Snow in Texas Garden Watching Blue Jays

 It's an historic snowstorm across the United States.  I'm feeling grateful for a warm home to live in.  But you wonder what happens to the birds?

I like to feed them because they are extra cold.

Blue Jays come in groups to get the peanuts.

They call out to the other birds there is food on the table and ground.

The sun came out and the snow is melting.

Adding Nature to Your Home is a Refreshing Decorating Trend For 2026

 

Birds perching in a tree brings nature alive in your living room.  

Four frames of birds over your couch add interest.  Egrets and Herons say nature is beautiful.

Roses on your pillow sham and bedding bring cheer.

Adding a touch of green is a wonderful colour for 2026.

Flowers in a vase compliment the portrait of a lady in your dining room.  

White is still a fresh colour for 2026.  It's easy to add pillows to change with the seasons.  

Fabric with birds and flowers add to your drapes.

Decorating with types of wildlife add nature to your setting.  Turtles and fish could remind you of a snorkelling adventure. 

A green couch is a refreshing choice for your home.

A chair full of nature would be a comfortable way to sit and relax.  

Texas Garden in January Roses Attracting Bees

Bees are attracted to red roses in our Texas Garden in January.  Two bees are wanting the same yellow pollen.  I watched them as they took turns to sip.

Bees help pollinate as they sip the nectar.  Since there aren't many roses in January the bees seemed extra excited.

The beauty of God's creation soothes my soul.  Two wings are a translucent silver colour. 
 

Gardens can be beautiful in January with a little care.  I covered the plants during the freeze.  It's been a very mild winter in Texas.  Pansies can survive in winter  

I'm growing kale in a blue and white pot as the red roses reach for the sun.  

Red poinsettias go great with red roses.  

This is a climbing rose in a container.  I've been waiting for it to bloom so I rejoice to see the colours of yellow and pink with a little drop of water on the petals.  

It's a special treat to see roses in January in Texas.  

Our garden inspired me to paint the roses and bees as they pollinated.

French Country Decor For Valentine's Day

 French Country Decor is a perfect match for Valentine's Day, my favourite holiday.   It reminds me when I taught school and my students opened their Valentine Cards from friends. I decorated early this year because it brings cheer to our home.  I bring out my tablecloths and add accents of pink and red.  

I used pink placemats from Hobby Lobby to accent the pink in the tablecloth of hearts.  

Pink roses with lavender in our living room looks like a real bouquet of a dozen roses.

My husband is sweet to give me real pink roses each Valentines Day.

I purchased some tablecloths at Home Goods with hearts of love. Adding a Valentine's Tablecloth is a easy way to decorate for this special holiday of love.

I added pink roses to the basket I change with the seasons.   My favourite thing about our dining room is the French Country Chandelier that came with the house.  

A French Country frame is a wonderful accent for Valentine Roses in a crystal Vase.  

Our patio is decorated for Valentines Day with a heart wreath hanging on the wall.  

Bless This Nest a theme for our home.  

Pink roses grow in our garden even in January,

The Red Poinsettias are a wonderful complement to Red and Pink Roses.

Decorating for New Years 2026

 Decorating for New Years 2026

New Year is a time to remember the past year and think about the year ahead. The year 2026 is a time to think of new beginnings.  

I placed glasses from the past on the table to think of happy memories.  Christmas bulbs on top of each glass using colours of aqua adds to the harmony of the dining room.  Putting items in repetition is a design technique used over the centuries  

Napkins that say 2026 is an inexpensive way to decorate for the New Year.

I placed a sign that says 2026 in a glass behind the repetition of aqua bulbs.

A white tablecloth is a neutral colour to make other colours stand out.  A lace tablecloth adds to the French Country design of charm.  

Adding candles add to any celebration.  

I found a recipe for my cranberry sauce from Christmas to make a dip by adding Feta Cheese.  

Serving homemade bread is a special treat for New Year.  Hope you have a happy 2026.

Christmas Celebration With Poinsettias and Turkey

It's a Christmas celebration with poinsettias decorating the Christmas Tree. 

Poinsettias have a story from Mexico.  A poor girl named Pepita who had nothing to offer the baby Jesus when He was born took a walk to the countryside.  She gathered a bouquet of weeds and brought them to the stable.  When she laid them by the manger they suddenly transformed into bright red flowers.  Because of this story poinsettias are known to be the flower of the Holy Night.

I was inspired to paint poinsettias with watercolours as I laid them on our table in a teapot with a cardinal, my mothers favourite bird,  

My mother taught me how to roast a turkey in the oven.  I like to stuff the turkey because it makes it more moist.

 The manger scene reminds me of the Holy Night Emmauel, Yeshua, God With Us was born in Bethlehem which means House of Bread.  

I use my mom's china for our table setting on Christmas day.  

Love to make punch for Christmas day.  

Christmas pillows say tis the season to celebrate Christ is born.  

Two matching pillows on two matching couches look festive.

It's a blessing to pick fresh herbs for the dressing,  Sage and rosemary with oregano adds flavor.  Peppermint for the tea says Merry Christmas.

It's time to give presents like three Magi did for baby Jesus.  I painted giant red gift with watercolours.

Christmas is a time for family and friends to come over and celebrate Jesus birthday.