Hello, Dear Friends, I hope that you are staying warm and cozy
as we count the days until springtime!
'Only' eight weeks to go!
I have been busy putting away the last of the Christmas decorations
and redecorating for Valentine's Day.
I've tried to keep things bright and cheerful
with some Happy Little Things.
Goodness knows we need some cheer!
xx
My sweet Mr. gifted me with a new dish set for Christmas.
It's from 'The Pioneer Woman' line.
Every dish is charmingly different.
Cute measuring cups I already had.
I love them so much.
He knows the way to my cottage-loving heart!
xoxo
I mixed and matched them with some things I already had.
It was such fun putting them all together.
A new cookbook from my daughter, Heather and Son-in-law, Eric
to go with the dishes.
Another favorite cookbook.
I already had the blue cake pedestal.
The files in the basket under the apron hold recipes
from magazines.
I covered the manilla file folders with scrapbook paper and trim
a few years ago.
A charming apron from my Sis-in-law.
xx
The Mr. surprised me with this adorable hanging rack
that he made in his workshop!
He picked out the sweet little knobs.
Three of my precious grandchildren
with a painting made by the eldest, Gavin.
Sweet children's art.
xx
The copper potpourri pot holds lavender.
A favorite teacup, saucer and herbal cup mat.
I love collecting cute baking utensils like these measuring spoons.
xx
Can you have too many timers?
xx
Every once in a while, the stove timer starts working
on its own.
We call it 'the stove ghost'.
The tomato salt and pepper set belonged to my Mom.
I was with her on one of our many fun afternoons
shopping together, when I found it.
We loved antique and 'country' shops
and would regularly treat ourselves to a day of
shopping and lunch.
I had picked it up to buy it for myself,
but I noticed how much she loved it,
so, I gave it to her later at lunch.
She kept it on her kitchen windowsill, and shortly
before she died, she gave it back to me.
It brings back sweet memories.
She loved to eat at old-fashioned diners
where we sat in booths and ordered coffee
with bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwiches,
and, of course, pie for dessert.
It's the simple things in life that you remember the most.
xx
"Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment,
until it becomes a memory."
- Dr. Seuss -
xx
My vintage kitchen cart holds some favorite
baking essentials.
The casserole dish is a Pioneer Woman design
and was another gift from daughter, Heather.
I made the button heart.
The bowls are vintage, which I collected one by one.
I found this old Pyrex magazine ad to go along with them.
I sewed the pillows from tea-towels, napkins and vintage fabric that I collect.
Flowers from the Mr.
xx
I crafted some sweet, lace hearts in honor of Valentine's Day.
I made the first one a couple of years ago,
and felt it needed a friend.
Can you see Kai through the window?
It was a rare, sunny day.
These lace hearts are so easy to make.
I used a white wire coat hanger to form the heart
and an old lace curtain from the thrift store.
My red crafting mat is well-used, as you can see.
x
I cut the lace a little larger than the wire to
fold it over and glue it with low-melt hot glue,
so that I wouldn't burn my fingers.
You could also sew the lace on.
I then ran a bead of tacky glue along the front edge and sprinkled it
with silver glitter. (Do this 1 inch at a time).
Alternately you could use glitter glue.
I placed a creased parchment paper underneath to catch the excess
glitter to return it to the jar.
Parchment paper is great for glue projects, too.
The glue doesn't stick to it.
I tied strings of pearls to them and hung them
with sheer ribbon.
The glitter sparkles, especially at night.
The photos don't show how pretty this is.
I covered a heart shaped candy box with scrapbook paper,
lace and cording.
I save these boxes whenever I get them.
The Mr. knows I love chocolate, so I get one every year.
xx
I used red scrapbook paper on the inside, with a ribbon
around the inside edge and more cording.
It makes a lovely storage box for pretty cards and scrapbook
papers.
I've made a few of these over the years.
A play-dough heart from my grandson.
xx
Happy Little Things.
xoxo
"Where we love is home,
Home that our feet may leave,
but not our hearts."
- Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. -
I bought a flat of primroses at my local Kroger store
and one unusually warm, sunny afternoon last week, I had
a lovely time potting them up.
"Some old-fashioned things like
fresh air and sunshine
are hard to beat."
- Laura Ingalls Wilder -
This little female Annas hummingbird kept me company.
She sat right in the potted tree watching me.
I think she was excited to have these red flowers all to herself.
I keep a feeder close by, too.
These sweet little flowers bring a smile during our gray winter days.
Hopefully we won't get any more snow, although they are very hardy.
xx
"The flowers of late winter and early spring occupy places
in our hearts well out of proportion to their size."
- Gertrude S. Wister -
A typical day, although being able to see Mt. Rainier
is a treat. Usually, it is shrouded in clouds.
We have been having very foggy conditions lately,
but above freezing temperatures.
My crocus and early daffodils are already popping up!
Nature is so resilient.
"To be kind to all, to like many and love a few,
to be needed and wanted by those we love,
is certainly the nearest we can come to happiness."
- Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots -
xx
Thinking of you, Dear Friends and hoping you are finding
sweet and simple things in life to cheer your days
as we wait for better days.
xoxo
