Heavy Snow Looks Like Cake Icing

Finally- on February 1st- a true Chicago snowfall!  Had to get up early to capture the snowfall with my camera before the snow plows ruined the beauty of the morning!  I took these pictures about
5 hours ago and it is already twice as deep.  Dare I go back out there to capture the snow's progress?
Maybe in the morning!  Snow is predicted to fall until midnight and the winds are going to pick up creating drifting snow mounds.  Not sure which to watch tonight- the Super Bowl or the Snow fall!

I never get tired of freshly fallen snow- so white and clean.

 The angel in the middle of the front drive has had many inches of snow upon her shoulders

over the years.  The snow continues to fall softly all day.

 

 

 

Wind is starting to come in from the lake and the snow is drifting on to the front porch

and literally  icing all the furniture and evergreens.

 

 

Normally, the porch floor is Charleston green.  Now it is slippery snow white!

 

 

 

 

The view down the street from our back driveway.  I keep looking for the horse drawn

carriages on their way to grandma's house!

 

A perfect mound of snow on the wicker tabletop.

 

 

The newly planted spruce trees are enjoying their first winter in Lake Bluff.

 

 

 

I love how the snow falls on the iron gates that open on to our front porch.

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile, Harry doesn't even want to do out for a walk.  He would rather stay

on his pillow by the fire and watch the winter festivities from inside.

 

 

 

 

 

I agree with Harry,  We can watch Mother Nature

"do her thing" through the windows.

 

 Post Script- The Morning After!

 

It's Monday morning and the sun is coming up over the lake

and the snow is glistening!

 

Looks like we got another 6-8 inches or so-

 

 Last night about 5 pm- maybe 18 inches high??

 This morning!  Our back terrace table- maybe 22 inches high?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How quickly Mother Nature changes!  Blue skies today!

 

 

 

Valentine's Day - Time for Cherubs, Hearts and Flowers and a bit of Pink!

Valentine's Day comes at the most dreary time of year in Chicago, so it is a welcome distraction during the winter season.  I look forward to pulling all my pink china and crystal out for this romantic holiday.  Somehow the cheerful color "pink" seems to brighten up these dull winter days. So it is time to decorate the pastry stand that sits on my island with all things frilly, pink and angelic!  

 

Venetian wine goblets are so dainty and romantic for this holiday.

 

Macarons fill the tall cloche with lots of soft color.

 

a Friendship wine glass found at the Paris flea market

Gilded edges and pink roses- so romantic.

 

 



 

The local grocery store had the perfect shade of pink carnation and they lasted until yesterday-

almost two weeks before I had to replace them.

 

A little lace bucket sits on top of the candy boxes- perfect to fill with candy

for someone special.  It was made by one of my favorite people- Suzy Fabulous.

She sells her beautiful handmade items at the Grayslake Flea Market in Lake County, Illinois.

 

A wooden cherub found in Italy- one of my favorite things.

 

 

These sweet little cherubs are made of sugar and wax.  He is probably at least

60 to 70 years old. 

 

 

another little metal angel- softly painted with worn greens and pinks.

 

 

And one of my latest finds- the sweetest little pink  antique sugar and creamer- a  score from a

local junk store for $3.   The perfect color with the new flowers.

 

 

 

 

Yes, a good change for the kitchen for this time of year! 

 This pastry stand is  perfect for creating  change in the kitchen

 that reflects the different holidays and  seasons.

 

Winter Landscape inspires the Tablescape

Inspired by the winter scene on our screened in porch, a winter white tablescape seemed

 

appropriate for the month of January.

 



 

 I pulled ivory dishes, horn and silver from the dish pantry.

 

Anchoring the centerpiece with a vintage square silver tray,

the winter white

dishes were layered with the  horn and silver serving pieces.

I love the combination of silver and horn or ivory.

 



 

Horn knives with sterling silver decorative banding in a vintage celery vase.

 

Our local grocery store had just received the blush carnations and they were the  perfect

color. Plus they last forever!

 

 

Old Paris porcelain soup bowls were layered on  square placemats that were a patchwork of grey, silver, and white cow hides, a recent Home Goods score!

The pewter mug from Match finishes the setting.

 

Time for a warm winter stew.