Under a Blue Moon

Winter light

The light seems prettiest in the morning these days – when the sun is still low in the sky and it slants in through the windows.

I’ve pretty much determined that I’m not much of a Winter kind of person. I love all the other seasons and look forward the them with much anticipation. But for me Winter just has the holidays going for it. Once they are over I start pining for Spring.

I have to say that one other thing it has going for it is that you can peep into your neighbor’s lives a little easier during the Winter. Oh like you don’t peer into your neighbor’s windows when the opportunity presents itself. When the trees and bushes lose their leaves you can see details of their homes and gardens that you can’t see during the flush of Spring and Summer.

I bought the antique looking mirrored star at Target. Now that they’re done with the holidays they have a whole global bazaar thing going on. Most of it has an Moorish or Asian feel to me. I wouldn’t deck out an entire room in either but little touches are nice. Like you’ve actually traveled to the far corners of the earth and picked them up as souvenirs.

I’m really liking the turquoise color – not that it would even remotely go with anything I already have. Maybe an outdoor area – a porch, perhaps.

I love Target. I can always find something there that I really don’t need.

Guard Kitty

No time for a proper post so I’ll give you Rosaceae Cateria Bella. Soaking in a little Winter sun.

Now I’m really wishing I had planted tulip bulbs. A dozen Angelique tulips blooming by my front door would be so cheerful.

Only 59 more days until the Vernal Equinox

Who was it that said they weren’t going to buy any more Eiffel Towers? Hmmm? Oh that’s right ~ it was me.

This was too glittery to resist. I actually DID try to resist it. I saw it in a little shop around Christmas time and I averted my gaze and kept walking. Today I was back in the shop and the rest is a little hazy and, well, there you have it.

I mean, come on! It’s the Eiffel Tower AND it’s all vintagy glittery.

I’m surprised I have any money left over for anything since I seem to be spending every last cent I have on gardening magazines.

I love them all but I really love The English Garden. You know in 70’s sitcoms when the star is gazing off in the distance and then the picture gets all wavery and then you can see what he/she is fantasizing about? That’s me when I read this magazine. I’m striding down my mown lawn pathways in my Wellies and knit jumper with my Felco pruners in one hand and a trug in the other. Billowy perennials on either side of me and Belle close at my heels.

I didn’t plant any bulbs this year. The Fall was just kind of busy I guess. I have daffodils that come up in ever increasing splendor each year but the tulips and hyacinths need to be planted anew every Fall. I’m going to have to see if I can find any pre-chilled bulbs for sale.

Years ago we bought a house and about two days after we moved in our elderly next door neighbor passed away. Her house remained vacant for months and I remember in the Spring that followed her entire property just exploded with teeny grape hyacinths. Just drifts and drifts of pale lavender to the richest, darkest purples. It was stunning. In my wavery fantasy I have fields just beyond the low stone fences that look just like that.

In real life I have this:

From little acorns…

Let’s go back to the Gremlin discussion. Of course now I’m feeling a little guilty at how I disparaged it in my previous post and I’m feeling a better appreciation for the solid craftmanship and general reliablity of it. But I think the Gremlin name is going to stick.

One of the comments on the post was from Bren who also has one of these classic babies. When I get comments I always click on the commenter’s link if there is one. I love checking out everyone’s blogs and it’s a great way to find undiscovered (by me, anyway) ones. Well imagine my absolute utter astonishment to find out that Bren is Brenda Riddle from Acorn Gifts & Quilts.

She is my January table topper quilt project! I bought the pattern and fabrics last year and tucked it away for when I can muster up the nerve to start it. The pattern is For My Grandmas and I picked a palette of pale blues with the palest cream for the background fabric.

Bren has a certain way with colors and design that really appeals to me. I’m always drawn to her patterns and while I don’t set out to buy a certain designer’s patterns it turns out that all the patterns I have purchased have been hers or another designer, Anne Sutton of Bunny Hill Designs (and they just happen to be good friends).

This particular pattern instantly appealed to me because the cover photo looks like the quilt is done in 30’s reproduction fabrics and we all know how I feel about them. The pattern is an homage to her Grandmothers and the other women in her family who were/are quilters.

I am still a quilting newbie. I have actually restrained myself from getting too ahead of myself with fabric purchases (patterns don’t count)(nor does the occasional fat quarter)(or charm packs) until I get a little more experience under my belt and maybe finish the projects I have bought. I’m just a little timid – it’s hard to start cutting into all that pristine, beautiful fabric and then not have it turn out quite the way I envisioned.

After reading Bren’s comment and then picking myself up off the floor I sent off a gushy email to her. In her reply she left me with this sage advice

"Just remember that it is simply one step at a time ~ "

Go check out her website. If you haven’t tried your hand at quilting then she’ll be just the inspiration you need. And if you are a quilter then I’m just preaching to the choir, aren’t I?

I’m thinking Gatehouse might be my May table topper….

12/4/1925 ~ 1/20/2004

And did you get what you wanted
from this life even so?
I did.
And what did you want?
To call myself beloved. To feel myself
beloved on this earth
~ Raymond Carver

Come on in!

This is the table in our entry way. It is the first thing that you see when you come in the door. Beyond it you can see the living room and the big picture window looking down towards the creek. The view is pretty spectacular so I have to create something eye catching in way of a tablescape otherwise people just drift in saying ooohh and head over to the window to look outside.

I’ve been struggling with this since I took down all the Christmas decorations. I want something kind of Victorian looking and fresh at the same time. I think of house plants and layering of items when I think Victorian so this is my interpretation. Something about the configuration just isn’t working for me – I’ll keep at it. I have this uncontrollable urge to make things symmetrical. I need to get over that. I think that is what is limiting me.

Since we are in the entry way step on in and look to your right ~ there’s my kitchen. Still need the tiled back splash but it’s almost done. We’re kind of like the Winchester Mystery remodellers – we don’t ever want to finish in case we get haunted or something:

And finally – this is too humiliating – even more so then the ~~embarrassing~~ very collectible, highly sought after sewing machine. This is the view to the left when you come in:

Yes – that is a Christmas tree. Still up. I’ve taken the decorations off of it but somehow we haven’t managed to get it taken apart and put back in its box and up into the attic. In my defense the thing is heavy – really heavy and I can’t manage it myself. I keep meaning to get Rick to help me but then the day just gets away from me.

And the thing is much more pathetic looking when it’s unplugged so I keep turning the lights on. I should just hang some Easter eggs on it and leave it up until April.

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