Book Page Bouquets

A few weeks ago, I decided to make a book-page wreath.  You may have seen them in blogland...they have been all the rage for a few years.

I found an old yellowing book on furniture refinishing that I will never use again, so I tore out the pages and taped them into cones, like this:

I stuck the cones in these two large vases until I had time to make the wreath:

That was about a month ago.  So far I have not been inspired to make the wreath, so I just put the vases full of paper "flowers" back up on the entertainment center in my family room. 

I decided that I kind of like the vases full of paper "flowers"!

Someday I may still make a wreath, but for now I am content with these winter bouquets.

Crafty Saturday at Home

I spent yesterday creating things...including a big mess. :) 

Since J does all the cooking during the week, I try to take over that task on the weekends that I am home.  I make extra for the freezer, so he always has something he can heat up quickly if he does not feel like cooking. 

I made something new last night-- Buffalo Wing Chicken Meatballs.  They were stuffed with a piece of Feta cheese.

I used 2 lbs. of ground chicken breast mixed with an egg, diced red pepper, diced red onion, 4 cloves of garlic, and whatever spices you like--I used poultry seasoning, basil, salt and pepper.  Bake at 400 degrees for 20 - 25 minutes (depends on how big you make them). Don't over cook or they will be too dry.
While baking melt 1/2 cup butter and about 1/2 cup of Frank's Hot Sauce.  Lightly toss the chicken meatballs in this sauce just prior to serving.

I also added some spring colors to a denim wreath I made last fall:

and I turned these little paper pieces into that heart quilt block:

All in all I had a most enjoyable frigid winter Saturday staying home in my p.j.'s the wholel day!  I am planning to do pretty much the same thing today!

Frigid Temperatures Fun

I got home from work yesterday and it was 8 degrees with a wind chill of -13 degrees.  I decided it was time to try a bubble-blowing experiment that I have been seeing on the net. 

You heat up your bubble solution to boiling and then go outside and blow bubbles. Blowing bubbles in below zero temps!! How cool is that?  The bubbles are supposed to freeze as they drift through the air.  You catch them before they hit the ground and shatter and they are gorgeous works of  frozen art.

So  I heated my soapy bubble solution in the microwave and went outside in my bathrobe and winter boots (the moment I get home from work I put my warm cozy bathrobe on).   On my first bubble-blowing attempt, I had Crocs on, but the snow entered all the holes and I had wet feet--not a good thing in below zero temps--so the boots went on for this second attempt.

I caught a bubble (not as easy to do as you might think!):

It looked just like it would on a balmy July afternoon.  Nothing froze!  I was so disappointed!

I decided to try another experiment.  I boiled two cups of water in a 4-cup Pyrex measuring cup.  I took it outside and tossed it in the air:

It is supposed to turn to snow and, I think, it did!   Finally success!  DH was standing behind me taking the pics and did not quite capture the "snow" as it moved too quickly across the left side.

Have any of you tried either of these?  I had a blast...most fun I have had outside since my garden frosted over!

I Finally Bought a Scarf I Really Like!

I am totally happy with my latest scarf purchase! It is very lightweight and there are no tying skills involved. You just toss each end over your shoulder and let it hang the way it falls.

I am getting ready to go to my sister-in-law's for Christmas dinner.  She asked me to make a fresh cranberry salad, which turned out pretty good (if I do say so myself).  I know because last night I had my Mom & Dad and sister over for Christmas eve dinner and I made a smaller bowl for us so I could make sure it was edible. :)  I have never made this one before, so I googled to find a recipe using fresh oranges (the entire orange all ground up), fresh apples, cranberries and canned pineapple.  I found a couple of recipes, combined and changed items to suit the family likes/dislikes until I had something I felt would work for everyone. I whipped it up at 5:00 a.m. yesterday.  It's super easy to make. I think everyone but me has made a similar recipe before.  Jim and I both loved it, so  this will now be on my holiday recipe list.

I am not a very good girl all year, so Santa does not bring me much. :) 

But this year he did bring me these shoes that have strands of yarn sewn throughout:

 I just love them and can't wait to wear them.  I have a few orange jackets (yes, I am one of those people who like orange) that should go nicely with these.

I hope you are all enjoying your holiday festivities as much we are!



My Neck is Not Meant to be Draped in Fabric

In mid-November I had to have surgery to remove a tumor from my neck (now you know why I did not post for so long).  I won't bore you with details, other than to say that the tumor was benign and  I am just fine now.  I am only telling you this as a segue into my dislike of wearing scarves.

I feared that after surgery my neck would be black and blue (based on having blood drawn from my arm...many times that tiny little needle leaves a big bruise).  Therefore, I assumed that when a surgeon takes a knife and cuts across my neck, it's not going to be pretty!  I had to go back to work immediately after the surgery, so I decided that I needed to buy some scarves.

I had about a three-week notice of this surgery. I immediately scoured my favorite clothing site (Coldwater Creek) and ordered just about every scarf I could find in the outlet. I went to Wally's World and grabbed what they had available.  This picture is about half of what I bought so that I would have something to cover my hideous post-surgery neck no matter what color of jacket I wore to work each day.

Other than for warmth with a winter coat, I have never worn scarves.  Since scarves are really "in" right now, I thought it was time to learn how to wear them.  I watched CC's video of something like "8 ways to tie a scarf".  I searched "scarves" on Pinterest.  The models looked great in their scarves.  I was getting excited about wrapping myself in yards of fabric (most of these scarves are longer than I am tall) and looking, oh, so chic.

Well, let me tell you, I was totally disappointed.  With the exception of the short infinity off-white scarf with the gold metallic circles, I hated all of these.  I think maybe scarves are only for tall thin people.  I felt like I was overwhelmed, choked, totally engulfed in these long skinny yards of fabric.

