Saturday This & That

Early Saturday morning and it is cold! I'm loving it! I'm a cold weather gal! It's going to warm up a little tomorrow and then on Monday the temps will drop to the coldest we have had yet for the season. Bundle up!

Here's a little photo of my valentine tree in front of my big kitchen window. That little wire shelf has been so handy in my kitchen! Out in the yard you can see my log pile--or what's left of it. I still have a lot but it has gone down substantially! :)

I've been enjoying this time of year for tweaking things around the house now that the Christmas stuff is packed up. I love all my things! I can even remember as a little girl liking to dust my room just so I would rearrange things!  A friend of mine who is sadly in the process of divorce is emptying her house as it has been sold :( and  she has been parting with many things she loves since she can't take a house full of stuff with her. She's been giving me some of her treasures. I will show you some in a future post but for now I have been re arranging some of my things like my little chair shelf. It gives them a fresh start! Everyone needs that in January for the new year!

When I was in Target Christmas shopping, I was surprised and thrilled to see they reissued the original Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate box! Did anyone else happen to see that? I was so excited! I always remembered the commercial when I was a child and the Swiss Miss who sang the song. I had to buy it! And her little yodel is on the back of the box  :)  You can watch the original commercials from the 70's on you tube. I did! I smiled! and I sang!

This box brings back so many happy memories for me! Like I always say..."...it's the little things in life that put a smile on your face." Yodelay Hee Hoo! and....all that yodeling brings yet another Happy feeling over me cause my favorite song from the Sound Of Music was the Lonely Goatherd! (I think that is the spelling). and Edelweiss of course. The little girl who lives behind us plays Edelweiss on her flute and she enjoys playing her flute on the back porch. So nice to hear it, and I yell from my yard "Thank you Genny! That's my song!" .... I even have Eldelweiss planted in my backyard. 

I bought my little squirrel friends some jumbo peanuts this week. JUMBO! They are going nuts for them--no pun intended. Good thing we all get along so well around here  (cats and squirrels included) because my little friends have no hesitation to come to the door and spy or beg or plead for more. I can't resist.

Here is Robin with one of our little friends. The squirrels will literally lay down on their flat bellys to wait RIGHT NEXT TO THE CAT! Robin is a very good boy and knows they are our friends.He's a wildlife friendly pussycat. He's also a Momma's boy but that's another story. :)
 Between my raccoons and squirrel friends, we've got quite a friendly neighborhood!





Spying through my one of my rear doors waiting for me to pass by so he can signal me that he has already eaten the first bunch I gave him!
What a cutie pie!






I have been mapping out my first fabric picture. It's going to be sun bonnet kids. Found and printed and traced some good patterns, then off to the fabric store I go! I will show you my progress!

Yesterday, my Brownie troop went to the Commack Volunteer Ambulance Organization to complete their first aid badge. What a great trip it was. The volunteers showed the girls basic first aid, told them all about 911 and how to prepare if you ever need to call for someone, they demonstrated how to put on a splint, treat a burn or a bloody wound, and they even had one of the girls lay down on a stretcher and immobilized to show how they have nothing to fear if they ever have to call for help! We also got to go into the ambulance!

An exciting afternoon! We have now earned our Painting Badge and Community Outreach badge. So far for community service we have collected over 300 pairs of pajamas and 500 books for Hurricane Sandy victims AND we are now collecting breakfast foods for a food bank called Food from the Heart! We are a hard working Brownie troop!

Well, it's about that time I have another cup of coffee and start my day! Have a great day!

A Little Love Just For You!

Friday is here! My favorite day of the week! and I know it's only the 11th day into the month, but I did do some Valentine decorating! After all the Christmas decorations are put away, I love to keep my house festive. I keep up the winter related theme like snowmen, sleds and snowflakes, but giving that blast of red for Valentine's Day really keeps the room popping :)

I put together a Valentine tree for my kitchen. In a post from last year, I told you about this great lady on Ebay who sells these tea stained tags for each season or holiday. I had purchased Valentine's Day and St Patrick's Day. She puts images of vintage postcards on the tags, tea stains them and adds a colorful ribbon.. sooo cute.  I added some garland and lights and here is my happy tree! It looks so pretty in front of my kitchen window! I hope when people enter my home they feel the happiness! Valentine's Day is such a fun day!

