HIGHLIGHTS OF 2012 (PART 1)

Maybe this will be the year that I post more often.  Can you put up with my ramblings?  In the quiet days since Christmas, I have been visiting blogs and reading a lot about 2012 projects in review and some blogger's highlights of this past year.  So...I decided to do a Blondie Year In Review.  Wow, what an undertaking.  So many memories, so many pictures!  Of course I wanted to download everything, there were some occasions even I had forgotten.  Projects?  Not so many.  A project to me is going to the dry cleaners!  But I did have a few home improvement moments and in my true style, just a whole lot of randomness.  So...here we go!

January brings out the Cleaning Fairy in all of us and I did a number on our master bedroom.  I added a soft and cozy new quilt, a few toss pillows and a beautiful throw I received as a gift from son Kevin.  Simple. Easy. Done.

The Midwest had very much a mild winter, but I kept the comfort food coming and pretended to hunker down.  Here I made chicken soup from scratch following a recipe by Susan Branch.  It was delish!

The only good thing about February is that it is my birthday month!  The Husband and I headed downtown where I picked out my much dreamed about Kate Spade purse.  We then had dinner at Tavern On Rush and a few cocktails at the legendary Jilly's, which sadly has closed after decades of good times.

I was also really pleased to get my family room redone after almost a year of hemming and hawing over paint colors and furniture.  Sofa's with washable slipcovers and distressed furniture gave this room a bit of farmhouse feel.

March came in like a lamb and we spent a day at Navy Pier on Lake Michigan.

With Easter right around the corner I splurged on some linens at Pottery Barn.

And I did a little Easter tablescape.

Daughter Emily got a head start on creating some things for her 2013 wedding...here are some of the reception dinner table numbers covered in moss.  Fun project!

April brought Abby's 21st birthday.  Here she is on the right.

A Cinco de Mayo tablescape.

And another.  I think this was the year of tablescapes for me after Kathleen started her fun party.

Finally, a spring tablescape.

We made another trip to Asheville, N.C in April and I met up again with these lovely bloggers; Mary, Penny and Penny.  We had a wonderful lunch together.  I wonder if this year holds another trip.  The Husband sure loves his fly fishing there!

June found us back at the lakehouse where we spend a good part of the summer.  It's just the perfect little getaway for us and our days there are carefree!

Lots of time sitting at this table with family and friends, or just alone dreaming.

This is our beloved daisy garden that we thought would never bloom.  It did.  And did and did!  And, my first try at climbing roses.

The Husband has become an avid gardener over the years and though we had a few disagreements over our techniques, he helped me a lot and I learned to believe in some of his homemade concoctions after seeing our flowers and plants grow before my very eyes!

And of course we took some time to enjoy the outdoors here in Chicago. 

A little trip to the historic and great shopping town of Galena, Illinois came in June and we met up with fellow blogger Cindy and her husband Dan.

This is my dear friend Cindy, and this trip marked our 4th year in a row getting together.  Don't you just love meeting the people behind the words in Blogland?

And we can't forget the new love in The Husband's life, The Monster, or his newly acquired old fishing boat.  It was definitely an angling summer for him!

I took on a little project of myself while we were up there for 2 straight weeks and decided to change the paint color in the downstairs powder room from this...

...to this.  I don't know why I waited so long.  Oh, yes I do...I hate painting!  But I love how it came out.

So now you can see why I had to divide this post into two parts.  My walks down memory lane involve stopping to sniff each and every flower.  I really had fun going through my old posts, seeing how the seasons change, how we change.  And then how some things stay true and constant.  I'll be back in a few days to complete this.  In the meantime, have a ball celebrating the beginning of a new year!  We will be very low key here at home as usual.  I can't remember the last time we went out anywhere.  I just hope all those fireworks at midnite don't wake me up! lol!

See ya!

HO HO HO. IS IT REALLY OVER?

