Valentine's Day Decor

Snow and ice are falling in Arkansas....WHAT? ...It has been some time as we are not used to such cold winters!  The second week of February is always seemingly the coldest of the year, and this year it is way over normal cold so I treasure the tie sitting by a warm fire while I write this post about the WARMEST season of the year....Valentines Day!  

Our stone fireplace throws out so much heat to warm the room. 

It  is a luxury to smell the perfumed woodsmoke 

and back up to the warmth especially on a day like today.  

"Winter ...is a time to gather golden moments, 

embark upon a sentimental journey, 

and enjoy every idle hour." 

- John Boswell 

Here is what my garden fountain looks like...

I keep it running so the little birds will be able to drink.

 Earlier I pulled out my vintage candy boxes 

and love this red velvet one. 

This figurine of children sledding seems quite appropriate 

for now as I hope our two grand littles will 

come by this afternoon 

for sledding adventures on our hill. 

The front porch is dressed with a few more 

vintage chocolate Valentine boxes. 

And the wreath on the front door holds 

a red truck full of valentine hearts.

In the south, porches are considered another room, but not today!

I have pulled out some of my vintage Valentines along with the chocolate boxes. 

This die cut lacey  one is so sweet. 
They are displayed on embellished vintage door knobs .  

The door knob displays are easy to make and dressed

 with a bit of broken jewelry.

Antique stores are usually full of vintage postcards 

and ephemera or small greeting cards. 
This little robin Valentine is a fold out favorite .

With their vintage appeal, some like this one

 with excellent graphics have become highly collectible. 

The first commercial Valentine's Day cards in America

 were designed in the 1840's by the Esther A. Howland, 

who embellished them with lace and ribbons.  

Through the ages, they were given as an expression of love, 

and also as tokens of friendship. 

Vintage cards with birds and especially doves steal my heart. 

 The ones from about 1895 to 1910 are very recognizable. 

It is easy to add a touch of seasonal decor with a simple postcard. 

Lots of valentines feature a locked heart and key too. 

"Look at the birds of the air: they do not sow 

or reap or store away in barns, 

and yet your heavenly Father feeds them..

 Are you not much more valuable than they?  

Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?"   

                                    __Matthew 6: 26-27

In the 1950's this cartoonish style became quite popular

especially grade school children to share with friends. 

As much as we love our wooden boats here at Magnolia Hill 

and handmade canoes, this one made me smile....

I am glad I snapped a few photos of our camellia bush

that is so beautiful in bloom before all the ice.

 They are a favorite of southern gardens for something blooming 

in the middle of winter is a luxury. Glossy rich greenery 

in the middle of winter, and soft sweet blooms.  

I picked several blooms

to float in a bowl and enjoy. 

This one is called Mrs. Lincoln. 

 Here's hoping your Valentine's Day is spent warm and with someone you love. 

 

You’ll find me on Instagram here:  Alda's Magnolia Hill 

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Snow Ice Cream

I have always been an ice cream girl...vanilla. ice. cream.  Winter, summer, spring or fall, I love ice cream. On of my favorite memories growing up was that of my mother making snow ice cream.  She would bring a dishpan of fresh made snow ice cream out onto the front porch where we children were building our snowman...and hand out spoons.

 I know much of the country is socked in and here in the south we do not have snow very often, 

but I want to be ready when we do! 

 With a 4 year old who has not see much snow, 

I think this will be a favorite memory too....

1 large bowl of snow....about 10 cups

1 can of sweetened condensed milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix all together and serve immediately.

that's all! 

So simple, so delicious...I think you will be surprised how it looks like traditional ice cream but tastes even better. 

Just be cautious when gathering snow, gather fresh clean snow. Don't dig too deeply and gather your snow from an area that is out in the open away from any bushes or trees. 

I like mine, plain vanilla, but you can add marshmallows or sprinkles. 

A fire is roaring in the fireplace so let the first snowflake fall. I am ready for a walk to the bridge and snow ice cream ! 

"The whole earth is full of His glory."  Isaiah 6:3

A Little Bit of Christmas

After I finally thawed out from the cold this weekend, 

I wanted to share a glimpse of our Christmas decor. 

 So many families came for pictures with our red truck

 and enjoyed a sunshine but COLD day.

Lori Sparkman Photography

This sweet fellow just melts my heart!

100 years...that is how old we are!  

Driving through the front gates, Miss Magnolia wears her winter scarf.

Several of the families that came for pictures had been married here. 

The boat house wears twinkle lights all year long.

Buddy kept a roaring bonfire for us to warm up by.

