Evergreens and Gingerbread

 This year I have a freshly cut tree.  And a new buffet in my downstairs kitchen.  I'm excited about both. 

The buffet is a chippy white painted dresser that I discovered was the same height as my kitchen counter top.  So I filled it up with some freshly baked gingerbread men. 

And a fresh cut spruce that I added as a table top tree inside my crackle painted urn. 

Everything smells so fa-la-la- lovely!  The scents of Christmas time gathered all together on my new buffet.  

My glittered pine cones have a wonderful cinnamon scent as well. 

I even have some paper whites growing in a Terra cotta pot. 

My table top spruce is decorated with a few mercury glass ornaments. 

I added some vintage and very distressed silver ornaments under a glass cloche atop a silver plated pedestal dish.  If you look closely, you'll see a starfish and white sea shell tucked in along side them. 

Truth be told, the gingerbread men you see in this picture are the first batch I baked.   Today I made another batch and then I moved the contents of the buffet around twice.  Just playing and having fun. 

The day sure does go quickly this time of year.  It gets dark here at 4:00 pm. 

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look at what I have been up too.  I hope your day was just as enjoyable as mine was! 

A Painfully Beautiful Time of Year

This little birdie doesn't seem to mind the blizzardly conditions our Winter has bestowed upon us this year. 

Within this clump of clinging white outside our window the birds gather to wait their turn at the feeders. 

No church services until July at Sorrento's Church of the Redeemer.  Pity, as most of the summer parishioners may never know what they have missed out on during the winter months. 

We may as well let them believe that winter here is just grey and gloomy.  And that the sun never shines. 

And the only thing the moon shines down on is a frozen tundra in the middle of winter. 

Never to be seen peering above blue skies near dusk. 

Impatiently awaiting its turn after sundown. 

If you finally tire of winter, inside a reprieve, tucked here and there can help tide you over. 

Courtesy of someone who had the forethought to plan for times such as these. 

Even if it is just more white. 

If someone in your household feels the need to make a statement about the conditions this time of year. 

I always find it best to just humor them and snap a picture.  And be thankful that at least he hasn't lost his sense of humor.

BEGINNINGS

The first day of 2009 finds me enjoying the beginning
of tiny green buds on the paperwhites
I am forcing in an old raku bowl.

Today also finds me beginning work on several new pieces of raku art that I will post when complete. Here is a close up to help make you curious. Any guesses?

Today was also a perfect day for the beginning of another moose tile.

Let the 2009 journey begin. A Happy New Year wish to all!