Cozy mantel

Well, today is the final day of winter break and it's back to the grind tomorrow. And....tomorrow could be the most depressing day of the year. It's dark when you go to work, it's dark just after you get home. There's nothing to do. No pretty Christmas decorations. (this tends to be a theme of mine this time of year) Plus, there's still a little more than half of the school year left. I love teaching kids, but there are times of the year that just drag a bit. Luckily, I won't be bored.....there's a month left of basketball games for my band to play, which is about 14 games, and I will be giving a clinic at our state music conference with two of my colleagues in February.....; )

So, here is what is going on around the house. We have been cleaning mofos. I mean, pulling out the fridge and cleaning behind it, which has never been done in this house (going on four years). This is my favorite time of year for painting projects, so we have a few on tap.

I have a big pot of ham and bean soup going, made from the ham bone of a Honeybaked ham...yum.

I have a really pretty little poinsettia that I am going to try to keep alive this year. It's pink! I usually am totally over poinsettias by this time of year, but I'm going to try with this little guy....or girl.

Now that the holidays are over, we've moved on to what I like to call "winter-y but not Christmas-y." As such, our mantel.

I have used dried grasses, flowerheads and seed heads from the garden. I try to remember to hold on to some of those things when I am cutting back in the fall. I bought an off-white sweater at the thrift store and cut it up to cover the vases.

I cut a log into a few sections to put some votive holders at different heights. The small cup below has some pieces of driftwood that are bleached and smooothed.

I picked up this piece of driftwood on one of our vacations last year. I love the texture that it adds and also how it reminds me of our trip. : ) The yarn balls also had a bit of texture and a fun shape.

The seedheads are from Black-eyed susans and the flower heads were clipped from my oakleaf hydrangea. I also like the white birch brances.

As my husband said, it's all brown and white. He claims that brown is my favorite color, which it's not. It's just a neutral that goes with all other colors. I bet he doesn't know what IS my favorite color.

It's not my favorite colors, it's just what I see when I look out the window right now. : ) 

Hope you are staying cozy wherever you are!

Time Travel Thursday at The Brambleberry Cottage

Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Show and Share Day at Just a Girl

Simply Creations Link Party at Simple Home Life

Addicts (not so) Anonymous Addicted to Decorating

Sunday Showcase Party at Under the Table and Dreaming

Project Parade at The DIY Showoff

Creative Bloggers' Party and Hop at Homemaker on a Dime

Tip-Toe Thru Tuesday at Crayon Freckles

Pinspirational Thursday at The Artsy Girl Connection

Make the Scene Monday at Alderberry Hill

Tuesday Talent Show at Chef n Training
Flaunt Your Flowers  at Tootsie Time
What I Wore/What's Up Wednesday at Rae Gun Ramblings
Sunday Roundup at A Rosie Sweet Home
Overflowing with Creativity at It's Overflowing