Dinner Guest

I had a delicious beef stew for dinner at my friend Norma's house a week or so ago and I just had to post this image of one of our uninvited dinner guests - Pavvy. I thought this was so funny...and I felt slightly guilty eating in front of her. What's with the tablecloth disquise...did she think I couldn't see her? You'd think she'd want me to see her! hehe

I'm thinking "Curtains"

I think the year is upon me to dress up my windows. I have a set of lovely, old cotton Shabby Chic curtains in British Rose in my bedroom and a glorious set of blue/white toile cotton curtains in my family room.

But the library, family room, kitchen, spare bedroom and studio have something make-shift and not-so-attractive covering them and I am tired of it! I just got the new "Country Curtains" catalog in the mail and am drooling over some of their new patterns.


Do check them out online - they have well made curtains and I have ordered many times from them and they are great to work with! All the toile curtains and bedding in my house came from them. I especially love the new Apple Blossoms curtains in a linen/cotton mix. The pink is very appealing but my cottage is all blue & white so I sent for a free swatch of the blue version - but that pink keeps calling to me because its so fresh and feminine! I was thinking of using this pattern in the living room where I currently have those inexpensive sheer panels from IKEA on each picture window - not enough privacy!! I need lace panels under the living room curtains so I thought the Balmoral Lace in white would work best.

Country Curtains also sells rods that allow for a double layer of curtains. For the library, which will have blue/white ticking stripe wallpaper up soon, I thought the Sophia pattern in a soft floral toile on white would work best in there. The room faces south and west to the backyard and gets loads of beautiful sunlight which gives the small room a great feeling so I wanted to keep the curtains light and airy too. I have it all planned, now all I need is my tax refund! But I do feel this is the year to get some decent curtains up on my windows! Its such a large area, it gets noticed immediately so its important to have them look good - right?

Turning my thoughts to House Projects

The ornaments are down and put away until next year and now my thoughts turn to the projects I had put on hold while I enjoyed the holiday season. I work best when under pressure and so I decided to add some pressure to ensure some of those "on-hold" projects get done in a timely manner! I have a large yard in dire need of help so I hope to spend spring and summer outside tending to it, so, having the interior projects done before we thaw out will help me concentrate on the yard when the time comes. I've decided to have a February tea party! Nothing will make me whip the rooms into shape faster then the thought of 30 style-savvy women descending upon my little house, looking to see what I have accomplished! I have until February 20th to get a long list done but if I write on a calender what I'll do each night once home from work, I can make some progress. First up: finish that hutch! Second: finish painting the family room's walls and adding the stencil. Then there's the coffee table in need of a couple coats of white - and the cedar trunk that I want to turn into a replica of a 17th C. dowry chest. OH! And the wallpaper needs to go up in the library. The list goes on...no TV for a month!

I got some new CD's to keep my ears happy while I work - all 1940's pop and Big Band. Happy music! Then the new Country Curtains catalog came yesterday in the mail and in it I find the curtains I want for my library ("Sophia") to match the blue ticking wallpaper. And the "Apple Blossoms" linen curtains (in blue) for the living room... I see alot of people on other blogs talking about their "word for the year". My word for the year is "COMPLETION". I have alot of unfinished projects that I'd like to get done so I'm not embarrassed anymore when someone comes over and sees the same project half done as it was several months before when they last visited! hehe

Dreams of a Vacation

It happens every year for me, about this time. Christmas is over, the new year upon us and I start to get spring fever. My cats already have it - they have been racing through the house at break-neck speeds, springing up and over furniture. I hear meowling (half meow-half howl) coming from the windowsills as flicking tails part the curtains.
I feel like meowling myself right now!
The arrival in the mail of the new Jung's seed catalog isn't helping - I am planning to get that new hydrangea on the cover...

I could use a vacation but none are in sight for me. Still, I can dream!
If I could be on my way any where right now, it would be the French Riviera - how about you?

Here's a fun collage I put together of my dream vacation on the Riviera.

Signs of the Holidays

The house is taking on the signs of the holidays! Glittery lights, a tree in the window, candles aglow on the mantel and a darned good port wine on the sideboard I can't leave alone! (Quinta Do Crasto). But nothing says Christmas more then a frosted pine wreath on a red front door!

A 1920's French Bakery Station

...at least, that is what I feel it is. Kind of French looking - very Shabby Chic.

I think Rachel Ashwell would be proud of me!!

I took in a renter (Jon) who is now occupying the bedroom up under the eaves and as a "thank you" for welcoming him into my home, he gifted this beautiful piece to me!! (he loves old furniture and has a rented storage room full of unique pieces)

It is naturally crackled in a soft cream with a matching patterned glass back splash. The metal towel bar and handle have a beautiful patina. He wants to do a few repairs on it for me and then he said I am free to paint it or do whatever I want with it!
I will have to think about this...might just leave as-is! I know it will be a sideboard in the dining area and will hold a silver tray with glass & silver liquor decanters on it.
The white marble is cracked but I LOVE it anyways and it will stay - Jon will clean the crack so it's not so obvious.

I feel so lucky to have this piece!!