weekend visits with family and monday business

 Hello, friends ~ how was your weekend? It sure was good to see Tim this past

Friday. We helped him with his taxes, took him grocery shopping and for a haircut,

then went out to dinner at a 50's-style burger place. I also brought him a bunch

of frozen meals. When I cook dinner at home, I package up the leftovers in freezer

bags or containers and then take the whole lot to Tim's place when we visit. He's

not a cook, so he appreciates some good home cooking. I enjoyed seeing some of

the projects Tim's been working on in school, including pinhole photography and 

print-making. He's a really talented artist and photographer ~ can't wait to see where

it all takes him someday.

 On Saturday, I spent the day with my mom. I helped her with some decorating

ideas, then we went to a thrift shop (didn't find anything) and went out to lunch.

Mom has a lovely house and it's decorated so pretty, but she likes when I help

her with organizing and rearranging - my strong suits. Here's one of her

bookcases in the family room. Books and decor scattered willy-nilly and piles

 of paperwork that don't belong in a bookcase.

Here's the after when I was done cleaning out and rearranging...

And I have to show you the dressers that Mom just re-did. They're amazing.

My parents had these dressers forever. I don't remember them ever having any

other furniture in their bedroom. I only have one "before" photo - of the tall dresser.

You can see how beat up it was.

And here's the "after". Isn't it beautiful? Mom has photos of my dad, some of

his favorite books, and his valet box (oops, her dainty teapcup is photobombing)

as a memory grouping on top of this dresser.

Here's the longer dresser. I just can't believe the transformation. They look

like totally different pieces of furniture. 

 

Showing you some things in Mom's house wouldn't be complete without a

photo of her darling dog, LuLu. Doesn't she look like a stuffed animal?

I swear that pup is smiling.

I know we're all sick of seeing it, hearing about it, and shoveling it, but that

nasty white stuff just started again. We're in for 4-8" and it's going to be

heavy and wet. I always worry about Brian driving home from work in this

weather, especially since he has a long commute. I'm staying home and

getting things done around the house, including making a quinoa salad and

a pot of soup. Happy Monday, everyone.

eternal love

Happy Valentine's Day! Brian got the day off work and we are heading out in a bit

to spend the day with Tim. While Brian helps Tim work on his taxes, I'll head

to Barnes and Noble and get a cup of coffee and browse the books and magazines.

We'll then take Tim grocery shopping (he's without a car ~ we're still helping him 

look for one) and then we'll all go out to dinner at a Thai restaurant. I'm looking

forward to spending my day with two of the people that I love most in this world.

Speaking of love and family, you might recall my post from January 13th where I

announced that I won a giveaway from The Moski Homes blog. I got to pick a

fabric-wrapped wire word from Jane at Planet Joy. I wanted a word to go over the

family photo in my office and asked you all for some suggestions. Thanks for all

who offered their help and lovely thoughts. I ended up choosing the word, "eternal".

Isn't it beautiful?

I haven't hung it on the wall. I just have it propped on top of the picture for now.

Haven't decided if I'm going to leave it this way or hang it a little higher.

Jane also sent me two hanging hearts, which I have hanging from a dresser knob.

Yes, love goes on, even in death. 

Eternal love.

Philip will always be with us.

lighten up ~ changes in the living room

 I know it's still 36 days until spring (yes, I'm counting) but I was getting kind of

tired of the heavy tabletop look in my entryway. I wanted to change out the dark

tray and bird and the thick, gold candlesticks.

I used the new thrifted basket and a couple of white candle holders

to lighten up the space. Sorry for the grainy photo - it's cloudy today.

 I decided to change the vignette on the buffet in the living room, too, especially

after being inspired by Penny's miniature book cloche...

Here's my buffet before...you will notice I had pine cones and brown decorative

balls under the cloche.

 And here's the buffet now with mini books under the cloche. I also traded the
gold clock for a gold and blue bowl, but I think I like the clock better.

Thanks for stopping by ~ it makes my day when you leave such lovely comments!

