A Forest

It's a white forest in my kitchen! Since I've been spending most of my time at the sewing machine these past two weeks, I needed a break from sewing aprons and decided to get at those bottle brush trees I bought last year.

So, I've been bleaching the trees so I can dye some of them red and keep some white.....then will add some glitz and glamour to them with lots of glitter and mercury glass beads. Some of them will be part of my Christmas decorating and some will be incorporated in my Christmas crafts. Right now they are drying on my kitchen counter...

"When I grow up I want to be just like the tall trees..."

I'm trying to keep the Christmas comin' so I feel like decorating the house!

Ahh...Christmas Decorating

Just thinking about Christmas gives me the warm cozy feeling.....but, the thought of hauling up from the basement ALL OF THOSE BOXES doesn't! I usually have my tree up by this time but I have a million things swimming around in my head - could it be because I am not even a quarter done Christmas shopping?! Could it be the mess that has been on my dining room table for the last month because I am trying to get some things listed in my etsy shop before Christmas comes and goes? Organization really is a strong suit I have but I'm not feeling that organization love right now! Where are all my Christmas helpers, elves and fairies? Don't they see the red alarm light going off on the top of my roof signaling for help?? I think they are just too busy these days helping out all those other moms who are feeling it too!

But, I know by crunch time I will have everything done, but right now the stress factor is creeping into my subconscious and messin' with my brain! Go away...go away...I am only supposed to be having "happy" thoughts right now because it is Christmas time and the Christmas music is playing where ever you go and everything looks so festive everywhere and Starbuck's has eggnog lattes and cranberry bliss bars and there are craft fairs to go to and soon it will be snowing and have that "Norman Rockwell" look.....every where except for in my house right now! Luckily I decorate with red so I do have some sort of head start on all of you out there!

As I look at the photo above it conjures up thoughts of what Christmas was like back in those "vintage" days. I'm sure it was nothing like it is now. Probably a lot simpler and low key. Decking the halls probably meant just decorating a Christmas tree and not your whole house. Yeah, I could go for living those days right now...in fact, I am going to promise myself NOT to go all out this year and keep things simple! Since it is only "me, myself and I" providing the help, I think this is the year to go streamline...a few simple things put out so that it is only a "few" simple things to put away once the time comes.

SIMPLIFY...I'm lovin' that word right now! Let the simple decorating begin....

Happy Thanksgiving

All decked out in fall finery! Here to say "Happy Thanksgiving" and may your day be filled with many blessings and much to be thankful for!

Pretty much like this today...the way it is outside and the way I'm feeling now...

Best Burger Joint

Last night after our daughter's basketball game we went out to dinner to this burger joint in Vancouver. I gotta tell you these burgers are fabulous!! I ordered a bison burger with all the fixings including bacon and grilled onions...yummy! They also have lamb burgers and beef burgers too. This has got to be the best burger I have ever had.

So, if you are visiting Vancouver, B.C. and are craving a juicy burger, be sure to visit Splitz Grill on Main Street.

Before...

After...

Altered Re-Do

A few weeks ago I began transforming my youngest daughter's bedroom into something more sophisticated and more in keeping with the decor of our home. I neglected to take any before pictures but let me set your imagination: sage green walls, country blue ceiling, green linen curtains, and years and years worth of dust bunnies and dog hair that had accumulated in all the little nooks and crannies in this room. It took a while to clean it first and then the paint process began. To keep the flow going in our house, I chose to go with the same wall color that is on the majority of our houses' walls. It seems to go with whatever I accessorize it with, so it works for me!

Once the room was painted I began the part I love the most - DECORATING!! I picked up a few goodies while on my trip to Portland knowing that I would be filling this room with most of them. The color scheme is red and black and white. I found a black and white toile bed coverlet set at our local Home Sense a while back and this is where everything else followed.

Today I altered my daughter's old dresser with some vintage sheet music. I then applied some ebony rub and buff to give it a more "old and worn" look. I love the way it turned out and I am thinking I want to move into this bedroom now!

Accessorizing the dresser with some of my neat finds...

A close up view...

Some vintage little girls shoes...

An old mirror/brush/comb set...

I fell in love with these shoes when I saw them at Monticello's antique store in Portland...

An old iron/crystal vintage lamp...

And this chandelier ties everything together with it's black crystals and red frame...love it!

All lit up...

