Spring has sprung

. . . at least that's what I keep telling myself. So, as further confirmation, I brought out the Easter decorations.

You can see the outline of the Pier 1 bunny pick bloggers were flocking to the last couple years. There are three tucked in around my decorations.

I found this white plate thrifing. It says "Jesus is not here . . . He is risen."


I just love this little bunny family. I splurged several years ago after coveting it for a few years and have never regretted it. I think I got it from Winterthur catalog.


This cute little guy came from Second Tuesday. Wish now I'd have bought his upright companion.

These little guys on bottom . . .

. . . I'll pull them out so you can see them better, came from T.J. Maxx last year. Mrs. had a broken ear so I told them I would "take her off their hands" if they let me have both for the price of one. They agreed. She had surgery to repair her ear and is as good as new.

This big guy just looked good here.

Hope the flowers are blooming and the bunnies are hopping around your home too.

Linking to:
Blessed Little Nest's Life Made Lovely Monday party at:

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and

Domestically Speaking's Countdown to Spring party at:
http://www.domestically-speaking.com/2011/03/countdown-to-spring-party-beach.html

Goodwill Hunting

To be honest, it wasn't Goodwill this time (I've just been dying to use that title), but my favorite thrift shop ever, The Rustic Barn in Windsor, Illinois. This shop has the best quality and the best prices. Just look at what I rescued during the "Dollar Days" sale. Above and below is a silver plated sugar scuttle. Just $1! If there were a better photographer in the house, you could see how great it looks on top of the hutch with my silver pieces.
The floral pillow in the middle - $1. Looks good here in my daughter's room but will find a home on the pink painted chair going on the porch of the potting shed this summer.

Wire basket. You guessed it, $1.

Pale blue teacup and saucer for $1 will go in the potting shed too.

Green sweater in great shape was $3. It is sooooo warm and looks great with a pair of jeans.

Boots were $3 and exactly what I needed for a not-too-casual look with jeans. Purse was $1 and I'm sure I'll find the perfect occasion to use it, or to "wear it" as my 11-year old says. Is that the sign of a future fashionista - - one who sees purses as an accessory one "wears?"

Sherpa vest was $3 and in great shape.

This white sweater (I know, bad photography again) will be perfect in the spring with pretty floral dresses or a pair of jeans. It still had the Maurices tag on it and was $3.

And finally, the real reason I went was to find jeans. It was my lucky day. I found three pair that fit perfectly. One dark pair of boot cut (to go with the new boots of course), a dark skinny jean, and a lighter pair of aeropostale boot cut which are the perfect stage of broken in. I shudder to think what retail price someone paid for these. All three pair were $7 each.

So there you have it. All of the above for $38.
I just love rescuing these items from an otherwise ill-fated trip to the landfill AND saving my family budget.

Linking to Today's Thrifty Treasures at Southern Hospitality.

Winter Wonderland

Everything is covered in a thick layer of ice.







Everything is so crispy and since the deer like to rub against my row of young Crabapple trees, I think they snapped this one.


Hard to believe in a handful of weeks, this Dogwood will be budding.


Looking down the street.


Every twig, branch and wisp is covered.


My Willow is definitely weeping.



Looking underneath the patio table. I can't take credit. She found it.


I couldn't pass up that face.


I tried to capture the blue hour in the snow again, but I'm going to have to pull out the tripod tomorrow since I just can't hold still long enough to let the shutter close.



The Blizzard of 2011, or so they say. We would have enjoyed the additional 12" or so our lucky neighbors just 60 miles west got, but we'll take what we can get.
Happy Groundhog Day!

Good Morning

This was the first view that came into focus in the wee hours this morning. The full moon is casting a shadow of the trees on the snow that fell overnight. The tiny lights I keep on inside the new potting shed really seem to glow with a layer of snow on the glass roof.



I may have even captured some of the Blue Hour. If only I had the software to edit out the neighbor's coach light. Soon!


"God has rescued us out of the darkness . . . and brought us into the Kingdom of his Son who bought our freedom with his blood and forgave us all our sins." Colossians 1:13-14.

Have a wonderful day.

Linking to Hey Harriet at Shadow Shot Sunday linky party.

Take Me Out To The Ballgame

How does one display all those team photos we collect without compromising her decorating integrity? A wall of colorfully matted pictures was the answer for me.

Thankfully, I have a long upstairs hallway that was a blank slate.

With three kids, all in sports since the age of three, I had a lot to work with. It gave me an opportunity to use many bright colors. Even pink matted pictures for my girls' teams worked in well.

Looking back the other direction, you see I have another blank slate as we continue to accumulate. I'll just have to figure out how to work around the thermostat. Note to self, if rebuilding, locate those pesky little things away from prime wall space.

The only problem is it's hard to keep them completely straight. I haven't gone through with wall putty yet to keep them from moving. Also, avoid the $3 Wal-mart frames if you can. Since I was buying them all at once, it was the least expensive way to dive into this project. However, they don't hang well. Tiny little nails are required and they tend to pop off the wall, especially when the tween stomps off and slams her door - - (as much as I hate to admit that happens; it does.) But, I can't recommend enough worldviewpic.com for the mats. The are superb quality, reasonably priced, and customer service was outstanding. They even let me pick the quantity in each color (so I wouldn't be heavy on pink). You can find them online here


Since we took these pictures out of boxes and hung them on the wall, the kids have enjoyed looking back over their athletic "careers." I find them in the hall gazing at them or showing their friends as they walk by. That is why we hang pictures, use china everyday, break out the clothes and jewelry we're saving for a special occasion, and just generally treat every day as though it is worthy of our best adornments. No point in keeping memories in boxes, especially if you have a place to display them and doing so makes people smile.

Linking to Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Cozy Touches

Now that Christmas is packed away (well, good thing blogging doesn't allow for inspections), like many of you I also like to simplify. Though I also want to create a feeling of warmth and coziness. I've switched out the Christmas glitter for winter cozy.

We had our tree between these two chairs during Christmas. I think the animal print adds to the warm feeling.

Yes, it is snowing outside. Perfect time to build a fire.

It's days like today when Cocoa most appreciates she's not an outside cat.

How about that look of disgust for disturbing her nap. "If only you'd get that camera out of my face, life would be purrrfect."

The breakfast sideboard was decorated with gold and silver during Christmas. This seemed so much warmer. I love this space because it is so easily changed to accommodate whatever mood or whatever season we're in.

I thought the burlap helped create a feeling of warmth.

Blessings to all of you in 2011. It won't be long and we won't have to pull out the burlap and animal print to get warm. I'm already planning for it.



Linking to The House in the Roses weekly "Show Off Your Cottage" party.