Thursday ~The Little Things that Make Me Smile ~Here’s the Day We Made Mac & Cheese

Here’s the rest of the story

about my Facebook Profile Photo.

Jack’s Mama put in some long days of training for her new job.

Jack and I were on our own for lunch.

“Gigi, are you serious? Do you really know how to make this?”

“Macaroni and Cheeeze”

”The directions are right here on the back of the box.”

“Just stir it all together like this.”

“I’ll wash the dishes while Gigi sets the table”

“Sooo Yummy!”

“Next to my Mama,

Gigi, you are the best lunch date!”

Stay safe and well, everyone.

Take care,

~Natalie

What’cha Workin’ on Wednesday ~Spring Cleaning ~Room by Room: Living Room #Flatten the Curve #Stop the Spread #COVID-19 #Stay Home

When I returned home from staying with family,

I made a commitment to self isolate for 14 days.

Since I had traveled from out of state,

I did not want to take the chance of

spreading this virus, just in case I was a carrier.

This photo illustrates what is most important.

Notice the words...

Home and Families.

Staying at home is a perfect time to tackle Spring Cleaning.

With our foyer complete, I moved on to the Living Room.

It had been a while since I cleaned all the way to the edges.

Remember, last spring I was occupied with

a temporary part-time job,

a trip to stay with family in Okinawa,

a trip to visit family in NH & MA,

and a fractured fibula.

So, it is good to feel like I have some

purpose and direction while here at home.

The Living Room is where I like to “show off”

some of my favorite things...

Great Aunt Birdie’s Sewing Machine,

gifted to me by Aunt Mona.

I also used this opportunity to change the centerpiece

and pillows from Winter to a Spring theme.

We are all set for April Showers and May Flowers here.

When I’m not Spring Cleaning,

I have spent some time in my Sewing Studio.

This Face Mask pattern was posted

on the Avera St. Lukes Hospital Website.

It goes together pretty quickly.

Let’s all do what we can to stop the spread

of COVID-19 so we can return to our lives and enjoy

familiar spring and summer activities.

Stay in your homes.

Wash your hands.

Don’t touch your face.

As of yesterday, my 14 day self-isolation expired.

Thankfully, I feel fine.

Stay safe and well.

Take care,

~Natalie

What’cha Workin’ on Wednesday ~Spring Cleaning ~Room by Room: the Foyer ~Social Distancing ~COVID-19 ~Flatten the Curve ~Stop the Spread

I have been home for a week and a day.

Since I had traveled home from a high risk area,

in two planes, through three airports, 

I committed to self-quarantine for 2 weeks.

If  I am carrying the Virus, I don’t want

to pass it on to anyone else.

As you know symptoms don’t always show up right away,

 and the recommended time to self-isolate is 14 days.

So far, I feel perfectly fine.

When I returned home I first cleaned

everything with Lysol Spray...

my luggage,

the doorknobs,

the light switches,

the remotes,

and all the handles in the house.

Since most of you are stuck at home, there is

no better time to start your Room by Room Spring Cleaning.

As you can see, I stripped the room

and cleaned everything from top to bottom.

  I have displayed some of my grandmother’s hats.

Remember, a lady did not leave her house

without covering her head.

This is my Grandma, Hilda,

with her mother’s headstone in 1964.

He mother, Caroline,

would have been 100 years old that year.

 

On the back if that vintage frame, my mother’s handwriting...

From over eight decades ago.

These are the names of the girls

that she lived with in that Girls Dormitory.

Other keepsakes in our foyer include this

Vintage Chair from the Normania Country Schoolhouse,

which was just a mile from our farmhouse.

I purchased that shopping bag at the World Market

when our daughters and I traveled to Hawaii, years ago.

This doll greets everyone who visits our home.

Notice those little scissors?

They belonged to my mother’s great aunt, Birdie.

She always carried them in her purse.

Your foyer is the introduction to your home.

While it may be the smallest room in your house,

it is also important to feature the style and colors

that visitors will see when they visit the rest of your home.

It feels so good to have the foyer clean from top to bottom,

that I have moved on to tackle the next room.

And most of all, stay in touch with your

family and friends

during this time of self-isolation.

Stay safe and well.

Take care,

~Natalie

My Home Away From Home ~Where I’ve Been Sleeping ~The Mother in Law Suite ~My Suite Mate ~Visits from Jack

The house where Jack lives has a private guest area

up on the third floor. Jack’s Daddy might refer to it

as the Mother in Law Suite?

The guest bedroom has these charming little windows...

...and a very comfy bed and reading lamp.

Dressers with empty drawer space allowed 

me to unpack my big suitcase.

I have my own private bathroom...

...all to myself. Except, there’s a little hint

on that previous photo, as to the identity of my suite mate.

There’s another room with a play area,

for the occasional visits from Jack.

Here’s Bella, my suite mate.

She eats, drinks, and sleeps here. You can see

her bed is over there by that sunny window.

Here’s my visitor yesterday.

He has mastered the art of stacking six blocks.

Along with this puzzle to practice

the names of colors and shapes.

I have a fabulous view of this quaint 

New England neighborhood.

 Hey, Papa, we’re all looking forward to

having you come to stay!

Take care,

~Natalie

What’cha Workin’ on Wednesday ~Here’s my Full Report ~Etsy Creations ~Comfort Food ~Date Night ~Cat and Mouse

When you purchase a handmade item on Etsy,

there is an artist somewhere doing a happy dance!

I package my sales wrapped in tissue,

with a handwritten note, and a token of my appreciation.

This week, I wrapped this sweet Wooden Angel on the left

and sent her off to New Jersey.

On my work table, her shorter and wider sister,

waiting for her eyes and her halo.

Hubby doesn’t know it yet,

but that sale was the last tall, skinny, hanging angel in our inventory,

So I have the pattern out and ready for him

to take out to his workshop this weekend.

You remember we finished our Wooden Hearts

and I now have them listed in our Tins and Treasures Etsy Shop.

While I am creating, Lizzie is busy protecting her Hut

and keeping all of her rodents in check.

When I need a comfort food for lunch,

I make an Egg Salad Sandwich.

I grew up on a farm in the middle of nowhere.

Once a week, my mother and I would go into town.

I had a piano lesson, we shopped for necessities,

and we’d share an Egg Salad Sandwich

and a slice of Lemon Meringue Pie.

It was January 29th, seven years ago,

when I received the phone call that my mother had fallen,

and fractured her hip.

I am happy that I have those good memories

of Egg Salad Sandwiches and Lemon Meringue Pie.

After my lunch, I took that Etsy package to the USPS

and then stopped at my favorite supermarket.

Their sale ad has everything you need

to prepare all of your favorite football foods.

Plus, when you purchase groceries there

you can earn Pump Perks points.

Some of my points were expiring the end of January,

so Hubby invited me out to gas up his big pickup...

...and then to Burger Night at the Circus.

You all have your favorite Dive Bar, right?

This..is their entire kitchen.

On the left is their grill, and the fryers.

This is the Sous Chef setting up the baskets

to deliver all that deliciousness to their patrons.

Meanwhile, on the Homefront, Lizzie and her new mouse were

soaking up the heat on their favorite rug by the register.

Life is good.

Take care,

~Natalie