Ahhhh...I am finally taking a break!  Well, just a short one before I head to the grocery store for some REAL food!  I think I have been surviving on Christmas cookies for the last five days,  I hope Santa was good to all of you and that you found wonder and joy being surrounded by family and friends on this special day.  We had three different celebrations with different sides of the family in the days leading up to Christmas, but I'm starting with Christmas morning here at my home.  The Husband, Abby and I were up early to put the finishing touches on everything; presents stacked, a fire going and cinnamon rolls in the oven.

Pause here to look at a few things I decorated with that I never shared.  I wish you could see the sparkle on this wreath that I found at West Elm.

And a matching garland to hang over my kitchen window.

I jazzed up the island with more sparkle.  I LOVE sparkle!

So, on to Christmas morning and brunch.  Lots of sweets and mimosa's courtesy of soon to be SIL, Mike.  Then Emily and I made eggs and bacon and toast.

Emily and DIL, Mary Clare compare necklaces...

Abby and Mary Clare

And a little of the mingling going on after the gifts were unwrapped.

The Husband was feeling quite well and didn't miss any of the festivities!

Now we move on to the celebration with the O'Hara side of the family the night before Christmas Eve (we had dinner with The Husband's family on Christmas Eve).  Son Jeff, Megan and The Husband.

Abby loving it all!

All the kids exchanged gifts, as did the adults.

Mike holding up (yet again another) White Sox jersey.

I hope you didn't mind skimming through some of my pictures.  We all had a ball and I think I was able to catch a lot of it with my camera. 

After Christmas Day brunch, I spent the afternoon making a festive dinner.  I didn't want any help since this was the first dinner I have made in ages, as we usually celebrate where someone else is doing the cooking. :)  I had ordered a huge prime rib roast from the butcher.  He trimmed the fat and saved it for me as I was trying a new recipe.  Fresh herbs were patted on the roast and then strips of fat went over that.  It keeps the roast moist.  While that was in the oven I made mashed potatoes, Yorkshire pudding and asparagus with homemade Hollandaise sauce.  I had a recipe for Cheddar biscuits but forgot to get buttermilk so that was scratched.  I was a bit flustered that I took on so many first time ideas and also that Abby had to work at 7:00 (who goes to a bar on Christmas night?) and Jeff had plans as well (in fact he showed up at the pub Abby works at, so we now know who goes to bars on Christmas night!).  So...dinner was served on time at 6:00, everyone was happy and enjoyed it and of course, I forgot to take pictures of the table!  Needless to say, I was snuggled up in bed with a book by 9:00, just so happy and content and sort of relieved all the fussing this month was over!! 

I didn't get to rest long.  We were up bright and early and downtown the next day for The Husband's post op exam.  His doctor is the sweetest lady.  She was as happy as we were that he is doing so well!  His next appointment is in mid January and they will talk about when he can go back to work.  He is just now starting to work out of our home office.  

Well, that's all I have for now.  After this trip to the store and then heating up leftovers, I think I am going to put my PJ's on and stay that way for a few days! 

Warm wishes to all of you!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

It seems like it has taken forever to get to this point in the holiday season...you know, where the tree is full of ornaments, the house is decorated with treasures, gifts are wrapped and you actually have time to make all those cookies you planned to do ahead.  Good morning everyone!  It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here.  The big blizzard that was predicted seems to have missed us but it is bitterly cold and windy...not the best time to be out holiday shopping (if you still have some of that left, like me).  I'm going to share a little of the Christmas cheer going on in my home while I play catch up with you.

The Husband is home!  The doctor said 6-8 days and my guy was determined to get out of that place.  We would walk the halls with the IV pole dragging behind us...14 trips around the square of the hospital floor equaled 1 mile and The Husband did it 4 times a day!  So, he was sprung Sunday evening and since son Kevin was already there, he brought him home.  With those extra hours I ran around the house like crazy...sweeping, dusting, sanitizing.  Then a trip to the store for all the good things he could eat; oatmeal, Jello, ice cream, rice pudding, banana pudding...pudding, pudding, pudding!  I flew to the bank and deposited our Christmas allowance check and once the house was in order I sat and did my online shopping in about two hours.  I had wish lists for my girls and had already planned what I was going to get for the boys.  Everything else just fell into place.  Don't you just love that?

