Soup

Is there anything better than a pot of homemade  broccoli/cheese soup and homemade bread for lunch when the weather is bitter cold?

We are expecting between 10-12 inches of snow tonight and have freezing rain at the present time.  I have been to grocery store and have the fire roaring so I think I am ready for whatever is coming.  I just keep telling myself.  We are one day closer to spring.

Hope all of you are tucked it nice and warm.

Pillows

It seems like after I take down all my Christmas decorations I get the mid-winter blahs. I always feel like I need to do something to perk up the house a little. This year I decided some new pillows for the living room would cheer me up a little.



I found this sweet pillow at an antique mall. It was more than I wanted to spend but after I calculated all the costs for a pillow form, material, trim and a zipper I realized it was a bargain. And I didn't have to make it. Ah! nothing like instant gratification.




Just after Christmas while my SIL & I were shopping (looking) in Pier I I spied a pillow that was very similar to this one. I loved all the fluffy ruffles and it reminded me of a peony flower. I needed one of these. Oh! no way, I am not paying $40.00 for a pillow. So how did it find a home on my couch. My dear SIL found one at Tuesday Morning in Branson. and gave it to me as a gift.






I also found this red leather pillow. Not really my style but love the color. I need some ideas on how to deres it up a little, I was thinking maybe pinning some old broaches on it? Tie some material around it? Any suggestions welcome.




Then I went thrifting this week and picked up this little cutie. It's not very big but I loved the color and tassels.














.

While I was thrifting I found this sample of upholstery fabric for $2.00 and thought it would make a great pillow. I stopped at Hancock Fabric on my way home and found the perfect trim. This should make a beautiful pillow.

Well, maybe not. After I had spread the material out over my footstool I realize with another piece of material for a skirt it would make a great slipcover. OK, what would you do? Is it a pillow or a slipcover for the footstool.

This And That

My son and his family have found a place to rent in their own neighbor. So it is a little quieter around here with three less people and two less dogs. We enjoyed having them but our last child left home 20 years ago so it was a little bit of an adjustment for everyone.

Mac (our clown)

and Annie (our sweet lady) were sad to see their playmates leave. They have been looking for them today.


After having 16 dog feet on my carpet for the last three weeks I decided it was nice that I had decided to take the plunge and pull my carpet.

I thought I probably had beautiful hardwood under the carpet because all the closets had lovely hardwood floors. But you never know what kind of wear the major floor space may have received. So I pulled the hallway first.

I prayed, took a big breathe, and pulled. The floors are beautiful. Our house is over 50 years old and the floors must have been covered all these years.

Yeah! no more muddy dog prints on he carpet.

We had our first real snow of the season yesterday. We have about 6 inches this morning.

The birds were so happy to see me put out their breakfast this morning. Now I need to go clean off my car so I can do all the errands I didn't do yesterday.

Happy New Year

You all know how life gets in the way of posting sometimes. My Picasa isn't working so I have to figure out a way to post new pictures some other way and I have been very frustrated with this.

But in the large scheme of things it is a small thing. My oldest son had a house fire on Dec. 19. We are so blessed all four of them plus the two dogs escaped safely. One of the dogs started barking about midnight and wouldn't stop until my DIL got up to see what was the matter. The smoke alarms did not go of until they were all out of the house. We are so thankful for the dogs early warning. The fire started in the garage from unknown causes but the house and contents are badly smoked and water damaged. It will be five to six months before the house is livable again.

For now they are living with us and looking for a rental close to my granddaughter's school. This is rather hard for her as this is her senior year of high school.

We are hoping for a more uneventful year in 2011. I hope each of you had a blessed holiday season and wishing you the most wonderful New Year.