Making me happy...

 

 Things that are making me HAPPY:

(my husband and children are permanent fixtures on this list) 

1. Endless possibility

2. Big dreams

3. Starting at page one

4. The Bees Knees Peanut Butter with Honey

5. An organized house

6. The Bloom Project

7. The Happiness Project

8. Tying up loose ends

9. Getting up early

10. Having my meals planned for the week

11. Making an appointment and keeping it

12. My mega multivitamin pack for joint health from GNC

13. The sun is shining

14. Figuring things out

15. Planning my daughters quilts

16. Being on time

17. Keeping a list

18. Crossing things off the list

19. My new lipstain/gloss

20. Learning how to hem my jeans so that you can't tell I did it

21. Adding a tbsp of salt to my humidifier

22. Putting the laundry away as soon as it comes out of the dryer

23. Waking up to a clean house (I pick it up before I go to bed)

Things that are gunking up the works:

1. Eco-friendly dishwasher detergent. I have tried so many and have yet to find one that works. (it would be nice to not have to wash the dishes twice. Once in the dishwasher and again when they come out.. that is not very eco-friendly.)

2. Imaginary limitations that I set on myself or my abilities

3. My ear infection

What is making you happy?

xoxo~

Abbie

The way the other half of one percent lives..

Has anyone else seen this catalog? It is absolutely fabulous! We get one for the holiday season, and I love flipping through the pages.

Gorsuch has some of the most marvelous images, the ski slopes, the models, the staged living areas. You should check out their website just for the fun of it.

It reminds me of when we used to ski in the Alps as a child.

Mind you, we never wore $2000 ski jackets or $300 sunglasses but the essence is there. I love it! Will I ever buy something from it? Perhaps some socks, when I feel rich. But at $36 a pair, probably not.

Dream with me...
~Abbie

Wandering Mind...

My husband's sister's barn.

My most favorite room in the house.

One of our apple trees that is now completely buried in snow.

Baby turkeys running across the field..

Smoothered in white loneliness..

We have been snowed on. Snow everywhere and no wind. It clings to every surface it can find and has been smothering us for days. No wind. No sun. Nothing has come to disturb the snow. I took a drive the other day and just felt lonely. Not a bad lonely, just alone. I sometimes wish that the blogger friends (you) were around the corner or down the street. Someone with a like mind and similar interests to pass the time with. This is the next best thing, my PC. I love everyone who visits and comments, and I try to wind my way back to your 'home' through profile pages and comments. My work room is coming together, but except for those of you who visit me here, no one who sees it really enjoys it the way I know you would. You would fawn over my jars, bins and cubbies, the collections I have been so hard to work on. We could share laughter, ideas and inspirations. Then I could go and visit yours, and we could do the same. But this is the next best thing.. I will have pics for you soon.. in the mean time, here are some of the surrounding landscapes.. a very monochrome vista just filled to tippy top with whites, greys and more whites.
Can you tell I am in desperate need of Spring?

I have received a lovely bit of brightness and fun from Rosie and will be posting about the absolutely fabulous handbag she made for me shortly.. I need it to brighten up so I can photograph it nicely to show you all. Thank you Dear Rosie!

New Beginnings.. Part II..

New space. I have a blank slate waiting for me on the third floor. Since my nice neat closet has been reassigned, I have decided to take over one of the empty rooms upstairs. As to when I will actually get the time to make that change, now that's another 'story'. (hehehe.. excuse the pun..) Right now all my shop items, crafty goodies, bits and pieces are being 'stored' above the garage. I could transform that space back into my studio (it was before Baby A was born) but I don't get much opportunity to venture up there and it's heated separately from the house. I am hoping once the room on the 3rd floor is fixed up, I can go up there and work once the kids are all sleeping. OK, I know it's a stretch, but I have to find hope that I can work again somehow, right?

So, right now, my shop at Etsy will be very limited. (it is not reopened yet) Just a select few items will be for sale, listed and shipped when time and family life allows. I do have a few rolls of antique and vintage wallpaper that I will be posting for a steal, so that I don't have to store them, move them, sort them, etc..

Now.. on to the paint color!! Yes, I am in search of the perfect color for the room. It has a skylight, and a window, so plenty of natural light steams in. I am looking for a Robin's Egg blue. Close to a grey, but pale. Hmm.. time to check out paint websites..

A new, fresh beginning..

