I heart sewing

I finally picked up a needle and thread again. It had been a very, very long time. I plundered in my box of fabric and found these heart pieces I cut out more than a year ago. Too long.

As the snow fell outside on Friday and Saturday I curled up in bed with buttons, and fabric and a rainbow of colorful thread.

I had no plan. No design. I just sewed.



It's not perfect. The stitches go here and there. But it felt good to just go with it. The colors felt good.

The CREATIVITY felt so good. I crave that. It's something I need more of.

So, there will be more hearts to come and just in time too. Miss Kim at Daisy Cottage has asked us to open and share our hearts. She is so very good at that.



Please go read this story if you have not already. Go back a few posts to catch up. It will touch you in a HUGE way.

I guess this is what Winter is like

The Fella turned to me on Friday. I guess this is what Winter is like- he said.
Indeed it is.













This is what Winter is like on the little farm. This was yesterday. The skies don't get any bluer. Beautiful.

And I am thankful our Winter Wonderland is manageable. Our family and friends just to the North will be digging out for a long, long time. I hope all of them are warm and safe. They are the ones that really know what Winter looks like.

Outside my window

I love laying in my guest bed, looking out the old window into the big blue sky. It's one of two windows original to the house. That makes it a special view. And today things are looking up.



And when you are looking up you can forget about this for a moment. This is what tomorrow will look like.



There seems to be a little pattern shaping up over my little part of Virginia. More snow. But Spring will be here soon. I daydream of that a little.

There is just something about seeing the little farm wake up from its long Winter's nap...but there is something about seeing it tenderly tucked in under a blanket of snow too.

What's going on outside your window today?

This handkerchief reminds me of Della

My Grandma carried a handkerchief. She had dozens upon dozens of them. You could always find the pretty flowers peaking out of her tight grip. I doubt she even realized how she held onto it like someone might take it away.

I know this because I do the same thing. A napkin, a tissue. I hold it in my hand for hours before I realize it's there.



I hold onto Grandma too. And she's always there. My true and real guardian angel. And this photo made me think of her and the things that we hold on to so tightly. My grandma- Della.

And last night I asked her to watch over my Fella as he drove to work on the ice. And I have no doubt she was there holding him tight.

Morning, noon and night...

It snowed all day Saturday. It started in the early morning hours. By noon we were socked in. It finally ended sometime that night.We awoke on Sunday to clear skies and all sorts of Winter goodness.

Sunday morning- 7am- On my way out to get the paper. Snow drifts up past my knees. And so cold.







Sunday afternoon- around 1pm. The Fella and I head out with our shovels. We were met by a big green tractor driven by our neighbor. He helped us dig out.



Sunday night- 7pm. We enjoyed some yummy leftover chili. I got up early on Saturday morning and made both chili and lasagna- the latter is for dinner tonight.



Easy and Quick Ground Beef and Salsa Chili
Ingredients
1 1/2 lbs lean ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh minced garlic
1 small green bell pepper, chopped (optional and I left this out)
3 cups tomato juice (or a can of tomato sauce and 1 cup water)
1 (12 ounce) jar thick & chunky salsa (about 1-1/2 cups)
1 (15 ounce) can red kidney beans or pinto beans, drained and rinsed (mashed mine)
1 (14 ounce) can diced tomatoes with juice
1 (10 3/4 ounce) can tomato soup, undiluted
chili seasoning mix (packaged or homemade, I used 1 1/2 packets)
shredded cheddar cheese to top
chopped onion (optional)

Directions
1- In a large saucepan, cook the ground beef with onion, garlic, and green pepper (if using.

2- Stir in tomato juice, salsa, beans, undrained tomatoes, tomato soup and chili seasoning mix; mix well to combine and bring to a boil.

3- Simmer, covered for about 40-45 minutes (can cook longer if desired).

4- Serve in bowls and top with grated cheese and onions.

Visit http://www.recipezaar.com/ for the full recipe or CLICK HERE.

There you have it- morning, noon and night on the little farm. How was your weekend?

When it snows in Richmond, Virginia

The snow is on it's way folks. Lots of it. The Fella and I stood in line last night at Home Depot with a shiny new shovel in hand. I don't know why we've never purchased a snow shovel until now. But we hadn't. We were in good company- apparently no one else had either.



Snow causes a little bit of a freak out in my part of the country. And I can't describe it any better than this article from http://www.richmond.com/.

Please read for a good laugh and I am sorry to tell you- it's sad but very true...

We who call Richmond home all-out lose our minds. In the case of this snow, it happens like this:

Tuesday morning: The word "accumulation" is used.

