Random Bits

 A selection of this and that...

Circular iron piece used for a vintage jewelry display in guest bedroom

Art journal page with hope message in flowers

Hutch has flower paintings I've collected by different artists.

Art journal page with flowers in a gray jug

Teachers past and present...long hours and awesome responsibilities

                                                          bird cutout on art journal page

A Few Changes

This bookshelf was given to me by my former mother-in-law. I had children's books on it for a long time. Now it's being used in the kitchen to display some of my bowl collection.

 It was Xenia King's bedside table when she was a little girl growing up in Boston, Massachusetts. She kept her storybooks on the shelves. She gave me three of her childhood books that have her young signature inside. (I need to search for them; they are stored away somewhere around here. A future post may be about her, those storybooks, and other mementos she shared.)

I took the Flea Market sign down from the corner cupboard in the apartment and brought it to the top of the hutch. You can tell some of the things I love to collect from the displays on the hutch.

Old and new blocks were dumped into this recent basket purchase.

I liked that the basket had a lid and handles.

Finally this golden rooster is a new addition to the kitchen windowsill.

Sunday Paintings

On Sunday I happened upon a Sunday Painting. And the price was a steal! In one of my simple journaling notebooks I had saved a clipping from the July/August 1999 Country Home magazine. It mentioned the charm of amateur paintings. Of course, I agree they are charming and am always thrilled when I spot one to my liking.

no date or signature

April is a good month for getting out and treasure hunting.

Good luck in all that you do!

Thanks for visiting. 

Interiors

Maybe now that snow and bitter cold are gone, I can get back to a regular routine. I have put off exercising, decluttering, organizing, and lots more. My energy has been low, and my moods have been melancholy. In other words, I have become lazy.

The interiors of our house are back to normal. Figurines are once again on the top of the bookcase.

Every day look of the mantel and hearth is back.

The hutch has its usual appearance. 

This is our favorite area in the evening. 

My plan is to maintain a better schedule in the weeks ahead.

Easier said than done.

Odds and Ends

Closet space with inspirational treasures

This Vicki Boutin book was a Goodwill bargain.

One of her technique suggestions made use of a white crayon.

I tried it on a couple of ministry cards.

Love the greens and tans on the hallway hutch 

I have had this painted scene since a 1971 honeymoon visit to New Orleans.

A plain brown frame at Goodwill had this wonderful mat which worked great with this small oil picture.

Our cat Oreo had three sweet kittens. We finally got around to naming them.

Socks, Spice, and Midnight Blue

Spice and Socks

Midnight Blue

We're having hot weather in the nineties in West Tennessee.

But that's okay since we had a long spell of rainy days.

I love that Tennessee has four distinct seasons.
It's summertime now, but autumn is not that far away.
Take care. Each day we have is a blessing.

Green is a happy color

Whether I'm outside or inside, green is very visible these days. 

My husband enjoys mowing, and I enjoy gardening. He is outside far more than me. Today I delighted in seeing these:

 pretty pink primroses                                                         peonies about to open

                                                        

another iris

Oreo was also checking out the garden.

Hopefully I can fill a few more containers on the porch and patio.

But with prices being what they are, it's doubtful.

Since the large furniture around here stays in place, I content myself with moving smaller objects. You will recognize some of these dear old pieces, and 

a few happen to be green.

Bottles, flower frogs, and oil  paintings remain favorite things.

 My paternal grandmother gave me the cobalt blue vase when I was a little girl. I have it displayed in my guest bedroom where there is more green than blue. The butterfly was a piece my brother gave me years ago(back in the time period of hippies). Later I added the chain.

 One day when I wore the necklace, Ron was amazed that I had managed to hang onto that butterfly. On that particular day we had been visiting Mother and sharing sibling memories of the past. We talked about the items we save and the stories behind them. 

While looking through a Somerset Studio art magazine, I ran across this message on a piece of artwork -

l i v e 

h a p p i l y

Whether inside or outside, I'm going to try to do just that.

Christmas Chest

 

This green chest with eighteen drawers was a recent happy

find at Plantation Antiques. I have had a lot of fun tucking a Christmas token in each drawer. Nicolas was here yesterday, and I would only let him peek inside drawers 1-2-3-4. When he visits again, he'll get to catch up any days that have passed. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The hutch is a favorite furniture piece to decorate at Christmas.

 

 

 

 

 

Decorating the Hutch

This nativity is one of the first decorations I unpack and display . . . a wedding gift from the 70's. The roof of the stable is missing some straw . . . the animals have a few nicks . . . but the pieces were lovingly handled by children who grew up and now have homes of their own.

I know you recognize the Merry banner. Here are three of the letters up close.

The hutch is one of my favorite pieces of furniture. It has been with me through three house moves.

I snapped this photo 'cause I want to share decorating on a budget. The wreath is several years old, but the gold spiral trees are new. Although I have been looking for vintage bottle brush decorated trees, these are wonderful substitutes. They were at Walgreens this year. The one dollar price tag on each little beauty was my kind of bargain. They came in several different colors, but I liked the gold ones best.

I've enjoyed sharing this first installment of Christmas decorating around the house. Come back and visit anytime. And I certainly want to thank those who have taken the time to leave comments. You make me smile. Thanks again!