Happy Valentine's Day.....

 

 

 The grandgirls' valentine's day hair-do.  The girls and Sage will be with me tonight so mom and dad can have a date night.  They've requested steak and baked potatoes for dinner......sounds great to me!

It's been a busy week.  We've had all kinds of weather to put up with again but the snow is melting and it's slowly warming.  Hopefully, we'll have a good weekend.

I've noticed this winter that I haven't had many birds at my feeders and knew there had to be a problem.  After visiting a local store that actually had people who could tell you what to try, I have birds again.  I didn't know how quickly birdseed gets old.....

I love my birds.....

It was so nice to get out in the sunshine yesterday and go antique hunting with Judy, Mary and Linda.  We were lucky to find some treasures and came home with a truckload.  Seems I never buy anything to just put in the shop....I always have a little something I want to do to it.  Hoping for a few warm days to work outside (maybe in the 60's by Sunday).

Wishing all of you a wonderful Valentine's Day and a beautiful weekend!

Another snow day......

Can this winter just be over!!!  More snow today plus more on the way.  Kids are having another snow day and Leola's is closed again.  Luckily, we had a really good weekend and a great Monday....that helps a little but we're due more snow almost every day this week and through the weekend.  I'm almost out of wood!!!

It has given me a little time to try and get to know my new camera.  So much to learn and so hard to retain it all.  Just working on one thing at a time.  Here are some pics I took yesterday......at Leola's....

  

 

 

....and here are some from home....

 

 

One of the best things about being retired is that you don't have to think about getting out.  I went to Leola's yesterday and got so much accomplished.  Now all I need to do is work on taxes.....ugh!!!!  But for now I'm heating up some soup and making some bread for dinner.  Hope all of you are cozy and warm!



January daze......

I kind of feel like I've been in a daze the last couple of weeks.  This seems to be my normal way of being in January.  I sort of shut down and have no ambition, but maybe that's the way it's supposed to be in January.  It's just very hard for me to take on this mindset (I can hear my Dad telling me now to quit "lollygagging" around or he'd find me a job).  My parents were not people who knew how to "lollygag" so it kind of leaves me with this guilt but I'm getting much better at it.

This afternoon I read and then went to the store for a frozen pizza and a bottle of wine.  Now I've just come in from spending a little time on the back porch with my new camera.  It's a gorgeous night......cool and calm with a big ole moon and bright stars.  I actually set outside for awhile and enjoyed the fresh air.  Check out this gorgeous moon....

 

 

Stella spent the weekend with me and we had such a good time.  She was so content to just hangout and go for a long walk.  She took my little camera and took pictures.  She and Phoebe both have inherited my love of the camera and have a really good eye.  This is her picture of a "baby tree"....

She did so well because we were quite a ways from it and it required her to hold the camera so steady and as you can tell, she did.

She then went with me to pick up some furniture I had purchased and she came in and helped load everything.  It's so much fun to have them with me because they love it and I'm hoping it's all a learning experience. 

I worked on Saturday at Leola's so took a few things in.  I made some hearts out of some old homespun and and old pink and off-white coverlets.

 I love, love, love this old, repaired basket and my large collection of funnels.  The funnels were made into trees for Christmas but guess they had to sell for too much because there were several left.  I love them all in a basket.

 

Hopefully, this wonderful weather will inspire me to get a few projects started.  Everything looks kind of plain with all the Christmas down.  We'll see!!!!

 

Have a great week!

Finally....



 Finally, I figured it out....sort of!  Guess no one had this problem but me.  Have no idea why posting of pictures has changed on my blog but it has, so will deal with it.

It's been an extremely cold and snowy few days in our neck of the woods.  The roads are covered with ice and snow so I've stayed at home and worked on getting the house decorated.  Sometimes it's nice to not have any other obligations but to stay at home.  I decorate a little, then eat a little, then Facebook a little, then read a little and then take a nap.  Not a bad way to spend a day.  I did want to go to church today because Sage is taking part in the worship service but I called and explained and he said he understood.

I've also had some kind of a cold-thingy for about a week.  It has really zapped me.  I was drinking the vinegar, lemon juice, honey and cinnamon drink suggested on Pinterest but I'm out of honey and don't feel like going to the store.  Sometimes it's hard living alone.....especially when you feel bad.

Here are a few pictures of my house.....

My friend, Vivian, came by to visit a couple of weeks ago and brought me this box that she uncovered in her shed.  It was very dirty and had no bottom.  After cleaning and putting a finish on it, the box was perfect for one of my primitive trees.

 These are a few of the really small vintage ornaments that I placed on a small artificial cedar tree....

 I decorated my big tree completely with vintage ornaments this year and I love it.....

Sorry, but I took this before I wrapped the base with a plaid wool throw.  You can see the snow out the front window.  I used my battery candles in my windows this year.  It's so nice not having to deal with the cords.  I sell the candles at Leola's and if you haven't tried them, you should.  They come on every afternoon at 4:00 and stay on 8 hours then off.  You never have to mess with them.

 This is my old bike in the backyard in the midst of the snowstorm.  Makes the perfect Christmas decoration.

I bought myself an early Christmas present and just received it in the mail.  I've been studying cameras for the last year and knew I wanted to upgrade. Finally decided on the Canon ds1.  So much to learn but looks to be a long winter.

Looks like lots of people are dealing with the extreme winter weather.  Hope everyone takes care and allows a little time for just enjoying all the whiteness and the silence that snow brings (so sorry for those who have ice).  Stay warm!

Harvesting herbs.....

It's that time of year again even though it feels like summer.  It's also very dry.  About a month ago we were having torrential downpours and now we're having to water.  The weather has just been crazy!

My garden gifts.....

 

It's been wonderful eating all the fresh produce and sticking lots in the freezer.  It makes cooking a joy for me. 

 

I've been drying these herbs for my own use.  Oregano, thyme, sage and rosemary are now in bottles.  They also look really good in the old mason jars on my counter.....a double gift!

 



....and yes, it's very important that I keep a jar of peanut butter M & M's in case I need a lift while doing all this work.

I've finally decided to buy myself a new camera.  Mine now is scratched on the lens and rather then spend the money to have it repaired, I'm just going to bite the bullet and buy a new Canon Rebel T3.  My birthday was on Monday and a couple of my sisters decided to help me make the decision and gave me money to go in on it (can't beat that).  I have such a love of photography and seem to be the designated photographer for our family but it's just always so hard making that final decision.  Can't wait!!!!  I'm sure you'll see a huge difference in my pictures.  Oh, and my good friend Cathy gave me a tripod so I'm set.

Have a great Wednesday......we're preparing for a cooldown (fingers crossed)!