The Plaid Basket

Do I remember how to blog?

2012-02-10T09:17:00.000-08:00

Oh my....it's been nearly a YEAR since I have posted! Why you ask? I think I have forgotten how not to mention MY CAMERA IS BROKE! Can you imagine....life without a camera? Blogging without a camera? Life IS a tragedy to some...a comedy to all others. I find it to be both! Anyhow, I did manage to take a few photo's of our master make over before my beloved Canon Rebel started acting up so will share those. Most are blurry, the beginning of the end of my camera's ability to function in auto. I am learning to use it in manual mode until I can get a new one but my vision is, well, about as focused as my camera! Good can come from bad situations though...I finally went for an eye exam (the camera forced this!). Now I just need to go pick out the specs and I'll be good to go.

(before wood floors)

Well, I thought that I had more pictures...can't find them at the moment!

The project is not done as yet. I will borrow Sarah's camera next time she comes over to show the current status and maybe even my ~~excuse~~ explanation for WHY it has taken soooo long to get as far as we've gotten. Meanwhile, if you know of any GREAT deals on the Canon Rebel T3i........

Makin Messes EVERYWHERE

2011-02-22T16:00:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone!
Yet again, it's been a very long time since I last posted but I have been a very busy girl....making messes all over this place. Thank God my family has more patience that I!
To start where I last left off,,, November, I believe, we're up in the bonus room. I remember going up there to start getting out the Christmas decorations. I usually spend November "decking the halls". Next thing I know, I am cutting quilt squares! Remember I said I was going to learn how to quilt? Well, this quilt was/is indeed a learning quilt but what a blast I've had learning! I use to be pretty good about organizing my project space BEFORE starting any new project. Not anymore...I just dig in when the mood strikes!

The qult top is finished but that's where this project stopped in order to make time for Christmas shopping and very little decorating. In fact, a tree, the mantle and the dining room table is all that was embelished this year.

Although I missed "going all out", I am pretty sure Maddy didn't mind.

She's happy just to be home enjoying her family.

December wizzed by in the blink of an eye then next was Maddyson's 3rd birthday. I got to use my Christmas present for the first time to bake for her birthday party!

Yet another attempted at decorating cookies!ha ha ha

Didn't go so well so I hid these to snack on later...

and made these instead for her birthday party.
(Cherry chip Hello kitty cake and chocolate cupcakes with buttercream frosting)

What's a Hello Kitty birthday party without pin the bow on kitty?

Another January project was making Maddy a cupcake apron. She loves it!
Do you love her outfit?

Another January highlight was a quilt show at the Oregon Garden. I spent the day exploring 3 or 4 out of town quilt shops after jetting through the quilt show.

A sneak peek at our master bedroom makeover. I bought an unfinished armoire and dresser in late January so am now sanding, priming and painting them trying to achieve the color in my minds eye.

The armoire with it's primer.

Oh my my my....what have I got myself into here. When we bought this house, the master had bead board all around the top like a boarder. I have never liked it. I thought back then ,when we looked at the house, that it was to cover a really ugly boarder or a removal job gone bad. Unfortunately, it was to cover a removal job gone bad and a really ugly boarder. So, I'll be working on this mess after I get the furniture painted. Hopefully my next post will be to show a really nice master bedroom redo!

Meanwhile, we are all attempting wellness. Everyone has had head colds for the past month but I promise to get back to work on the bedroom of my dreams...well not really but a nice bedroom redo, when things get back on track around here.

I've been so inspired by all the incredibly ambitious DIY projects in blogland. I am certain that as I continue visiting these awesome blogs, the inspiration will encourage me to see this project to the end.(Not to mention, having clothes in piles in the closet is really getting old ;)

Until next time, I hope this finds everyone happy, healthy and holding the spirits high with the promise of Spring just around the corner.

Where does time go?

2010-11-01T22:29:00.000-07:00

Howdy all and HAPPY FALL to one and all!
It's been a reeeeaaaally long time since I've posted anything but I have been "lurking" in blogland enjoying the heck out of many many blogs. Do you ever do that? Go through a stage where you just don't feel like "talking" but enjoy visiting?
Well, I thought I'd post a menagery of photo's giving an idea of what I've been up too...
First off, my daughter, granddaughter and I went to a quilt show...that is my current obsession...am going to learn how to quilt! (Last month it was going to be learn to decorate cookies...that didn't go so well LOL)

We all went to the pumpkin patch for an afternoon full of activities. Maddy met some new friends...

We went for a "hay ride" out to the fields of corn and pumpkins

The kids got a lesson on how a pumpkin is grown

Then it was off to the pumpkin sling...

I just realized that I haven't any pictures of the pumpkins that we got! Oh well, it was a fun day out and a sunny day at that!

I've also been workin around the house with fall cleaning...one doesn't realize how many windows they have until it is time to clean them in and out. Nor how many leaves are on a faux fig tree until you clean EACH AND EVERY ONE of them.

