Normal People

What do normal people do when it is 2 am and they cannot sleep?

Do they make a winter wonderland for their departed relatives?

Is it just me? Am I admitting this?

Since I've exposed my quirks frequently here

 I will go one further.

My father's clock and the crystal ball?

I do stuff like this in my home...tuck in something that tickles

my fancy, the meaning observed by no one but me.

The Big Ben an homage to time passing.

The crystal ball, a hat's off to my 

Great Grandma Mamer, said to 

be a witch of sorts, at least to the extent that 

she would predict the sex of unborn babies. 

Also a query as to what the future

 holds if the past is represented here.

Remember we were discussing normalcy....?

The Z collection, a gift from darling daughter.

Photos of natural items discovered in our yard,

 then formed into Z's. 

Still not sleeping, of course everyone decides to 

make a coffee filter wreath around 3 am?

 Probably should do this when more awake, 

or you receive burned finger tips from glue gun.

Ouch! 

An old friend around for many Christmases.

 Merry Merry!

I'll be napping this afternoon- just leave a message.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Festive

Festive isn't always about the grand decorated trees 

or the sweeping vistas of snow covered forests.

Sometimes festive is the wee little touches,

the tiny treasures tucked here and there saying 

here's a little holiday cheer for you.

At oldgreymare these are my favorites, 

a small ornament hung from 

a lamp key, or small touches added to a postal box to

say "Christmas". 

The most humble of door knobs is not forgotten.

Festive.

Please join Chania at Razmataz for this week's challenge.

Last Tree Up

Last tree #8 is up.

Oops see a hole.

Found an ornament down on the table and 

wondered where it came from. 

Now I see.

Packages are for darling Daughter's B-day.

That's all for today.

Moving a little slower lately, no heat 

in the house until next week.

My heater bravely survived 18 years before 

succumbing a few weeks back.

I know you guys with snow have it rough, but concrete 

foundations and tile floors

and only stucco walls makes 60 degrees

 feel like 45-50 inside. 

My trusty red sweatshirt, fuzzy slippers and hot lattes 

are getting me through.

How are you all doing? 

Anyone done with the decorating yet?

Seems like many of us are a wee bit behind this year.

Maybe it's because we are just not ready 

to see this decade pass.

2011 sounds so futuristic to me.

It's only one day from one decade to the

 next but it seems so much grander somehow.

uh, oh I'm starting to philosophize, better 

fire up another latte.

Teaching

Two surprises in one week.

MY COBWEBPALACE has been making bags from my tutorial here

JUNKWILD made an advent after seeing this post.

Seriously, how cool is that?

I taught classes ( Gatherings) here in my home for many years.

All day events consisting of many projects, 

all supplies included and a sit down dinner.

My favorite part was seeing students get excited about a

 project and put their own special spin to it. 

This is a pic from the advent class a couple years ago.

(We made much more than just the advent)

yep, we just push all the furniture aside in my 

living room and we go to town.

Maybe it is time to resurrect the Gathering classes for 2011.

So local gals what do you think? Have some ideas?

Forests of White

with silver

I started with a small Noble but pruned out every other layer so I can tuck the ornaments in...way in.

Then I add frosty pics tucked in for 

extra sparkle and texture.

Funny how the  lights photographed. 

They really are balanced in person, but 

with one more tree to do, I was hesitant to 

take the time to pull the lights forward for a photograph.

It is why I ADMIRE so much the talent of 
other bloggers who spend hours 
to get those gorgeous shots.

I am a point and shoot kinda gal.

Please visit Kathleen

 @ Faded Charm for White Wednesday

and Sharon @ my french country home

 for other lovely trees.

Truth in Advertising

Remember how pretty, tidy, everything 

was just a few short days ago? 

Although not technically a vignette, it was

 photographed to it's best advantage.

Well then, along comes Chania with her photo challenge

and though it sure isn't pretty, it is what it is

NOW.

After three weeks of dumping stuff from a client's house

and selling it off several nights a week, this is the mess 

as of an hour ago with one of my trees waiting for it's stand, 

my Trader Joes  groceries waiting to get into the house,

boxes I've saved for a friend who may be moving soon, and 

general mayhem. Sheets cover stored boxes because 

shoppers get too nebby ( western PA term - nosy) 

and start asking about contents. Sale is tomorrow.

