My Cozy Home

alive and well...just needed a little break

I'm so sorry to have been what amounts to the worst blogging friend ever.  I don't know what happened exactly.  It was like I completely rebelled against the computer at home.  No email, no blogs, I've barely watched T.V.  So, I needed a little break and I couldn't even bring myself to update my blog to say I was taking a break.  I knew I would want to start checking in with people and before you know it hours have gone by once again.  I am very sorry for any worry I may have caused or general annoyance.  It wasn't intended I assure you.  During my absence I gave up pop - my beloved Diet Coke :(  I adjusted what I was eating - smaller portions and trying to cut out sugar and lower my fat intake, and I've increased my work outs from almost non-existent (which they had become lately), to five days a week.  I reached a breaking point.  Too much sitting around eating whatever happened to make its way into my hands, and not enough taking care of myself properly.  I will keep blogging that is for sure, but I just needed some downtime from always being on the computer and sitting around.  I feel really good and am very happy with the changes I've made recently...although some days I really just want a bacon cheeseburger, fries, and a chocolate milkshake...once and a while doesn't hurt I don't think.  A girl can't be deprived all the time! 

I will post soon with pictures of all of my new Nancy Drew goodies...the movie just came out!  My copy is patiently waiting for me to watch it on Friday night.  Can't wait! 

I'll post this weekend.  I hope you all are well.  I've missed you and am glad to be back.

Thank you for your patience!

book smart...and questions answered

I do love books.  I love displaying them, reading them, and staring at them stacked in a pile, waiting to BE read.  The books I have fall generally into two primary categories - mysteries and decorating.  I like cook books as well, but they fall a somewhat distant third in line.  I've either purchased or received several books lately and I wanted to share them with you.  I'm sure some of you may have a few of these, but hopefully I can pass along some information about a book you haven't seen before.  First off, the stack.

                                                                                                                                                            

                                                                                                                                                                  

I just received "French Inspired Jewelry" by Kaari Meng, and "Crowns & Tiaras" by Kerri Judd & Danyel Montecinos.  Both are very fun and real candy for the eyes.  I don't know that I would ever be able to create the level of crowns or jewelry found in these books, but I can certainly enjoy looking at it and maybe even try.  They both give how-to information, although there are no pictures that walk you through the process, just the end-result picture.  The layout of both books is quite pleasing and they both use great colors and styling for the pictures.

                                                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                                                                  

I received "Merry & Bright" by Country Living for my birthday in December.  I really like the book very much and highly recommend it.  There are great pictures and ideas, which do come from a compilation of the Country Living magazines from over the years.  I also just picked up "The Art and Craft of Entertaining" by Kimberly Kennedy at a recent antiquing excursion.  It was just a few bucks and is only from 2006.  I very much like this book as well and think she has a lot of great ideas about style, decorating, and entertaining (from invitations to the actual event).  I don't really "entertain" that often, but it's still nice to get ideas for dinner parties, showers, luncheons, etc.

                                                                                                                                                               

                                                                                                                                                                

I received "Modern Country" by Nancy Ingram and M.J. Van Deventer from my step-son Alex for Christmas.  I had wanted it, but hadn't really looked through it before.  I am feeling so-so about the book because I definitely liked some of the pictures and styles, but was a bit ho-hum about other settings.  I have to say though that everytime I look through it I do find more that I like.  If anyone else has the book let me know what your impression is.  Maybe my deal is that I like more "stuff", not clutter, but "stuff" in my decorating.  Anyway, can't quite put my finger on it.

                                                                                                                                                            

                                                                                                                                                             

My friend Christy picked out the Nancy Drew book for me - she knows me well!  It is a newer book and she knew I would enjoy it - I totally do Christy :o)  I have a somewhat large-ish collection of Nancy Drew-related items and am always happy to read about Nancy Drew and add to my collection.  The book is quite fun and even has a few recipes in it, including pot roast.  Speaking of which, not about pot roast, but Nancy Drew, for anyone waiting for the Nancy Drew movie to come out on DVD, it will be released on 3/11.  We have pre-ordered it and eagerly await its arrival.  In addition, Steve just got me the above book "Not a Girl Detective" by Susan Kandel.  It is about an auther who writes autobiographies about dead mystery writers.  "Not a Girl Detective" is about one such mystery where the character is researching "Carolyn Keene".  The character wears great vintage clothes, drives a baby blue vintage Cadillac, and gets involved with a murder having something to do with one of the original blue Nancy Drew books (the "Blue Nancys").  Not only does Christy know me well, but clearly my husband knows me well too.  I didn't know this series existed, but he found it and ordered two of them for me.  The next one is on its way and has to do with Perry Mason.  I haven't read this one yet, but plan to after I finish my current book.

