Neutral, Natural Christmas Outside

Is it "old school" to like it when things match?

Or is it just a quirk...that I want my outside to be a clue to as what you will find inside my home?

Whether it's "old school" style or just a quirk of my sometimes small detail-obsessive personality,it's what I like to have happening in my home.

Inside, I've been decorating with whites, grays, taupes and camels. Lots of texture. And lots of wintery greenery. And twigs.

Outside meant getting some new things, NOT using some old things, (most of which will go into the garage for when I decide to use red again), and re-thinking my whole design. 

I reused greenery and garland I've had for years...but bought new twig wreaths and burlap ribbon to make new bows.  I had a 40 percent off coupon from Hobby Lobby.

(Notice, if you will, no more cracked glass and newly painted grayish-taupe color on the windows. But don't notice that they still need to be scraped of excess paint. I told Mason I'd do that after he finished painting them. Then it got really cold. We actually had our first snow just a couple of hours after these photos were taken - hence the gray skies.This weekend, it's supposed to be in the 60's again.)

Last year, for the first year in, well, a LOT of years, I used some green lights in the bushes. It was ok, but I am a "little white light" fan from way back when.

My general rule is to buy new lights for the tree inside, and use the lights from past years outside - just in case there is a problem.

This year, white lights rule again. I still need more white lights for outside, too, to go on the small trees in the wagon area.

That bush on the left took a ton of white lights, though you'd never think it took so many.  

I left my twig garland up from fall, instead of hanging greenery like I used on the windows.

I just added a bit of greenery to it, but it still needs something. Any ideas? Maybe more greenery. It's a bit sad.

I trimmed a low limb from my cedar tree, and used some of the greenery here and there. I don't know why I've never done that before. I also cut some pretty twigs in my yard.

Here's a photo of all the components together...

At night, I have 3 spotlights shining on the windows and the archway, and white lights in the trees. I want it to look good during the day time, and at night. 

I could really use a few pointers on how to make my wreaths 

and my garland look better...I'm at a loss. And it's gotta be cheap. 

I'm all ears...or eyes...at least virtually...

There are more photos in the living room and the dining room coming! It's almost finished...

Word for the Day:

Ezekiel 17:22-23

²² Thus saith the Lord God; I will also take of the highest branch of the high cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the top of his young twigs a tender one, and will plant it upon an high mountain and eminent:

²³ In the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it: and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar: and under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing; in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell.

Linking With
Sunday
http://my1929charmerblog.com/	Sunday’s Best
http://www.homemakeronadime.com/	Creative Bloggers Party Hop
http://www.twiggstudios.com	Sunday Show-off Link Party
http://www.niftythriftythings.com/	Nifty Thrifty Sunday
http://www.sistersofthewildwest.blogspot.com/	Sister Sunday
http://southernhospitalityblog.com	Thrifty Treasures
Monday
http://betweennapsontheporch.net	Metamorphosis Monday
http://modvintagelife.blogspot.com	Mod Mix Monday
http://houseinroses.blogspot.com/	Show Off Your Cottage Monday
http://westfurniturerevival.blogspot.com	Revival Monday
http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com/	Masterpiece Monday
http://diyhshp.blogspot.com/	The More the Merrier Monday
http://www.serendipityandspice.com	Manic Monday
http://howtonestforless.com/	Just a party with my peeps!
http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com	Make it Pretty Monday
http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com	Monday Marketplace
http://www.graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/	Brag Monday
Tuesday
http://www.knickoftimeinteriors.blogspot.com/	Vintage Inspiration Tuesday
http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/	Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
http://www.cedarhill-ranch.com/	Cowgirl Up!
http://farmhouseporch.blogspot.com/	Cowgirl Up!
http://theivycottageblog.blogspot.com	Cowgirl Up!
http://www.newhousenewhomenewlife.blogspot.com/	All Star Block Party
http://myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/	Tuesday’s Treasures
http://www.elizabethandco.blogspot.com/	Be Inspired
http://creatingahouseofgrace.blogspot.com/	Twice Owned Tuesday
http://www.niftythriftythings.com/	Market Your Biz
Wednesday
http://www.timewashed.com	Blissfully White Wednesday
http://verymerryvintagestyle.blogspot.com	Share the Love Wednesday
http://micheleravendesigns.blogspot.com/	Primp Your Stuff Wed
http://primitiveandproper.blogspot.com/	Piece of Work Wednesday
http://restoreinteriors.blogspot.com/	Restored it Wednesday
http://savvysouthernstyle.net/	Wow Us Wednesday
http://www.notjustahousewife.net/	Penny Pinching Party
http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/	What’s it Wednesday
http://www.thethriftyhome.com/
http://shadesofamberinc.blogspot.com/	Chalk Paint Link Party
Thursday
http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/	Under $100 Link Party
http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/	Transformation Thursday
http://staceyembracingchange.blogspot.com/
http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/	Thursday Open House Party
http://www.the36thavenue.com/	Share Awesomeness Thursday
http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/	Time Travel Thursday
http://frommyfrontporchtoyours.blogspot.com/	Treasure Hunt Thursday
http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com	Home and Garden Thursday
http://www.jannolson.blogspot.com/	Share Your Cup Thursday
http://livelaughrowe.blogspot.com	Live Laugh Linky
http://akadesign.ca	Doin’ It Yourself
http://katherinescorner.com/	Thursday Favorite Things
http://savedbysuzy.blogspot.com/	Suzy's House Party
http://www.savvycityfarmer.com/	thrift’n on a thursday
Friday
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/	Feathered Nest Friday
http://twenty-eight-0-five.blogspot.com/	Potpourri Friday
http://www.missmustardseed.blogspot.com/	Furniture Feature Friday
http://redoux.blogspot.com/	Friday Redoux Link Party
http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/	Frugal Friday
http://www.atthepicketfence.com/	Inspiration Friday
http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com	Vintage Inspiration Friday
http://sassysites.blogspot.com/	Free For All Friday
http://homespunhappenings-tammy.blogspot.com	Rustic Restorations Weekend
http://www.freckledlaundry.com	Air Your Laundry
http://www.decoratinginsanity.com/	Furniture Friday
http://www.remodelaholic.com/	Fridays on Remodelaholic
http://www.jenniferrizzo.com/	Fabulously Creative Friday
http://www.lovenotesbylauryn.blogspot.com	Spread the Love
http://www.findingfabulousblog.com/	Frugalicious Friday
http://www.delicateconstruction.com/	Delicately Constructed Friday
http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.com/	Flaunt it Friday
http://vintageinteriorblogs.blogspot.com/	Weekend
Saturday
http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/	Saturday Nite Special
http://too-much-time.com	Get Schooled Saturday
http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com/	Show and Tell Saturday