And then there were 3

I got my tomato cage lights trees up last night...

I'm working on something for my front porch pots -- building, painting... can't wait to get those out there and show you!  I've had a bad cold that's slowed me down -- not to mention the 20+ mph north winds we had the last 2 days.  Not a favorable combination...

Pinterest Christmas, Part 2

And here is the implementation of idea number two -- ribbon and balls strung inside an empty frame.  You might remember the wooden frames I built and hung from my back steps -- and the dilemma of what to put on the insides of them?  And then I decided I like them empty... and then --

I had the ribbon and ornaments on hand already, and I used upholstery tacks to attach the ribbon to the frames.  The ornaments are plastic, so they should survive the elements.   It will be a little bit of holiday cheer to welcome me when I come home and come in the back of the house.

Pinterest Christmas, Part 1

I'm starting to actually implement ideas from my Pinterest Christmas board, as opposed to just collecting photographs.  Although I can take no credit for the ideas, there is some minor satisfaction in the follow through.

First, my dining room windows -- one photo from the inside looking out, and one from my neighbor's driveway looking up:

It's sort of hard to see, I know.  I used a $2.00 tension rod, white curly ribbon, my hot glue gun, and Christmas balls.  I like it as much as I thought I would, and it was just as easy as it looks.  You've just gotta love that. 

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like...

I know you already said it in your head!

Isn't it pretty?  I'm either pleased or worried that I am the first one on my street to have lights on... LOL!!  There are a few houses around the corner from me that are decorated, though, and the house across the street is doing theirs today.  (Brrrr!)

I see that I have a few bulbs burned out -- close to the top, of course.  Drat.   Red was nice enough to come and help me get the lights up -- okay, so I prepped the lights and held the ladder, he did all the work...

More decorating to come!  I put the upside-tomato-cages-wrapped-with-lights-trees out today -- photo tonight.

I'll the the first to put it out there -- "Merry Christmas!"  (Man, who AM I??)

Fall ... Winter?

I can't believe we are half way through November, and looking Thanksgiving in the eye!  And we all know what happens after that -- as if it hasn't already started -- the slippery slope to full blown holiday madness.  I like to think that I have managed to scale back on the madness.  Over the last many years I have drastically reduced gift receiving and giving, and now I try to relax and enjoy the season rather than clutter it up with lists of things that must be accomplished... it's so liberating... And, since I am trying to rid my tiny house of "stuff," it's great to reduce the intake.

October flew with Halloween preparations, followed by preparation for company, followed by the company, followed by..... a really bad cold.  Or something.  After a week+ of being sick I finally gave in and went to the doctor and now I am slowly improving.  Ack. 

In my mind (okay, on Pinterest*) I am still actively saving project ideas; for Christmas decorating, for inside my house and for my outside spaces.  And in my I-have-zero-energy-down-time I've been trying to teach myself to knit.  Because, well, so many cute knit (knitted?) items around now!  And let's be honest:  I'm too cheap to buy them.  (Plus -- having something to keep my hands busy during family gatherings will keep my hands out of the snack bowl...)

I so want this for Winter dog walking -- every single time I look at it I just laugh!

You can order it online, with interchangeable mustaches -- I kid you not.

So, not many posts lately, but I hope to have some for you soon; thanks for hanging with me.  This weekend I am going to start building a little something for my holiday decor; and maybe some photos will come out of those projects.  I did get my alley mulch spread out, but neglected to snap a photo... it's looking much better! I'll try to remember to snap one this weekend. But the leaves! Oh, the leaves! Knee deep in my yard... front and back.

I'm also going to help a friend paint something fun on the risers on her stairs (before her Thanksgiving company descends upon her!) don my elf costume and be a Santa's helper, dig up flower bulbs at a friend's house, and help another friend with some Thanksgiving preparations.  A quiet weekend has become full of fun things.  I hope to get good sleep in between that stuff, and continue to recover.

Have a great weekend!

* Let me know in the comments if you want an invitation!