Monday, January 4, 2021

some winter calm

Decorating for the seasons runs through my veins. But as romantic as that is, I waste no time when the holiday passes. You will never find a jack-o-lantern on my front porch on November 1st! I'm not sure what creates this need to wipe the slate clean so quickly. It might have to do with how much passion I pour into celebrating each and every holiday so that when it is over so are the decorations.

Christmas can stay put until the Epiphany but then it's time to remove anything green and red, holly or bough, bells, ornaments, wrapping and more. It all gets safely stored in color coded bins for next year.

Between Christmas and Easter, I relish stripping the house down to nothing and giving it a good scrub in preparation for some neutral touches and a refreshing palette.

This time of year I love bulbs, and Paperwhites are my favorite. There is something so relaxing about the creamy white blossoms and heavenly scent.  Planted in simple pots, anything green gives a nod of what's to come.

Large baskets that once held firewood, boxwood and wrapped presents are emptied and left to stand alone. I find that there is something unexpected about a vacant basket sitting in a room and the texture reminds me of the bare branches just outside the windows.



Bowls of fresh fruit, especially in rooms other than the kitchen, add the perfect touch of color.


The fireplace gets cleaned out and scrubbed down and the windows get a fresh washing (we need every bit of light during these short, grey Seattle days).

  
I rarely move big pieces of furniture. It took a while for me to figure out where they work best and I use them as the anchors in each of the rooms. I do shift small tables and lamps around. Then I add stacks of my favorite books and a soft throw.



This change out is done quickly...no dilly dallying for me! I want to make sure I have ample time to sit in one of these cozy corners with a good book or a pile of magazines and enjoy the winter quiet....this is home - this is as good as it gets!

Until next time,

la chasse au bonheur

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