So here is a glimpse of my busyness. I have also been working on a wool candle mat that I'll show when I finish. Been visiting all the local quilt shops to decide which are my favorite to return to and have been collecting fabric along the way to make my second quilt...I think I have enough now so will HOPEFULLY get started on that soon.

I didn't do any Halloween decorating for the first time in 25 years which seemed really strange. Hopefully the creative bug will bite soon cuz I am thinking I might not do Christmas decorating this year, either. I'll end this with my newest Ebay purchase...the best deal of the year for me on the picture. Is that just one of the best feelings in the world when you get a great deal on something?

Here's hoping everyone had a fun Halloween and great anticipation for a wonderful Thanksgiving. I'll sign off with a thought of Thanksgiving.....I am so thankful that there are SOOOO many incredibly TALENTED women out here in blog land so willing to take the time to share their lives, passions and hobbies. Your awesome blogs have filled many hours with joy for my eyes!

Until next time, Vicci

Lynn's Barnyard Bash

2010-09-11T10:13:00.000-07:00

Good morning everyone!
So I woke up this morning feeling like I forgot to do something...this isn't an unusual feeling for me...what could it be....it must be important for it to be the first thought of the day. Then it hit me....I didn't get my post together for THE BARNYARD BASH!
Being the queen of procrastination...I am not prepared... so here is a throw-together of what is sure to be a good ol time over at Happier Than A Pig In Mud! Be sure to mosey on over to enjoy Lynn's party to view her barnyard critters (Love those cupcakes!) and peek in at all the other participants.
My last post shares my roosters so if this post leaves you wanting more, feel free to take a peek around!

When we moved out here, to the "outskirts of town", I decided that since it was a farmhouse style home, I would add accessories that reflected that style and the surrounding land. The first morning I woke up here, I heard sounds coming from these....

Well, not exactly like these...the ones that surround the back of our place are not dairy cows but cows that moooo all the same! Mooing is fine...soothing to listen to in a way. However, cow's "hollerin" for the babies is another story!
It wasn't too many days later that I heard the strangest sound, sorta like kids...sorta like cats...hummm..what can it be? I decided it was coming from the front so out I went and discovered these, about a dozen of um across the street.

GOATS AND SHEEP!

About a year or so later, the next door neighbor decided to bring her horse here from the place they moved from. So....in the strip of land between our homes, we were blessed with one of these

So now as you have seen, we are surrounded by critters on three sides leaving the west side with nothing more than dogs and a cat. Two years ago, the neighbors changed that and brought home CHICKENS.

(do you see the chickens on top of the cow to the right? You can click the picture to ENLARGE. This Williraye piece is called "Yours or mine?")

Have you ever heard a chicken while it is laying an egg?

So that leaves us.....nothing but cats...

And a beautiful Granddaughter that loves all animals!

Wishing ya'll an awesome fall and many thanks for stopping over to see my barnyard bash!

Time for me to head over to see all the other participating farm gals if only at heart!

Roosters, Roosters, Everywhere!

2010-08-05T11:40:00.000-07:00

Good morning fellow rooster fans!
As I'm sure you know, it's rooster party time over at Bella Vista! Barb so loves her roosters as do so many other wonderful bloggers so if you want to see some pretty,whimsical, funky or just plain cute roosters, head on over to Barbs to see hers and all her rooster party buddies. Barbs button is on my side bar, click there to head over to the rest of the party.
I hope you enjoy my little collection...only have a couple of new ones since last years rooster party so most of my photo's may be repeats.
If you're a sidedoor guest, you are greeted by this rooster windchime, gifted to me from my mother-in-law. It makes such happy sounds with a gentle breeze.

I like to change out vignettes on this bench each month. This is Julys "scene"...I know, it's August so I best get busy and get the sunflowers out!

Once you come on in, you are greeted by this spunky fella

If you look to your left instead, this funky guy will greet you

Or, to the right stands one of my favorite...probably because of his blue or maybe because I brought him home from a wonderful visit of family in Montana.

Looking up above the window you will find a couple of rooster companions...after all what is a rooster without a hen?

Moving into the kitchen to meet the rest of the clan...

Finally into the dining room.

This guy on the bakers rack is my only new rooster since last years rooster party. He has a hole in the back to place a battery operated tealight! He was a Christmas gift from my sister-in-law. (Thank you, Geri!)

That wraps it up for my rooster collection.

Oh...wait a minute! I gotta run take a few pics of the calendar that I picked up at the coast. I'm so excited for 2011 to be able to bring this beauty out.

Thank you so much for visiting....I hope you come back soon and as always, I very much enjoy reading your comments so please don't be shy! ;0)

Miss Maddy turns 2 1/2

2010-07-07T22:00:00.000-07:00

Just have to share a photo of our precious granddaughter...she's growing up way to fast and oh so adorable!

Happy Birthday America!

