hydrangeas i'd fill the whole tree with them! that's a lovely look. that basket is actually primitive! x
DeleteI love the simple, nature-oriented decor. I think it's perfect!
ReplyDelete- Karen L
thank you karen. x
DeleteNice! I stopped buying into the madness of the season long ago. Take care, Janet. xo
ReplyDeleteyou are wise! x
DeleteOnce again, you have made simple quite elegant.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas Janet.
thank you! x
DeleteLove these simple yet festive decorations, Janet!
ReplyDeleteI'm using neighborhood pinecones + boxwood, rosemary and Toyon berries from the garden. We don't have a tree but our village Christmas tree lot gave me tree trimmings to decorate my mantel.��❤ ��
oh it all sounds lovely. x
DeleteAbsolutely love the wreath above your stove. All of it, really! You are the master of simple without being stark. Blessings to you as you journey through this season. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeletethank you kathy. x
Deletesending you love and contentment and peace this first Christmas darling bean. the cottage is so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteand the little touches make me remember how you made your room Home there at Larry's dad's house those months you were away. magical and beautiful as always. XOXO
thank you dear tammy. it's kinda hard right now. x
DeleteIt is all stunning, yet in a simple way. I miss having boxwood as I did at my old house...always loved the simplicity of it. I still do a really tall, but skinny tree that we get from a local tree farm. I have so many beautiful ornaments from our little shop we had for years, & they bring back beautiful memories. So I will continue to do that for some time, I hope. The remainder of the cabin is simple, with greens, small white jack-be-littles that I save from fall & rosehips I pick along the creek. I love the little white pumpkins nestled in a bed of greens.
ReplyDeleteNo doubt this Christmas will be hard, but hopefully it will be easier than you anticipate. You are doing a great job at keeping busy & adding touches to your cozy home that will help you to feel normal. Blessings this Christmas season!
Anita ~ the cabin on the creek
...all is grace!
thank you dear anita. it sounds so beautiful. x
DeleteLove your elegant simplicity. I could move right in! xo
ReplyDeleteawww thank you annette x
DeleteBeautiful. You are so right to do what feels best and letting the rest go. Wishing you peace.
ReplyDeleteit's all i can do jeannine. x
DeleteYour simplicity leaves room to breathe. We all need a little of that these days.
ReplyDeletei agree! x
DeleteI love the wreaths and the tree. Everything is so elegant and simple. The tea kettle is simple and elegant also. What brand is it?
ReplyDeletethank you brenda. the kettle is made by simplex in england. i found it at an estate sale for only $20. x
DeleteThat's stunning. I love that. My kids are still at the age where more is more, but each year we simplify a little.
ReplyDeleteenjoy it all! x
DeleteBless you, Janet, for reminding us that beauty is all around, even when we're feeling sad and untethered. I wish you a beautiful and peaceful Christmas as you celebrate the first of its kind. You are deeply loved. I'm sending my most heartfelt good wishes for a very special Christmas. You are a very special woman.
ReplyDeletexo karen
thank you karen. what sweet words for my heart this morning. i am so humbled. x
DeleteI love the simple beauty of the natural clippings you've put together. You always inspire me!
ReplyDeleteKaren
The way you navigate through life is always inspirational to me. You give me strength when I am struggling. Thank you and wishing you all the best.
ReplyDeleteBobbie Allgood
Very beautiful wreaths. I love naturals. Your kindness and gentleness is an inspiration. Peace now and throughout the season.
ReplyDeleteSo lovely! You make me stop and think... what would I see at The Gardener’s Cottage? You are an inspiration! Peace.
ReplyDeleteOh my! Your boxwood wreaths are so lovely! I love the simple greens and berries and am a bit jealous that you have boxwood to work with for decorating. I am in Minnesota and garden extensively but have not attempted boxwood because it is quite finicky in our weather extremes. I did make a 'kissing ball' with a variety of evergreen/pine cuttings and hung it outside near the front door. Wishing you a season full of peace, hope, and love.
ReplyDelete