I have been most neglectful with my posts of late and I suddenly realized that December is upon us. I have to say due to being restricted at home more I started my Christmas decorating a little earlier than usual. I also have made a head start on my Christmas baking. While in the garden, despite an unexpected early snowfall, we have had very mild temperatures and I was able to do more clean up.
Through having an early cold snap I felt this year we did not experience the usual vibrant fall colors. They seemed to be more toned down. My prominent Japanese Maple tree in the front rockery looks very drab as though the dead leaves are stuck on it. 
Needless to say I still managed to capture some good fall shots in Fintry Provincial Park.
Christmas to me brings back many different memories. I love to do the outside fresh greenery. From wreaths on the front door to garlands along my porch railing. It also extends out to my front gate. This year I popped a swag on the outside lantern too. I was able to forage for different greens and pine cones in my own yard. The fir and pine trees have become quite large and a little trimming doesn’t hurt them.
Meanwhile inside the house I have continued on with the Christmas decorating. My Christmas tree mainly stays the same each year as I like to use ornaments collected over the years. Some of them are over 30 years old but each one has a story. It can be an emotional time for me while decorating the tree and listening to Christmas music. Below is just a small collection of some of my recent favorite ornaments.
Lastly I feel happy that I have completed most of the garden clean up. This includes raking leaves and mulching them to pruning most of the perennials. The garden beds I have protected as much as possible and if the temperatures plummet, I use burlap on some of the tender shrubs. There is actually some color in the garden still with the varying foliage in the rockery garden and a few flowers still blooming. Of note, the wallflower, primrose and calendula.
This will be my last post for the year as we head into the holiday season. My wish more than anything this year is the return to some kind of normality.