I also decorated my window (have to photograph that)  and took out some of the vintage valentines I have to display on the shelf in front of my foyer mirror.

I always wonder about the givers and receivers of these valentines. Believe it or not, I don't own a single one that is written by a child. They are definitely written by a teen or adult. Again, I'm thinking of kids exchanging them in a classroom like Caitlin does. How sweet to think teen boys or girls or even adults were filling out these tiny cards! and were they attaching it to something? Was it a big heart of candy? :)  or did they exchange their valentines at a party?  We'll never know.Such an innocent time.

And my favorite is this one with the squirrel. It was sent to a Marjorie Ball from a boy named Bobby Frame. So sweet. He wrote it in script so I'm guessing he was a young teen...Well, this one is so unique because you would expect it to say "I'm nuts about you", right? It's a squirrel, after all......squirrels/nuts....go with me on this...

 

 
  No, my little squirrel valentine says : " Though I'm like a tiny squirrel, I'd not fear nor shrink from peril; If only you would send a line, to say you'd be MY VALENTINE."   Wow! That's a well spoken squirrel if I ever heard one :)   When the sun comes up in about a half hour  and my squirrel friends come to my porch for their breakfast, I will be looking upon them with a whole new appreciation wondering if they are as philosophic and proper! Perhaps I should give them a napkin with their peanut butter bread!

Moving on......cause you know I could joke about the squirrel/valentine thing for too long ;)



I have been working on templates to make a fabric picture...I don't know if that is what it is called...So let me show you an example....See above the table the picture in a hoop with the three Amish girls?  Well, they are fabric covered cardboard figures mounted with other fabric covered details and lace and trim, etc. That is what I am working on! I didn't make that one! I bought it  and others from Lancaster County.I started dissecting it so that I could make some of my own. I will let you know how it turns out! I have found good patterns on line and even made some of my own to trace on to cardboard. You have to create a little story board in your head!

Looking at that photo I see how I have changed/added things to that corner! I have to update some photos around here!

Time to start my Friday! Have a glorious day!

A Heartfelt Thanks

Monday already? This weekend sure went fast! We started on Friday night with the Girl Scout Father/Daughter Dance, had some sadness on Saturday,and had a peaceful Sunday which helped to heal our broken hearts. I want to thank everyone who commented and emailed me about the loss of Patches.Your words meant the world to me--truly! I found great comfort in them and the fact that you took the time to comment at all. Thank you. I know little Patches is feeling good now. It was a shock to have such joy at having her only to lose her so soon.Sometimes life just has some twists and turns in the road.

This may  make you giggle~~My husband and Caitlin went to the dance on Friday night and all the parents were asked to supply a snack of some type for the table. Some volunteered cookies, another volunteered to supply juice, etc.  Now the Father/Daughter Dance is just that--Dads and daughters. No Moms allowed! Not even us leaders so we are leaving this dance up to the Dads..need I say more :) ?  ........We sent in a vegetable tray with veggie dip and my husband brought it back home afterwards. I was so surprised. It had veggies, dip, little sausage and cheese. Why didn't they eat our veggies???? Guess what? Men do not think to open things like the plastic that was covering the dip...so the veggies never got touched. They couldn't dip if it was sealed!  How silly of me. We should have known, right? If you don't open it for them, and it doesn't open by itself MAGICALLY then the only food that will get eaten is the one that was opened and out for the taking and requires no work....the cheese and sausages! They were already open and accessible. I can only imagine how many men glanced at the veggies, saw the dip was sealed and passed on it and just grabbed a cheese! Oh boy! I just had to laugh!

