St. Lucia around the house 2010

 A mixture of Lucia on the book case.

My oldest Lucia doll from JR Hallmark.

I heart Circa Ceramics ~ I heart Tack and Jibe

Enamored with Circa Ceramics products when I first  held one of their chunky cups in my hand. Looked good, felt good and the color and retro designs added spark and sparkle to start the day. After visiting their albums and blogs I learned they did a series for Tack and Jibe that I HAD to own. Yellow, white with a red cherry motif. Send me four and a couple of magnets! : )

Is it UGGly time yet?

The boots, the linings - the cozy and the comfort. My feet are ready...: )

Who are these people?

 Remember when Norman Thayer queries this while sorting through old pics at the cottage On Golden Pond? I now ask myself the same questions. : o (MSU The Victors )

(MSU Spoon River Anthology)

...and the SKELLIES got a Grim neighbor!

Why skullies and skellies as a fave Halloween theme? ACM, ACDF 5-6, RA, TMJD - and on a positive note - I do happen to like the show Bones. : )

JR's Hallmark In Tunkhannock new on FB (and a pre Halloween sale)

Got some cocktail napkins, a little Boo ghost and...

The SIGNS of Halloween

One Etsyian creates the best SIGNS. You can show what you're thinking without uttering a sound.

The loving bones

Bad bones in real life - skulls and skellies for Halloween - even from friends and friends of DH who don't understand my love of the holiday.

                                     the skull that lights from Brooksie

                                       the loving bones couple from J

At 90 degrees there is no frost on the pumpkin today

...although the farmer's wife still looks thrilled at the prospect of Halloween. One of my fave vintage magazine covers. Great doll prop/background also.

The counter and the corner - Halloween version

will moses print, ivan and lucy pillow, vintage games

bowls and prim from Etsy sellers

I simply can't wait - Happy pre-Halloween

The display near the front door - Lizzie Borden-ish.

Whatever happened to ... ????

the annual Mason mugs from Crabtree and Evelyn??? Got serious about collecting the blue and white

lovely(s) a decade ago. Last year (Christmas 2009) none were offered. No one seemed to know what I was talking about. Poof - gone!

So I said it was time for Halloween decorations and...

my friend informed me that many of my decorating displays already look like Halloween??? What?

Not exactly Carl Larsson style

Flowers on the knobs are as Carl Larsson-ish as I can hope to get. Wink.

Nana's scattered violets

A dear friend from exchange student/college roommate days mentioned she was looking for her Grammy's coffee set which her mother had lost or broken.

Turns out my Nana's creamer and sugar bowl is a twin to the pattern her grandmother collected!

And the three changing areas are

(those that change with the seasons)

the kitchen counter

the computer corner

                                                    the sidebar in the dining area

Minis all around us

Always wanted a pristine dollhouse filled with unique miniatures. Never happened BUT Re-Ment mini made mini displays around the house possible!

Hello Amy

Vintage linens remind me of hanging laundry on the line by the side of Mermon's Apartments, the special rose tablecloth that adorned the Cushman dining table on holidays only, my Nana's extreme flowery drapes in the front room, and the linen tea towels I was allowed to iron. The 50s were wonderful learning years.

                  

Amy K from the Pacific NW has an Etsy shop (Into Vintage) that offers all sorts of items made from vintage linens upcycled into lovely creations.Amy's pillows,towels,books,banners and sachets can be found throughout my house.

The British front door

All my work years in education found me - well - working with little time to explore any interests outside of Room 159 or the areas of 9th grade literature or tech prep strategies. My salary, family and health situations tightened the corset laces even more. When freedom with time finally arrived I went British countryside and British crime scene crazy. Watched/read them for the plot and the poesy in the British garden. A proper British building to me required three things: a stone front, a colorful front door and unique flowers somewhere nearby.

Every front door in the complex is a different color: yellow, red, blue (royal and powder) and my fave forest green. (Can you imagine how horrid the door looked at its original color or peach?? Yikes!

Three cheers for the sunflower!

Why comfort CROW?

TOS, RA, failed back surgery C-spine, ACM - names given for the pain my bones and connective tissues thrust at me every day - with mornings being the most difficult time. After a sleepless night, how does one rise and shine and continue through a full day at work? 

The crows helped. The caw caw cawing from the clearing behind the brook encouraged me to get on with one more day. My choice of motif (the black bird) is a tribute to these clever creatures who continue to bring much needed comfort every day.