Linda's Kitchen minus peninsula

Linda wanted me to photoshop her kitchen without the peninsula to see what it would look like.

A little touch of Paris

Bonjour! France is always in my heart so I created a little French vignette on a small table in the sunroom.

Any French vignette must include an Eiffel Tower of course and my musical snow globe is just the thing to put there as well. 

The Paris book is a new addition and I placed some faux tulips on top to add to the drama. 

When I gaze over there it brings back those fond moments of visiting Paris and all the sights and sounds of that glorious city. The surprise of the boat on the Seine turning around and discovering that the Tower was right in back of us. Watching the sky turn night and the lights come on while we were up in the air of the Tower. Shopping on the Rue de Rivoli buying a scarf, (which I have to this day and still wear). Sitting at the outdoor cafes. Almost pressing our noses to the glass to view those intricate French pastries. Those memories are burned into my brain.


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Hedgehogs

When I saw this pillow at a consignment store it called out my name...loudly. First of all it had a hedgehog and I live a stone throws away from Hedgehog Lane. Then there was the French text. And look at those mushrooms. The color fits perfectly on my green couch and gives me a hint of summer. He’s a cute one!

Everyday

Every day one ought to "hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fin picture and if it were possible, to speak a few reasonable words." This quote from Goethe spoke to me. I had recently read a very good poem on our local Facebook group's post. (I grew up in Bradford PA) It  expressed a lot about why I love living where I do. I thought maybe you would enjoy it too. 

Hometown

I left you for warmth, but I missed the feel of your chill, your imprints left on window panes and

scarf bundled faces. I left you for the squawk of the seagulls, but I missed the call of the turkey,

its rapid gurgling waking up the sunrise. I left you for navel orange trees, but I missed seeing the

star-shaped pink Mountain Laurel, a carpet for the forest glen. I left you for the scent of the sea,

but I missed your pungent smell, wafting throughout town, its heavy scent left on clothing.

I wanted to permanently leave you for glamour and skyscrapers, but I couldn’t. I wanted to

ignore you, move out and never look back, but you wouldn’t let me. I thought you were boring,

your facades never changed, and you were even ugly at times – scarred, pockmarked like a

ruffian from an old mobster movie. You cried incessantly and clouded the joys of a sunny day.

Yet, not until I left then returned did I realize your charm and what you had given me: salmon-

colored roses and magenta lilacs in summer and slopes to ski in winter; nighttime noises like the

pumping beat of the power houses on the hillsides and the train as it whistled through the valley.

You let me relax and meditate within the reds and oranges of the maple leaves, without any

hurry. You showed me shade under the weeping willows, as tall as they are wide, and fields of

soft-white Queen Anne’s lace; finding cold streams filled with minnows and boulders large

enough to climb, I wandered off by myself, safely hidden among the hills, because you protected me.

Some made fun of you. They thought they were classier, more refined. They had traveled and

experienced worlds unknown to you. You were criticized and compared to what they had seen–

miles of seamless asphalt melting into the horizon, bright lights screaming for attention, bustling

congestion flowing on every sidewalk–but they offered no way to make you better. But maybe

you are fine the way you are: old and small and slow paced in a modern world– that is your

appeal. And though many have left you, the new ones have discovered your secrets:

Milk cows lumbering across the road, from field to barn,

Chirping crickets, bedded in the dewy grass, looking for mates,

Spotted fawns nibbling at the hundreds of crab apples dripping down from trees,

Sacred silence, at the summit of a cemetery, overlooking the broccoli tips of forest trees

grooming the sky, exudes the presence of a higher power.

You are the secret garden, ours to enjoy, naturally.

And though your name is not on my birth certificate, I think of you as mine.

Ann Hultberg is a retired high school English teacher and currently a composition instructor at the local university. Her degrees are in English and reading education and educational psychology. She writes nonfiction stories about her family, especially focusing on her father’s escape from Budapest, Hungary, to the United States.

 

A little whimsy

Who could resist this little fellow?  I found him in the At Home store and he had to come home with me. I found the perfect spot for him leaning against the Louisa Mae Alcott books. The basket and carrots were found at Hobby Lobby.  I need a little whimsy in my life.  

   

February FUn

I had a great week visiting with my sisters in Virginia...shopping and eating out. On the way home Wendy invited me to stop by for a Valentine’s dinner. She also invited her mom and dad and cousin Amanda. Chris cooked a chicken dish and made fajitas and we had appetizers too. Amanda made strawberry cupcakes for dessert and her mom surprised Wendy with an ice cream cake for her birthday next week. Afterwards we played Dominoes and had a night full of laughter and fun.    Things have really worked out for Wendy and Chris. She has a job with the government as a soil conservationist and was working in Port Allegany, Pennsylvania so after they met they would take turns on the weekends driving back and forth to each other’s homes. But luckily after they were married in September she took a temporary position in Harrisburg so they could ride to work together every day. The job ended in February but she was hired full time now. She had to come to work in Port Allegany for a few weeks to finish out her year there but now is down there permanently. 