Yesterday (Sunday), we decided to take a ride further out east on the north fork. I had gone to church and then my husband had an estimate to give on a Spring project. Afterwards, we felt a  ride to one of our favorite parts of Long Island, the east end....the real END so to speak would be good for us all. We live in the eastern part of Long Island in Suffolk County but this is another 45 minutes further east and you literally are on the edge of Long Island and can see Connecticut! What is good about Commack, where I live, is that you can drive a little over an hour west and hit NYC or you can drive 45 minutes the other way and be on the end near either Montauk on the south fork or Orient on the north. I am a north fork lover. It's country rather than the south fork which has the famous Hamptons which although beautiful is just not what I prefer. I feel WAY more at home in country! I prefer the east! My husband and I and the kids enjoy our car rides. How beautiful the towns are even in the winter when nothing is growing. It was what we needed to heal this weekend. The beauty of the farms and the water. When we visit here around Mother's Day to buy our plants and flowers, the towns are vibrant, colorful  and busy. Farm stand after farm stand selling everything from vegetables to pies to plants and flowers line the main road. But today, just the peacefulness of the Winter.

Our favorite restaurant for lunch is closed from Thanksgiving till St.Patrick's Day...all is quiet. Just a sign that says" Merry Christmas! See you in March! "

A long road down to the ferry and the "end". A breathtaking view.

The end of Long Island--watch it! The first step is a doozy!

Waiting for Spring

Resting for Winter

Vineyards now  replace defunct  potato and cabbage farms. Thank goodness for that! The county does not allow new home developments to be built on former farms. Long Island soil is perfect for grapes and there are many vineyards. The vineyards are quite beautiful. There are still lovely farms selling vegetables too. We passed a a farm we visit where we always pet the cows and see the chickens and bunnies. See you in the Spring.... We then make a u-turn  at the end of the island....here is the sign you see. Had I kept going off the end of the island, I could have swam to Connecticut and visited cousin Joanne in Brookfield....maybe another day....

Welcome back from the edge!

All these sights restore me back to ME. The silence of it all. The stillness.

The country roads, the late afternoon shadows, smoke from a chimney circling in the air on a brisk Sunday afternoon... the hope of what is to come in the new year ahead of us. These things that give me the serenity I need. Have a beautiful day!

Heaven has Room for Everyone

Sunday morning is here and we did get a dusting of snow last night. Not much and I'm sure it will be melted shortly but it sure looks nice. I am a little somber this morning as I must sadly report that last night we had to put little Patches to sleep. It was quite a shock as we only adopted her a week ago but have known her for quite sometime. She was suffering from kidney disease. She was showing some symptoms over the week and we took her the doctor who said she was in a terrible way and could not be saved. We were so sad because we had wanted to give her a good life in our house and now she is gone. I'm wondering if the reason she let us finally catch her in the first place is because she knew herself she was ill and did not want to die outdoors. We'll never know. The kids,of course, were shocked and upset. Caitlin especially. I told her that Patches joins our other cats and pets in Heaven and that all our loved ones will oversee them and love them. She asked me "How does Heaven have room for everyone?" There's plenty of room I told her. Patches is healed, loved and happy now.

"NOW FAITH IS BEING SURE OF WHAT WE HOPE FOR AND CERTAIN OF WHAT WE DO NOT SEE."  --Hebrews 11

and I believe there is a Heaven.

A Date With Daddy

Friday night at 7:30. Caitlin has a date for the annual Girl Scout Father/Daughter dance and it's the best date any girl can ever have. A date with Daddy. Daddy is a thoughtful date, an appreciative date and a gentleman who treats our little lady like the little lady she is. Daddy, as a date,  NEVER disappoints!The theme for the dance this year was PAJAMA PARTY! hence the reason my daughter is in her jammies! She even found a sleep mask and decided to use it as a headband! Caitlin is very creative :)   They left our house for an evening of fun and food at the the school gym. She danced the first and last dance with Daddy~~the rest of the time, I was told by Daddy, that she went off with the other 7 year old girls and had herself a grand ole time! Dad, meanwhile, sat with the other Dads discussing Dad stuff. A good night!

