Friday, November 19, 2010

I Bough To You

 I usually wait until December 1, which is the day after Henri's birthday, before I start my Christmas decorating.   But that was before I read this article written by the talented Sharon Lovejoy, for Lowe's Creative Ideas for Home and Garden.  Sharon, who I have gotten to know through her blog, divides up her time between living on an island off the coast of Maine in the warmer months and then as cooler weather approaches heads back to California to enjoy the winter!  The article she wrote inspired me to simply shop my own backyard to decorate for the holiday season. 


I don't know how, but Henri recently moved this heavy wrought iron birdcage from where it was sitting in our backyard, up onto our small deck all by himself.   He also attached 3 birdhouses to the top of the rail for me.  (My steadily growing collection of birdhouses that I still hadn't figured out what to do with yet.)   He did this as a surpise for me and waited for me to discover it by myself.  I was thrilled and Sharon's tips of how to decorate for the season using nature's bounty were all I could think of! 




My favorite of the 3 birdhouses is this red one. 



A diagonal sweep of pine boughs is all this cage really needed with a few rose hips tucked here and there. 




The yellow are fruit that were scattered around all over the ground right below my Japanese Quince bush. 



This birdhouse cried out for a few pine cones, the only ones I found right near the quince bush. 


The most rustic and weathered of the birdhouses. 




The metal trim on the roof and entry add to its rustic charm.   



From inside looking out, a geranium in the foreground that Henri brought inside for the winter. 



As evening approaches, a decision to add a strand of icicle lights had me getting a little carried away.  When it got too dark to do any more gathering I decided it was good enough.



See what happens when you get a little blog inspiration.  Next thing you know, I'll be inside baking Christmas cookies!

21 comments:

joanne said...

very pretty! Nature always does it best I think..;j

Teri said...

Very pretty! but poor Simon is going to think it's the "bad bird" corner! ;-)

Low Tide High Style said...

It's beautiful Lili!!!

Kat :)

seanymph said...

I love what you did including the lights. As I get familiar with whats around here, I found I have holly in my woods! And I adore holly!! And pine is everywhere too. So Ill be doing the same. One thing to warn you tho.....it may or may not happen. ... I put out small pumpkins with my big one and if you go to my site you will see what the birds did to them all. So they may do that to your fruit! Keep an eye on it. :)

Vicki Boster said...

Lili - You did a fabulous decorating session with your birdhouses and "backyard" shopping! Kudos my friend - these photo are just stunning! LOVE the birdhouses! (I think Sharon is wonderful also - what a talented lady she is - and so genuinely nice. I love reading her blog.)

Happy Thanksgiving week to you and Henri~~

Vicki

Sandy, Sisters of Season said...

That looks so "Christmassey". Anything with birds or you could say nature, I just love. Hope all is going well for you Lili . . Have a nice weekend. Sandy:O)

Maya @ Completely Coastal said...

I'm inspired to find some things in my backyard too!! It won't be evergreens though. Love what you did!

Heather Baird said...

So beautiful! I love decor taken from nature - it's the best and prettiest.

marcia said...

LOVE your birdhouses!

Decorating with nature is all we really *need*. And every year it can look different than the past one.

Our neighbor, at the very end of our driveway near the street,had added a young Holly tree to our shared burn pile (when we burn in the spring).
I was sooo sad he cut the tree down,it was beautiful. So I decided I would take all the branches and decorate with mostly Holly this year :)

happy day!



happy day!

Country Girl said...

Very nice! I'm going now to check out the article.

Sharon Lovejoy said...

Beautiful Lili, but you didn't need me for inspiration!

I amin Ojai right now with four of my best girl feiends fro grammar school and high school.

Love to you,

Sharon Lovejoy writes from Sunflower. House and a Little Green Island

Julie said...

Love it! So pretty. The birdcage on the deck is awesome and I love the houses, specially the red one.
If Simon goes out and sees the cage with all the lights out there he will think he's gone To Vegas for birds!!! lol...
I love to use holly and nandinas for the berries around here at Christmas time. Shopping the yard can be very resourceful and fun and FREE!!!!!!! Yay! Thanks for the inspiration and sharing. AND I for one can't wait to see some kind of Christmas cookie in your kitchen with some of those beautiful sprinkles and decor on them!!! Inspiring us!!! Hugs!

JoAnn ( Scene Through My Eyes) said...

I can smell the cookies already. I love the decorations with the birdhouses.

I have a new Spritz Cookie press - has a trigger rather than the old fashioned ones that you screwed a post down and made the cookies come out - I am excited to try it. With all your decorating you have inspired me to make some holiday cookies - and eat some. LOL

Carol @ A Bird in Hand said...

It looks wonderful! I love all the birdhouses and the natural greens. Just beautiful.

Onedia said...

I am certain the birds appreciate your effort and how wonderful to see the birds among your embellishments. Lovely.

jennyfreckles said...

I never would have thought of doing that but it looks wonderful.

seanymph said...

Im so glad you loved the pumpkin cookies. Thanks for letting me know. Enjoy!

Unknown said...

looks so pretty, that big birdcage is beautiful! i love the addition of the lights, nothing like a little sparkle!! have a wonderful thanksgiving!! xo susan

Privet and Holly said...

I've discovered
as I've "grown up"
that I am more of
a quiet Christmas
gal when it comes
to decorating and
that means a lot
of Nature's touches
interspersed with
twinkle lights, silver
and glitter : ) What
a sweet surprise from
Henri. Hoisting that
heavy cage up there
can only mean one thing:
true love!!!
xx Suzanne

Unknown said...

Your blog inspires me, I wish you were my neighbor!

:)
Kim

Simone @ Doberman's by the Sea said...

It looks lovely. I like the red birdhouse as well. Happy Thanksgiving.Don’t miss the give-a-ways, linky party and Bavarian Christmas starting 26 Nov! http://dobermans-by-the-sea.blogspot.com/