New year, new bedding

 I don't know why, but when January (okay February!) rolls around I always feel like switching things up.  Probably because everything Christmas gets put away and I'm left with a blank slate.  I've been considering updating our master bedroom for the last little bit.  I debated repainting in a darker blue shade, but I just couldn't decide.  Typically paint should be the last thing you update because it needs to coordinate with your bedding and art, etc.  Well I've updated the art, but not the bedding.  We have a lovely west elm comforter in slate blue for winter and an ivory pottery barn quilt for summer.  My dog Riley sleeps on our bed all day, and she sheds. A lot!  So, I keep the pretty comforter covered with an assortment of old sheets.  Not very appealing.  My collection of old sheets just keeps getting older and shabbier, thanks to the many washings and Riley-abuse.  I've been on the hunt for a more attractive flat sheet to use instead of white, like a printed sheet of some kind.  Unfortunately it's hard to buy just a flat sheet, much less with a large print.  I finally hit on an idea!  Why not take apart a reversible duvet cover into two flat pieces and use those?  After a search on Amazon, I came across this blue floral duvet cover (they also sell matching sheets) which reverses to the same print on the opposite side.  Perfect!

Amazon shipped it to me in one day (Thanks Amazon!) and after washing it, I set to work taking it apart.  I just cut the seams off the edges and removed the zipper at the bottom.  I bought a king size so I would be sure to have enough fabric after taking it apart.  Then I simply hemmed all the edges on the sewing machine and pressed it out.  It came with matching shams which I resized (they were king) and put on the bed to match. Then I added some throw pillows that had been languishing in the closet. I am loving the new look. And now when the top sheet gets dirty or too fuzzy, I can throw it in the washer and put the second sheet on the bed.  :)  Georgia has never seen my bed made up with fancy pillows, since I kind of gave up on all that years ago. She thought this was great and immediately jumped into the pile of pillows. :)  Riley also thinks it's swell.  And of course, now that I have acquired new "bedding" I can turn my attention to paint colors! :)

Happy February!

Happy 4th of July! (and Happy 5th Birthday Blog!)

Happy Independence Day!  And Happy 5th Birthday to It’s a Horvath’s Life!  288 posts and counting, I’ve been blogging about my house, my garden, my family and other random thoughts from my life for five years!  Thanks for joining me here!

We decided since the weather was so beautiful (85 and sunny!) that we should host a little party for the 4th of July!  My family came and joined us for hot dogs and hamburgers, potato salad, baked beans, deviled eggs and apple pie!  Yum!  The house and lower deck were festive, decked out with all my patriotic décor. 

I even made some cute little arrangements with paper fans left over from Ruger’s Cowboy Party. 

We spent the afternoon stringing beans from my mother’s garden (goes pretty fast when five people are working!) while Papa entertained us with his guitar.  Then we had dinner and went out to play cornhole and visit on the deck.  I put more bunting on the lower deck, along with my sparkly centerpieces from our party two years ago.  I also added my Moravian star light to the string lights in the ceiling.  It’s both festive and functional!

Riley was worn out from a day of running around chasing the cornhole bags! 

After everyone left, Michael and I walked over to the town square for the local fireworks show!  Once again, it did not disappoint.  It was a great day!

Hope you all had a fun 4th of July celebration! 

The “Last Frontier” (AKA The Back Forty, The Bottom, The Holler)

It’s been on the to-do list since we bought this house:  “Make plans to clear out back line of property for a sunny vegetable garden”.  The back line of our property is 80 feet of overgrown honeysuckle, briars, saplings and weeds woven into an impenetrable wall of green, reminiscent of Maleficent’s forest of thorns.  It is situated beyond the wood line, in full sun and backs up to a small stream—perfect for a garden.  In a yard full of shade, this area is a land of sun and possibility!  A land into which we must finally venture, thorns or no thorns.

After six years of looking longingly at our back woods with hopes of “someday” clearing it out for a garden, we finally pulled the trigger!  Last weekend my mother rented a Bobcat mini excavator and my brother John came and drove it down through the woods and into the wild frontier!

Slow and steady work… scraping, pushing, digging… until a small space cleared became a big space!

John even pushed over a couple of pine trees and then tore up the root and carried them away with the claw part of the machine.  :)  So much faster than cutting them up.

And at my request he saved this little water oak tree for me!  Someday it will be a lovely shade tree for our lower yard!  I love my little tree!

The property runs right up to a little creek in the back.  It’s charming. :)  Also, Riley loves it.  She takes every opportunity to run down the bank and splash in the water.  Then she goes tearing around through the dirt until she is filthy!

Now that it’s all cleared out, we have to till, rake, and clean up the roots and rocks and stumps before we can put in rows of vegetables, a swath of grass and some flower beds.  Plus we have to clean up the woods and add a little pathway so you can safely reach the gate.  Lots of work to be done down here! :)  Can’t wait to show you more results! 

And since it has officially been cleared out, the “bottom/last frontier” shall now be called “the garden” or “the lower yard”.  Now that you are up to date on the lingo… here is your before and after comparison… what a change!

Thanks Mama and John for all your hard work! :)

Fa la la la la…

Let’s get on with this Christmas tour, shall we? Last time I showed you our outdoor lights display which is packed with more than 2000 lights!  :)  Now let’s go inside and check out the rest!

Riley is waiting at the top of the stairs to greet you! :)

The lower railing is decked with pine bough and a scattering of lights and ornaments on both sides!  So you get a lovely view whether you are going up or going down. :)

The upper railing is also decked in a similar fashion, with red bows on the ends. 

The couches are sporting plaid throws and snowflake pillows and our pinecone garlands are back on the windows.

My lighted present is on the trunk side table, and I even managed to incorporate my new old cola crate into the Christmas decor by layering it on top of the trunk.

And on the opposite end table, Santa is joined by my antique tool box stuffed with greenery and berries.

More berries are scattered on the media cabinet, plus poinsettias, pinecones and snowy fir branches.  Ahh!  I love this view!

Over my little reindeer family on the side cabinet is hanging a grapevine wreath.  The pinecone trees are in their regular spot, below. :)

And of course, the tree is lit in the corner and wrapped with red ribbon.

 

A pile of colorful presents are pouring out from beneath. :)  Yay Christmas! 

The only new ornament this year is this tiny fuzzy white bird from Pier 1.  Oh, and the silver one next to it (there are four of those!).  As if I could buy just one new ornament! :)

My favorite view of the tree is from the dining room:

The swag over the door frames the view and complements the tree so nicely.  I love it!  I’ll be back to share the dining room, kitchen and our Christmas mantel!  So, come on back soon!  In the meantime, you can enjoy this lovely scene:

or this one, courtesy of Google:

Only 7 days until Christmas! :) :)