Winter nesting

 

 

Being a spring and summer kind of person, it's hard for me to get through the winter time.  Today is cold, rainy and dreary, as it has been for awhile.  I push ahead on days like this.  Feeling confined to the house, my nesting gene will usually kick in.  A little decorating, maybe rearranging my dish cupboard, watering my house plants, or baking a pie. 

 

 

 

 

Hubby and I have an ongoing scrabble game, a puzzle on the dining room table, and lots of books to read, not to mention time spent on the computer ~  Pinterest can be addicting as I check out all the home décor, gardening ideas and recipes. 

 

 

 

  Napping is a part of winter time nesting, too.  At least Otis thinks so. 

 

Looking forward to spring, how about you? 

 

 

Christmas

Christmas will soon be upon us, my friends.  There is a flurry of activity at our house as we get ready for the holiday.  What a joy to spend time with family ~ and this year, our daughter, Amy, from NY, and Bruno and the two grandchildren, Esmé and Felix will be coming south!   We don't see them very often, so this is a real treat.  And, of course, our oldest daughter, Jen, and Rob, and granddaughter Maddie, will also be here.  I couldn't ask for more!  

Our tree is decorated, most of the shopping is done, and gifts are wrapped.  The stockings are hung..... one for Esmé, one for Felix, one for Maddie, and one for Otis.  
That gives me time for cookie baking and a few more decorations here and there.  

This time of year I like to cozy up by a warm fire with a cup of hot chocolate and enjoy the the pretty lights of our Christmas tree before the celebration.  

I hope all of you have a wonderful and joyous holiday!  And as we go about our activities and preparations, let us not forget the really true meaning of Christmas.  

  

Fluffing the pillows and decorating the bedroom

While I was cleaning the bedroom this morning I decided to make a few decorating changes. New pictures, different pillows on the bed and a few other things.    

  

 I replaced cream colored pillows with these flowered pillows.  I made the pillows myself a few years ago ~ loved the fabric.  

I now use this pink beaded votive candle holder for some of my rings and other small pieces of jewelry.  

I hung the painting that I painted of the old garden table, on the one wall beside the bed.  

This small antique jewelry box sits on the window sill.    

I hung another painting (one that my daughter painted) in this corner above the old pine blanket chest.  

A soft throw on the bed and the room is finished.  It feels warm and summery now!    

Hanging antique plates in the dining room

I finally hung plates over the buffet mirror in the dining room.  For the past few months I have been traipsing around antique and thrift stores trying to find something to hang.  At first I wanted all white, but I think these will do nicely.  

All three are about the same size.  

I like how they look.  Gives the room an English Cottage feel.  Just what I was going for.  

Enjoy your day!  

Gray day, and some spring inspiration

It's cold and rainy and gray here today.  

Is it any wonder why I have almost every light on in the house!  

Yesterday was a warm and sunny beautiful day for January, and I found myself in the garden transplanting some strawberries to a new bed.  I have to remind myself it is still the middle of winter and to be patient.    

  

I found some lovely spring ideas on Pinterest.  Makes me feel better just looking at them.  
I hope you enjoy them too!  A little spring inspiration.  

Drapes in the study/art room/computer room

....or maybe I should call it the multipurpose room, but we really do call it the study, and now it has some new drapes.  

I got these fabulous drapes from my sister.  A deep burgandy velvet with a beautiful fringe trim.  

They make the room feel cozy and warm (and you're thinking cozy and warm when it's 100 degrees outside, I must be crazy), but it's a nice room to retreat to in the cool air conditioning to paint, or read a book, or work on the computer.  

It's fun to change out window dressings, and the nice thing about these, they didn't cost me anything!