Sunshine on a cold winter's day.

It's amazing how much more energetic I feel with just a small dose of sunshine!

 I've been busy filling holes in the walls and making lots of new ones, too.

I got tired of the busyness of my picture gallery wall, so I gathered what I could find

to create a quieter neutral grouping.  I took the mirrored panes out of my old window

and turned it around to the chippy white painted side.

  I bought this rickety old window on July 4, 1999 at my hometown antique shop

 (I can remember that day vividly, but I can't remember where I put my car keys 

10 minutes ago).  I'm amazed that the old window trend  

has lasted 2 decades and it's still going strong!  Our girls were high school students

 when I bought it and now their kids are starting school!!

 I replaced the old hats on the wall in this corner with a woven basket

found for a steal at an antique shop.  The folk art carved angel was also purchased

at an antique shop, but neither are old.  She was a medium wood tone

when I found her, but I lightened her up with whitish paint.

 She's kind of a hot mess right now, because I mistakenly added

sanded grout to my chalk paint.  Looks a bit like she's been flapping

around in a sandbox.  Poor thing.

 Gone are all the reds that filled our house over the holidays.

 I'm not much of a frilly flower girl, but these funky pom pom flowers

in a nice earthy green are just my style.  On sale for only $5 a bunch at Hobby Lobby,

I splurged on 3 bunches, two for this bucket and one for the mantel.

 Any room looks better with sunshine streaming through the drafty old windows.
Lots of fresh -20 degree air blowing in, too.

 Little fuzzy green snowballs.

 I painted over my dark wood candlesticks, which look like

I unearthed them at an archaeological dig (same gritty sanded grout 
 chalk paint finish as my sandbox angel).

A new basket holds another wool throw I've been knitting during
long car trips.  It's almost finished.

Side note:  My cedar Christmas garland stayed green for a full month!

It was dry and crispy, but it still looked good and that's all that matters, right?

 I gathered all my woven goodies together to fill this tray.

 I wound a discount greenery swag (also from Hobby Lobby)
 around a grapevine wreath to add some life to this corner.
  Years ago we had a hand-me-down tabletop Christmas tree at work that we nicknamed
"Swamp Thing".  Just thought I'd add that tidbit that came to mind

while I was making the wreath.

 I think it's supposed to be some type of eucalyptus and I chose it because
but it was the only greenery that looked somewhat real to me.

 I bought and returned several styles of lamps to replace the dated buffet lamps

 I sold a few years ago.  I'm still on the fence about these,

but I'm afraid Target's pinned up a photo of me at the return counter,

so I'm keeping them.  I've got another spot in mind for them, so it's all good.

More faux greens fill an old sugar bowl.  I can not keep house plants alive,

 so If you can't grow, go faux! is my motto.

I've had a lovely day off with the house all to myself,
way too many cups of coffee
  and a few pieces of orange chocolate biscotti.


I'll probably be up all night.

Thanks so much for visiting and stay warm!
Vickie

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