The "Wedding Crashers" had to swim 

and check out the Christmas tree in the wooden dory boat.

The red tuck looks so cheery with Christmas lights. 

We have wedding planning meetings during the holidays, 

so the front porch is decked out and ready for guests. 

The kitchen gets a splash of Christmas too.

One hundred years ago, kitchens were rather small. 

As if stepping back in time, 

our kitchen is all original.

Since we are on the Historic Register it still seems to work. 

Silver gets a fresh polish this time of year.

The breakfast table window is filled with photos from Christmas past. 

Most family and friends

 come in our laundry room door on the back porch, 

so we have a splash of Santa there too. 

The wooden  Christmas tree filled with suckers is from my children's past 

and now gets to be enjoyed by their little ones. 

My vintage Santa mugs are perfect for this little table....It stays ready for a party!

More family photos this afternoon..not quite so cold and the sun is shining! 

 This wonderful old estate is made to share the past with the present. 

I will be ready to warm up by a cozy fire again tonight! 

Thanks for stopping by...

 Hope you all are enjoying this Christmas season !

A Closer Look...Christmas on the Porch

When I was a child, my grandmother used to tell me that a front porch was a postcard that gave a glimpse of who lived inside the house. Back then, I was not quite sure what grandmother meant.  But now, years later, I see the front porch as my grandmother did. 

The porches in my life have been important threads in my family tapestry.  They were where the greetings and partings of family and friends took place.  Our time on the porch bound us together and I imagine our front porch in a rather old-fashioned manner, transforming it into an outdoor living room as people used to do before the days of television and air conditioners.  

Over the years of living in our house, I've collected stories and ideas about making the front porch special.  While the old adage about fences making good neighbors is probably true, I prefer to think that porches make good friends. 

Especially this Christmas season, I invite and welcome you to my front porch.

I think perhaps of all the seasons on the porch, winter is my favorite.  Above, a monogram personalizes a cheery wreath welcome at my door.

Our front porch is filled with greenery of Christmas-   pine, boxwood, juniper, fir, holly, cedar and of course....magnolia!

"Don we now our gay apparel..." The words of this favorite carol 

can be applied to our porch as velvet ribboned hurricanes light the 

stone entryway as the evening hours fade into darkness.  

"It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air."

- W.T. Ellis

Fresh evergreens with silver birds, twigs, and bright red 

amaryllis offer a welcome in an antique concrete urn. 

My friend Ruth, remembered our antique sleigh down at the barn.  

She surprised me with a vintage thermos, sign and tartan red plaid blanket.

Black & white checked ribbon intertwined with fresh evergreen branches and red berries 

embellish a lantern for Santa and his tree. 

The past is brought to life as timeworn cobblestones on the porch columns

 come alive with red plaid ribbon.

To properly fill garden urns, fit them with watertight liners 

and plenty of floral foam.

Look closely and you will see a birds nest tucked in among the greens.  

I love our real birds in the aviary and work the theme into our Christmas trimmings. 

Beyond the traditional elements of Christmas, Buddy's red Chevy truck 

makes its way onto the porch. 

 A few more bright red truck welcoming accents 

Drive by at night to see Buddy's truck all aglow.

My grandparents were farmers...cotton farmers. 

As a nod to our heritage, we always have to have a bit of cotton in our decor. 

A few more red trucks !

Toss a blanket over your lap and enjoy a swing on the porch even in the winter.  

Bring a toasty cup of cocoa out to the front porch and listen to the quiet of winter - the creak of snow laden branches; the soft dripping of icicles; the sound of animals padding across the yard. Or simply be still and take in the quiet. 

  

The colors and textures seem to compliment each other 

on my bakers' rack with warmth and sweetness. 

Vintage wedding cake toppers from the 1940's are under glass and part of our white porch decor

 with white vases, more greenery and a bit of cotton.

                                               A vintage 1977 plate offers a sentiment...
                                 "All hearts go home for Christmas, for love is always there."

A delicate detailed display of deer on a silver tray are some of my childhood treasures. 

The deer inspiration adds a bit of coziness and 

Christmas cheer to a corner skirted table on the porch.

These stone steps leading up to the porch are quite special on their own. For a hundred years they have served as a stage for hellos, good-byes, hugs and kisses.  During the spring, summer and fall, weddings begin here as a bride steps out the front door, preparing to walk down the aisle and start a new life together.

But winter....During the bustling holidays, we eagerly await friends and family and those we love making the traditional journey home.

"Hellos, Good-bye's, Hugs, and Kisses" ...come in and get warm.

...Christmas on the porch !