Living Life

Blogging is an excellent way to document your life and for the last year I hve been living life without that documentation! My last blog was long ago and was over-run by my position as Women's Ministry Director at my church, being a "Mimi" to my 3 year old grandson, helping to care for my aging mother-in-law, and doing lots of reading and mentoring. What joy this brings when we are doing those things that enrich and fulfill our lives.

Gray Day: Part 2

Speaking of gray on my earlier post today, it made me look outside at yet another gray, dreary day in Ohio. Staying motivated and healthy in January is a challenge. Last September boasted several hot days that we could celebrate great garden veggie purchases and still be outside to grill them. I did an entire grill full of different veggies for soup and made lots of containers for the freezer. Today I pulled out a container for lunch. Yay for a Gray lunch Day!

Gray Days

I've been deciding what to paint my living room which is one big open area with the kitchen, library and the stairways to the other levels. I have had olive green for 9 years and have loved its ease of use with all colors from golds and yellows to orange to red to brown and also black. I have decided on gray and was pleasantly surprised to read this blog today. The Color Marketing Group determines the color trends of everything you will buy in the next few years. More will be posted on this huge color change decision at a future time. Yay for Gray!

Using what you have

I love the change of seasons and try to use what I already have at home to reflect the season. It can get quite interesting when you are using the same things for many years. The dining room table needed something bold so this year I stole a birch twig pumpkin from the pumpkin display above the desk to combine with an outdoor succulent I am trying to save through the winter... we'll see. A huge bowl of fairly realistic fruit (enough that there are bite marks out of one of the apples), old brass candle holders, and a presentation it makes. I'm loving the fact that I can recycle and be happy...actually joyous of God's provision in our life.

Making Theirs Yours

While searching for economical ways to make Cali’s June wedding unique, I purchased many handcrafted items from Etsy. Etsy is a website for buying and selling all things handmade. There are amazing artists and crafters with very unique items available. Here are a few items we used: bridal veil, pearl hair clip, flower girl necklace, grandbaby's tie (it was custom made to his measurement and closely matched the groomsmen.) More Etsy finds from me later.

An apple a day...

Enjoying fall with it's bountiful healthy harvest...

simply core out an apple and fill with

butter, brown sugar, raisins, pecans. Bake til soft and you will probably lick the bowl... that part will not keep the doctor away!

LONNY

Since the demise of both Domino and Blueprint magazines, my daughter Cali (age 22) and myself (ahem) have been hoping a replacement would come along to again inspire us in home decorating with a modern eclectic bent, entertaining, cool clothes, etc. etc. I found LONNY which is an online magazine that has some really amazing features. I am too tactile to want to read a magazine online but this will have to do. If you have babies, are just out of school or are at the ahem age, it is inspiring. Check it out.