Out of my Comfort(er) Zone

So far in the 2& 1/2 years of living here, I've managed to get away with not showing you our Master Bedroom. There are a few reasons why I've not shared it; here are my excuses...

Gathered #4

It's been a while since I shared one of these mishmashed posts, so

  Welcome to another edition of

Random Musings of a Wandering Mind...

Cozy Winter Living Room

January is all about warm and cozy for me. Find a comfy spot and snuggle up with a blanket and a  cup of hot tea or cocoa and a good book. Part of my January routine is to make things visually cozy and warm so that means I bring out the fuzzy stuff. Leopard print pillows and my leopard print throw for my chair and ottoman are basics. I like to focus on neutrals and textures here in the living room, and then using the leopard print as my little touch of fun.

Is "Mushroom" the New Gray in Wall Color Trends?

Have you checked out the February Issue of Country Living? They have a feature in their "Field Guide" section on decor trends called "Wild for Mushroom". Here's what they say: "Warmer than Gray but cooler than Taupe, this neutral, earthy shade is popping up everywhere."

Country Living Magazine

Paperwhites, Fresh or Faux?

I've had this little obsession with Paperwhites for about 10 years now. There is just something so pristine and snowy fresh about a grouping of them. In the past I would buy around a hundred bulbs each season close to Halloween and start the planting process. That was the fun part, I've planted bulbs in everything from Santa Mugs to Antique Ironstone Tureens to the re-purposed clear glass jars that candles come in from Bath and Body Works. I love them and never get tired of them.

A Winter Dining Room in Neutrals

Since packing up the Christmas decor I've been bringing out my light and neutral decor pieces. In the Dining Room that meant changing out the table runner and doing something a little different on the table. 

A January Entry

I always tend to lean toward a more neutral and white color palette during the month of January. Whether it's due to the oversaturation of color during Fall and Christmas, or because it's bleak and snowy outside, I seem to crave a clean look after the new year. Clean and fresh feeling whites and neutrals are what I need, because once Spring starts to creep up out of the landscape the rest of the year means "color".

Vintage White Suitcases Make a Comeback...

January is the month for a fresh start and a clean slate. I always look forward to a new calendar and the possibilities that the New Year brings. No matter what the previous year has held, good or bad, I thank God for His good plans for the future, and I'm grateful that we are moving forward with a positive attitude. 

My Year in Pictures...

It's the time of the year, as all bloggers know, to take a look back at what we've blogged about this last year; basically to do a little recap and review of 2016. I'm a little short on projects, room reveals, and DIY's. I didn't travel the world, go to enlightening blog conferences, or have a feature in one of my favorite decorating magazines. Those are all great things, but basically that hasn't been my year in 2016.

From My Home to Yours...

...and from my heart to all of you.

Wishing you a wonderful Christmas.

Not just for a day,

but for each day of the year.

Praying that you will know that tiny baby

who was born over 2000 years ago;

that He is King of Kings and Lord of All.

That He is The One who can change your life

and bring you Peace, and Purpose, and Joy.

Thank you all, sweet friends,

sending Blessings and Love your way.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Brunch in Tartan Plaid

A week or so ago, I had a little trial run to set a Christmas Breakfast or Brunch with my Red Transfer ware. I had been looking for Red Tartan Plaid placemats, and found these on Ebay. They were half the retail price from last year, and were brand new in the original packaging from Penneys, so I was glad to find these. I bought two sets, since when I need them, I'm usually setting a table for six.

Christmas Home Tour 2016 Part 2

Hi Everyone, 

I hope you're having a wonderful week before Christmas.

I imagine it's a busy one too!

I'm here to share Part 2 of my Christmas House Tour with you.

(It's a Chilly) Christmas on the Front Porch

Welcome to our Home for Christmas!

I think we're all having below normal temps this last week.

Actually, it's been pretty chilly around here for the last several weeks;

chilly enough to keep me from wanting to spend time outside

 fiddling with Christmas decorations and my camera.

Christmas Home Tour 2016 Part 1

Here we are Friends, the week of Christmas!

I'm excited to share my Home with you for this very special Christmas Season.

This is Part 1, as I've brought all my Christmas photos together for two posts.

Thanks so much for joining me!

Vintage Greetings from the Sitting Room

I was going through my photos today, putting together a "comprehensive" (ahem) Home Tour Post/s, when I realized I really hadn't shared much from the Kitchen Sitting Room. what? no, not much. I have a few things, really sort of random, but hey, isn't that what the weekend is for...?  So I'm going to combine a few new things from the KSA and a few items I've "Gathered" to share.

My Mirror on the Old Door is decorated for the Season,

with some greenery, Holly, and a feisty little Cardinal.

I had moved my moss covered "O" onto the vintage mirror

since the Boxwood Wreath replaced it in the Entry Area.

Don't Miss these Home for Christmas Features

I hope you're enjoying this week,

 I know some of us still have some things to do before next weekend gets here,

 But it's not too late to come by and Link-Up to the

Home For Christmas Link Party. 

This is a Linky Party for anyone wanting to share their Christmas Posts,

past and present.

The Link will be live until Christmas 

so come by any time and join in.

I love hosting a Link Party,

 because it gives me a chance to meet some new Bloggers,

and to reconnect with some old friends.

Here are just a few of the wonderful Links from the party so far...

My first love is Vintage,

so when I saw this oh-so-creative 

stacked box and basket Christmas Tree I totally fell in love.

Having the little Evergreen perched up there,

 made it over-the-top fun!

