Well, the snow has hit the Midwest. I awoke to this and grabbed my camera. A view across the street. We are joining in with the East, I suppose. I don't need to watch the news, just blog to see what the weather is like all over. I am definitely going to take a walk today it's just so pretty out there. 
It's been a long time since I joined a party so I am linking to Beth's Mantel Party, as I finally got around to cleaning mine up this past weekend and fiddled around with ideas. I wanted something clean and white, but I must admit I am missing something floral up there. The candles and the glass look beautiful at night. but I have a hard time taking night shots so I don't have any pictures of that.
I am loving this pitcher from Farmhouse Wares but I don't know if the enamel is making it with the rest of the decor. I will play with that. I do love the white branches though, and keep them out year round. How about a glass vase instead of the pitcher?
This side has some different textures...I like the stone birds mixed up with the glass and mercury glass.
Hello, birds.
I am leaving up this simple wreath for awhile longer, it looks more wintery to me than holidayish. It also has cute little sparkles on it. 
The mercury glass is from Target and Hobby Lobby. 
More mercury glass and a candelabra I won at an auction. 
So...does it look too stark? I don't know if I am liking it. The wood of the fireplace is a warm pine, I have always dressed it up in warm colors. But it is fun to come up with new vignettes.
I hope everyone had a great weekend. We did not end up going out to eat Friday night as I had planned. When The Husband came home I realized I had a fire blazing away that I didn't want to leave unattended, so we just ordered Chinese food. Saturday night we tried a new Italian restaurant called Francesca...it was out of this world. I would have taken pictures but it was SO crowded, I felt a little foolish. We are definitely going back. Sunday I cleaned and did 1000 loads of laundry. It never ends. I have been so inspired by all you ladies that are cleaning and purging...I managed to clean out a few drawers and I am feeling pretty proud already. Next, my closets and clothes.
Well, the snow is still falling, I don't have to worry about being stocked up...that is the beauty of living in the city, I can walk to all my stores. By the way, the chandelier is not up yet, we had someone to do it and now we don't. I have to hire someone. I have all sorts of odd jobs around here so I thought I'd just get a handyman. Thanks for all the confidence you have in me to do it myself. You clearly don't know me!
I am joining Beth at The Stories Of A To Z and Marty at a Stroll Through Life for her Tabletop Tuesday Party. And now I am off to look at mantels and pretty displays! Have a good one! :-)
Oh...how can you take down a tree that is still this pretty and healthy? The light in my living room was just starting to fade as the snow is coming, so I thought I'd get a picture of Milo curled up in his favorite chair next to the tree having an afternoon snooze. And as we speak, the snow has started. I have heard that our house up at the lake is practically buried, with more snow to come tomorrow. I miss the lakehouse, we will have to go soon. I have enjoyed making my rounds this week, visiting my favorite blogs. Everyone is on such a roll with cleaning and organizing and projects. Whew...it's enough to inspire anyone. And when I curl up with my magazines in the evening, I read most of the same thing, tips on cleaning and organizing and projects. We ladies do think alike...it is almost like a cycle that goes on during the year, each month bringing on new goals and interests, marked by holidays and celebrations. I love being a part of it all. Projects in Blondie's future? Well I have the chandelier story that I left you with. You can go to my last post to see the picture of the God awful chandelier I have lived with for 25 years {otherwise known as "The Disco Ball"}. Well, I can keep a secret very well, I pride myself on that {it is probably why I make a good friend}. But I can't leave you hanging. The good news is I bought a new fixture with a gift card that I won to CSN from Life As Lori. It was for $65.00. So I found an iron chandy that matches the pedestal of my dining table and that has a bit of a rustic look to it, and you will never guess how much I paid. With my gift card...$9.07!!