Linking up to Green Willow Pond What We Accomplished Wednesday

  It's another frigid day here in the Chicago suburbs: -7F when I woke up.  So when it

 warms up to 31 whopping degrees on Thursday, it will seem positively balmy, right?

 How was your weekend? I ran into a couple of resale shops and also saw the 

movie August: Osage County with a friend. One of my favorite actresses is Meryl

 Streep and she certainly didn't disappoint in this movie. But, wow...you talk about a

 rather depressing movie! It'll make your own dysfunctional family seem almost normal. 

;-)

I only found a few things on my thrifting adventures this weekend, but that's

OK. The one "big" thing I found - which I will share near the end - was thrilling

enough for me. 

I love this wire basket. The checkout lady even said how pretty it would be with

 glass bottles full of flowers in it. I told her that's exactly what I was planning on 

doing with it. 

Since I love hearts, this wooden Swedish heart caught my eye. I'm not

sure what it says...I ran it through the Google Translate site and part of it 

comes up as "No matter where I am" and "happiness in God". If anyone out

there is familiar with Swedish and can translate this, please let me know.

Another thing I love and collect...nesting dolls. I thought these Santas were

really cute.

I had to dig through bins full of silverware to find all the matching pieces, but

I loved the hammered ends on this silverware. I only have one set of everyday

silverware and seems we are always running out of spoons. I figured I could

use this extra silverware for now, and then someday when Tim gets his own

place, this set could be his. And the entire set was less than $2!

So, here is my big find. Target donates their leftover clearance items to a local

Goodwill store. This table had the original Target sticker of $79.99 on it and a clearance

sticker of $55.98. Goodwill's price was $14.99 but I had a 30% off coupon, plus 

another 5% off for spending $20 in total purchases, so I got this table for $10!

I walked by it a couple of times, trying to decide if I should get it or not. I noticed

a couple of other people eyeballing it too, so I grabbed it before one of them

could make off with it. I wanted to use it somewhere in my living room, but after

playing with it in a few different spots, it just didn't work in there. So I'm going

to use it as a nightstand in the work-in-progress guest room.

Now I must get busy with some things around the house and a quick errand.

I have yoga class tonight so I want to make a pasta dish and salad ahead

of time. Happy Monday - enjoy your day.

 "Life is short and we have never too much time for gladdening the hearts of those

who are traveling the dark journey with us. Oh be swift to love, make haste to be

kind." (Henri Frederic Amiel, 19th century Swiss philosopher and poet)

Knowing my love my for stitched hearts and that I don't sew, out of the kindness and

generosity of HER heart, I received these beautiful hearts in the mail yesterday

 from Carol of Art and Sand.

Look at the detail in every one of these beauties...

I have them displayed in a wire basket on my kitchen table.

Aren't they just perfect in my home?

 I hope that everyone's hearts are filled with love today ~ whether from a friend,

a family member, a beloved pet, or even a stranger. And don't forget to spread

a little of that love around yourself.

snow, soup, and books

Title sounds cozy, doesn't it? Guess it would be if we were at the beginning of

winter and we were delighted with the newness of a fresh snowfall and the wonder

of being cuddled up on the sofa with a good book. But that gets old really quick.

This is what it looked like out my front door this morning. And that was after Brian

had already shoveled at 4:30 a.m. before going to work. Yes, he's an early riser.

He starts work at 7 a.m., has a longish commute, and works out before he starts

his shift. But we were both wide awake at 3:30 this morning anyway. Happens a

 lot. Wonder what's up with that? I could blame my insomnia on hormones. Maybe

Brian's going through manopause?!

Snow mountains. Just keep piling it on.

 I realized I never showed you all my completed Ikea bookcases in the downstairs

family room. I love them - and so glad we chose the white ones.

I know that by having a basement I'm blessed to have room for all my books.

 This isn't even all of them. I have more on the sofa table and upstairs in a couple

 more small bookcases. I have books in every room except for the bathrooms! 

No, that won't be next.

With all this snow, today's a perfect baking and cooking day. I'm making this recipe

for Cinnamon Swirl Banana bread and tonight's dinner will be Loaded Baked Potato Soup.