                                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                             

As you can see, I'll be quite busy reading, which is a great problem to have.  Looking at a stack of books just brings a smile to my face.

I wanted to answer a few questions that I received comments and emails about over the past few weeks.  I've been quite neglectful about getting back to people, but some questions were asked three and four times so I thought this might be the proper place to answer them.

1.) I received several questions about the colors on the wall in the kitchen, dining room, and living room.  I'm sad to say that I don't know what the names are.  They were custom blends.  The kitchen is a camel color, which is also on the bottom half of the family room (the upper half of the family room is a charcoal color - it's a nice contrast).  The living room and dining room are both a light grey and have cream-colored crown moulding. 

2.) Candles on the island in the last post - did I make them, and how to do it.  I did make them.  It's very easy.  All that is required are orange slices, pieces of an evergreen branch, cranberries, and floating candles.  Add them all into a glass container, fill with water, and add the floating candle on the top.

3.) 1803 Candles - Joyce was considering carrying these in her store.  She was glad for the recommendation.  I just wanted to add again that they are hands down the best candles I have ever used.  The best smelling, and burning.  They are soy, made in the U.S., and are created by a woman who runs her business independantly.  If you enjoy good smelling candles please try these.  And no, I'm not the person creating them, which I must sound like with this strong endorsement :o)

4.) Black cabinet in the below post.  I was asked if it is a pantry.  It is at least 100 years old and was on my grandparent's farm.  It holds baskets with aprons and cloth napkins, and is also where we store large serving bowls and our bills. Here is an additional picture.

5.) The kitchen island in my below post was also the source of several questions.  We got it several years ago from Williams-Sonoma.  They don't seem to carry it any longer though.  It has three drawers on one side, a marble top, and a shelf on the bottom for holding our pots.  Here are some additional pictures.

6.) Cynthia had mentioned Nell Hill in a comment she left for me.  I'm sorry, but I don't know if Cynthia has a blog or not, otherwise I would add a link to it.  It's funny that she said I have a similar style to Nell Hill because I very much wanted her Christmas book for my birthday, but it was nearly impossible to get.  Both Steve and Alex searched around for it, but they were quite expensive.  I see now that it is going for about $60.  So, maybe later I will be able to get the book, but I did very much enjoy the comment from Cynthia who actually gets to work in the Nell Hill store in Kansas City.  How fun would that be !

7.) I was asked about our kitchen table and chairs.  They are from Pottery Barn, and are a distressed black color.  My sister-in-law didn't realize we had purchased it distressed.  When she first saw it she thought the paint had already started coming off.  I'm sure it was very hard to understand why we would actually pay to have our table look like it had been roughed up.  I heard from a few people who were commenting about painting their kitchen tables, which I'm sure would look great.  We really do love ours. 

8.) Lisa left me a comment several posts ago asking about our entry wall that goes up the stairs.  She asked if it was wallpaper.  It is actually paint.  I've included a link to a past post that shows a close-up of it.  Again, I didn't have a link to a blog for Lisa so I apologize for not being able to include a link to her.

Well, I think that's it for now, a rather long post, but I wanted to get caught up on the questions I had received.  Thank you for the questions and for all of the lovely, thoughtful comments.  I've been blogging for almost a year now and I am so grateful for all of you in my life.  Such a happy girl I am :o)

holiday glow, and random things about me....

Every year I think that autumn is my favorite time of year, but then autumn passes, and think maybe Christmas is actually my favorite time of year.  It's so magical, so cozy and warm.  I've taken a few pictures of the living room, but also added a couple of dining room pictures because Heather asked to see more of it.  And lastly, I'll share 7 random things as requested by Nancy, and what I was doing 10/20/30 years ago as requested by Joyce.

