Twinkle lights

Hello my friends, how are you?  We finally have a clear day today after lots of rain, but still very overcast and gray.  I have been feeling the need to get out in the garden and do something, even if it's just pulling weeds.  Does the garden ever call to you?  Galen thinks I'm crazy, but I find it very rewarding and therapeutic.  

I decided to restring twinkle lights outside in the jasmine over the back porch.  The lights will usually last about six months so I only have to replace them twice a year.  They went out two nights ago.  

I twist the lights through the vines starting at the bottom, taking them up and over the porch door and ending near the pergola.  It makes the prettiest light at night.  No matter how dark it is you can always see without turning a harsh overhead light on.  The twinkle lights create a nice ambiance.  

Lights are done....now maybe I'll go pull those weeds.    

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.  

Dragon flies and pretty colors

Let me show you my dragon fly lights.  I picked these up last week at our new Hobby Lobby....yes, our new Hobby Lobby.  I was really happy when I heard they were coming to town. 




The dragon fly lights are now hanging in the jasmine vine over the back porch.  I like the soft lighting at night when it starts getting dark.  A nice ambience.  


And how about these gorgeous colors and prints.  Aren't they pretty?  It's stationery.  If you know me, I can never have enough stationery.  Seems I'm always sending notes to someone or another.  

So, Yay for Hobby Lobby!  Not only do they have great craft and art supplies, but also  fabric and wonderful decorative items.  
So happy they came to town.   
   

Sparkling crystal

I have always loved crystal. Something about the way the light makes it sparkle.

Whenever I see crystal baubles in antique shops or flea markets I will usually pick a few up and bring them home with me.

Here's an idea for you if you have one of those ...umhum...ugly overhead light fixtures on your ceiling. Add some crystals! The photo below is taken of the ceiling light in our bedroom. I've used an assortment of crystals and will add more as I get them. Gives it the look of a chandelier.

Grrrrrrrrrr........

I feel the need to vent today.




I just spent most of the morning trying to find two light bulbs. Two simple ordinary light bulbs that used to be so easy to pick up anywhere. HA!

Not anymore.


There are so many different kinds now.....

incandescent, fluorescent, compact fluorescent, LED, halogen, energy savers.......

warm light, daylight, real light, cool light.....

and the shapes.....so strange and so ugly! I don't even know what some of them are used for.

I was so frustrated after trying three different stores just to find a light bulb for my living room lamp. An incandescent 3-way is what I wanted (and oh, yes, this one is being phased out) which is really upsetting because it's the only kind I can really see to read by.

Then I find out the under the counter fluorescent light bulb in my kitchen no longer comes in warm light (well, I was told it could be ordered but that would take up to 2 weeks) and so I had to settle for a cool light which I absolutely hate.

Does anybody else have issues with light bulbs???

Life used to be so simple.

Pardon me for venting...

(I really don't get upset about too many things.)

Cheery cherries

What's not to love about cherries.

I was in the Big Lots store the other day and found these fun cherry lights.

I like to string lights on the back patio next to the screened in porch. It's just enough light in the evening to add a little whimsy to the atmosphere.

Usually, I use clear christmas lights but they're hard to find in the middle of summer,

so I was thrilled to find these fun red cherry lights!

Little clusters of cherries hanging on a vine.

Whimsical and fun

and so pretty at night!

Enjoy your day!

Donna

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!