Capturing a Magical Light

After several gray days of frigid temperatures, along with a bit of ice and a flurry or two of snow, the sun shone brilliantly on New Year's Day.  It was a welcome sight!  Even though it did not raise the temperature substantially, it did warm the soul......

Late afternoon sunlight streaming through our West facing windows, the stark outline of bare trees visible against a most blue sky......magical.  

It's the simple things, the ordinary, that often bring joy to the day.  A renewed and perpetual goal of mine is to take the time to see......

Post Christmas Post - No Blues Here....

Christmas has come and gone.....again.  It was a lovely and scaled back season for us in 2017.  Perhaps the diminished trappings of the holiday helped us to focus on the true meaning of Christmas and enjoy more our time spent with Family. 

There was less décor.  We decided on a smaller, tabletop tree this year, filled with our special collection of Shiny Brites and twinkly white and multicolored lights.  Without the concern of our seven month old Australian Shepherd overturning the tree and no loss of floor space or rearranging of furniture, it turned out to be a decision that most likely will be repeated in the future!  Only our favorite pieces ended up on display this time around and I supplemented with simple white prayer candles grouped here and there.  It was quite simply perfect and fitting for us in this season of our lives.  

The end of the year brought a frigid arctic cold front and several gray days of below freezing temps.  It has actually been a most welcome change to slow the pace and stay inside, snuggled up in warm fleecy blankets and sipping on hot coffee throughout the day.  With the Christmas decorations down and packed away, the house feels clean and wide open, ready for a fresh start in a new year.  It has also been the perfect opportunity to rebinge on Season 1 of The Crown, having already blown through Season 2.  Although, I have to be cautious about binging on British drama.....as I tend to start talking to myself with a thick royal accent and craving scones!  

Since tomorrow will mean a return to work and normal routine, I took the time to prepare and simmer a pot of vegetable beef soup this morning.  The leftovers should be a warm and simple solution for quick lunches throughout the coming week.  And, I am still basking in the glow of accomplishment of having done some meal prep and planning for this week, instead of falling back on a bowl of microwaved mac & cheese in a rush.  

Now, as the late Winter afternoon sun sinks low in the western sky, I will turn my attention to the evening household chores.....feeding the dogs, dinner and cleanup, and preparing for tomorrow.  There might be time for another episode (or two) of The Crown before I crawl under the covers and enjoy a bit more of the lovely novel I am currently reading before my eyelids grow heavy and I succumb to sleep and rest in preparation for a short week.  

I bid you sweet dreams, dear Friends.

The Evening Meal

Evening falls and the lights are on in the kitchen as I prepare the final meal of the day.  With my beloved feeling a bit under the weather, a steaming pot of homemade chicken noodle soup seems in order.

 I slice the carrots and celery, season and simmer the chicken broth and stir in the egg noodles as it comes to a boil on the stovetop.  The finishing touch is the tender chunks of chicken breast.  And the aroma is heavenly!  Soon our stomachs are filled with delicious sustenance.  

After this simple meal, I return to the kitchen to clean and put things away.  The blue bowls sparkle again; the heavy saucepan drains by the sink.  My eyes scan the counter tops and find stark beauty in the curved faucet and the stacked dishes on the open shelf.  My wedding ring sits on the window sill above the sink beside my favorite essential oil.  

Even the chippy striped cup that holds the scrub brush and dishwashing wand looks graceful in its functionality.  

Some might say that washing the dishes by hand is old fashioned.  But, it is a part of the process for me.  These tasks - preparing a meal and cleaning up after - are as rewarding to me as the food that is prepared.  These tasks are the way I tend to our home, the way I show love.  They feed my soul. 

Have you looked around and found beauty in the everyday, the ordinary?  It surrounds us - art hidden in plain sight.  It makes the way easier and life more abundant. 

Stop and see.....

Vintage Trucks & Angel Art

As September unfurls before us, I've been making some little changes around the cottage.  Our "look" or "style" is still evolving and my goal has been to eliminate clutter and fluff and only have pieces in our home that I truly love. This quote from William Morris pretty much sums it up for me - 

With this in mind, I have added a couple of pieces that I truly LOVE!  

