Pine Pitch!

So! Perhaps you will remember that day number two's word was provision! And, then, after I had decided on the word, I found out that we were in some very serious need of. Well, a major provision DID come through (THANK GOODNESS!!) and, this afternoon, I needed to take an unplanned trip up to Rutland town with Tom to sign papers and pick it up. ;) So, I've already written another post for today but got back too late to take pictures and, anyway, I need to move on and get something else done with the family and for my home today.

So!

This evening, we are decorating our trees and I think that the perfect word for today is: PINE PITCH! Don't ask me why in the world that came to mind! :P ;)

Till tomorrow! :)

xo

Falalalalaaaaa lalalaLA! :)

I Did It!

Spring has sprung with a wonderful vengeance this week.

It's here early this year (bless it's heart!)

It caused a perfectly gentle breeze to blow throughout the house this week. The whispering sound of it was a surrounding constant.

All the windows were open and the sunbeams were glowing through them, illuminating the house.

Unbelievably happy!

My husband, who is a pastor, was feeling like he'd somehow missed Easter and had fast forwarded to almost May.

It was good that the weather made it almost impossible to feel really anxious. I was, once again, wondering how I'd gotten myself into the middle of this titanic project with a deadline.

Today was the Ladies' Tea.

It came together beautifully (and miraculously). "I don't know how it always does - it's a mystery!"

I must just say, though, "I'm one tired bunny!"

I'm sorry that I didn't have a chance to grab my camera before [about] 25 women had come through and ravaged the table. I was busy pouring 35 cups of lovely golden tea.

The cucumber sandwiches were the favorite this year.

(big surprise)

I'm so relieved and happy and grateful that it was the sparkling peaceful respite that I had hoped it would be. I now hope, that the fruit of our sweet time together resonates on and on.

It was precious and so is every one of my friends who came!!!

Now, I have my feet up. Tom is putting the boys in bed. My week is ending the same way it's been for the most part - quietly.  Amazing!

The most eloquent word that I can think of now is,

phew!

I just wanted to share a bit right away. Give me a day or two - I will have many more happy photos to share with you!

Love,

Katy xo

( Speaking of hugs and kisses, I love how, at the end of the tea, I get double hugs from every lady who has come. It makes me think that they are really glad they came!)

P.S. Speaking of lovely, precious people ... I had noticed that the squares of "faces" of "followers" is making the most beautiful mosaic, patchwork quilt in my right hand column at the moment.

Busy Beavers (otherwise entitled, "Hop to it!")

(Does anyone else drool over fabric? Patterns and colors just make my heart go skippity skip! Anyway ...)

My theory is that we're all so busy in the months leading up to Christmas that by the time it's all over, we're a little disoriented about what we're up to. A lot of us find that January is a lumbering start to the new year and that we're all rather dreamy about what we want to do next. Well, now that January is over and February is here, I'm feeling that I'd better hop to it - whatever IT is! Trouble is, I have a load of super fun and highly absorbing projects that I want to jump into (as well as continuing to blog - I'm having SO much fun!)

Well, here are a few schemes that I've been cooking up this past month:

Before the holidays hit, I had been sewing up a storm. Necessity demanded eventually, however, that I clear off the dining room table. I just wasn't quite done and things are kind of hanging on the last few bits getting sewn up before I can put it all together. Our family room is going to have an amazingly rapid and magical do-over when I finally finish. The best part is that it will all be done with a "few" snips of fabric.

By the way, do you notice the green pot behind the pillows on the window sill? I have three that are waiting for me to get cuttings from my sister's very pretty pink geraniums.

I adore this fabric. I just thought that it was missing little chinamen in silk jammies until I found out that the name of the pattern is "Geisha". Er, oops, maybe not! That doesn't change my feelings for it though.

This is some fabric that I found on sale and from which I intend to make very simple valances for my bedroom windows.

