baby ready

Our house is quickly beginning to look like a little one is coming to live here;
besides just in the nursery.
The nursery was getting full of baby things;
so I have placed items where they belong throughout the house.
There are days we still look around, look at each other,
and can't believe we will soon be bringing a baby home.

A high chair in the kitchen.


Bottles and supplies in a kitchen cabinet.


A baby bath tub in the bathroom.


A sweet little robe hanging with ours.
Baby wash, baby wash cloths, and hooded towels in the cabinet too.

Two of these little bins with items necessary for diaper changes.
(one in den, one in living room).
A friend recommended having these throughout the house,
so we don't always have to take her to the nursery for changes.

A baby Moses basket in the living room to have a place for her to chill.
We are going to use the swing in the den and the bouncer in the kitchen.


A basket of toys in the den.

And the car seat in the car.
(Thanks to my in-laws -- shower gift!)

I also have the items set aside to pack in our hospital bags.
We just need to get the suitcase out of the attic.

I'm feeling almost completely prepared,
although, of course there is always a list to do and I'm sure will never be 100% ready.
In the end, I know it will not matter and all will be okay.

Christmas in our home 2012

I just took these pictures recently.  Our trees are still out and our home still feels like Christmas.  The past couple of years, for one reason or another, I've been slack in decorating ... so I'm in no rush to take it all down.  I didn't put out as much as I have in the past - just a few things here and there.  And we only put up two trees.  (I have had three at times.)

I told Chris, that next year I've got to have a plan together and get started in advance, since we'll have a six-month old baby at Christmastime. :)  Not quite sure how I'm going to get a head start, though.  Honestly, I do not like decorating before Thanksgiving, because I don't want to rush that holiday (I usual do fall/Thanksgiving decor too).  But, seriously, I do hope to work on gifts earlier in the year, start Christmas cards in the fall, and do some baking that can be frozen in the early weeks of November.  I want us to be able to enjoy the holidays and not feel so rushed; especially since our baby will be here.

Here are our two trees this year.  We did some remodeling and rearranging of furniture during the year; so it was a little difficult to decide where to put our trees.  Next year, I hope to give it a little more thought.  I do not care for them in the corners.

I displayed all of our photo Christmas cards in the kitchen.  I have hung them on our cabinet doors at the secretary area the past couple of years and I really enjoy looking at them throughout the season.

 This is the mantel in our living room.  I couldn't find Chris' stocking - so the short plain beige one had to do.

 And lastly, most importantly, and my favorite decoration - the nativity.  I displayed this on the coffee table in the living room this year and loved looking at it more often; especially in the evening by the light of the Christmas tree.  

Christmas 2013 will be here before we know it,

but may we keep the true meaning of Christmas alive in our hearts January through November.

"Don't Save It All For Christmas Day .... give a little love EVERY day!"

it's beginning to look like autumn

Here in South Carolina, the "natural" fall decoration is really beginning to show.

The leaves on the trees are changing more each day.
The weather has been PERFECT the past few days.

These are a few pictures of the fall decorations outside of our house.

This flag isn't really 'fall-ish' ... I changed it, because I thought the black color blended better than the American flag I had hanging.  And the wreath is on the front door.

 Here are three little pumpkins on our front steps.

 

And this bucket hangs by the front door under the porch light.

This wreath hangs on the door at our side entrance.

I arranged the little table with some old milk glasses and branches.  

I hot-glued the fake leaves on.  :)

 

Also, I potted a few mums - yellow and purple-ish.

Now that fall has really set in ... it reminds me that Christmas is just around the corner.

I'm starting to feel a little pressure that it will be here soon (2 months).  But, I hope and plan to take my time, enjoy fall, and start planning now for Christmas decor/gifts/cards, etc.  So much can be prepared for ahead of time -- I just gotta kick the procrastination habit.  ;)

decorating for fall {inside}

 I love decorating for the different seasons and occasions.

Chris thinks I'm crazy ... oh well.

I decorated for fall last week, since Thursday was the official beginning.

And because Christmas is less than 100 days away ... it will soon be time for all that.

I found a lot of inspiration on Pinterest.  

