a few minutes of diversion ~ decorating

Hello friends, how is everyone doing? I'm definitely going stir-crazy and have moments where I feel sad and/or anxious, but I know everyone else is feeling the same. The main thing is that we all stay well and healthy. I'm enjoying reading on blogs and social media what everyone is doing to stay sane and upbeat...there's a lot of good ideas out there. I've been puttering with decor and rearranging some things, walking every day outside every day even though the weather is still pretty crappy (it feels good to get some fresh air and exercise; grateful we can at least go outside!), practicing yoga, cleaning out drawers and closets (ho hum!), talking every day via text or phone with friends and family members, reading, and doing even more cooking. I even tried my hand at acrylic painting, though it pretty much looked like a five-year old got into the paints.

To take your mind off the pandemic for a few minutes, I thought I'd share some of my latest putterings with you...

I didn't do much decorating for Easter. If we can't get together with family or friends, I feel there's not much of a point. I do like some of my bunny decor though, so I made a vignette on the dresser in the guest room.

I lightened up the china cabinet for spring and used washi tape to line each shelf.

The washi tape was such an easy, quick way to add a little cheer, so I stuck a couple of strips on the shelves on the kitchen wall, as well.

This yellow spring chick that I've had for years adds a little whimsy under the spider plant.

That's a new philodendron plant on top of the china cabinet. I grabbed a couple of plants when we had to run to Home Depot a few days ago for specialty light bulbs.

Here's the other plant - some sort of succulent - on top of my fridge. 

 The console table in the living room got a couple of small changes. The blue bottle used to be on the ledge of the wall cut-out, and I also added a couple of little bunnies.

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Do you remember my lamp dilemma in Brian's office? I couldn't decide whether to keep this lamp, as it wasn't the right height with the "window" above the black cube unit. Well, once I put a couple of books under the lamp and added decor to the cube and the shelf, I decided I liked the lamp after all. Brian likes it, too and said the lamp gives off the perfect reading light for when he's sitting in the arm chair. We still need a rug for this room, but I haven't found "just the right one" online yet.

Back to the Coronavirus (my few minutes of decorating diversion are up), Brian and I have been playing cards and board games on the days he's home from work. He's in the emergency services field, so yes, he's still working outside the home. Clementine loves to be wherever we are, which often means right in the middle of one of our games.

Lastly, I'll leave you with this piece that I just read on Facebook.
Love to you all!

******************

We (all of us) are currently going through

a collective traumatic experience.

Trauma is often thought of as "too much, too fast“…

which is exactly what’s happening.

Of course you’re exhausted. Of course you’re afraid.

Of course you’re overwhelmed. Of course you’re

clinging to certainty in the midst of so much unknown.

Of course you aren’t as productive, feeling foggy,

or wondering how you can possibly go through

so many waves of emotions all in the same day.

This all makes so much sense in the context

of our circumstances. Be gentle with yourself.

Have compassion for your process.

Give yourself grace. You are good,

no matter how you are managing

this completely new experience.

(Lisa Olivera)

on weather, wine corks and little indulgences

 This is ice on the inside of my bedroom window this morning, you guys. (We say "you

guys" here in the Midwest in reference to "everyone".) I know the house needs new windows,

but c'mon. It was -12F this morning  ~ almost -30F with the wind chill factor. Needless to say,

 I'm plenty tired of winter. I also noticed from this photograph that the view out this window is

mostly houses. When we first moved into this house almost 25 years ago, there were 

no houses beside us or in back of us. It was all wooded land. I used to watch the deer and

 fat groundhogs come out of the woods from this window. I really miss that. 

Thanks for all the suggestions on fillers for my lamp base. I decided to try the wine corks

for now. I had a bowl filled with corks next to the wine rack in the family room, so I 

dumped them into the lamp base. I obviously need a lot more. So, I either need to up my 

vino consumption, or ask friends and family to start saving wine corks for me. 

Do you ever buy yourself presents? Not the usual clothes or things for the house, but

maybe a little something that makes you smile or that you "just had to have"? A couple

of weeks ago, I came across this Buzzfeed article:

23 Awesome Mugs Only Book Nerds Will Appreciate.

I loved just about every one of those mugs. And since I'm a cat lover as well,

I decided to treat myself to this mug. I think it's rather groovy and delightful.
This is one side; the other side advertises The Strand.

  If you're not familiar with this bookstore, The Strand (which I wasn't until I heard about it
 from Claudia at Mockingbird Hill Cottage), it's "18 miles of new, used and rare books"
 in New York City. I would love to visit this bookstore in person someday. 
(Note to self: make a Bucket List.)

 How's the weather where you live? 

Have you bought yourself any little goodies lately?

staying out of the thrift shops - kind of

Believe it or not, this die-hard thrifter has been staying out of Goodwill. When I started 

cleaning out the basement last year (and I still have a long way to go), I decided I
 wasn't bringing in any more stuff that I truly didn't love or didn't have a use for. Since last fall,
 I've only been in Goodwill maybe three or four times. A record! From those few times, I did

 find three things that I have a use for and have a secret little crush on, too.

I've always wanted a mini Bundt cake pan but I certainly wasn't going to pay $25+.

So I was excited to find one made by Nordic Ware ~ and bonus that it's vintage,

in good condition, and a pretty color, too.

Now to find some delicious bundt cake recipes that aren't heavy on the sugar!

There's two finds in this photo below: the lamp with the clear glass bottom and the large 

basket in the middle. I don't know about you, but I can never have too many baskets to help

with organizing just about anything. This one's perfect for holding magazines and the

Sunday newspaper. I've seen similar baskets at places like Hobby Lobby and Michaels

and they're about $25. This one is better quality - it's so sturdy! - and it was only $3.

Now, about that lamp. The Goodwill that I go to gets donations from Target. When I spied

this brand-new Target lamp for $12.99, you'd better believe I snatched it up! I put it in

my cart and then went to a more open area where I could examine it to make sure nothing

was wrong with it. It was perfect. Now I just have to decide what to use to fill the base. I saw

on Kate's Place blog that she turned her clear lamp base into a faux terrarium. I'm still

thinking about that option. Any other unique ideas?

Here's the best part: When I was in Target a couple of weeks ago, I saw my lamp.

I could not believe that it was on sale for $44.99. Original price $49.99. Did I score

a deal or what?!

Have you been thrifting lately? If so, any good finds?

Joining Cozy Little House Tweak it Tuesday for today's post.