BRRRRRR!!!

It is cold outside. Lower 20s and dropping. I went to Wal Mart to pick up a few craft supplies and all the buzz going on in there was of the possible coming snow. It had arrived by the time I checked out. I'm not used to driving in this type of weather and it was fascinating to watch the way the snow blew like dust across the road, the wind whipping it this way and that. We usually get ice, not snow. By the time I got home our dirt road was completely covered with a white chalky film--an improvement over the red clay dirt!

This picture is looking towards the woods behind our house. There were quite a few birds and several woodpeckers in the yard when I went out, but they all managed to get away before I could get a shot of them. Hope all of you are having a nice day.

Stay warm, have fun with whatever your doing, and drink plenty of hot chocolate!

RoseMary

Cloudy Day

We live in a small lake community here in the mountains. Yesterday, after getting our morning chores done, dh and I headed to our church to take a few pictures. The church is situated on a small hill overlooking the lake and down closer to the shore is an old homeplace. DH took his metal detector and I took the new camera to see if I could get any good shots. I have to say that it was COLD down on that lake! The wind whipped off the water continuously and I was beginning to think I was going to freeze.

I love to visit old homesites and look around at what ever is left behind. This one has an old well and an old root cellar still visible. The house was probably destroyed back in the 1960s when the lake was put in. Looking out in the water, the old fence lines are still visible. The date on the well house said January 24, 1940 or 48, we weren't sure. Whoever lived there was probably forced out when the lake was put in, and I couldn't help but wonder if they were happy to take their money and leave this isolated spot or if it was a change they hadn't welcomed. It's possible, of course, that the place was already abandoned by then and the land owners were quiet happy with the purchase. Nevertheless, there was no treasure to be dug up--a penny and an old square head nail.

It wasn't long before we headed back home to warm up and check on the supper I had cooking in the crock-pot. Hope all of you had a great day.

RoseMary

Roses In January

God gave us memories so that we might have roses in December.

J.M. Barrie

These are my roses in January. Don't you love the fact that God gave us memories? We can recall so many wonderful people and events in our lives even when their time is past. This pretty little canister belonged to my grandmother. She kept it in her kitchen, as I do now. I'm sure she purchased it at a yard sale or a thrift shop. It was my grandmother that taught me the fun of thrift shopping and I will be ever grateful to her for it. Every time I look at this pretty little tin, I think of her.

It is beautiful out this morning--cold and sunny, giving us the hope of a little warmth later in the day.

Wherever you are, I wish for you a bright and pleasant day. Stay warm.

RoseMary

Sunday Morning

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Romans 12:12

Have a blessed Sunday.

RoseMary

Back To The Cold

Back to the cold weather. Okay, all you friends up north will laugh, but it is cold to us! Highs in the 30s, lows in the 20s. I shouldn't complain, as it could be worse. Still, in this weather I have to keep my curtains pulled shut to keep out the cold air, and after a couple of days it starts to feel like I live in a cave. I find it best to put another log on the fire and curl up with a good book, or drag out a lot of my craft supplies--and of course, surf around the web to visit with all of you--something I love to do in any weather.

Take care and stay warm this week-end.

RoseMary

Early Morning Walk

I love to take a walk early in the morning before the frost is gone. This morning, by the time I made my way outside, the sun was already beginning to melt off the icy glow. Walking past the pond, I noticed that some recent storms have blown down more of the old trees along the edge of the water. A days work when we get to it. In another month or so the bare trees will already be budding out and spring will be on it's way!

Mousey, as always, accompanied me on my walk. She is a little camera shy, so this is the best shot that I could get.

Fun Day Out!

Yesterday was a fun day out for me and B (dh). We headed north to the city and spent the day rummaging through thrift stuff, shopping at Wal Mart (of course) and eating lunch at Chic-Fil-A--a place we really enjoy.

As you can see, I purchased some seeds while I was gone. I've never grown cinnamon basil, but it sounds wonderful!! I've grown several different kinds of basil and have enjoyed all of them.

I love the scent of cinnamon. Sometimes I sprinkle it in the old dutch oven we keep full of water on our wood stove to help put moisture in our house. It gives a nice, heavenly type scent to the rooms.

Do any of you grow herbs in your house? I've never tried as I seem to have much better luck with plants growing outside than in. Still, if I could get something that smells like cinnamon to grow inside. . . . I may have to give it a try.

Six Weird Things About Me

Okay, I have been tagged! Here are the rules. Read them carefully because 6 of you will be tagged. Each player of this game starts with "6 weird things about you". Each person who gets tagged needs to write a blog post of their own 6 weird things as well as clearly state this rule. After you state your 6 weird things, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave a comment that says "you're tagged" in their comments and tell them to read your blog for information as to what it means.

Okay, here goes:

Weird thing #1: I got to see Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, Prince Charles and Prince Andrew when I went on a student trip to England in 1976. I also saw Judi Dench in a play on that same trip!

Weird thing #2: I like to eat Rice Krispies on my chocolate ice cream. I'm not sure why or how I discovered this, but my grandpa always like to eat crushed up saltines on his ice cream, so I'm sure it's in the genes somewhere.

Weird thing #3: I married the first and only guy I ever dated. Smart move, as we're going on 25 years! And no, I've never felt like I 'missed something' cause I didn't date a lot of other guys.

