I love pinecones and winter berries. We take a winter walk yesterday, and we casually pick up interesting branches and pinecones. When we return home, we place the pinecones on a baking sheet (lined with parchment) to bake them at 200 degrees for 20 minutes. This will loosen any sap and let it melt down away from the pinecone, and it will also kill any mites or bugs you don’t want in your home. Finally, when you dry out your pinecones like this in the oven, they will open beautifully to become lovely winter decorations. I also gather any pine from the forest floor to make little bouquets. I wake up to the smell of pine. The whole house feels rustic and cozy.
