Sunday, January 10, 2016

Rainy Days and Mondays


I can't say rainy days get me down but Mondays sure do!

Remember Rainy Days and Mondays ? One of my all time favorite songs - classic Carpenters. They were one of the greatest groups ever - so sad about Karen, such a tragedy. 

Wow, I got a bit off topic there, didn't I? 


Well, it sure is rainy around here today - heavy rains, high winds - it's a great day to be inside looking out!


The perfect day to be curled up in your favorite chair by a nice toasty fire!


The Christmas tree came down yesterday and I started giving the house a good scrub. I always feel like it needs it when the decorations come down. 

The corner where the tree was feels so empty and bare now. 

I still haven't committed to hanging anything on those walls. 

And I still haven't figured out what, if anything, I want to do to camouflage the television. It still bugs me to have this big black box on the wall but with the strange shape of my living room (long and narrow with a path behind the chairs) I didn't see any other place for the TV. Oh well, it is what it is. 

I have a couple of candle sconces in the garage that have been on my mind lately....I ordered them about a year ago, when I got the mirror above the fireplace. They complement the mirror perfectly. I may hang them on either side of the TV....I'm thinking about it. 


I left the greens up outside - I like the way they look and I think I may leave them up for another little while. 

Or until the urge strikes me to get rid of them. 


Meanwhile, I'm sitting in my favorite chair by the fire and I'll take some time to browse around Blogland and see what all of you are up to. 

Then I might watch a little Downton. 

And I'll make a batch of Butternut Squash Soup, to start using some of the fall produce that's still around. 


I don't mind a good rainy day, when I'm in my cozy home. 

It's a great day for puttering.  




43 comments:

  1. Your little dog looks so cute all snuggly. I like the view of the rain from your windows. I too love the Carpenters. When it's nice enough out, I will sit on the porch writing letters and listen to the greatest hits cd. Blessings, xoxo,Susie

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    1. I used to have that CD also until I lent it out and never saw it again! I have a Carpenters station on my Pandora - I think 70's folk music is my favorite genre!

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  2. It all looks so cozy. Rainy days are so perfect for staying inside and puttering. xo Laura

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    1. I really should get up off my butt and do a little work, Laura!! There's a load of laundry calling my name....

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  3. Sounds like my kind of day.Our weather is a snow/rain mix. It's a great day for piddling around. I've always wanted to make butternut squash soup, but today I'm gonna make chicken casserole, mashed potatoes and green beans.Your home looks so nice and cozy. Enjoy your day.

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    1. Mmmmmm that sounds good, too!! I love making a big batch of soup on a weekend and freezing some in batches for future meals. I'll probably post the recipe in a few days....once I figure out what exactly I'm doing with it!

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  5. I love the view of your window and the view outside your window. Your colorful glass bottles look so pretty contrasting with the drops and the gray. Butternut squash soup is the best. xoox Su

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    1. Thanks, Su! The glass bottles are so lovely when the sun is shining...and in the evening looking in from outside!

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  6. Looks like such a cozy day...a wonderful place to curl up and watch a little Downton Abbey!

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    1. It was....until my Smart TV decided it didn't feel like picking up the WiFi anymore - no more Downton - wahhhhh!!!

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  7. I don't know your full layout, but is it possible to put the two chairs on the other side of the fireplace facing the sofa? Then you could put the TV where the painting is behind where you have the chairs now.

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    1. There are actually two recliners up that end of the room - facing the TV. The two chairs you see in the photo swivel towards the TV also, or towards the recliners - they work well in this weirdly laid out room. Thanks for visiting and for taking the time to comment!

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  8. I had to laugh reading this since we have high winds and rain, now changing to snow as well. And? I spent a good part of the day outside since I had to puppy-sit. Run around till he pees. Come in, he drinks a lot of water. Well that means out we go in another 15 minutes, and so on. He's such a little cutie but I wish I was in front of your fire right about now !:) Mom and Dad just picked him up a bit ago, whew !

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    1. Ours isn't changing to snow today but winter's coming back tomorrow, I believe! Awwww, the little pup - I'm sure it's impossible to be mad at him, however much he may drag you out in the rain!

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  9. You know what would be pretty? Where those nesting tables are next to the fireplace, the kind of ladder you can fold throws and quilts over. It would give you height that would counteract the height of the TV.
    Brenda

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    1. That would be super pretty, Brenda - probably just what that space needs! Right next to the fireplace, so there's still room for the nesting tables as those tables are used when I have company for cocktails, etc.

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  10. I wish I could be sitting on the chair with that cute little pupster...a fire sounds divine right about now. Oh, how I love me some good Carpenter songs! Back in the fourth grade, right before I found out I couldn't sing, I used to have a Carpenters' song book that I would sing from. Bless my mama's heart, she has to have the patience of a saint...or the hearing of Helen Keller. :-)

    BTW, every time I visit your blog, I hear John Denver singing in my head, "West Virginia, Mountain Mama, take me home, country roads..."

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    1. That's where the name came from!!! When I was a kid (my turn, ha ha!) I had a John Denver songbook that I used to teach myself to play guitar and I learned every single song in that book! I still have the book....and I had a career as a musician/singer for quite a while. And I sang "Country Roads" about a billion times! When I was starting my blog my daughter immediately said it should be called "Mountain Mama" and I liked it - it made sense in so many ways!