Of course it has been a crazy week.  I don't think I've gotten more than 4 hours of sleep a night.  Trying to sleep on the couch so I wouldn't disturb The Husband, making 4 small meals a day for him, giving him injections of the blood thinner (I think nursing was my true calling), trips to the drugstore and a lot of kisses and fluffing of the pillows!  He is however, up and about most of the day and he has made some small trips out,  like going for breakfast with the kids.  Today he is going Christmas shopping with Emily.  Other than picking up some weird habits like watching The Price Is Right and Judge Mathis, he seems quite normal!

I wished for an elf to help me and I got my wish with Abby.  Known for participating in preparation for Christmas by sitting on the couch eating candy canes, she really came through for me this year.  Every afternoon after Fed Ex and UPs made their deliveries, she would wrap the gifts, taking her time, making each package pretty with ribbons and bows.  I heard her murmur to herself one day, "I am SO good at this!".  When I got home from getting my hair highlighted yesterday, she had started to decorate the tree.  God love her!  So, today we are making a last minute run to Target and the  the grocery store and then it's home to make some rolled out cookies with the dough I froze. 

As always, everything looks a bit crowded in my tiny living room.  I can never go simple, with every bin I open I see reminders of Christmas' past and I have to find a place for each treasure.  Christmas may have come a little late for us this year but it didn't skimp!

So, I have another busy day ahead...they have been getting away from me and I'd be lost without the lists I make.  We have family parties Sunday night and  Christmas Eve and then a family brunch and dinner here on Christmas day.  We have SO much to celebrate this year!

I'll close today by thanking all of you again for the get well wishes for The Husband.  He is a real trooper.  And I want to wish all of you and your families a very Merry Christmas! :)

XO,

Jane

BLESSED

Thank you everyone for your prayers and good wishes...I think they worked!  The Husband made it through the three hour surgery with flying colors.  It was the longest and hardest day of my life.  We arrived at the hospital at 9: a.m. and I left at 10:00.  His surgeon was absolutely wonderful...coming into the surgery waiting room to tell us how everything went.  Thankfully when we saw him in recovery 5 hours later he was pretty much pain free as he had a numbing epidural and pain meds.  He had the energy to hug and kiss all of us shortly before son Kevin nearly fainted and had to sit behind the nurses counter with his head down.  He has always been the sensitive teddy bear in our family!

By the way, these pictures were taken outside the hospital and gift shop where I would go to get fresh air.  I can't tell you how many Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts coffees I have consumed, nor the sweets I devoured from Au Bon Pain.  Great stress relievers!

The day after the surgery, The Husband was sitting in a chair and walking the halls.  He is adamant about getting strong and being sprung!  He never complains, and I mean NEVER!  He is amazing.  Tomorrow he gets to start eating soft foods.  He has had nothing to eat or drink since Monday night.  He may get out on Sunday, but most likely Monday.

The days are long but I am a pro at sleeping just about anywhere, especially straight up in a chair as I did a lot of this week!  The drive is unnerving to say the least, driving around in Chicago is a piece of cake, it's basically a grid, but getting in and out is crazy.  I really had to put on my big girl pants.  Stepping out of my comfort zone has been exhilarating!

Well, I just wanted to bring all of you up to date.  And I'll close by saying that I prayed and prayed for a few miracles and my prayers were answered.  Today is out 26th wedding anniversary.  I have never felt so blessed that I met this incredible man to spend my life with!

Thank you again for being such a great group of friends.  By the way...is there a holiday coming up? :)

'TIS THE SEASON!

