Happy Valentine's Day! ♥

Hello Friends and Happy Valentines Day! ♥

I took myself on an early walk this morning by the ocean to celebrate and I'm so glad I did.  Was it freezing? It sure was (is!) but the fresh air was so good for my soul.  I always feel better when I push myself to get outdoors, even if only for a few minutes.  

I needed it this morning ♥

 I love the beach in the wintertime, especially when it's this cold.  The water is like glass, and everything feels so still and peaceful.  I didn't stay that long, but just long enough to let it all sink in and it was a good start to my day.  

There were icy patches all along the pathways, so I had to be careful walking.  

    

I sat on this wall for a few minutes before I got really cold and had to go back to the car.  

I'll be back soon.  That bench is my picnic spot in the warmer months.  I'll be here with an iced coffee instead of a hot one. I can't wait.  

Spring is coming ♥

Anyway, back at home I have the fire going and now I'm hibernating for the weekend.  It's been a cold and snowy week and there is more on the way.   These are the dog days of winter, my friends, and all I want to do is bake, nest, read books, and sit by the fire.  

My Dad was in hospital for a few days last week.  Thankfully he's home now and feeling much better.  This visit wasn't a good experience.  Mainly because the hospital was completely FULL so he had to spend the first night on a bed in the hallway.  I kid you not.  I felt so bad for him.  The next day a room did open up and they were able to move him.  No one ever loves being in the hospital, but being in the hallway was a new low.  We were so happy he was only in there for two days!  Now being home by the fire, with warm drinks and blankets, it's makes me so grateful to have all my family here under one roof. 

You really do have to be grateful for every day and never take anything for granted ♥

The other day I baked some bread, and it was the best rise I've ever seen.  Look how happy this loaf is! 

That tells you how toasty it is in here. 

I'm taking hygge to a whole new level this winter and I'm loving it ♥

 Satisfying is the only word I can think to describe it. 

And YUM! ♥

And speaking of YUM, Rob treated us all to some Valentine's Day donuts because they are my Dad's favorite. Taking a look at this box can you guess which one I took? I bet you'd be wrong.  It's the plain one. I love plain donuts!  The plain ones are always my first choice (unless there is pumpkin spice...that's my only exception! :) 

Have you read The Boyfriend yet? Oh you must! I curled up in a chair last week and tore through it.  It was the perfect escape, and I loved it. It was one of those books where I thought I had it all figured out and I was completely wrong.  Don't you love it when that happens?! 

I made a nice pan of brownies yesterday that hit the spot.  I have to have tea and brownies to go with my book.  It's kind of a rule : ) 

So, what are your Valentine plans? Do you go out or stay in? For years Rob and I would dress up and go out.  It was fun when we were younger but not so much anymore.  Now we much prefer to stay in, warm & cozy.  I can't think of anything worse than dressing up and going out tonight.  Get out of my sweatpants? Are you mad?!!

So cooking I will. I'm making one of his (and all of our) favorites. Eggplant parmesan!  I thought that would be nice on Valentines Day.  Right now I have no dessert planned (except leftover brownies) so I might run out the bakery and see what they have. I can throw a coat over my sweats...lol 

As much as I love baking, there's nothing like fresh cannoli's from the guy down the street. Yup...I think I just made a plan! ♥

Well, whatever your plans are, I hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's Day!  

(calendar from John's room...lol)

Also on my list this weekend is watching the new Bridget Jones movie on Peacock.  I don't know if Rob will be interested in that, but love is sacrifice! 

Thanks for stopping by friends! ♥

Stay cozy!!! xoxo 

PS The bathroom project is coming along. It now looks like an actual room instead of a hole in the house.  We're getting there! Yay! By the next update we may have a floor.  Fingers crossed! 

Celebrating a birthday and welcoming February ♥

 

Hello Friends! ♥

Happy Monday and welcome February. Rabbit Rabbit! 

