The insects have all seemed to appear within the last few weeks when it got warmer outside. I didn’t miss them one bit! I spray Off! on me, and they find the spots I missed. And don’t get me started about the weeds. I think I will do a few areas that I see all the time, like when I come out the front door-across from that and let the others go. That garden looks awesome. (I know-where’s the photo). We do need to clean out where the tomatoes were as we have some fall crops to add. I love planting seeds, so that shouldn’t be too difficult. I have some zinnias still coming up from seeds I put in a few weeks ago. I also have nasturtiums sprouting up too- I just poked the little dried ‘peas’ everywhere.
Today I went to the Social Security office with Sean so he could apply for a new card. That and his Birth Certificate went missing. I think back in 2002, they were put in an envelope when we went on the plane to Florida. Remember we had to show ID back then to fly after 9/11? I know they are around here somewhere, but he doesn’t want to dig deeper to look in his closet,etc. He already got a replacement for his B.C. It wasn’t a big deal. Glad I went as the office was stuck in a shopping center where he may have missed.
Our priest came for his bi-annual visit yesterday. He stayed 5 whole minutes. I think he was happy I had him sit in the living room so close to the door! : ) Sean was in the shower and it’s right in the hallway there (we live in a ranch style house) so I could see him when he came out wrapped in a towel-lol. He had just cut the grass. He did run out in his socks (after he got dressed!) to say hello and help Father back out on our busy road.
Here are a few photos of my parlor area:

My little settee. Everytime I think of getting rid of it, I can’t as I thought it was so cute and the Victorian look I wanted. I have a Tiffany style floor lamp next to it I got from mail order. It’s heavy!

I have so many collections! I still have the summer one up on the sofa table in the window. I’m getting in the fall mood though.
Guess it’s off to the store tomorrow. I have a nerve issue or pull in my left shoulder blade. It’s like when one of your fingers goes out of joint. I was sitting on the floor sorting things and I can’t do that. Or I lifted something funny-who knows? Bri is complaining about his back too. Wish we could find a chiro*practor we like and for a reasonable price.
Category Archives: home
Tidying
Over the last few days, I have been busy cleaning my living room or ‘parlor’ area. We rarely spend any time in there and I was starting to tuck my craft things in every nook and cranny (mostly in plastic sweater boxes). We are having our biannual visit from Father M. tomorrow and I thought I would sit him at the little settee in front of the fireplace. He can see my decorations and such there instead of making him sit on the hard bench (his choice always) in the family room. I have a few more tweaks to do, and then I’ll take a few photos.
This is something new I bought for fall decor:

It’s an Anna*lee mouse dressed like a scarecrow. I thought it was an Indian in a previous post, but there were little Indians too. He is sitting in a ‘corn husker’ which was marked down to $5. Now this Home*Goods is a great store, but my new tablecloth- Jacquard is a second (you can see it in the photo). I wondered what was wrong with the edge and they had sewn on a piece to make it a complete circle! I should return it as the package wasn’t marked as a second, but it was only $10 and would be more trouble than it’s worth. I’ll turn it to the back and put the plastic back over it.
I have a few pieces of mail to ready for tomorrow. Have a great Sunday!
Show and Tell-My favorite Christmas decoration
I shouldn’t say just Christmas decoration as it’s up all year ’round as I need to take it down, dust it off and look at it once in a while. It’s definitely reminds me of a Tim Burton movie. When I was young, I use to draw intricate houses for say, mice in a tree, with all the rooms and things. This reminded me of my youth a bit. And to see that it retailed for $68(Dept*56) and I only paid $14.99 at Home*Goods, well that was a treat in itself! The moon even lights up!
Show & Tell
It’s been a few weeks since I participated in Show and Tell. Now I have something to show!
I set up my living room sofa table with a beachy theme for the summer months.