Hi everybody!  I hope you are all enjoying the holiday season!  It's just two weeks until Christmas and believe it or not...I'm actually calm.  I finally sat down and made a list of all the gifts I have to buy, all the recipes I want to bake, all the things I need for Christmas dinner, and all the parties we have to go to.  Do I feel better?  Yes, there is something very satisfying about a list (although I'm prone to losing them!).  Even more satifying to cross things off!  I'm doing pretty good.  Remember that Banana Nut Pound Cake recipe I showed you last week?  This is it.  Note the little measuring spoons that say kisses, hugs, joy, etc.

It doesn't look as pretty as the one in the picture because they used a bundt pan and I couldn't find mine.  It may have been tossed out when we redid the kitchen last year.  I used a spring form pan and it came out perfect and delicious.  I've made some cookie dough to stash in the freezer and next I want to make salt dough ornaments...I've never tried that but they are SO darling.  Anywho, if you want to try this cake you can find it on BHG.com. under December recipes.  By the way, I received my January issue of BHG and it as dismal as the month sounds.  Very thin, as if they are even having problems finding anything of interest in January to write about.  Oh, except for organizing.  I have spent the last few weeks organizing in getting ready for the holidays.  Why would I wait...especially if I have guests that might decide to take a peek in the medicine cabinet?

No decorating yet, but I did pack up the fall stuff and saw this hurricane in my laundry room and brought it up.  It's about the only festive thing I have out right now.  Emily left for Aruba last night and I realized how I've come to depend on her to help me decorate (she's an interior designer).   She always has new and fresh ideas and she works fast and efficiently, while I sort of stand there and ponder where I'll put what.  She emailed me from the airport...I'm homesick already!

Well, I promised I would show you my orange garland.  This is how I strung the slices so they wouldn't turn sideways.

I just eyeballed how far apart I wanted them.

I hung a stand in the kitchen window.  I think I am going to attach an evergreen garland behind it to jazz it up and make it better able to see.  I really liked doing this.  It smells delicious and I thought limes might be nice, too, keeping with Christmas colors!

And here's a peek of it in the morning.  It's cute.

The Husband and I got up very early this morning and found our Christmas tree.  No elves there this year, maybe they only come out at night.  This is a Douglas FIRbanks, Jr.   I skipped AWhreatha Franklin because they were $30.00, half the price of the tree!  I have seen enough tutorials on how to make a wreath and now I am more determined than ever.  We're letting the branches drop before we put on the lights and ornaments.  Then I will spiff up the house in all my holiday colors.

And on the wedding front, Emily found her wedding shoes.  They are beautiful!  It's hard to see how these crystals really sparkle.  Her dress is in and she's going to go for the fitting in January.  She has her jewelry and recently registered at Macy's and Crate & Barrel.  I had a blast helping her!

On a serious note, The Husband is having his surgery tomorrow.  He'll be in the hospital for at least a week.  I really thought I was ready for this but yesterday I was really down...worried, scared, depressed and anxious all at once.  It really hit me that I was going to see him in pain for the first time in our lives.  That I would be with him all day and come home at night alone.  Life is so filled with curve balls.  Today I resolved to be strong, positive and purposeful.  He has been fasting for 24 hours already and the surgery isn't until noon tomorrow.  I feel so bad for him.  Yesterday I made a huge Sunday dinner for him and baked cookies.  Your prayers would be so appreciated.

Well, I have to go now.  I might bring my laptop to the hospital if possible but if I don't you know why I haven't visited.  I can keep track of comments and emails on my phone.  I've loaded up my Nook with new books and magazines and when he has visitors I can sneak off to Michigan Ave. 2 blocks away to Christmas shop.  Now, be good elves and enjoy the spirit of Christmas!  :)

SEE JANE RUN

I have been gone a long time!  So long in fact that I can't remember exactly what I have been doing with myself!  A little of this, that and the other, I guess.  I am totally wrapped up in Christmas if you call looking in magazines and at blogs for inspiration as part of holiday preparation!  Have you seen any of the Christmas Home Tours yet?  I have been following along with Jennifer Rizzo's blog, she features 3-4 blogs a day and I can't even begin to say how original and festive and pretty these homes look dressed up for Christmas.  Have a look when you have time.  So now you know what I've been doing!!

