JANUARY 2011 COTTAGE OF THE MONTH

What better way to bring in the new year than with surprise number one...

I am beside myself with joy that Jennifer at THE OLD PAINTED COTTAGE has selected my home as the JANUARY 2011 COTTAGE OF THE MONTH!



Here's a sneak peek at my home...







Please head on over to THE OLD PAINTED COTTAGE to see the full story and a look at my home.

Thanks Jennifer, it was fabulous working with you! All the best to everyone in 2011!

Hugs,

Shelley

WINTER FLOWERS

Just popping in with a quick post! Thought you might enjoy my winter flowers...



verbena in an old well bucket.


pansies are one of my favs.


sweet alyssum in old terra cotta pots.


pansies and more pansies.


love these pansies in this fab white pot.


what a surprise! more pansies in an old kettle.


luscious lobelia.


bacopa and what else? pansies.


pink pansies.


sweet alyssum on the front patio.

hope you enjoyed the winter flowers! back with a surprise (first of two) soon!

Happy New Year!!

CHRISTMAS MOMENTS***THE FINALE

For me Christmas isn't about over the top decor and big blow~up santas and snowmen on the lawn... Not that there's anything wrong with that.

It just isn't me.

Here are some final glimpses into our holiday home, be it ever so humble.


Meet Miss Merry Christmas.




Some favorite cards I gave and received along the mantle.




















This year my charlie brown tree is strewn with old rosaries.

I will be back after Christmas with a surprise for all you that I think you will enjoy. Until then, may each of you be blessed with a happy, safe and very merry Christmas!

Shelley

CHRISTMAS MOMENTS PART DEUX

I wanted to share more of the random sprinkling of Christmas around my home...











Back with the finale in a few...

CHRISTMAS MOMENTS

Rather than an all out Christmas explosion, I prefer quiet moments of Christmas when I decorate. I like to use creams, whites and silvers mixed with holidays greens. This year I used an antique grain sack wrapped around the base of my little tabletop tree. I found some gorgeous ornaments at Pottery Barn (on sale) made of folded paper and glitter.

Let's begin in the dining room shall we?
























I'll be back shortly with more moments of Christmas...

Hugs

BLESSED

I am blessed to have some of the very best people as friends...

The other day I received a box in the mail from my besty Carla in Tennessee. She is my Marburger peep and we have grown to be true compadres. I love her like a sister.

She sent me this white pumpkin cause I didn't get one at Leftover's in Texas and they had just one at the shop she sells in... I can't stop looking at it...



And then every once in awhile a new friend comes along...

I got to spend the afternoon with Sue LaLumia whom most of you know as Vintage Rescue Squad on the blog circuit. By the time we parted ways I knew we would be friends forever. She's just like that...


Sue and moi.

She was in town to visit her parents for Christmas and unfortunately her mom is in and out of the hospital right now. Let's all keep the LaLumia's in our prayers okay?

Because her mom is sick they were unable to go here...



Her generous dad gave all four tickets to the 6pm show last night to moi...

Let me just say that it was off the chain... Her dad's pretty fabulous too.

HAVE YOU HEARD?

Have you heard the big RACHEL ASHWELL NEWS?

She bought a guest ranch in Round Top Texas!

Go HERE to read all about it!

Back soon with Christmas decor pics...

ONE DOWN. HERE COMES THE BIGGIE...

Here's hoping that your Thanksgiving was a time of gratitude and family togetherness. The leftover's are dwindling here and we have begun with the adornment of white lights (natch) and grapevine deer grazing in our front garden.

I had intended to have the trees up today, but a weird injury has sidelined me... Don't ask me how, but on Friday I was lying on my stomach on the floor with my granddaughter while coloring and I twisted to the left to reach for something when I felt and heard a "pop" along my left rib cage. I'm positive it's soft tissue and a sprain but all the same it hurts like hell and has gotten worse over the last two days. So hauling trees around and getting tubs of ornaments down is on hold.

In the meantime, I want to share a redo of the guest room with you that was inspired by a cute little dresser that was given to me by my mom. It belonged to my great~grandma and has been living in Indiana with a family friend who bought it at the sale they had years back. Mom decided she wanted me to have it and bought it back from her friend and they were nice enough to bring it to me on their last visit. It was stained brown so of course it needed a facelift, but the glass knobs are original.

The room is in reverse of it's previous arrangement and this set up makes it look much larger and works so much better. Isn't it funny how you just know when you finally get it right?

The first pic is of course the dresser. Please enjoy the tour and I'll be back soon with Christmas decor pics...