Even though The Husband wasn't crazy about losing The Disco Ball, he was quite impressed with my win and the price I paid. I am however, having trouble finding someone to do the electrical and hang it. I wish they had taught some type of Home Management courses in law school. But I will share it with you when it is up and shining.My next project is to tackle the family room. It has been painted for months now and I was at a loss because the furniture in there was dictating the style of the space and I didn't want to work around that. It is a soft yellow and I want pretty white slip covered furniture and over time I will clutter everything up as I usually do, but in a neutral color scheme. So...my oldest son is getting his own place {his room mate is getting married this weekend} and I have offered him the furniture. Yay. Goodbye tweed sofa and chairs and glass tables. It is going to be so much fun to start from square one.
We have a quiet weekend planned, The Husband is working at home, but we are going out for a quiet dinner tonight. I go out so rarely and he is usually so tired in the evening, we really need some time to ourselves. I hope to make this a weekly thing. And I hope all of you have something fun planned for this weekend, please tell me it isn't cleaning! :-)
Well. it is Monday and the first official back to normal day since the holidays. Now is when I could really use a list of resolutions or even a To Do list. I feel a little lost without all the rush and buzz of the holidays...that destination point. I feel as if all I do now is turn corners and find myself in the same place. I'm doing laundry, cleaning out a few drawers, defrosting food for dinner, letting the dogs in and out...exciting stuff, eh? It is hard to get motivated to do more...I still feel like I could use a little rest after the past 4 weeks. So...does anyone else have the 'After Holiday Blahs'?
Last week I said I was going to stay away from the after Christmas sales, but once in my car I was magically driven to Target. I bought a new saute pan and replenished some of my candles and then my cart magically took me to the clearance section. Wow...I really thought there wouldn't be too much left but there was gobs of stuff. Wrapping paper, you can never go wrong with that and I am reaching for that sometimes before it is even out in the stores. Ornaments. 50% off. How do you like my owls and squirrels? Yes, my tree is still up. It is so darn healthy, I just can't imagine flinging it out to the curb. The branches have not even fallen. At this rate we may have it until spring. I am still loving the glow of the lights and seeing the pretty decorations here and there...I'm not ready for the starkness of January yet. 
I have been collecting mercury glass for awhile now and I have decided that I will leave some I use for Christmas out for the year. I found these faux pieces at Target for $1.50. So...I did what I said I wasn't going to do, but actually I had fun and that is what counts.
New Years Eve was a little quiet. We snacked a lot on cheese, sausage, assorted crackers and artisan bread and some fresh shrimp. I was falling asleep on the couch so I went to bed at 9:30, thinking I'd get up later, but it was more like 9:30 the next morning. Around here, people blow off fireworks at midnight and I never even heard that. I'm normally a fun person. Honest.
I am leaving you with a picture of our chandelier over the dining table. As you can see, it is in terrible shape. Only one light works. We have always called it the "Disco Ball", that is, everyone except for The Husband who bought it before we were married. Anyway, I have a story coming upfor you, hopefully soon.
Well, I am going back to my laundry. I hope all of you are up to something more invigorating. Have a great week! :-)
This looks like a picture from It's A Wonderful Life but it is really just my street taken in the early morning the other day. Today most of this has melted as we are nearing 50 degrees by tomorrow. Then it is going to slip back down and Old Man Winter will be blowing back in.
I have been enjoying the peacefulness of the past few days, I haven't really gone anywhere since Christmas Day. Nope, not even to hit one sale. I managed to clean out a lot of my Christmas bins before decorating and threw out or gave away some of the things that were falling apart or that we had outgrown. I feared shopping the sales would make me buy more Christmas things just for the great prices. That happens to me a lot. So...I have been trying to figure out what to do with myself. Is anyone else starting to feel cabin fever?
As I ramble on, I wonder what 2011 holds for me. I haven't made any serious resolutions, I don't like setting myself up for failure. I do have some goals, the usual and silly like lose weight and save more money, read and write in my journal more. But I have some aspirations. I want this to be the year I travel to Europe. It really just takes some serious planning and I'm good at planning our trips {I have a penchant for finding the nicest places to stay}. I am thinking that I'd like to visit England. See both London and the countryside. It seems like a safe place to start since we speak no foreign languages. And for a trip closer to home, I haven't seen much of the Southwest. I'd love to see New Mexico and some beautiful sunsets. Just dreaming here.