Tuesday afternoon: Accumulation confirmed. All weekend plans put on stand-by or out-right canceled.

Tuesday evening: First trip to supermarket for bread, milk, wine, beer and cookie dough.

Wednesday morning / afternoon: Calls around town for sleds begin (for the record, Richmond.com is one step ahead. No one has them; Pleasant's is expecting a shipment on Friday).

Wednesday evening: Local news does a story about the run on supermarkets for bread and milk. Second trip to supermarket for extra bread and milk, plus frozen pizzas and non-perishables, because you never know.

Thursday morning / afternoon: Spend workday obsessively checking the forecast. More calls for sleds. Search online for sleds, but decide against them because you can't believe how much sleds actually cost.

Thursday evening: Meet friends out for drinks or dinner because you never know when you'll get out again. Realize you forgot to buy bagels. How could you forget bagels? Third trip to supermarket.

Friday morning: Alternate staring out window for snow and consulting forecast for exact snow start time. Cancel the rest of weekend plans.

Friday afternoon: Weather.com reports that it is snowing in your area. Run to window. Spend at least one hour yelling at weather.com because it is clearly not snowing. Ask boss about company inclement weather policy. Complain about said policy. Wait an hour; ask boss if company is closing early.

Friday evening: Fourth trip to supermarket on the way home for last-minute necessities, like chocolate and fancy hot cocoa. Alternate staring out window and watching local news for exact snow start time. Watch the Closings scroll to see if your work is closed on Monday, because you never know.

Friday night: Snow finally begins. Call/text all of your friends and family to see if it's snowing in their area and to make sure they're OK in the storm. Update Facebook status to reflect snowfall in case you missed anyone. Order pizza so you don't have to break into rations too soon.

Saturday morning: Marvel at snowfall. Fling pets / children into the snow so they can marvel and so you have pictures for your Facebook page. (Or Blog in my case)

Saturday afternoon: Drive or trudge to nearest hill and attempt to sled on a cookie sheet/shower curtain/trashcan lid/pool float.

Saturday evening: Meet friends for out for drinks or dinner to celebrate snow.

Sunday: Eat leftover pizza and stare out window, watching snow melt. Obsessively watch Closings list. Feel happy when the county you once lived in announces closing and then sad because you never became a teacher and now you have to go out, clean off the car and then go to work tomorrow. Plus you've got all that bread and milk to eat.

Folks, I really can't say it better than that. But I assure you I am ready. Here's what I have accumulated over the week in anticipation-

1- Bread and milk. What? I was out.

2- Magazines left in my office bathroom. Southern Livings circa 1995. Only you guys understand how happy this can make you. We have an old magazine fairy in our building. Totally better than the tooth fairy as far as I am concerned.

3- Current magazines including new Romantic Homes color edition. I might have already peaked at it last night. I'm just saying.

4- Makings for chili....lasagna....potato soup...we won't starve. And no, none of those recipes require bread or milk. OK- the soup does. Maybe I should get more.

5- Previously mentioned snow shovel.

6- New Lady Antebellum CD. Heaven.

7- New blank notebooks, colored pencils and glue sticks. This involves magazines from #2.

8- The Fella. Once the cars pull in tonight we are not leaving until it is time for work on Monday.

9- Valentine Hershey kisses...for chocolate emergencies.

10- New knee socks from Target. The Fella claimed they were sexy. I thought he was serious- although he rarely is. Oh well, he will get over it.



This is what happens when it snows in Richmond, folks. Madness ensues.

Tell me, how's the weather in your neck of the woods?

But it's mine

It's a little bit of this and a little bit of that, but it's mine.



The floor needs sweeping and the window needs curtains, but at least it's all mine.

It's all mine. The dust bunnies, the sunlight, the cozy walls of our living room, the hand-me-down chair. All mine.

The covered stool that belonged to the original Della, the clock brought back from Vietnam, the farm painting from an estate sale. All mine.

I was thinking about all of this as I endlessly perused the many blogs out there and the beautiful homes and photographs. I sometimes lust over the things that I don't think I have. Think. I sometimes get jealous of paint colors and clean lines and furniture and kitchen shelves and well, I could go on and on. You know what I mean.

But I walk into the little farmhouse each night. I watch television in the room above. I study the four walls and every surface each day. I think about ideas and projects and all the things I see out there and you know, the thing I love most about my house is that it's mine. Perfectly and imperfectly all mine. Mine and ours- the Fella and me.

What do you love about your little piece of the world?