    

Happy Valentines Day

Alice in Wonderland

Today was our small skit for Literary Club at the Valentine’s Day Tea. We had so much fun putting on the little play for our members and our guests from the Current Events Club. The tables were decorated with tea sets, a bookmark favor with quotes from the book, some sweet candies and vintage Valentines. 

When you’re just not satisfied

Last week I was very anxious for spring to be here that I moved all the blue and white off the mantle and made a new vignette. I love this old green tool box and it felt like Spring. I added bird cages, old books, moss balls, and ribbon. Above I hung the painting I did of a farm scene. 

Each day I woul walk by but I just wasn’t happy with what I had done. It just didn’t sing to me. I didn’t like the balance of having two large things above each other. The cages seemed out of balance too. 

So one day I took it all down and replaced it. 

I placed some of the blue and white back and added some of my watercolors. The horse came from the bedroom and the straw case is a vintage one that I have always loved. Now I am happy. Much better. 

Declutter

I am not a minimalist. I am an over buyer. I see it in clothes, food and decorations. And that has always been fine with me. But now in this stage of my life I am finding that having so much is more of a burden than a joy. There are more things to keep track of and know where they are. Even though I am organized there are a lot of things taking up space in my small house. I have a bottom freezer full of food as well as a large freezer extra. And yet I keep buying.  Is it a disease?  I am trying to use up things before I buy more. Who needs so much extra shampoo?  Or cleaning products?  Each day I move more and more to having less. 

Marbles

What fun today at the annual Zonta Club Queen of Hearts card party. Here my Giggle Girlfriends and I are playing marbles. It is the most fun and we laugh a lot. They put on a big spread with sandwiches and cookies....I only had one. Don’t want to undo this last month of dieting. 

Friday was practice for our little skit at Literary Club  to get ready for our Valentines tea next Friday. 

I’m looking forward to watching the super blown tomorrow.  How about you?

An ordinary day

Still cold here but a sunny day. No art class today, my instructor who works for the University had to go to Pittsburgh. Last week she was in Japan. I’ve had so few classes lately. I miss it. I don’t seem to do well at home on my own.  Still watching the impeachment trial off and on. I feel that it is an important part of history that I should pay attention to. 

Paris dreaming

In the winter we can’t help dreaming. My dream is to go back to Paris and Provence. Meanwhile I’m going to pretend that this is me reading in view of the Eiffel Tower. 

Featuring: hello Lovely Studio

There are many blogs that I visit daily and Hello Lovely Studio is one of my favorite. Not only does she give a lot of decorating ideas with beautiful pictures but she has the best quotes! Here are a few of my favorites....

Only me...

Yes, this is me dressed as a rabbit. Even at my age I enjoy playacting and I will be the March  Hare in our Literary Club skit Alice Through the Looking Glass. 

A special night out

Last night Don and I went out to celebrate our 54th anniversary. We chose a local restaurant Joe’s Steakhouse where we enjoy a delicious dinner. I chose a strip steak which had a great flavor and was so big I took most of it home. The entire meal of baked potato, veggies, rolls, and cheese and crackers was delightful but the dessert topped everything. It was a pecan pie cobbler. I am crazy about pecan pie but I think this cobbler was even better. 

Reading, Watching, Listening

In these frigid days of winter there is nothing better than to settle down in a comfy chair, pull an electric throw over my body, sip a cup of tea, and read a good book. Good books are hard to find and lately I have read a few pages of a lot of books but not found them interesting enough to be worth my time. Today I will be going to the library for a new batch and hope for better results. I do have my own copy of StillMeadow Calendar by Gladys Taber. I came across this author by seeing her mentioned in a number of blogs. I got one of her books and loved her down to earth manner of writing and appreciating all aspects of her life and nature. The StillMeadow Calendar was one that I hadn't read but wanted to. I even looked it up once on Amazon but got distracted and didn't order it. The Universe has a way of providing me with the things I want and I was delighted to see it on a shelf during Literary Club where we bring in books to exchange. It was published in 1967 and tells the story of when she first moved to Stillmeadow and renovated an old farmhouse.






I am watching with interest the impeachment hearings. I don't like to get political on my blog for I believe everyone has a right to their own opinion. So just this one comment. I don't understand how anyone can support our president. When I talk to my friends and confront them with facts (provable facts) they still refuse to believe them. I don't understand it.

I am listening to Corrinne Crabtree who has a podcast called Losing 100 pounds wiht Corrinne Cabtree. Her philosophy of weight loss goes straight to my heart. She understands and helps me to understand why I struggle. Her website is Phit and Phat. 

what are you reading, watching, and listening to?