We have no big plans for New Years Eve. We have a bottle of champagne left over from Christmas Day brunch and I have a stockpile of cheese and sausages and sweets. I think I need a little whirlwind of activity today so I feel like hunkering down tomorrow night to watch the ball drop. Does anyone have any big plans?
Well, that's all I have to post about today. I think I will get dressed and head on out to see what the world has in store for me. I hope all of you have had a good week and I wish you a wonderful New Year!
Whew! What a whirlwind of activity it has been around here. Coming and going and eating and socializing...it never seemed to end. It has finally calmed down a bit, the girls are at the mall spending their gift certificates {as if they didn't get enough clothes, jewelry and perfume from Santa!}. I finally have some time to catch my breath and then it is back to trying to make sense of the chaos of my home. To me, it looks no different than it did when the kids were younger, really young. And Christmas morning resembled the same this year. Wrapping paper and boxes flying, shouts of happiness, son Jeff wheeling in a vintage Schwinn bike for The Husband to use at the Lakehouse {it is sitting in my den right now}, and lots of eating and making merry. We had a little brunch around 11:00 with an egg casserole I threw together and a hot buffalo chicken wing dish that Abby made. Santa was good to everyone, I received some decorating books, a new IPhone {still haven't completely figured out the Blackberry I got last year}, a gift certificate for a spa {I NEED that}, some jammies, perfume, goodies for the home from Marshall's and a whole lot of good stuff.
The Husband did surprisingly well with his last minute shopping on Christmas Eve. He was feeling a little bleary eyed after coming home from his office Christmas party at 2:30 a.m. the night before, but he made it through the throngs of shoppers and came home weighed down with packages. He was most proud of his trip to The American Indian Store downtown where he picked up these hand made hats for Emily, Abby and Mary Clare. Don't they look darling? Christmas morning is always fun...it brings out the child in us all.
I felt a little bad that I wasn't able to show you a lot of my Christmas decorations, and as I was walking into the family room the other night, I saw my little Christmas Village and thought I'd share that with you. Actually, it is Emily's village, I gave it to her after getting tired of setting it up. Do you know how many cords and light bulbs go into one of these things? 
I collected all of it in about a year, a piece or two every month, anxious to have a whole town. It's made by the artist Thomas Kinkaid. Emily had a blast fiddling with it. 
Isn't it precious? I love all the little people and dogs and trees...Christmas Day was spent with Mary Clare and her family. They were so gracious and welcoming to us. Since son Kevin and Mary Clare became engaged in September, we have all become the best of friends. Dinner was served at two long tables put together in the dining room, lit with candles and Christmas Carols in the background. Mary Clare and her sisters cooked all day {giving mom Peggy a nice break!} and served steak and lobster tail, mashed potatoes, gravy, fresh green beans and asparagus. What a feast. Afterward we played games and just had a wonderful time. On top of an evening with Papa's family and Christmas Eve with The Husband's side of the family, you can see why I am so tired {and stuffed}.
December was my month to win giveaways. I won a pretty collection of vintage ornaments, tinsel and mercury glass tea light holders from Melanie at Pretties And Posies. I used the ornaments to decorate my little stick tree. 
A very special gift which was not a giveaway, came from my good friend Julie Marie at Idyllhours. She was such a Godsend to me when my father was ill. Her comments and emails lifted my spirits and we actually spent some time talking on the phone. Knowing I was feeling down, she made arrangements to have this new book by Jo~Anne Coletti, The Feminine Home, sent to me. Above is a picture on Julie Marie's blog that is featured in the book. She is an incredible animal and nature lover and she took this gorgeous picture of wild roses growing along the path that she takes on her daily walks. 
I am sure you have seen the book around Blogland...it is beautiful. You can order one for yourself at Vintage Rose Collection. Thank you so much Julie Marie and Jo~Anne
I also won this gorgeous sachet from Rebecca of A Gathering Place. I just met Rebecca a few months ago after seeing her pretty face around Blogland. She is a real sweetheart. She has a shop that you must visit if you love all things pink and romantic. Thanks, Rebecca.
