Happy Valentine’s Day

Wishing you the sweetest day ever!

The sweet dollies in the lanai wish you happiness.

These 3 cuties were made by my friend Pat from All is Bright. Some of the other pretties were made by friends, too…or by me!

Enjoy your day!

 

 Sweet hugs and kisses!

Pink and Blue

Oh, how pretty these colors are together.

I think this little fairy is Rapunzel. I bought her years ago because she was beautiful.

The hand painted items are beautiful creations by Celestina Marie.

And this precious angel was given to me by my best friend, Bronwyn. She’s precious to me, too!

And I know a friend made the pretty soft pink beaded hearts but I’m not sure who. (if you recognize them, let me know)

I love using pretty things that I’ve collected over the years to make little vignettes to enjoy.

I hope you day is filled with beautiful things!

Wednesday Downton Abbey fun!

I look forward to Sunday nights for the latest episode of Downton Abbey.

But Wednesdays we meet at a Haven for Vee for a fun discussion.

And look what I have to share this week!

I won this book from Lesa at Percolating Today. It has the scripts of season one and also some great photos.

 

Isn’t it wrapped pretty? And look what a beautiful Valentine she sent me! Thanks Lesa.

I put it on my dresser to enjoy!

Lesa lives here in Florida, too so it’s fun to get to know her and share our love of Florida. Visit her blog HERE.

And join us HERE for the latest and greatest Downton Abbey discussion!

Changes–One shelf at a time!

I like to decorate but I have to be ‘in the mood’ and I never know when the mood will strike me.

This morning it struck and I worked on the same shelf while I vacuumed and did laundry.

Every time I walked past, I rearranged it.

Oh but I ALSO took photos every time I thought I had it perfect.

Let’s just say, it’s a good thing I didn’t have to pay to have the film developed!

I’m tweaking with Brenda at The Cozy Little House this morning.

Don’t you love my “Love Letters”?

It’s been on my Etsy wish list forever and I finally ordered it from Old Goat Primitives HERE.

I think I’ll move it again.

Be right back!

 

Does it look better here?

“Miss Bee”

When it’s sunny outside….which is most of the time here in Florida….I want to be outside.

But this past week we’ve had some misty cool weather so I spent my days sewing and crafting.

I went to pinterest to find this pattern HERE but didn’t see any directions, just the pattern pieces.

I’ve made a lot of bunnies over the years though so it wasn’t hard to figure out how to put it together.

A couple of tips though if you decide to make one.

I printed out the pattern pieces and cut them out with regular scissors.

Then when I cut the fabric with my sewing scissors (cutting paper dulls sewing scissors), I cut a little bigger for seam allowance. And I took the time to label the pattern pieces in English and how many to cut. So I cut 2 at a time and then put the cut pieces on top of the fabric to get the exact same size for the other leg and arm.

 

Grace is dressed in a cute little white eyelet dress and bunny slippers so she wanted to pose with Miss Bee.

WHOA….looks like another one in the making!

I hope you’ve had a good week. Have you had a chance to do something fun if you were stuck inside?

Hiking in the Florida Forest

I know it’s not what you think of when you think of Florida but it’s one of our favorite winter outings. We head for the Ross Prairie State Forest near our house.  The trails are so flat and easy to walk so you can really stretch your legs and have a good hike.

It usually takes us about 2 hours.

 

There are stops for bird watching. (and anything I think looks like a neat photo)

This is an Eastern Towhee and a bird we don’t often see.

Pinecones to take photos of…

several different species.

Some only found in Florida.

More info HERE.

 

When we started our hike last weekend, it felt cool. But the 60s warmed to the 70s by the time we finished and I was stuck carrying my denim shirt!

 

Of course you pick up the pace when you see ‘monsters’ in the forest!

 

I’m joining Beautiful Sunday,

and Amaze me Monday!

I hope it warms up where you live so that you can get out and stretch your legs!

February Street Scenes - A Florida treasure For Sale!

I almost gave up on this challenge. It’s easier for me to come up with beach scenes, hiking trails or walking paths at the park. But I remembered some neat photos I had taken from the car when we slowed at a stop light, while driving through Deland, a small Florida town.

(original photo, untouched)

The house looked unique.

But I saw something beautiful right there on this busy street in the overgrown yard with the ‘fixer upper’ house.

I saw a beautiful ornate gate with an old wrought iron table and chairs inside a hand painted fence.

Unexpected beauty on the trip home.

I took these photos with my little Canon S100 and cropped them within an inch of their lives!

I’m taking part in Donna’s photo challenge.

Do you want to join us? It’s GREAT fun!

“Back to the Future!”

I remember a scene from the movie, “Back to the Future” when the Dad (played by Michael J. Fox) has two neckties on and has several tv screens on at the same time.

Well, we had a bit of a conflict on the night of the ‘Big Game’!

 

So hubby rolled the tv in from the lanai so that at 9 pm we could tune in to our favorite PBS show, Downton Abbey and not miss any of the football action!

Who could miss Downton Abbey?

We couldn’t!

And if you want to join in the Downton Discussion, this week, click HERE. Visit Vee to read and comment on the most recent show. I’ll be there with bells on!

I’m proud of myself!

I needed something, so I made it!

I’ve been using fingertip towels in my bathroom and they are the perfect size.

But all I had were holiday towels and this lavender towel in the size I needed.

When I went to the department store to get some more new fingertips, I found out they were $14.99. They cost more than a regular hand towel.

Then I remembered I had some pieces of a white towel that I had cut up to make a beach bag and I made fingertip towels.

I have a little ledge next to my sink and that’s really all I need there.

I had the trim from other projects so I made 2 and have enough terry to make one more.

I’m in business now and happy with the money I saved.

That’s thrifty living and only took me all afternoon to accomplish! lol

Doesn’t it make you feel proud when you save money?

The White Elephant Sale!

Our community has 2 of these sales a year and Saturday was our wintertime sale!

I always look forward to it and I always find some wonderful treasures.

Here are some random photos that I’m probably not in! lol (hubby had the camera)

Here I am!!! This year I raced past all of my friends and neighbors (they appear to be in a blur! lol).

And this is what I bought: A beaded purse, a turquoise necklace, a tennis bracelet (she assured me it was NOT real diamonds!) a silver sugar spoon and 2 of the cutest little dolls I’ve ever seen. The lady told me the outfits on the dolls were hand beaded. I love them of course!

And my GRAND total was $12.

Do you know what made it even sweeter? I took the month of January off from thrift store shopping. I have not been since before Christmas! So February 1st was the perfect time to get back in the swing of things!

I’m joining Beautiful Sunday,

Mosaic Monday,

and Amaze me Monday!

 

So what do you think?

Real diamonds?