Spring "cleaning"

Getting the yard fixed up after such a long, harsh winter has been a massive task.  I am slowly getting back into the lawn mowing, edge trimming, weed picking routine.  The inside of the house hasn't changed much, with the exception of the living room.  I decided to get a couch with some more seating options (and a rug to match, of course).  The old couch is now content to sit in the sun on the porch.  I have been content to sit on that couch in the sun on the porch for many days this spring.  The really hot temperatures of these past few days have made it a little more difficult to stay on the porch, as the glass windows create a greenhouse effect, but the succulent plants that will be repotted this afternoon are loving the warm conditions.

Nemo is not that hard to find

Well, the early days of year #2 in the house are definitely ones to remember.  Winter Storm Nemo (or Blizzard 2013) has certainly hit the New England area with high winds, lots of snow and cold temperatures.  I can call myself one of the lucky ones that only lost power for a short time, so I have a nice warm place to sleep and plenty of food to keep me for a long time.  The snow is amazing - drifts that are over 4 feet high.  The plows were on the roads a few times last night, but I haven't seen them yet today.  No worries - there is still a driving ban in place and I won't be getting the car out of the garage for quite some time.  I just finished a bit of shoveling (created a small walkway to the front door and cleared some of the snow from the garage door area) and I will be back out later to start to tackle the driveway.  I have a friend who has offered to bring a snowblower (or 2) by later today or tomorrow.  I am in no rush to go anywhere, so I will shovel a little more and then wait for him.  No need to overdo it when I have no place to be.

Best Christmas gift from my sister - I would still be trying to get my legs out of the snow.

My path - there is a good bit of snow under those prints.  I compressed the snow a good 5 or 6 inches with my snow shoes and I wasn't even near the ground.

There is about 5 or 6 inches of snow at the lowest point at the base of the driveway (just to give you an idea of that snow drift).  The driveway does slant, so it is a bit deceiving.  

There is normally a good step up to get to the railroad tie wall where I am standing.  With my snowshoes on, I was actually standing at the same height as the wall.  

Could not open the door this morning. 

Another impressive snow drift.  I am at the back of the house looking up towards the front yard.    In previous posts, this area is covered with piles of leaves and the bushes look a lot taller.  

Paper

Today marks the official one year anniversary of the closing process. Some days it is hard to believe that I have lived here for a year, but other days feel like I have never lived anywhere else. I can say for certain that I have fallen in love with my cute, cozy, quiet, adorable home. As tradition goes, I decided to buy myself a gift of paper to celebrate my first year as a home owner. Cupcake shells are made of paper...right?

***A special thanks to so many who have supported, encouraged and most importantly visited me over this past year. I absolutely love having guests and creating a welcoming place for all of my friends. Your help has been tremendous and your friendship is always bar none***

Thanks Mom

Deck the Halls

I have always enjoyed decorating for the holidays, but this year is very special because it is the first Christmas in my home.  This year was about recycling decorations from the past and picturing what else I may do in the future.  It was also about realizing that you must take the time to read the front of the outdoor lights so that one doesn't mistakenly think she is purchasing 'warm white' lights when in actuality 'cool white' lights now adorn the front of the house.

The nativity set will rotate each year between this set and the ceramic set that my mother painted.  

This Christmas cactus was given to me by my dear friend Matt quite some time ago.  Although I tried my best to treat it well, it would never bloom.  One year it finally did bloom - in April.  This year is the first time this cactus is showing it's beauty for Christmas - I think it likes it here just as much as I do.

Some day, I hope that I can make cookies with my children, but until then I have to steal other people's kids.  Athena came over to help me make gingerbread cookies.  For Christmas, I got her an apron set, her own Christmas cookie cutters and a cookie sheet that is just her size.  We had a blast!
 

Rolling the dough.  At the request of the 'chef', we made Santa shapes, bells, reindeer, gingerbread men, candy canes and snowflakes.  Don't worry - I also made a few leg lamps and bunny suits.

And what is more fun than making cookies -  decorating them! Athena brought some sparkly gel icing that was a perfect addition to all of our sugar glitter and powdered sugar icing.

I am pretty sure she put as much icing in her mouth as she did on her cookies!  Not sure if quiet time was actually quiet today :)

Finished products.  Athena had already left with her beautiful cookies, so the others are missing from the photos.

Correction

1 rake + 1 shovel + 1 tarp + 1 leaf blower + 5 hours = I DON'T have leaves! I am not done yet, but the need for a warm bath and some Advil have won for the day.

Got leaves?!?!?

I do...