Snowy Saturday

Can you believe it's snowing today. We had upper 60's on Thurs. & snow today. Oh, well, it kept me in today & hopefully, with enough enthusiasm to get some things done for open house. Can't believe it's next weekend. So far, I've finished a lampshade & started working on a chair. It's really small but is upholstered.

I'm a big coffee lover so Kristy from Leola's gave me this little gift. She said it made the best coffee drink & kind of woke you up in the afternoon. Well, it does make a great drink but, sorry, I'm still wanting to take a nap. I fixed it over ice & it was better then anything I've had at Starbuck's. It's called Vietnamese coffee.

This was my backyard this morning & it's still snowing. I want Spring!!!!! According to the forecast, it will be in the 70's by Thursday. The joy of living in the Ozarks.

S

Wednesday trip to Arkansas....

I went with some friends on Wednesday to Arkansas for a little antiquing. We found some amazing shops in Fayetteville. The first shop we stopped at was downtown & had beautiful French antiques. It was decorated beautifully with wonderful rugs on the floor & that look that tells you it's been there a long time. Not the greatest place to try to buy something to resale but one of those shops that inspires you to do better . We don't have shops any longer like this in Springfield. We use to have amazing antiques shops here but they're all gone now. Ozark has lots of flea mkts. but very few one-owner antiques stores. Leola's is completely different from any other shop because 4 of us rent it but we all have our own areas along with about 8 other women. Our goal is to make it look like a shop -- not a flea mkt.

Can you believe these wonderful flowers! It really looked like spring.

A tulip tree just starting to bloom.

We had such a good day & decided next time we would go & try to hit more of the flea mkts. They were all over. There's just never enough time.

After experiencing spring this week, we're suppose to have snow tomorrow. I rented 3 movies & want to get some projects done for open house next week. It will be a good weekend to stay home. Have a good one!

Phoebe and Grandma's weekend....

This was Phoebe's weekend at Grandma's. We started it by having lunch out on Sat. & then headed to the library for books and videos. It was so cold & blustery out that we just wanted to head home, put the car in the garage & stay in the nice warm house. We decided that our first adventure would be in breadbaking. So we mixed our batter (or let the mixer do it) & started our cinnamon rolls. While letting them rise, we fixed a snack of Cheezits and decided to watch Care Bears (now that's a great way to spend a winter afternoon).

Anyway, you'll see by the picture that our rolls & bread were a success. I actually had two for breakfast this morning. I've decided my next cooking endeavor would be popovers. I never have been able to get those big, beautiful ones that Barefoot Contessa does. So as soon as I get Leola's open house behind me, I'm starting the popover experiment.

So Phoebe & I had a great weekend and on Sunday headed off to church to meet the rest of her family.

I'm off today to try to find fabric for this sofa. I'm putting it in Leola's for open house but need to make some pillows. FM store had some great fabric so just have to make a decision. If you're ever in Springfield, check out FM Store for the greatest prices on fabric. I love this old couch. It has kind of that old French look. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. Have a great week. Again this week, the sun is shining on a Monday & it's suppose to warm up.

Leola's is looking great.....

Everyone is so anxious for spring. Since we can't get outside, we'll do the next best thing & spring-up the inside. The first thing I notice is how dirty my windows are. I cleaned my windows & decided I needed to take a trip to Leola's. The place looked great & I found so many great things. It also made me realize how I needed some spring in my area.

This adorable bust is in Sandy's area. Is it not cute with the pearls!!! Would this not be cute in the bathroom with your necklaces on it?

I love using the little silicone bulbs in the lamps. They burn for forever & don't take much energy.

This is an adorable ottoman that Carol brought in. She does all our amazing slipcovers. There are 2 of the most wonderful chairs that go with it.

Kelli loves to make the paper flowers. These have vintage buttons or jewelry in the center of them. Aren't the great? The wonderful pillar is Dorlece's. It would be wonderful on a porch.

This is Judy's area. She finds the greatest things. How about that hat for Easter!!!

I think this was Linda's area. We all love white ironstone & pottery. Blue seems to be popular right now. It's about time since I still have stuff from that "country blue" era. I swear I didn't keep any geese or welcome signs but I do have some dishes & linens.

Anyway, we're sure spring is on the way so get those windows washed. Have a good Friday. I'm going to have Phoebe, & we're going to an antiques sale with Auntie Linda & Auntie Jean. They're never too young to start junkin' -- especially with Grandma.

It's stinky in here!!!