The mannequin that used to be in my bedroom - it's better suited in this room...

Houndstooth taffeta crinoline dress and pearls...

And lastly this cute bisque doll that I found from Annie, Fannie and Abigail Antique Studio at the Queen of Tarte Barn Sale - her name is "Jolly Dolly"...

And she now resides in my home...

More of the room transformation to come...

Yachats, Oregon

A little R&R was in store after the preparing of the wedding, so my parents treated me to an overnight stay on the coast of Oregon in the town of Yachats. We stayed at The Adobe Inn where they allow our little pooches to stay with us. This place was amazing and the food at the restaurant was to die for! The seafood fettuccine I had was so delicious and full of scallops, shrimp and dungeoness crab. Yum!

We had just about cancelled our plans to go to the coast as the weatherman called for stormy weather....luckily our first day there was clear and we headed to the beach for a little walk....

No rain - yeah!

Looming skies...

My daddy and me and Lola...

I don't like the sand between my toes!

Posing...

My mom and dad and their pooch Miguelito...

Miss Lola and I...

Searching for sea life...

Sea moss...

Some weathered logs...

I like the colors of these rocks...

The aged look that the salty sea gives things...

Some plant life...

And then later on at the restaurant...Cheers!

My mom's whipping cream with Kahlua...

Martini on the rocks with olives for my dad...

And my old standby...a Cosmo...yum!

It was a great little visit and the next day the storm came - wild wind and sideways rain. Luckily we took our walk on the beach the previous day! We went to a few antique stores and then headed over to the outlets in Lincoln City. Then it was time to head back to home and leave the sea for another day...

A Harvest Wedding

Well, my sister is married off and the day turned out wonderful. No dark clouds in the sky, no rain in the forecast - just sunshine and fall-like weather. The harvest theme of the wedding suited the barn she was married in and the sun filtering through the windows cast a warm glow to the room. The food was great and the atmosphere relaxing.

The days leading up to the "DAY" were spent running around gathering up the supplies and last minute details that were needed to make the day special. We had tulle coming out of our yin yang and flowers by the thousands. It was hard to imagine just how the barn would transpire with all these "things" but in the end it looked like a professional did it. I guess I could call myself a florist, wedding decorator and a wedding planner! And a cleaner upper!

Here is my dad the day before the wedding loading up the U-Haul he had to rent to haul all of the stuff we had for the wedding.

Hanging the lights and the tulle in the barn...

Loading up the many pumpkins my dad grew for the wedding to decorate the inside and outside of the barn property...

Before all of the decorations...

My helpers I put to work on tying all of the bows and sunflowers to the backs of the chairs and also putting together 100+ napkins with raffia and fall leaves...

The arrangements my mom and me made...

Steaming the sheet for the photo-shoot backdrop area...

It's finally looking like a wedding is going to take place...

The cake corner filled with all my cake platters and antique stuff I brought from home...

And again...

Look at this cool cake that is made with old books and some lace doilies (I added the pumpkin and leaves and berries)...

Love this pumpkin!

My bouquet (my sister and I made all of the bouquets for the wedding)...

A shot of the outside of the barn...

I love the way the sun shines through these windows in the barn...

The runner and flower/candle stands...

Yumm Yumm!! Cupcakes, candy corn and wedding cake!

Waiting for the cue...

Father and daughter...

The kiss that seals the deal!

Some family shots...

A candid moment of the bride and groom...

Mom and dad with the couple...

Our whole family...

Siblings...

The girls...

Waiting for the wedding to begin...

Family...

The head table with the cake I made for them...

Cupcake anyone??

Nephew...

We can smile now that the work is over!

Their first dance as husband and wife...

Awweee......

Father/daughter dance...

Mom cuttin' loose with my other sister...

Something was funny...

Time to relax...

Little Cash stealing a treat!

Yumm yumm!

He's thinkin' about getting another...

He has eyes only for the cupcake!

Me and my sister taking advantage of the photo shoot area...

Strike a pose!

Awweee.....

Charlie's Angels 3??

Me and hubby...

Portrait time...

My sister and her hubby...

Hey there Andy!

Me and my older brother...

Throwing rice at the couple before they leave...

The happy couple...

Off into the sunset they go...

Many blessings to you Jen and Ken on your new life together! May you experience life to the fullest and always appreciate each other and what God has given you!