Rumor has it we have six more weeks of winter ahead of us.  I'm grateful for sunshine on those bitter cold days.  We have many ahead of us before spring arrives, but that's ok.  More time to dream.  I've become an expert at lighting fires in our woodburning stove.  I used to fill the whole house with smoke, but not anymore.  I've finally figured it out and I'm loving it...so warm and cozy.  Also loving shutting the heat off once in a while.  Energy costs are so high, it's nice to save when I can.  

So, how was your weekend? ♥

We had a very nice past weekend celebrating Rob's birthday.  Friday night we got takeout from one of our favorite restaurants.  Rob and I split a chicken parm dinner (because the portions are huge!)  John got chicken marsala and my Dad got salmon.  Everyone loved their meal... especially me since I got the night off from cooking : ) I did make a yummy Funfetti birthday cake that we devoured after dinner! 

On Saturday we had a lovely family dinner at Rob's parents' house.  As usual, my mother-in-law did an amazing job.  Her house is so cozy and beautifully decorated, and the food was delicious. Rob's brother and sister both came with their families.  

It was a fun night ♥

 

On Sunday we went to an early mass and then a family friend came over to have breakfast with us.  After he left it was a day of this and that around the house.  We are doing some work to one of our upstairs bathrooms.  I saw "work" like it's not a big deal, but what it really is is a complete GUT and redo (ugh).  It hasn't been updated in a very long time.  Let's just say the tile and vanity were yellow and "harvest gold" colors which haven't been popular since the 1970's. This update was overdue.

Rob has been enjoying the demolition!!  I can't wait until it's done.  We are adding a washer and dryer as well, which I'm very happy about it because it's currently in the basement and this will be much more convenient since this bathroom is right across from my bedroom.  

So here is its current state.  Let's call it the "before" picture.  Hard to believe this was/is a bathroom!  Anyone else feel like your entire house is disrupted when there is a project going on - even though it's contained to one small area? Doesn't matter.  I just know there is chaos up there and I can't look it at ; ) 

Anyway, while all this demo was going on upstairs, I was cleaning downstairs.  I dusted and moped the floors, made a chicken pot pie for dinner, and put some Valentine decorations out because I almost forgot it was February.  Poor February.  Everybody hates her and I'll admit, she gets on my nerves too, but at least we get to decorate hearts and pink things, and pretty vintage cards.  And candy of course. 

That, I love ♥

Today I've been sitting at my kitchen table all day working.  I've drank waaaay too many cups of coffee but that's what keeps me going.  

I hope your week is off to a good start! Time to start thinking about dinner.  

Have a great day, my friends!  ♥

Monday Morning ♥

 

Hello Lovely Friends! ♥

Here we are at another Monday already.  The week is off to a cold start in my neck of the woods.  I lit the fire all by myself this morning.  My second time ever doing in and I think it was a success since it's warm as toast in here and I have all my heat shut off.  Yay.  I'm working at my kitchen table this morning because with the fire going, it's the coziest spot in the house. 

 I have to food shop tomorrow and you know how it is the day before food shop day....old Mother Hubbard's cupboard is bare! I took a quick look in the pantry, and I saw a can of crushed pineapple, so I whipped up a little coffee cake for breakfast to enjoy by the fire.  Hey, we work with what we have, right?!  It turned out very good and I will link the recipe below (another Pinterest success story!).  

The rest of the day I'll be seated right here, working away on my laptop and keeping warm.  It's going to be a busy week with lots more adulting (boo) but I'll try to find bits of joy tucked in there somewhere.  Fingers crossed.  Also, Friday is Rob's birthday so I need to start planning for that. 

Have a great day friends! 

I have to put another log on the fire and get some work done.  What are your Monday plans? 

Stay cozy! ♥

PS I made that "old Mother Hubbard" reference to John yesterday and he had NO IDEA what I was talking about.  I'm really getting old.  Maybe I AM old Mother Hubbard! : ) 

pineapple coffee cake  🍍

Friday Photos ♥

Hello from the artic circle!  ♥

It's been so cold here this week! (the temperature this morning read 16 degrees!) I'm currently wearing two cardigan sweaters and feeling cozy, but oh my is it cold out! We are certainly in the dog days of winter here in New England.  Thankfully today, despite the cold temps, the sun is shining.  It's so nice to see some rays of sunshine coming in through the window.  There is still tons of snow on the ground.  It's frozen solid now.  It's very "crunchy" walking around outside. 

