So long, January

You may be the #1 month on the calendar, but I suspect you'll not win any popularity prizes in 2014. Since it's all too tempting to move on, here is a small project I did today.

I gathered some of the Valentine essentials under a cloche: a book of love poems,

a faux chocolate bon bon, a candle and a heart as a head start to the sweetest holiday of the year. Are you ready to ride January out of town on a rail and plan for the 14th too? 

Have a good one,
Michele

Our feathered friends

Hello, folks,

I hope everyone is digging out from snow and ice and things are settling down.
It is warmer here today, but so far still overcast.

Mr. B is a big bird watcher and we have several feeders in a tree outside the kitchen window. Unfortunately, they are all hung too high for me to reach to fill.
A while back I picked up a pretty coral sugar bowl at a thrift shop for less than a dollar, but so far haven't figure out how to use it exactly.

Standing in the kitchen earlier this afternoon I had a brainstorm. Thus,

Now it has a job to do!

Plus, it's the best kind of project, requiring barely more effort than is needed to breathe.  I'm not knowledgeable like Mr. B is, but have enjoyed observing since we moved here. We see ordinary birds most days, had several colored parrots for a while, and once saw the circle of life up close and personal, as a hawk caught a smaller bird in flight and sat in our yard to finish its meal. Do you feed the birds where you live?

Take it easy,
Michele

Thawing out

Hi, folks,

I hope you are warm and safe now if you're in one of the parts of the country hard hit by the latest storm. We have sunshine today and higher temperatures and very grateful for this improvement indeed.

Obviously, with the storm last week and then again Tuesday there hasn't been much opportunity to go to thrift shops, but I have picked up a couple of things. Saturday Mr. B and I went to a library sale

where we got a few books, then were surprise to see a yard sale in a parking lot on the way home.The books were from the sale and the little green flower pot at the sale found the same day. I found the Starbucks mugs at Salvation Army, as well as the plates, cell phone case and picture frame. The Christmas plate is for a gift for my oldest daughter, who was born in the year it represents.

The fuzzy sweater with a big button is for the same daughter and came from Sand Dollar. I'm hoping warmer weather there will be more chances to hunt for treasure.

How has your thrifting been lately? Good or on a hiatus?

Till next time,
Michele

Tuesday

Hi, friends,

Today all my effort went to taking the Christmas picture off the top of my blog. If you knew how hard that was for me and how long it took to make it look even halfway decent you would probably think "Wow, she's an idiot." But it did take that long and now I'm tired and cranky. And cold.

See you tomorrow,
Michele

A new week

Hello, all,

This is going to have to be quick. Our weather is fine now, but supposed to crater tonight. In advance of the front, allergens are apparently fleeing in droves, heading this direction. I can hardly type for sneezing!

Last week I did a small project and then took a picture of it. However, when attempting to get the image from the camera to the computer there was an issue. Which is weird, because it's the same way I've always transferred pictures since getting the laptop for Christmas. Today upon trying the same method it worked just fine. AAARRRGGGHHH! Do you think computers do this just to mess with us? It seems all too likely.

January is getting old fast, what with the birthday marathon and bad weather, so my thoughts moved ahead to February. Here is the re-done shadowbox with thoughts of all things sweet and loving:

A string of wooden hearts, a candle and a little pitcher with a red rose in it, a small step towards a different month with a great holiday. 

And now I must go in search of more tissues. I hope wherever you are you're able to stay safe and warm away from the next polar event.

Later,

Michele

Mini Project for Tuesday

Hi, Friends,

Is it as hard for you to believe that we're three weeks into January as it is for me? Or is time moving at a slower rate for you?

Recently I rearranged the setup where I work on my laptop. Instead of a desk, it's on an old kidney-shaped dressing table from a thrift shop. It's pretty rough and not refurbished at all, but for $8.00 it had to go home with me. It still has the swing-out arms and thumbtack holes from an earlier incarnation where it wore a skirt. Recently I moved it from the wall in one corner 90 degrees so it's in front of a window now. My bulletin board is there, because the view is straight across the street to our useful neighbor's forecourt at J E and A Mechanics. 

Moving it left a section of bare wall to my right, so for the first time since 2008 and the great Ike disruption there is a place to hang this:

It's a very common wood-framed blackboard from Ikea, but still handy to have.

To my left:

Sorry about the glare. That is actually a sheet of wrapping paper framed sitting by the cat tree where Freckles is having a wash. There are actually two of the poster frames, but the one above it has an obstruction sticking out that I didn't have the energy to find a ladder and fix. It's different titles but a similar effect.

There you have my workspace, pretty modest but it's fine for now. The new position of the table was a good idea, and I'm glad it finally dawned on me to hang the blackboard in the newly vacated space. Does a new year make you re-think space, storage and use around your home? 

Take it easy,

Michele

A good time to read

Hello, all, I hope your Monday has gone well so far.

I don't know about you, but often this time of year my thoughts turn to well loved books and a period of re-reading begins. If you like historical fiction and you've never run into the series about the Sprague and Day families by Elswyth Thane you are in for a treat. Although called The Williamsburg Novels, actually in subsequent books they leave Virginia for other places in the world. The story begins with the time around the Revolutionary War in America and finishes soon after the start of WWII in England.

In order the titles are:

Dawn's Early Light

Yankee Stranger

Ever After

followed by:

The Light Heart

Kissing Kin

This Was Tomorrow

finishing with:

Homing

This is a multi-generational saga of two families who intermarry so there are both recurring characters and  younger newcomers to carry the stories along. They are truly addicting, and no doubt I'm not the only fan who was sad she stopped with Homing, leaving a lot of interesting possibilities up in the air. These are books that stay with you peopled by men and women you learn to care deeply about. My set was accumulated at library sales and in used book stores over several years. They are a treasure of wonderful reading. If you've never heard of them, you're in for a treat. 

Do you re-read old books periodically?  Are series, rather than stand alone titles among your favorites, because what reader doesn't always want more, more, more? 

Till next time,

Michele