Christmas Eve/ Sarajevo

Christmas at Greenland Garden Centre 2014

Come along with me to Greenland Garden Centre located in Sherwood Park Alberta for a tour of their amazing Christmas store.  Enjoy!!!

More to come.....

#Christmas  #decorating  #ChristmasTrees  #wreaths  #ornaments  #colourschemes

Weekend Reflections

The McDades: Maybe This Christmas

May love, hope and harmony fill your homes 

and hearts this Christmas.  Merry Christmas!

If This Doesn't Get You in the Mood for Christmas, I'm Afraid Your Heart Has Stopped

Charming and Easy Coffee Filter Wreath with Martha Stewart

Christmas Decor Ideas From Greenland Garden Centre

This video was posted in 2011 but I just found it!  There are some spectacular and simple ideas for enhancing your decor for Christmas.  Enjoy!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Christmas was accented this year with an unexpected visit from our second oldest son who flew home for Christmas.  Only my husband and another son knew about the surprise.  As I gathered gifts from below the tree, S came up the stairs playing "I'll be home for Christmas" on his I-pod.  Well, needless to say, the tears flowed freely as I hugged him.  What a wonderful surprise gift!!!

That evening we went to the Legislature grounds, walking amongst the festively lit trees, enjoying Christmas music wafting through the air via aboveground speakers.  

We all went out in our new pajama pants (gasp, I know!) and posed for this lovely photo ;)  Following which we visited Churchill Square downtown to check out the tree and watch a single skater on the rink in front of city hall.  It was a lovely evening which ended with a light shower of rain. Yes, it is winter here!  Normally we have a few feet of snow by now but this year is mild, knock on wood, and we are enjoying unusually warm above freezing temperatures.  There was a light covering of snow through all of December.

We had freezing rain overnight Thursday and a dusting of snow last night.  It is simply beautiful and warm. I cannot complain as I remember last year's winter.  January has not yet arrived and with it winter may actually pay a visit.  So here's to enjoying this gorgeous weather we have been blessed with, countrywide. Happy New Year everyone!

Christmas at Greenland Garden Center

Early in December, before stores got too crazy busy, my daughter and I headed to one of our favourite places for holiday magic.  We took several photos of the Christmas Store at Greenland Garden Center and I share here just a few with you.  Enjoy.

Above and below, the one and only upside down Christmas Tree

A new Christmas decorating trend is the little starburst.  Sometimes combined with a few small decorative balls and sometimes on its own, it dazzles on a tree.

This "pick" reminds me of a stag horn fern.  It is new this season as well.

Colour combinations of bronze and turquoise adorn this tree.

A feathery topper in red.  A few years ago I did a similar topper with feathery fronds on a "bird tree".  I thought it looked good but one of the proprietors of the greenhouse thought it looked like the tree was going to take flight!

Another new trend is the ribbon upon a ribbon garland.  There are actually two different ribbons, one atop another, strung around this tree.

Merry Christmas!!!

http://www.greenlandgarden.com/album/Seasonal/index.html

Rich Little's Christmas Carol: Part 1

Christmas Unwrapped at Greenland Garden Centre October 14, 2011

An Ugly Betty Christmas and Colour Trends

 One of mine and my daughter's all-time favourite TV series is "Ugly Betty".  Betty is a young girl from Queens, a recent journalism graduate, keen on getting her break in the magazine scene.  Hired by Mode magazine, a division of Meade Publications, Betty is on her way.  It is not so easy though, Betty discovers. She works for a fashion magazine, surrounded by super models, designers and editors who are beautiful, immaculately dressed, and living the high life.  Poor Betty, a girl from Queens, brought up in modest circumstance, with braces and an awkward taste in clothes, simply does not fit in.  She must prove her worth against all obstacles and despite opposition.  A mix of fashion faux pas, journalistic integrity (or lack thereof), and comedy combined with an enthralling story line, making this series a hit.

In the first season there is an episode featuring this gorgeous white Christmas tree decked out with black ornaments including black pumps in miniature!  The colour scheme is stunning in a white and black theme, very much classic chic.  We love the decor of this office setting, especially at Christmas.

Accents of colour, dotted here and there as gifts and decorations, are a good example of how to use a neutral palette and jazz it up, season by season, with a changing accentuation of colour.  A good rule of thumb in the garden too, I dare say, depending on your garden style, but particularly if you go for the classic or traditional look.  Home decor follows the fashion world in terms of colour and style, as garden decor tends to even more.  Take a look at your local garden centre and you will see for yourself.  Oranges, purple and turquoise are all "hot" right now in the fashion industry.  You see the same in decorating magazines, and, yes, in the local garden centers.  Take a look this spring, or now for that matter. What is the newest colour trend in the landscape?  Check out the accessories.  There's a lot to be said for a little "update" in the home and garden now and then.  Who says change is a bad thing?

Merry Christmas!!

What are you doing on here Christmas day?  Seriously?  Well, hello to you!!  This post has been scheduled in case any of you are early risers or are collapsing at the end of a busy and fulfilling Christmas Day.  Wishing all of you the Merriest of Christmases surrounded by loved ones.  May the spirit of the season bring you blessed peace, comfort and love. 

Merry Christmas!  or in the words of Tiny Tim from the

Christmas Carol "God bless us everyone".

I am taking at least a couple days off with the family.  See you soon!

Southern Christmas Memories

 Reflecting upon Christmas, my son, T, was in Bossier Louisiana, two years ago during the Christmas holidays.  These are some of the photos he sent me.

Minus the snow and cold, Christmas in the south is beautiful.  My son's favourite Christmas dish was a pumpkin cake rolled like a jelly roll filled with cream cheese icing.  I simply must find a recipe for it now that he is home this year for Christmas!  Anyone have a good one?

Further reflections from around the world can be seen here:  http://newtowndailyphoto.blogspot.com/

Visions of Christmas

The countdown is definitely on, the streets backed up with last minute shoppers, and the stores are crazy.  I too shall enter the thronging masses later today for the last few items on my list.  If you are out there, like me, today please drive carefully, be courteous, and take the spirit of Christmas whereever you may go.  Merry Christmas to all my readers.  You have made this first year of blogging fun and I have learned so much from all of you.  God bless.