Christmas Ornament Swap

Tis the season...

I recently took part in a fun gift exchange through The Enchanting Rose.  This blog belongs to my lovely niece, Stephanie, and she always does such an amazing job hosting these exchanges.

This time around, it was a Christmas decoration exchange.  If you have taken part in her past tea cup exchanges, you know how much fun they can be.  When this opportunity came up, I just couldn't resist.  Stephanie always does a fantastic job at pairing everyone up.  Through this exchange, you will meet 2 new people.  One will be the person that you send to, the other being the person sending to you.  Many friendships have been made through these fun exchanges.

The person that sent a sweet package to me was Mary Anne from magpiesmumblings.blogspot.com.  Mary Anne created everything herself and did an absolutely beautiful job.

She sent this adorable quilted Santa hot plate.  How cute is he?  (Sorry for the poor lighting lol).

Isn't this card angelic?

I just love the embroidered tree with all the embellishments.

And to make the package even sweeter, she sent some yummy hot chocolate and two flavored tea bags.

The person that I sent gifts to is Darla Bodnar.  Unfortunately, I forgot to take photos of what I sent. 

Another wonderful exchange Stephanie!

~ Kelly ~

Far Too Long

Hi friends,

I recently looked at the date of my last post, my how time flies.  I have missed all of you!  I also miss blogging.  Life has gotten a little crazy again the last few months and I don't know when it's going to get back to normal.  So in the mean time, I thought I would do a little post to help me "feel" like things are normal haha.

Recently, my brother Randy and sister-in-law, Debbie, from She Graces Her Home had come for another visit, parking their motor home at my Dad's home.  They try to make it each year in order for Randy and my Dad to compete in the World Crokinole Championships in Tavistock, Ontario, Canada.  Randy usually wins a prize for coming the furthest distance, my Dad wins the oldest player (age 90 this year).  This year they had a special treat by winning first place in the Recreational Doubles - well worth the trip for Randy.

  While they were visiting, Debbie and I always try to get out for a girl's day and this year we were able to squeeze in another one.  During her last visit, we missed a store that I thought she would really enjoy and I definitely wanted to take her back to The Cluttered Cupboard also.  As soon as you step through the door, you can hear the gentle music playing and smell the wonderful scent of a candle burning - how inviting!  Do you think the owner would have a problem if I moved in?  LOL.

If you look closely, you can see Debbie in this next photo.

Prior to arriving at The Cluttered Cupboard, we stopped at a few garage sales along the way.  What fun!  So many times we found ourselves standing or sitting somewhere, just talking away the time.  We were lucky to get to our destination.  Oh how we both love to talk when we're together.  We haven't seen each other for a year so there's always a lot to catch up on.

While there, we picked up our "gourmet" lunch from the Frosty Freeze lol and took it down to the lake.  We sat and enjoyed the view near the old train station.

As usual, our day consisted of purchasing a little something.  I picked up this cute "vintage looking" metal storage bin at The Cluttered Cupboard.

Debbie surprised me with this adorable little creamer.  She knows I love white.  Isn't it sweet?

I also found this cute chicken at a garage sale.  I believe Debbie was looking at it first but she insisted that I get it instead.  She picked up the matching rooster.  It's always nice to purchase something that reminds us of our day together for many years to come.  If you would like to read more about Randy and Debbie's vacation, head over to Debbie's blog for a visit.  She would love to have you.

We call him THE BUNNY WHISPERER.  While picking up Debbie for our little excursion, I visited with my brother and Binx.  Isn't he beautiful?  He is a big boy.  Randy has such a way with bunnies that they often fall asleep in his lap.

Aren't these the most beautiful feet?

At a later visit to our home, Copper (a.k.a. Mr. Bunny) also enjoyed a visit with Randy.  He is also fast asleep.  What a lucky bunny to have spent more time with The Bunny Whisperer.