The possibilities ... ! I think that this old tool box needs to be filled with herbs! I need to order seeds. Our growing season is so short that it pays to get moving early. (More on my "garden" at a later date.)

I have new music - oh joy! Bach, Brahms and Poulenc! This may not mean much to you but, believe you me, it's music to make your heart soar.

I'm going to finish unpacking and organizing my books. It will be like meeting dear old friends, n'est ce pas? Let's see ... gardening, interior decorating, classics, sea faring, children's books, Christmas, poetry ... I'll need a cup of tea and lots of time to fuddle.

I'm going to paint my kitchen - samovar silver (silver/gray/blue). The kitchen was a bad '70s makeover and needs some serious TLC. Tom, however, has been dreaming of a new roof; so, as I wait, I think that a coat of paint will add some pleasant character and spark to this drab room. The color is just a couple of steps up on the paint card from what's in my bathroom (below)

I also have some chalkboard paint and magnetic primer and a can of seashell white for the family room. Oh, I think that I'll throw in an afternoon tea for the ladies of our church, say in March and don't forget Valentine's and St Patrick's day!

The very best project I'm saving as a surprise. You will be so impressed, I know it!

The living room is almost done. (It's one of those move-the-furniture-and-vacuum-under deals.) This candle was so pretty lit up by the sun, I thought I'd share it with you.

Well, That's what is on my mind. Even if I get one of these things done, I'll be happy indeed, but I suspect that I am going to be one busy beaver!

Love,

Katy Noelle

P.S. Tom protests that he's not dreaming of a new roof, he's losing sleep over the old one.

In the Nest

When my husband and I were looking at my pictures the other day, we both noticed how polished and together I seem. Well, we both got a good guffaw out of that thought! (Case in point, have you noticed how many of my pictures are vignettes?) Quite happily, the house isn't too much of a bear pit - it's just a little helter skelter. (In case you haven't heard yet, I do have three boys on the move here!) I just can't wait to get to some of my house projects. I love to nest!

aside: The fact that I like to nest was confirmed when I couldn't sleep the night before I gave birth to my eldest son. "Why sleep when I could be getting the house just so," I reasoned? As we pulled out of the driveway, I quickly rolled down the car window and called to the wind, "... and someone vacuum!"

Well, the living room, here, is clean and tidy but the furniture is strewn about because, when we took out the Christmas tree, I decided that there was no harm in reconfiguring the layout of the room. "What a lovely, fresh idea," I say. Tomorrow! Tomorrow, I am going to do it. Then, I am going to sit down in my favorite spot, where the light is just right, to read the new Pottery Barn catalog. Their styles are right up my alley at the moment.

All of this bliss in my life is not silly, "Pollyanaish" thinking though. Today, is the nineteenth anniversary of the day that I came down with Chronic Fatique Syndrome (a.k.a. CFS, CFIDS and even M.E.. Let's just say, that it means that I get slowed down quite a bit.) For eleven years, I had no idea what was wrong with me. For several years, I pushed through it but then became fearful that I was going crazy.Why couldn't I move? 

Now, you often hear people say that, "you grow through your trials," but, for a long time, it only felt like dying. After Toby was born (eight years ago), I was diagnosed and, finally, yielded to my body's screams for rest. I spent a lot of time on my couch watching my house fall apart around me and I learned to focus on the beautiful things (vignettes) that I could see through the rubble.

It was like I was on a very steep path up a vertical mountain but, four years ago, I burst out onto a vista. I really have learned and grown. I've learned, among other things: what my true priorities are, to not be such a perfectionist, to not be afraid of being human (and to even laugh at it!) and it's taught me true thankfulness for what I have. Mostly, It's taught me the importance of resting in sunny spots!

I just share all this because, when you paint a room pink, it's more elegant if you, say, accent with black toile and/or dark and lovely wood - it gives it depth.

Wishing you the lightness I've found,

Katy x

P.S. I've changed my URL address to www.inthesunnyspot.net/  because, even I couldn't remember to put the "1" on the end of the title.