A little Christmas

Welcome to The Country Nest at Christmas! We have been so lucky no snow yet, lots of rain which the gardens and shrubs need to survive the long New England weather.
I didn't put out at least half of my decorations this year. I wanted to simplify this year. Some greens and my favorite things. My Arnett's Santas make me smile whenever I look at them. I have collected a few over the years and do have my favorites.

So come on in~my usual wreath at the back door~

 Some crocks with greens.

 This is my newest Santa. I love his face and he has a gingerbread man so he is in the kitchen.

 My Christmas cactus is in bloom, but it blooms at Easter too.

 This is a favorite. I love Santa in his union suit with his bid belly. Each face is a bit different and I love his. Don't you too?

 

 I got this one with the flag when my son was deployed. I thought it suited at the time. The little felted reindeers I have had for years.

Waiting for snow

My reindeer at the back door. Love his natural look. I am not into blowups or plastic stuff, but I did do some when the kids were young.

I hope you are all almost ready for the holiday. I finished my gift shopping yesterday. Now I need to get it wrapped and the start baking. I have a few projects I would like to do too. Then meal shopping and getting ready for the family to arrive!!

What do you have left to do?  Let me know.

Put on some Christmas music and enjoy.

 

Goodbye

Well it is September...the end of summer, time to say goodbye to another season. I feel the nesting instincts moving in. Mostly I just don't know where this summer went. There were not real special plans, but there was always something to do. I will show you a couple things I did, but never took the time to post about it.  Show you a couple small changes here at The Country Nest. I did take time in my gardens and felt quite happy with them. I have got a couple ideas for changes there too.

I added a new Old table in the living room. Now I am thinking about new couches and am so ready, but these are so comfy that I will miss them. The new ones seem stiff. While I love prim style my family lives, watches TV and sometimes sleep in this room. These were Clayton Marcus sofas and the store we bought them in is long gone. I know it is time for an update, but I will miss my old friends. I have even thought of having them reupholstered. I don't know what I am going to do.

~Some of this was done~

I added a table to replace the wicker one on the porch.

I have added some crocks to my collection and I Love, Love, Love them all.

~and some more of this~

 

I added a rusty sunflower the spins in the wind. You can catch a peek of my bottle tree. I am just starting to collect bottles.

I started a bottle tree, now I need to go in search of some more bottles :) I just thought with lots of blue bottles it would add a bright spot among all the green. I can see it from the pool and from the kitchen window. I love in the morning how the sunlight hits it and the blue shines.

Another addition to our home the Hobo kitty now has a forever home here and I couldn't be happier.



I also took a nice day trip with a couple of friends to Avery Hill Farm.
My pictures were taken with my phone and I did not take any inside. I have to admit that we were chatting away and I wasn't thinking about pictures. We met Connie and she was just as nice as could be. I got a beautiful jug which I just love along with a few other  goodies. Connie brought us into her beautiful home and we were all so excited.....it is beyond words all the while feeling warm and homey. Thank you Connie for a wonderful day!

Sad to say my Hummingbirds will be leaving to fly south in a week or so. I will clean and fill my feeders at least one more time :(

 

OK, I know this is getting long so I will save the garden tour and Tasha Tudor's Birthday for next time.
Enjoy these last few weeks of Summer before we have to say Goodbye....I love Fall, but do hate to see Summer go.

Summertime

The gardens are bursting with color. It is just my favorite time of year in the garden. We keep adding day lilies and they are starting to create an impact. This has been a good year in the gardens.

Harvesting my lavender. I love how it smells and I will have it all winter long.

Our sweet stray kitty. He is no longer a stray, but part of our family. He stays in more than out, sleeps at the end of the bed and is all round sweet.

Pumpkins are coming along.

 Look, my purple people eater has bloomed!! My friend Kari started these from seed. She is kind enough to share. I just love how beautiful they are.

 Now I want you to know I have taken a few days out of the garden to antique. It has been a much needed break, from work and home. These are a few of my new additions. I love each of these crocks. All found in different places. All unique and all in really good shape.

 Oh yes, this sweet basket too. Love her.

How does my garden grow?

I never seem to have time to post in the summer. Where am I you ask? In my Garden of course. Let me show you what is blooming now and what I have been up to.

 Notice the pesty red beetle? I have been dusting and spraying and now I pick them off as I find them. He went in a jar of soapy water when I finished taking the picture.

As you can see lots of day lilies. I just love them and have been buying them for years.

The roses and cone flower look pretty too.

 Then I have gone a made up a couple little fairy gardens...more to come too.

Happy Gardening all!

Join me for Outdoor Wednesday at A Southern Daydreamer.