Is anyone else tired of this crazy winter weather?

Looking out the window right now, the snow is coming down fast and furious.  We've had warnings to stay inside and off the roads because of icy conditions today.  This is North Carolina.  Crazy, crazy weather.  Yes, I know it's crazy everywhere, all over the US.  

So, what do we do while being confined to the house?  

How about sitting by a nice warm fire, reading to your hearts delight.  That's what I've been doing.  Catching up on some old Belva Plain books.  

And drawing in my sketch book.  
These birds will eventually end up on note cards in my etsy shop.  Next comes the paint.    

I hope you're enjoying whatever it is you're doing today!  

And I am wishing and wishing for warmer weather to hurry up and come soon!

A little "me time"...

.....with my morning coffee, my favorite magazines and a good book.  What could be better, especially on a rainy, gray Saturday morning but to curl up on the sofa and enjoy what makes you happy.  

My Victoria magazine came yesterday in the mail and I saved it for this morning anxiously awaiting what was in those pages once I turned the cover, and The English Home magazine is one that I read over and over again and never tire of.  
The book I am currently reading is "After the Fire" by Belva Plain, really good.  I found this one at our local library for $1.00.  

So don't forget to have yourself a little "me time" every now and then 
with whatever makes you happy!

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!

Hello, my friends

I just finished reading two good books.  The Magic Apple Tree was one that a blogger friend, Cherry Menlove, recommended on her blog, and the other one I found at the library a few weeks ago for 50 cents.  

With all the painting projects and the upkeep in the garden, not to mention helping my brother and sister-in-law move to a new home, it's been difficult to find time to read, but oh so relaxing when I do.  How about you.  Have you read any good books lately?  

Thursday I have my follow up appointment at the UNC Cancer Center in Chapel Hill.  It's just a routine checkup to make sure everything is going well with me.  It seems to be....I've been feeling great, and I also feel so blessed to be getting my life back.   

Enjoy your day!  

Winter, in this heat??

It's 100 plus degrees outside and hotter than all blazes, 

so, yes, I am cooling off today inside and reading the most wonderful book... 

 "A Week in Winter" by Marcia Willett.  

It takes place in England and the Cotswalds and it's all about an enchanting old country house called "Mooregate".  

It's the kind of book that makes you want to curl up on the sofa and enjoy a cup of tea, 

or in my case a cup of coffee....yes, even on a hot day like today.  

I found this book at our local library for $1.00.  

Love a bargain!

Hope you're staying cool!  

Back porch reading

This morning was the perfect morning to grab my cup of coffee and my book and magazine, and head to the back porch.

The cool breeze was delightful and the early morning sun was peeking through the trees.

The book I'm reading is Barbara Delinsky's "Lake News". I picked it up at a thrift store, thought it sounded interesting, and now I can't seem to put it down.

And my October (wow, October already) issue of The English Home magazine came this past week.

This is my favorite magazine. So I will sit and enjoy each and every page...

on the back porch.

Hope you're enjoying your day!

Donna

What are you reading?

I just finished the book, "The French Gardner". What a great story. If you enjoy Maeve Binchy and Rosamunde Pilcher, you will enjoy this book.

I'm on to my next book, "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett. I can't put it down!

Enjoy your day!

A really good book

The Olive Farm, A Memoir of Life, Love, and Olive Oil in the South of France.

This book was recommended to me by one of you dear bloggers and I'm sorry but I don't remember who it was, but thank you! It's the first one in a series by author, Carol Drinkwater, and I was told to read them in this order ~ The Olive Farm, The Olive Season, The Olive Harvest, The Illustrated Olive Farm, and The Olive Route.

If you've ever read Peter Mayles, A Year in Provence, or Frances Mayes, Under the Tuscan Sun, you will enjoy this one too.

Happy reading!!