January

I have seen many FB posts wishing already for summer now that Christmas is over.  But there is something to be said for this season of hibernation.

 The decorations have all come down, and the house is back to a state that it hasn't seen since I put fall stuff up in September.  It's as minimalist as I get.  Sweaters are warm and fluffy.

 And I don't feel the least bit guilty about staying in for a nap when it's cold outside.  Neither do the critters.

I'm not yet tired of soups and chili and yummy things in Crock Pots.  I have new warm socks to enjoy.  It's basketball season, which means games at Drury.  So little is going on that I have no trouble making it to the Y 3 or 4 times a week.

I will sing a different tune by the end of February, and by March I'll be ready to pull the hair out of my cabin-fevered head.  But January, I think we can be friends.

Year of the House

In October of this year, we will have lived in our house for 10 years.  I really can't believe it.  When we moved in, David jokingly (I think) said that we'd be here for the next 20 or 25 years.  Here we are, halfway to 20!

To celebrate living in one spot for a decade, I'm declaring 2015 to be the Year of the House.  Projects big and small will be planned.  The first two are little - getting the house power washed and the gutters cleaned.  The third is a little bigger - we have 3 dead/dying pine trees in the back yard that must be removed.  It's going to be a little sad, but a good opportunity to plan some landscaping.

I'm not sure what will come next...garden shed, bathroom facelifts, new flooring...  In January, the possibilities seem limitless.  

We Wish You a Merry Christmas!

On Christmas Eve, we went to the service at the church where our family friend pastors.  He also happens to be the father of my best buddy who I've known for about 34 years.  After church, Mom and Dad and Todd came for chili and hot links. 

 On Christmas Day, we celebrated with my Grandmother (on the left) and Grandma (on the right).  Please ignore whatever weird thing is happening with my neck.  We were demonstrating the selfie stick for the ladies.  Grandmother thought it was pretty neat, but I am not sure Grandma was impressed. ;)

I was very surprised on Christmas morning to come downstairs and find that Santa had brought a garden wagon in while I slept!  Many moons ago, David mentioned that he'd almost gotten me one.  I might have been kind of mean and said something along the lines that I was glad he didn't and what a weird gift.  In the years since, I have wished many times that I'd been nicer as a garden wagon would often come in handy!  I figured my chance of getting one were pretty slim though, so I was pleasantly surprised to see this!  It is the perfect size for David to pull me around the neighborhood, don't you think? ;)  We've already put it to use in moving firewood from truck to the woodpile.  Thank you, Santa!

Christmas in the Guest Room

Since the guest room has a different color scheme this year, I thought it needed some Christmas cheer.

 I found this little pillow on Etsy and though the front of the house on the pillow looked a lot like our house with the right number of windows.

 I added a little greenery and the coffee-stained stocking to the cabinet,

 and stood this tiny feather tree in a sugar bowl.  I liked the little Christmas touches...even if no one much noticed except me. :)