Coming out of the cold..

We have had the longest cold spells of all of the winters that I remember in my 9+ years of living in Alabama.  My gas bill for heating my house last month nearly sent me to the hospital with a MASSIVE coronary!  While shopping in Target one day, I saw these lovely Amaryllis and Paperwhites on sale dirt cheap (heehee..pun intended) and so I bought them and intended to send them home with my Momma after Christmas.  In the hustle of leaving, Momma forgot them, and then we went to Florida, and well....the poor things were just forgotten.  Then, a couple of weeks ago I saw them sitting in the butler's hallway (it's JUST the name of the hallway, not like we actually HAVE a butler!) and they called to me.  I planted them thinking they might break the winter blahs...and now look!  Aren't they lovely?  There's truly no emotion that a flower cannot evoke, a blooming flower all the more. They can bring out anything in you.

A late snow post

I have had the busiest week!  I'm sorry for the late post, but I thought some of these pics were post worthy.  We were very elated to receive not one, but THREE snows last week!  These are pics from the biggest snow.  My dear and precious friend, Jane, will no doubt look at this post and giggle- saying to herself "She calls THAT a big snow??!!"  Jayners is from Montana, you see!

Valentine gifts Part 2

These are the Valentine's that I stitched up for the kiddos.  I got it from the Sew, Mama, Sew website.  I thought they were quite cute.  Next project?  The Little Pink House!  It is just way too cute!  If you haven't checked out the Sew, Mama, Sew blog- it is chocked FULL of the greatest ideas and loveliest inspiration!

Valentine gifts....

I've been working on Andy's Valentine gifts and I thought I'd pass along the finished products.  I just used some stretched canvases, some photos taken by my friend, Samantha, over at His Hands Photographs (she comes to your house!  Isn't that awesome?! I have a $50 off card to give you if you're interested!), and a lovely Best Occasions scrappin' set from Wal-Mart. I sponged some coffee pigment ink on the canvases first, and used Modge Podge to seal everything.

So now the question is...which one do you like best?

I sure hope Andy likes them!  I'm off to throw snowballs at my boy!  Hope you're all enjoying this "February Fury" as the Weather Channel is calling it!

There's no place like home!!!

Oh to be home!  There is truly no place like it.  My bed is more comfortable, the fireplace is brighter, the tea tastier....everything is just BETTER when you return home from a trip.  Don't you agree?  Two weeks is just too long to be away.  I used to love to travel and be away from home but I'm finding the older I get, I actually just want MORE time at, you guessed it! Home!

The trip was good and I have LOTS of shots/footage to share, but it will take some wading through first.  Highlights?  How about some manatees?  Dolphins?  A precious Princess?  Even a pod of migrating whales!!!  For a nature lover, it just doesn't get much better than the east coast of Florida.  Abby and I set the goal of seeing a roseate spoonbill in its natural habitat before we left OUR natural habitat- and we saw 4 of them!

On the craft side of life, have any of you ever heard of Alabama (Natalie) Chanin?  A friend of mine has recently aquainted me with her work and I am an instant fan.  Hand stitching.  Everything she does is hand stitched.  Kind of slow "sewing", if you will.  Well I'll let you in on a little secret if you will promise to keep your fingers crossed for me..........I applied for a scholarship to join her (and a few other folks) one weekend in May for a personal workshop! Oh I hope I get it!

So what are you talented folks making for Valentine's Day?  I need some serious inspiration!  I sure have missed you and can't wait to hear from you!