It took me less than a week to decide that I would rather flaunt my neck incision than to wear one of those hideous wrappings.  The incision looked much better than I anticipated right from the start--there was no bruising.  It was a bit red and swelled, but not all that repulsive.  I never thought to take a picture of it, until today. 

It has been 4 weeks since my surgery and because I  travelled 4.5 hours (one way for two weeks in a row) to have a very experienced surgeon at the University of Michigan hospital, my neck looks like this:

I am thrilled with the smallish cut and feel it looks way better than any of the dozen scarves I bought to try to hide it! 

I did order this scarf last week.

I have not received it yet, but I think it will be here tomorrow.  This one looks really quirky  and I am hoping that I will love it and be able to wear it in place of a necklace with blue jeans (weekend wear).  I no longer care if it hides the incision.

 

I have decided that my neck was made for short infinity scarves... ....or strands of 14K gold  :). 

 

Now I have to figure out what to do with all those long scarves.  Do you think they would work as table runners?  Anyone have any other ideas? 

Gemini Left a True Winter Wonderland in my Back Yard

I just came inside after walking through knee-deep snow to take some pictures to share my winter wonderland with you. 

Yes, it's a beautiful day in the neighborhood!  How many of you got to enjoy Gemini this weekend?

I Just Finished Christmas Shopping -- for Myself!

Here is what I ordered:

I received a gift of money this week and decided to spend it (plus more).  I think this order will arrive just in time for Christmas.  Can't wait to see if I like everything as much as I hope I will.

A Relaxing Weekend at Home

It is a very cold, snowy weekend in northern Michigan. 

DH and I are enjoying staying inside.  Together this afternoon we cooked six future meals of pizza stuffed pasta shells, which we froze for meals later this winter.  Tonight we were in the mood for a big spinach salad topped with a warm chicken breast, fresh avocado, mandarin oranges and poppyseed dressing. It was sooooooooooo good!

I took a few pictures to show you the (minimal) Christmas decorating I did this year.

 Last month I bought this rusty 3- candle centerpiece that I really love:

If I have the time (and energy) I will add fresh greens for my Christmas Eve dinner.  If not, it will be just fine the way it is.

 

Here is a full view of the Christmas tree in the family room.

 

Same tree as seen from the dining room:

I hung the "Joy" banner I made two years ago across the china cabinet on the left. It is difficult to see in the pic above.  I left everything on the top of the cabinet as it was (much easier to take down just the JOY banner!):

 

 December is zooming by.  We have been so busy for the past 30 days that we have had little time to enjoy the season.  This is the first weekend for a month that we have been able to stay home and we are really enjoying it!

I plan to plop down soon in the chaise lounge and watch a Christmas movie tonight.

 I hope you are all having a good weekend, too!

It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas at My House

This  year I did my main tree in these traditional colors:

Many of you may remember that I have done turquoise or brownish colors for the past few years.    I really love all different holiday colors....I just get bored with the same every year, so since I bought new green furniture last spring, this year I am enjoying cranberry reds and green again.  Luckily I have a basement full of Christmas ornies in many colors, so I did not have to buy a single thing.

I will show you more of that tree later.  It's been up for two weeks, but I have not taken any full pictures.

This past weekend in the dining room, I put up a small skinny tree and decorated it with only red cardinals, pinecones and white snowflakes.  It was the easiest tree I have ever decorated!

It goes nicely with the  new dining room chair covers in cranberry red and green that I made last month.

At the top of tree I put the antlers from a buck my son got many years ago.   DH found the antlers in the basement --I did not even know they were there. Antlers are such a big item in the decorating world right now....what a great find!

Are you decorated for Christmas yet?

Pink and Black Event

I thought I would share this beautiful set up we had at the hotel for a recent event.  The client hired a decorator.  We all thought it was beautifully done!

I do love a pink/black table!

The Frost Finally Got Them

After just bragging yesterday about how nice my garage planters were, I felt I needed to show you how they look today:

This is the end of my 2013 container plants.  So sad! 

My Autumn Projects

I cut down all of my deck containers today--just in time as we may get some snow flurries next week. DH's marigolds stilled looked good, so I moved them to the front yard where they work nicely with the pumpkin décor.

 Despite many night's in the 30's, my tropical containers still look good.  Being under a roof overhang and next to the house shelters them in their own little mini climate. I have not even covered them.

Since my last post, I have planted some Japanese Silver Grass with my Limelights in the old apple tree border.

If you look closely at the pic below, you will see our latest addition to the landscape...the white corner fence.

DH worked very hard digging 2 ft deep holes in our rocky ground.  At first he did not think he could go down the full 24 inches, but perseverance paid off and he finally got all three holes level.

Here is the area last week after the removal of three trees and a long perennial garden where nothing would grow & the addition of new top soil:

and here it is today--almost ready to be planted.  The new grass will have to wait until next spring.

My intention is to use just 2 mop heads and one Ninebark. The color scheme will be  the same chartreuse/dark purple that I have on each side of the front porch:

It will look exactly like this, except there will be a mop head on each side of the Ninebark. Once planted it should be as close to maintenance free as any border can be.

I hope you have all been enjoying autumn in your area of the country!

Teenage Head Vase with Limelight Hydrangea and Aqua Teapot Dahlia Bouquets

We had great weather for working outside this weekend.

I cut down some deck flowers to make this dahlia bouquet in a vintage aqua tea pot for my living room.

On the opposite side of the room, I cut one perfect 'Limelight' hydrangea to put in my vintage teenage head vase.

I think that hydrangeas are the perfect flower for head vases---and so easy--just snip off one flower and you are done!