Meanwhile, Billy and I were home together enjoying our time as Mom and son! He helped me store more of the Christmas decorations, then I made him some veggie quesadillas (his favorite!) and we played Yahtzee. If I haven't already told you about this SIMPLE, and I mean simple,  and quick recipe for veggie quesadillas, please pay attention cause you will love them. Who would think just a few ingredients like these would make such a tasty treat! Onions, peppers,mushrooms sauteed in a little butter or margarine till soft. Put your tortilla on some parchment paper on a flat pan and scoop on your veggie mix. Add a big lump of shredded cheese (whatever you have) on top and put another tortilla as a lid! Bake in the oven at 375 until golden and guess what? It's done, it's yummy and so satisfying! and healthy too! I cute them into 4's with a pizza cutter.

Try it, you'll like it! (as one old commercial used to proclaim!!) I have also added chicken, tomatoes (drained) and other good stuff. Be inventive. Go through your fridge and use what you have. We don't waste food in this house! Anything probably will do! It's got melted cheese--it can't go wrong! ;)

I did a few more stitch pictures with decorative buttons. I had done about a year ago and did some more this week! I have so many new ones to start. I'm working on one now with the saying "Be Humble and Full of Grace". Words to live by. Grace is something we all need to attain. Being humble is a constant job considering the world we live in where being humble and grateful for what you have is not visited often!

Be Yourself--so important to maintain YOU and not be THEM

I also wanted to show you those Christmas ornaments I picked up for 50% off. I am off to a good start collecting for my new *additional* tree next year of cupcakes, candy and kitchen items Christmas tree that I plan to have in the kitchen! Collecting is the fun of it. I think collecting is so important when you actually do the foot work! Since I was young I always collected Nancy Drew books and children's mystery series books. In the days before ebay, I would find them at garage sales every so often or in the" for sale" bin at the library. Nothing was better than stopping in a used book store and digging through boxes of dusty volumes to find the one elusive Nancy Drew book with the dust jacket intact! The thrill of the hunt! and that good feeling has lasted a lifetime cause I remember each and every Nancy book I got in such a place and where! Oh, I picked this one up from that old book  store in St James. This one I got at a garage sale  two blocks away from my house. This one I received when my cousin was cleaning out her attic. One particular volume I found was ina dusty old bookstore I was in with my Dad in Marblehead,  Massachusetts!  Sooo fun.

 Believe me I am not knocking ebay. I love to see and buy things that I have longed for and just can't find. I have utilized ebay a great deal! But it certainly doesn't replace that special "I found it!!!" feeling!

Back to the Christmas ornaments, when I was in the store and searching for my special Christmas items for this tree, I had that feeling! Because I had to look through several bins of tangled garland, open boxes of lights and countless Christmas stuffed animals! Under it all were these great additions! and the mitten ornaments were just a bonus! I love mittens!

We are expecting some light snow overnight tonight. I am hoping to wake up tomorrow for Church and see a white coating on my lawn and trees. The peacefulness of snow in the early morning or late night is just breathtaking to me. I also have learned to predict the weather by watching my backyard wildlife. They are the best meteorologists!  The squirrels and birds have a sixth sense. Watch it in your yard and you will see! Nature is an amazing thing!

Cute Craft

Good Morning! It is very cold here; temps struggling to get out of the 20's! I'm filling and refilling my bird feeders in the backyard as the birds are clamoring for some more breakfast. The grass is crunchy beneath your feet from the frost. That's my Christmas tree on the rear porch waiting for my husband to take it out of the stand for disposal. It looks so pretty out there though so I told him not to rush. My little snowman friends are enjoying the view out the sliders.

We have  real tree on the front porch with white lights, and I plan to leave that one displayed as long as she lasts. I love the look; I can't get enough of electric candles, lights, tea lights, etc. The mood lighting is so precious and compliments my country decor so well. The front porch tree has white lights and in the dark night she glows and glows.

