SMALL CHANGES...

January 

is already half over 

and the snowmen are

 making their annual pilgrimage 

throughout the Cottage...

...they are always welcome 

right after Christmas is all put away 

and this year 

that was not an easy task.

 There was something 

about this Christmas 

that seemed extra special 

and it was harder than usual 

to let it go.

I started packing up 

most of the decorations 

on New Year's Day 

but kept putting off

 taking the tree down.

  

With the exception of

 that icicle garland, 

there was something magical

 about this tree.

 When I took the first photo 

after decorating it,

the garland stuck out 

like a sore thumb to me 

but I didn't want to disturb

 the other ornaments 

so I just left it.

 The Captain says 

it looks like shark teeth!

As I said,

regardless, 

there was something magical

 about this tree.

  

It reminds me of 

a pretty lady

 dressed up in

 a ball gown...

 ...a scene from 

a child's doll house, 

or the setting for the ladies of

  Little Women...

...and when seen from

 our TV viewing spot at night,

 with the lamps lit

 and the candles glowing,

 it was a sight

 that I did not want

 to change.

But, finally, 

change it did, 

and about two weeks after Christmas

 the tree was taken down 

and packed away

 for another year.

  I think I am in mourning

 just a little bit.

For Christmas 

I added some sprigs of greenery 

and berries

 to this garland 

I bought at Michaels.

 After Christmas,

 I added these paper pom poms 

for a more "winter" feeling 

and will keep it up for

 awhile longer.

See the plant by the window

 on the pedestal?

 In April of 2017, 

I brought this China Doll home

 from the nursery.

 Notice that it reaches 

to the top of the floral painting 

at this stage.

 I thought it was pretty 

with its delicate foliage 

but since I have never had

 much luck with indoor plants,

 the saleslady 

had to talk me 

into it...

...and she was right.

  It just won't stop growing.

  I think I will have to 

trim it back 

shortly.

I got this grape ivy 

about the same time

 and have had to trim it

 a few times.

 It looks like 

I might be nurturing 

a sort of a

 green thumb!

This has been

 a very slow news week 

at the Cottage.

 Hope everyone is having 

a good start to

 the new year and 

keeping warm and dry.

...Judy...

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for inviting me to 

join your parties.