JoAnne from A Pocketful of Blue 

Home For Christmas Blog Party Link-Up

Hi Friends,

so glad you're coming by to celebrate with us at the Blogger's Party

Home for Christmas, 

and to hopefully join in on the Party Link-Up today.

Brenda and I invite you to share your favorite Christmas Posts
 as you celebrate your 

Home For Christmas.

You can link up to 3 of your posts from this year or previous,

please just have them be related to Christmas...

Home Tours, Christmas Decor, Family Traditions, Recipes, DIY, 

anything Christmas!
*Please have a link to the party in your post.

I thought I'd share a few more pics from our Home this Christmas,

as I'll be sharing a complete Christmas Home Tour a bit later in the week.
These are mostly room views, which I usually don't get around to taking,
but since it's Christmas, there's a little more to see.

Christmas Cloches au Natural

Hi Friends...

I thought I'd do a quick post 

and share my two Christmas Cloches

from the Dining Room.

Christmas Dining Room

I love this time of year, 

but getting dark around 4:30 can be frustrating,

especially when you're editing photos and realize

that you need just one extra shot.

I tried to make use of the lower light 

and just add a little twinkle.

So, let's take a peek at the Dining Room,

all dressed up for Christmas.

Antique Rocking Horse on the Mantel...

I thought I'd share a few more pics of my antique rocking horse

 on the mantel, that I showed yesterday in the house tour.

My Mom was telling me this week, how she and my dad answered an ad for it in the paper, around the time of my second or third birthday. This was before the age of the heavy plastic bouncing horsey on a big metal spring. I'm old, but I'm not as old as this horse so don't go making me older than I am! Mom said it was an antique when they found it, but it still had it's tail, mane, saddle and the red wooden stand that it set on. It had been stored in one of our barns, so between then and the time mom gave it back to me, the humidity, cold, (and mice) probably took it's toll.

House Tour for Christmas 2016

Hi Everyone... and Welcome to my

2016 Christmas Home Tour

I know there will be many new visitors besides my own readers this Season

so I hope you'll feel welcome, as I show you around.

Today, I'll be sharing from several areas of our home on the main level. We have a newer walkout basement Open Concept home that we've lived in 2 years, but this is our 3rd Christmas here. The Entry, Dining Room and Living Room are basically in one large space. It's easy to decorate, but at the same time, it's important that I have a theme and a plan! 

One of the ways that I keep a look going is to use wired ribbon to coordinate through all the rooms. This year I found a fun metallic gold polka-dot on a burlap/linen look background, that I paired with my favorite Christmas accent, Stewart Red Tartan Plaid. Here in the Entry, I kept things in neutrals with just the gold polka-dot. I used it to hang the Boxwood Wreath and to adorn the vintage look tree in an iron urn. I found the "Merry and Bright" wooden plaque at Hobby Lobby. It really stated the message I wanted to share this Christmas.

When you come through the Front Door, the Formal Dining Room is to your left. It's not a large space and all my big furniture really fills it up. I love antiques and vintage decor, (if you hadn't guessed) and I feel most at home with using old and new pieces alongside one another. Decorating with the seasons keeps things fresh and interesting for me, and part of that is changing out the

 table runner and decor here in the Dining Room.

My first plan when thinking about Christmas Decorating, was to find a Red Tartan Plaid fabric piece to use as a base for my burlap printed Holly table runner. I found a large tablecloth instead, and just folded it in two lengthwise. This year I used a large white lantern from Pottery Barn and Holly Topiaries that I made many years ago, in Restoration Hardware pottery by Guy Wolff. I love the high ceilings in this house, but anything that's used as decor on this table has to be good sized, otherwise it's lost.

An antique market basket on wheels holds seasonal faux floral stems.

 I use Hydrangeas for every season, and here they are paired with Red Winterberries.

I didn't use the large white tree this year, so this smaller Entry tree is standing in.

It's wrapped in a White Printed Burlap Ribbon sitting in my galvanized olive bucket.

This is a view looking back from the fireplace toward the Dining Room;

that's the staircase as the room divider. 

I have a love/hate relationship with this fireplace. I love having a fireplace, but this is a little bigger than I would have designed. I'm a small person, so whatever I do up here has to be done on a step ladder. And like the Dining Room, it has to have some "heft", otherwise you can't see it. This year I wanted to use my Antique Rocking Horse as the focal point. He's adorned with the Tartan Plaid Ribbon, as are the smaller Pottery Barn Lanterns.

I really do LOVE Plaid, and what's better than just Plaid for Christmas?

A Gold Metallic Reindeer ON Plaid, of course!

The main Living Area moves into the Kitchen Sitting Area,

that has become my favorite spot in the house for decorating.

I have a Christmas Morning Tablescape set here on the old oak table, 

that I'll be sharing right before Christmas.

A Baker's Rack that I've had for years,

holds my seasonal vintage decorating odds and ends.

Each Season and Holiday finds it's way to the Baker's Rack for display.

My Kitchen China Cupboard holds my Brown and Red Transferware dishware.

I don't have "sets", just orphaned bits and pieces of various patterns.

A few of my Vintage Shiny Brite ornaments are displayed alongside 

some of my collection of old Putz Houses and Churches.

Our previous home had a small Sunporch that held my wicker settee, chair and Baker's Rack, but since I don't have one at this home, I'm enjoying them here in the Sitting Area. My love for Plaid is right at home here on the wicker, and I use this old cobbler's bench as a small coffee table/foot stool.

If you're new to my Blog, I hope you'll come back to visit.

There are several ways to stay up-to-date on my sidebar.

 I'll be sharing much more of these areas in future posts.

Thank You so much for coming by!