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

What's black & white and adorable all over?

If you've ever read my blog, you've probably figured out that it's our Baby cat. It's been a while since I posted any of her antics, so here goes!

When I came out into the kitchen the other morning, Baby was sitting in the family room on the rug, soaking up the sun on her back. I told her to stay right there while I ran to get my camera. Here's a first - she listened to me!

She's hung out on that spot all day, long after the sun was gone!

She loves to keep me company in my little office/studio. She was watching while I was painting my latest piece, but then she started nodding off. I hope this insecure artist (me) isn't reading too much into that!

Another time I was filing paid bills, left the room for a minute to get something, and came back to find her curled up in the last section of the file folder!

 I had the top drawer of this bureau open a tad. I keep some of my smaller prints in the drawers and was filling an order. Lo and behold, when I returned someone had squeezed her way into the drawer! This photo is cropped VERY closely to try to hide the mess on top of the bureau (which is actually my girls' old changing table from when they were babies!). I didn't really succeed in hiding the mess, but had to share the pic of Baby anyhow!

This was her in May, right after I plunked down my lavender and impatiens on the window screen feeder.

And this is her last night!

I had Chipmunks (looking for handouts) running around me on the deck while I was taking these photos, so I'm sure that's what caught her attention here.

Sorry, Baby. You are an indoor kitty.

So that's the Baby photos for today.

Oh, and Amanda, our oldest was on vacation in Switzerland, Italy, and Germany back in April. Someone saw Baby's picture and told her that Baby is definitely a Norwegian Forest Cat. I'd never even heard of a Norwegian Forest Cat! I looked them up on-line and, you know, and she just may be! She has "the look" and tons of their traits! And all this time we thought we just had a regular old shelter kitty. Who knew?

We're in for HOT and HUMID this week. We have been blessed with amazingly gorgeous weather this June, at least for me since I don't like extreme heat.

Enjoy the week, everyone!

Donna

Mother's Day...

 Happy Mother's Day, everyone!

 (click any photos to enlarge)

 Just a little rambling post today... 

This is one of a small collection of Mother Mottos/Samplers I've purchased over the years since losing my mom in 1996 (I think I have a total of about eight).

Every once in a while I'm drawn to something that reminds me of my mom, so I have a small collection of Mother Mottos and books. I purchased this particular little book about 12 years ago on eBay. It was a very well read copy of "Mother" by Edgar Guest  (I already had a small collection of his poetry books, but this one appealed to me because it was all Mother poems).

This book has a place of honor on one of the shelves in our family room bookcase.

It's hardly a pristine version, but I've come to realize how that makes it all the more special. And perhaps because of this book I am all the more drawn to aged, well used, worn, vintage pieces.

I'm so ashamed of myself, though, when I think of my original reaction to this book. Although I knew when I purchased it that it was old and used, when I actually received it, I was so disappointed. The condition of the book was much shabbier than I had expected. 

I contacted the eBay seller, letting her know of my disappointment. She sent me the loveliest email, telling me the history of this lovely little book and a bit about the life of her amazing grandmother who had owned and loved this book. After reading the entire email (much longer than what I have shown above), I came to realize what a treasure I was holding in my hands. This was a prized possession of a very special lady, and I feel very connected to this book. The seller ended by offering me my money back if I was unhappy with my purchase. Needless to say, I kept this little gem and left her glowing feedback. 

I also printed her email and tucked it into the front of the book so I will always be reminded, in all situations, to never judge a book by its cover.

(copyright 1925, the year before my mother was born)

When I came into my office this morning, this card was laying on top of my keyboard from my Amanda. I absolutely LOVE it, both the image and the quotation!. Amanda, who is both an avid writer and reader, tells me it is because I read to she and her sister every night when they were growing up. I have to admit, it was my absolute favorite time of each day. (A bit later today we will be getting together with Courtney. I can't wait!)

 This card will be tacked to the bulletin board next to my desk which contains (in addition to work items) mostly sentimental materials (photos, the girls' artwork, cards, etc.) As a matter of fact, the b&w card in the center is another card Amanda gave me a few years back of a mother reading to her two little girls! An old Mother's motto that hangs beneath my mom's painting (painted by Amanda in college) reads:

FOR  MOTHER

This is my loving Wish for you...

A flower-lined path Your whole Life through.

