more color!

After painting a bunch of rooms together (when my husband was home for a few days over the holidays) we have been working on painting another room or two per weekend.


It is a nice way to do it - getting something accomplished each week, but without any all day marathons or too much at a time - keeps us all happy and boys not overdone.


This week we did the kitchen, front hall, and dining room. Everything is feeling cozy and comfortable. Which is just what we need when the deep freeze hits.


I love having some color inside when it is white outside! Ahhh, January!


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corner view:: evening

The Corner View this week is "Evening". We lie in white drifts and cold winds after quite the snowstorm. But we are cozy and warm inside.

You darkness, that I come from,
I love you more than all the fires
that fence in the world,
for the fire makes
a circle of light for everyone,
and then no one outside learns of you.

But the darkness pulls in everything;
shapes and fires, animals and myself,
how easily it gathers them!—
powers and people—
and it is possible a great energy
is moving near me.
I have faith in nights.

- Rainer Maria Rilke

For more corner views, visit Jane at Spain Daily.

corner view:: "home"

Todays corner view is 'home', or 'corners of my home'.





There is always something happening in this house - we have peaceful spots as well as chaotic spots, and enjoy them both.






Be sure to visit Jane at Spain Daily where you can view corner views from around the globe.

squeaky.

I love re-arranging things. I always have. Since I hurt my back in August, though, I can't do it by myself, and must rely on my husband being home to help move the big couches. Yesterday we took a few hours together as a family to move furniture, put away all the holiday decor, vacuum and wipe behind and under everything, and re-arrange the living and dining rooms. I love that fresh peaceful feeling after finishing.


Every time we re-arrange furniture I find that the boys have a nice long period of renewed interest in games, puzzles or toys they haven't played with much recently. They sit and focus on things longer. They don't seem to bug each other as much. I love it!


This time we also moved and re-organized their 'cozy corner' areas. Different things close at hand, drawing and writing supplies organized and in baskets, books nearby, things sorted so they can find everything (again!). They love having 'special' spots where they can sit and hang out and have their favorite projects of the moment at hand...once we finished they played and played and played.


I also managed to go through all of our photo boxes in the dining room that I use to organize our art & craft supplies. After all of the holiday hoopla I can find everything again! And I have a few projects we have had sitting around ready now to complete -- like a try at basket making and some leather work. Should be fun!

I feel like we are back to calm and organized and can get into the groove for the next few months of deep freeze! Now, about the kitchen...

Photo of the Day

I was going through some old pics and saw this, and though, wow, whose yard is this? One second later I realized MINE - back last summer when it was green and thick and lush. I cannot wait for spring...right now my barren spindly bare branch yard doesn't look quite as inviting...