My Cozy Home

birthday fun and antiquing...

Hi friends.  It was my birthday on Wednesday 12/5 and I had a nice time.  Steve, Alex, Evy, and I went to dinner and I opened my presents there.  We had fun.  I got some fun things such as Coco perfume by Chanel, Lovejoy (BBC mystery show from the 80's, 90's), and "Merry & Bright" by Country Living. I also got a Shabby Chic book too.  I've really enjoyed the Merry & Bright book - perfect for this time of year.  My mom sent me some fun stuff too, among which was the below glittered trees.  Some folks were asking about the coffee cup from the last post.  It's from Bailey's.  I have a boy cup and a girl cup.  The girl cup is even wearing a pearl necklace.  I'll have them both in my next post.  They're so fun.

These trees are so fun, and very sparkly.

Here's a little banner I got whilst antiquing on Friday.

Can you see the little silver cup?  It's engraved and says, "Compliments of Mr. & Mrs. John Monson".  It's so cute.   Hope you're all having a great week so far.

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.

decorations underway...

I realized this year that I had a lot of Autumn decorations to put away.  I guess that happens when you find new treasures every year, and I certainly always seem to do that.  I started putting Christmas decorations up this weekend - spruce tips in the window boxes, wreaths hung from doors and windows, knick-knacks positioned, the tree cut and placed in the living room.  Wait till you see the Christmas tree (it's one that was on our property).  Let me just say that it's unique...and has character.  I like it, but it isn't your typical cone-shaped tree.  It's more of a free spirit you might say.  More to come later on the tree.  For now I wanted to share an arrangement I put together in our foyer.  I used a silver ice bucket as the base.  I added a large spruce tip for the center, and white pine and cedar bows around the edge.  I used pheasant feathers to embellish, and added a little nest and bird ornament for affect.  Flanking the tree are my two riding helmets.  Not sure why the ice bucket looks dark - it's a light silver color.  Bah...lighting.

   

 

This is a little silver tree that I got from Traditions.  I bought one for Evy to have in her room.  The star on top is from Bayberry Cove.

More to come very soon.  I hope you are all well my friends!

are you ready for it...?

Are you ready for Thanksgiving?  I'm very ready - I love Thanksgiving, I love the food, the decorations, time with family, and taking an opportunity to be thankful and aware of life's many blessings and opportunities.  Every year and every holiday is a stepping stone in life's pathway of memories - a table full of family and friends passing delicious food from hand to hand, kids' tables, naps on the couch with football on the T.V. in the background, leftovers.   This is our dining room, which will not be seeing any Thanksgiving action this year.  We usually go to Steve's brother and sister-in-law's home.  She makes an amazing meal and makes it look so simple.  She's always so cool and calm - I'd be a mess, figuratively and literally I'm afraid.

My little hen that I got last fall for a song. 

This is a picture of the harvest table we prepared at church yesterday.  I'm part of the Alter Guild and one of the things we take care of is decorating for the holidays.  I'm sure you can imagine how much I love to do that.  I thought it turned out really well.  It was fun to view the end result while attending church today.

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration.  Next up...Christmas (I recently acquired a couple of 20" silver glitter trees and a "Greetings" garland with glitter letters from Bayberry Cove.  I sure do love holidays :o)

 

favorites, and organizational euphoria

This is somewhat of a random post as I've been inspired by a couple of things lately and wanted to share them with you.  First of all, I have been organizing, organizing, organizing...to the point of obsession.  Generally speaking, I like things to be clean, especially if I walk into a room and can see it.  The flip side of this for me is that if I can't see it, then I tend to let things go until it gets unbearable.  I don't do this all the time by any means, but my bathroom drawers and my closet were two such situations where I just let them go, willing to put up with the mess and the clutter.  Last weekend I snapped.  I couldn't take looking at that chaos any longer so I took everything out of my bathroom drawers, threw a ton of stuff away, bought organizers, and re-appropriated each and every item.  I then did the same with my closet this weekend.  If it hadn't been for my iron will I may have given up part way through, like a Navy Seal when he's going through that initial training.  When they give up they have to ring a big bell to let everyone know that someone has thrown in the towel.  Yes my friends, my closet reorganization was akin to Navy Seal training.  It's not for the faint of heart.  Steve very well could have found me buried in a pile of clothes, but I soldiered on - a bit stronger for having done so :o)

I didn't take any photos of my closet, but I did capture a couple of shots of my newly organized bathroom drawers.

Opening a clean, organized drawer is not only a relief to the eye, but is very gratifying.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                My newly appointed makeup drawer.  I used to have everything crammed into a smaller drawer.  I never knew where things were.  Now I don't waste time hunting around.  I use the vintage box on the right to hold my hair bands, ribbons, clips, etc.  It's nice to have it handy, yet covered so you don't see all of the individual items.

While getting the organizational baskets for my drawers at Target, I also picked up this Simply Shabby Chic fabric basket to corral some of my many books.  Hey, there's another journal I made stuck in between the books.

