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I thought we needed a palate cleanser after all the decorating/crafty type posts I've had lately.  

Plus it's written in Belle's contract that she is featured on my blog at least once a month or there are dire penalties. 

She sent a warning via a vole that she let loose behind our bookcase/tv cabinet in the livingroom.  When I got home last night Rick had all the books and whatnots off the shelf and had to remove the trim pieces that connect the bookcase to the cabinet in order to move the bookcase to get the vole.  

She said next time it would be a bat.  

In case it isn't obvious I've become rather besotted with Hobby Lobby over the last few weeks.  We just got one in our town this Fall and while the merchandise isn't all that new or different than what I can find at JoAnns or Michael's – the prices are really appealing.  If you wait a week the item you are interested is bound to go on sale for 50% off.  Or you can download a coupon for 40% to use on any one non-sale item.  

No I am not on their payroll.  

Before Christmas I bought a pair of tall, lidded jars (50% off, of course) and I filled them with an assortment of silvery ornaments and had them on my entryway table.  When Christmas was over I put them in the attic.  

Then I saw this picture.  

Back up to the attic I went.  Back down came one of the jars.  And off to Hobby Lobby I went.  

I wanted a less colorful version so my little birds are speckled white and brown.  I couldn't find any eggs the size or color I wanted so I made some with Fimo Clay.  The little nest was straw colored so I dabbed on some raw umber paint to darken it up.  Then, on the branch, I wired some left over leaves from some millinery flowers I used in another project.  

I arranged it all in the jar with a few big handfuls of moss.  

I like how it has a vaguely Natural Science Museum diorama feel. 

If you live in Northern California you know we have been having a very mild Winter so far.  And every year, around this time, we are tricked into thinking Spring is imminent.

We'll have a week of mild temperatures and you'll get all lulled into thinking Spring is on the way and you'll start planning your rose bed and your picnics and then bam!  It's Winter again.

I decided to bring a little faux Spring into the house until the real thing makes a proper appearance.  Our grocery store was selling the plant combo above for about $7.  Not bad for a little taste of Spring.

The bucket it is sitting is from Hobby Lobby.  I bought a set of three of them for $4.50 (50% off their normal price).  Not bad – a buck-fifty for each little bucket.  I painted mine white because, well – just because I wanted to.  

Flickr Favorites (please click link to see the source of these beautiful images)

• Isn't this a pretty interpretation of an Adirondack chair? Rick doesn't know this but I have a 2012 To Do list for him too.  I think I'll add this to it.  
• And this too
• Lovely birdhouse out of reclaimed materials (this one sold but she has others).  I thought this was a fabulous idea for a bird feeder (first picture in the slide show).
• Tricia Foley has always been one of my favorite interior designers.  Never fails when I see a picture in a magazine that makes me go "ooooh" it is a Tricia Foley design.  Well I just found out she has FOUR different blogs!  In the Country | The Perfect Thing | The Table and The White List  
• 12 Things Happy People Do Differently

First week back to work wasn't too bad.  I think we should pass a law that the work week is only four days long, don't you?  That would make things a little more tolerable.  

I hope everyone has a splendid weekend planned.  We will have a house guest so I need to come up with a nice dinner for tonight.  The weather has been so lovely and mild that I might uncover the bbq and grill something.  

Happy Friday!!