Thankful Thursday

Until I was without my usual cup of coffee for two mornings this week I never appreciated just how much that cup of hot coffee in the morning meant to me.


So I am thankful for a jar
full of coffee beans to grind, my cheerful red coffee pot that always lifts my spirits in the morning. and especially that hot cup of coffee first thing in the morning.


What are you thankful for?

Go on over and visit Rhondi at
@ Rosecolored Glasses and visit other bloggers who are participating in Thankful Thursday.

Should, and Would, If I Could

Usually this is the time of year I hunker down in my sewing room and work on the quilts I have started or try to finish one. I promised myself I would make a quilt for all seven of my granddaughters before I couldn't see anymore.

Well this year I haven't done a thing. Not sewed one stitch. I wouldn't want anyone to think I was spending my free time visiting my blogging friends. Well maybe.

See my machine is all set up and waiting for me.

This Sunbonnet Sue is pinned and ready to quilt.

Isn't she so cute and old fashioned.

I have another quilt started that is much more contemporary. Pieced in hot colors and blacks. The centers of the blocks are dogs and cats.

I still need to piece a couple of more rows for this one.

I really do want to quilt but you see I have a slight problem. My sewing room is full of kitchen cabinets that I am painting. I usually paint in the garage but it is waaaay to cold.

No, I am not redoing my kitchen. My husband is doing a good deed for a young single mother at our church. Since he has no paying remodeling jobs he is helping her out by donating his labor. She is on a very tight budget so we bought unfinished cabinets and I am painting them white for her.

So I should be quilting before Spring comes and I won't have time, and would quilt if I could get in my sewing room. Meanwhile I guess I will just have have to go visit my blog friends.

Yesterday and Tomorrow

This week we celebrated the life of my hubby's last living aunt and placed her in the Lord's care. His Auntie was a twin and I posted about the other sister on 8/25/2009. If you would like to go back and read the post I am sure you would enjoy reading about what feisty women they were and always a lady.

When Auntie M turned 98 on February 5 th of this year we asked her why she thought she lived so long. She told us, "You have to eat healthy, live it up everyday of your life, and eat strawberries and ice cream every night before you go to bed." Not bad advice do you think?

She left us on Valentine's Day with a world full of loving memories.


I think for my hubby and his three cousins it was quite a stark realization that now they are the oldest generation.


L to R: my hubby, cousin A, cousin J, and cousin B.

My husband is the only one who has any siblings. The other three cousins were all only children.






So we are left with our memories of yesterday and our dreams for tomorrow. So hope you all eat healthy, live it up as if every day was your last, and always, always have strawberries and ice cream before you go to bed. Cause I think Auntie knew best!

This Time Last Year

Last year at this time I was enjoying tropical breezes, blue skies, and the most gorgeous water I have ever seen.

My hubby comes from a blended family. He had 2 sister and 1 brother. His dad married a lady with 2 girls and 2 boy and they had a boy and a girl. So then there were 10. Last February they decided that as many of them as possible would go on a cruise. And we did! Four brothers and three of the sisters plus spouses and some of our nieces and nephews.

This is L to R my husband's little brother and wife from CA, myself and my hubby taking a small boat into Jamaica.













From L to R, my husband's brother, his sister, another brother sticking his head into the picture, my hubby, and his CA brother. All the brothers and sister live in Kansas City except the
one brother from CA. Guess I should mention my hubby is the eldest sibling.











We had so much fun on formal nights. From L to R, me, SIL, fiance of hubby's little sister, they are getting married in August, and another SIL all prettied up for dinner.



It's been a wonderful day ashore and we have to go back to the ship where another delightful dinner awaits us.

Gee what am I doing here gazing out the window at dirty snow banks and a thermometer that says 28 degrees.

Well at least I have my memories.

Happy Cupid's Day

Just wanted to pop in and wish everyone a Happy Valentine's Day. We have been so busy I can't find time to blog.

On Friday night we went to a Valentine's Day Dance at the Moose Lodge. Saturday we went to a basket ball tournament for one granddaughter and spent Friday, Saturday and Sunday of last weekend at basketball for another granddaughter. Today we attended a gymnastics meet for another granddaughter.

So I hope your Valentine's Day was filled with all the things your heart desired.

Here's wishing you a bouquet of joy as you celebrate this day of love.

Happy Valentine's Day.

Cozy Corner

Do you have a cozy chair where you like to hang out and read or watch TV? This is my favorite chair in a corner of the living room where I read and bird watch.

About the only TV I used to watch was HGTV and I stopped doing that as they not longer focus on decorating shows. I came to the conclusion if I have to watch one more house hunting show I would scream.

However, I am an avid reader and often read more than one book at a time. Am I the only one who starts more than one book? Sometimes the book I am reading just doesn't fit my mood or may not move fast enough. I used to finish every book I started because I felt if a person had enough talent to get a book published it must have some merit. But I decided several years ago I don't have many years left to read so I am going to read just the books I really enjoy.

This is the side table where I pile the books I am reading. It is a vintage luggage stand that I have place a watercolor picture on to make a top. If I get tired of the top I just look for another picture.

In front of my chair is a foot stool where I place my hot tea.

This is a stack of vintage suitcases I use to store my books and magazines. I have a dog who thinks anything paper is fair game as a chew toy. Which means I have bought more than one book from the library.

Hope you have a favorite chair where you can read and dream.

Wishin and a Hopin and a Dreamin

My angel and I had been a wishin, and a hopin, and a dreamin of sunny days and warmer weather.

But instead we have more white fluffy stuff. So we are just going to enjoy the beauty of the day.

I do have a snowball bush to enjoy.

The water feature on the back porch is an icy delight.

So I have heard of ice fishing but this is ridiculous
..

Wish someone had warned me and I would have made tracks for warmer climes.

So what are you a wishin, and a hopin, and a dreamin for?

Hallways

Shortly after we moved into our current home I realized that for the first time I had blank walls at the end of my halls. Previously I had always had a linen closet or bedroom door at the end of my hallways . Now I don't know if I just don't like blank walls or if it was just another opportunity to play with my collected treasurers but soon my hallways had a new personality.


























This is a very long hallway and without something
at the end it resembled a bowling alley.




























I placed a long mirror with a matching stool at the end of the hallway.
This lighten it up considerably as the mirror reflected back light
and images from the other rooms.

Placing a simple vase with three large flowers added some
more interest and color.




























This is a short hallway but it is the one my guests see as they hang
I had a small wrought iron bench painted cream that I covered with t
he same fabric I have on my dining room chairs that just fit in the space.























On the wall I hung two vintage picture frames inside of each other
and added two small mirrors.





















On the bench is a vintage hat box, a cookie jar turned vase, and a small lamp. Now I don't mind looking down my hallways. Do you decorate the end of your hallways or am I the only one?