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.

Happy Thanksgiving

I just wanted to wish each of you a Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy and savor each moment of your day.

All of my children have other plans this year so I am not cooking Thanksgiving dinner. We are going to my husband's sister for dinner. In someways it is bittersweet. I don't have to shop and cook. But, I have always enjoyed cooking for my loved ones and watching them enjoy the food.




May you have a joyous day as you count your blessings.

Red Shoes

As a child born just after the depression I spent my summers going barefoot and new shoes were purchased when it was time to go back to school. So that they would last through the winter there was always plenty of toe room and a style that was tough enough to take lots of hard wear. This meant they were oxford style shoes in either black or brown. Oh my, how my little girl heart would pine for the bright red Mary Jane's in the store window.

So I wrote a little something for those of you who's little girl heart longed for a pair of red shoes and still leaps at the sight of just that right pair of shoes.



Red Shoes

I woke up this morning
and jumped out of bed.
I looked at the sky
it was all yellow and red.



I said to myself
I know what I'll do.
I will go and show Nena
My brand new school shoes.



I pulled on my jeans
slipped on a pink sweater.
Cuddling my new shoes
I was set for my journey.



I said to myself
I know what I'll do.
I will take the path
through the woods
and carry my shoes.



The leaves were so bright
they glowed in the sun.
I stopped at the creek
to squish mud through my toes.




Then I washed in the creek
so cold and so clear.
Then I hopped on one foot
to see how far I could go.



Soon through the trees
Nena's house I could see.
With pretty green shutters
and Nena waiting for me.



We talked about school
and my new friend Ann.
Then I showed her my shoes.
And she said Oh! My!



The toes are so shiny
so pretty and new.
Yes, red is just
the right color for you.



My closet in now filled with shoes of every hue that still make my heart sing. Some I haven't been able to wear for awhile because the heels are too high. But soon.

I hope each of you has some small thing that makes your heart sing.

Fall Deco

I know I haven't been around for the last couple of weeks but the beautiful Indian Summer we are having has allowed me to work in the yard. I am trying to make up for all the time I lost this summer while my hip healed.

I did do some fall decorating in the house and thought I would share with you before it is time to decorate for Christmas.

This darling little couple you see cuddled up under a pot of Autumn flowers is actually a music box. They sit on the buffet in my dining room.

These cute little guys have climbed a stack of books to see if they can spot any candy left from Halloween.

My mantel sports a few autumn leaves, some orange candles elevated on upturned wine glasses. And one of my favorite things to decorate with - unframed oils by amateur painters.

Mr. Scarecrow takes it easy while he guards the last pumpkin in the patch from atop the desk in the dining room.

Here a gourd filled with fall leaves is elevated above the dining table on a mirror that is resting on two vases filled with candy corn.

This cute metal pumpkin is dressing up the vintage sewing machine in my front entry.

Welcome to fall at my home.