I started with the metal ‘By The Sea’ sign that I laid out flat and added a vase of seashells, some art work (one by me and a card and an altered tin from friends); some vintage reproductions of local Delaware beaches; that neat terra cotta ball covered with seashells; the little blue life preserver over the blue Ball jar and a scented candle called ‘Ocean Waters’. I also added a few gardening things as I am a gardener.


And this is new, but looks vintage and sits on the windowsill behind the above table. I just found it in Home*Goods along with the little life preserver.

Show & Tell
I asked the guys (hub and son) if they wanted to take a ride down Rt. 1 to Nottingham, PA. which is the home of Herr’s, the potato chip factory. I got Sean to go on the promise that we would go to the gift shop for some ‘fresh’ chips. Lo and behold, the factory was closed on weekends! Across the street is this big ol’ horse barn/turned flea market. Lots of junkie stuff, but I found this gorgeous detailed tin (probably cake or cookies were inside at one time) that I got for about $4 as the lady only charged me $5 for it and an orange carnival glass vase. The vase has some defects-it looks like a crack is in it, but it’s the finish, but I could picture marigolds in it. So that was bounty of that little weekend excursion. : )
Violets, stitching and cards
Since it’s so wet and wild outside, I decided to clean my bay window that holds my African Violets. I had an entire plastic bag of dead leaves and flowers. I really need to repot and give some away. Anyone want a few? My mom got me the same violet variety three times that she went to the Philly Flower show as I wanted something different. It’s has white and green leaves and the white flowers have a touch of green in them-shown in both corners of the photo.
Here’s my cleaned up window:

Cleaning this was a job and a half and I shouldn’t have done it as I have a ouchie and didn’t go to mom’s to help her. I probably will venture to mom’s on Thursday.
And here’s my herb garden bouquet cross stitched piece that is the only piece I’ve been working on lately. I think I like completing one and moving on to another. Not much left to do:

I’m hoping, really hoping to make this a crafty summer so I can put up things to sell online. I need to narrow down my choices and buy what I need to make the things. I just need to get the gardening out of the way.
One for the road…I do weekly Art Trading Card/Skinny challenges on Flickr. Our challenge this week was to do a card based on the song ‘Rhinestone Cowboy’-yikes! This is what I came up with and I think he’s cute as a cowpoke!

Show and Tell
My husband Brian and I were in Kmart on Thursday and I started to snoop around the floral/plants and found a table of orchids. I’ve been interested in orchids since I was given one by Brian and it bloomed for me. It must be my fairly new garden window in the kitchen that helps them along. I decided to get this peachy color one. Now I have three!

This one is blooming again (this is an old photo), but the edges of the leaves are browning. Need to give it some TLC. Bought two from Longwood, only this made it.

Gift from Brian about 3 yrs ago.
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Wish Brian luck as he has to have two procedures in outpatient on Tuesday-an endoscopy and a colonoscopy. Hope to get to the ‘bottom’ of his issues. When my mom had her colonoscopy, I took her out to lunch. I hope Bri feels like eating too. I’m happy to say he has been eating better the last few days.
Show and Tell
Child’s tea service, originally uploaded by DianthusMoon.
This is an adorable little tea service my mom gave me one year when I was really into porcelain dolls. I use to have a table set up in my living room for several years with this on the table. I’d say the teapot is only about 5 1/2″ tall. I have this in my china cabinet now as I didn’t put the dolls back after Christmas.
Sorry this is a bit late, had major sinus issues earlier.
Show and Tell
Collection of glass eggs, originally uploaded by DianthusMoon.
This is my collection of glass eggs, mostly bought by my husband who thought I collected them! I may have bought one. I think he is the one who likes them more than me, but these are perfect for Easter. I just found the ‘Snowbaby’ waterglobe at the Goodwill yesterday.
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Here are my framed cross stitched pieces:

Giggles in the Snow
Nora Corbett

Sleeping Kitty
by Ellen Stroh Mayer
Flowers will brighten a brisk winter’s day
And the less than $2 price tag wasn’t bad either. More shots on the right.