2010-07-02T11:32:00.000-07:00

Hello and HAPPY 4th of July!
It's been a long time since I have posted but I just couldn't miss out on dressing up the dining room for the 4th cuz I soooo love our flag and all that it stands for.
I even baked a couple of goodies! All this time that I haven't been posting I have been visiting baking blogs and I do believe I am hooked on the idea of learning how to decorate baked goodies now. Meanwhile, I decided to start out with the very easy and baked some cherrychip cupcakes with buttercream frosting. (You're welcome, Sarah! ;) )

Next I made a no-bake cheesecake and put fresh strawberries on top. (You're welcome, Scott! :0) )

Of course I had to add some berries to the setting cuz Maddy soooo loves her berries!

Each placesetting gets a cute lil votive cup filled with red, white, and blue jellybeans. They are holding steady the cute candle pinwheels that I recently found at Pier One. I didn't light them for fear of wax dripping on the jelly beans.

Everything except the placemats and glasses are Longaberger including the flatware and napkin rings. I also have placemats that match the napkins but decided to mix it up alittle this year when my daughter brought these cute placemats to me. (Thank you Sarah!) They are from Kohls as are both glassware pieces.

Although they don't show up all that well, I thought the pinwheels in the centerpiece were to cute to pass up since they kinda match the votive cup pinwheels.

Also had to bring out some Williraye....they are as Americana as you can get!

An adorable collectors plate called "Star Spangled Sky" by Sandra Kuck, had to be included in the setting.

Just love the details that Longaberger puts into their baskets...check out these star tacks!

How about a little candlelight?

Last but not least, a picture that I thought turned out kinda neat

I hope you enjoyed my all American post. I'd love to hear what you thought if you would like to leave a comment. Be sure to pop over to Susans at Between Naps on the Porch to delight in her adorable tablescape and all the other AWESOME tablescape participants. Thank you so much for stopping by and I hope you have a SAFE holiday weekend FULL of memory making activities!

We've been adopted

2010-05-08T20:22:00.000-07:00

What a beautiful day this has been! The sunshine is soooo needed in our "neck of the woods" and shine it did! I attempted to spiral two arborvitae today...not so good. I will work on them more tomorrow but I'm pretty sure they are not salvagable. grrrrrr....
Anyhow, I just wanted to share that we have a new kitty. He has been hanging out for about 6 weeks and wants to come in sooo bad. Last week we took him to the vet cuz he has had a snotty nose. Got an antibiotic for him, tested for lukemia/aids, got a couple vaccines and are now waiting for his nose to clear up then will have him neutered. We are calling him Mr. Beans cuz he likes our Maddy and Maddy likes jelly beans! I wanted his name to be Mikey. Have you seen the Sandra Bullock movie that is out? The one with "Big Mike". If you haven't seen it, you really should...it is soooo good. If you have, remember when the family is sitting at the dinner table and ask Mike if he'd like to be a part of their family and he replies..."I thought I already was?!?

Well, I think Mr. Beans feels pretty much the same way. So next is the "altering", then the introduction to the "house kitties"....I hope it goes well.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all of you! I hope you have a wonderful, relaxed, loving day!

An Easter Bunny Parade, cont…

2010-03-27T13:40:00.001-07:00

Welcome, once again to our Easter bedazzled home! I had so much fun putting out the bunnies last week that I decided to play some more, changing things around just a bit. Let's start outside since there is a break in the rain....a very WELCOME break in the rain. As always, there is a banner at the entry to greet one and all. I so love banners so have collected at least one for each month and alot of the smaller ones for added "smile stops". You'll find baskets and teddybears on alot of them....two of my favorite things. I have recently added a new doormat that has interchangeable "centers" so now I'll be collecting different mats for the seasons and holidays. Don't you just love the pretty tulips? They SING spring and sunshine! ;0)

Another Spring spot, this one at the side door. When I posted for St. Patricks day, the tulips hadn't bloomed yet so this is a different view...amazing what a couple of days do for Spring blooms. I also added the adorable little bird house. I found this at a retirement home this winter. A resident of the home makes the cutest birdhouses to sell at their annual Christmas Bazaar. My honey found the bird nest down by the creek after a windstorm that broke a large branch off one of our cedars. The bunny was a gift from my mother-in-law, she finds the cutest things!

The bunny below was also a gift from M-I-L.

Inside now, in the front entry. The little basket of jellybeans is actually the bottom of a cupcake, I'll have to include the whole thing in a post soon...it's quite cute.

And in to the diningroom.....
Notice the lil bunny ears peaking out of the mug? Don't you just love all the different ways you can fold napkins.

Most all the pretties were used in last weeks tablescape. I changed out the pottery, tablecloth and the centerpiece...moved things around a bit....

The centerpiece basket was the inspiration for this tablescape. I intended to use a different tablecloth, my favorite of the few that I have, but when I set this basket next to this tablecloth, everything changed! I know that must happen to you all!??! Set out with a plan only to have something take over and change the whole scene? Please tell me this happens to you or I might start worrying that when I joke about having ADD, maybe it isn't a joke.

The photo below should show why the centerpiece basket stold the show...the colors in the basket are identical to the colors in the tablecloth decorations. My mom found this tablecloth at the coolest florist/home decor shoppe in Eugene,OR several years ago.....unfortunatly, they went out of business.

