Giveaway!

 

I can't believe I've written 500 posts.  It  has been fun and I've made such amazing blogging friends.  To celebrate, I'll be filling one of these coronets (cones) with Valentine goodies for the winner.  To win, leave a comment on this post before February 5.

 

My plan was to have a picture of all the little goodies I'm using but these past two days have been crazy for me.  Yesterday I came home from running errands to find water dripping out of my kitchen ceiling light.  I mopped up the water, put a bucket under the leak and set out to find out where to turn off the water coming into my house.  (This is something I should have known since I've lived here for 24 years). My  plumber cut open the ceiling this morning and found two leaks in the copper pipes. You should see my kitchen.  It's a disaster area but I  remind myself that it could be much worse.

One "Lucky" Little Dog!

 

I went with my friend today to adopt  this little dog. He was a stray that was picked up in early January and housed at our local animal shelter.  The young employee at the shelter said that he was filthy dirty and covered with mats.  He still had lots of mats and was needed a bath even though they had trimmed him.  He was labeled as a Lhasa Apso mix.

 

Before...

 

"Lucky" with a new haircut and a new name.

 

My friend took him  to the groomer this afternoon and look at his incredible makeover!  He is such a sweetheart and loves everyone.  Don't you love stories that have happy endings?  This one sure does!

 

Winter Blues

Earlier this week, I read the best article while waiting in my dentist office.  I think it was in Goodhousekeeping.  The title was "How to Fight the Winter Blues".  I don't know about you, but I needed those words of wisdom.  One suggestion that stood out in my mind was before you turn out your lights each night,  write down something that you're grateful for from that day. 

 

I really like that idea and it's been so easy!  The first day I wrote down a funny phone conversation I had with a friend that day.  Last night it was that sweetly snoring corgi angel on the foot of my bed.  Tonight it will be the beautiful snow we had last night.  My backyard looks like the pictures in my header. 

 

 

New Mantle

I just couldn't wait to show you what I've done with the beautiful mantle top I wrote about earlier.  It isn't wide enough to serve as a mantle on my fireplace so I am using it as a shelf and it's sitting on my existing mantle.   I love it when things turn out so perfectly.  No complicated installation for this project!

I decided to use it to display my collection of Susan Paley vases.  I've always wanted to have a place to put them all together.  I've written about these vases several times so if you're interested in their history, check my archives under Susan Paley.

Hope you're enjoying your weekend.  I spent the day with my high school girlfriend and we had a great visit!

Projects!

I've been working on a couple different projects since Christmas that I wanted to share with you.  I can't believe I didn't take before pictures of the dressing table and chair.  Both were  painted white and just needed to be cleaned up with a fresh coat of paint and some new fabric.  I used Home Depot Behr paint and the color is Candlelight.  The paint names always influence me (I guess that's called successful marketing).  I'll be taking this piece to my shop space tomorrow and will dress it up with some red and pink Valentine accessories.

Here's my favorite!  I love this old mantel top.  I found this at a yard sale when I was visiting my sister.   It's obviously been stored for a long time and is quite dirty.  I'm not sure, but I think it will not go to the shop.  I have an idea to use it in my house.   I'd love to know it's history.  Can't you just imagine the beautiful old house it was originally bought for?  The wood under the paint is mahogany so I'm sure it was a beauty. 

Feeling Pretty Lousy!

The last few days, I've been "under the weather" with a serious sinus infection.  I've spent most of the time lounging around, watching TV and reading.  I'm one of those people who can't be still too long so I frequently jump up and put some Christmas decorations away.

 

Yesterday I started the book, Blackberry Winter, by Sarah Jio.  I couldn't put it down and finished it last night.  The term  "blackberry winter" is an old fashioned weather term for a late season cold snap.  The novel is based on the disappearance of a three year old boy in May, 1933.  This is the first book by this author that I've read.  I think I'll check at the library tomorrow for another one.

 

I haven't felt like taking pictures of my projects but will post about them soon.