This and That

It has been a long, long winter - too long, in fact.  I have not enjoyed it at all.  I know - that is very negative - but it is true.  And if I am nothing else - I am truthful (often to a fault).

However, Spring will be upon us this coming Thursday and I am more than ready for it.  I have been very busy.  I have painted and rearranged my house.  The walls that were once Belgian Waffle are now  Woodlawn Blue and Shaker Beige.  I like these colors better - they are happy, calming and vintage.   I painted my ceilings too.  Everything is brighter.

And that makes me happy.

I have come to a conclusion - no matter where I go or what I do with my life, I am going to surround myself with things I love.  That means my animals - because they provide an unconditional love that you get no where else.

Flowers, coffee and good wine...

and cozy corners where I can mix up a batch of cookies or just sit and read, or knit and watch movies or enjoy a glass of wine...

These are the things that are important to me.  And if one wants to change anything, they must first begin with themselves.

Be true to yourself.
I'll end this post with a picture of a pileated woodpecker that was enjoying my crabapple tree tonight.
Nature - it's a wonderful thing.

Tis the Season

For Christmas tree hunting...

with family...

searching for the perfect tree...

and turning into the Incredible Hulk once the tree has been found...

He's not really the Incredible Hulk - just in case you were wondering :)

It's the season for snowmen and sleighs...

and white lights...

Christmas wreaths..

plaid throws and pillows...

and friends...

who love to set back and admire...

the Christmas tree.
Enjoy your night.

The Weekend

We had an absolutely gorgeous weekend here - blue skies, sunshine and warm breezes.  The trees are just beginning to change color.  I think they are going to be beautiful this year - lots of reds and oranges :)

Dave traveled to see his father this weekend and while he was gone, I went to the Appleumpkin Festival with my mother and purchased a few items.  I bought this cute little picket fence and the "Welcome Fall" pumpkin.  Isn't it sweet?

I also purchased some pumpkins from my favorite pumpkin farm :)  

And I made sure that I had everything cleaned and decorated both outside...

and inside too...

 

because there is nothing more welcoming...

than a clean, happy and...

welcoming home.
Except perhaps a home cooked meal.
Tonight's menu includes home made chicken soup.
Have a great Monday :)

The Lure of Spring

I have had an extremely busy week.  Today, however, I did not have one appointment at all so I went to a local farm market/greenhouse this morning and enjoyed myself thoroughly :)  I browsed around the shop, admiring the colors of Spring...

the scents of Spring...
I personally love the smell of hyacinths...

Adored this old dog who so enjoyed his duck, the warmth of the sun and having his belly scratched.
He has this whole "Life is Good" thing down right :)

I could have swore this was a before and after of Violet :)

And I got some great ideas for decorating inside the house.

Doesn't it just make you want to go out, get some baby chicks, bake some bread, wash windows and buy yourself a new Spring scarf?

I know Spring does that to me.
Imagination - it's a terrible thing to waste.
So isn't a nice day outdoors.
See ya!!!

Throughout The House

It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas...
My Christmas cactus is blooming...

A jingle bell wreath adorns my entertainment center...

Sugar cookies have been made (and eaten :)...

Santa's elf is visiting.
He's a happy elf...
He really is :)

DJ put my handmade aluminum foil star on the tree this year :)

and my Christmas tree is ready for presents to be placed under her.

It's just about time!!! 
My daughter will be home tonight.
Tomorrow there will be shopping, baking and most importantly visiting :)
It is snowing here on this first day of winter 2012.
All is good.
Enjoy your night.

A Before and After

My daughter will be arriving Tuesday evening and spending Thanksgiving with us.  I can't wait to see her!!!  I haven't seen her in FOUR months!!!  The only thing she requested for this visit was that I redo her bedroom.  Redo her bedroom?  Have you ever seen her bedroom?

Yep, that's it (in all its glory :)  Granted, I was in the midst of painting the closet.  However, it was ugly and messy - broken louvered closet doors, a dirty bed (because Violet thinks of it as the BIG doggy bed), dust pretty much everywhere, holes in the walls and dirty windows.  No more, however.  Gone are the louvered doors and dirty white walls of the closet...

The doors were taken down last month.  They made for a pretty amazing bonfire :)  I took out all the clothes and miscellaneous items (three bags worth) and gave to my friends, family and Volunteers of America.  I washed the walls and painted them Eddie Bauer Ochre in a satin finish, Dave stained the wood pine planks maple.

The bedroom is painted Eddie Bauer Pine Needle (again in a satin finish) and I love it.  The paint brand is Valspar  (it goes on like a dream).  I placed her dresser in the closet which made the room seem a lot bigger, centered her bed, put clean bedding on it and then I placed one of my favorite paintings above it...

I had DJ get the sewing machine stand that I purchased at a church sale years ago for $8.00 out of the barn, cleaned it up and placed a few of Alexandra's favorite photos on it.  I put a beautiful fall wreath that I bought at Dollar General several years ago above it :)

An old rotary telephone stand that held my daughter's papers in the closet was cleaned and is now a plant stand.  My spider plant and Christmas cactus are very happy, indeed...

as they will be exposed to the sun all day long...

I am very happy with my efforts.  I hope Alexandra is too :)  The only money spent on this project was for the paint.  Everything else I already had.  I just re purposed it :)   I am huge proponent of making do with what you have.  You'd be surprised what you can do with a little imagination.
Now if you will excuse me I still have many things to do.  Tuesday night is going to be game night at my house.  Probably at least half a dozen kids will be over.
You know what that means don't you?
Marcia's baking.  That's what that means.  Nothing makes me happier :)
I hope you have a great night and week :)

Decorating for Easter

This was the view from my kitchen window this morning...

Yeah, I know...

Enough is enough, already...

Doesn't Mother Nature know Spring and Easter will be here very shortly?  Well, she isn't acting like it, so I decided to take the matter into my own hands and bring spring inside.  Off I went.  I went straight out to the barn and traded out my red quilt for a cute pastel quilt that I bought a couple of years ago at my favorite second hand store for $4.00.  It is very spring like and I love it.
Once that was done, I switched my table cloth to something a bit more floral...

 

baked some homemade banana nut bread...

and put some lilies and painted eggs in my ironstone pitcher...

Look at the detail of the eggs.  Daisies, daffodils, clay pots, chicks and a purple bow tied at the base.  So, so pretty :) 

You knew the Easter Bunny had to be digging around somewhere didn't you?  Well, he is.  And, he's right here at my house!!!  I call him Peter, but don't tell anybody!!!  (Peter Cottontail to be exact)

He thinks my cling-on chicks and flowers are really cute...

I think they are really cute too.  However, it is the paper whites that I am forcing that keeps him most interested.  Because not only are they beautiful, but they smell absolutely heavenly.

Very soon (hopefully) we will be smelling flowers outside.  Until then, however, I will appreciate these.  Now, if you would, please excuse Peter and I - Peter wants to watch Miss Potter...

Google Image

Lucky for him...
I just happen to have it.
Have a wonderful night :)