Showing posts with label Willow Tree. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Willow Tree. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

It's Snowing!



We love snow. We were almost starting to feel sorry for ourselves because OUR snow seemed to take a wrong turn somewhere and head south. We were so happy to wake up to some fresh snow this morning. We shoveled the driveway, warmed up with some yummy pumpkin oatmeal and off we went.



I was feeling super inspired by the beautiful snow. So as soon as the kids had been delivered to school, I headed down to the basement to dig out a few of my favorite winter items. Our bench had been decorated for Christmas and last weekend I had brought all the Christmas items in. I left the evergreen, grapevines and the string of lights on the bench. Today I tucked an old pair of ice skates between the greens and the back of the bench.



I added some silver jingle bells to the side of the bench. I love jingle bells. They always make me think of a horse drawn sleigh ride Joel and I had years ago. It is such a fun memory for me.




I also added some 3D plastic light up snowflakes for fun. The kids love these.



And this is what I wound up with. I am so happy with my snow inspired bench.



Here is my favorite item of all. I love this sled. Isn't it a fun piece?


Bear with me for a minute. Do you see this birdhouse? In the summer it lives on my patio with a cute little fern growing inside. When we started decorating for fall, I used some of the grapevine we had trimmed up and an urn that I had emptied.


Then I swapped the pumpkin for some glittered balls from the dollar store. My daughter and her friend tucked some white pine sprigs and some Douglas fir sprigs into the grapevine to create a greener look.


Then I gave it another thirty-second make-over for winter.


I added three more 3D snowflakes tucked into the birdcage.



I am keeping my eye out for an old pair of skis to prop up here. Wouldn't that be great?









And finally, our beautiful willow tree all dressed up for winter.



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Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice!


Welcome to my daughter's play house under our big willow tree. Alyssa loves playing here and I love watching her imagination come to life in her world of childhood fantasy. She spends A LOT of time hauling everything she needs out to the willow tree. Sometimes she ropes the boys into helping her out. Then she sets everything up just as she sees it in her imagination. Play food is not ready to serve until it has been surrounded with willow leaves and wild flowers.




A vase of wildflowers is always in order. I love her vase. It is a genuine Smucker's jar that she picked up from the recycle bin in the garage.



She spends a lot of time cooking. Apparently she thinks cooking is fun. I get such a kick out of watching her break up endless bits of dried plants so that she can pretend she is cooking with herbs like I do. I do not get a kick out of finding those endless bits of dried plants in my house, but I do love her creativity.




Then if the other kids are really lucky, they get an invitation to come and spend some time with Alyssa. I love how well the kids play together. They may not always be in the mood to go to a tea party, but I love seeing them having fun together.



I also love Alyssa's sense of style. She and her doll are wearing matching dresses and aprons made especially for them by my Mom.





And if the other kids are too busy to take the time for a tea party, then there are plenty of things waiting for her attention. Thank Heaven for little girls, they grow up in the most delightful way...Gigi