So how was your week?  Mine went very well and was productive.  I got all my errands done on Tuesday and I'm happy to have gotten my doctor appointment over with.  The rest of the week I worked, paid bills, cleaned, did laundry, ect.  I was "adulting" hard, which is never fun but always feels good with things get checked off the to-do list.  I'm happy it's Friday! Rob has tomorrow off.  We are going out for coffee to my favorite coffee shop in the morning and then spending a relaxing weekend recharging our batteries.  It's going to be too cold to do anything else! I'm craving a pot of homemade soup (and bread) so that will be on the agenda tomorrow as well! 

Today I thought I'd share a few pictures of things that made me happy this week.  Just little snippets of things that brought me joy and corners of my home.  It's cold and chaotic out there.  I much prefer it in here....♥

 

YAY for sunshine! ♥

Happy to see signs of life.  Spring is coming! ♥

Our cozy back room ♥

There is no TV in this room which is nice when you want to read or gaze out at the river. 

 My mom painted this table many years ago  ♥

A cozy reading chair ♥

A Christmas gift that I'll be using all year! LOL 

Getting ready for Valentine's Day. More to come ♥

I read this book every winter for inspiration ♥

Another Christmas gift that I love! ♥

Currently in my bedroom...♥

This was my mom's.  

I put it on my nightstand.  

I wish I was a hat person, or I would be wearing it ♥

Pretty things ♥

Books that make me happy.  Dreaming of faraway places ♥

And finally back to the kitchen...

Plants are doing well this winter!

Another Christmas gift from a faraway friend!  ♥

No need to put away any snowman decor just yet! 

I hope you all had a nice week and are doing something you love this weekend.  Whether it be out and about or just staying home and watching a movie.  You know where I'll be! 

Stay cozy friends! Thanks for visiting today! 

Byeeeee! Xx

It snowed! ♥

Hello Friends and happy Monday!  It snowed last night.  Our first proper snow of the year. 

I love seeing the snow when it first falls.  It's light and fluffy and looks like little cotton balls on the trees.  This snow reminds me of Christmas snow.  The snow I wish for on Christmas but never get during the holidays, but it's just as well because in December I probably wouldn't have appreciated it or even noticed like I am now.  

I do love a good snow.  Especially on a Monday holiday when I'm home and don't have to drive in it and ESPECIALLY when Rob is home as well.  He's the expert shoveler/snowblower, clean off the cars guy of my dreams! Yay!  

It's really cold today and it's expected to get colder so whatever is left on the ground will turn to ice if we (he:) doesn't get it right away.  I'm thankful to be inside keeping warm and enjoying it from my frosty window with a hot coffee and blanket over my legs. I made us oatmeal for breakfast and that was a wise decision.

 I think about all the little animals (especially the bunnies) that are somehow keeping warm under all of this, but I guess they know how so I shouldn't worry.  I think about what flowers I want to plant in the spring and how wonderful it is that our rose bushes will bloom once again. I'm looking forward to spring.  

 

Cotton balls ♥

I worked from home today.  I watched the inauguration, did some laundry, and listened to a podcast. Not bad for a Monday.  I washed all of our bedding this afternoon and I'm so looking forward to going to bed tonight.  Is there anything better than a fresh set of sheets and fluffy blankets right out of the dryer? Especially on a cold winter's night.  I don't think so.  I'll be heading off to bed early tonight. Dreamland here I come! 

I wanted the house to smell good so I decided to make some sauce. It's amazing what you can do with peppers, onions, garlic, tomatoes, and a few seasonings.  It's bubbling on the stove right now.  Tonight we'll have a yummy bolognaise for dinner.  

Heavenly ♥  

And that's my snowy Monday.  How was your day?

Stay warm and cozy my friends! I have tomorrow off run errands and go to a doctor's appointment.  Let's see how much I still love the snow when I'm out and about in it.  I'll report back! LOL

Xx