O, the Holly and the Rosemary

Thanksgiving came and went without me expressing publicly my gratitude for many other things . . . our home, our church family, our Savior, and my arms, to name a few.  I probably would have never thought to thank God for the use of my hands until this year. 

But now it's December!  It's time to put away the few autumnal decorations (which I never shared with you!) and decorate for Christmas!

Years ago, I remember admiring a little hand-twisted wreath in the window of one of my great aunt's apartments.  This year, I wanted to hang wreaths in all four of our dining room windows.  :)

So, when we were in NY for Thanksgiving, my dad cut down a big piece of grape vine, and, with Gemma on my back, I started twisting.  The first couple of trials failed, but the next four were satisfactory.  :)

And then, when we got home, I gave our holly bushes a hair cut . . . and our rosemary a haircut . . .

 . . . And with some time, and a bit of ribbon leftover from our wedding, we had four beautiful wreaths to hang in the window!

 I love them.  I love the old-fashioned feel our dining room has.  I love that they were free and that they're made of real materials.  I love that they represent the swamps and forests of my former home and our current home on Cottage Lane.  :)

There were enough leftover holly trimmings to make a little Christmas centerpiece from a crystal bowl full of oranges . . .

 . . . and to spruce up the mantel for Christmas . . .

Soon comes the tree . . . :)