 Three full pickups of stuff has already been sold.

By Monday it will be empty and my pretty,

tidy garage will be back just the way I like it.

 Pretty pictures will return also.

Please visit Razmataz for more truth.

Advents of White

After making several advents like these and

then teaching a couple classes in making them,

this is the only one I have left.

It stays up year round in my bedroom.

The frame is from my Great Aunt Iva.

Day 25 is my father's bible.

Many other items are from family long since passed.

This very large one over 40" was made for a holiday show I did last year.

A friend purchased it in the first 2 seconds after we pulled back the tent flaps.

Seems silly, but I'm glad it went to a good home.

A quick WW today

Please join all the others at Faded Charm

hosted by lovely Kathleen

Rituals

Although organized and tidy, as we have discussed in prior posts,

I do not consider myself a ritualistic type.

No one day is similar to the next except in the fact that

they are usually busy days.

The last few weeks I noticed an inclination toward

a daily pattern in many aspects of my life.

Is this due to age or necessity? Am I becoming a

"set in her ways" kind of gal, and

is that a good thing or a bad thing?

Minutes after my feet hit the floor in the morning I am

found here. This cup, this coffee, this creamer.

I used to buy whatever half-caf coffee I came across

but I have settled on this one it seems. I am NOT

a coffee connoisseur by any means., which you can tell

by my no frills machine. I just want 2 cups

that don't bother my stomach and send me into hyper orbit.

I've noticed I now use a soup spoon instead of a teaspoon.

What the heck is that about?

If I back up even one step I smack into these two.

As I enter the kitchen they are tossed a treat from the

dog treat jar on this cart to

tide them over until I pour the coffee.

Then, the looks of "FEED ME.... NOW" ensue.

My ex - ex mother in law ( you figure it out) had a weekly

routine that I found absurd way back when in my mid 20's.

Monday was wash day. Tuesday she ironed.

Wednesday she shopped with her two sisters.

Thursday was clean house day. Every Friday night they had take out pizza.

Sunday dinner was ALWAYS a beef roast, potatoes and green vegetable.

Her home was orderly, very clean and uneventful.

Now that I am about the same age as she was then,

I see a purpose, a rhythm that I now find appealing.

As we age, do most of us find comfort in the ordinary, the routine?

Does it take years of living to obtain the rhythm, the rituals that comfort us,

as our favorite family foods or a cup of coffee do?

Why do I still frequently wear the same torn, stained, paint spattered

faded red zip front sweatshirt purchased from The Limited over 20 years ago?

I have many others, but always reach for this one, as I did this morning.

Comfort ~ Ritual

good things

DANGER

I am still so stuffed from yesterday, if I pasted feathers to my butt

I would be in danger of being shot for Christmas dinner.

Yesterday I was the guest at a beautiful and delicious dinner hosted by a dear friend and I couldn't resist a second helping of stuffing and the perfect sweet potato casserole. Suzi stuffed me with appetizers for an hour before dinner, six different kinds and then topped off the meal with pie and gingerbread with homemade lemon sauce.

She is one of those dangerous cooks. "C'mon eat - eat."

gobble gobble waddle waddle....

The day was wonderful and we talked politics and crafting and relatives and Christmas plans, it ran the gamut, and was the perfect way to spend the day, and

dilute the sadness of missing my kids.

I am so very thankful for her kindness.

Kudos to an amazing chef!

Suzan

Family

Thompsonville Rd
Mc Murray PA
circa 60~61

Scott & Suzan

Thankful today for all of it.
The good, the great, the downright awful.
It brought me to this place
where I am at peace.
My children are happy, safe and well
and cooking together today;
beginning their own
holiday traditions far from home.
Although my heart longs for them, I
am blessed with their good health, their
happiness, and lives that are enriching them
and contributing to the good in this world.

Blessings to all of you.
I am so grateful for your friendship and that
we continue to share in each others lives.

Happy Thanksgiving

Suzan

It's beginning to look a lot like...

white

everywhere I go

may you and yours have wonderful blessings this holiday

I'm very thankful darling daughter, dearest son

Please visit White Wednesday @ Faded Charm

hosted by Kathleen

lots and lots more holiday white~ scroll down a few

Worker Bee

Purge* Stage* Sell* Buy* Pack* Move* Unpack* Stage* Sell*

This is what the process has been for the past month with a client that I have moved three times before. This is the last and final home she will live in. This is a certainty. It is quite small by her previous standards and she was scared and sad and convinced it would be awful.

