Deep in Winter, bulbs emerge with a promise of Spring. Even before bulbs sprout outside and their blooms appear, bulbs potted inside in a French Country urn brighten our Winter-weary indoors while we wait for Spring to appear outside. 

Cold, dreary Winter days can be depressing, but indoor flowering bulbs work wonders to lift our spirits. 

Valentine's Day French Inspiration and Link Party

Need a little inspiration for your Valentine's Day decor, cards, and special treats? Valentine's Day is next week, and I have rounded up several of my French-inspired Valentine's posts all in one spot. 

PIN ⇑ for future years 

But, there is even more Valentine's Day inspiration for you with quick, easy links from several of my blogging friends who I am joining as a co-host for a Valentine's Day link party. You will want to visit each of their sites to see their special Valentine's Day inspiration. 

Hostesses:

Follow the Yellow Brick Home 

Common Ground 

Virginia Sweet Pea 

Decor to Adore 

My Wee Abode 

The Painted Hinge 

Thistle Key Lane 

Have a Cup of Mrs. Olson 

Botanic Bleu  (you are here)

Celebrate and Decorate 

White Arrows Home

And, you are invited to link up any of your Valentine posts! 

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Join the party... 

Guidelines... must be Valentine's Day related... new or old posts 

Link up any time 

Saturday, February 8, 7:00 p.m. (EST) through

Sunday, February 9, 12:00 midnight (EST)

W E L C O M E   T O   T H E   

V A L E N T I N E ' S   D A Y   L I N K   P A R T Y

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Christmas to Winter Decor | Nordic Inspiration

As the new year began, Christmas faded into the past, but some holiday greenery lingers at my home as Nordic-inspired Winter decor. Live spruce tree seedlings on the kitchen island were part of the kitchen Christmas decor, and are now sprouting new growth from the warmth in the house. 

Little by little, Christmas decorations in my home have been replaced with Winter decorations.  

French Country Christmas Living Room Tour

A tour of our French country Christmas living room includes views of a massive white stone fireplace and a two-story Palladian window. The tour starts with the Christmas color scheme in the living room which began with a jewel-tone Christmas stocking and coordinating throw pillow.

Jewel-tone needlepoint Christmas stockings and a matching throw pillow set this year's color for Christmas decor in our French country inspired living room. The stockings and pillow came from my sister's shop in Maine more than twenty years ago. 

When I bought a purple pillow cover from our new local Pottery Barn outlet this summer, I knew it would go with the needlepoint pillow and stockings. That's when I began planning this year's Christmas decor. 

French Country Christmas Mantel With Dark Blues

Styling a French country mantel with dark blue colors to go with jewel-tone colored needlepoint Christmas stockings took several makeovers. 

Arranging, re-arranging, adding to, taking away, repeatedly, over several days before this year's mantel came together and made my eyes clap their hands. 

The final design includes a custom-printed framed inspirational Christmas quote. A post is in the works to explain how to create the custom quote.