 

Wanted to share a few favorites with you.  My favorite skin care is Arbonne's Nutrimin C line.  It's really great.  I also use Proactive to combat acne.  I use to have adult acne, but the combination of Proactive and the Nutrimin C line has really changed my skin all together.  In addition, I use Bare Minerals instead of traditional foundation, which I absolutely love and would never go back to regular foundation.  At night before I go to bed I use a Bare Minerals product called Rare Minerals.  I used to have sun spots on my cheeks and a couple on my forehead.  Those spots are gone now.  I was really surprised, quite happily.

These are my Bare Minerals I was talking about.  As I said, I would never go back to regular foundation.  I also use the blush, and eye shadows, and as I mentioned the Rare Minerals at night before I go to bed.

   

My favorite lip therapy: Co. Bigelow from Bath and Body Work.  They feel good, taste good, and make your breath smell good too.                                                                           

If you're staring at a chaotic closet or drawers, consider taking a day to sift through it and make some sense of it.  It's so worth it, and it's a gift that keeps on giving :o)

journally things part II....

I made two more journals recently.  This time for the lovely Shelley's daughter Britton.  Shelley contacted me after she saw my last journal and asked if I would make one for her daughter.  One ended up being two somehow.  I'll be making one for her other daughter, Garet, as well. 

 

The inside with a bookplate for writing Britton's name.  I like covering the inside because it makes it look more like your own personalized, custom journal.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

This is the second journal I made for Britton.  I also cover the inside front and back flaps, but I forgot to take a picture of that. 

I've been very fortunate to receive the "You Make Me Smile" award from several of my blogging friends.

                                                                                                                                                Priscilla, Karla, Teresa thank you so much for the award.  It makes me smile in return to know that some how my blog has been a source of enjoyment for you.  All of my blogging friends make me smile to the point that I don't think I can single out any one person.  I'm so happy to be part of this wonderfully  supportive community - our own little forum to discuss our lives, family, decorating, recipes, books, hobbies and crafts.  And all without judgment.  It's a blessing in my life.

I also wanted to say happy birthday to my wonderful husband Steve.  He is such a thoughtful, caring man and I'm so grateful to be able to share my life with him.  His birthday was on November 1st and we celebrated with Evy, Alex, and his girlfriend Mary.  This weekend I'll be making Steve's cake of choice, pineapple upside down cake.  I think maybe a meatloaf and roasted sweet potatoes are also in order.  Sounds like a great Autumn meal.  Hope you all are safe and well my friends. 

halloween countdown...

 

                                                                                                                       This is Miss Pumpkin.  She lives in Disneyland.  I'm not sure where exactly she lives in Disneyland, but I do know that she dates the local constable.  I very much wish that I lived in a town with a Miss Pumpkin who dresses like this one, and sings and dances.  Aren't they cute?  Also, can you see in the back ground of the first picture, the guy in the dark blue t-shirt standing over on the right side - sort of posing like Big Foot walking through the forest (not that he resembles a Sasquatch) - that's Steve who just happened to be in the picture and we didn't realize it until much later.  I was following Miss Pumpkin around while she was dancing so that I could get a good picture of her and I guess I got quite a ways from where we had been standing.

I had to share Miss Pumpkin with you before Halloween had come and gone.  Jeez that's a great costume.

This was another great Halloween display at Disneyland.  They do a really good job of decorating - it actually increased my enjoyment level even more to see all of the Halloween decorations while we were there. 

And, back at the ranch - the dining room table.  I just realized that the gourd on the table, to the left looks like it's plastic, but it is real - sheesh, could it be more shiny?

Little hanging black cat.  He's made the same way as a hook rug - I did not make him though.  Heck, I can't even remember where I got him.  Yes, my memory is like a finely tuned machine.

Another cabinet picture from a different angle - as seen a couple of posts ago.  My grandpa got me that calendar and I like the pictures so much.  I can always depend on my grandpa to get me a very cute calendar for the kitchen.

I just realized that I was going to show pictures of the journal that I did for Shelley.  I'll show it/them in the next post.  I say them because somehow I ended up doing two - because I can't let things alone.  One became two and that's how it went. 

Also, did want to report back that I think my memory is improving (despite not remember where black cat hanging guy came from).  I've been doing Sudoku every night before bed and really concentrating on making myself remember names and details.  Anyhoo, just wanted to let you know that I think it's paying off.  And I'm getting a lot better at Sudoku too.  Sometimes for fun I'll see how fast I can do an easier one (like a one star).  Friday night I did one in three minutes.  I'm working on a four star Sudoku now.  My life is riveting.  A real nail biter of a blog.  I can see why you stay tuned.  What will she do next ? - will it be Sudoku, watching High School Musical again, wait, hold on, maybe she'll be petting her cat with the left hand instead of the right.  It's almost too exciting.  Until the next unpredictable post, I hope you and your families are well.   

 

Does anyone else have a desire to set up a harvest table outside that looks like the below (this is from the October '07 issue of "Country Home")?  Or maybe some of you have done this?  Every year I think that I'd like to do just that, and cook a pork loin with a fig sauce, have our family over, bob for apples, have some hot cider or hot chocolate.  Then the season flies by, and I think once again, "why didn't I do that".  It could still be done this year, but I feel like I'm a bit behind. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

For now I'll just enjoy the view outside in our backyard.

