SMALL CHANGES...

Did you notice 

the new picture and poem 

on my header?

I'm tipping my hat

 to what 

this time of year 

should look like. 

 In reality though, 

this is what today 

looks like

 outside my office car window...

I'm not complaining at all...

who would complain 

about an abundance of blue skies 

and strings of cotton clouds 

and the soft feel of spring in the air?...

it is just that

 we in California 

were promised that this winter 

would be different; 

that El Nino 

would swoop in and quench our thirst,

 and for awhile that was true,

 but now it seems 

that our "Sprinter"

 has returned.

Sprinter:  A mix of spring and winter

For those of you 

not familiar with my terminology, 

you can read about it

 here.

I snapped this picture

 a few weeks ago 

when El Nino was

 putting his best foot forward.

  A small gaggle of geese 

foraging along side the road.

 They put me in mind 
of this wonderful decoy 
that I have had for 
many years...

...so out he came 

to grace the dining room table 

along with a pair of candlesticks 

my dad made for us 

sometime ago.

Speaking of the dining room...

at Thanksgiving

 when I took the above picture, 

my eye went immediately 

from the black and white checks 

on the chairs

 to what would it look like

 if they were carried

 up to the window...

...this

 is what it looks like

 in the morning light...

...and now 

at night time. 

 Small changes can really make a difference.

The Captain surprised me

 with this little cupboard 

the other day 

and I painted it with

 Miss Mustard Seed's milk paint

 in French Enamel.

 It is the first time 

I have used her paint line 

and it may become a favorite of mine.

 I am anxious to do

 a bigger piece of furniture.

In my mind,

 I need a little more practice 

in the fine art of "distressing",

 using this paint,

 but that will come 

in time.

Many years ago, 

I grew a sweet potato vine. 

 It was really beautiful 

and I was quite proud of it.

 I seem to have better luck 

with real plants

 when they grow in plain water.

  A while ago, 

I was cleaning out 

the basket of veggies

 and found this yam 

just starting to sprout. 

 I was ready

 to toss it 

but stuck it in a jar of water instead 

to see what would happen. 

 A little later,

 the original sprout just fell off 

and the leaves were tiny and dry looking. 

 I kind of forgot about it 

after that but

 when I noticed again, 

it was starting to look healthier.

 Will keep you posted

 on its progress.

Again,

 I'm trying my hand at 

another paint-by-number picture 

from Country Living magazine.

 A beautiful spring subject

 that I'm hoping to finish

before the lilacs bloom.

 Will keep you up-to-date 

as to the progress of this

 as well.

I just received 

this darling linen

 primitive spring double pocket 

from the etsy shop of 1871Farmhouse.

 I have a special place

 in mind for it 

but couldn't resist 

sharing it right now.

 Christine has some beautiful pieces 

and I really love it.

My sister

 is coming to visit 

for a few days 

so have added 

a small nose-gay 

beside the bed 

to welcome her.

I found this pretty dish 

in a thrift store 

and thought it was a good reminder

 of President's Day.

Even though, 

weather wise,

 things aren't going 

quite as planned...

...I cannot

 tell a lie...

This is some 

beautiful weather 

we are having 

today.

...Judy...

I'm sending special thanks 

to Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage 

for featuring my mantle post at

 No Place Like Home last week.

 I appreciate if so much, Sandi. 

Sharing today with:

BTTCG at Bernideen's

No Place Like Home at Rose Chintz Cottage

Share Your Style Link Party

Feathered Nest Fridays at French Country Cottage