New Year, New Look

Phase 1: A New Year, A New Look!! Got all my Christmas decorations down. Now I've been looking at my blank walls/shelves........I decided I needed to recycle some of my decorations...So come take a walk with me as I show you the change I made on my Entry hall wall...This is where I started...I've always loved this picture I've had of Christ but I've never cared for the frame...I thought what a good time to change it....so here's where I started....

The picture I had on my wall in my kitchen/dining area was of a pretty flower arrangement, and I really loved the frame, picture not so much...so I spent the morning trying to get the picture out of the frame (and it was a task, I tell ya!!). This frame was much bigger and looked better on the entry wall...at least that was what I thought in my minds eye...Okay this is the new mat I placed over the old one...adding to the look....So far I like the look....continuing on.....

this is the finished product on my wall... What do you think?? The table I've always had in my entry...however, I changed what was on top of it...I think it looks much better and fresher...Love the picture on the wall...I think this frame is so much prettier...Now I have to rethink the kitchen/dining area wall and get rid of the floral arrangement that has been on that wall way too long!! that is still in progress..tomorrow I'll try and work on my living room shelves but I need to sit back and think about it...don't know just yet what the look is I want...but I'm sure I can once again recycle some of my decorations...I'm trying two new things this year...reminding myself to: 1. take pictures BEFORE I start my projects and 2. not spend money but instead recycle my decorations....So hang in there more pictures will be coming when phase 2 is completed.....I'll go right now and get some pictures of my living room and shelves while their empty... promise!!!! Til then...keep smiling and come back and visit anytime...

Winter Snow Storm

The weatherman said last night, we would be waking up to some white stuff....And he was sure right...all day long!! Love it!!

If you have never seen or been inside looking out at the winter wonderland and feeling the peace and quietness of a Winter Snow Storm, then you don't know what you are missing! The untouched snow..no footprints, no snowblowers clearing the snow off the driveway...just soft white flakes coming down and piling up in my yard!! It will never stay this white..as the days pass it will turn brown...and dirty...so it's important to enjoy beauty while it last...

On a snowy day when I was growing up my mother would bake bread (in fact she did that regardless of the weather). So on this snowy day I did the same...Honey Wheat Bread...Only one loaf as there is only two of us and I like to keep my bread as fresh as I can..so one loaf a time until gone before another one gets baked.

Lunch time always brought homemade soups or beans. I can still smell the bread baking and the soup/beans cooking...It is such a loving smell...I could not help myself... I had to make hot baked potato soup and had to finish up the fresh roll..this was our lunch. baked potatoes, cheese and bacon soup. My kind of love!!

This is the late afternoon still the driveway hasn't been touched...no prints, no sound, the winter snow storm still at it's best...and another memory for 2010. One of the best!

A Tile For Sydney

My granddaughter, Sydney, turned 12 in June and is now in the Young Women's Program. I thought it would be fun for her to have a tile with the Yound Women values in her room. This is what I came up with. A way for her to remember each of the values.

Guess What?

I've been featured over at Cottage instincts. If you have a chance go take a look!!!

Another Bedroom Done

The seasons have changed, fall is in the air, all the vegetables are off their vines and canned or frozen and winter is not far off! the frost is on the pumpkins. My projects are put on hold for a little while. I had to have foot surgery and yes, my foot surgery has laid up for a few weeks, can't be on my foot at all. So I sit in my chair in the living room and think of all the projects I still want to do. I still have my master bedroom to tackle, I would have liked to have it done before our daughter, Margo and her family come for Thanksgiving. But, I know that project is going to have to wait for another season, like spring! No one is going to be allowed in that room until I get it done. Anyway, so much for being laid up and back to one of my last projects before my surgery....Another bedroom I did get finished...Here goes...take a tour with me and let me know that you think. I visited Hobby Lobby with a friend, a brand new Hobby Lobby no less...love, love, love it!!!!anyway I found this really cute lamp, which I knew I had to have!! (the start of re-creating my bedroom)


My pretty lamp!!

Next I found this sign...(of course still Hobby Lobby)don't know why I like this sign so much, but I had just the spot for it, above the mirror on one of the walls!

See what I mean! just the perfect spot for the sign!! looking at this picture I think I need to get some kind of dresser or something better to go under the mirror...I have my cedar chest under it now! any suggestions?

Next I took a bunch of old frames I had, all different shapes and sizes (my daughters' idea) painted them and hung them over the bed!! I really like the look!

So now this bedroom is all cleaned up the trim is all pretty and white! and the room is pale yellow! very refreshing and welcoming! I love this room!

Now that I'm laid up I'm going to go through all my favorite recipes and put them on my computer and clean up my recipes cupboard..it really really needs it!!!!

A smile on a grandson's face is worth it's weight in gold!

Happy Birthday Ben!!! Your wish is my command!!!

Hi, it's been awhile since I've been on my blog...the last time I was putting my new work station together. Well, it's all done and love it...now on to other projects....This is my grandson Ben, with his new quilt. A few weeks ago he came to me and was telling me he had seen the 'coolest' quilt made with teeshirts. He wanted to know if I could make one for him. I had see a teeshirt quilt when we lived in Iowa. I thought it was really 'neat' (can you tell the age difference? cool vs neat) anyway, I said 'sure I can do it'. See I've alway believed and have a motto: 'there is nothing I can't do' somethings better than others...I'm alway willing to try, this shouldn't be too hard...so he gathered his teeshirts and I started cutting them up, getting them ready for the quilt. I went to Joann fabric (had to come back home for the coupon) and found the cutes material for the front of the quilt. It is black with little blue stars....of course our Joanns didn't have enough material so the sales girl called other stores and found 6 yards in Montana. I asked them to send it to our store....(I had to pay for the shipping which ate up most of my coupon savings) anyway, a week later I got the material..(not a full 6 yards of course)..after looking at the material I decided that it was too busy to be both front and back so I made a change and did the back in black. I really like the change. I started with the teeshirts that Ben decided he wanted for his quilt. Logos and saying were on both sides of some of the shirts, and even on some of the sleeves. I used them all. I ended up with 25 different shapes and sizes. Bulit them up to the size of 15"x 15" square after sewn together. I always lay my quilts out on the floor so I can see what they will look like...the top was sewn together.. I like to had stitch the edging. I use a blind stitch, I just like the look. I tied it in black. This quilt is 6'x6' (Ben is, I think 6'4")

Footnote:Ben's friend, Colin, had seen the quilt on Facebook and now he wants me to make him a quilt too...and yes, I'm going to...he's getting all his teeshirts together and over to me...Both these boys will be off to college in a month...It's the least I can do...they're great guys!!!