small changes

Since we moved into our house 17 years ago (it seems more like a year ago)

the "family" room has been difficult. It's more of a hallway

than a room to sit in, and while we have figured out how

to arrange things, the lighting never felt right.
It was like a "burr in my saddle" type feeling.

I finally had the idea to switch two lamps to new places.

And I wonder why it took me so long to figure it out.

Such a small change, but a whole new world of coziness.
And the saddle burr is gone.

I try to do one small change each day.

Even if it's organizing a single drawer

or cleaning out one file …

Doing so gives me a definite sense of improving things,

and that's a good feeling.

PB

Do you know the peanut butter song?

I like to sing it when we are having peanut butter sandwiches at lunch …

to the grands…just as I sang it to their daddy.

Highchairs have disappeared from their house, but this

Littlest One seems to love the novelty of sitting in our old highchair

when at our house. (They think grandma's house is filled with old fashioned 

things, just like her name!) Also the chair is placed close to the vintage 

phone still hanging on the wall. Lively phone conversations 

have been known to take place during lunch.

Peanut butter and honey can be really messy and this little girl does not like messes.

A girl after her grandma's heart.
And today she turns 3  ! ! !

Joining Monday Mosaics.

what is it about morning

Early morning. My favorite time of day.

When I was younger I was often up at five and 

out the door for several miles of fast walking.

(which might be why I had to have a new knee)

Early morning, when the sun is at it's best.

Early morning, full of energy.

The smell of fresh coffee,

and the first sip, steam sweeping up to my face.
A day seems to go better when it's starts early.

I love the quiet and the solitude.

The empty parking lot at the shops.

Freshly stocked grocery shelves all tidied up.

Newness.

People pass by heading for work and a new day,

with hope for what the day holds. 

A fresh start, each and every day.

"Up at dawn, the dewy freshness of the hour, the morning rapture

of the birds, the daily miracle of sunrise, set her heart in tune,

and gave her Nature's most healing balm."

~Louisa May Alcott, 1873

when we least expect it

We capture moments of beauty in our hearts when we sometimes least expect it.

Just as we come across encouragement, wisdom, inspiration, good ideas

or "aha" moments as we read blog posts.

I'm wishing right now I could remember all I've learned

from other blogs. Recommended books,

recipes, craft ideas, home improvements...

I've probably incorporated some of them into our lives

so much so that I forget where I learned them.

Rhondi, who sometimes blogs at Rose Colored Glasses,

gave me the idea to rub a little chapstick on winter cracks 

on my thumbs. It blocks the air which causes so much pain.

It works! I've been grateful for that little tip many times over.

We will always be grateful to Pondside who

sent us an inspiration photo and suggested a full surround 

rather than just a mantle for our tired fireplace, now five years ago.

And there's so much more ….

How about you?

when it's warm

 We used to grab a fan.

 Mostly all beautiful, they really are pieces of art.
And were good for flirting.

I wish I knew more about these old fans,

seen in the John & Mable Ringling Art Museum in Sarasota, Forida.
But I do know it sure is warm enough here to use one today.

Linking to Mosaic Monday.

gathered again

Once again we gathered around a beautiful table to discuss another book. 

This time we enjoyed a lighter, but totally inspiring book, 

Bread and Wine: A Love Letter for Life Around the Table, with Recipes, 

by Shauna Niequist.

The book was an easy read, and full of descriptive recipes 

(including one--bacon, goat cheese dates--oh yum).

I didn't photograph the food but much of it was made from the book. 

Such a good time.

A favorite quote from the book: 

 "It's not strictly about food for me. It's about what happens when we come together,

 slow down, open our homes, look into one another's faces, listen to one another's stories. 

It happens when we leave the office and get a sitter and skip our workouts every 

so often to celebrate a birthday or an accomplishment …. when we break out of the normal 

clockwork of daily life and pop the champagne on a cold gray 

Wednesday for no other reason than the fact the the faces 

we love are gathered around our table."

A surprise "door prize" was one of the daffodil centerpieces: given to the 

person who made the most recipes while reading the book! 

taking a risk

Risk seems to be in all our lives to one degree or another.

Goodness, we take risks just crossing the street or driving to the market.

If given a choice, I don't often choose risk.

But recently I "threw caution to the wind" and had a chair recovered.

It's hard for me to believe it's the first time I've done such a thing.

Before.

A friend passed on this chair to us years ago.

It's sturdy and comfortable and just doesn't wear out.

But it needed a facelift.

A drawback to the whole deal was finding fabric.

Decisions aren't easy for me.

So I took the Gardener with me to a small fabric shop with

 an underwhelming number of choices. 

I place more value on "manageable" than "overwhelming."

There was, of course, a huge sale.

I had gone earlier in the week and found some "likes."

Of course the Gardener didn't want to spend much time 

 so I hurried the choice (and prayed!)

And when the long roll of cloth came home with us …

the second guesses came along with it.

Depending on the light it could even look a tad dirty… 

Oh my.

Determined to be happy with it I called the the upholsterers to come.

And I loved that three generations rang the bell and came into the house,

from grandpa (paperwork) to father (mover of chair) to daughter in braces and braids (PR and smiles.)

A great team.