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  11. Isn't it the best feeling to be inside your cozy, warm home when the weather is yucky outside? I love puttering in my home, too - did that all day today, as well as made some yummy food. I'm wondering about your TV...where you have it, it looks like it would be hard for someone sitting on the sofa facing the fireplace to crane their neck to watch TV. And then, of course, if one were sitting on the sofa below the TV - no TV watching for them! I understand how that room is designed, that there's not much choice of where to put the TV. Could you somehow rearrange your furniture? Or, is there a different room in the house where you could put the TV? We purposely don't have a TV in our living room, but we do have one in the basement, which is the family room. Just some ideas! If you do keep the TV on that wall, I've seen photos on Pinterest where people decorate around the TV; using the TV as the main, large piece of "art" and making sort of a gallery wall.

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    1. It sure is the best feeling, Melanie!! Right now it's about 10 degrees outside and absolutely frigid and I'm sitting by the fire - doesn't get much better than that!! As for the TV placement - I thought about making a 'family room' somewhere else for TV watching but since the wood stove insert is my primary source of heat it makes sense that the TV is in the same room. The girls have a second TV downstairs for their silly shows....which means there is only ever one or two of us in the living room watching TV at one time. What you can't see in the photo are the two leather recliners that face the TV. Also, those two chairs swivel around to face the TV so really 4 of us could watch comfortably in here...although that never happens. When we have company the music is on, never a show. So, believe it or not, this is the best place for it....it just bugs me from a 'design' standpoint, you know?

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  12. There's something so cozy about being inside while it's raining. Your dog has the right idea...curl up in a chair. Working around a television can be a challenge. Too bad it can't disappear when not in use.

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    1. That would be perfect!! I actually looked into cabinets with a 'lift' in them that would make that happen but they are too expensive. Plus, it would take up too much room in my small living room. Oh well!

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  13. I love a day of puttering and guess what? Today was mine too, heavy rains overnight and it continued to rain until late afternoon. Your fireplace looks so pretty, I wish we had one. Your colored bottles look cheery and fun. PS truly was a wonderful song. Butternut squash soup - YUM.
    xo,
    Vera

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    1. A fireplace or wood stove was a non negotiable when I was house hunting, Vera - and when I saw this one with all the local fieldstone I fell in love!!

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  14. If i am ever in your exact area, i'm knocking at your door lol jk!! Your photos of your house make me feel like im there and give a very warm positive vibe which i dont get from just any house on a blog. And as for the weather, it was the same way here. we got some nasty wind yesterday it was kinda scary. it was blowing bark off all the trees and stuff!

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    1. If you're ever in my area you BETTER be knocking at my door, lady!!!! :)

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  15. I love a rainy day for puttering around the house too! Your home looks so cozy and warm, and your pup looks so happy from his perch!

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    1. She has absolutely taken over that chair, Lisa! Along with pretty much every other chair, pillow, throw....you get the drift! Spoiled little stinker!!

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  16. Random TV option....because you have a sweetie that likes to do things for you .....You could hang a long curtain rod (longer than the tv to accommodate the curtains when opened to watch tv) above the tv with the deep fixtures to hang them.....add a beautiful set of drapes that match what you have or some from Anthropologie they have some beautiful ones. Hang them with rings so they are easy to open when you want to watch the telly. I have several other options but I won't bore you with them all....LOL I enjoy your posts so much thanks for all you do!

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    1. You know what, Robyn? I've thought of that!! And someday it just might happen! I would have to pull the sofa out a little, shift the chairs down a little. I also thought about shutter bifold doors to cover it. And a painting to cover it that swings open, or up. Some day I'll come to a real decision and just get it done....or just suck it up and get used to the big black box on the wall!

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  17. I agree with the name of that song! I'm not a fan of rainy days or Monday's either. Sounds like you took advantage of being inside and making the most of it though. Your family room looks very cozy and warm. It got very cold here suddenly! So, now I'm trying to stay inside and keep warm here too.

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    1. It's cold again today, too, Kelly - the rain is gone and in its place we have ice and snow! I'm cozy and warm next to the fire, though, so I'm not complaining!

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  18. Your patio set is lovely! I would sit on that even in the rain... well, maybe not ;) And your dog is so cute snuggled in the pillow. Makes me miss Ginger, my little pug. Enjoy the slower days of winter and stay warm!

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    1. I love that patio set! That was a Home Depot special this past summer - except for the fire pit table, which I researched for about a year and finally bought on Amazon. That's basically where we spend our evenings all summer long!

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  19. Sounds like a lovely winter day, complete with a little house cleaning, a warm cozy fire, and some wonderful soup! We have overcast skies here, no rain, no snow... just gray! Its typical winter weather here, and like you, I'm just making the best of it from the inside looking out, lol! Have a blessed and wonderful day!

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    1. Add some good music or a good book and what more do you need, right?

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  20. Love the rain...so soothing, relaxing and peaceful. Your home is just so beautiful and being up on the mountain...perfect! Hugs to you! PS..yes, it was so tragic about Karen Carpenter!

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    1. Falling asleep to the sound of rain is the best, isn't it, Benita? Although last night the winds were so fierce it was a bit tough....I kept picturing a tree falling on my house - yikes! xoxo

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  21. It is chilly and drippy here in s.e. FL this morning. Definitely a good day for being indoors, but I will be heading out later to a ladies potluck/meeting.

    You got some great ideas for hiding the black box on your wall. I like the curtain idea.

    Have a peaceful week puttering in your lovely home.

    FlowerLady

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  22. Your home looks so lovely! I am working on mine. It's been a rough road getting organized. Thanks for the inspiration. Pop over to my new blog and take a look!
    http://centsiblecreativities.blogspot.com

    Enjoy the journey and seize the day!
    ๑Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ๑*¨*• Barbara •.¸¸..๑Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

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    1. Welcome to my little world, Barbara - and to the world of blogging!! I'm going to pop over for a visit now!

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