on the ottoman

Still Life with Bread Crumbs by Anna Quindlen. a sweet book that I read cover to cover in 24 hours. I don't know when the last time I did that. stayed up late to finish. enlightening. real. highly recommended.

yesterday held some great things. started on two projects long procrastinated. (and realized one will be a bit more than expected. oh well.) had an unexpected lunch with a friend. (a call out of the blue. the best kind.) treated myself to Greek food for dinner. (the hubs is away and I eat sporadically, at best.)

yes. a very good day indeed.

'the best things in life are nearest. then do not grasp at the stars, but do life's plain, common work as it comes, certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things in life.'

ps

yes. it’s Christmas in July. this is a gentle reminder to myself that the home tour is approaching. I am making lists and checking them twice. fun projects. tedious. necessary. overdue. simple. exciting.

I keep thinking that December is far away. but time flies. and I am a great procrastinator. and as of today. I hear the clock clearly. tick. tock.

‘the bad news is time flies. the good news is you’re the pilot.’

171 days & counting

if I seem a bit obsessed with home improvement projects lately. I am. the exciting news is that our home will be on the local historic home tour this Christmas. and I am excited. and obsessed. and pinning like crazy. and nervous. and making to-do lists. and de-cluttering. and re-cluttering.

I have ten million ideas. all changing daily.

the hubs is on high alert. and in usual form, very patient.

I may be calling on you. to calm me down. to pep me up. to go shopping with me. to listen to me whine. to give me wine. to help decorate. to help decide. to hold my hand.

truth is. I'm pretty thrilled at the prospect.

'she's got messy hair and a creative heart.'

today's subject

discovering a treasure on Craigslist. a glorious thing. figuring out what to do with it is a completely different matter.

I like to scroll through CL just to see what is out there. most times I find nothing. but sometimes. just sometimes. I come across an item that just haunts me. that nagging voice in my head that whispers 'buy me'.

I continue to work on my den. and while my house is not mcm. I seem to have this obsession to accent said room with the period. it all centers around a vase that was my mom's. that I love. and I am determined to use it.

we've found the perfect sofa. a bought-on-a-whim lampshade has found a perfect home. and this CL piece is such a perfect compliment to the room I can hardly stand it.

so what's the problem? the perfect compliment are two hanging fixtures.

today as I sit in the room. or pass by and glance in. I will struggle with this ever-so-important dilemma. this must-have issue. me oh my. a happy predicament.

'decorating golden rule: live with what you love.'

there and back again

home. sweet home.

had a lovely visit with my sister. I haven't seen her in a while. a long while. so it was nice to sit. chat. hug. be merry. I so miss that.

we took a day and drove down to visit our parents gravesite. a quiet spot on the Lost River in Shoals, Indiana. so very peaceful. along the way we sang out loud to the radio. drank McDonald's mocha frappes (I got her hooked). reminisced.

we were silly. serious. ate White Castle (I am proudly addicted). shopped. posted to FaceBook. got my grandnephew fix. caught up with nieces & nephews. just two sisters enjoying time together.

'bless you, my darling, and remember you are always in the heart — oh tucked so close there is no chance of escape — of your sister.'

tomorrow

heading to Ohio for a visit with my sister. very long overdue. very much looking forward to it.

'how do people make it through life without a sister?'

road trip

to celebrate our 36th we took a bit of an outing in Evangeline (her first adventure). exploring the hill country. Kerrville. Ingram. Los Maples State Park. Bandera. just a big loop.

lots of green. canyons. maple trees (real trees!). cherry pie. beer. conversation. smiles.

it's amazing what a little time away does for the soul. the spirit. joy full.

'a good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.'