Finding Sanctuary

Welcome to any and all Company Girls that happen to make their way here. This is my first time in the coffee lineup. On Home Sanctuary , Rachel was talking about the three legs that make up sanctuary. I've been thinking a lot about this as well. Today, I thought it was interesting that she was focused on Beauty, as my dh and I were just discussing this last night. I'm learning that for whatever your decorating style is, there is a plethora of blogs and websites devoted to accomplishing that look on a shoestring. If you don't know what your style is, there are blogs and websites for that too. Pop the name of your particular bent, whether it be country or eclectic or modern and the word budget together into Google and see what you find. Yesterday I found instructions for faking fancy draperies and duplicating high end decorator table or mantle decorations using dollar store materials, inexpensive stuff from Wal-Mart and stuff from around the house. I'm also looking around to see what I have that could be used in a new way or just in a new room. I don't want to wait until the entire house is perfectly clean and organized. I need a pocket or two of beauty now. I think, in the long run, I will be more motivated to clean and organize if I can see some hope. What are you doing to brighten up your corner of the world?

Coming To Terms With The Season

I have managed to keep all the balls in the air so far. The reading and writing are on track. I'm paying more attention to my eating and drinking and I think I'm feeling better even though I haven't seen a dramatic move of the scale yet. Areas of the house are looking downright tidy and the Christmas decorations are packed away. This is the time of year when I always have to find something to turn my hand to or I get in the mullygrubs. Christmas is such a vibrant happy time and when the decorations all get taken down and packed away the house always looks a little blah to me. This year I'm looking around the finding little decorative items or supplies that I can turn into something that looks like winter, but not Christmas. I've been helped along by unusually cold weather for this area and been able to take pictures of things I've never seen before like ponds freezing over. I'm now decking my halls with polar fleece throws and the smell of soup cooking. I may even bake bread in the next couple of days. Who knows?

The First Monday of the Year

Okay, so it's a Monday and you know how Mondays are. However, as Mondays go, this one was pretty good. It's been a productive day. The daily readings were done early. The writing was accomplished. There was definite progress on the house. The den is cleaner and I even got in some work on my workroom (not a lot, but there is some forward movement). The kids' rooms are looking better and we've weeded out an entire garbage bag full of clothes to go to Goodwill. I did a bit of reading on the Art of Home book and I've read another chapter in the journaling book. I also went through some of the stuff that came from my mom's kitchen and found pots and pans and seasonings and a few kitchen tools for Spitfire's new house. How cool is it to declutter your house by helping other people provide for theirs? Love that!

Interesting times

Yesterday was amazing. We got news that two different friends that had been wanting to have a baby just found out they are expecting. I got to see an old and dear friend who is happier than I have seen her in years. I saw my next to oldest dd (henceforth known on the blog as Princess) off headed back home and back to work in a job she loves.

I'm still trying to get menus made, but maybe I'm not supposed to. At lunch today, I went in and looked at my pantry and started pulling things out and combining them together. We ended up eating a fairly tasty pasta dish that had broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and squash mixed with whole wheat penne in a rich tomato sauce. It was served with brown and serve rolls dipped in garlic butter. Tonight I'm making chicken pot pies for my oldest dd (aka Spitfire) who will be heading home in a couple of days. Pretty soon it will be down to the usual crowd here at home. Still up to date on my daily readings, but not making much progress on the regular reading list.