It wouldn't be a complete post from me if I didn't show you what is going on with the lakehouse plants here for the winter.  The rose tree is blooming like mad!  It didn't bloom this much in the summer!

Very pretty and a nice pick me up every morning when I see it.  If these plants didn't take up so much space I would leave them here year round!

I've had a few projects going on and a few more I want to do so I started with this one yesterday.  I believe it is a Martha Stewart project but I don't remember the blogger who featured it.  Please let me know if it was you and I'll make a link.  Anyway, I sliced up two naval oranges very thinly...

...put them on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and sprinkled them generously with powdered sugar.  Then bake them in the oven at 200 degrees for about 3 hours.  Flip them once halfway.  I didn't flip mine so I am letting them just sit out to dry another day or two.  Then, you string them up like a garland on ribbon, jute string, baker's twine, or whatever your heart desires.  I will finish up today and post a picture.  I have been so behind on posting, I just thought I'd give you a sneak peek.

I have been tearing out page after page of recipes from magazines and this one is a Banana Nut Pound Cake from BHG.  As you can see, the banana's are VERY ripe and begging for me to mix them up with some flour and sugar!  Like yesterday!  So that's on the agenda for today.  I'm also mixing up some dough for cookies, according to Ina Garten, you can freeze the dough, but don't freeze the cookies.  In one of my magazines I found recipes for three different kinds of dough; sugar cookie, shortbread and oatmeal.  And then there were about ten different cookie recipes with a few additions to each base.  I thought that was very clever!

We are having Christmas dinner here at our home this year.  I can't remember the last time we did that, it's always been at a relatives home and to be honest, I miss doing it here.  So...I am going to order a standing beef rib roast from my butcher and add some special side dishes with hope that they will become new traditions.  Thanksgiving Day was right out of a Woody Allen movie here.  All the men were up in arms when they found out we were putting sour cream in the potatoes (we always have), and onion in the dressing (we always have).  And after 26 years of marriage, The Husband announced to me, "I really don't like those little green balls."  Meaning Brussels sprouts.  I make them every year and he is just now telling me!

As for the title of my post...if you don't mind me tooting my horn a little, you know that I have been going to the gym, I'm on my fifth week.  I do 20 minutes of strength training and then I walk 2 miles around the indoor track.  I really enjoy the walking, even though it's not outside.  There are no distractions and my mind just wanders.  I'm not solving the problems of the world, but I get a lot of heavy thinking done.  Well, I've been wanting to get stronger so that I could start running.  So last week I was walking and I thought, now or never.  I looked behind me and there was no one there so I took off!  Yes, I'm running!  This middle aged lady is running like she is fourteen again!  And I love it!  Now...I'm not doing miles, not even a full lap, just running a few minutes and then walking, then repeating.  I feel so...ALIVE!!  I don't know if running is considered a sport, but there is a quote written on the wall of the gym that says, "Sports not only build character...they reveal it".  I love that.

We are getting our Christmas tree next week and we will get it up and put the lights on.  Then I like to let the branches fall for a few days before adding the ornaments.  Emily set up the Christmas Village in the family room and we stacked all the boxes of ornaments and decorations at the bottom of the stairs to bring up when we are ready.  She will be in Aruba with her fiance all next week and I love having her help, she is so creative!  Abby has her school finals and Kevin has his last week of work since it's seasonal at the golf club.  They can all help.  I have started doing a bit of online shopping and will hit the stores downtown next week.  Chicago is so pretty at Christmas time!

Now, I have a zillion things to do today and you can bet I'll be stringing up those oranges!  I hope all of you are having a great week.  Keep posting those pretty Christmas decorations! :-)

I'm joining Claudia at Mockingbird Hill Cottage for her Favorite Things Party!