Thank you for dropping in.  I promise...I will do my best to blog a little more regularly. 

Note - Debbie had knee replacement surgery today and I know so many of you have been praying for her.  I haven't heard anything yet but I'm hoping everything went well.  Thank you for your prayers.  (I thought I would leave this note in...literally less than 5 minutes after typing this, Debbie sent me a text to state she has already been released from the hospital and is doing well.  We are thrilled!)

~ Kelly ~

A Touch of Farmhouse

Hi there!

It has been awhile since my last post and thought I had better get on it.  Hints of spring are in the air,  With warmer temperatures and the earthy scent in the air, it can definitely tease your senses.  We're not through winter yet and more snow may come our way but we're getting closer and that's all that counts.  With the sun shining down, it helped to motivate me to accomplish a project I've been trying to get to for a while.  Painting the upstairs hallway.

I normally do a ton of wall repair prior to painting any room but I did things differently this time.  As the upstairs hallway has plaster walls, it was going to take a lot more work to perfect them.  It just wasn't worth it.  In time, we may cover them up with fake ship lap so I figured it was easier just to get the walls painted so I can enjoy them.  I'm so glad I did.  Also, the areas that needed repairing aren't as visible now.

Here is where it began.  PEACH - lots and lots of PEACH.  Peach is an attractive color but I'm a yellow/tan kind of girl LOL.  This photo closely reflects the true peach color the most.

When we moved into this house, one of the first things I wanted to see gone was the peach paint.  It almost had a glow to it.  Unfortunately, due to the lighting, it was difficult to photograph the true color for this post.

The lacy curtains came with the house.  I don't mind these but I won't be rehanging them.  I will either come up with another solution or not replace them at all.  There is so much more light shining in now.

Looking in the opposite direction.

I just love this old attic door.  It's the closest thing to ship lap lol.  The stucco ceiling...I would like to see it go.  We may eventually cover it up.  We hope to be working on the downstairs next so this will be put on hold for now.

So here is the transformation...

Ahhhh....what a breath of fresh air.  It is so much lighter yet warm and cozy.  Even Blackie thinks so.  I'm just going to leave the decorating as is for now until I have the time to really work on it.

Do you have any ideas on how to decorate this space?  I would love to hear your thoughts.   Farmhouse style of course.

I opened the windows so you can see the neighbors farm field, Blackie was thrilled of course.  He is also waiting for spring.

I completed the painting about a week ago, most of the snow is now gone.

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I purchased this little stool last weekend at a local antique store.  I just love the old, chippy paint.

Playing.

These curtains came with the house and they MUST go.  They especially clashed with the peach walls.  They hide a closet but they've done their duty and it's time to say adios.

The walls in this photo are actually the same color, the lighting just wasn't working for me.

I wasn't able to capture the true color of the curtains but trust me, they don't match my farmhouse decor.

A few years ago, I went to a garage sale at a cottage that had sold and they were clearing out the furnishings.  This was one of the pieces I brought home.  At the time, my hubby thought I was downright crazy.  He thought it should be in the burn pile but I have transformed him and he gets it now.  It had been removed from an old barn or shed and turned into a table.  Eventually it no longer served that purpose either and the cottage owner had placed it aside.  I used this piece for a while as my craft table (the flat side as shown here) but now I've been trying to find another purpose for it.  .  My hubby had this great idea and tried it...it worked.  We're going to use this as the closet door.  I plan on painting it white and replacing the missing boards to get that farmhouse feel.  

I purchased this little wash stand last year for $20.00.  Isn't it cute?  I will probably be removing the back piece as it's just plywood and was added sometime later.  It currently has an oilcloth across the back and onto the top of the stand.  I will probably be removing it also.

The Ironstone pitcher and basin (and another pitcher) were also purchased for $20.00 last year through a local on-line website.

Onto the next project...

Thanks for dropping by to see what I'm up to, I love having you over.

~ Kelly ~