A Good Ol' Texan Arctic Blast

It rarely snows in Texas...maybe once a year? We get ice usually. I don't remember getting much last year but this year it came early. It began to sleet Thursday evening and went through Friday morning. The roads were frozen solid and people were slipping and sliding everywhere. Fortunately, I had already asked for the day off several weeks ago because we were to get our back splash installed today but...they cancelled. So, I got to stay home all warm and snugly all day! I've been able to catch up on a lot of things but also be lazy too! I practiced a little with my camera shooting in manual as well. 

I would like to get a macro lens for my camera so I could get better close ups. 

Penelope loves the snow and ice. The ice is so think her paws don't even sink into it! Poor thing hardly has any hair so she needs her sweater when she goes outside.

She tries to eat the ice. She loves water and can't really figure out why it's frozen.

It is a winter wonderland out there. Perfect for being cozy.

Cheers! 

The Post Christmas Sniffles

Well, I finally got it. The dreaded cold that has been going around at work that I have been trying oh so hard to not be subjected to. I guess it was inevitable working in a hospital and all. So, all jacked up on Tylenol Cold Daytime, I managed to get the house in order for a visit from my sister, brother-in-law, and niece and finished up some last minute Christmas projects for those I have not celebrated with yet. After that, I spent most of the day surfing the net for Christmas decorating ideas for next year and also for crafty blogs that I have not read yet. So, this is the blog roll for today:

happylovesrosie (it may take it a minute to load)

greenkitchen

artsycraftybabe

pyrexlove (I am freaking out over this blog!! I saw a TON of this Pyrex at an antique store with my mother last weekend.)

posy (I want to LIVE in her house!)

lenacorwin

I also pillaged my book self for crafty books and happened across Vintage Style by Cath Kidston. I completely forgot that I had this book! It is great. I think my grandmother may have given it to me years ago. It has given me so many new and fresh ideas.

Books I can't wait to purchase..some of which I just discovered today:

Anna Maria Horner-Seams To Me

Jane Brocket-The Gentle Art of Domesticity

Alicia Paulson-Stitched In Time

Lena Corwin-Printing By Hand

Deborah Needleman-Domino The Book Of Decorating

Sometimes it is nice to be a bit under the weather. It gives me an excuse to be lazy and lay about all day. I often times find myself buzzing around going 90 miles a minute. Even though my nose is stuffy, my eyes are watery, and my head is pounding....I guess it could be worse and really it is not so bad.


Oh, I almost forgot, here are some of the Christmas goodies I made that I was not able to post until after Christmas:

Oil Cloth placemats for my mother:

Recipe card holders with my favorite recipes for my Aunt. It was her hostess gift since we spent Christmas Eve at her house.

Oh, and during the Christmas crafting, I got hungry. I owe my brother-in-law more of his favorite candy...I ate it in the midst of gift wrapping. Since he won't be arriving until tomorrow evening, I think that gives me plenty of time to stock up. Oh was it tasty! I now know why it is his favorite.

Since I have been crafting so much, I guess I felt like I could not stop. So, after Christmas day festivities with my parents, I came home and recovered the kitchen table chairs with left some of the oil cloth I had left over. I love it!

Before:








After:

This Christmas was very special indeed. Everyone was so generous, I was just not expecting that for some reason. So much thought and effort was put into everything.

Cheers!