This is our fireplace mantel in the living room.  This glow made me feel warm against the outside snow that is mounting by the minute here in Minnesota.

This is the tree we cut down in our back yard.  It was in a bad spot, one that would have eventually pushed out some of our stone retaining wall.  We didn't want that to happen so we decided to use it as a Christmas tree this year.  I don't normally like to cut down trees from our yard, but in this case it had just gotten too big and was going to start causing damage.  As I mentioned in my last post, it's a bit of a free spirit.  It has bald spots and isn't uniform, but I like it.  It's just doing its own thing, perfectly imperfect.

   

My morning coffee.

"Greetings" banner from Bayberry Cove.

Heather had asked about the dining room.  Here are a couple of pictures.

Sorry that the picture is a bit grainy.  I was having some issues with it and had to switch to our other camera that allows for additional settings.  At any rate, you get the general idea about the dining room at least.

 

And for Nancy, 7 random facts about me:

1.) I organize my underwear by color, they are folded like a little package, and lined up within an organizing container in one of my drawers.  I do the same with my bras.  My closet is also color coordinated from lightest to darkest.  I also use all the same kind of hangers - they are wooden and are the same color.  Does this random fact make you want to run screaming from my blog?  Now that I've typed it out, it does sound rather...obsessive.  All my handbags are in cloth bags and sit on a shelf in the closet.  That didn't sound any less weird did it?  Okay, moving on.

2.) I'd like to own a mystery book store - all mysteries, all the time.  I'd have antiques in the shop, overstuffed chairs, and a fireplace.  It would be called "Creaky Door Mystery Bookstore". I'd have coffee and tea, and cookies available too.

3.) When I get home from work at night I practically run to our bedroom to put on my comfy clothes.  I usually wear a black Adidas track suit, or a brown velour pants and jacket outfit.  I must be comfortable.

4.) I had lasic surgery three years ago - IT IS SO GREAT!

5.) I love the show "Psych" - love, love, love it.  It's hilarious, and it is a mystery show: win-win for me.

6.)I moved from Idaho to Kansas City, MO when I was 18 for college.  After college I moved to Minneapolis, MN for work.  I bought my first house when I was 22 -was the best investment I ever made.

7.) When I met my future husband and I found out he loved old music, old movies, antiques, kids, and talking about feelings - well, I thought I had hit the jackpot.  As it turns out I did hit the jackpot and have been happily married for over nine years.

10/20/30 - Is a request from Joyce to share what we were doing 10, 20, and 30 years ago.

10 years ago: I was 24 and engaged to be married to Steve and we were planning our wedding, which would occur on 8/1/98. 

20 years ago: I was 14 and was in 9th grade at Lakeland Junior Highschool in Rathdrum, ID.  I was looking forward to my 15th birthday, which is on Dec. 5th.  We were about to have a school dance on Dec. 18th, which is when I started going out with a boy named John - we dated for about two years. And no, I'm not guessing about the date. That was the actual date of the dance and when I started dating John.  The things we remember even years later.

30 years ago: I was 4 and was about to turn 5.  I remember that one of the birthday presents I received was a Little House on the Prairie book.  My presents were wrapped and sitting on the floor next to an antique ice box that was in our dining room.  I remember them sitting there and I remember that morning when I opened the presents.  My mom still has that ice box in her kitchen.  We had recently moved to Rathdrum, ID from North Dakota after my dad died in a car accident.  We lived on a mountain - a beautiful mountain in Idaho.  I loved that home and my years there.  My uncle now lives in that house, which is nice to visit when I go back to Idaho.

Sorry for the very long post, but I wanted to accomplish a few things in this one. I hope you are all doing very well and enjoying your weekend.  The snow here is beautiful and I'm enjoying some relaxation in our cozy home.  Until next time my friends.

my dad...

