Kaseys Korner

Christmas 2014 follow up

Hope all of you had a wonderful (or at the very least) relaxing Christmas??

Above:  Boxwood wreath on back door.

After jubilantly thinking we were NOT going to have snow this year for Christmas, my bubble burst and we ended up with approx 6" afterall. 

For those of you who like a white Christmas, you would have been excited.  I don't mind a light dusting (like in the photo above), enough to coat everything white & make it pretty but not where you have to dig out the boots, shovels, etc.

I thought a dusting was all we'd get at first.  It started as rain then turned to snow but kept melting for a while as it hit the concrete.  That was nice but alas, it accumulated...

Oh well.  We were staying in for the day so it really didn't matter. 

Above photo:  Christmas urn on front porch.

Then again at night.

I had hoped to post "Merry Christmas" wishes before the holiday but got wrapped up with hosting duties for our cul-de-sac dinner along with last minute gift wrapping, card mailing, etc., so it never happened.

Then my most wonderful neighbors started dropping by with toffee, homemade bread, chocolate wafers, beautifully wrapped gifts, etc.  What a blessing they are!

This package, I really didn't want to open, it was so lovely.

She said she wrapped it special for me since she knew I would appreciate it. 

I certainly did!  The ribbon & greenery are still on my coffee table.

Amaryllis 'Red Lion' opened in the nick of time for Christmas too.

I planted all my Amaryllis in leftover plastic nursery pots this year so that I could insert them in & out of containers (like the one above) as they bloomed.

I like the idea of dressing them up too with floral picks like this fancy butterfly ~ although a lot of them are so spectacular, they don't require anything additional.

Bunny huddled in the yews just before the snow.

I am not going to be in any hurry to take down Christmas.  I also doubt I'll be back before New Years so I'll wish you  "Happy New Year" in advance.  I hope it's a healthy, good year for us all.  Thank you for all you contributed to our life this past year. 

 

 

Christmas decorating 2014

Finally uploaded some photos from around the house.  Now you'll be able to see what's been occupying my time!!!

I shared the photo above in the previous post.  Decided to do my buffet in silver & white this year.

Put the small bottle brush trees inside some of my silver pieces and I think it shows them off well??

It's hard to photograph but at night the whole effect is very pretty (and sparkly!)

It's also the first year I've used tinsel in quite a while and I have to say, I'm liking it!

For some reason, I decided to only decorate the right side of the mantel ~ figure that one out??!!!

Maybe because I wanted to leave the tray in place??

Whatever the reason, that decision made everything else pretty simple.  I just looped a bead garland from the bird stocking holders:

Two holders on each end and one in the center:

The artichoke and magnolia garland was added next with some battery operated lights.

I LOVE this garland.  Was fortunate to find it half price after Christmas several years ago.

I bought the only two left! 

The final step was to add a few fancy ornaments & ribbon, also hung from the stocking holders or those command hooks:

Below:  A photo at night:

Next to the kitchen sink I have some juniper sprigs along with my Santa chocolate mold:

These photos are not very good but I think you can still tell I love vintage(y) things!

The focal point of the dining table is once again (like last year) the reindeer sleigh.

I centered the sleigh on a large silver platter then started filling it with greenery, balls & an old Santa tree topper:

Last year I only had greenery & the decorative balls inside.

This year I kept adding to it with berry picks, etc. and I like the effect much better.

Above:  a side view.

Next to the table, the sideboard has greenery, two ceramic birds, fresh granny smith apples & my Amaryllis pot:

The covered silver dish on the left is an early Christmas present from my Mom.  Love it!!!  Thank you Mom!

Below:  White bottle brush tree on sofa table.

The coffee table features what I call my "plate" tree (12 plates altogether, a plate to represent each subject in the 'Twelve Days of Christmas' song:)

Alongside the plate tree, my favorite new candle ~ Traviata's 'Foresta Alpina.'

It has just the right evergreen scent without being overpowering.

In my bedroom, I placed the flocked tree with glitter twig nests, champagne colored Amaryllis & white Magnolia picks.

I put this tree on a timer (and now I don't know why all my trees aren't on timers!!)   I love going to bed by the light of the tree and not having to get up again to turn them off!

There's also a gorgeous poinsettia in salmony/pink color:

I'm not usually a poinsettia person, but this color won me over!

Above:  another view of the crystal snowflakes hanging from the great room ceiling.  I thought they deserved a second look since I took life in hand climbing to the top of a ladder to hang them!!!

Outside:  patio lantern with greens & shiny red ornaments.

I don't have any "big" trees up this year which is another first for me.  I find that I'm okay with that considering the year we've had.  There seems to be plenty of holiday "cheer" around so that we don't miss them!!

Now I think I better stop ~ you're probably all on overload with the decorating photos!?  After you catch your breath, I'll think about adding more!!!!!!  and yes, I'm embarrassed to say, there IS more!

 

'Persimmon' Hibiscus

I almost titled this post "winter blooms" then I realized I couldn't do that because it's not even winter yet!  Although I've been really busy with holiday preparations it still feels like the garden has been OVER for quite a while already.  Anyone else feeling that way? 

Luckily, some tender tropicals are helping to fill the gap the garden left behind.  In my bathroom/greenhouse, a Clivia miniata bud scape is beginning to open:

This will be it's second time to bloom this year. 

Usually I bring my Clivias indoors (after summering outside) and take them straight to the basement for a forced dormancy period.

I followed this routine because I'd read to treat them similarly to Amaryllis?? 

However, this year I switched it up and went a whole different route.  Instead of to the basement, they went directly into my south-facing, glass block bathroom.

The results are going to make it hard to ever go back to the former treatment.

Maybe it would like a dormancy period after this bloom is finished?????  or should that whole idea be nixed altogether? 

Now, I believe the post title was actually 'Persimmon' Hibiscus, not Clivia miniata!??

I didn't fake you out, there IS actually one of those beauties to share!

How is that for a vibrant holiday kick off???

All that impact from such a tiny little plant!

Tiny but mighty ~ notice it's vigorous enough to produce quite a few buds!  ((my way of saying "you'll be seeing more of 'Persimmon'...) 

and finally, one last bloom (the first in a whole line-up, as most of you already know to expect!!)

An unknown Amaryllis, NOT 'Elvas' which I thought I had purchased.

Arrgggg, it's a pet peeve when the tags & bulbs are mismatched.... 

I know many people don't care about the names but having grown so many and for so long, I'm pretty partial to certain favorites & to new ones.   Oh well, whatever the name, it's the first Amaryllis bloom of the season and that makes me feel like it's officially the holidays!!!!  

About time considering we're about two weeks away from Christmas!!  Please tell me I'm not the only one who needs to get it together?!!!!