These photos were taken a freezing cold day; I think it was -19 degrees celsius. Our front hall holds about the same temperature as outside; very convinient for storing and even freezing food! I just could not stop decorating despite my frostbitten fingernails, so I embellished this dry branch with some x-mas ornaments. Hopefully this makes our guests feel heartly and warmly welcomed despite the cold. 
Winter is COLD but equally BEAUTIFUL around here - the crisp, biting air feels healthy and gives the extra benefit of the true pleasure of getting indoors again! This is how our entrance welcomes everyone who stops by. 
2-3 weeks ago I just could not wait any longer - I just HAD TO start the outdoor decorating, which I normally don´t do before December 1st. Maybe the reason for this is that I had a hard time accepting fall and winter darkness before. The latest few years I have grown more and more fond of these seasons, and it feels so nice to complement this feeling by doing a little bit of outdoor decorating. Together with the pretty lanterns and planters on a little marble table next to the entrance door it also serves as a nice welcome for visitors. The base for this rather chaotic arrangement is my clematis pyramide climbing rack. The "ornaments" are my collection of seed stands, cones and acorns from Spain, Tunisia, Greece and Norway. While I wait for Advent (which as you know means "the coming of Christ"), I keep on working on big and small projects, both indoors and out - some more secret than others ;o)
Vintage and new manufactured lace combined with Calluna - a simple and romantic decoration on my willow wreaths this season
These pretty purls and pearls and drops and stripes were made by the morning dew on my window, late October 
...and the sweet rose hip hearts were easy and qiuck to make. They greet us and our guests as we come and go. 
