EDGING INTO THE NEW YEAR...

Slowly, but surely,

 I am edging into 2019. 

 I am in no hurry 

to pack away Christmas and, in fact,

 most of it is still on display.

  I really dread the mess 

(that is the only appropriate word 

that I can come up with) 

that occurs when it is time.

  

I am trying to take it slow 

as I clean out totes 

of things that were not used this Christmas

 and get rid of all that is

 not needed in the future. 

 My goal is to get down to

 one tote per each room and,

 I feel, that is going to be

 a long, drawn out

 endeavor.

As I move along, 

I noticed how 

cold, crisp and clear

 it was when I took Robin 

out this morning.  

It appeared that the stars

 were shining at ground level.

  That is usually how it is

 here in our part of northern California.  

We do get some snow and rain 

but the majority of our winter days

 are filled with 

sunny and frosty mornings.

As I normally do, 

I will bring out the Cottage's snowmen

 to celebrate winter 

throughout January 

and this year, 

as I find some snowy, sparkely things

 that I didn't bring out for Christmas...

...I will sprinkle those around the Cottage 

as well. 

 I think their presence 

will provide us all 

with the feelings of winter,

 yet bring the brightness 

that I crave so much

 during this season.

Also there will be 

a few greens laced throughout,

 not only to keep 

the Christmas spirit going 

but to remind us of the 

wonderful spring 

that will come again.

A sprinkling of pillows, 

with warm colors and textures

 and,

 after a trip to Trader Joe's 

fresh flowers,

 will certainly 

be appreciated.

As I said,

 we are still surrounded 

by some Christmas but 

the parlor mantle 

has been the first

 to receive the winter treatment.

 I have tried 

to mimic the crisp, icy scene 

that I see outside 

as I edit my photos.

The Victorian Snow family 

that I made a couple of years ago 

is here again.

  Their blue finery 

blends into the color of the parlor 

and with white feathers 

and a string of tiny lights lit at night,

 they almost look warm. 

 I know they are looking forward 

to Downton Abbey 

coming to their local theater 

this year.

A string of 

"snow balls" 

just hanging around...

...along with some wooden...

...and some felt 

mitten strings

 reminding us that we don't have to

 step out of the door to know 

"Baby, It's Cold Outside."

I have brought back to 

the entry 

the bowl and pitcher

 full of bright flowers 

that I tend to use here quite often. 

 It always picks up my spirits 

during the dreary wintertime 

whenever I walk by and

 the Duchess of Snow, 

dressed up in her wintry feather coat

 and matching chapeau,

just seems to enjoy 

greeting our guests.

We did take the tree down today 

and put the finishing touches 

on the parlor 

for the month of January.

I got a new camera 

and have been playing with it,

 trying to figure out everything 

that I need to know 

to make it work to its best advantage. 

 So far,

 I'm not there yet and

 am not entirely sure, at this point, 

whether I should have made the change.

  The on/off button

 on my old camera broke and 

I was having to use a sharp object

 to get it to work, 

but I could still use it. 

 This new one has a wider lens

as you can tell by 

the above photo but

 I really need to sit down and figure out

how to use all 

the new settings.

All of these photos 

were taken with the new camera.  

If any of you 

photography specialists out there 

can see what I'm doing wrong,

 it wouldn't hurt my feelings at all

 if you offered 

some assistance.

Well, back to work for me. 

 My new year's resolution is 

to just get all of the 

2018 Christmas put away 

before Christmas of 2019,

 and how to be a better typist

 with a five pound chihuahua 

hanging off my arm!

Happy New Year everyone. 

 May 2019 be a good year 

for all of us!

...Judy...

Sharing today with:

Dishing It & Digging It

and

Keep In Touch at Let's Add Sprinkles