Cattknap, both of your door wreath designs are beautiful! I have a glass "screen type" of door in front of my regular door so it makes it hard to fit anything in between it. So I put out 2 topiary lighted trees next to the door for a festive look. I live very close to Williamsburg so I definately appreciate your "Williamsburg" wreath...so pretty!

Judith I didn't realize you lived near Williamsburg - or I've forgotten. It is the place we always thought we would retire, but it has gotten terribly expensive ($400,000 for a fixer in the area we like - Queen's Lake).....we usually visit Colonial Williamsburg every year - haven't been in the last 18 months and we really miss it...I understand they are over-building - very sad.

I keep meaning to try making the the clove-studded oranges after seeing what the six cost in the catalog - we'll see how I'll do w/my .99cent faux oranges from WalMart. LOL...

Jim

Here's some various pics of doorway decorating or wreaths.

For that Williamsburg look:

Yep, about a half hr or so away (depending on traffic), I have been following your posts on your thoughts about where you would be retiring, I was dissapointed that you weren't coming to the area LOL, but I totally understand, Williamsburg is very expensive! I have driven through Queens Lake area so I know exactly where you are talking about, such a lovely neighborhood. It sounds like you have picked a very nice area and I think for you, probably a better area in the long run... for lots of reasons...am I remembering correctly...was it Kentucky you have picked? And you are right they are building like crazy in the Williamsburg area.

Jim - those are absolutely elegant pictures - I really wish I could use fresh greens outside on the door and fence but it could well be 85 degrees on Christmas day or it could be 60 - you never know but I do prefer the real stuff.

I was so happy that I bought my faux oranges and lemons while visiting Williamsburg 3 years ago - I paid $25 then - wow they have really gone up!

Judith - what do you know about Hanover County? That is where Patty (HGTV) has a wonderful home and gardens.

Wow! Jim, I really really love the arched door and burgandy ribbons! My fav. The pink and gold wreath is sweet too. All good ideas.

Cattknap, are you looking forward to decorating another home? Whoever buys your current house will be so lucky. You have really made it beautiful.

Luvs

Jim, beautiful photos as always, thanks for posting them.

Cattknap, I did meet her quite a few months ago, the ladies in the VA area got together and met up in Williamsburg at the Pottery Factory, we had such fun! I think you know Mary Ruth from HGTV forums too, she is the one who organized it. It was such fun to get together with "like minded" people!!!

Catt, your doors are lovely! Here's my door, and I drape the wrap porch rails with greens and a lighted wreath in each section. I wasn't in to forums last year, so I don't have a pic! I put a decorated tree up out there too, and have to use creative wiring and weights so it doesn't take off in the wind. Last year I used dumbell weights on the shelf of a wicker table, skirted it, and wired the tree to the table. We are near the bay, so the winds are vicious sometimes. I have found my decorations a block a way!
I made the wreath and the bow, I am ribbon happy. The trees are real and are there all year.
Great idea for a thread,Catt, show us your doors!

That porch is pure Christmas Kathleen - I really like the throw on the chair and how traditional the decorations are- lucky you to live near the water!

Beautiful!!! and maybe I will get pictures on here when I get the decos up....DH has promised to bring his digi camera home for me to use during the holidays!! YAAAAYYYYYY
Catt I love your wreath too...and the swag that is in the first group of Jim's pictures. Kathleen you are my plaid ribbon buddy, and amazingly even though they are a country apart, our doors look very similar except mine is black. Living in Texas I can also identify with the wind problems.....yikes!!!!
Judith, my Mom had a glass storm door, and we had VERY great success with the wreath magnets. You put one part of the magnet on the inside of the glass and the hook part on the outside and hang the wreath on the hook on the outside!! We fudged and used two sets...they are reasonably priced at Joann Fabrics, Michaels', Hobby Lobby etc.. We put the top hook facing up and the bottom hook facing down over the bottom arc of the wreath to hold it steady in the wind! (If you can't find them and want some, let me know and I will send them to you!)

Judith, wah! I'm in Virginia Beach and didn't know about the Williamsburg get-together. Let me know if you plan another one.

tammy, it was announced thru the hometalkentertainment forum quite a few months ago..do you belong to that? Mary Ruth might put another together, that would be fun.

Well I made one - a faux pomander orange inspired by Cattknap's. My orange from WalMart had an odd shape - must get some rounder ones. I used an electric drill to make the holes and then simply inserted the clove. When I do more I will use a string as a guide so that everything is even.

I may attach some star anise too!

Jim

Here's my practice orange:

Jim, that turned out good. Did you have to glue the clove into the hole? A few of those would look great in a pretty bowl or on a wreath like Cattknaps. I like how hers have multiple rows and different designs on them. Can't wait to see how you will use yours.

P. S. How's the new kitty doing? Nothing broken so far, I hope.

Luvs

Jim, I might have to try that myself. You did a good job.

Judith, I don't belong to that forum, but I'll have to go check it out.

Hi Luvs

So far so good with the little one - I did find something out that changed from the first time I posted....she is a he! His name is Panda.
It was rough in the begining w/Miss Kitty, she's was acting bratty, but now they're best buds.
Poor Selena the dog gets to be used as their mattress. LOL

I didn't glue in the clove stems, I had a nice compression fit because the drill bit was a bit smaller than the stem I inserted.
I don't know if it's because my cloves are old, but I would occasionally lose the clove out of the stem - no biggie to replace because they're not glued in.

Jim

Here's the other side where I tried a pattern:
{{gwi:1439504}}

Here's Panda and Miss Kitty

and with Selena aka "the mattress"

Jim, that photo of "Selena the mattress" is just priceless.
LOL. What a sweetie you have there. Or should I say the cats have? Did I miss something tho? I don't remember anything about Panda's arrival in your home!! Of course the way my brain is not functioning these days, I barely remember my own name lately.

hugs, Karen

What a good dog! How lucky for the kitties to have that nice warm doggie to curl up with too. They are adorable. Luvs

Hi Karen - First, I just want to say it was great hearing the good news about the health status of your loved ones and that it continue!...and also helped your stress levels too!

I took in Panda about three weeks ago and just posted once about him. Considering what you've been going through lately it was easy to miss. LOL

Panda s/be renamed Albatross - little did Selena know when he first started climbing on her back to sleep....

Jim

Ha, I don't know..."Albatross", while descriptive, doesn't quite have the ring of "Panda."

Though I guess Al or Allie as nicknames might work. I can imagine the looks on people's faces when you'd relay the full name.

HAHAHAHAHAHA....

-Jenn