1000 Yards of Ribbon

My crazy plan began with ten spools - 100 yards each, 4 widths, 7 colors, a measuring tape, a sharp pair of sewing scissors and a very long kitchen table. I figured the lengths I wanted and then threw that out the window as I cut random lengths by sight, instead of measurement. 

This pic was shot with my phone, so the colors aren't completely true. Regardless, it was so beautiful and vibrant, so festive and shiny. I felt like a little girl looking at all those pretty ribbons.
Before moving to the next stage I had to attach the ribbons to a heavy gauge wire (I ended up using copper electricians' wire). To do that, I had to move the ribbon to the other room. This is me in transit with 1000 yards wrapped around my shoulders. Pretty sweet huh?! You get a little peek at the snowflakes in that shot too.
The ceiling height in the living room is 14'. The ladder is only 8'. The ribbon, though not terribly heavy was awkward to try and attach to the light. (Sidenote: Jon had to rehang the light before I actually attached everything to it because the original installer was, and I quote "a nimrod". :) Basically, it was not secure to the ceiling and the ribbons would have ripped it right out of its socket.)Anyway, for a girl who doesn't like heights, this was a challenge. In the end, Jon had the long arms and know-how to hang the ribbons securely when I was unable to do so.
"Beam me up Scotty" in style! This area was a favorite for Jack! He loved to sit underneath of it, with his head in the middle. Sorry - no pics of that.
I promise you'll get more pics when I actually finish the project. I am farther along than this, but I only wanted to post the first stage for now. When it is all finished, I will post everything so you can see the final result.

Snowflakes and Ribbons

This year I took on two whopper decorating projects for the holidays, in addition to the normal decorating that already takes place. The first involves snowflakes and originally was done to make up for the fact that there is no snow here (at least nothing that has lasted for longer than 5 minutes on the ground). Also, I wanted my kids to remember something about Christmas/ snow in Baltimore :) and finally, to cheer me up when everyone in UT I know is telling me how many feet of the white stuff each new storm brings. The other project is a spin off of something we saw in Italy that I absolutely loved. As you might expect, by the lack of pictures, one is finished and the other is not (but hopefully will be finished tomorrow). I am not going to post pics of either until both are done. 

The snowflakes are magical. I love them. They make me smile every time I look at them. You'll see what I mean later, although I think a video might be the only way to truly show you all what I am talking about.

On the other hand, the ribbons are fabulous! They are a little trickier due to the taller ceilings in the living room(14 ft), but already I love how they look. 

Keep checking back if you don't see something soon, but I will do my best to finish and post by tomorrow evening.

Happy New Year friends!!

(How's that for a teaser?!)

Bolton Hill for the Holidays

Anyone who knows Baltimore knows that it is all about its neighborhoods. (This is probably true of most bigger cities, but I only know Baltimore so that is what I am drawing on.)

The fabulous little neighborhood we live in is Bolton Hill. We love it here for many reasons, but I'll just share a few. For one, it is conveniently close to MICA where Jon is attending school. Also, we are equally close to church. In addition, it's convenient with a Rite-Aid, a Sav-a-Lot and a hardware store just a block away. We're close, but not too close to Downtown, Penn Station and only 20 minutes to the airport. We are two miles from the zoo and the Aquarium and just a bit more to the Science Center. And for Baltimore standards :), we feel pretty safe here. But finally, the real reason for this post... it is simply charming. Take a look...

Bolton Hill has the prettiest little streets of rowhouses. Nearly all the homes in Bolton Hill and Baltimore for that matter, are rowhouses - which is why they all pretty much have the same configuration: 2 long, narrow windows and a door.









Okay, I know it is serious overkill with the pictures today, but you'll recognize when I really am excited about something by the number of pics I post - hence the two dozen+ photos today.
Quite a few home-owners went all out, decorating all three levels of their rowhouses. I love it!

In Italy I began a new love affair with doors. Not any old doors, doors with personality, beauty and individuality. Before Italy I had never seen so many said doors and I must have taken 100 pictures of them last summer.  Baltimore has captured my heart in the same way. I love the stoops here, the way they all say something different to me.  





And finally the windows and their beautiful boxes... When we arrived in August, the windowboxes of Bolton Hill were overflowing with the most stunning displays of nasturtiums, impatiens, ivy, petunias, dahlias, zinnias, passionflower, bougainvillea and the favorite sweet potato vine.  I didn't think the boxes could get any lovelier until the Garden Club had their annual fundraiser. 

I only snapped a few pictures as it was getting late and I was losing the light, but you can see how striking they are.  For any of you copycats out there, myself included, let me tell you some of the plants used. Magnolia was a favorite, as were bays and laurels. Yews, box and juniper were popular too. I loved the wreaths and garlands with fruit on them - apples, pears, nuts too.

Who am I kidding, even without Christmas decorations, I love the architecture of Bolton Hill. I wander the streets with the kids and Jack in tow with a big smile on my face for the beauty of this place. Simply charming, beautiful, unique and for 18 months more, I get to be a part of it. 

Ingrid, have you discovered your secret blessing for the day? I have! :)

Gingerbread Heaven and New Traditions

We love the nativity around here. We have half a dozen of them to display for Christmas. This year we had a new addition. It's a little different in that everything about it is edible. Not too shabby huh?

In years past, we have made gingerbread houses to start the holidays off. This usually happens around Thanksgiving, but this year we were a bit slow. We ended up decorating the gingerbread on Christmas Day. 

I am all about traditions during the holiday season and decided I wanted to start a new tradition this year. Instead of making only a gingerbread house, I made a gingerbread nativity too. I did it all freehand this year and I think it turned out great. 

Jon did most of the decorating of the nativity and all the decor on the house. This is definitely a tradition we will keep.

Polar Express 4D

So let's backtrack to last week...

The Aquarium in Baltimore has been showing the Polar Express in 4D since mid-November. After Jon finished classes, we decided we had to go. All I can say is   WOW!! It was fabulous! If you have never been to a 4D show, let me tell you, it is an experience. They are short, to be sure, but jam packed for the 15 minutes you get. Everybody liked something different. Esther kept talking about (for days afterwards) the hot chocolate scene where you could smell the cocoa.  Jon liked that too and the pine smell as well. Et and I both really liked the roller coaster scene and we all like the swirling snowflakes in the air.  It was a total blast! 

For those of you who don't know about 4D, it is incredible. You get everything a 3D show offers, plus smells, movement (in, under and behind your chair), things in the air (bubbles, snow, wind) and water spraying you occasionally (like when the train is skidding across the ice and when it clears the ice on the other side). 

It was fun for everyone and definitely something we would do again.  It really brought the movie to life.