January - That Hygge Feeling

January was a busy month and the weather was a mixed bag of rain, snow, and a few days warm enough to open the windows. I love quieting the house after the hustle and bustle of the holidays. I found myself wanting it to look like less, and set to work creating a feel that was snug, comfortable, and calm. We made several trips to Goodwill, getting rid of as much as we could, before I had a chance to change my mind. When I added something new, I tried to make it as simple as possible. I used flour sack towels for window curtains and made nordic stars from paper bags. I moved things around and used them in new ways and tried to find the balance of cozy yet minimal. It's sort of an American version of a Scandinavian farmhouse, and I think I finally figured it out. I know I've found the feeling when I never want to leave. 

Snow Day

Is there anything better than an unexpected day off before Christmas. I for one, love that 5:00am phone call. I took these photos just as it started snowing. It's going to snow all day and we're expecting 

up to 6 inches. Brian and I spent the morning finishing up our outdoor decor. With the exception of the window boxes, the outside has been decorated for weeks, but it's always fun to tweak it a little.

Summer Garden Tour - Part 1

front walkway

Welcome to our summer garden tour!

Mid-Summer

Mid-summer, the height of summer in New England.  The flower gardens are at their peak now.  Our gardens are mostly reds and yellows with pops of purple and orange - the "hot" colors.  It is the complete opposite of the inside of our home which is white, neutrals and wood, with almost no color most of the time.  I especially like the inside to be all neutrals in the summer.  It just seems to make it feel cooler, plus it is an escape from the color overload outside.  

My Neck of the Woods - Southern New Hampshire

Today was a gorgeous, snowy day in New Hampshire.  We had a 90 minute delay for school this morning and it continued to snow lightly all throughout the day.  The snow was heavy and sticky and clung to the trees making everything look magical.  After school, I grabbed the dogs and my camera hoping to catch some photos before I lost the light.  I drove around taking photos of some of my favorite homes, farms, and barns.  The dogs love to sit in the back seat with the windows open.  I crank up the heat and they stick their heads out as far as they can, one out each window.  You should see the looks we get!  

Winter at Home

“It was You who set all the boundaries of the earth; You made both summer and winter.” ~Psalm 74:17

Hi, my name is Gloria

 and it has been 3 months since my last blog post.  We have so much catching up to do.

Figuring Out How to Be Fabulous in My Fifties

This week I had a birthday.  I am definitely in the second half of my life now - well into it I'm sure.  I wonder where the days have gone. I question what I have done with my life, and where I am going.  I have many dreams and things I want to accomplish.  Often, I wish I could turn back the years.  

After the Storm

Well, we weathered the storm.

And had a lot of fun too.

We had the day off from school and work 

so we spent the day preparing.

Blizzard Nemo

We are expecting a blizzard here in southern New Hampshire.  They are saying this could be the biggest storm in 10 years.  It is also the 35th anniversary of the Blizzard of 78.   I was 15 years old that year.  My family was very poor and we lived near the ocean in Gloucester, Massachusetts.  This is where the movie "The Perfect Storm" takes place.  I can remember how unprepared we were back then.  We didn't have much food, and we had even less money.  I am so thankful for what my family has now.  The wood is piled high in the mudroom.  The fridge is full.  We don't have a generator, but we can always put the food in coolers outside and cook on the grill.  I feel safe and snug.  Of course, I don't know if I'll feel the same when the toilets won't flush anymore!  

See that little purple oval below.  That's us.  Right smack dab in the middle of it!  That yellow arrow is pointing almost directly at my house!
 


I love living in New England.  I love the weather.  The snow, the cold, the humid summers and gorgeous falls.  I can't imagine living anywhere else.  So bring it on.  We're ready for you Nemo!

ELECTION EVE 2012

My daughter and I

attended the Romney event last night at the

Verizon Center in Manchester, New Hampshire.

 

 

HURRICANE SANDY

I am sitting in my warm, dry cozy home, watching the effects of Hurricane Sandy outside my window. 

Yesterday we prepared for the worst.

DRIVING TO SCHOOL

I say good-bye to my cozy home and head to work.  I have a 15 minute drive ahead.

 

 

EARTHQUAKE!!!

Well, yesterday was sure an interesting day in the neighborhood.  At about 6:20, I locked myself out of the house.

ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER HIKE

Well, we still can't get the 5 of us together for a day, but Brian, Megan and I managed a hike on Labor Day weekend. 

We climbed Mt. Monadnock in New Hampshire.

The End of Summer

Today is the official end of summer for me.  Now I know the calendar says it is summer for another month, but school starts tomorrow, at least for the staff.  Yup, summer's over. 

THOUGHTS ON A SUMMER DAY

It is quiet at my house right now.  My husband has left for work.  He works the night shift and leaves after lunch.  My daughter is visiting a friend for a few days in New Hampshire's White Mountains, and my son is at the movies seeing the Dark Knight again.

My house is clean.   It tends to stay that way these days.  No more little ones running around, making messes.  No more toys.   I baked a cake this morning and ran to the market.  Tomorrow I am making a meal for a friend who has cancer.  I have time to do these things now.

The Long Awaited Home!

Our new home - Farmhouse circa 1830

The Lord is good.  We are in our new home and only He could have orchestrated the details so perfectly.  I love this house!  It is 182 years old, and was once a schoolhouse.  There are perennial beds everywhere - and they all need tending to.  We have weeded and edged two of them so far.  I love getting my hands dirty and have missed it for the last 3 years. 

SNOW DAY - The Apartment

Praise the Lord from the earth, Fire and hail, snow and clouds; Stormy wind, fulfilling His word;               -Psalm 148:7-8 

We finally had a snow day here in New Hampshire.  The last time it really snowed was the Halloween weekend storm where we got a ton of snow.  There was a lot of damage due to all the leaves still being on the trees and we missed a few days of school.

I made a pot roast using Ree Drummond's Perfect Pot Roast recipe.  And I ate it alone.  Hubby is at work, and my DD is in North Carolina checking out Johnson & Wales University.  My son is hanging out with the guys doing whatever it is guys do when they are hanging out.  I think it usually involves eating.  Junk food.  Like Burger King.  Or Denny's.  Or Applebee's.

I used my laptop to follow the recipe and as it would have it, I just happened to check my Facebook, just in time to see that  Beth Moore was doing a live stream about prayer.  Usually I miss stuff like this because I am working - but today was a SNOW DAY!  It was just what I needed.  I am struggling with my prayer time and letting distractions get in the way.  Thank you Lord for this Divine appointment with You today.