I do think every room should have at least one Williraye piece to bring a smile to ones face. They are so comical to me, in a funky sorta way. I love the buck teeth on the bunny...makes me laugh every time I look at it!

Years ago, a local craft store gave away free Jodi Jensen watercolor prints with a $25 purchase so I collected, mat and framed 3 years worth of freebies.

I hope you enjoyed my continued Easter bunny parade! I sure enjoyed your company and I wish you all a very BLESSED Easter.
I am linking over to Susan's Tablescape Thursday. You can click on the badge below to hop over to view her beautiful blog and many many more participants of Tablescape Thursday. I just found another fun event so will also be linking to Lynettes Easter Party...Thank you Ladies for hosting these wonderful events!

An Easter Bunny Parade

2010-03-24T18:51:00.000-07:00

Have I mentioned how much I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Spring?
It seems that EASTER just brings the HAPPY out in everybody! With that being said, I am thrilled to be joining in on Susan's Tablescape Thursday. Be sure to HOP on over to view all the BEAUTIFUL tablescapes created just for you and me! I am also linking to the Embellished Bayou Easter Party. It looks to be a great time, too! I do hope that you ENJOY my Easterscape....as always, I love to read what you think so please don't be shy....say HELLO!

As is always the case....most everything is Longaberger with the exception of the bunnies and an all the lil babbles. The centerpiece is new to me....found it at Home Goods a month or so ago, added the silk tulips (not often is their real flowers in this home...the kitties ~~destroy~~ nibble on anything that is organic!

Thank you for stopping in! I had such a blast putting this together that I decided to do another one next week so be sure to stop back over!

HAPPY TABLE-HOPPING!

Saint Patrick’s Day Pretties

2010-03-13T11:42:00.001-08:00

WELCOME to our Home…

Thought I'd join in on Cuisine Kathleen's St. Patricks Day blog crawl...skip on over to join in or just ENJOY all the participant's great displays!

Am also linking over to

Many thanks to Kathleen and Susan for hosting these wonderfully fun events! .

We have a welcoming committee waiting to greet you as you step in the side door. Wyatt Earp (orange) and Hank or Hankers as Maddy calls him, are so excited that you came to visit.

I am pretty sure that they are as excited for Spring to be here as much as I am! You see, they are strictly indoor cats but in warm weather, we take them out in the back yard so they can wander, eat grass and explore.
So come on inside! Even though the sun is shining today, it’s a bit chilly so you must come in and warm up a bit. I’ve been playing in the dishes…..getting the table ready to join in on Susan’s weekly Tablescape Thursday fun. As always, all the dishes are Longaberger except the platter on the bakers rack. I found this at Home Goods several weeks ago and knew it was there just for me. It was the ONLY St. Patricks day pretty to be seen so I just knew it was meant to be.
The little dish below has Harry and David chocolates….feel free to take one….they are the best chocolates to be found.

The placemats and napkins are also Longaberger.

The crystal ice tea glasses are Kelsey by Waterford. I am so in want for more crystal and some patterned china. I won’t be renewing as a Longaberger consultant when my anniversary rolls around…I decided that 16 years of collecting their baskets,pottery, linens and wrought iron is long enough….time to branch out…..spose Waterford hires consultants and lets you earn their product? ;0)

I hope that you enjoyed my St. Patrick’s Day pretties. Please have a festive day and REMEMBER to wear your green! Thanks so much for stopping in…would so enjoy it if you’d leave a comment to let me know you stopped by.

A Valentine Dessert

2010-02-15T16:41:00.000-08:00

I am pretty sure that I'm married to the most romantic guy around! While I was busy thinkin up a yummy treat for the day...

(Olive Gardens Zeppoli with Raspberry Sauce)

And prettying (is that a word?) up the table for the occasion...

My honey was busy doing the finish work of the cubby hole in the family room!

From this...

To this....

This is not the greatest picture but I think you get my message. I'm not sure anything could be more romantic (to me) than a husband that scratches off a project from the "honey do" list as a gift rather than spending money on a trinket of some sort or flowers that die in a week or two. Now all's I need to do is load it up with Maddysons books...the ones that require a "big" person to read to her.

I hope you all had a wonderful Valentines Day...one that put a thrill in your heart in some special way. I sure did!

OH...in case anyone is interested, all the dishes, vase, placemats and napkins are Longaberger. The stemware is Kohls for the red goblets and I don't remember the crystal brand. The flatware is our everyday stainless Oneida Marquette.

I am thrilled that you stopped in for a peek! I will link up with Susan's Tablescape Thursday even though Valentine's day is over....it's always fun to join in with Susan and her talented tablescaping buddies.Click on the picture below to view "the party"!

Happy Valentines Day

2010-02-13T11:58:00.000-08:00

My oh my it's been a really long time since I have got to play in blogland! Life is very different for me but I am adapting...kinda....sorta....trying! ANY WHO.......I just had to stop in to wish you all a very happy, hopefully romantic Valentines day.
I had hoped to do a tablescape or two before now, but, well, lets just say it's a work in progress...it WILL be done tomorrow so I'll post it then. Meanwhile, a few photo's of TWO of my favorite things...Longaberger and Williraye.

