winter mantle / it's dark in here

How about today I treat you to some fairly dark pictures of our cozy winter mantle?  And you can squint your eyes a bit and imagine what it looks like when the sun is out or when Steve is behind the camera using settings other than "auto".  And then, while we're at it, we'll glance at the time and see that it's after 4pm and wonder why I'm blogging this late in the day anyway.  Probably, we'll just shrug our shoulders and murmur something like "it's Monday" or "January will do that to you..."

 

 

But really, I have been thrilled with the transformation the mantle has made from holiday to winter.  The cedar wreath is still kickin'.  The white lights are still up.  And everything is better with silver, amen?  

 

 

Speaking of silver, check out that gorgeous silver tray that Steve's mom gave us.  It was originally meant to hang above the stove, but has spent its time since arriving here last fall hanging out in the guest bedroom and on the mantle.  I can't commit to one spot for it yet.  

 

I wish I had some pictures to share from our weekend, which was super fun and included activities ranging from making our own board games with my brother (and laughing until we were almost sick) to a great lunch with friends to finding what is hopefully the perfect sewing stool.  And all we have to show for it are some bird pictures. 

 

Today, I've been catching up on the laundry and cutting out 375 triangles for a party banner and no that is not a typo.  Three hundred seventy-five.  Tomorrow, I plan to give my hands a rest with some sewing and ironing.  It's all about perspective, isn't it?