A little fall fluffing

I got some inspiration from Manuela and her beautiful fall ideas for decorating our mantel. She used apple green paint to paint the frame on a print and I thought it was so pretty. Well, apple green does not really match my house but I liked her idea so I used some Martha Stewart paint that does match my house on an old frame, put a table runner in the frame, and filled the apothecary jars with fall things.
Yes, Nina, those are your turkey salt and pepper shakers from Grandma Campbell, but they like sitting on our mantel for now.
Green polka dot sheers from my favorite thrift store - $2 for the pair

I put the wreath my brother made back in the same spot as last year.

Jeff hung up the bird hanger - I got it at a yard sale in the spring and painted it black and just now decided to where to put it.

Fall wreath I made this year for outside - I got all the "parts" at Hobby Lobby for 1/2 price and I think it looks almost as good as the readymade ones that were priced at $40-50.

And since mine cost less than $13, I won't feel too bad when the Oklahoma wind beats it up.

Easters Past

I don't know if anyone but my family will be interested in these old pictures but they all have fond memories for me. So just skip this post if you don't want to see a bunch of old pictures with eggs and baskets.

1963

The picture may have Aug 1963 printed on it but it was taken Easter. The 2 boys are my brothers and I am the first girl with curls. The other 2 girls lived near-by.

Look how tiny the houses in the background seem. Back then, everyone we knew lived in a similar tiny house.

1972

I'm in the white peasant top. I was decorating eggs that evening. My brother and his girlfriend had a date that night but they stayed and decorated eggs for awhile. Do teens still get that dressed up for a plain old Saturday night date?

1987

Bobby, Nina and Jimmy with a big basket of eggs.

1989

Jimmy, Nina and Bobby after church in the church parking lot. We lived aboard Camp Pendleton and went to church in San Clemente. Our church was on a hillside and isn't that a great view? I think San Clemente is one of the prettiest towns.

1990

Nina and I in front of our Camp Pendleton home.

1992

Clint, Bobby, Jimmy and Nina

we were living in Jeff's grandparents farmhouse in OK this year.

Can you see the boy's boots? They all had matching faux snakeskin cowboy boots.

2001

this was our front yard when we lived in the house we built in the country.

so however you celebrate Easter tomorrow, take some pictures! In years to come, you will be glad you did.

Easter Decorations 2009

I have been Easter decorating for years and have 2 storage tubs full of Easter things. So believe it or not, none of this stuff was bought this year, just arranged differently than last year.

I saw on Martha's TV set all the baskets in the background of eggs, sorted by color. I think hers look great so I sorted mine too. I was really surprised I had so many plastic eggs.

My kids have been too old to hunt eggs for a long time.

The apothecary jars are new this year, both were anniversary gifts from my husband.

The living room mantle



My version of Jen's Egg Hunt sign - I repainted an old sign with black paint and added letters I cut with a Cricut. Thanks Jen, for the inspiration!

outside by the front door

in the entry way

light fixture over formal dining table, my mom crocheted the Victorian egg covers.

More Victorian egg covers by my mom

The shelf over the TV


I like the way it all looks but when my dd Nina comes over, she will probably say something like it looks like the Easter Bunny threw up all over everything.

decopaged eggs

I saw the cutest Easter eggs at Inspireco Her's are glittered and tied with ribbons. I planned to make mine just like hers.
I started with old plastic eggs in various sizes. Then I used pages from an old dictionary and encyclopaedia and some scrapbook paper that looks old.
For glue, at first I used the last of some Mod Podge thinned with a bit of water. When that ran out, I switched to Elmers School Glue, also watered down.
Both glues work great, I like the mod podge ones because they have a bit of a shine but the Elmers glue is much easier to wash off your hands.

This batch of 2 dozen eggs won't be for Easter though. I really like they way look just plain and in a black egg basket in our dining room all year.

Tracey at Frugal Luxuries by the Seasons also made some very pretty decopaged eggs. She used real eggs.

These would be a great craft for children and youth to make. You just have a way for them to wash their hands afterward, my hands were pretty much covered with glue.

a few St. Patricks Day decorations

See more Friday Show and Tell treasures at Kelli's There is no place like home.

I am ready for spring and spring weather so I thought a few green decorations were in order.
A rag garland inspired by ones I have seen Emilie make, Bunch of Scrap.
Little stuffed shamrocks inspired by Heidi, Celebrate the Seasons.
And an early Easter bunny in a leprechaun hat surrounded by clover. I made this plastic canvas project a few years back.

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

traditional gaelic blessing

Valentines tree

For most of 2008, I followed Heidi's plan of celebrating the seasons, enjoying the current season and not rushing to the next one until it was time for it. I usually put up snowmen and snow-themed decorations in January when I pack away Christmas. But we have already had so much bitter cold weather that when I looked at my box of snow things, I was not amused and did not smile.

So for 2009, I went straight from Christmas to Valentines.

Nina collected these little guys when she was in high school but she left them here when she moved out. Aren't they cute? She may want them back when she sees them.


I bought this silver tree at Pier 1 a few years ago. My mom crocheted the doily. I hand sewed the ornaments from felt and sequin.

Family pictures - Christmas 2008

Fletch - Bobby and Bridgette's dog- waiting for everything to start.
Jeff looking at some new bottles of wine
Bobby in an action shot - but I can't figure what he is doing.

Just getting starting with the unwrapping.

Bobby, Bridgette and Fletch - trying out their new quilt.
Bridgette, opening a lamp.
Christmas Eve - 9 of us went to Candlelight services, then came here for snacks and Mexican Train Dominoes. This is me, Nina, and Denise, John's mom.
Bobby, modeling a hat he got from Uncle Bert.

Clint and Amanda opening some baby clothes, their first baby should arrive around Feb. 12.
Nina, showing one of her new cupcake plates.- John looks thrilled about them.
Jimmy and Nina, Christmas eve.
The mess afterward
more mess
Jeff smoked a turkey and pork loins. While he sliced them, Fletch and Theo both hoped and waited for their taste test.
Theo wants to make sure Jeff knows he wants some of that smoked meat.

Christmas cookies

Nina wanted to make lots of Christmas cookies so that is what we did this afternoon. We baked 5 kinds.
Jeff is taking the assorted tray to work tomorrow, I wanted to put them on the pretty red plate but he was afraid it might get broken so his work cookies are in a stainless steel baking pan.
Shaker Spice cookies are in the top left can.
Teresa Smith's Pecan Delights are in the lower right.
Betty Crockers Coconut Chew Bars
Mexican Wedding Cookies a.k.a. Russian Tea Cakes a.k.a. Snowball cookies
Oatmeal coconut cookies