After Christmas, once all the decorations are put away, doesn't it look a little bare!

Is it just me or do you feel the same way?

And now that Christmas is packed away, there is much more to do!

Mantels

and

tabletops

and

kitchen counters,

so many places needing to be decorated!

And how do I want to decorate these spaces for winter?

Is it just me or are you asking yourself the same question?

Well, that's just too much to decide right now, so I'm sitting back and going to ponder that a bit.

And in the meantime...

Christmas Kitchen

Christmas is only 5 days away and I'm still behind.  I'll say it's because Thanksgiving was late this year, because if I had another week all would be good, and less hectic, and I wouldn't be so crazy...so that sounds like a good excuse to me!

Growing up we had a tinsel tree.  It came in a tall box, with a ton of honeycomb sections, and each section had the end of a tinsel branch right there at the top for us to pull up and then stick in the wooden pole.  It was so much fun to putting the tinsel tree together and I loved all the sparkle!  I don't know what became of that tree, but I enjoy this tiny one that finds its place in the kitchen every year.

Simplicity

When I shared about early mornings in the kitchen and making coffee by the light of yummy scented candles and the soft flickering shadows from my antique hurricane, there was something I didn't mention.

Thistle.

Nestled between the candle and hurricane...it most likely went unnoticed.

Early Morning in the Kitchen

The weather outside is dreary, but inside it is peaceful and quiet on this early Tuesday morning.

Fall Home Tour 2017

Possibly I should change the title of this post to "Ready for Fall."  You may remember I've been shopping for our cabin fixer-upper.  For the past year I've been acquiring furniture, bedding, kitchen supplies, and so forth, so we will be ready to move in when all the work is finished.  With that, our house is filled to the brim.  The living room is full, the downstairs guest room is full and things are spilling over into great room...it looks like a hoarder lives here!  Even so, I've decorated for fall and the main rooms we live in are ready for the season...so come on in!

Being Organized ~ A Clean Slate

During the Christmas season the house is decorated with garlands, glitter and trees; full of color and warmth.  Then the decorations are cleared and packed away and the house looks so bare.  A little gloomy too, especially here in NC where the sun these days is mostly hidden behind the clouds.

My goal this year is to be focused and more organized; to be purposeful in how I spend my time and for my home to be kept in better order.  I hope to have less times at the end of the day asking myself, "Where did the day go and what did I get accomplished?"  I stay so busy, but I don't think my time is used as wisely as it could be.  By being more focused and organizing my time and priorities, I hope each day will finish with a good yield; making the most important things in life and especially the people in my life my priority.  Focused ~ Organized ~ Purposeful.

So first things first.

After Christmas most of us are anxious to get our houses back in order and also looking for ways to change things up a bit.  If you are like me, you don't want to just put everything back the way it was.  Before I start redecorating though, I want to have a clean slate.

You see, I start decorating the weekend after Thanksgiving and we hosted a good number of parties here as well as our large family gathering on Christmas day.  With all the guests, cooking and decorations, by the first of January when everything is taken down there is so much dust, glitter, faux snow and pine needles galore from the garland and trees.  I want to clean the slate before I start redecorating the house, so it is being cleaned from top to bottom!

Why wait for spring cleaning?  After Christmas is the perfect time.

Where to start?

The front entry and kitchen.

On the front porch there were two Christmas trees, garland around the entry doors with wreaths too, lights and bows...well you get the idea...so I started with the entry.

First, I used my blower to get rid of all the pine needles on the porch that had fallen from the garland and trees.  Then I swept of the front doors to get rid of any cobwebs and loose dirt.

Next, the glass in the entry doors needed to be cleaned so I mixed up a "no streak" glass cleaning solution that I recently came across.  Since both the entry doors and the front kitchen window will be getting cleaned, it's the perfect time to try this new concoction.

From Sparse to Bright in the Kitchen

So far we've had a much warmer and wetter winter than normal.  Christmas day temperatures were in the 70's so there were no boots or Christmas sweaters worn this year.  Though it's a bit cooler now with no rain in the forecast, the sun is still mostly tucked behind the clouds.  I'm ready for a little sunshine!

After Christmas I pack decorations away and then slowly pull the house back together.  It's taking me a little longer than usual for some reason and it sure looks sparse with bare mantels and table tops, so I headed out to the garden to pick some red camellia for the kitchen.

Christmas in the Kitchen

There is something special as the early morning sunlight streams in through the windows and into the kitchen.  From early morning to late afternoon it's magical as the sun creates shadows that dance across the room; especially when it's decorated for Christmas.

Fall Home Tour 2015

Welcome to my Fall Home Tour!

