Monday, December 02, 2013

Gathering for Advent...

 
Downy Woodpecker (source)

I've been walking through the trees these past couple days, gathering up bits of nature for the Advent season.  I love to clip greens and berries from the junipers in our shelter belts and poke them into wreaths and vases.  I heard a Downy Woodpecker tapping on the trees and then I saw him and watched for a while.  There were a few Chickadees dipping in and out, and today I noticed a flock of Sharptail Grouse had come into the trees for shelter from the coming cold.  I think they like to feed on the Russian Olive trees.  Olives were part of my collecting this winter.

 
Russian Olives

 
I love bringing in the things that grow in my world and adding them to vases and candles.

 
For me, the earthy, spicy aroma of a juniper wreath is a fragrant and beautiful gift to my home.
It says, "Christmas is coming!"
Wishing you an Advent of quiet contemplation and joy.

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9 comments:

  1. Dawn12/03/2013 4:46 AM

    Nice post. Love the wreath! We have some woodpecker relatives of that fellow outside our windows! :)

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  2. Angela12/03/2013 8:04 AM

    I love your wreath and your juniper branches in the mason jar. I have some more housecleaning and a birthday at my house this week, so I probably won't get much Christmas up til this weekend.

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  3. Thimbleanna12/03/2013 8:17 AM

    Beautiful Jody! I especially love the little pop of blue from the juniper berries -- SO pretty!

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  4. ellen b.12/03/2013 11:03 AM

    Beautiful, Jody!!

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  5. GardenOfDaisies12/03/2013 1:36 PM

    So beautiful. I've never seen russian olives before.

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  6. M.E. Masterson12/03/2013 2:10 PM

    Love the door wreath...lovely!

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  7. Angie12/04/2013 7:45 PM

    What's up with those olives? Are they edible? Or just for the birds? I also enjoyed a quiet walk outdoors last weekend to gather fragrant branches for the house. Finally got the advent wreath made, hung and lit for the first time tonight. 'Tis the season!

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  8. Leslie 12/05/2013 11:38 AM

    Oh wow, Jody, those olives are really unusual and beautiful. They look great in your festive wreath and in your home.

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  9. Angie12/05/2013 1:07 PM

    I just did a little reading about the Russian Olive:

    http://voices.yahoo.com/russian-olive-trees-why-all-fuss-4590195.html?cat=32

    Very interesting. Had no idea it was controversial. Thanks, Jody. I learn something new every time I visit your blog!

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