It has been quite a ride these past couple of months. The classic song "Stormy Weather" could be our theme song for spring in Michigan. Sunny days are the exception, rather than the rule and while it's not raining daily, the sky hasn't been all that blue. With storms comes clean-up. And that is never fun.
I mentioned the first storm back about a month ago. It was at the lake in early April. Our ice storm made national headlines. The cottage got hit pretty hard (though it could have been harder -- no structural damage, apart from a couple of broken windows in the garage; some neighbors had it worse). Rick finally got up to see what it looked like.
It's hard to believe that Easter is about a week away -- and it's as late as it can be this year, so we are well into official spring. Not that you would know it by the weather! But the mini-daffs, the first to pop each year, are looking perky outside and buds on the later spring bulbs. For the bigger ones? It's Trader Joe's! You go with what you can, right?
The house is looking a bit more springy. The spring/Easter decorations have been up for a bit, but I keep adding to them, moving them around!
It's time to deck the halls. Many of you blog friends have done that long ago. I'm behind the game but can happily say I've "hauled out the holly" and "decked the halls." It's a bit more low key than usual but it's been a very rough month and I'm just glad to get the cheer back into the house. (Where it will probably stay until Valentine's Day!)
I suppose I should start with my narrow entry hall. The greeting angel stays there year round, but I have a tall, skinny tree with mostly silver, red and white ornaments to light the way.
I've been doing a bit of backyard (and front yard!) bird watching these days and thought you might like an update! The big news is that Wrennie the wren, whom you may have met before here, has returned! Like the chickadees, the wrens work in concert with one another -- and that concert also includes beautiful trills. Here is one of the two wrens, atop the pole.
I'm sitting in my office, the windows open. The temperatures have dropped and the breeze coming through is cool -- perhaps a little too cool. But I can't bear to close the windows because along with the breeze comes the most intoxicating fragrance of peony drifting up from the bushes under the window. It is just one of the fragrances of spring.
Aren't these calendar pages wonderful? My friend Kate does a new calendar every year for our annual sale and I'm wild about this year's (ab0ve). And last year's! (Below)
We had an odd New Year's Eve. For the first time in decades -- since before this photo (below) taken at the turn of the century -- Rick and I were in different places. He had volunteered to babysit the Toddler Twosome at their home and I was still recovering from my Christmas Eve fall on a slate floor in Livonia on scattered toys from the toy box. (And on the beginning of a period still going on of being sick as a dog.)
It was a good move and we talked on the phone but I wasn't quite up to the car ride or the activity! And, it got me to bed at a decent time!
We celebrated on New Year's Day. His bread, French Onion Soup, salad, all good. At home.
Home. That's my "word" for 2020. And that means the physical house here and the cottage as well as my personal "home" -- body, mind and soul.
For Christmas Rick and the kids are giving me a kitchen re-do. Well, Rick calls it a kitchen enema. I don't like that, though it might be closer to the truth. New paint, new stove. Clean slate! Counters will have to wait; the 1964 "ants and gold speck" counters will be here a bit longer. Home.
So, I emptied all the dish and food cupboards for painting inside and cleaned off a shoebox-plus-more of photos, recipes, eyeglass prescriptions and who knows what else off the fridge. We'll keep the old cupboards, which I rather like with my knotty pine family room adjacent. But if you're going to do it, do it!). Home.
Everything was taken to the guest room (and the family room, and the dining room table and the coffee table, and the hall) -- unless it made it to the basement (things I need to keep but don't use regularly) or to charity (several bags already). There's a pile to take to the cottage, too. My junk drawer doesn't look like a junk drawer anymore!
So, along with this, some of you know that a few days before New Year's we had a huge rain and since the ground was frozen, it rained in through the basement windows. Well, that was a mess -- not as bad as last year's spring basement flood -- but enough.
So between that and the kitchen, guess what? New lawn grading and replacement windows will be required for the basement. Home.
Christmas is still up. To be fair, it always stays up till Twelfth Night but this time it might be a little longer. And to tell the truth, it's beginning to bug me! But till some things get moved back to the kitchen and I'm feeling a lot better than I am right now, it will have to wait. I want to bring up the snowfolk. Preferably before spring! Home.
After Christmas I was recovering from a fall. On the 29th of December I started having low grade fevers and after a week of feeling progressively worse, I finally went to the doc. Antibiotics, Xray and hopefully no pneumonia. So, I'm sort of dragging. But listening to others and taking care of my personal "home," my health.
Rick is getting ready for his first official concert with his trio on January 12. They had a dry run at an assisted living center the other day that went well, Rick said. Then the public concert. If you're anywhere near Lansing, MI, ask me for details! It's free (and snacks, too!)
He's pretty excited. If you are into 45 seconds of listening, enjoy the video from a rehearsal.
Then we'll be headed to Dallas for a few days for the memorial service for his stepfather, who died the day after Christmas. It will be good to see the family again, most of whom I've not seen since the reunion in June. Then, back home.
The kitchen was in full power-mode this weekend and is nearly done. I was banished, my primary job being runs to the hardware store and to pick up lunch. Kevin, Molly and Rick worked their tails off and as I write this, we just need half-a-wall and the chair rail painted and hardware replaced on the cupboard doors. Most of the food and dishes are back in place. There will be another post with more photos when it's all done -- and about the lessons I learned about myself during all their hard work. (See, I can be productive when I'm sick.)
I'll tell you one thing -- I need to "dig out" more often. While they were under the sink they found a set of shoe-related things from the previous owner. This box of shoe polish was 38 cents at Kresge. Kresge hasn't been around in decades, and the 38 cents might be closer to the vintage 1963 of the house.
Just keeping it real! So that, in a nutshell, is January. And, my Word of the Year. It's as ambitious as I make it. So, we'll see!
It's the most wonderful time of the year. At least for me. Apart from periodic meltdowns because I'm not sure I'll get everything done. But other than that...!
I love all of it. Decorations, the music, the cookies, the parties, the gift-giving, the fun!
So, here's part of the house so far. And more to come!
Remember the wreath I wrote about in the Southern Exposure post a few days back? Here's the finished piece!
Not long ago I got my brand new hutch and I couldn't wait to decorate it for Christmas.
Let's peek inside!
It's a perfect spot for all my bottle brush trees and some of the Santa collection.
And a good way to include Mom's Christmas plate into the decor!
Having some of mom's things help keep her with me over the holiday. She really loved this Christmas Royal Doulton girl. Most times of year she's not my style -- but at Christmas, perfect!
The "white" tree isn't all white -- it has lots of pastels and a bit of red!
Once upon a time I only had one tree. Then two, then three, then more! I loved discovering these tall skinny trees.
The "white" tree is in front of a window and above -- garland with the pressed paper ornaments I make. I keep thinking I should put some of those on the Gypsy Caravan -- but that'll have to wait another year!
And some of the ornaments are among my favorites!
Then there is the desk -- not much here. A couple of Santas and my very favorite reindeer!
Atop the china cabinet, a favorite Santa in front of a photo from Ste. Chappele -- a gift from a good friend...
Silvery reindeer...
And one of last year's cage creations. Behind it, a photo from another good friend with sweet pink vintage ornaments.
An old lute of my grandfather's, a Santa and a nativity. Not a likely combo -- but it works for me!
The woodland tree is mostly snowflakes and birds with the occasional angel or two!
I have a big weak spot for snowflakes. Interestingly enough, I'm not fond of the real thing.
But on the tree -- perfection!
Remember the Greeting Angel? She's been dressed up for winter.
And beside her, a bit of light. I took the autumn branches and feathers out and added some sparkle!
You might remember the cotton boll wreath. To make it simple, I just added a bow and a little "peace.
There's a nativity scene here and there...
...and of course, "A Christmas Carol."
Meanwhile, I'll leave you with the Marshmallow gang in the kitchen!
Back for more soon! Meanwhile...
Keep the gingerbread coming!
Please join lots of us bloggers for joy and good cheer at Share Your Cup! and at Sweet and Simple Fridays. And I'd like to thank Jody at Sweet and Simple for featuring my post on the Ice Berry Wreath at Southern Exposure in her week's features! Do stop by these blogs to check out the links. The inspiration will make you dizzy with happiness!
So, the other day I am laying on the massage table and my therapist, the divine Ms. Sarah, and I are chatting. Sarah is the consummate baker. She's always whipping up a cake or some other wonderful treat and if I'm lucky, my massage is right after baking day!
Well, this time, she had been making ice cream and when I tasted her version -- Pumpkin Pie Spice -- I was hooked. I immediately went to the store and got the ingredients to make peppermint stick. My favorite. The one ice cream that seems to only last a month or two in the store.
Best of all, it doesn't require an ice cream maker!
It's so easy and pretty darned good, so I had to share!
Easy Ice Cream
Whip one pint of whipping cream to stiff peaks.
Beat in one can of sweetened condensed milk
Add flavorings of your choice.
Sarah's Pumpkin Pie spice was 1 T. Bourbon, about 1 t. of pumpkin spices, which she mixed together.
Jeanie's Peppermint was six or seven candy canes crushed (which I had left from last year), about 1 t. peppermint extract (add gradually to taste) and about 1 t. vodka. If I had schnapps, I would have used that. I'm not sure if the vodka left a bit of an after taste or if it was the extract, so I will rethink this one next time.) And I would have used more candy pieces but that is that I had!
(Sarah says that her son, who gave her the recipe, says the alcohol affects the texture. I am going to try it without and see what I think because I know that may be an issue for some and I'm not quite sure what the difference is in the ice cream. The vodka was relatively tasteless so I figured it wouldn't throw another flavoring off balance, while some combos would work well together.)
If you want, include add-ins, like the candy canes, toffee pieces or mini chips.
Pour into a cellophane lined baking pan. This amount fit a 7x9 perfectly and Sarah used an 8x8. Cover and freeze.
Sarah served me the pumpkin spice on graham crackers and it was fabulous that way. I might make me some ice cream sandwiches!
After I did this, I looked online and found the almost-identical recipe but no alcohol HERE. Apart from that, the instructions are a bit different -- they have you fold the whipped cream into the condensed milk instead of add the milk to the whipped cream with the mixer. I don't know if it would make a bit of difference. Mine was fine and as I said the only thing I'm not sure about was my flavorings.
I'm definitely doing it again! This is too easy -- and too dangerous. And too good!
(A bit ago, after this post was prepped, I saw one by Jenna at Painted Apron for a very similar but different version - and she incorporated white chocolate and cranberries into hers and uses Cool Whip. So if easy ice cream is your thing, check it out right HERE!)
One other thing -- some of you mentioned an interest in seeing some of my inventory after the November art sale. I finally got a link up to my Gypsy Caravan page. Find it at the header bar right up above!
And finally, this post is linked to Pink Saturday where you'll find lots of lovely links! Check 'em out!
Good grief -- I realized it was nearly Halloween. And while I had shown you some early fall decorating, I wanted to post the few extra Halloweenie touches. Preferably before the witching hour but who knows...
So join me for a peek into the magic of Halloween!
A friend has given me so many wonderful Bethany Lowe characters, each holiday I bring them out and hate to put them away!
The Wizard of Oz gang are decked out for the holiday.
And so, too, are the wee trick-or-treaters in Bethany's world.
Three favorite china cats must make an appearance. The flowers have since been replaced by a small pumpkin.
A stuffed "Jack" has his own seat in the house...
...but the Black Cat has to make do with the book shelf.
Meanwhile, a trio of Anna Lee cat witches keep watch over the Great Pumpkin.
Remember the Greeting Angel? Well, she has been joined by a Jack o' Lantern and a sweet card from a friend in Japan.
Take a closer look -- it folds out into a magical autumn scene.
In the family room, a tower of pumpkins and a china "Jack" have joined the mantle.
Meanwhile, Lizzie's dining area also has it's scary "Jack" poking out of a vase filled with beads and lights.
Even the bedroom has a bit of Halloween with a vase full of gourds.
And if you are on the way out, you'll notice that the cotton boll wreath has a new adornment.
Of course, all of this will be down in a few days...
