Candlelight and Reds to Warm Our Winter Days and Nights

As in much of the country, in Ohio we’re experiencing record-breaking low temps and snow. With those record-breakers we’ve managed to have a few of those beautiful, bright days where you need your sunglasses because of the bright snow. Sun…always good news!

How do you feel about winter? Do you suffer from Winter Blues, or are you able to grin and bear it? Or do you love it? I’m a summer girl—it’s got to be way up in the 90°s for me to be chased inside to the AC. So, although I’m blessed to not suffer from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), I do suffer from just being plain ol’ cold. Never too many layers for me! But, I have to admit, the snow has been BEAUTIFUL!

It all started innocently enough one day back in December…we got some snow, and thought perhaps it meant we’d have a white Christmas (we didn’t) —

We didn’t even have that much snow, and a white Christmas is certainly not guaranteed around here, so, we welcomed it! It was mid-December (you can see our neighborhood tour of snowy cottages decorated for Christmas here), and like I said, it was oh, so Christmassy and pretty!

Well, six weeks later, and we STILL have snow! We got about 6” yesterday, and this morning 3” more came along. And we’ve had many a windy day with wind-chill factors in the minus teens! And for the start of the week? Temperatures—not wind-chill factor—in the -16° range. No, it’s not a typo…MINUS 16°F with wind-chill factors expected in the -30° range! We’re starting to feel a little like hibernating bears! Under the covers, snoozing through long leisurely naps sounds pretty good.

But again, God’s paintbrush gives us the gift of beauty. Yesterday, as I worked at the table near the screened porch, I had to go grab my camera, which doesn’t begin to do justice to what my eyes were seeing.

I love the dusting of snow on the table and the floor! That’s the howling wind blowing it in!

And the snowflakes clinging to the screens made them look lacy and beautiful. Hard to complain when this is what we see from our cozy warm homes! And see how much snow is on the picnic table?!

This has been our after-Christmas vignette on the screened porch, now kissed with snow.

Today we came home (yes, we ventured out!) and I looked out on the screened porch and patio (as I’ve done A LOT lately, to see what’s happening out there, LOL), and another lovely sight it was:

I quickly brought our {new} mirrored candle piece out to the screened porch, to enjoy the fire and snow.

Doesn’t the snowy log cabin look warm and inviting? Yes, I DID light a candle in it (have always wanted to do that!)—but only for a brief moment. :)

Do you ever fall for the one-for-her/one-for-me shopping mantra? This was one of those cases. Our DIL loves candles, so when we saw this candle “piece” at one of our favorite shops—The Morgan House—we knew it would be a great gift for her, and we (yes, Mr. CHN was in on it) decided we needed one too!

The winter/fire theme continues inside on our dining table, where pine cones and evergreens have reigned since after Christmas, as our January winter ‘scape.

Other parts of our home are also sporting plaids (here), to warm our surroundings.

These roses are from our Three Kings celebration (here), and as many of you know by now, old roses are dear to me. It’ll probably still be a while before I get rid of them. :)

…and the red roses, also from the Three Kings celebration.

The January vignettes in our home are usually in whites and silver with touches of evergreens—something more serene after all the colors of Christmas. This year, for some reason, I wasn’t tired of the red and kept some out. Boy, am I glad I did! The red in the plaid-and-silver vignette, the china cabinet (I showed you a peak of it last week), and other areas has really helped to warm our home this cold and white and snowy January!

So how are you staying "mentally” warm this winter? What colors bring you comfort and warmth during the winter months? Fill me in—you never know how long this cold spell’s going to last—I may have enough time for a switch! :)

Stay Warm!

Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you’ll leave me a comment to let me know you were here—I’m thrilled to know you stopped by, and I’ll always visit back and comment too. If you like what you see, I invite you to follow me (I promise to follow back), and please—Pin away and follow me on Pinterest too! Thank you!!

NOTE: Some of the items I use in my posts are in my Etsy shop, but many are not, simply because I haven’t updated my shop. If you see something you like and wonder if it’s available for sale, email me at coral5252@gmail.com and let’s talk!

Sunday Showcase at http://www.bystephanielynn.com/

Sunday Creative Home and Garden Hop at http://creativehomeexpressions.blogspot.com/

Sundays at The Tablescaper: http://thetablescaper.blogspot.com/

Mop it Up Monday at http://www.ishouldbemoppingthefloor.com

Metamorphosis Monday at  http://betweennapsontheporch.net/

Masterpiece Monday at http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com/

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com

Tuesdays at Our Home at http://mariaelenasdecor.blogspot.com/

Tuesday’s Treasures http://www.myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/

Inspire Me Tuesday at http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/

Wow Us Wednesdays at http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/

DIY by Design Party at http://diybydesign.blogspot.com/

Home and Garden Thursday at http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/

Open House Party Thursday at http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com

Transformation Thursdays at http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/

Feathered Nest Friday at http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/

Home Sweet Home Fridays at http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/

Thrifty Things Friday at http://thethriftygroove.blogspot.com/

Vintage Inspiration Friday at http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com/

Show and Tell Friday at http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

From my nest to yours~

Zuni