OK!! I had my first crisis & I dealt with it. I noticed last week that there was an unpleasant odor under my sink but tried to ignore it. Then when my brother-in-law came this weekend, he said much the same -- that it was just a little drip & ignore it. Well, by Monday it was really smelly in here so I decided to call the plumber. Turns out that my pipe had busted under the kitchen sink & all that garbage was going under the house -- yuck!!! Also, I had noticed a few fruit flies in the house & Allison told me about her friend whose house was infested with fruit flies after the same thing happened to her. Got my pipes cleaned out & put back together & the aroma doesn't seem as bad. The plumber said I probably need lime down there. Always something. I've always had to check with another person & it's hard to get accustomed to making decisions on my own -- but I find I'm better at it then I gave myself credit for. Have a good Weds.

Spring is coming to Leola's!

It's almost time for Spring Open House at Leola's -- March 6, 7, & 8. That will also be our 1-year anniversary. It's hard to believe that it's been a year. Anyway, my creative juices have not been flowing much lately so I'm trying to find something that might inspire me. I ordered these beautiful white scented soaps from Sharon at Sweet Repose & already had this old jar. They would be so great in a bathroom. I hung some of my vintage jewelry around it & it's gorgeous plus it smells wonderful.

This is the old blue box that I showed a couple of weeks ago. I painted it white & filled it with all kinds of treasures. I love the way it turned out.

Mike's sister Susan & brother-in-law Mike (we have lots of Mike's in our family) were here this weekend which was so nice. Not only are they great company but Mike fixes things around the house. He put the hardware on the box. Besides that, they're not only great aunt & uncle to my g'kids but they are GREAT great aunt & uncle to them. The kids feel a big hole in this house with G'pa gone & they help to fill it up when they're here. Also, they're good for their niece Allison. Allison & Susan have always been very close but I think their grief is much the same. I'm just so appreciative of them & their love for our family. We all need each other right now.

Hope everyone has a good week. It's always a good sign when the sun is out of Monday morning.

Happy Valentines Day!!!

Sage invited me to come to his Valentine's Day party at school so I decided it would be a great way to spend part of my Friday. First graders are so much fun. They're still so unaffected by how others may perceive them. They can still run & hug Gramma without worry that they may be "laughed at". How sad it will be if & when they lose that freedom. I live with the dream that maybe mine will be able to grow into "free spirits" that can be themselves without so much worry about what their peers are thinking. Is that a ridiculous dream?

Stella & a new friend.

Their Valentine craft.

Sage & Phoebe are still able to sit together.

Allison is such a good home room Mom.

Sage with his friend & his Valentine box.

Riding in the Ozarks!

Isn't this the greatest picture!!! I found her in a flea mkt. one day & she was calling my name. Wouldn't you love to know her story? I personally think it was taken after church on Sunday on a beautiful spring day & she decided she didn't want to fix lunch one more time for her husband, Preacher Chester, and instead decided to run away. You go, sister Cora!

Have a great Thursday.

New bedding is in order....

I've decided to make new bedding in my bedroom. It's been the same for years and it's time for a new look. I tore the picture below out of a magazine years ago & have had it hanging in my work room just waiting. My collection of old linen is growing but I'd rather use new fabric. It's hard to find new linen that looks like this so I'm on the hunt.

I also love the boxed pillow shams. My bed is a red 4-poster that may soon be a white 4-poster.
By the way, I now have a new laptop. I brought it home, unpacked everything they said I needed & began what was supposed to be a simple hook-up. Give me a break!!!! I started reading the instructions & I almost laughed. I did not understand a thing they wrote. So now I have to wait for someone to come & see if they can get me started. Bummer!!!

Have a good Sunday.

My blog prize!!!

Look at my package I received in the mail today. Is this fun or what!!!!! I won the giveaway from Jan at http://www.polkadotbarn.blogspot.com/ & now I'm in possession of all these little goodies. Thanks, Jan!

The white shelf is mine. I saw one just like it on one of the Scandinavian blogs & it was fixed so cute & filled with all kinds of vintage things. Now I can't find the blog. I also made a drawing but can't find it -- shock, shock!!! Oh, well, surely I can come up with "stuff" to fill it with. I'll take another picture when I'm done.

I need to work at Leola's so badly. Kelli, my niece & one of the partners, has been shifting my things around & keeping it looking fresh but I need to put some work into it. Just can't seem to find the umpff yet. I also need to make 4 tablecloths for my caterer friend, Annie. This grieving thing is for the birds but can't seem to get to the point where I can think about anything else. Besides that, the paperwork is unbelievable. I need a vacation!

Have a good week & someday soon I promise I'm doing a giveaway if I still have any readers on my blog.