Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to everyone. A festive night is planned for us. The kids will be joining their friends and we will do the same. It's cold and icy outside - a good time to stay close to home.

Monday 2 of my 3 will return to school and my regular routine will resume. I have to get started on the Valentine swaps in which I am participating. Last night I worked on a few ideas for the Prim and Whimsy swap. It has to fit into a 5" box.

Tuesday I start my woodworking class. I have done it before and love it. Nothing easy for me - I have made 2 tables and a headboard. The headboard was copied from one I saw in the Pottery Barn catalog. This session I am making window valances for the den. I have been toying with the idea for a long time and finally decided to do it. More projects to photograph and post lol.

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Post Christmas relaxation

I am home alone and loving the solitude. Just my Ipod with favorite tunes, a cup of java and my blog. As exciting and fun as the preparations are, it is nice to have time to relax. I don't know what it is like at your house, but here "Mom makes Christmas".

With the crazy weather we are having in the Midwest, we will fore go any travel staying cozy and safe at home. Last night I joined 8 dear women for an evening of champagne, dessert and close friendship. All of us have children within a few years of each other and we raised them together.
We have been thru the ups and downs of life together and have lived to laugh at most of it.

Katie, the hostess, was my next door neighbor when I was pregnant with my first. At the time she had only Emily. When Matt was a toddler, the two of them played together. Now Katie has 6 and Em is in Grad school! Katie's house was drop dead gorgeous with Christmas greenery and decorations. Her live tree was in an urn about 24" - 30" high. The tree itself was probably 5 feet. She filled the urn with pea gravel and water, inserted the tree, and voila! Instant charm!!!
It was beautiful.

My New Year's resolution is to post regularly on my blog and to add pictures. Easy enough, let's see if I can keep this one.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

The BEST swap partner

I recently received my package from the reluctant farm chik. It was for the Very Vintage Christmas Swap organized by Heidi at Foxgloves, Fabric and Folly. Deidre proved to be the perfect partner.

We emailed a few times to get to know each others likes and style and she read between the lines! First there was my very favorite candle. How thoughtful to send it! And the cards that she made blew my socks off. They are creative, pretty, perfect and very, very useful. Then 2 ornaments - I always buy in twos because I have two children - that are large clear glass balls filled will iridescent shred and appliqued with white stickers depicting Santa on one and a snowflake on the other. So very cute. My favorite, a recipe box that opens to reveal a scrapbook for family memories be they recipes or photos. Of course, my new BFF did an excellent job of designing the lid and the accordion style pages inside!!!

I will post pictures as soon as I can get my hands on a camera.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Brrrr... it's getting cold

The weather has turned cold. I walk at 6am every day and it is dark and nippy! We are expecting warmer air tomorrow and Friday so the kids with have a great trick or treating day.
I am anxiously awaiting an email from Mommy Holly with the name of my swap partner. She came up with a wonderful idea for a Holiday Swap - Sparkle and Glitter! My package from the Hot Drinks apron swap should arrive any day.

Christmas is sneaking up and I love all the planning and decorating that goes along with it. Last weekend was my favorite holiday show. It is always the weekend before Halloween and I have been going with the same friends for about 20 years. Each year I buy less, but it is still something I look forward to and enjoy totally. My daughter mentioned going downtown soon which is something we do every year around Christmas. She misses a day of school, we leave early and return late. Just the two of us enjoying each other.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

a glorious October weekend

We attended the wedding of a close friend's daughter this past Saturday. The weather could not have been better - high 70's and sunny. The bride was breath takingly beautiful as was the entire event. Lots and lots of fun thanks to great food, fun friends and a spectatular band.

Sunday I decided to decorate for Halloween on a very small scale. It's the taking down and putting away that I find daunting. Many of the gourds I grew were attacked by a vicious, white worn. The ones I saved are gracing an outdoor wall hanging and look very festive. Not to be discouraged, I will try to grow a more productive crop of gourds next year.

I put my fall apron swap package in the mail this morning. Now it is on to the Sparkle and Glitter swap from mommyholly and two other holiday swaps for which I've signed up. Swaps are so much fun. The only problem is that they get in the way of more important things I need to do - like clean the house!

Friday, October 3, 2008

I'd Like to Introduce Myself

This is my first post and I am a little apprehensive about blogging. Other blogs I've read have been so interesting and colorful and fun. I feel like I have nothing to contribute to this network of amazing women. That being said...

I am the mother of two great kids. My son is a college junior and my daughter is a high school junior. My husband of 37 years has provided me with the luxury of being an at home Mom for the past 20 years. I LOVE to bake. It is my source of relaxation. And when I am not baking, I enjoy making things from paper, wood, fabric or whatever else catches my eye. Oh, and reading blogs and joining swaps. Must remember to take pictures of everything and learn how to post them.