Today, August 11, would have been my dad's 60th birthday.  I want to share with you this special man who was physically in my life for such a brief period of time, but has been in my heart and in my mind every day of my 34 years.  My dad, Les, was killed in a car accident with two other people in September 1974, just a couple of months prior to my 2nd birthday.  He was just 27 years old.  It's hard to explain what it's like to grow up without a parent - thankfully I had my mom.  Not having my dad has been like a puzzle that I have tried to put together all of these years.  The puzzle pieces come from my mom, from my aunts, uncles, grandparents, my older cousins, his friends - anyone who is willing to tell me about him.  With this information I try to complete a picture of a person who isn't here to tell me and show me himself.  The pain and loss is so strong, not only for what I never would have, but also for what I never did have.  No memories, no first-hand understanding of who he was as a person, no advice, no memories of hugs and I love you's.  But I do know, without any doubt that my dad loved me and my mom very, very much, and I know they were extremely happy together on their farm in North Dakota.  Fortunately for me I had and still have a wonderful mom who always told me how my dad felt about me, and how he loved to play with me.  With every achievement and special event in my life, my mom would tell me how proud and happy my dad would have been.  We always thought that he was my guardian angel, watching over me and helping me along the way. 

When I was about 15 I received a set of letters that my dad had written to my grandparents when he was in the Army, stationed in Germany.  It was my first chance to see how he communicated, what he thought about.  I could tell right away that he was a person who cared about writing to his family - letters to my grandparents, his aunts and uncles.  And he was very interested in the German culture - sightseeing, and experiencing his surroundings.  He brought back wonderful gifts for his family - beautiful German clocks, crystal bells, carved candles, German plates.  I read through each letter, tears pouring down my face, rocking back and fourth, crying out loud "why, why, why".  Pleading with God to let me see him, please just once let me see him and know him - please let me touch him.   

I haven't been able to read the letters again since I was 15.  They are both comforting and painful at the same time.  I will read them to my daughter though, when she is old enough to understand, and as I try and help her put together her own puzzle of my dad.

                                                                                                                                                          

                                                                                          

This is my mom and dad holding a very small Allison at my grandparents in 1973.  I'm loving my mom's dress and her hair.  She's adorable.  Not sure why the bottom of the picture is askew - must not have scanned quite right.

                                                                                                                                                                      

                                                                                                                                                        

This is my dad with our dog Jody.  My dad loved cats and dogs, and was an avid reader.  Jody lived until I was about 17 years old.  My dad's eyes make my heart melt. 

   

My dad cleaning fish - he loved to fish and hunt.  I think this picture looks like it could have been taken a year ago, not 33 years ago.

And so today is both special and sad as I think about an exceptional man who  I know and don't know all at the same time.  What I do know about him is what counts - he loved me, he loved my mom, he was helpful, kind, caring, a good friend and neighbor, a wonderful father,husband, brother, uncle, and son.  He gave to me a wonderful support system of grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins who I love so much.  Happy birthday Dad.  I love you and miss you.

oatmeal, chocolate, & donuts....

Just a few pictures of some of the more brown and neutral elements in our house.  I like color very much, and at the same time am so drawn to Earth tones; shades of oatmeal, carmel, chocolate, charcoal.  They make me feel enveloped in comfort and warmth.  The below is from our foyer - I can't resist vintage umbrellas and sporting goods.  During the winter I hang a couple of pairs of vintage ice skates on the basket - an adult and a child's pair.

                                                                                                                                      The below is in our family room.  The cute egg is one you may recognize as Carol's (I posted a picture of it when I got it some months ago).  The framed map in the back is from a vintage atlas- and appropriately is a map of Minnesota.

                                                                                                                                                   The kitchen table.  The runner on the table is a vintage flour sack.  I love the natural oatmeal color and blue stripes on the side.  I like how it pairs up with the ticking on the chair cushions.  That's K.C. sitting in the window.

                                                                                                                                           

Kitchen counter .         

                                                                                                                     This is another part of the fireplace mantle in the family room - next to the egg inside the cloche.  The little pouches next to the trophey were my dad's - they use to hold his pipe tobacco.  The little pipe next to the pouches was his. 

During the past couple of weeks there have been some very sad events going on around the country.  When I start to feel a bit down, I like to think about a song sung by Burl Ives called "Watch the Donut, Not the Hole".  Simply put, focus on what you have, not what you don't.  A simple message, but an important one.  Family, good friends, yummy food, the sun rising and setting, vacations, a hug from a child, lunch with a best friend, a furry friend sitting on your lap - the good things in life.  So, until I talk to you again, I'll be watching the donut - and it really is such a very good donut :o)

Father's Day thoughts...