Isn't that the sweetest sentiment and painting?

So, my dear sweet Mom, Happy Mother's Day to you! You will always be our beloved Mom, Nana, and always our beautiful Galway Girl... 

We all love you so very much!

Love, Donna

Do you ever feel like you're being watched?

Across the room from my painting desk and computer is a shelving unit that houses, among other things, a television, photos, sunglasses, readers, necklaces, items the girls made in school, etc. 

And sometimes when I'm at my desk ...

I feel like I'm being watched.

Move over Waldo. It's more like "Where's Baby" in our house.

Baby likes to sleep on top of my little CD player next to the TV 

(yeah, I'm still old school when it comes to music).

From her perch she can watch me painting - or transcribing - or blogging :)

And when she gets bored with me, she can watch what's going on outside the window.

Those eyes never miss a thing.
(In a cat's eyes, all things belong to cats. Old English Proverb)

 Something outside has caught her attention.

(A lovely shabby chic style Crucifix, a gift from one of the girls when they were younger)

I'm joining Show & Tell Friday this week.

Have a lovely weekend, everyone!

Donna

My creative space...

Welcome to my little cottage office/studio!
(click any photos to enlarge)

I learned of this fun "Where Bloggers Create" party through Claudia's blog...

It's being hosted by Karen at My Desert Cottage. She thought it would be fun if we shared our little creative nooks with each other... Thanks, Karen, for a great idea!

Although it's not a very big room (smaller than 8'x10'), I am so fortunate to have a space to call my own! I recently rearranged the room, so it's a bit different from when this photo was taken. But it's still full of all the things that make me smile... artwork and signs painted by my girls, old family photos, chippy windows, and lots of junktique finds like the old green desk, the vintage tablecloth covering an old file cabinet/table, and the pink lamp(s) on top of the bookcase.

I made this bulletin board out of an old chippy window by applying cork squares to the window panes with double-sided tape...

And this is my computer/blogging corner!! (Although since recently rearranging the room, the computer now sits on the green desk, which has been moved into the corner, and the white shelving unit now sits on the other side of the room).

Here's the exact same view of the room in the early 90's! As you can see, I still have the same peachy-pink wallpaper that we put up when it was Courtney's room. Court has since moved into a larger bedroom, which pleases her to no end!

I fell in love with this chippy green desk at a sidewalk sale years ago. It's one of my all-time favorite junktique finds. Some day I'll try to get better photos because the green is much prettier than in shows here...

Photos of the girls are tucked under the glass desk top, as well as some cottagey placemats that match my no-sew window valance. I painted some old black/grey office supplies so I'd have a more cottage-friendly stapler and pencil sharpener. And my best friend (the fan) is never far away!

Okay, if I ever clean/rearrange my bookcase shelves, I promise I'll show you. But trust me when I say you would not be impressed with them in their current state! I can at least show you the top of the bookcase... I got the vintage lamps & shades for a song at a second-hand store that, unfortunately, is no longer in business... Boy, do I miss that place!

There are a lot of handmade things in my office, including this eye pottery that Amanda made in high school. I think it's so unique!

I also have a small "Mary" collection in my office... A thrifted Mary sits on top of a hand-painted cigar box....

...while an old ceramic Mary (that once belonged to my Mom) hangs on the wall. Isn't the swag of crosses sweet? I got them from Lori at Katie's Rose Cottage a couple of years ago (I love her shop! The CREATE sign hanging from the mirror over the bookcase was also from her shop!)...

On the old white shelving unit (that used to house the computer), I now have a special shelf with an old Mary paint-by-number, a vintage chalkware Mary statue, a little plastic shrine (that the girls bought for me many years ago), and my mom's and nana's Mass cards in little white frames. My (black kitty) Mr. B's ashes are in the blue urn (actually a cotton ball dispenser), and little animal figurines are reminders of some of the sweet fur babies we've had. So all in all, my office/studio is filled with special memories and things that make me happy.

And about that valance that conceals the shade ... Since I have no talent in the sewing department (do you give lessons, Claudia?), I just folded 3 placemats, side-by-side, over a curtain rod and then folded crocheted doilies over the areas where the placemats overlapped. Easy breezy (it has to be for me! ha ha)

I'm looking forward to visiting everyone else's creative spaces!

Donna