Well, the hullabaloo is over.. all that is left are bits of paper, tags, ribbons and packaging. I hope everyone had a most delightful Christmas and I hate to say, I am SSOOOO happy it is over! The intent was there to post a spectacular Christmas post full of thoughtful quotes and lovely images, but like all my other Christmas plans, it fell flat and I spent most of the past few days in a great tizzy, with tons of last minute shopping and ALL the wrapping to do. T woke up on Christmas morning with a horrid cold and needless to say, today is going to be a quiet day, full of cleaning and sorting. C has gone back to work and tomorrow, or this weekend the decorations come DOWN. Time for spring. Flowers, birds, green grass, new leaves, oh. wait.. we still have THREE months of snow left. Or four, depending on the temperament of Mother Nature and Global Warming this year. So, I leave you for my cleaning.. I am in some serious need to visit Ellie. (She's in Florida!) :) Or perhaps, to climb aboard the ship that is about to depart below, sit on deck and wave to all the poor souls still on land as we pull out from the harbor. Maybe to a tropical or exotic destination. Africa or South America? Anyone want to join me?

Enjoy the chaos that follows and be sure to show me your fabulous Sale finds from all your after Christmas shopping!!

My Brother 'ships' out today.. please keep all the men and women who are overseas and away from their families this holiday season in your thoughts and prayers.

Counting my eggs...and I need a break..

I just received this egg print in the mail. It was printed in 1905 and has the nicest collection of egg images. I need to have it framed and then I'll find a special place for it. I truly do love feminine things. Florals, birds and butterflies. They just don't go in my home. But these will. Quite nicely, too. I am so thankful for my daughters. They have helped me find my 'pretty' side. I choose a sparkly chandelier for their bedroom and am enjoying seeing all the pink and purple that fills my laundry baskets now.

I am in desperate need of a vacation and a little break from the day to day routine. The last few getaways that my husband and I have taken have been to The Balsams in Northern New Hampshire. We were married there almost 5 years ago. There are no televisions in the rooms and the food is the best I have ever eaten. In fact, I think we go there just to eat.

Above is the view of the entire hotel.

The view from our bedroom window the first time we visited.

The bath, complete with handmade bathsalts and the most divine cucumber and mint lotion!

We were married in front of the fireplace that was just below this quote. I am planning to stencil this in our home somewhere, I just haven't figured out where yet. Perhaps over one of our fireplaces. The last time we were able to get away, I was pregnant with our two year old. It's time for a night away. It is only about a two and half hour drive north, but it seems like we are in another era. This is big hint sweetie.. hint. hint. (My husband reads my blog)

Rainbows and birdcages...

Rainbows are just about the most spectacular thing out there. They happen so rarely and to catch one is just a good thing. I caught this one the other day and I'd like to share my rainbow with you. It spreads out over our field and ends sweetly just over the pond in the corner.

I went and visited my grandmother on her birthday Sunday. She looks fabulous for sixty. ;) These Divine pics I took at my aunts home. She has this amazing ability to decorate and layer. Every inch is touched by love. I just adore the antique birdcages in her sun room. The pale green wainscoting and hardwood floors in the living room are my favorite though..

Enjoying the last bit of summer...

Watching the Merganzers

Gathered the wee ones and we ventured to the beach yesterday for a picnic lunch. (about a mile away). Probably the last time of the year, although, now that all the tourists and much of the summer residents have gone home, things have quieted down. The Lakes Region of NH is a gorgeous place to live, especially in the summer. But it is also very nice to see summer pass and everyone go home again. Our little town just gets inundated with out-of-state-ahs.

School has started. Soccer practice starts this weekend, and Cub Scouts is just around the bend. I have been looking into a gymnastics class for T. (in pic) I truely think she would love it, I just am not sure if I can take her with Baby A in tow.

I laid on the beach staring up into an oak tree for a while. It was so nice to veg out and not think about all the things that have been plaguing my mind lately. My brother leaves for Afghanastan in December (Army) and that fills quite a bit of my thoughts and worries lately.

C has been on vaca this week. It has been the most gorgeous week weather wise. this weekend its suppose to get HOT again, but atleast the nights will be cool. Woke up this morning and the temp was 46 degrees out, but supposedly its gonna hit 90 today. What a jump!

Hope all is well.. here is the pic of my tree and the crystal blue sky that I gazed into for awhile. Now you can enjoy it too.. (the leaves in the bottom corner are starting to change color..)
:) Abbie

Christmas!

Ok.. I know.. I know.. alittle early but I'm already thinking about it! I love to decorate, and can't wait til the weekend after Thanksgiving to start. Last year we had our families over for both holidays and I'm sure we'll do the same again. Its so nice not having to go anywhere with the kids. They can run around in cozies and enjoy the day, instead of being cooped up in a car for hours on end. Above is a glimpse of my kitchen last Christmas. (its not so neat right now!)

Merry Christmas!

:) Abbie