Life Is Messy

This is the table beside my favorite chair.  As you can see I read here, several books at a time, at the present time I am also tying a quilt, and I have to have my pencils for my crossword puzzles.  Several pairs of reading glasses as I can never find mine and I can't read or thread a needle without them.  Sometime I get it all tidy and clean and it feels sooo good.  But, I just tidy,  I don't put away as all the things on this table add pleasure to my life even if it is messy.

Life seems to be much like my table.  Just when you think things are going well and seem to be in order you find  instead you have a welter of circumstances that require you to look at what is important in life.

I found out this week that my husband no longer has a job as his company lost a contract, my mother's cancer has spread to her bones and there is not much more they can do for her, and my favorite uncle is now under hospice care. I debated whether to share all of this with you but decided you all are an important part of my life so I feel safe giving you space on my messy table.  So I am going to take my little ruler and measure out all the good things in my life and give thanks for all love that surrounds me even if it gets messy sometimes.

I am going to tie up and cherish all the precious memories of my mother and uncle and put them away for safe keeping. And rest assured that the Lord  has his reading glasses on and has only good plans for my life. 

It's Spring?

Just when I thought it was Spring the weatherman says we can expect measurable snow for the weekend.
Just what we love about the mid west, our seasons, which vary from hour to hour.  I did get to put down  two truck loads of mulch on the flower beds while we had 80's the last three days.  Now I have another truck load waiting for me this morning which I will need to unload wearing my winter coat.

I know,  soon I will be complaining about the heat and humidity.  

Hope all of you are enjoying your spring.

Playing With Jars

Just after Christmas I bought a jar at TJ Maxx on clearance.  I guess you would call it a jar.  It's glass and has a lid.  I wanted something for my buffet I could decorate but was easy to move out of the way when I had company and wanted to use it for drinks or dessert. 

For February I put a snowman sitting on a wine glass and some of my favorite napkin rings in the jar.

I left the buffet fairly simple so it was still easy to use.

Today I started decorating it for Valentine's Day.  But I just can't seem to come up with much to put in it.  I was thinking perhaps some pieces of lace.  If I had thought of it ahead of time I would have looked for some old sheet music with a love theme.  Any of you have any other idea?  I need to finish my jar because it's almost Valentine's Day.

Times Are Changing

Have you noticed as your lifestyle changes - your kids leave home, your friends get older you just use the rooms in your home differently. This year at our lake house I noticed we weren't using the large table we had in the sunroom. We used to have our kids down for the weekend and we would have 10 - 12 for dinner or have friends over for the evening . Now the kids all have their own houses or don't come to the lake anymore. Our friends have retired or just don't do the lake thing anymore. So I decided to switch the function of two of the rooms.

So I moved the couch out of the living room area and into the sunroom for more seating.  Then I  moved in this antique drop table that can sit against the wall when not in use. (notice there are some more things that need to change as well.  The table cover is still the country blue and pink I decorated with in the 80's.  If you look closely you can see I have recovered the chair in red and gold plaid.  Oh well! all in good time.)

Pulled out into the room it works nicely for dinner for six to eight people.

However, I had a problem with lighting over the table as this room slants and has a low ceiling.  So I bought a lampshade and added beaded trim to the shade.  I had my husband put two hooks in the ceiling.  One that would hang over the table when it was out in the room and one when it was pushed against the wall.

Does the job perfectly and I love how it looks hanging over the table.

Making this lamp was so easy to do if you want to try.  Just buy a lampshade and a lamp kit from the hardware store.  All of the parts just simply screw together. The only electric tool we used was a drill to mount the hooks in the ceiling.

Could It Be?

I hurried to the window this morning to see what the weather man had sent us this time.  And to my surprise!

No, I was only daydreaming it looked more like this.  About 12" with drifted snow.

The covered front porch is adrift with snow as we had high winds along with the snow.  Most of our   major roads have been plowed so we are able to go places so we are more fortunate then some.

But just about now I can't wait for the 4th of July!  How about you?

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.