Baby Its Cold Outside

After a fairly mild autumn, winter has arrived by way of frigid temperatures and brisk winds.  Unlike some of our Midwestern neighbors, my neck of the woods in mid-Michigan only has a dusting of snow.  That could change this weekend with a forecast for snow and wind on Sunday - but we'll have to wait and see.

The other day I piled on extra layers, grabbed my basket and unleashed the hounds to go in search of nature's bounty to begin decorating for Christmas.  I'm a little behind this year, but then I say that ever year so I guess its really the "new normal."  

Everything is still laying in a heap next to my studio, but its a pretty heap.

A little moss, some red twigs, golden twigs from a cotton wood tree that blew down during a storm this summer.  A bucketful of Euonymus, some hollow stumps, and some pine boughs, of course.

My mom painted the Chickadee, I'm supposed to fill the bucket with greens and return it to her front porch.  But I don't know, I kinda like it.  (Just kidding Mom.)

Doesn't everyone decorate with moss and fungi?  Oh, I forgot about the milkweed pods. 

I'll probably spray them gold or silver for a little shine.

   This is one of three nests that I found, its filled with Staghorn Sumac berries.  I don't know why.  Maybe the previous tenet was using it to store her winter stash.  The stumps and nests will go on my porch, the rest will be divided between outdoor and indoor decorations.  I'll be taking more pictures as I go along.

Speaking of pictures...

There's a new girl in town and she's been quite a handful.  I'm still trying to get the hang of taking pictures with her, and her software doesn't like the computer software so there's been a real battle  going on.  I'm calling it a "learning curve" because anything else I said to describe it would have to be censored.  LOL!

Before I go, want to say Thank You to everyone who left me comments and sent emails of encouragement and good wishes.  This past month has been a real struggle and I can't express how much your kind words have meant to me.  Things are finally looking up and so I'm looking forward to Christmas and a little holiday cheer.  In the words of Tiny Tim..."God bless you everyone!"