Goodbye 2010

It has been a year of endings, beginnings, blessings, and lots of things that made me smile. Thanks for your part in making this a wonderful year.  Happy New Year!

I'm Dreaming Again

I love to celebrate the Christmas season as long as possible; however, cleaning up from Christmas Eve dinner is something that has to be faced today - I've already ignored and neglected the task too long as it is.

Like decorating the tree and the house for the season, I love preparing for our special Christmas Eve dinner - the meal as well as the table - linens, china, silver, place cards.


Unfortunately, I never find the same enthusiasm when it comes time to put the scene in reverse. Somehow the excitement I felt just a few days ago, as I unboxed china, searched in doors and doors for table linens, place card holders, and special serving piece, has been replaced with a feeling of drudgery. In my rationale for putting the task off until today, I have concluded that the reason for this delay and less-than-festive attitude could easily be resolved. If everything had a place - a designated place for every item - then I'm sure I would return the china, glasses, candlesticks, and everything else with a cheery smile on my face.

My solution to turn this gloomy face into a smile would start with storage.

But my fantasy storage is not 'in' my kitchen - I want a ROOM - not just

a pantry or a closet.

 I'd design a clever little entrance - maybe like this...

or this...

or maybe even more grand, like this, where I can actually 'see' what is stored.

Certainly, glass doors would not be optional.

Oh, another grand idea - a ladder to help me reach those top shelves.

I'd make sure to plan some extra tall spaces for those items

that never seem to fit anywhere.

My trays would have their very own display niche, too. No more stacking!

         My room would have a little sink for watering my plants and a sunny window

to make them smile. And, of course some extra counter space

for my "I don't know where to put this" / "I'll just set it here for now" items.

My table linens would not be forgotten.

                               No more standing over the ironing board pressing table linens.  I'd have a special place just for a rotary streamer - maybe not in your fantasy,

but I really do enjoy ironing.

I would smile and wear strands of golden ornaments while I sat in my

fancy chair admiring my special room.

ElleDecor CountryLiving   knbInteriors  HourseBeautiful  gilbaneInteriors

Christmas In Every Room

It's so easy to let Christmas - the real meaning of Christmas - get lost in the shopping and gift-giving frenzy. I try to have a reminder in every room of my house - kitchen window to my guest bathroom -  to keep my thoughts focused on the true meaning of Christmas. Most of my 'little reminders' are old and ones I collected through the years, but all have special meaning and memories. I'll share a few - I hope they make you smile.

Resilience

Whether you knew her, knew of her, agreed with her politics, or have no knowledge of her, Elizabeth Edwards is/was a lady to be admired. I was not a fan, but a neutral on-looker of her life made public by her husband John Edwards, a former U.S. Senator. During the last ten years of her life she dealt - very publicly - with political campaigns, her husband's infidelity, news that her husband fathered a child during an extramarital affair, all while suffering from terminal breast cancer.

Elizabeth Edwards was first and foremost a mother, an attorney, a design decorator, and author of two books - “Saving Graces: Finding Solace and Strength from Friends and Strangers,” a book about life after the death of her 16 year-old son Wade and her illness; and “Resilience: Reflections on the Burdens and Gifts of Facing Life’s Adversities.”

I actually knew little about Elizabeth Edwards until I picked up a copy of her second book, "Resilience," in an airport bookstore two years ago. I thought it would be a good 'beach read' and I was not disappointed. In fact, my husband read it, too. Since then, I have purchased copies to give to friends. It's on my favorite books list, and it's on my 'required reading list' for my children, and someday for my grandchildren. 

You won't regret the time spent reading this book. "Resilience"

Elizabeth Edward's furniture store - Red Window - in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

All I Want For Christmas

I have such wonderful memories of driving my brother's old Woodie when I was in high school. And, oh what I'd give to have it back. Unfortunately, he sold it - for nothing - to buy a Ford Mustang. Both would be considered classics today.  Maybe Santa will leave one of these in front of my house for Christmas -

Another Option

This made me smile. An option I hadn't thought of, but a great way to save some money on your tree this year. The finishd project looks better than I imagined.

If you are really interested, the website is a DIY.

Hello December

December - the one month when I'm tolerant and somewhat accepting of cold weather. White Christmases are special - it would be fine with me if it snowed just a little every day of December.

Happy December and Happy Birthday to those born is one of my favorite months. Blue Topaz is the birthstone for December, but Turquoise is considered an alternate.    Enjoy!