Merry CHRISTmas from our home to yours!

2009-12-23T16:24:00.000-08:00

Life has been craaaazy busy but I just wanted to pause for a minute to wish you and yours a very blessed CHRISTmas with best wishes for peace, love and joy in the new year.

(Photo's are from Christmas 2008. I used these cuz it was prettier around here then than it is now)

Christmas, Christmas Everywhere

2009-12-14T23:06:00.000-08:00

Boy oh boy is it party time in blogland! I will be joining in with multiple parties...click on the links below to go visit with all the wonderful hostesses and their participants that love to dress their homes for the holidays! Thank ALL of you gracious ladies for hosting these wonderfully fun events.

Karen/Somedays are Diamonds/ Doors of Welcome
Thoughts from Over The Rainbow/ Deck the Halls
The Nester/ Christmas Tour of Homes
Between Naps On the Porch/ Tablescape Thursday

So on with my playing. I posted photos of my snowman kitchen, and of our familyroom, (click on white words for links to view), so now it's time for the entry and dining room.

Father Christmas greets you as you walk up the front walk. When you get to the front door, a friendly snowman welcomes you inside.

(Yes, you're right, the front door isn't decorated....yet :-P )

I like using the side door better anyway, don't you?

We'll wander through the kitchen paying no attention since we've seen it before and go straight through to the front entry. OH..but please be careful not to bump into Maddy....she's busy playing with the musical, dancing toys. She just loves overnighters with Papa, Grammy and auntie Sarah!

We've made it safely to the hallway, looking into the entryway

The baskets are hung instead of stockings for the pets. They seem to always get so many goodies from Santa that their stockings overflowed.

The largest basket was for Jordan. He was the best dogfriend a girl could have. We had to let him be with his maker a year ago in November due to a spinal condition called degenerative myelopathy. I still can't get another buddy.

We will forever hang his basket, filling it with goodies for the Humane Society.

Hold on, gotta go dry the tears so I can finish the tour....

Ok, around the corner and sitting on the stairs, this is what you see.

My supervisor....Wyatt Earp

On in to the dining room...I tried to keep it simple...

But I just couldn't do it. So out came the Longaberger Pottery and napkins, the Kohls goblets, the crystal champagne flutes, the silver flatware and best for last, the Longaberger sleighs from years ago. I couldn't decide if the reindeer should get a break this year..

Or if Santa remains at the helm.

What do you think? Reindeer? Or Santa?

The rest of the dining room has been "housed" for awhile now. I bought these houses a few years ago. They were a store brand (can't remember the name), the store went out of business so I didn't get to get more to finish the "town" that I had wanted. They are larger than Dept 56 so I may sell these and start over with dept 56.

So here ends my entry and dining room Christmas tour.

I thank you for being so kind and stopping over for a "tour". I hope you enjoyed my long winded post and would love to hear what your thoughts are. Take care, ENJOY the season, and stop over again soon. Hugs to all, Vicci

A Snowman Kitchen

2009-12-07T18:19:00.000-08:00

Good evening and welcome to week #2 of Susan's Deck the Hall's party! I am so glad you returned to see my continued effort to bring holiday delight into our home. I have to admitt that my decorating came to a screeching halt the day I posted week #1. Fortunately I had some photo's downloaded before then so I am going to attempt to focus on putting some sort of order to them to share with you. I hope you enjoy and I truly thank you for stopping in...your comments make blogging a blessed escape from my current reality. I won't be commenting on photo's this week but if you have any questions, please feel free to comment or email me and I will answer them. viccihg@comcast.net

This final photo is from a couple of years ago, I haven't finished this years version which is pretty similar.

Thanks again for visiting and I hope you are living in JOY this CHRISTmas season.

Be sure to skate over to Susans at Thoughts from over the Rainbow to view Susans gorgeous decorations as well as many other decked out homes...you'll be glad you did!

Decking the Halls, and the walls, and the.......

2009-11-30T21:01:00.000-08:00

WELCOME! The time has finally arrived for Susans Deck the Hall's event! I have been so excited for this as I just LOVE seeing everyone's beautifully decorated homes and the idea of seeing them dressed for the holiday season is more exciting than I can say. THANK YOU, Susan, for hosting this wonderful opportunity for all of use to "get together" for the holidays!
I hope you enjoy my contribution as much as I've enjoyed put it all out....be sure to link back over to Thoughts From Over the Rainbow to savor all the beautiful decorations at Susans and and all the other participants.
Although I started decorating the day after Halloween, I'm far from done. I have a tendency to be reeeeeealllllly slow at artistic endevors!lol Actually, I have a tendency to not finish anything artistic....why? I do not know. I have a couple of areas that I am making myself leave alone....NO MORE tweeking!
The first is our family room tree...

I have done it twice this year...

knowing what I wanted....

then deciding it wasn't going to happen so just be happy with it and move on!

