cozy corner

This little corner is a favorite spot of mine – that is when Mr. Duhgall isn’t warming the chair. My dear friend, Sinta (The Pink Pincushion blog), sent us the beautiful quilt that hangs over the back. (And she wasn’t sure what colors would work in the room…..it couldn’t be more perfect!)

Do you have a favorite corner in your home? What makes it special for you?

Till the next post….be sure to be good to YOU. Do something nice for yourself, ok? Even if it is just having a few quiet moments to sit in your favorite cozy corner. YOU deserve it, right? Yea, that’s right!

Looking Back

Yesterday I was looking back through old photos of the Christmas decorations from the past five years. Funny how a photo will remind me that “Oops, I forgot to get out that Santa or use that tree topper this year." But hey, it is fun to change it all up a bit from year to year – and maybe add a new favorite piece to the collections. Last year I got rid of a lot of old decorations but kept those that are my favorites, like the sweet vintage Christmas pieces and my glitter Santas.

The house has taken on a bit of change over the past year and a half. The once hodgepodge sitting room is now the formal dining room – which happens to be one of my favorite rooms in the house.

So come along for a little photo journey of Christmas’ past…..

So how will I decorate this year?

No matter the year, the house always feel warmer and cozier all decked out in Christmas fluff. Having family and friends over makes it even better!

What do you think, Duhgall?

"Don’t forget the Scottie tree, Maw!!"

Happy Decorating everyone!

thankful

Every so often I go through my collection of antique children’s readers books. The artwork and the stories within the pages of these books have an innocence – a sweetness about them. The other day I picked up a book titled Standard Bible Story Readers – Book Four. It is was published back in 1927.

Do you ever open a book and discover that the content – say for example a picture or a story – grabs your attention? The other day I opened this book up to the "God's Love" poem. It was as though it was meant to be for my hands to open that book to that very page - like a special message given as a gift for the day. I immediately told God “thank you” for this. I also thank God each and every day for the blessings that He has bestowed to my family and to myself. There are times that I wonder why things happen the way they do, but I never blame God for them. Never. I can only praise Him for loving us and for being our Father.

Also inside the Bible reader are the above and below pages.

….Land of the pilgrims’ pride….from every mountainside…let freedom ring!

For peace and for plenty, for freedom for rest,

For joy in the land from the east to the west;

For the dear starry flag with its red, white and blue,

We thank Thee from hearts that are honest and true.

For walking and sleeping, for blessings to be,

We children would offer our praises to Thee;

For God is our Father, and bends from above,

To keep the round world in the smile of His love.

~~~

I am so very thankful to be a child of our God.

~~~

I am also thankful for all of you, too!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

xo

who are you?

One of my favorite collections are of old photos that are framed in beautiful metal and wood frames. They just speak to my heart. When I look into the faces of the people in the picture, I wonder who they are, what are their names and their story.

Who would get rid of your picture? Why isn’t it important enough to hold onto your image and memory?

Just look at this sweet trio. The little guy on the left reminds me of a character right out of The Little Rascals. Just look at that perfect part down the center of his hair! The clothing is fascinating, too. I am loving the laced up shoes and the imperfect ties.

Who could these handsome lads be? I am thinking a group of professionals…like bankers or doctors. What would you guess?

This is my favorite picture of all. I bought it from my friend Marcia’s shop years back and fell in love with the frame AND the photo. You see, the little boy on the left and the curly haired boy in the center look exactly – and I mean exactly – like my two boys. Even the age difference is spot on. The dog could pass for our beloved Daisy, too.

If you look reallllll close, the little curly haired boy ripped his britches……see?

Yes, poor little chap!

The old photos now have a place front and center around our home. They are special….no matter who they are or what their story is. ……You are safe with me now….not to be sold at another antique store. Maybe you could be distant relatives, too? You just never know, now do you?

square butts drive me nuts

Ever heard the saying, “Wrangler butts drive me nuts?” Wranglers do do justice to some fannies, however a Scottie’s fanny doesn’t need a tight fitting pair of blue jeans to be adorable. Love their square behind….derrière…buttocks….booty...bootay...back end. It is form fitting with their square bodies, too.

