Winter Cottage Giveaway...

I realized it has been a year (almost to the day) since I hosted a giveaway, so when I received a 20% off coupon for The Christmas Tree Shop last week, Amanda and I headed over to see what we could find...

Being from New England, I thought it would be fun to offer a Winter Cottage giveaway.

So I found a sparkly little cottage ornament, complete with smoke coming out of the chimney.

And a glittery red bottlebrush tree to match the cottage roof.

And every winter cottage should be surrounded by birch trees, cardinals...


... and snow that glistens like a million little diamonds when the light hits it just right.

I thought this little Winter Cottage vignette looked nice displayed on this red, green, and tan woven placemat (white tray not included). This is a very simple (and not at all costly) giveaway. Anybody who lives near a Christmas Tree Shop can attest to that! But if you would like a chance to win it, just leave a comment on this post and I will pick a winner after midnight of Friday, November 26th! I'm sharing these goodies I found on Show & Tell Friday at My Romantic Home, so be sure to stop over and see what everyone else is sharing this week!! Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

COMMENT UPDATE: I've had a few queries - yes, this contest is open to everyone, even those outside of the States. Thanks for asking!

Donna

Bird songs...

"A bird does not sing because it has an answer.

It sings because it has a song."

Chinese Proverb

I just can't get enough of birds, real or otherwise... Now that winter has passed and the windows are open, we're being treated to a variety of bird songs...


I also love using birds to "pretty up" the cottage a bit. They're such a cheerful presence.

"If I keep a green bough in my heart, then the singing bird will come."

Chinese Proverb

I stopped at a garden center yesterday to buy hanging fuchsias for the deck; they didn't have their fuchsias yet, but I spotted these little ceramic birds for under $2 apiece.


They have beautiful spring green bodies and gorgeous blue tailfeathers...

"I want to sing like the birds sing,

not worrying about who hears or what they think."

Rumi

They whispered to me that they'd love to come home to live in our little cottage...


I whispered back that I thought that was an excellent idea.


They've made their home in my aloe vera plant, where they'll remind me year round of how lovely the bird songs of spring are...


"Spring would not be spring without bird songs." Francis M. Chapman

Wishing you all beautiful spring days filled with bird songs...

Donna