Since I haven't done ANY shopping yet, baskets -n- bears "sit in" for the time being.

Also in the familyroom is some of my Santa collection. I have been collecting the jolly guy for many many years. The entertainment center is all Jim Shore pieces.

Not Santa but still Jim Shore

On the wall opposite of the entertainment center is a variety of Santa's...my favorites are the Willirayes...can you pick them out of the bunch?

A couple more...

All the above photo's are in the "new" family room. The next are in the "old family room. When we added on to the house, we also had the new family room added on in place of what use to be the deck off the old family room. It was so odd shaped and small so I decided it will someday house a game table and be called the game room. Right now it houses my granddaughters table n chairs, kitchenette, and toybox.

This wall will someday have a window in the place of these pictures. This room is so dark without one.

With this final photo, I will close this post and save the kitchen for the next time. Many thanks for stopping in. I'd be thrilled if you'd leave a comment to let me know that you stopped in to say Hi! I'm so glad you were here.

It's coming along...

2009-11-19T13:21:00.000-08:00

It's break time...trying to get the tree lights to work. Thought I'd give some sneak peaks of what I've been up to.

Barb is Celebrating....let's join in!

2009-11-16T18:32:00.000-08:00

Barb over at Bella Vista is celebrating her 200th post! WOW...now that's what I call blogger dedication. She is celebrating with a $35 gift card for Cracker Barrell to boot! Head on over and congratulate her then join in on the chance to win. You can click on this post's title or Bella Vista just above OR the badge on my side bar to get to her lovely blog. Good Luck!

How do you spend your Saturdays?

2009-11-13T21:16:00.000-08:00

Ok...I wasn't going to post picture's of "my people" cuz I feared if I did once, there would be no stopping me. I have decided that I just have to...after all, they are my life, my heart beat, my joy. So here is a first! Last Saturday, like every Saturday, our granddaughter spent the day with us. This is yet another one of the moments that make my heart sing while watching the sweetness of a "papa" and his granddaughter "in action"! They were sharing a bowl of rocky road ice cream....I'll let the pictures do the talking.

All's I can think when viewing these pic's is....THIS is the good stuff!

And tomorrow is yet another Saturday to fall even more in love.

Wishing you JOY on your Saturday!

2009-11-05T10:18:00.000-08:00

The fun has begun!!

If ANY0NE knows how to post photo's from your own picasa albums, PLEASE let me know.

Must See Giveaway at Between Naps!

2009-11-03T22:40:00.001-08:00

You have got to go over to see about the give away that Colonial Candle is doing at Between Naps on the Porch. Actually, it's a give away a day....ALL week
Meanwhile, I am on day 3 of my Christmas decorating! Actually, the first day and 1/2 was taking out and putting away Halloween. Be sure to peek in from time to time....I'm learning how to put pictures on a "stick" thing then transfering them to Picasa...now trying to figure out how to get them to my blog from Picasa. Daughter needed her laptop at school today so I didn't get to play around to figure it out...maybe in the morning?

Still here

2009-10-30T18:19:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween to you and yours! I am not MIA but our PC is on the fritz so I can't access my pictures to do posts. Talk about going through withdrawals! I am using my daughters laptop to do this post but my pictures are on the PC. I am in the market for my OWN laptop so if anyone LOVES theirs, please tell me what it is and why you love it. I have NO clue what to buy. Do I want a laptop like I think I do or a new PC? I know NOTHING about either other than I LOVE our big monitor on the PC yet like the portability of daughters laptop.
THANK YOU, everyone, that has stopped by and left such nice comments! I will be up and running, somehow, soon! One more day of Halloween then out it goes for a month of Christmas decorating!!!

DENISE'S PINK SCARF GIVEAWAY

2009-10-21T20:41:00.000-07:00

In honor of breast cancer awareness month and to celebrate her birthday, Denise over at Dens Daily Life has knitted the sweetest. softest looking, PINK scarf (she even said it was soft ), to give away to friends of her blog. Get on over to see this beauty. You can click the box to the side of this post to go see what it's all about!

2009-10-16T09:28:00.000-07:00

Better late than never? I hope so cuz this was suppose to be posted yesterday to Doors of Welcome over at Some Days are Diamonds. The computer that has all my pictures is not working properly and wasn't at all yesterday so I couldn't post. Don't know if it's going to work this time either but am going to try.
I had my 21month old granddaughter for 6 nights and days so my frontdoor didn't get dressed in time for the party so... the pictures are of our side patio door....as they say, backdoor guests are best so this one got dressed first! Hope this works and I do hope you enjoy!

Along with Mr. and Mrs. Mo Scarecrow, I welcome you in for a cup of cider, tea, or coffee and wish you a joyous fall and exciting Halloween! Be sure to link over to Some Days are Diamonds to see more Doors of Welcome....you're sure to be inspired!