I don't have any heavy cream like the recipe calls for, so I'll substitute half and half.

Hope it turns out OK by doing that.

 (source)

Oh - and I'm feeling perfectly fine now. Why I had a sore throat and headache

and felt so tired for just two days, who knows. I took a natural supplement called

Allibiotic (NOW Foods - has oregano oil, elderberry extract, and olive leaf extract

in it - I swear by this stuff!) and upped my citrus intake. I've been putting fresh

lemon in my water and tea and have been eating several clementines or a 

grapefruit every day. I'd like to think all of this is what helped me not to become

truly sick. Anyway, happy Wednesday and stay warm! 

Linking up to Cozy Little House - Tweak it Tuesday

Green Willow Pond - What We Accomplished Wednesday

inside and outside

I'm not feeling well today. Not truly sick, but feeling crappy. Little bit of everything ~

stuffiness, sore throat, headache, tired. I'm just doing some quiet things around the

 house today, but I don't have enough energy to go to yoga tonight.

 Have you heard of this book? It's a must-read. I was sucked in when the prologue 

had already  brought tears to my eyes. You can read the book description

 here, on amazon.

 I'm making bone broth in the slow cooker. Sure wish I had've started this yesterday

so that I'd have some for today when I'm not feeling my best. I'm letting it simmer in the
slow cooker for 24 hours. It has so many health benefits - boosts your immune system

and improves digestion. I've been reading a lot about it online and have heard first-hand

testimonials on how wonderful it is. I have a young friend with Cystic Fibrosis. She

finally had a double lung transplant last September. Before her transplant, she was

gravely ill. She couldn't keep any food down except for the bone broth that my mother
made for her. She literally lived off this stuff.

Made a little "love" vignette.

I'm finally working on a mini scrapbook for a neighbor-friend. This proves what

a procrastinator I am...her birthday was last August and this was supposed to

be her birthday present. I feel so guilty! I told her last fall, "Maybe it'll be done

in time for Christmas!" Geez, not even that. Valentine's Day, perhaps? Our kids

all grew up together from when they were babies and toddlers. Her oldest is now

 married and a nurse; my oldest is deceased due to addiction.

Later update: I received an email from one of my readers saying that she didn't 
realize that my son had passed away from addiction. She had always assumed that 
he had passed away from an illness or accident. If you're interested, here's a couple 
of links from last year's posts where I talk about Phil and his life and struggles:

what would've been 
honesty about a delicate subject 

  My friend's youngest works at the same place she does and is a body builder, and
my  youngest is an  artist, photographer, drummer, and college student. You look at
 all  these beautiful, young, innocent faces and wonder what is to come...

This precious kitty - my Zippo - is worrying me. He'll be 15 in April and just seems to be

rapidly showing signs of aging. He's lost so much muscle mass and his fur isn't as shiny

as it used to be. He sees an excellent veterinarian who is also a holistic vet. A couple

of months ago when Zippo saw the vet, he put Zippo on some homeopathic drops

to help strengthen his stomach and other internal organs. But I noticed yesterday

that Zippo is even losing his voice! He loves to stand by the door and meow at me

to tell me he wants to go out (which is not happening), but is meow is gravely and

hoarse. Brian told me that early this morning, Zippo opened his mouth to meow and

no sound came out. I think I'd better call the vet. We call Zippo our "Million Dollar Kitty",

but he's worth every penny.

  

This is where Zippo wants to be...frolicking in the snow under the bright, blue sky.

Look at that color today! Isn't it beautiful? Too bad it's so darn cold. It was -6F when

we got up this morning and now it's "warmed up" to 18F.

And there's no end in sight for the snow. We had another 4" this weekend and more

to come tomorrow into Wednesday. The Chicago area has had over 52" of snow
 already this season! I have to admit that when the sun is shining and the snow is

pristine in my back yard, the view is beautiful. Though I'd much rather see the grass.

Happy Monday, everyone. Stay well, be happy, be peaceful.