This is the mantle in our den:

 Lentils, black beans, and kidney beans in a vase with a candle

 This idea was from Pinterest - love that the "picture" becomes 3D.

 Found this mirror at a thrift store, hot glued a piece of burlap to cover the mirror, and then glued on the leaf.  Hopefully I will be able to easily remove afterward.

 Mantle in our living room:

The wreath is another Pinterest idea!  A quick and easy project.

 Kitchen table.  Wreath-from-last-year-turned-candle-ring.

 Wanted to show this sweet flower arrangement in the kitchen.  Last Thursday, after decorating, I was hosting a ladies group from church.  My kind mother-in-law came over to help me put the finishing touches on our meal and she surprised me with these flowers.  Thanks, Teresa!  (the bag in the background is Chris' Pizza Doritos - you tried them? - reminds me of Pizzeria chips)

 Little painted pumpkins.  Once again -- Pinterest.  I used fake pumpkins, so I can use them again next year, if I'd like.  Easy and inexpensive ... but the striped and argyle pumpkins were a little tedious and time-consuming getting the lines straight.  The pedestal bowl is a thrift store find.  It is wood, but I wanted it painted.  Chris didn't want me to paint it - he told me I was covering up the beautiful wood.  So, I told him if I ever wanted a wooden bowl again, I'd just have him sand off all the paint.  :)

Happy fall!

proudly from the South

Chris gave this plaque to me for Christmas.

It hangs in the kitchen above french doors.

It reads:  

The South 

The place where ... 1) Tea is sweet and accents are sweeter.  2) Summer starts in April.  3)  Macaroni & Cheese is a vegetable.  4)  Front porches are wide and words are long.  5) Pecan pie is a staple.  6)  Y'all is the only proper noun.  7)  Chicken is fried and biscuits come with grave.  8)  Everything is Darlin'.  9)  Someone's heart is always being blessed.

I do love being from the sweet South.

beautiful blooms

And these are all found around my house!
I am enjoying them so much.
Tending to them.
Nipping dead buds.
Watering.
I love it!

update

on the 5 little birdiesin our fern

i (heart) spring

no air on in the house, yet.
we're enjoying the savings on the utility bill.
just 3 open windows.the night air cools things down.
the hot air rises and is trapped in our large attic.

and the house stays pleasant through the day.

and I am loving it.

ahh. fresh air. spring weather.

birdie babies

yep, they've started hatching!see the fuzzy little babies!

a 'fern' surprise

each spring,

after I hang ferns across the front porch,
there's always a mama bird
who finds the one hanging on the left, by the flag pole,
to be special enough for her nest.this year is no different.
I'm beginning to wonder if it is the same bird. lol.every time I step out front,
she violently flies away - and we're both scared.
she of me entering her territory.
and me, well, I'm not accustomed to the sudden fluttering.
I just need to water her fern-camouflage.
hopefully I'll get pictures of bird babies too!

spring blooms

not sure of the proper name for this flower.
I've heard my mom and granny call it thrift.beautiful camellia bush:the day we "looked" at our house before buying.

these irises were blooming everywhere.
100's. literally.
we've thinned them out in the front flower beds
to make room for other flowers blooming other times.
but they sure are beautiful.
and made a big impression that day

now the dogwood tree is blooming.
and the azaleas have blooms as well.
and I spotted a red tulip bud.

we live in the foothills

At the base of the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains.

Not everyone has a sight so gorgeous in their backyard.This pictures doesn't do the real-life view justice.

It is stunningly breath-taking.

I love living in the foothills.

Another reason why I'm thankful to be home.

frog legs, anyone?

Chris began cleaning out the pool the other day.

Warmer weather gave him the fever.

It reminds him of the hot days of summer to come.

As he opened the skimmer, I heard him yell, "Whoooa!"

He was suprised by these two huge frogs.

He called one "Goliath" and the other "Goliath's son."

I'm sure you can determine who is who according to the picture.

Chris also commented,

"Those legs are the kind some people eat."

Some people - not us, some people.

We're not the frog-leg-eating-type, you know.

These frogs will soon find a new home.

Some where other than our home.

They do bad things to a pool.

2 LARGE frogs - free to a good home.

Any takers?