Halloween Details

2009-10-14T18:47:00.000-07:00

It's that most wonderful time of the year....beautiful, colorful, brisk autumn! I believe that if you are a "details" kind of person, fall is the most exciting season because of all the variations of color, texture, temperature and activies that come to life during this time. Do you think you can count all the shades and tints of orange? Or yellow? This is certainly the time of year to try! To me, it's the "kick-off" of the best decorating quarter of the year. The yard is pretty much put to bed, no mowing, weeding, feeding, watering, etc which makes for LOTS of time to "play house".
So....to get this season started, I compose this post with a Halloween tablescape that will link to the ever talented Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch. Do go over there to see her awesome blog and tablescape as well as MANY other fantastic participating tablescapes.
I also thought I'd add ~~a few,~~ well, quite a few pictures of fall yet mostly Halloween pictures of our home. Like most of us do, I am still moving things and adding things but will post the current status of my fun. CLICK on any picture to enlarge...I hope you enjoy!

A view from above

Notice the napkin? My version of a bat ;0) Also note the cup of candycorn...I learned somewhere, wish I could remember who's blog, that the proper placement of the cup handle is to have it point to the time that tea is to be served....midnight, of course!

Williraye's "Spirit of Halloween"

Williraye's East Bound Flight

My daughter came into the diningroom the morning after I put this together and stated that this pumpkin-headed guy "weirds her out"! What do you think?

Here ends my Halloween Tablescape! Since I shared little of "around the house", I'll post again real soon. Thank you so much for stopping over for a little Halloween dining,would enjoy your comments as always!

Be sure to head over to Tablescape Thursday at Susans!

1st Met Monday-Exterior Redo

2009-09-27T17:05:00.000-07:00

It's another 1st for me! Thank you Susan for hosting yet another fun "party", your dedication is remarkable!
Although the beginning of this metamorphosis started just over 5 years ago, it's just now STARTING to look like what I have in my minds eye. This house that you're about to see was ALMOST my dream home. The only thing that kept it from being a total dream come true was that I soooo ~~need~~ desire to own a BRAND NEW house. THAT (a new, custom built) home has been my hearts desire for as long as I can remember...as far back as being 7 years old and playing in what use to be a chicken coop at my Grandparents farm in Montana! I use to sit in that lil coop for HOURS, dreaming of how I would decorate and remodel it if only Grandpa would let me. That's a whole other story for another time.
So on with the here and now, beginning with a photo of the day that we got the key to our "new to us" house. You would never know it by the smile on my face but THE KEY DIDN'T WORK!!! Yet another story for later. lol
We'll pretend it worked and that the smile was well founded.

This is what you saw standing at the road.

This is standing at the other end of the driveway

This house sat empty for several months before we bought it and not loved at all. A neighbor told us that when the people that built it lived here, the lawn MIGHT have been mowed once or twice a year! I guess when alls you've got is sparse grass,field grass and TONS of dandelions, why bother?!

The next few photos are of the beginning transformation stages.

We found the greatest contractor for this project. He was such a perfectionist and sooooo slow but in the end, we were very glad of that. He and his college aged son tore off all the siding and removed all the windows...all by them selves. They also replaced all the windows and resided the whole house...BY THEM SELVES! They amazed me. A different company did the roof...in TWO days! I really liked the existing roof but the shingle style was no longer available. There were more patches on this roof than you can believe.

The following photos are of right after the project was complete. Phase one of the project, that is!

After this "transformation", it was a couple of years "rest" time while attempting to obtain permits for an addition. What a process that was. Oregon is famous for our conservationists which is probably why Oregon is so beautiful. BUT, what a pain in the bum when it comes to obtaining permits! We have a creek on our acre of land which is why the county gave us soooo much grief to add on. We finally jumped through all their hoops and construction began! We had a garage with bonus room, mother-in-law suite, family room and larger laundry room added on. It was an experience that I don't want to experience again but the end results are well worth it. For this met Monday, I'll stick with the exterior photos.

Oh, and, we had brick and fishscaling added to the turret. Fishscale also on the eves on both ends of the house.

The house had just a few, very sickly shrubs when we moved in so I've been busy planting some favorites. The above photo shows my roses. My birthday month flower is the rose so roses were a must! One of my favorites is the Jackson n Perkins "Love and Peace...below, a close up of it.

To recap this transformation, here are a few before and afters close together.

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

So, here ends my 1st post for metamorphosis Monday. I hope you enjoyed it and would be thrilled to hear if you did! I may continue on this "thread" and do each room of the house since we changed most everything inside, too!

Be sure to link over to Susan's Between Naps on the Porch for more metamorphosis's...you won't be disappointed.

Tablescape Thursday in the Fall

2009-09-23T16:39:00.001-07:00

Joining in with Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch and all the other creative tablescapers. Be sure to click on the picture above to view their masterpieces!

Welcome to my 2nd tablescape. This is, I have decided, "TOO MUCH FUN"! Perhaps it is because I am new to the world of blogging and STILL trying to figure things out but I find that it is on my mind ALL DAY long! I would probably have a more interesting blog if I spent the time I use for reading other blogs on my own blog. I am just AMAZED at all the wonderful and talented bloggers out there.

