Dear Blog.....so much has changed since we last connected....

Dear Blog.....so much has changed since we last connected....it's only been a few weeks and I feel my life is forever changed.


Paris....beautiful Paris - such a tragedy

A wonderful trip to Phoenix for Thanksgiving cut short by this little guy getting very sick....

And while that happened....my brand new iPhone6+ would not take a charge.....grrrrrr...spending 3 hours at Verizon is not what you want to do on your birthday when your grandson is sick!

Then the horrible tragedy in San Bernardino and all the frustrations with our government over that....

It all takes it's toll and I am feeling it big time.....my Sweet D is better, but has a ways to go.  It breaks my heart to see his so sick.  But I am grateful for each improvement he makes....the families of victims of Paris and San Bernardino won't be able to see their loved improve or get well so it just breaks my heart for a loss in such a senseless way.....I refuse to let terrorism change our lives and we do indeed have so much to be grateful for....but it is ok for me to scale back, regroup, regress a bit.  I will move forward again.....after a little retreat.

Not only has it affected me in my daily life, even the little decorating I will do this year has impacted....I wanted something more nostalgic, more vintage, more memorable to a happier more peaceful and healthy time...something that showed the best of people....

In the kitchen a little vignette with a little kitchen stove....with handmade Christmas crocheted doilies....including one I made...this is a warm welcoming kitchen in a home with lots of love and happiness.  The kitchen is welcoming and cozy and a place everyone wants to be!

 Some of my old toy dishes waiting to be played with.....

 And lots of treats for my old vintage Santa......

 

In the family room a vintage tablecloth with a group of carolers.  They are singing Silent Night.....a light snow is falling and they are huddled together to keep warm.....soon they will go home and put on their jammies and have hot chocolate in front of the fireplace

In the entry way it shows a farmer is driving his old red truck driving home with a fresh Christmas tree to orphanage so they can have some Christmas Cheer....the children will oooooo and awwwww and make ornaments to hang on it and wish they will be in a real home with a real family of their own next year for Christmas.....

In the dining room forest little forest fawn wants to ride on a sled but discovers it is just a frame holder with a picture of Dylan and Brody playing in the snow last January....we laughed and had so much fun.....

 A In the living room sits a happy little home that a family is just driving in from  some winter camping in theirr little vintage trailer, driving their 1965 Mustang....

 ....having just cut down their own Christmas tree.....

And good old Santa flying around the world bringing peace and joy to all....

We will put up our tree tomorrow but I am going to keep it really simple this year.....because because because at a time when unity is so desperately needed it is significantly lacking.

Misunderstandings about basic philosophical differences place people on opposite poles.

Unity does not mean we will all believe in or do the same thing. It means we will agree to do something without battling over how and why.

Peace be with you

Maui - Beautiful, colorful and inspirational.....

Since Steve and I have fall birthdays (November and December) and it is such a rush on the holidays we always try to take a trip for our birthdays and for Christmas gifts to each other.  This year we were lucky enough to go to Maui....one of our favorite places in all the world.

 

 We stayed in Kanan Beach on a resort that is the closest to the water in all of Maui....

 We had a corner unit in the penthouse with amazing views.....

The views were mesmerizing and we almost hated to leave our room! 

Every morning a rainbow greeted us on our patio....here are just a few.....

 Sometimes a double!

And amazing sunsets with such spectacular color....each one unique and just as beautiful... 

 When we did force our way out of our room we walked on the beach where lots of turtles would sun themselves.....

 And swim and glide through the water every day to entertain us....

 A fun, relaxing and colorful place....even the clothes you wear are full of color!

 We continued our search for the perfect Mai Tai in the world.....

 These were good, but Bali Hai in San Diego is still in first place....

 Ahhhh the food...island style and yummy

 And drives to secret harbors....

 Old plantation houses....

 Private Coves....

 To watch the wind surfers on the North side of the island

And we even took a class on how to make leis....I am hooked 

 Even the Maui Roosters have such great color!

 After a wonderful week we came home and our master bedroom looked so bland and blah....so I bought this quilt and sham with all the Maui Colors I could find.

 I also purchased this accent fabric that I think I will make dresser scarves out of....

 And I took my old drab framed prints......

And found a calendar that featured Sunsets..... 

 

 And for a fraction of the cost of new prints changed them out!

I want to finish my makeover soon and will post!  Aloha Spirit and Maui Color live on!

Let's Talk Turkey......and Pilgrims....and collections.....and creativity....

It all began when I was 17 and my boyfriend at the time gave me these salt and pepper shakers and the little turkey behind them for Thanksgiving. He always gave me gifts on every holiday, lots of flowers and was a very thoughtful person and a gentlemen.  I have always kept them and enjoyed them.....they probably could be considered vintage now lol....

 

 Over the years the collection has grown and I have to admit that these are the items I have added just this year in my thrifting/treasure hunting all over the USA.....it's fun to have something to hunt for....and I have a huge list....turkeys and pilgrims are just some....

 I have also been drooling over this fabric at JoAnn's for quite awhile....I just love the texture and color....it is deeper color than this photo and just yummy.....I wanted to use it for a project somehow, somewhere....

 It reminded me of the colors in my oil painting....the swirly clouds and colors....so I had a little brainstorm to use it to tie in my living room for Thanksgiving....

 I staged the living room table with some empty boxes for some interest....once I used boxes full of items Adam ordered and forgot about it.  When he asked for the items I told him they had not been delivered that I was aware of and he filed all kinds of claims....then I cleaned off the table and there they were.....it kinda scared me that I forgot about that!

 Then I covered the boxes with a white table cloth because the fabric is sheer and I did not want my pilgrims and turkeys sitting on crate and barrel and crock pot boxes!

 It created a dreamy landscape.....this picture better shows the color.....

 I picked out my pilgrims and turkeys that had the tones of teal and brown to use on this tablescape......

 I always put the boys artwork on the fridge, along with The Addies turkey he made me in 1981 and Kristens horn of plenty from 1985....

 This year I rotated turkey salt and pepper shakers and pilgrims on the lazy Susan surrounded by my glass blown pumpkin.  This makes it easy to clear the table yet have a centerpiece that I can use for dinners, etc.

 I packed away all my things on the display cases and filled them up with my collection...

I added a little interest in the guest bathroom.....I think it needs a doily....will add that later.

 

 

 



I love to put my turkey frame with the boys when they were so tiny on Thanksgiving, along with these amazing crocheted pumpkins my cousin Connie sent me years ago...they are precious to me. 

 The mantle.....so Thankful....

 And this little vintage stitching says it all....

It's been a crazy week of paperwork and some stressful things so nice to get to be creative and also have my little collection around me to enjoy and remember to be Thankful!