The first is this print from Round Top Collection, painted by Texas artist, Roxanne Spradlin.  Now, I love every element of this piece of art - the blue vintage truck, the pumpkins, the barn.  And it is cutely edged with galvanized tin, making it so unique.  When I came across this, I ordered it right away and I really believe it will stay out past the current season.  Something about it just speaks right to my heart and pulls me into another world of days gone by. 

You can browse other pieces by Roxanne Spradlin and other artists at the Round Top Collection Gallery.  

The second piece of art I am crushing on is this beautiful angel painting by Lisa McReynolds, part of the "American Artists Curated for Kirkland's" line. I have been admiring angel and angel wing art for some time, so when I came across this, I put everything else in my arms back on the shelf and walked out with this one single item on my last Kirkland's visit.  I find myself just sitting and gazing at this on the living room wall, feeling peace and calm envelope me. 

You can check out more of this amazing artist's work at Kirkland's.

Neither one of these pieces cost more than $30, which just goes to prove to that you can find décor you love on a budget.  Their true value is in the warmth and welcome they provide and the way they make you feel in your own space.

Thank you for letting me share this little snippet of our home with you on our visit today.  If you were here, we would sit and sip a cup of coffee and talk about all our plans for pumpkin shopping and Fall decorating!  But, since you're not, please leave a comment and let me know you stopped by.  Or visit me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. I'll look for you there!

Feathering the Nest

Three day weekends are a good thing.....a very good thing.  

And the changing of the seasons, Summer into Autumn, is also a very good thing.  There is already a different slant to the afternoon sun.  Mornings are refreshingly cooler and the evenings arrive a little earlier with each passing day.  Over the next few weeks we will be tumbling head first into Fall....and I wait with eager anticipation.  Even the summerlike afternoon heat this weekend couldn't dampen my autumnal spirit.  I dug around in the plastic bins in the storage building out back and brought in my first layer of seasonal décor....

I am craving a simpler, more natural look in our home this year.  Much less "stuff" made the cut and the results are exactly as I had hoped.  I am still tweaking as we live with it, but I will be sharing little snippets as the season progresses.  

As with most creatures, my urge to feather our nest grows very strong at this time of year.  Simple tasks like cleaning, laundry, even preparing a meal, take on an almost spiritual reverence in my role as homemaker.  Creating an atmosphere of comfort, warmth and welcome becomes the top priority.  Soon the season of snuggling will be upon us!  So, nest on, dear friends, nest on!!!

Introducing the Newest Member of the Family

I could not be more proud to announce the newest addition to our family! 

Youngest son, Sam, and his sweet wife, Savanna, welcomed Kenneth Grant Butler to the world on the morning of July 27th.  Weighing in at 6 pounds 14 ounces and
measuring 20-1/2 inches long, he is a perfect little bundle of pure joy.

He came about three weeks early because his momma was having some health issues.  But, the delivery was smooth and everyone is well and healthy now! 

It's difficult to put into words the crazy assortment of emotions I felt upon seeing my youngest hold a child of his own for the first time.  Let's just say my cup runneth over! 

Procrastinating on a Project

Sitting here, listening to the thunder and the pounding rain against the windows and wishing I had made good on my plans to clean out my closet today.

You see, I've been contemplating emptying my closet for months.  And I mean empty it completely!  Then reload with way fewer items.  Some call it a capsule wardrobe - that is a pretty popular term these days.  Others might say it a 'minimalist approach' to dressing.  Either way, it is something that has been wiggling around in my mind for some time. 

And yet, I continue to put the project off.  Why the blazes is that?  It's definitely something I want to do - downsize and simplify my wardrobe! 

The main reason is the sheer size of the project.  It is daunting, to say the least.  Perhaps even overwhelming.  I know it is probably going to take several hours and create a huge mess if I do it properly.  So, I start thinking about the process and begin to lose sight of the end result - which is a simpler wardrobe and less time focused on deciding what to wear each day. 

Even though I busted my rear getting most of the regular weekend chores done yesterday so I could work on the closet today, I still managed to piddle around and avoid getting started. 

Shame on me!  Seriously, now that it is nearly supper time, I find myself still sitting on the sofa, watching Netflix with the hubs and listening to the rain. 

I guess I am just not quite ready, or motivated, to get off my butt and get the job done.  Or, maybe I just needed the downtime today.  Whichever, I still feel a bit of disappointment with myself for not just jumping in feet first. 

Do you ever plan a project and find yourself procrastinating like this?  Please, oh please, tell me I am not the only one.