I should have posted this yesterday, but I was having such a nice time with Steven that I didn't want to pry myself away.  I'm fortunate to have the kind of husband who likes garden gnomes.  He enjoys old movies and music even more than I do.  He knows what I'm thinking and how I feel without me ever saying a word.  He loves all my quirks, my goofiness, my nostalgia.  He just gets me, and I get him.  He's a wonderful husband and father, and I'm grateful every day that we found each other.  We had a nice day yesterday.  We grilled and ate outside - such an excellent evening.  And when Evy went to bed, we sat outside talking and listening to the pond.  I lit candles, and had some floating in the pond too.

Steven, I'm so glad you're in my life - my husband, my friend, wonderful dad to Evy and Alex - I love you.

And you look good whether you're drinking a beer, or working for your beer :o)

one chapter ends, another begins....

     I've mentioned before that I have a very stressful job...one that has worn me down, caused burn out, mental fatigue, and all around frustration.  My cell phone is always at my side, whether in a movie, eating breakfast on a Saturday, or in my bed at night - it is always there so that I can be contacted day or night.  I decided that I needed to make a change, and so I did.  Friday was my last day with my former company.  Monday I begin with a new - one that will hopefully be much less stressful.  Right now as I type this, I'm in the basement, and my cell phone is in our bedroom two floors up - that's where it will stay all day.  Yesterday after work Steve and I went to a movie.  Instead of my cell phone being attached to my hip, on vibrate so that I will know if work is calling, it was on silent mode in my purse, on the floor.

And as for my day today, this is pretty much what is in store for me.   And yes, the pants I'm wearing are my pajamas.

We have some planting to do as well, which will be fun...just puttering about and enjoying ourselves.  Hopefully by the end of the weekend I won't even remember where my cell phone is :o)

I hope you all have a blissful weekend - without cell phones, without burdens, without worries, just bliss.  My best to all of you.

Happy Day...

     It's shaping up to be one of those weeks that aren't very fun, the kind that get me down, occasionally there are tears.  Work is very hard right now, and sometimes that, along with the other things that come along in life, I just feel sad.  So, you're wondering, why is her post entitled "Happy Day".  This is why.  I stare up over my laptop at my beautiful, sweet daughter, happily eating a snack of Craisins at her little table and chairs.  She told me she missed me today and gave me a big hug.  My husband kissed me on the forehead and told me he loved me.  My stepson got a nice hair cut, and he enjoys talking, sharing, and laughing with me.  We have a warm, cozy home, filled with love.  My mom is coming to visit us in a week and we will be antiquing, watching mysteries, playing games, and hanging out for a week and a half.  My family is healthy, including my grandpa who is 92.  I have wonderful friends and family (which includes you who are reading).  So, when things like work get me down, as well as the other unpleasantness that floats in and out of my life, I just open my eyes, look at the riches around me and think, yes, this is a happy day.

   

These flowers make me feel happy.

This just makes me smile - so creamy and simple.

Thank you...

      I was given the "Thinking Blogger" award by Mary from "Across the Pond" over the weekend.  I'm honored to know that my little blog is one that makes Mary think, or anyone think for that matter, and that Mary enjoys visiting and being a part of it.  That really is the main thing that we get out of this blogging community I think, the chance to be part of something that we otherwise wouldn't; meeting people we would have never met, people from across the world with similar interests.  That right there is changing people's lives, it certainly has changed mine. 

     I'm not embellishing when I say that truly, my life is better for having a blog, better for knowing you.  In an email exchange with Kim from "Vintage Pretties" she said, "having a blog is one of the best things I've ever done for myself".  I hope you don't mind me quoting you Kim, but I think it really sums it up.  I've noticed a happier me since I started my blog.  I've notice a more positive me, a more creative me, a more caring me.  I've said before in an earlier post that I was a happy person before, but I've noticed a change in myself, a change for the better.  The trivial and insignificant things don't get me down any more because there's just so much to be happy about.  And when I look at all of the people that I have connected with over the past couple of months since I've been blogging, it's almost overwhelming, the emotion and gratitude I feel.  Thank you so much Mary for the award, and thank you to everyone that reads my little blog and leaves supportive and kind comments.  I'm a better me, a better mom, wife, daughter, and friend because of you (wiping of tear and sniffle of nose).

