I do! Love, love, love it!
It's a time for celebration and joy.
And the angel of the Lord said to them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:10-11
A very good reason for celebration indeed!
And with celebrating often comes decorating. I like the decorating too!
This year, several of my friends have used pinecones in their Christmas decorating. I like it! Pinecones are simple and pretty. A touch of the outdoors brought into the house.
So, one bright, winter like day, (course it's still only fall, y'all. snort!) while on a nature walk with the family...
That's right, we took the path less traveled. The path into the woods. The path where we discovered mama needs a new pair of boots! Oh dear.
I guess that happens when, according to my calculations, mama's had her boots for 13 years. WOW!! Definitely got my money's worth!
On the path where we came upon this cute little cabin.
The place where the girls began to freak each other out talking about how it's always the lone cabin in the woods in the horror movies. Yep. FREAKED OUT!!
Because (cue Psycho violin music) 7 8 9!!
Get it?? 7 8 9...7 ate 9! Ha ha ha
Maybe you had to be there. I swear it was funny. At least I thought it was funny.
Anyway...
It was on this walk in the woods that I spied a few pinecones, and remembering how much I liked the way my friends had used them in their decorating, I promptly began to fill everyone's hands with the beauties!
We may have had several pair of sap sticky mittens by the time we got home. A little lemon essential oil rubbed into the drops of sap cleaned up the mittens.
To get rid of the sticky sap on the pine cones took a little longer, but just as easy.
Lay pinecones in a single layer on a foil lined baking pan, bake for 30 minutes at 200 degrees.
The sap will melt onto the foil. The pinecones will be slightly sticky when removed from the oven, but once dry...
No more sticky pinecones! Whoop whoop!!
The heat will also kill any bugs that have taken up residence in them -ewwww- as well as open them fully.
Allow the pinecones to completely cool before using them.
Add them to arrangements.
Use them in place of a bow on wrapped gifts.
They're lovely on a stack of books.
Fill a large glass container with them.
Add them to a wreath. (this is my next project)
Paint them. Glitter them. The possibilities are endless!!!
You're ready to go find yourself some pinecones now, aren't ya? Oh yeah.
Christine
