Moving furniture and redecorating

 January seems to bring on the "need for change" here at Mourning Dove Cottage and every year around this time I find myself cleaning, organizing, and redecorating the house.

One simple change I made was add a tablecloth to the breakfast nook which now makes it feel more cozy. 

The bookcase that was once in the dining room was moved to the living room and is now by the front window with a lamp that I like to keep turned on low all day long.  A pretty antique lamp should be enjoyed, don't you think, and I like the warm glow it brings to the room.  The bookcase fits perfectly under the window and is filled with books along side the breakfront that is also filled with books.  So many books.....

The sideboard server now replaces the bookcase in the dining room corner. 

 I brought an old pine trunk from the bedroom and put it behind the sofa where the sideboard once was.    I'm not sure this will stay here, but for now that's where it is.

 So the moving of furniture might or might not continue, but I must thank hubby for all his help the past few days, and for putting up with my great ideas.  Change is good, I tell him. 

More "tweaking" to do and the decorating continues.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Whimsical garden lamps and bird feeders

I fell in love with these whimsical creations at first sight when I came across them at the NC State Fair last week. I don't know who the artist is, but the imagination and creativity is amazing. They were on display in the garden area.

It looks like they are made from recycled lamps and other found objects. The painting is very artistic and colorful.

Some of them have string lights inside.

If you look closely you can pick out certain items that were used and some pieces are turned upside down.

A marbled bowling ball (below) beside the lamp ~ unusual, clever and whimsical.

I think I might have to figure out how to make one of these for myself, or two or three. Yes, I know, a little restraint would be wise. But wouldn't a whimsical lamp be just beautiful tucked away in a secluded spot in the garden ~ or a small group of bright birdfeeders hanging under a tree. Oh, yes, I am definitely going to be thinking about this project.

Lights on

On gray rainy days I usually find myself turning lights on all over the house, how about you? Today is one of those days. I have lights on in the dining room, the living room, the kitchen, the study, the bedroom, the baths ~

good for the mood, but maybe not the electric bill.

The lamp in the photo below, Galen and I bought when we were first married. It's one of my favorite lamps.
 

Kitchen lights bring a warm glow from the red walls.

 This lamp (below) in the study is another one we bought early in our marriage at an antique shop.

This lamp was my grandmother's ~ I replaced the shade.


You can find night lights all over our house too! These lights stay on all the time. This little rose night light I found at Goodwill. I think I paid $2.00 for it.


Another Goodwill find. This one sits in our bedroom on top of the armoire.


There are night lights in the bathrooms.


The one below we got at auction years ago.

 

Would you believe, another Goodwill find! This one sits in the kitchen on top of the refrigerator.




And this little night light (below) which we have in the dining room, we bought on our 25th anniversary in Wilmington, NC at an antique shop.


Of course, lighting candles on a gray day helps the mood too, and it makes the whole house smell good...it also saves on the electric bill!