     And now the tough part, narrowing down five blogs that make me think.  I think I'm going to change it up a bit and just name three.  The reason for that is that if I go beyond that it's just too hard - there really are so many blogs that make think...and smile every day. 

     Alecia Paulson from "Posie Get's Cozy" really started it all for me.  If I hadn't read her article in the February "Romantic Homes" magazine and related to her so much, I never would have started blogging.  It's just that simple.  She intrigued me and made me curious.  When I started reading her blog I was blown away by the incredible honesty, her openness, and the humor and creativity that she brought to every post.  Her writing is amazing and I couldn't get enough, and since Alecia doesn't post multiple times a day every day of the week (you should really consider that Alecia :o) I had to look for more.  And oh did I find more.  It was like a door opening, an awakening.  Thank you Alecia.

     Amber from "The Shabbee Chick" delights me with each and every post.  Amber is so funny, and is such a good writer and conveys her thoughts, ideas, and inspirations with such clarity.  There have been many posts written by Amber that leave me nodding my head in solidarity and whispering, "Amen sister".  Thank you Amber for making me think.  I truly look forward to your posts and reading what you have to say.  Please keep those wonderful ideas and opinions flowing.  I will certainly be there to read them.

     Cherry Menlove from "Tales from Pixie Wood" has had me entranced with her clever and witty blog since I first stumbled upon it shortly after creating my blog.  I read each and every word of Cherry's posts knowing that I'm learning something, whether it be social issues such as the environment and Fair Trade for British Farming; or domestic skills like baking, cleaning, crafting, and decorating.  Cherry has such a great writing style that lets you feel you are one of her confidants.  And even though I was new to blogging and I'm just one of many, many people who frequent her wonderful blog, Cherry takes the time out of her very busy schedule to visit me and leave me comments.  Thank you Cherry for making me think...and laugh (always laughing).

   

This is Evy and me.

soul satisfying...

I've been immersing myself in a whole new world over the past couple of weeks - a blogging community that I knew nothing about.  Sort of like having heard that a country exists, but not really thinking about it, and certainly not knowing anything about it.  Then one day you watch the Discovery Channel and all of a sudden, they do a show about...let's say, Luxembourg, and you think, "yah, I knew it was there and that it was neutral, but that's about it".  Then, once you know about it you wonder where the hell you've been and how you could be so completely clueless.  So, that's how it is for me.  Now that I've been finding and reading so many amazing blogs I just wonder how many countless other great things I'm missing.  And I'm sure I've just barely scratched the blogging surface.  I have to say that I'm so inspired and comforted by this new community.  It's hard to put it into words, but I'll try.  I have many wonderful friends and family members, but aside from my mom, none of them have the same decorating style or appreciation for antiques.  At least I have my mom, which is I'm sure why I have the decorating style that I do.  Reading the blogs that I have recently found is so exciting, and like a big, huge comforting hug that brightens your day.  I have a wonderful home life, an amazing husband who just gets me no matter how quirky, nostalgic, or nerdy I get.  And of course there's the my beautiful daughter Evy, and my caring, artistic stepson Alex.  So it's all good, but I have this very stressful job that just completely exhausts me, and frankly, leaves me wanting so much more out of my career.  But when I read the blogs that I have listed to the left, I feel better, significantly better.  Other people sharing their lives, pictures of their welcoming homes, and finding that I have things in common with people all over the world.  It fills a spot in my soul...it really does.  So thank you, thank you so much.  I should really thank "Romantic Homes" magazine because that's where it started.  I read the February issue and discovered Alicia Paulson, one of many artists describing in their own words what made a romantic home to them.  Like I said, she was one of many, but her words just spoke to me, and left me weepy, and wanting more.  So I looked her up two weeks ago, and oh my, I wasn't dissapointed.  And then from there, all of these other blogging doors opened and I felt a miriad of emotions.  Like I said like a hundred words ago, it's hard to put it into words - the way you feel when you connect with people, and something that was missing is suddenly found.  So a week ago I created my own blog because I just wanted to be part of it.  I wanted to talk to other people, share words of encouragement, share pictures,  and laughs...and what I really hope...to make some friends.  Thank you (sniff).