At a craft fair recently I saw these adorable tea lights that had snowman faces on them. Easy enough to copy~~ you just need markers and battery tea lights! The photo does not show it well but if you use a black Sharpee marker and make a smile and add two eyes and then get either a light pink or peach marker and make little circles for cheeks ( I smudged them a little on purpose cause I thought it looked better) --you have a snowman tea light. Now turn it on! The flame is the carrot nose.

Sooo cute. They were selling them in a baggie 3 tealights for $2 but I just made my own.....

As I am getting the house back to normal I rearranged and added a few things. My Old Glory sign which I have had forever and used to hang on my porch now sits in my foyer.

 

That sign brings back good shopping memories of a store here in Commack that sold anything and everything. You never knew what you would find when you walked in. Trust me, I never left empty handed. I joked with the owner's daughter that I was putting her through college with all my purchases!  Sadly, due to a family dispute, they closed the store some years back :(  Sad. Everyone in Commack loved that store.

 

I made some other little changes and also kept out my prim penguins...which came from that store too, come to think of it. Love their ear muffs!

 

 

Now today, it's time to finish up the cleaning. The floors have to get done, and I am officially packed up for Christmas. I took a break yesterday and went out to the store where I got some more Christmas buys for next year. I'm collecting red and white candy/cake/cupcake ornaments for a tree next year in my  kitchen and got a bunch for 50% off. I also bought adorable mitten ornaments! I was thinking of assembling them on a clothes line but I have to figure this out because the ornaments aren't cloth...Well. I have 12 months to figure out that problem!

Time to get going, I leave you with two thoughts---I just tried Coldstone Creamery Hot Chocolate--YUMMY! You must try it! and my Caitlin snuggling with Dixie!  Have a great day!

It's That Time!

 

 

 

It's that time! As much as we dislike to do it--time to take down the holiday decorations!

 

 

Yesterday was a busy day! I spent the better part of it taking away the Christmas decorations, which as odd as it may sound, is not a chore I despise! Although I love all my decorations, I enjoy the process of wrapping them, arranging them in their boxes and packing them away :)  Crazy, right? I do it carefully because I love my things and also because when I open the boxes next year I want that happy feeling of "Yeah! Decorating time!"  No one would want to face a messy box! It would take away from the excitement~~~for me anyway! So put everything away nicely, gals.

January is always a clean up/clean out month for me. I'm going through  the closets of clothes in both Billy's and Caitlin's rooms, getting ready to pass on or donate. Planning to reorganze a closet in my basement that is just useless to me now but will soon be holding all ironed tableclothes and seasonal linens, preparing to clean all the windows and all the counter tops before I return my knick-knacks to their rightful spots...I want to freshen up my windows so I can see every snowflake fall crisp and clear! While the Christmas decorations may get packed away, I do keep up my snowmen and anything that is winter related--just not "holiday". So the house still looks cheery!  and shortly it's time to decorate for Valentine's Day! That always puts a smile on Caitlin's face to decorate with hearts!

What fun January can be as we find new places for all our things; tweaking! Adding new items we have gotten for Christmas, giving other items a well needed rest in the closet or making new vignettes of new and old stuff. To me, January is the mother of all nesting months! Food in the pantry for a snowstorm (check), snow boots for the kids (check), shovels ready (check)...make your list! and do what I did last year which was super fun--I made a list of fun snacks to have during a storm and made sure I had the ingredients in the house.  We had great fun during our storms last year ssnacking on pigs ina  blanket, dips, chocolate chip cookies, chilli, etc. Get all your ingredients in and don't use them so you have them for the storm! Lists are a good thing to make. I have lists of my lists....
 So get started!     but for now get back to cleaning!

AND, when it is all done and everything is fresh as a daisy you can sit back and feel good about your work and have a nice cup of cocoa! with marshmallows too :)