As one of 28 bloggers sharing their homes decorated for fall, I'd like to give a big thank you to Brenda at COZY LITTLE HOUSE for hosting and inviting me to be among these sweet and talented bloggers.

If you are new here, welcome to my home!

We live in North Carolina in a southern colonial.  Built in the early 70's, we knew when we bought this home that it was in need of a little care.  As we move along with remodeling, we try to incorporate touches of days gone by with a little farmhouse style to each project.  Our first projects were the FRONT PORCH and ENTRY DOORS.  

We love our porches here in the South and there's nothing better than rocking with a hot cup of coffee in the morning or sipping sweet iced tea in the afternoon.

Through the Kitchen Window

We are definitely in the dog days of summer!

If you've been hanging around here for any length of time you know I love nature.

During this hot and busy summer,

one of the joys while cooking and doing the dishes

are the views through the kitchen window.

I've shared some of them with you; beautiful songbirds and snakes ~ A Special Place 

and the hummingbirds are such fun to watch ~ Hummingbirds in Flight.

Many amazing sights, some happen too quickly to capture, but sometimes I get lucky...

Adding to Collections

Those of you who follow me regularly know my home is decorated with pieces collected over time.
Family heirlooms are my favorite, I'm drawn to the old and well worn, and most pieces have tugged at my heart in some way...speaking to me.

I love nice things, but they must be practical, comfortable, and keeping the budget in mind I've found that searching and patience go hand in hand.   Above all, I do hope our home is a warm and cozy place for all who enter.

I enjoy the hunt and it's especially fun finding pieces that help complete a set, like this Blue Onion sweets canister.

Through the Kitchen Window ~ A Special Place

It's often the littlest of things that bring us joy.
That special something that brightens our day, adds excitement, lifts the soul and makes us happy.

The word joy means:
A feeling of great happiness.
A source or cause of great happiness: something or someone that gives joy to someone.
Success in doing, finding, or getting something.

My old kitchen was tiny.
There were no windows and I stared at a wall while washing the dishes.
Since remodeling, it is pure joy taking in the views and having the sun stream in through the new kitchen window.

Even on a cloudy day it's bright in the kitchen.

Bunnies in the Farmhouse Kitchen

We had a little time before our dinner reservations

so we strolled through a few shops.

My mister knows me well.

He spied this bunny garden pot holder and asked if I wanted it for my birthday.

Well, yes...I think it's adorable!

Once home, I had the perfect spot for it in my farmhouse style kitchen, on the island.

The spring flowers have been gorgeous this year

and I've really enjoyed bringing them indoors to use in centerpieces for the keeping room.

Spring Kitchen Island

It's bright and cheerful in the kitchen.

Since adding spring touches to the mantel in the keeping room, more have been added in the kitchen.

On the island I've used gifts from friends, the bunny a gift from one and the tray a gift from another.

Spring on the Vent Hood ~ Before and Afters

I knew one of the things I would enjoy about the new kitchen was being able to decorate the vent hood.  I was a little surprised when I noticed that since Thanksgiving, when we actually moved back in, it has already been decorated three different times.

It's been fun adding spring touches to the kitchen and I have just added some to the vent hood, so I thought I'd share some before and afters.

As a kitchen warming present, our daughter gave us this rooster clock, the first thing used to decorate the vent hood.

New Find ~ Blue Onion in the Kitchen

I don't take it for granted.

Having a husband that actually enjoys strolling through antique shops with his wife is a blessing and I'm so thankful.

While we were out last Saturday I spied some blue and white.

Soapstone Sealing in the Kitchen

Having a farmhouse style kitchen was just a dream for a long time

and these past few months since it's been finished we have sure been enjoying our new space!

Early on I knew my choice for countertops would be marble and soapstone, but I can't tell you how many times I was told not to do it.  While visiting showrooms for fixtures and other items for the kitchen, suppliers and salespeople would time and time again discourage me from using these materials for countertops.  It happened so often that it really started getting on my nerves.

Through all the persuasion I am so glad that I stuck to my guns!

  

A Breath of Fresh Air

Winter months can be a bit dreary

so I've been adding a little life here and there.

A Keeping Room Christmas

Reindeer.

Glistening greenery.

Crystal snowflakes and ribbon.

Golden rings and candles.

The keeping room is ready for Christmas!

Christmas Sparkle Farmhouse Kitchen & Tour of Homes

It's been playing over, and over, and over in my head.

Oh what fun it is to ...
you know the song ... Jingle Bells! 

This is the first Christmas in our farmhouse style kitchen and oh what fun it's been adding Christmas sparkle!

I am so excited to be a part of the 2014 "Christmas in the Country" Home Tour and Link Party.
If this is your first time visiting...WELCOME!