The moving van, moved her yesterday from 9-3. Before I left last evening, her kitchen was complete, everything in it's place, her bedroom and bath all cozy and pretty.. I wanted her first night in her home to be comfortable.

In the 11 hours I spent there today, I finished all the other rooms except for the guest room and organized her garage. yep..MY way! Soon I will hang all her paintings and measure for all the new blinds and curtains, but tonight there is not an unpacked box anywhere in her home, or stuff strewn about. The doggies are perched back in their favorite chairs and all the appliances and cable and phone and trash are all set up or installed.....Not bad for less than 2 days. I am a full service worker bee. buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz ( note the z's) Did I mention all the items she purged are stacked in my garage waiting for me to sell for her?

She was smiling tonight, and when I said "Didn't I tell you I would make it look cozy and wonderful? She said "Yes you did." I said "You didn't believe me?" She replied "Only half way, because this place was so awful." It isn't now. She is happy again, and safe in her cozy home that she can take care of and afford. As I left, she said she should have known better than to have any misgivings. I mean, we have done this same thing a few times.

I love this kind of job. My knees, my back, my muscles, my arms don't love it so much, but it is worth every single ache to make someone a home...

If I don't get back here before GOBBLE day:

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you and many many blessings.

Suzan

By My Hand

Each week Chania gives us a photo challenge and

various ideas go through our heads until we have our AHA! moment.

Mine came a couple of days ago when I unearthed this

scherenschnitte I had cut about 20 years ago.

When I was first married, money was scarce and we made our

entire holiday decorations out of felt, paper and ribbon.

This was one piece of a series of ornaments and table displays

I made for our home one year.

I have not done much paper cutting in the years since,

though occasionally I would throw one into my Gathering classes.

Most people balk at the time required for such intricate cutting,

but I always found it relaxing. Relaxing?

(Yeah yeah, I enjoy weird stuff like Organizing,

and cutting minute pieces of paper. What can I say? )

Right before doing this post, I surfed the net

and found fabulous artists doing incredible work with

small scissors and Xactos. Maybe you should check it out?

It's affordable, portable and fun!

Don't you just love the squirrel tail?

I am pretty confident that this has sparked a renewed interest in

my paper skills. I just need to get past this one last week

with a client, and then it is clear sailing to the studio and

holiday gifting and crafting.

Please join Chania over at RAZMATAZ for more Hand Made.

Suzan

Storage Made Easy

Here it is:

The secret to my organization:

I started with an 8x8 sheet of plywood and had the

store rip it into fourths.

Using standard lengths of 1x 4's built shelving to exactly fit

those document boxes you get at big box stores.

Measure twice and cut once.

(BTW I have standard 2 car garage )

You can make these taller, shorter and adapt to fit your space.

Use all plastic bins if desired. The key is no wasted space.

Just enough clearance to slide containers easily,

and don't mix up a bunch of items just so you can stuff it into large bins.

Of course this same system will work with sturdy

metal shelving, found at Costcos or Sams. If I remember correctly

21 of these boxes fit on those shelves with the top row stacked two high.

I have done the exact same thing for clients, who wish

to be able to take the system to their next home.

My bins are placed on the floor so that mopping is a breeze.

Yes, I mop my garage, I was taught the "NAVY way".

I write contents on removable labels because storage needs change.

This is the only shelving doubled in depth, others are singles.

You can see here, where I've removed 2 boxes.

Notice the tags on the front of the shelves. Those identify the back row

at a glance. I bought bins and boxes as I could afford them and as I needed them,

so this can fit every budget. Yes, I had to have all the boxes match..so shoot me.

You can see several bins missing. Those are in the house

as I decorate that particular tree.

That is the second part to how great this system is:

I can grab a bin or 2 boxes, whatever is needed to decorate

a room or a particular tree. I go to the garage and grab

just those containers needed and there is no jumbled mess

of boxes in the home or garage.

I store everything this way, not just decor,

and as a result the closets inside my home are not cluttered.

An added bonus; critters do not

like these painted boxes as compared to standard cardboard.

So there you have it.

Budget friendly if you add to it gradually, adaptable to any

size space and if you wish, totally portable.