Amaryllis

Can you believe this tall amaryllis?  And this is the second stalk I have gotten from this gift from Wendy. It has brightened my kitchen for quite a while. 

This was it the first time around..

Don’t mind that striped fabric at the window. I am going to make some new kitchen curtains. 

Portugal

My grandson Dan and his wife love traveling. Gretchen posted this picture on her blog..Gretchen runs. What a beautiful place Portugal is. They love traveling abroad and have been to many countries. 

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I used Waterlogue to turn it into a painting. 

Literary club

Today’s Literary Club meeting was a luncheon at our local hospital. I am so lucky to have a hospital within a few miles of us. A lot of rural hospitals are having difficulties and ours is no exception. First they joined forces with the hospital in neighboring New York State. Then recently they moved the maternity ward over there although women can still get prenatal care here. There is also a problem of getting doctors to come to a small town. We were introduced to a new young female doctor setting up a practice here. We are hoping that it can stay afloat 

    The new season of Grace and Frankie dropped on Wednesday and I’ve been sitting in front of the tv every chance I get. I love that I can binge it. 

    I still have a stack of books to read....

Still reading

Now reading Warning by Anonymous.  Things in the White House are even worse than we imagined. 

Reading!

Wouldn’t I love a cozy spot like this to read in. Finished The Institute. Have you ever read a long book and been disappointed in the ending?  I was.  

Is it just me or are you also frustrated by some political postings on Facebook which you suspect are not true, then double check and find out that they are out and out lies.  And when you try to point that out with proof the person is not open to knowing the truth?  When did lying become an acceptable way to run a government?

Reading?

There is nothing better on these cold days than sitting with a good book. I just finished Patterson’s Criss Cross and almost finished Steven King’s The Institute these past few days. 

This is me....

Gift

The amaryllis Wendy gave me at Thanksgiving is really showing off. 

What is it about January?

There is something about the month of January that just makes you want to organize. Is it because of all the extra decorations you bring out at Christmas time and then have to put all away that makes you want to have a cleaner house and more free space? Whatever it is I am taking advantage of this glorious sunny (but cold) winter day while I am in the mood. It started with taking everything off the table and cleaning away the Christmas tablescape. More things needed to be carried downstairs (by the way..it’s a mess down there because I haven’t had the time to properly put things away so I’m saving all that for another day when I can spend the whole day sorting and organizing Christmas things.) Well, you know how one thing leads to another. So....while I was putting away the napkins I noticed that the bottom of the china cupboard was quite messy which lead to taking it all out, folding and storing all the napkins. Then I decided to put all the napkin rings (which normally were stored in an ottoman) over in that space. All in all when I was done everything was together and looked great.

Yes...I really do have that many napkins and napkin rings. (The two blue handled containers on the right hold extra silverware). I used to entertain a lot more than I do now. 

Then since I was on a roll I cleaned out the ottoman and organized all my placemats. (Be proud of me...some of them are going away out of the house). I also have some sets of dishes to go too.) I really have way too many napkins and napkin rings but I like to have choices. (That’s my story and I’m sticking to it). 

Now since I’m tuckered out I will sit the rest of the day and read the new Steven King book The Institute. 

Are you doing cleaning and organizing too?

We tried

Bills vs Houston.  What a heartbreaking game. We’ve got a good team but this wasn’t their day. 

(Little Women

Hello my friends.  Are you recovering from the holiday with a good book and a cup of tea? Or are you busy organizing and cleaning after the bustle of Christmas? It has continued to be busy here at the Karrasch household as I try to find time to do all that I want to do. I took a few minutes today to sit at the piano and play some songs from my new music books and ignored that fact that the laundry was sitting in baskets ready for the wash. (Priorities). 

Today my coffee friends and I went to Olean to see the new Little Women movie. If you only see one movie this year make it this one! It is by far the best movie I have seen in a long while. Of course the story is excellent but the cinematography and costuming was amazing. It was the kind of movie that you should see on a big screen because there is so much to look at in each scene that your eyes are dancing all over the screen. It left a smile on our faces as we exited the theater. It is one I would like to go and see again to fully take it all in. (And I don’t say that about many movies). 

Tonight was my first art class in a while but after the movie we stopped at Perkins for a quick lunch that wasn’t so quick due to poor service in the kitchen and I didn’t get home in time (and also I was tired yet from our vacation). I will try to paint at home this week. One of my goals for 2020 is to spend more time painting at home. I love my class because of the accountability of going for two hours a week but I need to also take the time at home because I enjoy it so much. Between art, music and the photography online course I am taking I will keep very busy in this new year. 

How are you starting the new year? Any goals or resolutions that you would like to share?