MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE ! ! ! !

I was standing out on the back deck the other day and found myself really appreciating where I am. It truly is quite beautiful. Fortunately, I do like the cold (actually enjoy it as a matter of fact). While in Florida, it was the one thing that was missing for me, especially around Christmas. I tried to get in the spirit while there by spending hundreds of dollars on lights to try to "brighten up" the holidays; but it's just not the same as a beautiful blanket of glittering snow. The wonder of seeing the ominous dark clouds in late afternoon and then awakening to the pristine covering of cottony snow, so gorgeous you don't even want to make foot prints in it for fear that the moment will end. Then...the kid in me comes to the surface and I can't wait to get out there with the dog and the baby and flop around trying to make the ever elusive snow angel without the tell tale hand print of the extra effort caused by age and weight as I try to get up from the flopping. And then there are the dog and child taking wild leaps at me as I try to make the perfect angel, so basically, we end up in a big heap, finally get up, and it all starts again.

First SNOW !!!, redecorating projects, and fun

The baby went to bed a bit earlier than normal, so I'm not in a sleepy, lazy, cozy wanna do nothing mode which has been the norm lately. It is part of the best things about having a little one, after you finally get them into a "routine". Toddlers are on the move pretty much all day, but, for mine, bedtime is a comfort to both of us; we snuggle into the big rocking chair with the white noise from a box fan in the hallway (thank you Sandra), read a few books and sing a few songs. I think it is just the down time we both need after the hectic, roller coaster ride being home with a toddler is. Enough already !!!

WE GOT OUR FIRST !!!!! SNOW Saturday. It was such a nice surprise. Snow is one of the things I really, really missed being down south, but I think we're in for a doozie of a winter this year. Like they say, be careful what you wish for...


Also, been working on some redecorating projects. Mainly just painting walls, but making the house "ours" as they say. So, doing a little experimenting with colors, we'll see what the final result is like; I have found that colors really fascinate me and with peri-menapause stuff happening Lord knows how things will turn out.

The flash on the camera makes this wall look baby blue, but it is a blue green with grey undertones - going for a more classic Victorianish look. Only painted this one wall in the living room the rest of the living room is off white.

New taffeta valences over windows. Deep burgundy that can look almost black with some gold crosshatch and dingle balls. I'll provide a more close up view some other time. I think the pink dolly stroller really adds the finishing touch to the look I'm going for though.

I also found this window scarf thing that I fell in love with to go over the trim work of the sliding doors that lead to the sun porch. The door was really bothering me, mainly because it just takes soooo much away from the room. The sliders will eventually be changed out to french doors, but until then, this is what I came up with.

And finally, the fun part...taking "Giraffy" for a naked tricycle ride through the house !!!!!!

I Had A Thought

I have decided that I do a bunch of wallowing in self pity (for lack of a better word) and I need to make some more positive changes to my life. One of the things I've come to realize (while reading an article in Readers' Digest of all places) is that I express very little gratitude and thankfulness. Now, according to this article, there have been studies done about being thankful and these studies have shown that people who exercise this habit seem to be happier, better adjusted, and healthier. Soooo...I have made a pledge to myself to express my gratitude; don't worry, I won't be regaling everyone with wishy washy, tweet tweet tweet, sappy stuff all the time, just occasionally. I figure if I can find three things a day to be thankful for, I'll be doing great. If I'm having a bad day, I'll go on a gratitude walk and be thankful for every step I'm able to take.
Here goes:
1) I thank God for the true friendships I have. Each one is special and unique in it's own right, but I treasure them equally.
2) I'm thankful for my continued growth as a person and spiritually.
3) And finally for today, I'm thankful for all the support and love my family gives me.
Have a great day everyone!!!

Happy Halloween

The long awaited for day arrived. We have had the costume that Caroline picked out hanging in the closet since it seems like April (I know it wasn't that early, but come on Christmas stuff has been on the shelves at the stores for a month) So with the addition of a boa and a purse, she is ready to go out trick or treating at 4:30. People weren't even home from work yet and when it came down to it, it wasn't the candy, I think it was the dressing up and walking around the neighborhood and seeing other kids that had her going. Now the day had started out pretty normal and I hadn't mentioned dressing up or candy, but there must have been a vibe in the air, cuz there was no nap or even a semblance of one and by 5:00 it was melt down time, crying, her costume hurt, didn't want the hat on, etc. Back home we went to hand out candy to other kids with Caroline helping and all was well. We had some tea on the front porch to keep warm and she fell asleep handing out candy at about 7:15. Whew, her first real Halloween over. I find myself already planning for next year. My plan after last year's holidays was to get out the day after each one and hit the decorations sales, so that's the plan for today.


The Princess getting ready to attend to the awaiting masses.

Speaking to the masses from the front porch.

Off to get some candy and mingle with the masses.

Pumpkin Carving and Working on My Happy Place

A friend's daughter voiced a love of carving pumpkins and since I had 4 needing to be carved and a two year old, I willingly agreed to have her help. She did a great job on them and took care of the two biggest. As you can see Caroline is busy tasting everything and it got to the point of her tossing the pumpkin guts around the kitchen; but we got it done and had fun at the same time.

I started working on my sun room again. Basically I'm trying to make this area of the house mine, where I can go and get away from all and to needlework, read, listen to my music, or generally just space out looking at the sky. It has been primed since we moved in about a year ago and has SLOWLY transformed into what it is now. The most recent change is painting the lower area below the windows an antique gold/yellow (mustard) and hanging swags to try to cover the ugly framing of the ugly windows. I like the idea of the swags but I'm not sure if it's the wrong material or if I should paint the window trim white like the rest of the walls (I don't think the antique mustard would be good because of the shelf being white and things maybe being too chopped up looking if I did it) Let me know what y'all think...PLEASE !!!! Also, as a reference regarding pre mustard paint, check out some of the most recent pictures of Caroline, I think you can get an idea of what it looked like.

After paint, looking from living room into sun room.

Same, but different angle

Had to show off the pumpkins.

Here's Some More

Finally got some pony tails in...lasted about 10 minutes.

A 16" cucumber, she ate the whole thing.

Being sassy at "Eagle lookout" (didn't want her picture taken)

Decides it's OK to have picture taken and is totally hamming it up.

Hamming #2
Hamming #3
Hamming #4

Playing in the raked leaf piles
Brett and Lili helping Caroline fill "scary" pumpkin head bags.

This is the end result of an extremely energetic toddler walking nearly all of a two mile hike.

A Month In Review

We went to FL and GA to visit family and had a wonderful time. All the pictures from the trip are in limbo somewhere in computer land. There were some great ones of Caroline playing with various reptilian type animals (snakes, alligators, and turtles, oh my). Anyway, the following is a pictorial review of the past month.

Reservoir from what I call "Eagle lookout" cuz I've seen eagles while there (beginning of Oct)


"Eagle lookout" different view (beg. Oct)


"Eagle lookout" (beg. Oct)

Pasture at trail head of Mary Edwards Trail on Mountain Rd looking towards Mt. Tom

Looking from the Mary Edwards trail towards the big maple in the middle of the pasture.

"Eagle lookout" again later a couple of days ago (overcast day, but can still see colors)

Today on the way home from the grocery store. I missed an amazing shot on my way there. I was coming down a hill and the sun exploded onto the trees on my left just slightly in front of me and no where else. The sky surrounding this light pocket was still overcast with dark storm laden clouds.

This is the intersection at the bottom of Mt. Rd. I thought the old barn surrounded by color was nice. On a better day, probably better, but oh well.