Fruits of Labor

Hello Everyone!

The time has come to share some photos of the gourds I have been working on for the past few weeks. I had hoped to post them before Christmas, but did not get a free moment. Well, here they are! Let me know what you think.

These have already been sold at the Christmas craft shows I attended this holiday season. The gourd on the bottom photo made with the pine straw, was my very first one. It was sold to an uncle of one of the vendors at the Farmer's Market. She told me that the gourd would either be displayed at his home in Florida or his vacation home in Asheville, NC. I'm so excited now that I'm tracking the whereabouts of my creations! I have gourds scattered about in North Carolina, Florida, Colorado,(Sky4Kat) and I just got word last week, one of my gourd birdfeeders would be going to India! How exciting!

Be Encouraged!

Plant Lady

Welcome to Our Home at Christmas

Hello Everyone!

Today I'm giving the nickel tour of "Christmas at Plant Lady's". Hope you enjoy your time here!

Santa is ready to greet you as you enter. This jolly old elf was painted by a lady near me. I wish I had her painting abilities. She knows just how to capture all the subtle expressions in Santa's face. I'm still working on learning that technique. I bought this gourd at a craft show and incorporated it into this wreath.

As you enter, you'll notice our Christmas tree. The tree is adorned with a collection of ornaments from the White House Historical Society. As many of you know, Mr. Plant Lady and I were engaged in Washington, DC on December 21, 1998, and we have collected an ornament every year since then. Other special ornaments include an angel ornament I have had since I was a little girl. She looks a little scruffy, just like me! Time and age has taken its toll! A cardinal of some sort graces our tree each year. I have several in my collection, but decided not to put them all out since my tree is becoming crowded. Next year, I guess I'll have to put up another tree! Many handcrafted ornaments are hanging on the tree. Collected from my many excursions into the woods, pine cones were decorated with holly and ribbon along with a coat of varnish. Grapevines were woven into wreath ornaments and tied with a simple grosgrain ribbon. Several glass ornaments are at home with the others as they complement each other.

The mantel is the focal point of the room as it displays the story of the REASON FOR THE SEASON. A nativity rests among greenery in the center along with a special object on the mantel-a hand turned wooden vase made from holly by a fellow in Whittier, NC that I purchased on vacation this year. The color and the grain of the wood is beautiful and there is a marking on it (a knot hole) that looks just like an eye. I think of it as being the watchful eye of God. Legend has it that holly was the wood used to make the cross Jesus was crucified on. I don't know whether or not it's true ,but it's a beautiful legend just the same. I can just imagine while Jesus was hanging on the cross, He was looking down through the centuries seeing me as I "saw" His love for me through that little knot hole in the holly wood vase that I found. Isn't it wonderful how He speaks!

Our tour concludes with dinner. The table is set and you have the seat of honor! A choir of carolers have appeared to entertain as we have dinner together. Silent Night, Joy to the World, O' Holy Night and God Rest You Merry Gentlemen will be the selections as we conclude the tour.

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Mr. Plant Lady and I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!

Be Encouraged!

Plant Lady

The New House (cont'd.)

Hello Everyone!

Today is the day for the "after" photos of our "new" house! Instead of taking just plain old photos, I thought I'd wait for our house to be all decked out in its Christmas attire. I really haven't gone all out with the decorations this year. I usually do the greenery swags on the porch rails, but since we took the rails down, that was impossible. I think this year we will just have to live with wreaths on the picture windows and the front door.

This is the "new" window! Notice the peeling paint is now gone and the shutters are painted that fabulous shade of green called "pine boughs".

A Christmas tree lit with clear miniature lights will decorate the front yard in a planter near the garden bench and a big red bow amid some greenery will finish out the bench's decoration. A large Moravian star will hang in the entry way to our home and will welcome all visitors. We haven't decided on the final look of the front porch, but I think we will probably go with just greenery in some sort of arrangement between the rocking chairs.

The Moravian star is hard to see lit on the front porch.

I hope you enjoy the before and after photos. My next post will be some of the "inside" Christmas decorations and I will also include some of the gourds that I have been working on.

On another note, I would like to let you know about a new blog that a friend of mine has started. He is thirty years old, a twin, and has had two kidney transplants in his life. He has had many surgeries as a baby and has come a long way since then. He loves God and wants his life to be a inspiration to others. Sometimes he gets depressed as he waits for word on a new kidney from the transplant lists that he is on. He would like to "talk" through a blog with others who may be going through similar situations and to share encouraging words. If you get a chance, please stop by and share some of God's love and encouragement. Take a look into Corey's World! He will be an inspiration to you as much as he is to me. Drop him a comment!

I would enjoy hearing and seeing some of your Christmas celebration ideas! Some of you have already posted some Christmas photos. Keep 'em coming!

Be Encouraged!

Plant Lady