Yessssss…Mr. Duhgall! You heard me loud and clear:

“You have a nice behind!”

He thinks I have really gone off of my rocker.

Well, maybe he is right!

Pardon me while I give you a little pinch!

Challenges

Awhile back a dear friend asked me if I would be willing to teach a class on making an apron – Challenge #1. "Geesh!" – was my first thought as I have never officially sewn an apron. I have many books about how to make them and have had great intentions to do so, however I’ve just never got around to doing so.

So what kind of apron do I want to make and teach? Challenge Number #2. After mulling it over in my brain for quite sometime, I came up with a work apron, more specifically a sewing apron. I don’t know about you – but when I am creating something, there is nothing more frustrating than having to stop what I am doing and go on a search for that specific tool that I need. It doesn’t matter if it is a particular spice in a cabinet, a spoon to stir with, a scissor to cut with, a trowel to dig with…..whatever! – it just really takes away my “moe-joe”. Are you with me on that one?

This is my handy-dandy sewing apron – a four pocketed piece that has a lot of pockets here and there for my sewing tools. It is kind of a hodge-podge of mixed components – scraps of laces, vintage linens, buttons, denim pockets, ric rac and trims. I downloaded graphics from The Graphics Fairy blog to use on the apron. "Nanny" is in memory of my grandmother who was a talented seamstress and crafter.

The part that I enjoyed most about making this is that it is imperfect – crooked lines, mixed stitches and raw edges. I love imperfect! There is just something very free and easy about not having to be so accurate for once.

Now I don’t have any excuses for not being able to find my gadgets. At least that is what I am hoping for next time I sew. Next project: Challenge #3 - a very special tote bag….inspired by two very important souls in my life.

xoxo

EYE have some winners to announce & a BIG THANK YOU for today

Before I begin this post, I would like to say THANK YOU to all of the men and women who have and who are currently serving in our military. Without them, we would not have our freedom. Thank you for each and every moment that you gave so unselfishly to serve our country. Our family appreciates EACH and EVERY ONE of YOU! May God Bless you!!

I have to send a big thank you to all of you who have been just so very sweet and encouraging in my bag endeavor!! It tickles me silly to know that many of you will be making the bag now with the patterns that you have bought. Be sure to send me a photo of the finished bag so I can add it to a “Sophie’s Bloomers Bag” Flickr album. What fun that will be so see them done up in all kinds of fabrics! *giggle*

As a reminder, the giveaway was for a bag (the second to the left OR the very far right bag), a ruffled burlap runner, or a pattern. HOWEVER, because I am turning FIVE-OHHHHHHHH……why not FIVE giveaways! Shah! That’s what I’m talkin’ about!

All of the emailed entries and blog comment entries were added to the teal Bloomer Bag…..all 325 of them…..(you girls rock!)….

…and my hunkie son (with his totally cool tattooed arm) reached in and chose each winner. Thank you, Mr. S!

Here are the winners….1,2,3,4 and FIVE!

1. Susan Ramey Cleveland: winner of a Sophie’s Bloomer Bag

2. Manuela – The Pleasures of Homemaking: winner of a ruffled burlap runner

3. Glinda – a loyal blog reader & friend from Washington, DC: winner of a ruffled burlap runner

4. Marilyn – The Cutest Cottage Lamps blog: winner of a Sophie’s Bloomer Bag pattern

5. Stacie Jayne: winner of a Sophie’s Bloomer Bag pattern

Congratulations to everyone! A big ((hug)) to all who took the time to enter to win, too! Now what were the infamous Duhgall and Fiona doing whilst we picked the winners? They are NEVER too far from us – as a matter-of-fact, they were right at our feet. Duhgall was eyeballing Fiona’s red squishy ball…

…and he grabbed hold of it sooner than she could. He is such a tease…..

“Where is she?”, he asks as he looks over his shoulder.

“Oh, there you are! I have your ball, Fiona…neener, neener!”

…and he is laughing his square scottie bum off about it, too!!!

But as quickly as you can say JACK RABBIT, Fiona moves in and snags it!

You have to be fast in this family!

Again, congrats to the ladies!! I will need your addresses so that your goodies can be mailed off.

xoxo