freebies

For my local friends who read my blog, I'm giving away mags today!

I have 9 really nice issues of Better Homes and Gardens that I've never even cracked open.

Be the first to claim them and their yours - then just come pick 'em up!

If I'm not home they'll be waiting for you on my porch :)

I've got 41 issues of Guideposts Magazine - the best little magazine on earth!

I've mentioned Guideposts several times before - like HERE and HERE -

that powerful little magazine uplifts me and restores my faith in mankind.

41 issues friends! Claim 10, claim 20, claim them all and share them with friends!

Just be quick to let me know and they'll be waiting for you too :)

Sunset to go

So remember my post several weeks ago when I was redoing my bookshelves and my collections of favorite magazines were giving me fits? I had some hard choices to make. As much as I love technology, I still love to hold something in my hand. Yet at the same time, I came to a rather profound conclusion: when something that was once a joy becomes a burden, it is time to let it go. 

I kept my 10 years of Country Home Magazine, and decided to let the rest go. But by letting them go, I didn't want that to mean contribute to a land fill - or even recycle them - when I knew others could still get enjoyment out of them. I donated my years of Dwell Magazine to a future design student who will appreciate them. I will probably do the same with my many years of Mary Englebreight Home Companion - I'm still on the fence over them (let me know if you're interested - they are no longer in print!). 

But it's time to let my 3 years (36 issues) of Sunset Magazine go. My only qualifications are that you enjoy them to the fullest, and then pass them on to someone else who will enjoy them equally as much. So if you are in close proximity to me here in the Los Angeles area and can swoop on over here and nab this hefty stack PRONTO, leave a comment here and then get moving! :) 

DONE!

Finally! Sheesh! Here are the "after" results of my bookshelves project. Nothing earth shattering, but much more pleasant to look at than the nasty, unorganized mess that was bothering me so much. Remember how awful they looked a mere week ago? I hated waking up to it, and it made me sad that my lovely little quilt armoire sat in between such chaos.

My beloved Country Home magazines are all re-cataloged in much nicer holders. I found people to donate my other magazines to, as I decided that when something no longer brings you joy but becomes a burden, it's time to part with it. I also have plenty of storage for smaller items. The leather boxes on top of my shelves hold travel mementos, the leather covered "book" holds my many copies of Guideposts Magazine, I have 2 straw baskets and 2 pink metal sewing baskets as well. 

I am not a person that loves a bunch of "stuff" for the sake of sticking it up on shelves. I can't stand clutter. I have strict qualifications for dust-worthiness, believe me. I only keep things around me that are useful, that I absolutely love looking at, or that have special meaning to me (or all three) 
This handmade, hand-signed quilt block has much meaning to me, as do my Jean Stratton Porter books. You know who you are Joan Mockler :)
My all time favorite books, and The Eiffel Tower, of which I recently went to the top.
Some of the colorful antique croquet balls I collect, and a few felted balls from Australia.
I split my small photo albums up to make things a bit more interesting.
We bought this platter in Cambria on one of our anniversary trips.
This very old Scottie dog was the very first small quilted piece I ever purchased. It remains my favorite.
Here's the best aerial view I could muster, balancing on the Red Bed. It kind of gives you the whole picture. I know I'll change things here and there, but right now the balance looks pretty good.  

Probably the MOST popular thing I see on a daily basis ;) 

Weekend Update, Fairy Dust, and Magazine Day

Good morning! My high school/junior high kids went back to school today, and as much as I love them, and as much as we had an awesome Christmas break... I am thrilled and delighted to have the house to myself for a whole 6 hours. 

The magazines above? Those are my textbooks today. And you can tell by the covers I'm a month late reading them! I tried oh-so-many times over the break to sit down and read, but loud music, video games blasting, brawling boys, screaming guitars, kids in and out, and Christmas busyness kept me from them time and time again. I was all set to post a completely different post today - in fact, I have several terrific posts photographed and ready - but I decided to switch gears and get to those shiny pages of inspiration ASAP!

See the Mouse? See all his army gear? And the huge airsoft gun that I can hardly pick up? And the ax peeking out from behind him? And the gigantic pile of wood next to him? Well, my weekend update begins with my 13-year-old modeling the airsoft vest he saved up for AND the pile of wood that he himself chopped with that very ax.
Yes, you heard me right - the Mouse chopped that ENTIRE pile of wood, from huge logs, all on his own, with that ax. Seriously. Himself. Solo. I'm still trying to wrap my head around that. And we have enjoyed several lovely fires in the fireplace, thanks to him. Wow...
Now, I realize this is not the greatest picture, but I had to at least take a "before" so when all my roses start blooming I can remember the humble beginnings from whence they came. I already had 5 rose bushes, which I cut back when our pretend winter weather showed up for a week. The Mouse and I planted 7 more to fill everything in, and my husband helped me pour some much-needed new soil into the planter. You'd never know I had a 2 day migraine over the weekend.
And here is a project my husband and the Mouse are overwhelmingly proud of. They kept at it until we can now fit both cars in the garage. We have always been cars-go-in-the-garage people, but in moving several times and finding ourselves in a much smaller space really pulled the rug out from under us. And drove my husband insane. So the task is finally accomplished, and it only took 4 years. 
One final note - and a very exciting one! My lovely and talented friend from high school, Kim (White) Nelson, is having one of her adorable products featured today in Seattle's Daily Candy web magazine! She is the inventor and force behind Sprinkles of Magic "sprinkle dust", bringing a dose of simple, old-fashioned fun to our young ones and the young at heart. If you click on Seattle's Daily Candy you can check it all out, and if you click HERE you can read the entire write-up for Sweet Dreams Dust. Congrats Kim!

Well there you have it. I'm already late for a date with my magazines so I'm outta here :)