The clear blue skies
belied the true temperatures outside
the first week of December 2013.
the first week of December 2013.
What appeared to be a bright warm day was
a frigid day with temperatures well below freezing,
not even approaching 32°.
Oh, yes, it was definitely Christmas-feeling weather.
The bright sunshine provided solar heating to the
kitchen and added cheeriness to the
simple Christmas touches in the sunspace.
A sparse cedar tree, cut from the woods around the house,
held a small bird's nest, and
a multi-branched bare limb helps supported the spindly cedar
standing in a blue and white ceramic crock.
A small Santa box and ornaments hanging in the window
offered Christmas touches to the green flower pot holding
new and vintage gardening tools.
Looking through the cedar tree out the window,
the sunshine sparkled off the garden shed,
giving an impression of balmy weather.
Not balmy, however.
Still weeks away from Christmas,
the cold wintry air arrived very early
the first week in December 2013.
Snowy blue skies
filled with sunshine...
The spinning snowflake ornaments dancing on ribbons inside
were reminders of the snow and ice that were outside.
An Arctic-blast barreled through in the middle of a
Thursday night dropping only a few inches of mostly ice,
but enough to cover the roads and ground.
Three days later the snow and ice still covered the ground.
Three days is a long time in Texas for frozen precipitation to last.
Usually the bright sunshine quickly warms the ground
and melts away the snow and ice.
But not in December 2013.
Beautiful snowy blue skies
were filled with freezing air.
A small unadorned fir tree on the deck
had patches of frozen snow and ice as its decoration.
A mix of brown leaves and snow in brilliant sunshine
illustrates the unusual overlapping of fall and winter seasons in Texas.
Inside, the lone bird's egg in its nest was snug and warm in the sunshine.
The gardening tools were enjoying a rest from their normal routine.
The old Santa box from Hallmark years ago
had a woodsy Santa listening to a bird on a snow-laden fir tree.
The old clay pot added a Christmas feeling with its
green paint and gold-lettered script
that I painted several years ago with a quote
about the flute.
... next was the flute, the second oldest instrument in the world,
emulating the sound of the wind in the trees and
the birds in the air, nothing but breath against wood or bamboo.
Victoria magazine
Though the deceptive blue skies harbored freezing temperatures outside,
the sunspace inside was warm from sun and simple touches of Christmas.
❦
~~~~~~~~~~
Can you believe it is time to begin decorating for Christmas this year?
This time next week look for Christmas inspiration from all over Texas
when 26 Texas bloggers share a window into Christmas in Texas.
Stacey at Poofing the Pillows
is hosting
 |
| December 7-11, 2015 |
I was thrilled when Stacey invited me to be part of this
first-ever Christmas blog hop of 26 Texas bloggers, and
am honored to be on the first day line-up on
Monday, December 7, 2015.
Several of the bloggers have shared their plans with all of us,
and this is going to be a great Christmas blog hop!
You don't want to miss any of the posts
that include decorations, crafts, recipes, and even a fashionista.
~~~~❦~~~~
Please join me at these inspiring sites...
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY