Glasses and Memories

 

Sometimes the simplest possessions in our homes or apartments hold the biggest memories.

There is a pair of red eyeglasses around here with small, colored sparkles all around the top of the frame.

They are definitely my style. 

Even the parts of the glasses one puts behind the ears are colorful and zany.   

Someone probably bought them at a dollar store and then "doctored" them up into gahgah bling stage before selling them.

 While perusing a street arts and crafts fair in a Colorado town, while visiting family last year, on vacation,  the sparkly red glasses immediately appealed to me.

They are the only thing that was purchased by me that day.

When slipping on the glasses on these dark and foreboding winter days, they bring an immediate lift to my spirit.

They conjure the sweet and loving faces of the little  people in the family I was visiting and love.

All of that from one pair of red, sparkly glasses?  Yup. 

DO YOU LOOK FOR SPECIFIC THINGS IF YOU GO TO ARTS AND CRAFTS FAIRS?

Seeds of Hope

 

After many days of bone-chilling temperatures and only intermittent sunshine, the winter starts to tug at our sanity and ability to keep on persevering.

So yesterday, after a several day bout of lousy respiratory flu, I found myself picking out envelopes of flower seeds.

This was in a hardware store where I went to get some keys made.

Ohhhhhh, it was so lovely to think of pots of beautiful flowers, bobbing their colorful little blooming heads up and down in the sun.

So, five packettes came home with me.  

At the supermarket in the afternoon, I even bought two bags of growing soil that promised to grow "big" flowers.

Next will come some pots to plant these seeds in.

Even though it's still quite chilly outside, I feel happier and my heart is warmer, thinking of spring and beautiful flowers!

I want to thank all the sweet blog peeps who sent me well wishes and happy notes during this most recent flu. You are the salt of the earth and a truly humongous blessing in blogland. Thank you for your kindness.

WHAT DO YOU DO TO CHEER YOURSELF UP WHEN THE WINTER HAS YOU READY TO JUMP OUT THE WINDOW AND RUN FOR THE HILLS?

A New Day, A New Week, A New Mindset

The sun is shining, the outdoor temps are up to 39 (sweet) degrees, and things, at least around here,  are better today than yesterday.

Those are all things for which to be very, very grateful.

There is a faux green tree in one section of the apartment living room.

It's just nice to have a spot of bright green that one doesn't have to water or worry about bugs attracting.

To it, sparkling pink birds, with fluffy tails, have been added. 

These serve as tree decor at Christmas time.

There are also white lights on the faux tree for evenings.

One of my very favorite vloggers is Susan Buchanan of LITTLE POET on You Tube.

Have you ever checked out her channel?

Susan feels like an attractive sister with lots of life wisdom, experiences, a wonderful spirit, great sense of humor, and decorating tips by the hundreds.

She puts white twinkle lights all over her living room and that's where I got the idea to add lights to my own faux tree.

The main thing that's better on the home health front is that while I'm still recovering from a bad respiratory flu, today I feel much better.

Thanks to so many of my dear blog peeps for your well wishes and prayers. 

There is no doubt in my mind that both of those have pulled me out of the flu trenches, back into the land of the living.

I cannot tell you all how blessed and grateful I feel for those prayers.

They have made a huge difference!

May your entire week be filled with all good things.

Kitty in the Window

 I did three days of kitty sitting this pass week.

Each cat I've tended to has a distinct personality.

The one shown here adores children. 

However, she's quite persnickety.  If she's caught in a bad mood, she'll definitely raise one of her paws in the air and swing it at you.  Scary.

I might be taking a couple days break, dear blog peeps.

After one night and day of feeling awful, I went to Urgent Care today and tested positive for flu.

Trust me. You do NOT want to get this flu.  You feel absolutely miserable and vile with it.

Okay, it's back to bed!  Until next time...

The Hearts Have It

  

Walking inside Marshall's, a small department store, the goal was to find a pretty top to wear to a special occasion event.

Once the top was found, how the shopping cart made it to the back of the store is anyone's guess.

It was delightful to see all the pretty household items that could definitely make an apartment seem more like home. 

However, I was simply not in the $market$ to buy any of them until....

 Well, not in the $market$, that is,  until I spotted a really lovely rug peeking out from under a "CLEARANCE" sign.   

Just the other morning, the thought came into my mind about adding a small rug to the cold bedroom floor.

Here it was in front of my eyes, the perfect adorable rug in my favorite colors and costing under $20.

Who said it was important to surround one's self with lovely items?  I have no idea but took that person's advice and bought the on clearance rug.

It's prettier than a picture and nice under one's feet in the freezing temps, too. 

 WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DECORATING COLOR?

Words of Hope

 

As the long, freezing cold days of winter tick by, one by one, there is always the hope of spring's arrival.

That was emphasized yesterday when I received the card shown above in the mail.

It was from a very dear cousin.

It has beautiful flowers with sparkles on them and three little chicks, too.

More flowers and a sweet note was inside.

What a warm, heartfelt message to receive in the middle of the heart of winter.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO WARM UP SOMEONE'S WINTER DAY TODAY?

Homemade Beef Stew on a Blustery Day

 

A snow and ice storm, complete with freezing temps and heavy winds, has proven that we are in the heart of winter in western Massachusetts.

It has definitely been blustery.

This is the perfect weather for homemade beef stew.

Yesterday, I kept a pot of it going on the stove for several hours.  

Otherwise, the beef chunks are too tough for my liking.

I prefer them to be soft and fall apart when touched with a fork.

 Also added were chopped onions, carrots, and celery that had first been softened in a little canola oil.

This time, some elbow macaroni was added, too. 

Flour mixed with cold water provided the thickening for the stew.

Honestly, it turned out delicious, a perfect dish for a not-so-perfect weather day.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO COOK ON CHILLY DAYS?

Ice on the Branches

 

This is an "icy" day so far, in western Massachusetts.

There was a fairly small amount of snow that fell but today there is plenty of ice.

Ice is scary.

There is always the danger of slipping and falling, without the ability to get up, not to mention breaking a hip.

So, it's better to wait until the temperatures warm up a bit before trudging out to clean off the snow and ice-covered car.

I imagine the branches of nearby trees are ice-covered, too.

What do the birds do in that case?  

Do they just hunker down in their winter nests, like humans stick to their homes?

Hmmmmm.  I'm not so sure of the answer to that one.

I hope everyone has a blessed Sunday.

How "Sweet" It Is

Old-fashioned, glass and crystal sugar bowls, the fancier the better, have always attracted attention.

They are so very beautiful and reflections of  Victorian times. 

My decorating style has always been very similar to that era.

So much of Victorian decor has disappeared around here, due to the smallness of my apartment and the need to downsize in a huge way.

Many crystal, patterned sugar bowls collected during the years are now gone, mostly given away.

But a few of the retained ones have been given new roles----that of mini-vases for  tiny floral bouquets.

They are so darned cute!

Just like humans, decorating items have to go through changes, too, and they are not always unpleasant.

Now, when I see one of my crystal sugar bowls turned into a floral vase it's easy to just say, "How sweet it is."

Living in the Pink of Things

 

Pink is a favorite color around here.

There are touches of pink everywhere.

It's a happy yet gentle color that lifts the spirit.

 While buying a few things in a (more than) dollar store, a lighted pink rose strand of lights stopped me in my tracks. 

What an adorable idea it was to take white lights and illuminate pretty pink roses.

 Despite downsizing hopes, I succumbed to the lighted roses which are now on the top of my late maternal grandmother's china hutch. 

I love them!

They blend in nicely with my "surround one's self with beautiful things you love"  philosophy.

WHAT IS THE PREDOMINANT COLOR IN YOUR LIVING SPACE? 

Keep It Simple (and Comfy)

Whether it's part of getting older or just a way to deal with winter nights is unsure.

After being out a good portion of the day, coming home delights.

Once inside the door, it's comforting to put on warm pjs, make a light supper, and settle down in a remote lounge chair.

Switched on is a heated lap blanket. Personally, putting it on "high," to make it as warm as possible, is a nightly occurrence.

The apartment temp is kept low to try and save money.

At least three candles are switched on, too.  The flames on these looks incredibly real.

Some nights, sorting files is in order or working on budgeting, making-out greeting cards, or writing gmails.

Almost nightly, a search goes on for a good Netflix movie and there are some great ones there.

The night passes quickly and in total comfort, and with a grateful heart for so many blessings, soon it's time to get under the warm covers and pray for sleep.

HOW ABOUT YOU? DO YOU HAVE A NIGHTLY RITUAL  IN THE WINTER?

Spread Peace and Love

A yoga instructor gave a good suggestion that can benefit just about everyone.

She intoned that keeping peace and love in all circumstances is very important and life-enhancing.

Even things that greatly bother a person about the world can be handled with a spirit of peace and love.

That's a very hard thing to do at times.

However, responding to anything upsetting with peace and love mainly benefits the person doing the responding, namely, ourselves.

We all know that nothing lasts forever.  

Turmoil in all areas, of our lives, including the political scene, will eventually end. 

Change is inevitable.

To preserve our own good health, responding to what rankles us, with spirits of peace and love sounds like a good idea. 

ARE YOU ABLE TO RESPOND TO UPSETTING THINGS WITH PEACE AND LOVE?

Messages for the Heart and Spirit

 

Good Sunday wishes to all!

A major snowstorm was supposed to wallop this area but it wasn't as bad as predicted. 

About three inches fell outside the apartment which is quite easy to handle.

 On this snowy February day, we will share refrigerator news.

Refrigerator news?  Yup.  Among many family and friends' photos inside of plastic frames, on the front of the fridgie,  there are little inspirational sayings.

They are taped on so they don't damage the refrigerator in any way.

Sometimes looking at these, when most needed, gives extra assurance that eventually everything will be okay.

 It's so easy to fall into anxiety, negative thinking, and worry so reminders of what should be done in such circumstances are very welcome.

DO YOU KEEP YOUR REFRIGERATOR FRONT CLEAR OR PUT THINGS ON IT?

Signs of Valentine's Day Are All Over the Place

This is it, the month of love.

Love, however, really should be celebrated every day throughout the year.

Still, the cards, flowers, and candies given for Valentine's Day are nice.

They give a pick up of spirits in times when that is desperately needed.

This week, there was a wonderful surprise,  in advance of the special day.

Amaryllis had been put at the back of a buffet, with hopes to save her bulb when time permitted. 

She had generously given two long stalks with five bright, red flowers each but they had long gone by.

Yesterday, when arranging the buffet top, something rising above the photo frames caught my attention.

Amaryllis had shot up another stalk with a fat soon-to-be flower on top and yet another smaller stalk that will come up in the near future!

What a mighty little flowering plant amaryllis has turned out to be.

She joined Christmas cactus and hyacinth, perhaps her cousins, on the little kitchen table.

That was the thrilling and unexpected Valentine surprise of the day!

WHAT, IF ANYTHING, DO YOU LIKE TO DO FOR VALENTINE'S DAY REMEMBRANCES?

Early Signs of the Day of Love

 

Every day of life, I try to find at least one thing that brings happiness and joy.

It can be the littlest of things. It doesn't matter, as long as it makes me feel happy and makes me smile.

 A very dear cousin of mine, Marianne, and I meet me at each others' apartments every month.

February our get together was at hers.

How I love visiting her and seeing what decorating she's been doing.

 

 

She's a wonderful interior decorator, adding  creative touches everywhere one looks.                                                             

 

This month, we had breakfast together. There were homemade yummy blueberry pancakes, sausage links, coffee, and pieces of Old Crock      cheddar cheese and apple slices!                                                            

This month's celebration of love-----Valentine's Day....took precedence in her decorating.

 My deepest thanks to Marianne for allowing me to share photos of her beautiful apartment's decor.

 The love for cousins is one of life's gifts and this month, my visit with my dear cousin definitely brought happiness and joy to me, long after I drove out of her driveway.

WHAT IS ONE THING YOU DO TO ADD A BIT OF HAPPINESS TO YOUR DAY?

Little People Are Taking Up Space in the China Cabinet

 

Uh oh. Little people are invading Grandmother's china cabinet.

But they are so darned cute, I'm letting them. 

There are a half dozen darlings from Peru, South America.

 That's the native country of one of my dearest friends.

When she goes to visit there, she always brings home little dollies.

Their outfits are so bright and cheerful, all done in brilliant colors that are pleasant to the eye.

 On the bottom selves is a tiny ballerina and a "big sister," both dressed in pink, my favorite color.

 To the far right, on the bottom shelf,  is a sweet little angel, peeking out from behind the glass fronted cabinet door.

 They are a cheerful lot, sharing living space with Old Country Roses dishes and a couple of straggler pieces of cranberry glass.

HOW DO YOU USE DIFFERENT PIECES OF FURNITURE IN YOUR HOME OR APARTMENT?

 

Peace to All

Hello Dear Blog Peeps...

Each day I try to put aside at least one item to sell or give away.

This is part of the gargantuan, never-ending effort to downsize and live less cluttered where I have ended up-----a small but pretty apartment.

When looking at the wooden icon on my dresser, it was determined that is one thing I'll never give away.  Ever.

It belonged to my late husband and is very pretty with so much gold.

Two little "doors" can close to cover up the inside but it's always left open around here.

However, most of all , it honors the Blessed Mother, to whom my husband was very devoted. I revere her, as well.

The handmade icon actually copies a "Byzantine icon worked on canvas, old wood and set in a gold background,"  according to information glued on the back.

Mary, the Mother of God, is so very precious as she carried and bore the Prince of Peace, the King of all the Universe.  

Through good and bad times, she is always present in hearts and is a powerful intercessory to her Son. 

Seeing the icon brings me peace.

That's what is wished to you today-----the sweet gift of peace in your heart.

February Plans

Here we are, dear blog peeps, in a brand new month!

February is known as the month that celebrates love, with Valentine's Day and all.

What a lovely thing to do and what a great holiday to celebrate!  

During many cold, blustery days of winter, being mostly retired, is a great gift.

Staying home, safe and sound, one does not have to traipse through icy sidewalks or drive on slippery roads until they are cleared.

Around here, there is always a cup a fresh ginger tea to enjoy in a favorite Old Country Roses patterned cup.

 Also, there is almost always a candle (or two or three or five) burning.

These are faux but look SO much like the real thing.

They are from the company, Luminara.

 It's also fun to plan for Valentine's Day. 

I love sending (and receiving) Valentine cards. 

 Also loved is decorating my little apartment with hearts and red, white, and pink everything, all over.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR PLANS FOR FEBRUARY?