Finally Decorated and Mother Nature Took Care of the Outdoors!

W ell, we have at least 18 inches of snow and drifts two times that! It is very pretty and luckily it was a weekend so there wasn't any work panic! I am so sslow at getting ready this year. I was way ahead, I thought, but this stinkin' flu really hung around and I am still so tired and I still have a cough...hate that!

But, I finally took some pics around the house, so here they are. I decorate a lot. If someone gave it to me, I feel I have to put it out. This year, I gave up after a while, so this is less than usual...and not as carefully placed. It was out of the box-good enough-naptime!

 First this- the best decorations in a home!

Now, the house.

I'll take a daylight pic.

My mom made those puffy trees.

I usually put stuff away and then decorate ...not this year..piled it on!

Tree looks better in person..all those kid ornaments.....

countdown panel quilt

"If you like to make things out of wood, or sew, or dance, or style people's hair, or dream up stories and act them out, or play the trumpet, or jump rope, whatever you really love to do, and you love that in front of your children, that's going to be a far more important gift than anything you could ever give them wrapped up in a box with ribbons. And what's more: the last thing in the world you have to be is perfect at it. It's the spirit that gives that kind of gift its wings."

Mister (Fred) Rogers

Click here for a sweet Christmas card.

My Big Score!

I am linking up here -so go see more featured furniture!
    

     Not that I wanted to do this at this time, but a craisgslist opportunity arose...and I had to go with it. I really saw the ad back at the beginning of the month but the seller was not that easy. First time, after many emails, we agreed to a Saturday morning whaich was changed to 5 PM. Pitch black and raining, but we found the house about 35-40 minutes away. We rang, knocked, called and no answer. We waited and tried again-no. Discouraged and feeling that it was "sketchy", I gave up on it   He emailed the next day and said someome was there, had we shown up? Ugh!

He emailed a week later and said he'd be around Thanksgiving weekend. I kind of gave up on it and the family was in so....He said the following wekend. OK..Now, how would we get it home was another issue. We arrived and saw this:

EKTORP!!!

It was in really near perfect condition. We were getting it home!!!  We carried it out easily after removing legs and put it right into the back of our Jeep Commander. Our son was with us so I sat in the back area with the sofa!!

The cushions had been taped in moving so I need to get a little sticky off  (suggestions?...alcohol?) and it will be fine.  I will take pics in the little room when we've painted (ahhhhh!-love paint!) and rearranged. This room is our spare bedroom/room with a desk/ too much gets dumped there/ craft room/  and if a bed still fits, guest room! I want the white covers, but am happy with Khaki and will watch IKEA for deals.  I had originally  wanted the loveseat but for the price...oh I didn't tell you ..............................

$100!!!!!

and it sells for

 EKTORP Sofa

$499.00
Idemo beige


So, pretty good?
I think so! So comfy! Now I sit there with my laptop on my lap and say hello to all of you! YAY!

The Dickens are ready...even if I'm not!

     My favorite thing to set up at Christmas is my Dicken's village. I have been collecting for many years and each box has the year it was purchased.  My Mom and I both started-she only had a few and we split them when she died a few years ago. Our first were purchased at A&S -which has gone out of business, along with Gimbels and Altmans and Fortunoffs-all great stores! I stopped collecting houses a few years ago, because of space and price.
           Luckily I got this set up becasue after hauling all the Christmas boxes out of the attic and starting to decorate, I got all achy and thought it was the lifting. No, a few hours later 102 and chills and the works. The flu. The worst part is the half done house and the desire, but no strength. I thought I was over it but a short time of laundry or dishes and I have to hit the couch. Very unlike me. Better off now than Christmas week, I suppose. So, here is what I have done so far-and even this is an effort! I couldn't even go on 2 days ago!

I have The Crowntree Inn -one of the oldest, The Toy Shop, The Golden Swan Bakery, Thomas Karsey Coffee House and Maylie Cottage  (which were my Mom's), Wheat Cakes and Puddings,The Old Curiosity Shoppe, Fruit and Spice and Booter and Cobbler. I have a few figures that you can hardly see-I will add a daylight picture tomorrow! Sometimes I spread them out a bit, but becasue of this:

I can't! Up high and away!!

          I am also a Dicken's lover...and Jane Austen. Did you happen to see Masterpiece Theater last season with David Copperfield ( with little Daniel Radcliffe), Old Curiosity Shoppe, Oliver Twist and the amazing Little Dorrit? My husband watches with me but says he can't understand the British accent! Talk English! I make everyone watch on Sunday nights on PBS. December 20th a new season begins and one of the stories is Emma-my favorite-that's on Januart 24th. I love the Gwyneth Paltrow version, but this one looks great -if you like-check it out!

         So tomorrow I finish decoration-I have a lot-so I think I will hold back a bit-no tree yeat. We get a real one and usually next weekend is the time.