Isn't it beautiful?
It seems all things Christmas came to me late, including this magazine from Matthew Mead. I had such a great time going through it. It reads like a book. If you know me, you know I love to read books and magazines, and love pretty things, so I hold these treasures and sweet people close to my heart. Well, I've rambled long enough. I have won 2 more giveaways that I will tell you about in an upcoming post...as I've heard before, I should play the lottery this month. Here's wishing that all of you had a wonderful Christmas. I look forward to hearing all of your great stories! :-)
I want to thank everyone, from the bottom of my heart, who sent their warm condolences to me after the passing of my father. It has been a truly long week and although I feel a little numb, I still have the drive to make this a very Merry Christmas for my family. I had planned to downsize the decorating a bit this year anyway and that pretty much happened on it's own. Still, I'm pleased with how everything turned out.
This old pitcher started out with one branch filled with pine cones and berries. Soon I was stuffing it with anything festive that came along and needed a home. It sits on a runner that I made last year out of drop cloth and fabric paint. 
Our tree is weighed down with ornaments {The Husband did a great job picking out a perfect one at Home Depot, don't you think?}. I have to confess, I didn't decorate the back of the tree and only used about half of my ornaments. I also need to fiddle with my mantel a bit more...I took a nap after the funeral yesterday and when I woke up, Emily had cleaned the house and had packed away the rest of the decorations and all the boxes. So I need to scoot downstairs and see what I can come up with. 
During some downtime, I read a few blogs and stayed in touch just by skimming over some of the pretty holiday decorations. It was much better than reading or looking at any magazine. The inspiration is just incredible. And I am amazed by the talent so many of you women have. 
These little guys are new this year...I couldn't pass them up. The wind around just about anything with their arms and legs. My chairs are perfect for this. They really make me smile. 
Our holiday celebrations begin on the 23rd, when family comes in from out of town. This is when I will be needing all of the baking that I was supposed to be doing. And I have presents trickling in that I ordered online and I need to play catch up with the wrapping. These things don't feel like chores, if anything I have felt the need to grab the horse by the tail. These are special times and special days and we need to feel the love all around us as we prepare for this blessed day.
I have left out some things I wanted to show all of you because of the poor quality of lighting in my house today {we had tons of snow last night}. I hope to post that before Saturday. And I have received some wonderful gifts in the mail that I want to share, so I'll be back soon. Happy Holidays! :-)
My father passed away last night. Words cannot express my sorrow and grief. I wish I could pay tribute to him, but he was a very private and gentle soul and I wish to leave it that way. Your prayers are much appreciated.
Understandably, I will be taking a break, but I wish all of you, my friends, a happy and wonderful Christmas.
Well, the snow has hit the Midwest. I awoke to this and grabbed my camera. A view across the street. We are joining in with the East, I suppose. I don't need to watch the news, just blog to see what the weather is like all over. I am definitely going to take a walk today it's just so pretty out there. 
It's been a long time since I joined a party so I am linking to Beth's Mantel Party, as I finally got around to cleaning mine up this past weekend and fiddled around with ideas. I wanted something clean and white, but I must admit I am missing something floral up there. The candles and the glass look beautiful at night. but I have a hard time taking night shots so I don't have any pictures of that.
I am loving this pitcher from Farmhouse Wares but I don't know if the enamel is making it with the rest of the decor. I will play with that. I do love the white branches though, and keep them out year round. How about a glass vase instead of the pitcher?
This side has some different textures...I like the stone birds mixed up with the glass and mercury glass.
Hello, birds.
I am leaving up this simple wreath for awhile longer, it looks more wintery to me than holidayish. It also has cute little sparkles on it. 
The mercury glass is from Target and Hobby Lobby. 
More mercury glass and a candelabra I won at an auction. 
So...does it look too stark? I don't know if I am liking it. The wood of the fireplace is a warm pine, I have always dressed it up in warm colors. But it is fun to come up with new vignettes. 
