Home Goals for 2011...

The caring and keeping of home is a never ending job.

But it's  a job I love.....and I hope everyone who enters our home feels it's warmth.

I do have a few home goals for 2011 and they are:

1. To keep it looking fresh and pretty.

2. To put frames around these ugly standard issue builders bathroom mirrors.

3. To pretty up this mudroom closet by freshening the back wall which has seen too many shoe and boot marks.

I am thinking paint or wallpaper.

It would be nice to use paint I already have...along with a graphic stencil.

4. How about this hideous-looking pantry? She sure could use a 'Stacey & Clinton' makeover.

5. I sure would like to purdy up this little dog feeding station.

I have a few ideas.

6. The stairs to the basement family room. Super yuck. Super ugly. Get that paint brush out right now!

I think I plan to tackle those stairs first. I started them months ago by painting the risers and sides white.

Embarassingly, they have been left in this state far too long.

Now you know all my secrets.

This post is linked to the home goals party at Nesting Place.

Working on my green thumb....

Whenever I hear people say that they can't cook, the first thing I suggest to them is that if you want to be able to cook.....then you must cook.That's how you learn.You try, and you have failures and successes, but gradually you gain the skills.

I am taking my own advice when it come to plants and gardening.

If I want to have those skills, then I must try until I get it right. For many years, I did not have any plants.

I always killed them. So I got discouraged. Gave up. But when I visit friends who have beautiful house plants and gardens, I come home feeling totally inspired.Yesterday, I bought 2 houseplants while I was at IKEA shopping. I bought this 'Money Tree' plant because I loved the shape of the leaves and it's pretty green colour. Did you know that according to Feng Shui principles, 'money tree' plants are supposed to help you in the area of wealth?  I did not. I found that out after I googled the plant when I got home. So glad I picked one up. I also thought we could have some fun with the kids. {You know...you want that? Go get the money from the money tree honey.}

I also bought the plant on the right {picture below}for it's tropical grass look. My mission is to incoroporate more house plants into our decor. The first step would be..... keeping them alive. So I am going to try with these two. Actually, I should say 3 plants...because I also picked up the little succulent plant a few weeks ago from Safeway. I figured it was a safe bet because if you forget to water them...they still live.

I also picked up this watering can for $2.99 at IKEA. I love it's modern shape.

Plants from IKEA come with instructions about the plant care right on the label on the pot.

That was a major plus for me in buying these two plants.

I will spare you the details of the amount of thistle I pulled up from our perennial beds on the weekend.

Oh, how I have to grow my skills in gardening.

home....

Home just feels so good. Lots of people are complaining about the amount of rain that is coming down...but I am taking a "glass half full approach". There are so many things to enjoy...the company of family and friends....the beautiful lush green plants everywhere...good food and fresh seafood...and a total slowed down pace of life. My kids had so much fun with their "Chicago Cousins"....we hung out with them everyday and played and ate and visited. It was pure bliss.

Dear daughter was invited for a 3 day camping trip to PEI with some friends...and we were so very grateful for this wonderful invitation. She came home looking so happy and refreshed. We have had friends from the city drive to the Valley to see us. We are truly blessed.

a 'changeout' for spring....

Here we are ready for Christmas. A nice urn of greenery with some pops of red. Spring has arrived. My mom designed this refreshing change. Due to the fact that although it is SPRING, we can have, on any given day, snow, rain & sunshine, we have used delightful flower 'reproductions'.

missing my hometown...

It is the time of year where I miss my hometown the most...indeed my whole home province. I LOVE the Fall in the Valley. I miss the colors of the leaves, the crisp mornings and the warm afternoons, the smell of apples just picked and the loud snap of biting into a fresh Macintosh apple. I really would give anything to go home during this season....but our budget allows for 1 trip home each year...plus with school in session... a lengthy visit would not be possible in the Fall. How I miss going to Gates' U-Pick for a hayride throught the apple orchard and admiring all the trees heaving with beautiful, fat apples. Picking apples from the trees in my Mom & Dad's yard. The pumpkin display at Hennigar's Farm Market. The smell of apple cider in the air. My Mom's apple pies and applesauce. But you have to be happy where you are...right? So I will carry on....I have been offered apples from a tree in my friend's yard....I am so excited to receive this gift. The greatest part is that I can actually go and pick the apples myself....and maybe just for a few seconds......close my eyes and pretend I am in the Valley.