Monday, December 8, 2008

A Woodland Christmas

A welcome stairway. The path to the weekend's fun festivities.

And we even had some snow to add to the beautiful scene.

" Hello!"

Eleven of us met in the fireside room to start off by trimming the tree.
Come with me
Come trim the tree
Little white stars strung on twine
Keep making more for this tree fine.
Beautiful red delicious apples with tapers made a lucious addition to the dinner table.

Dinner!

After a warm wonderful meal, we took a nightwalk, down the path, to a favorite everygreen tree, which was waiting with little messages for us to pick.
Stitching hats
Red and warm
For a snowy walk
To "Ace's" tree
A note for me.
Friday night red hat making in our new Log Cabin #3.

front view.
side view with a poof!

Saturday morning, a trip to the woods to gather greenery and pinecones for yule log making.

Ice luminaries turned out so pretty.
Luminaries!
Icy clear
With cranberries
And Dogwood dear.
Our tree in the fireside room.
Making cards
Stringing beads
Sending cheer
Good elfie deeds!
Little white star garlands added to the natural look.
A story read
Of snowmen fun
A message said
When all was done.

The lovely yule log.
And here are the ladies!
Glitzy bottles
Snow ladies appear
Sleigh bells ring
As scarves clutch near.
A Snow Lady Fashion Show...

Laughing all the way...


Then time for wassail
By the fire
A good-bye toast
Before we tire.
Supper chatter
No time to lose
Before I know
I start to snooze.
Time for bed
Another day done
Now catch some winks
Before morning sun.

7 comments:

Laura said...

April what an inspiration and heart fill love spread all around. You have to share how the 2 litter bottles work. and how you make them. I seem to have a few around here and looks like fun.

~v~Laura

april said...

The luminaries are an idea from Better Homes and Gardens magazine. It's in the current December issue. You need a clear 2 liter plastic bottle and a clear 1 liter (or 24 oz) bottle, fresh cranberries and pretty branches. The reddish tint of dogwood looks pretty. Cut off the bottles at about the part where the curve starts. Pour water (it suggest using distilled for clearest ice, but we used tap water and they came out clear) into the large container about 1/3 full. Then put rocks or sand in the smaller container to weigh it down and put it down in the center of the big one. Arrange branches and cranberries in the water of the large container. The middle container kind of holds them in place. Add more water if needed, but don't go over the top of the inside container. Freeze outside until solid (overnight). Then it says to thaw slightly to unmild both containers and place a votive candle inside of the finished ice mold. We decided we are going to take out the inside little bottle, but if you have a nice clear bottle on the outside, you might want to just leave it in there and if the weather warms, then maybe it will stay intact better and refreeze. ???

april said...

Oh...and some decided to put in some evergreen, but I used only the cranberries and the twigs, as it looked in the magazine (mine is in the front on the photo).

Uta said...

Looks like you had a great time April.

butterfly woman said...

Hi April,
Pat from retreat was wearing red scarf she made at your retreat and was showing it off. She looked dashing. Also, cannot wait to see decorated tree today when I go to the art cabin.
Also, that tree with the notes, how fun is that to trek into the woods to discover. The Center, what a great place, with its creative magic to behold.
Bev

Doris said...

What a Christmas treat for some lucky ladies!

april said...

The tree with the little white stars is in the retreat fireside room, Bev.