Weird thing #4: When I'm home alone, I sometimes read aloud to my cat. He seems to enjoy it, particularly the funny parts that I read. If I read something and start laughing, he usually comes running to me--guess so I can share it with him!

Weird thing #5: I eat Oreos the wrong way. Yes, I sometimes twist them apart, but then I usually scrape out the 'middle' and only eat the chocolate part.

Weird thing #6: I've always wanted to live in the house on "It's A Wonderful Life". I especially love their old iron bed.

Okay, I had a hard time finding anyone who hadn't been tagged. So, for now I am only tagging Niki , Carol, and Deb . These ladies don't know me and I've only been blogging for a little over a week, but I hope they'll have fun.

Anybody else out there want to be tagged????

RoseMary

Tagged!!

I have been tagged by Chris !!!! I am making my 'list' and will get to this tomorrow. Thanks for including me, as I am NEW at this!

RoseMary

Sunday Morning

Give us, O Lord,
steadfast hearts, which no unworthy thought can drag downwards;
unconquered hearts, which no tribulation can wear out,
upright hearts, which no unworthy purpose may tempt aside.
Bestow upon us also, O Lord our God,
understanding to know Thee,
diligence to seek Thee,
wisdom to find Thee,
and a faithfulness that may finally embrace Thee.

Thomas Aquinas

Have a blessed Sunday.

Rosemary

Vintage Style

If you enjoy vintage decorating--you know, making your house look like your grandma's did, then you may find this article helpful if you're having trouble pulling it all together. Look here.

If you're new to this style you might want to try shopping at yard sales and thrift stores before you venture into the reproduction world. Especially watch for kitchen items. Remember, with this style, you don't have to have a 'matching' set of china or all your mixing bowls in one color. Have fun. Be brave. You can find many sweet little items for your home for almost no cost at all.

Happy decorating,

RoseMary

Time For Thrifting

I found this sweet little Bulova clock for $2 at the Goodwill, one of my favorite places to shop. I have no idea of it's age, but it works perfectly!

The top book--American Family Style, by Mary Randolph Carter, is one of my favorite all around decorating, cooking and family books. I understand that it is now out of print, but I recently purchased it on Amazon for $2.59!! The other two books were gifts from my mom.

Happy thrifting,

RoseMary

Lazy Cats

"Two cats can live as cheaply as one, and their owner has twice as much fun."

~Lloyd Alexander~

These two are being nothing but lazy today. Probably for the best, as I'm trying to organize some of my craft supplies. Sometimes they are a little too much help!

Hope you have a nice day. Stay warm!!

RoseMary

Let It Snow, Let It Snow!

Okay, so it's really ice. He doesn't care. Just so it's cold. Have fun today, Angus!

We missed the worst of the ice, but our prayers and thoughts are with all the people in Oklahoma and the other states that are suffering through this horrific storm. We were there five years ago--we understand what you are going through.

Ice Storm Stay Away

Hopefully, we're not doing this again! We were out of electricity for twelve days starting Christmas night, 2000. Just in case, I'm getting prepared--making sure the lamps have oil and drawing up a little extra water. We do have a 500 gallon water filter outside, so at least getting water is easier for us than for those that have to draw it directly out of the well. Everyone stay safe in the coming storm.

RoseMary

Basket Day

Do you love baskets? I've sort of an obsession with them, myself. I suspect that some of it has to do with the fact that I can stuff so much, well, 'stuff', in them! I'm not sure how many of them I actually have, as they are stashed in different cubby holes all around my house. Some of them are new, some are old. Several are white oak baskets handmade in the Ozark mountains of Arkansas.

My favorite basket, the one in the chair, belonged to my great-grandmother, Mary Elizabeth Young. She was born during the Civil War, the exact date not known. She came to Arkansas with her parents in the late 1870's. She married and homesteaded with her husband and nine children. I like to imagine her using this basket, filling it with the beautiful flowers that she grew on that homestead, the very property where we now live.

When I look out my back window, I can see the place of their original homestead house. Later, they built a bigger, more elaborate house on another section of the property. Her home burned many years ago, but I own several of her possessions, including this basket. I never knew Mary Elizabeth, but a little of her lives on through her descendants, a few still living that remember her. I never knew her, of course, but I think of her, imagine her, when I see this basket.

Beautiful Tuesday

It looks to be another beautiful day in the mountains! If winter is going to be slow in getting here then I am not going to complain. It will probably turn off colder by the end of the week, so I'm just going to enjoy these warmer temps!

I found an article about making easy curtains this morning and thought some of your might like it. Go to:

www.astorybooklife.com

A Storybook Life is a great place to go for home decorating and all sorts of easy tips. Hope you enjoy the site.

RoseMary

Beautiful Day

What a beautiful day we enjoyed in these mountains! The temperatures were perfect. The air barely nippy, requiring only a light jacket to be outside. Some days I wonder if we're going to have a winter this year!

Our house is almost back to normal. We took down our tree today and took it out to the storage building for another year. While it's always good to see it go, there is always excitement and anticipation when we bring it back inside for another Christmas. I do miss the color all the decorations add to our home.

I'm thinking that this year, I may try to decorate for Valentine's Day more than usual. Maybe that will add a little spark to our interior. How about the rest of you? Any ideas?

Happy blogging and thanks for dropping by,

RoseMary