Freezing in Florida

Right now it is 38 degrees here. Brrr.... feels like New England. I covered my impatiens and brought in orchids, begonias, and succulants. I hope we don't get a frost here.



I get to wear my beautiful scarf Judy made me.

The houses are made with cinderblock construction so you have to bundle up inside.

Emily is happy with this weather though!

From weather.com: The lizards become completely immobile in temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit (four degrees Celsius) as their cold blood stops flowing, and have been filmed this week falling out of perches in trees.

I haven't seen any of them around for awhile - maybe I should check the trees.

Deerfield, NH

Here's some of my favorite views and houses in Deerfield, on the way to my sister, Judy's house, taken on Christmas day. It is always such a pleasure to round the bend, and see this farm with the mountains in the distance.

White Picket Farm at the top of the hill.

You can always see the cows (in the distance) on this farm.

I've always loved this house.

Hillcrest Farm

On Ridge Road - we're almost there.

Such a beautiful place.

Ice Storm

We made it through the ice storm with no problem. It snowed first, then sleeted, then rained and rained and rained.

I got all ready - lots of wood split and stacked by the wood stove, the bathtub filled with water, candles and flashlights put out, cell phone battery charged, and finger food cooked in advance. But, we were lucky and never lost power here for very long. Some of my friends in adjoining towns were without power all day. My friend, Shirley, who lives across the lake was without power for 24 hours. For some I hear it will be multiple days. Fortunately most people around here have wood stoves or generators.

Emily was ready to play once the sun came out.

Winterberry

A good plant to grow in wet areas of the garden is the native deciduous holly, winterberry (Ilex verticillata). Winterberry is native from the mid-west to the eastern US, and grows in swamps and bogs in zones 3-8 in full sun to partial shade. It tolerates dry conditions, but prefers moist or wet acidic soil, even standing water. We have it growing all along the edge of the lake.

In the summer you’ll hardly notice the plant, but in the fall the beautiful berries start out orange and then turn red, adding to the fall foliage.

Once the leaves have fallen from the plant, the bright red berries stand out. They look especially beautiful against the snow. If the birds don’t eat all the berries, you can use them for Christmas decorations. This year the plants are laden with berries since we had such a rainy summer.

If you buy winterberry from a garden center, make sure you buy a male pollinator as well as female plants to produce berries. The male should be planted within 30 feet of the females. One male plant will pollinate several female plants.

Winterberry is 6-8 feet tall, and has no serious pests or diseases.

Cookie Exchange

Today I went to a cookie exchange at the lovely Pressey House Bed and Breakfast in Oakland, ME. It was hosted by Lorie, for the craft group of the Waterville Area Newcomer's club. It was so cozy sitting by the fire, sipping coffee, crocheting, and tasting cookies.

The Pressey House is an octagonal shaped house that was built in the 1850's and is on the National Registry of Historic Places. Out the windows is a beautiful view looking down Messalonskee Lake.

I had to bring 4 dozen cookies, so I spent all day baking yesterday, and made a huge mess in the kitchen. I made my favorite holiday cookie, rugalah. The recipe makes 4 dozen, so of course I had to make some extra so I could try them before bringing them.

Look at how beautifully these are decorated.

Here's what I brought home!

Mmmm....now I just need someone to help me eat them!

Festival of Trees at Good Will-Hinckley School

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas...

Every December for the last 17 years, Hinckley School's historic Prescott Hall is set up with 24 Christmas trees each artistically decorated with a different theme by local Maine groups and crafts-people.

The Waterville Community Garden Club has decorated a tree every year for the last 15. Of course we choose a garden related theme. This year our theme was Deciduous Forest – all ornaments were made from materials from deciduous trees. (trees that lose their leaves in the winter). Members collected leaves, nuts, and seedpods and made ornaments all during the fall. Right before the festival starts we decorate the tree.

Here's what we have around the tree - a star fence made of twigs and birch reindeer.

All the trees were beautiful, but I think this one is my favorite. An old fashioned Christmas with gingerbread men, ornaments made from apples and popcorn, cranberry, and cinnamon stick garlands.

I love some of the things under the trees... Teddies in a Wagon

Cookie Baking Supplies

The Bloomfield Garden Club from Skowhegan pressed flowers during the summer and made beautiful ornaments for their tree 'Artistry with Dried Botanicals'. This is cedar painted gold.

This is artemesia with queen anne's lace in the center.

We made 25 or so centerpieces for the opening brunch buffet. They looked great on the tables.

We also helped make up these cute centerpieces.

I'm so glad I was in Maine this year for the Festival of Trees!

First Snow

There's nothing like the first snow of the year! When I left Boston it was sunny and in the 60's. Heading north it clouded in, then north of Portland, (Maine), I saw it - snow! After sliding down the driveway, and warming up a freezing house, Emily and I both agree 'Its great to be back!'. Emily found a tennis ball right away.

The lake is just starting to freeze over. Its so quiet and beautiful.

Emily loves to get dirty.

Maine, the way life should be.