Anyhow, on with my 2nd Fall tablescape. I usually leave my dining table "tablescaped" all month long. However, I have found that I have multiple "pretties" for both fall and Christmas so I thought what the heck....put down the paint brush and play alittle! So here it is.....fall tablescape again!

Did I mention that I so adore teddie bears? They come to welcome you to our home!

First inside the front door is my cabinette,mirror and (Susan's must have) a lamp. The basket is from Longaberger's Shade's of Autumn Series. It is called the Basket of Plenty from 1995 and is retired. Follow me to the dining room, it's only a couple of steps away.

The pottery is Longaberger except for the orange dinnerplates. They are Fiestaware since Longaberger doesn't make orange pottery and I just had to have orange for Halloween last year. The bowl is called butternut the luncheon plate is paprika and the placemat is called Fall Foliage, also Longaberger. Did I mention that I have been collecting Longaberger products for 15 years? LOL As my blog grows, you'll see that the term "collecting" is a very large understatement. I am so hoping to some day stumble across fellow Longaberger enthusiasts in blogland.....I am quite shocked I haven't yet. Back "in the day" when I did homeshows, I was in some amazing homes that really decorating on a large scale with Longaberger....where are those ladies anyhow???

Well, it appears that I didn't take much variety of photo's so will wrap it up with a couple of candlelight shots then head on over to Susan's to link up. Thank you so much for stopping in to visit...I hope you enjoyed a little taste of fall from the West Coast. I'd love for you to leave a comment letting me know that you stopped in and if ANYONE can tell me how to "grab a button" link that does not have the letters below it, PLEASE share the "how to" on this one.

Thanks again for stopping by. I hope and pray that you are all safe and dry tonight! Hugs, Vicci

My first Tablescape Thursday with Susan at BetweenNapsOnThePorch

2009-09-09T19:33:00.000-07:00

So here I go, my first attempt at joining Susan and so many others with wonderful tablescapes for Tablescape Thursday....I hope it works!

Since moving into this house five years ago, I have changed the table "decor" each month with a different theme. We seldom use this room so it might as well look enjoyable when passing through is my thought. September has always been a tough month for me to decide on the tablescape since there isn't really a holiday. I finally decided that fruit would be the theme since it's my son's birthday month and he LOVED apples and applejuice as a little guy...his grandpa called him Scotty appleseed.

So out comes the Longaberger fruit pottery and their solid color pottery as well.

The mugs are also Longaberger....can you just taste the warm apple cider? yummy.

I don't remember what the placemats are called, they are from Fred Myer here locally. I couldn't decide on the Eggplant luncheon plates or the sage so I used both on top of the Spice dinnerplates. I just love the little "fruitlet" inside the desert bowl.

Sorry about the blurry picture

A view from above

Oops...I just notice that I took the napkins away to iron and they never made it back!

Faux fruit for Scotty

This wraps it up for Sept. fruit....makes me want to dig out the Halloween decor....it's much more exciting!

Thank you for stopping by...be sure to go visit all the other tablescapes that joined Susan at Between Naps on the Porch.

Playing around

2009-09-07T21:52:00.000-07:00

I have to say.....it's not so smart to start a blog then get busy with other things! I was so inspired by the blogs I've visited that I wanted to share my home pictures too. I also would like to partake in the blog parties so will hopefully get this figured out so I can do so. Meanwhile, a few photo's of home to practice the picture posting.

First, a photo of my favorite picture. I so love horses...rode alot as a kid while spending my summers at Grandma's house in Montana...GOOD TIMES! I would love to have the horse that was painted in this picture. It is a Nancy Noel print.

This is of a little shelf that I found at a great shop in Pennsylvania a couple of years ago. I fell in love with the state and daydream most everyday since of returning and staying longer. We were there in October and the trees were beyond beautiful, the countryside so very peaceful.

Actually, most of the "stuff" in the cabinette/shelf came from that trip, except for the baskets of course.

Another horse....wish it was a big one!

A wall in the hall and this should be enough "practice". I'll play some more soon....

Joining the Rooster Party At Bella Vista

2009-08-27T16:32:00.001-07:00

First on the parade is a little picture from my kitchen. It's actually a greeting card that I thought was cute enough to frame.

Another kitchen picture.

What's a kitchen without a rooster towel.....

or a coaster....

Or a floor mat. Surely one also needs a rooster....

Nite Lite!

I didn't realize that I had so many rooster items until I started looking around to take pictures. Since the kitchen theme was intended to be fruit and plaid. I think there is more rooster than fruit! It has to be because of all the beautiful colors on these guys. Don't cha think?

And last but not least, a little whimsy...

Thank you so much for visiting with me and my roosters!

This is my first time to participate in a blog party and I thank Susan at Between Naps for the "heads up" and many thanks to Barb at Bella Vista for the invite! These ladies are the best! Hugs to all, Vicci

Sunflower Table

2009-08-24T17:58:00.000-07:00

Sunflowers

2009-08-24T14:36:00.000-07:00