Monday, January 27, 2014

Late afternoon....

 The late afternoon sun sits so low during the winter months.
 
I still haven't moved my studio/office into the 'bigger' bedroom...

... because we've decided to replace our 33 year old drafty windows in all three bedrooms. The windows are over-sized and will need to be special ordered, so I'm not sure exactly when that will happen, but once it does, I'll start moving things to the 'new' room.

I'm sure I'll be moving my heart prism (from my mom & dad) and my thrift store bird wind chimes when I do move.

About 20 years ago we had this bay window put into our dining area.

I can't even imagine this as a solid wall anymore. The window brightens up the dining area so much!

Oh, how I'd miss the view of our little side yard if there wasn't a window.

But boy, oh boy, do the birds make a mess of my windows with the screen feeder attached to the outside of the window. And the sunlight really highlights how dirty they are!

 As I snapped these pictures, I wondered where Baby was. Since she's quite the camera hog, she usually tries to get into some of the pictures I take. So where was she?

As it turns out, she was pulling a "Where's Waldo" by keeping an eye on me from behind the half wall that separates the dining area from the family room.

I should have know our little Diva was in close proximity!

This week I'm joining Brenda at Cozy Little House for Tweak It Tuesday
and Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show & Tell Friday.

We are in for bitterly cold weather over the next few days. Stay warm, everyone!

Donna

Thursday, January 23, 2014

A Winter Wonderland...

 Since I posted last, we've had quite a few snowstorms here in New England.

In addition to the snow, we've had bitterly cold temperatures like much of the U.S.

Here are some snow snippets as seen through the windows of our little house.

In about four months time there will be flowers hanging from the tree house...

... and flowers planted in the shed's window boxes.

The clematis that covers the arbor will be in full bloom...

... as will the clematis that climbs the lamppost by the front path
(not even visible due to the accumulation of snow from the last storm).

Come May, the hoppa crab trees will be covered with heavenly pink blossoms...

... and annuals will be planted in the whiskey barrel next to the maple tree.

I got hit with the flu after the holidays. It came on so suddenly and it took over a week before I started to feel like myself again. I wouldn't wish it on anyone!

The nighttime temps have been single digits lately. It's 8 degrees outside right now.
I'm counting the days 'til we hit double digit temperatures for a full 24 hours!

I'm joining Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show & Tell Friday this week.

Stay warm everyone!

Donna

Sunday, January 5, 2014

Glamour Puss...

Our little Glamour Puss is making every moment of being next to her beloved Christmas tree. 

She spends an extraordinary amount of time just staring up at its beauty (She's actually looking up at 'her' tree; that's just a reflection of it in the mirror behind her).

The top of the pie safe is her favorite place to tree-watch (and bat at ornaments & prisms).

(Shhh! Don't tell her I focused in on the adorable kitty ornament in the foreground rather than her!)
I purchased a set of utterly adorable chenille cat and dog ornaments last year from Old World Primitives on Etsy. Her shop is fabulous! She has these same type of ornaments (as well as bunnies, angels, etc.)  for Valentine's Day, Easter, St. Patrick's Day, practically every holiday you can think of, and so much more! Click the link on her name to be taken directly to her awesome shop!

Okay, Baby, the focus is back on you.

Baby knows what a camera is. I believe we should have named her Gisele (Bundchen) or Heidi (Klum), because she is a super model of the cat world.

She knows how to work it for the camera, and needs no encouragement to strike a variety of poses.

Baby Gisele or Baby Heidi, our little Glamour Puss.

[And it looks as though our Baby might get to enjoy her tree for yet another week or two. Until I get this large transcribing job completed, taking down the tree (along with many other projects) has been put on the back burner.]
Lucky Baby!

Stay warm, especially if you're in the Midwest and Northeast!

This week I'll be joining Brenda at Cozy Little House for Tweak It Tuesday
although clearly mine is more a post about not tweaking anything,
not even the 'should have been taken down by now' Christmas tree!

Donna

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Write a good one...

"Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365 page book. Write a good one."
- 2014 -

Clearly I'm already starting off the New Year a day late (and most likely a dollar short), as this should have been posted yesterday.

A year of new beginnings, new opportunities. 
A blank slate, just waiting for each of us to make our impression on it.

Baby and I want to wish all of you a very Happy New Year.

I use this journal to keep track of hours spent on my at-home transcribing jobs.

As you can see, Baby would prefer that I pay attention to her rather than the deadlines I have at hand. Just remember, Baby, if I don't type, you don't eat.

Ahhh, she took that to heart and finally drifted off to sleep on the desk while I typed.
My little office/studio mate.

The photos you see in my next post might be of our Nor'easter. It's been snowing all day, and we are expecting to wake up to perhaps 12-14" of snow by tomorrow morning. Schools have already cancelled all classes for Friday. 
And Baby and I are dreaming of spring.


Happy New Year, everyone!

Donna