Monday, January 30, 2012

GOODBYE JANUARY....

January is usually LONG....really long.  But not so much this year. First of all, it's been warmer than usual, that helps, I guess.  That and I was gone for 10 days to Florida.

That really helped...

We flew into Ft. Myers, and headed down to Naples, joining some friends at a seaside destination.  We had a wonderful time (as we always do).  Hit the beach, watched the sun burn into the Gulf, nightly.  Mark referred to this portion of our trip as Florida Debauchery... ah, yeah, maybe just a little.











After a few days and nights of that, our friends had to head out, so we went to see another friend. She LIVES at the beach, what's not to love about that?  LOT of laughs... fun, and gorgeous sunsets.




Now, she sent me to a vintage consignment shop... where I OF COURSE found something I really, probably need.  A wonderful, antique cabinet... just FABULOUS.  Right?


Actually, I'm quite certain I need this, I just need to figure out how to get it from Naples to Chicago, and not have it cost a ridiculous amount of money... ugh, details.

I'm working on it.  Seriously.

Anyway, back to the trip, so we headed out from Naples, meandering our way up the coast to visit Mark's dad.  We decided to take a drive out to Sanibel on our way. We ended up staying out on Captiva, enjoyed seeing a playful dolphin in the harbor area from our balcony,





and another gorgeous sunset before we headed out to dinner.




While here, we got a call from our daughter, Jessica, she got engaged! Gorgeous ring, we are just so happy for both her and her fiancĂ©.  Funny story here, last fall, I took my mom and girls to a play in Chicago.  Mark was home, drove us and had dinner with Dan. Whilst out for dinner, Dan asked Mark if he could marry Scarlett.  The VERY next day, Blain dropped by found Mark here alone, and asked if HE could marry Jessica!! Poor Mark, two daughters in two days!!  So, we are seriously in the wedding business here! Scarlett and Dan are looking at January 2013, Jessica and Blain are looking at April 2013.  I am looking at a little nip/tuck mid 2012... HaHa... I wish.

Back to Florida.

Got to Mark's dads, had a nice time there, we stayed there a few nights, hit the beach and the pool, ate to much and did a little light shopping. You know, typical vacation....




Best of all, we went to my VERY MOST FAVORITE PLACE IN THE WORLD.... a restaurant on St. Armand's Key, for dinner. Dinner outside, with the same piano man that's been there FOREVER.  Seriously, forever, I remember him being there for probably 25+ years.  I pointed out that although a condo in Chicago was all fine and good, we really needed something there....

We stayed on the beach on Lido,  it's just like being home again.



But, now I'm home, home in Illinois... where oddly enough it's still winter, and the sunsets just aren't working for me...and dinner outside, not even a chance.

We do, however, have a piano, so play on piano man.


Thursday, January 5, 2012

THE CHAIR AND THE LADY....

A while back I saw this fabric, loved it and wanted to do something with it. I pondered what or where I could use it and came up with the perfect scenario. A chair.

Not just any chair.

An antique chair that belonged to my Grandmother Nash.

I believe it sat at her fancy writing desk (that my mother has). I somehow ended up with the chair. Now it isn't without some history.

There was 'that shiny lady' that sat in it, when it resided in the old fruit pantry at the desk we had in there in the cellar of this old house.

Yes indeed... we moved here, and my almost 3 year old daughter asked me about the lady down there... pointing to the cellar. I asked what lady? She took me down stairs and pointed in the fruit cellar at this chair that sat at the desk. She said there was a shiny lady there before.

I stood there, and wondered who it was..or if this little girl was crazy or just what.  So I did what any mother would do....

I shut the door, and left it that way for a long time. Now, I've never seen the shiny lady in the fruit cellar, so I can't say for sure, but I'm wondering if it was Helen...the chair's owner. Who's to say.

Anyway, I drug it out, and we attacked it. So it went from this...


... to this 


Nice upgrade huh?  I think the 'shiny lady' would approve.

I showed you a peek at it in progress last summer, but never showed it finished (partly because we finished it right before Thanksgiving).

So I am the princess of procrastination... get over it.

On another note, I had my kidney stone removed surgically yesterday. I can't say I particularly enjoyed it, the stone or the surgery....but we needed to part company.

So we did.  In theory I'll be back to normal soon.

But, what is normal??

Monday, January 2, 2012

CHRISTMAS DAY....


Was great! Uneventful, but fun. We got up way too early after going to bed WAY to late and opened the gianormous pile of presents. I think everyone liked what they got, and frankly, if they didn't, they did a great job of hiding it.

I stated several times through out this holiday that I was going to be better at taking pictures. So much for grand pronouncements!

Here's the early morning carnage...









Jet got some new jammies....

After we were done here, we headed over to my mom's for more presents, and a delish dinner... here are my photographic efforts from there...














And, my gorgeous kids....




But, now, the tree is down, most everything 'Christmas' put away, except the garland on my staircase,  I may leave it up another week.  And I, must address this stupid kidney stone that's been with me since the day after Thanksgiving... enough is ENOUGH already. It took over the whole holiday season.

Happy New Year...