It's My Life!

 You know how at the end of the year you feel like 

everything will be changed in the New Year?

Anything is possible. 

All the things you couldn't get done...

You'll some how be able to do everything in 2020.

Then come the middle of January the cruel realization 

comes in...that this is it. 

Things go the way they always go.

I did get my Xmas down and a little winter decor up. Very little.

I'm looking forward to Valentines stuff and especially Easter stuff.

Next weekend I think Mom and I are going to hit the Home and Garden Show

at the Fairgrounds. 

I love thinking about Spring.

 I bought this little snowy fox several years ago.

It reminded me of Franklin. 

I bought it shortly after he'd had back surgery. 

I tell Franklin he's my little fox.

 I've been trying to get a good photo of him but 

he doesn't like his photo taken.

Snapped this one real quick earlier today. But he was sleepy.

He is fully recuperated from when he had 

three exploding discs in his back. That was back in 2015.

I wish he'd take it easy. I'm scared to death he'll hurt himself again.

His latest thing he likes to do is run and jump up on the bathtub 

and hoist himself over into it.

I've found him sitting in the bathtub a lot 

over the past couple of weeks.

A very silly boy.

I'll be looking for him and pull back the shower curtain and 

there he is! Crazy pup.

 The other day I decided I needed a small lamp to go on 

my kitchen counter under the upper cabinets. 

I don't have under cabinet lighting but instead 

I have two small lamps under there and they make me very happy. 

You can see a bit of one behind that image above. 

I realized the other day I need one more to fully light my counters.

Well, you used to be able to find these

mini lamps everywhere. 

But now I can't find them anywhere at all.

All the ones I am finding use regular bulbs 

and are just a little too tall.

I have been all over town and can't find a little lamp.

Then I was at JoAnn's yesterday seeing if they might 

have something when I saw these Christmas candles and thought - 

"Hey that will work!" 

Regularly $9.99 but on clearance for $3.99.

I am going to use something around the house to turn it into a lamp.

Perhaps a sugar bowl, flower pot, gravy boat? Not sure what will be the base yet

but am pretty sure it will turn out nice. I'll post when I do.

And then...I found this stove online when 

 was looking up Vintage Look Stoves.

The brand is Hollman and it's available through Home Depot.

Priced under $3,000 for a 30 inch gas. 

I might need a 36 which would be more. 

Anyway...I want to upgrade my kitchen so badly and 

this would give me the french vintage look I crave at half the price. 

Mom recently said she wanted to help me fix up my kitchen. 

That would be money wise.

But I think she means new floor. Which is badly in need. 

Definitely not a complete overhaul.

But when I think of what I want redone in there it's 

stove, dishwasher, counters, sink, faucet, and backsplash

Way more than just a floor. 

So I think just do the floor but if I just do the floor it will have to be changed again 

when I eventually get the stove of my dreams. 

That is my rational for thinking I need a new stove now. 

I hope you are accomplishing more than I am in this New Year.

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A Most Merry Christmas!

 and may 

you sparkle

in the 

New Year!

 The view out my front door onto my porch.

A little of inside on Christmas Eve.

more on my Instagram

I hope your Christmas is full of laughter and love.

I spent Christmas Eve with my friend David.

It was a bumpy night!

An odd Christmas Eve but one day we'll look back on it 

and remember and think it wasn't so bad.

You see I was delivering food to make extra money.

My plan was to stay out as late as possible to make 

the most money but my last order was at midnight 

at Jack in the Box and the line was 30 cars deep!

That's when I decided it was time to go home. 

I've been doing this here and there to make ends meet...

sometimes I'm out till 2am.

Oh...I have a glamorous life.

Two pizza places were open till 4am and 

I fully intended on working till 4am.

David came along for the ride. 

His boyfriend was out of town and he had nothing better to do.

We also drove around and looked at Christmas lights inbetween. 

I only got in 10 deliveries. I was hoping for twice that. 

I always do it alone. I listen to podcasts during and between.

I'm learning lots of things from that.

I'm currently listening to every episode of Alec Baldwin's podcast -

"Here's the Thing"

I love Alec Baldwin and it's quite enjoyable listening to him

 interviewing artists, actors, musicians, scientists and politicians.

But last night David and I just rode around 

and sat and talked and laughed.

We like to do that.

An odd Christmas Eve.

We used to have big family Christmas Eve's 

and then they got smaller and then it was just me.

Mom goes to my sister's. 

I can't do my sister's. 

(I love her...I just can't do her married family)

I'd rather deliver pizzas which is what I did!

Merry Merry!

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A Few of My Favorite Things

for Christmas

 

 

I love vintage Shiny Brite ornaments 

and have collected them for years. 

My tree is literally drooping under the weight of all of them. 

Even though they are very light, 

I have so many it weighs down the branches.

Almost everything on my tree is vintage. 

Well that one that says Noel is not. 

It is new from a few years ago but it has a very vintage look.

 When I was a kid, I hated Shiny Brite ornaments, 

especially the ones that had writing on them.

I liked fancier Victorian ornaments or 

Hallmark ornaments when I was a child.

But now I love the simplicity of the round bulbs 

or the ones with atomic shapes. 

And I especially love the ones with messages 

on them like the one above.

If the ornament is faded and a little tarnished - even better!

That pink one? 

We had one just like it on our tree when I was a child.

It was always a favorite of mine.

Our tree when I was growing up had many 

Victorian ornaments on it. They came from my Mother's family.

 

 This year I tucked all my elves and snowmen into the tree too.

Little Shiny Brite houses sit upon the branches as well.

 

 I love these simple little elves.

They sold for 10 cents each in the 1960's.

Now they are quite expensive. 

I bought most of mine 20 or even 

30 years ago 

when I could pick them up for 2 to 3 dollars.

 The newly painted cabinet got all decked out too.

 I put this wreath together out of things I had lying around. 

I added tiny pom poms to it and the Christmas tree.

 That little deer is a Montgomery Ward Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.

Did you know that Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer was originally written by a man who

worked for Montgomery Ward? My Mother has the original book that was published and given 

out as a promotional item from the store. 

My maternal Grandmother worked for 

Montgomery Ward for many years as an accountant. 

We as a family have several of these ornaments.

I used to pick them up every time I ran across one at flea markets.

Read about the history of Rudolph here.

This version of Rudolph is the real one for my Mom.

But for me. I adore the 1960's TV special.

I listen to the soundtrack to this over and over during the holidays.

This show inspires my decorating choices for Christmas.

 Picked up this sweet deer this year at Hobby Lobby. 

She could fit right in at the North Pole with Rudolph.

Ok, so she's pink. 

The other reindeer might call her names.

 I filled the iron plant stand with tinsel trees. It's usually full of a variety of faux ferns and plants.

But that wouldn't do for Christmas.

 I have cute Christmas pillows that should be out but I'm not sure where they are.

This will just have to do for this year.

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