This is next to our little pond in the back yard.

Sedum next to the pond.  That color is so perfectly fall.

Am sharing a few pictures from indoors too.  A little display in our kitchen.

We went to Haupt Antiek Market on Saturday.  I got the feathers there as well as the little black shoes. 

I also picked up two more ironstone platters while antiquing.  I have about six on the wall, but I also like the look of them stacked up like this.  I do love Ironstone a lot, and while I use to lean more toward platters with a scalloped or decorative edge, now I seem to be more intrigued by the simple, smooth-edged platters.  I think they seem older and more primitive.  I once saw a stack of Ironstone with the littlest ones at the top starting at about $45.  These were soap-dish size.  I didn't even need to look at the bigger ones toward the bottom.  The ones I get are definitely not in that price range.  I know there are many types of Ironstone with varying prices.  I have a book about the different producers and history. 

This is a little trophy from a dog show in 1948 (the Beverly-Riviera Kennel Club).  You can read it on the ribbon, which came with the trophy.

I hope you had a good weekend.  Ours was very nice with great weather.  I made another journal, which I'll show in my next post.  A very nice person named Shelley contacted me about my last journal and asked if I would make her daughter one.  I finished it this weekend and will take some pictures of it to share in my next post.

My best to you all!

gourdeous...

I was looking around on Bayberry Cove's website to find some fall goodies, and I found this little gourd guy who I think is adorable.  My husband Steve is primarily of a much different opinion.  He looks sort of sad holding his little pumpkin doll.  I felt he needed a home.

I just realized he's a bit hidden behind the candle.  You get the general idea though, except you can't see his skinny little legs

 

                                                                                                                                      I also got this glitter banner from Bayberry Cove.  Got to love glitter.

This "Trick or Treat" gourd bowl is another California find, although I could have found it locally or on line.  Things just seem more appealing when you find them on your travels.  It's made by Nicol Sayre (you can find her creations at Bayberry Cove as well).

   

And for anyone who's been visiting my blog for a while you're probably saying, "what's with the stool and scale picture again".  Yes, yes, it's the same stool and scale,here and here, but I do like to change out what sits on top.  In this case a white pumpkin.   

                                                                                                                                                     One more picture of the counter area.   On another note, I've decided my memory needs improving.  I went to a website that has memory games on it - games like looking at 20 items on a page for two minutes, then having to recall what those 20 items are. Here and Here are a couple of sites I went to. I think I've been resting on my laurels, assuming that I wouldn't start having issues with my memory until I was older.  Not so.  I've decided to declare war on my slow-to-respond recall skills.  My neurons need prodding, the gray cells require sharpening. Yes, it's time for action.  Anyone else having this problem?  I'll let you know how it goes.  In the mean time, you'll find me doing Sudoku, the crossword puzzle, and creating clever mnemonic devices to get those synapses firing on all cylinders.  Wish me luck!

newish old things, oldish new things...

I'm back AGAIN from California and certainly happy to not be planning another trip anywhere for awhile.  This time it was a business trip to San Jose.  It was a very nice trip, great hotel, a whole lot of amazing food and wine - really, as business trips go, it was very, very nice - no complaints here.  There's nothing quite like being at home though, especially at this time of year.  I love fall so much that I don't want to miss any of the beauty that Minnesota has to offer.  Green grass, leaves of burnt orange and burgundy, clusters of maple trees at varying stages and peaks of color, apple orchards, pumpkin patches, hay rides, cool nights sitting in the back yard with a fire burning.  It's a really great time of year here.  I've taken some photos of the new items I got in California and mixed them in with a few fall displays around the house.  Thanks for being patient with me being gone lately.  I really appreciate it my friends.

I found this Halloween garland to decorate my tree in the entry.  Not sure if you can see it, but I have hung old skeleton keys from ribbons and looped them over the branches.  Skeleton keys...get it?  It's all about the theme for me :o)

                        Gourd goodness.

Isn't he cute...he kind of falls into the same category as "pumpkin guy" from a couple of posts ago.  There's just something about that silly pumpkin grin that makes me grin in return.

                                                                                                                                                                                                            This basket is located on top of the below cabinet.  My mom gave me the decorative garland, which I wrapped around the basket. 

This cabinet is at least 100 years old, and was on my grandparent's farm.  It's simplicity really appeals to me.  It can be so easily embellished, and especially looks great with autumn accents.  The apron hanging on the right is from the Farm Chicks, which my mom got for me at their antiques show last September.  I love those polka dots. 

I haven't gotten these hung yet, but they'll probably be in our bedroom.  They are sketches from the 1930's.  I have another in our room that is very similar, which I got last year.

   

A cute little tag that I'd like to try and mimic when I get a chance.  I have it hanging from the lamp next to my side of the bed.

I'll be sharing more fall decorating pictures very soon, as well as a couple of other things I got in California.  I can't believe we're already heading into the second week of October.  It's still in the 70's and 80's here, which is amazing, but I'm sure it will be cooling off soon.  Hope you're all very well.