Saturday, December 25, 2010

Christmas Day

We had a lovely day!

My MIL came, which is very rare, and my mom. Hubby picked them up and we had lunch, a small gift exchange and pleasant conversation around the fireplace. It felt good, like it should be, like family and love.

Hubby cooked his amazingly tender turkey and mashed potatoes and gravy. Mom brought her squash casserole, corn pudding, cheese sauce and kibi. With a few additions and pies we were stuffed piggies and the food dishes looked barely touched.

MIL raved about my decorating and insisted I open a gallery for my artwork. So sweet and appreciated.

Christmas Day was relaxing and special.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Winter Window



Don't you love plants in a Kitchen window...and Christmas Cactus in bloom?





Coffee/Tea, a small kitchen garden...a lovely start to the day.

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Getting Ready for Fall

Are you having those beautiful Fall mornings? Are the leaves turning beautiful shades where you live? Our first nice cool morning was Friday and today there was actually frost on the roof tops! So exciting to finally wave those upper 80 temperatures goodbye for a few months! Hubby and I ran errands and ended up at Michael's. We went in for glue and came out with a precious Feather Tree!

We wanted to set up the dining room for Thanksgiving and I am hoping to make a card out of one of the photos to use as invitations/greeting card...



Usually the first table is against the wall and holds desserts and such but Hubby liked the idea of it pulled out into the room.

This is the first year I have used the Fall houses and I love them! There is a church in the center and a house, the others are a cider mill, pumpkin patch and grocery store. I can see where collecting houses can get way out of hand! Who can avoid buying just One More? The mirrors are so very old and weather'd but I love 'em.





Here is the house and the church...



and the Cider Mill and Produce stand...we don't have many of these in Texas but Starbucks has an awesome pumpkin latte. I suppose we grab those Blissful moments however we can, where we can...then hold them dear.



Hubby saw it before I did. He is just that amazing. So he decided I need a white feather tree for my Birthday. No way was I going to say no...I love the way it looks with the fall leaves woven throughout.

Think I'll leave this up year around and change it out with the different holidays.



And one day, maybe my little grandkids will step up to my grandmothers sideboard, now painted white, and will play with the little people and animals in the scene and wonder about them.

Happy Fall, Y'all!

****************PS******************

Soon as I hit the publish button I realized I hadn't hung up my sign that JenniferB made.

So, here is the way the dining room looks now...



AND....since I didn't get a good photo of the little 'tree skirt' wrapped around the feather tree, I had to retake that photo, too. Made it last year from a pattern mimicking a Cathedral Window quilt. Have it on Etsy, reworked so it doesn't pucker in the middle and boy does it go together fast!



Enlarge that photo with the sign, I love the way she did it. She needs a blog...I'll run tell her...be back soon.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

You must see this short video!!

I just love it, think you will too!

Copy Paste this into your location bar....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVV_HXtEbLo

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Snow and Soup just go together!

Looking out the window this is what we see:







The shrubs are about 10 feet tall, laying over they aren't even 6 feet tall. My clothes line was weighed down to the ground...we don't see this very often so we take photos...crazy Texans...lol!

Hubby made the most yummy broccoli cheese soup! He cooks by imagination. I had two loaves of bread left over so I sliced them into croutons, toasted them, sprinkled on minced garlic and drizzled melted butter over them.







Perfect lunch beside the fireplace while admiring the snow. Definitely a Carb-Addict's Delight!

Friday, February 12, 2010

A new record for us

Just a little note to self that yesterday we set a new record for snow. 12+ inches at DFW.

Last big snow was in 1978, the year we married. The roads were iced over, the snow was everywhere and Hubby and I decided to go across the road to WalMart for some books or cards to keep us occupied.

There was a steep incline from the parking lot that led directly to the highway...and we couldn't stop. We had a teeny little Mustang, think 4 cylinder. An 18 wheeler was topping the hill headed our way as we slid into the highway...and somehow we missed each other. It was one of those moments you just wonder, then you KNOW that someone bigger than you is looking out for you.

:)

Thursday, February 11, 2010

In Texas Snow is Beautiful!

I know so many people are struggling on airlines trying to get home and many more are begging for it to stop, but I just LOVE it when it snows!

It is the Ultimate Elegance, to blanket the world in sparkly white. Laying it like a blanket to cover the grass and delicately balancing the minute crystals on tree branches bare and darkened by the cold. And the sky. No blue in sight just the palest of gray and white. Who could ever even imagine white shimmering flakes falling from the sky? God did!

Of course I had to nab a few videos, narrated by moi.

From the front porch:



Of course when I open all those windows it will be only to let the light in, not raise the windows. Just as sure, however, that it snows today it could just as well have been a high of 90*. Several years back we had 90* one February afternoon and the grass fires were lighting everywhere...I much prefer the snow!

From the back patio:



Well, there is a large cuppa Spice Chai calling me...hope you are warm and happy.

Melissa

Sunday, January 31, 2010

January

We celebrated Christmas and there seemed to be a lot going on. The weather was cold, normal for most of the nation but not for Texas. It gets cold here, no question, but sustained cold for weeks is a bit unusual. We really do run our air conditioner during winter month because we have warm days in winter on and off, so, the sustained cold kept our attention.

Fires in the family room and late into the night...were amazing and beautiful. A celebration all of its own. Blankets and snugglie throws, family time and conversation were more prevalent because we enjoy having a fire in the fire place. It was great for more togetherness and teasing and laughing.

We did notice our little black cat was spending more time upstairs snuggled between the quilts I have on the railing of the loft. Upstairs is warmer and she has always been stiff as she walked. And at night Smudgey would hop up on the bed with me while I read or caught up on email. And I petted her and snuggled her beside me. She was never one to enjoy being held. Only tolerated it. So I didn't pick her up, just gave her time to sit with me and stroke her silky fur.

Then one evening, laughing and carrying on in the kitchen, we saw her going up the stairs. One step. Rest. One step. Rest. It was terribly odd and sudden. Then the next night she attempted to jump up on the kitchen table for a little TLC from her big brother, my older son who never understood why animals can't get on the table.
Well, she couldn't jump and fell back onto the floor.

I picked her up and she had lost half her weight. We were surprised and felt so guilty for not noticing sooner she was so ill.

Long story short, we took both Smudgey and 'little one' (Jordie) to be euthanized. Jordie was Smudgey's sister and was having problems controling her bladder. She had lovingly given Smudgey her spot next to me for comfort that last week...I wonder if Jordie knew Smudg was ill.

George, the part Maine Coon is all we have left. He has stayed by my side like a dog. Main Coons are like that. He doesn't seem to miss his 2 sisters at all. I thought he would be lost having no one to boss around. He has only become more spoiled.

So January marked a bit of sadness. But with so many blessings we have to let go and say good bye and remember well the sweet little cats we adopted 5 years ago.

I miss them. Am happy to have had them. I can't yet remove their photos from my blog, not yet. In time.

Beginnings and Endings are what Life is made of. Time marks our steps and we must graciously accept the Endings as we do the Beginnings.

Melissa