Could it actually be snowing?

Seems kind of silly that I would be taking pictures because it's snowing here in Michigan in February.

The thing is...just yesterday, we had no snow...just grass.

Last weekend I didn't even wear a coat when I was downstate. We all wore hoodies, and sweaters.

I came downstairs this morning to a very bright dining room. Unfortunately, it wasn't sunshine making the room so bright. It was snow.

The flakes are huge!

It's coming down fast, and furious.

I really don't mind. It's supposed to snow...it's winter!!!

We've only been dumped on a couple of times this year.

It's been a pretty mild winter so far.

Since we live in a resort town, the weather has hurt the businesses up here.

We could use some snow.

I actually like getting snowed in...as long as we don't lose power that is.

It's fun to have the fire crackling. A pot of chili on the stove. A jig saw puzzle on the table. Lonesome Dove playing. A pile of your favorite magazines, and a quilt on the sofa. Of course, and this is a must...your computer on and ready to blog hop the afternoon away.
So.....bring it on Mother Nature!!!! Let it snow!

A happy weekend.

What a beautiful weekend!

The weather was unbelievable.

The skies were sunny, and the temps were in the mid 40's.

Perfect for the drive downstate.

I stayed at my youngest daughter's home Saturday night.

I was surprised to find out that Melissa is starting to like antiques.

After years of dragging her to antique shops, and vintage stores, Melissa and her husband, Kevin, are now looking at antique pieces to decorate their home with.

She's always decorated in a more contemporary style.

When Melissa asked if I wanted to go to the antique mall with her Saturday afternoon, I had to act casual, when I really felt like jumping up and down with excitement.

Finally....one of my daughter's likes my style of "stuff"!!!!!  Woohooo!!!!!

I left Melissa's house this morning, and stopped in to visit with Kelly and her family for a little while.

We had a nice time.

From there, I drove over to Erin's house to spend some time with her family.

Erin is my middle daughter.

She always picks up things for me that she thinks I would like for the house.

Erin lives close to Target, and since they have Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic line, Erin always finds something 

that goes well in my home.

Erin was looking at the Shabby Chic curtains for me...but they were all picked over, and clearanced out, so she couldn't find pairs for the bedroom.

Across the aisle were Xhiliration brand curtains.

(I  recently saw these curtains on two different blog posts, and thought they were very nice.

I really liked the layers of ruffles, and could imagine them swaying in the summer breeze.)
As soon as I got home this evening, I fluffed them in the dryer, then hung them on the window.
I think they add to the romantic feel of the room.
My girls bless me so very much...not just by the gifts they give to me.....by the way they keep me in their hearts.
Remember when your children were younger? They reached an age when their friends seemed to be more important than you as a parent were?
I'm so glad it changes back.
The girls actually want to spend time with me..... and I LOVE it.
I hope your weekend was happy.

Yes!! It's Friday!!

I'm excited for the weekend.

I'll be heading downstate to visit with my girls and their families.

I haven't seen our newest granddaughter in over three weeks.

Babies grow and change so fast.

I'm anxious to see how she looks.

Maddie called a few days ago wondering when I could go to her house and stay.

She just turned ten in November. I'm happy she still wants to spend time with her old granny.

Maddie's sister Charlotte will be there. Charlie is quite a "corker". She always gives me a run for my money.

Their baby sister is Olivia. Our newest addition.

I'm sure I'll have to stop over and visit with Ethan, Kayla, and Anson while I'm down there.

If I don't, they will, for sure, be at Maddie's house!

On my way back north I will stop in to see Zoey, and Sadie.

By the time I get home, I'm usually exhausted.

I try to fit in as much as I can in two days.

The two and a half hour drive down isn't so bad...driving back seems to drag for me though.

The weather is supposed to be mild, and sunny.

Depending on what time I leave, I like to stop half way up at Kohl's.

It helps break up the long trip...AND I can always use a pair of new earrings.

Enjoy your weekend!

Mr. Lakehouse

I've been blog-hopping today.

How do you guys keep your houses so clean?????

Living with Mr. Lakehouse  is like living at deer camp 365 days a year!!

Shoes, socks, boots, coats, shirts, pants, hats.

Wallet, keys, glasses, cell phone.

Fishing poles, bait and tackle, hunting gear, and whatever else he uses...it's all left lying around the house and yard.

The poor man has no clue.

He loves to cook...and for the life of me, I cannot figure out how a person gets specks of 

grease on the ceiling above the stove?????!!!!!

You should see the stove itself after he makes breakfast! Why he even bothers to use a

pan is beyond me? He could just throw the eggs on the surface of the stove after he fries

bacon.

Do you think it could be because everything is cooked at the highest degree?

The flames don't burn under the pan, they engulf the pan!!

The top of our stove looks like the back of a jet engine making ready for take off.

What in the world is it with the salt and pepper???? I doubt any of it ever hits the plate!

When you take the plate away after breakfast, you have a perfect circle where the plate sat...surrounded by 

salt and pepper!!!!!!  AND crumbs from the toast, and coffee, milk, and orange juice, and jelly, and butter, potatoes, etc.

When he's finished, there is always something else he must do besides the clean up.

I'd really rather do that job myself.

Using the frying pan to wash the dishes in isn't my idea of being sanitary.

Maybe I'm just being wenchy, but I like the table, counter tops, butcher block, and stove to be washed down with hot, soapy, bleach water....not cold, greasy, dirty water....that's IF he remembers to wash them

at all.

Watching as he slides the grease soaked dishcloth around and around the table makes my stomach lurch.

Don't take this wrong.

Mr. Lakehouse is a real sweetheart.

He's a "farm boy".

Sometimes I wonder if his mom ever let him stay in the house???

It's all in the details.

Are you a detailed person?

When you look at something, do you see deep into the piece?

For me....the more detail, the more character the treasure holds.

If you look closely at these clay tea-lite holders, you will see ivy vines growing up each column.

The shell has variations in color, and depth that cause your eyes to linger over it's surface.

What attracted me to this little bird bath the most, was the garland around the base.

It's filled with unlikely bedfellows....a porous starfish, vintage tag, and a tiny horse hair nest nestled underneath.

One of my favorite pieces is this ceiling tin.

I LOVE all the detail on the wreath! The ribbons, the way they flutter.

The boarders along the sides.

It's gorgeous!

Even the most shabby pieces in the house are delightful.

I enjoy all the rusty, chippy, distressed goodness of a vintage treasure.

The hardware on the shutters helped make the decision to purchase them.

What would I ever do without ribbons, linens, and lace?

I'm surrounded by doilies with beautiful lacework edges. Crinkled satin ribbons. Gorgeous cameos. Lovely embellished journals made by a dear blogging friend.

All things that please the eye with their design, and detail.

The most beautiful of all...Natures treasures.

With all of their swirls, and colors, and shapes.....man could never duplicate such splendor.

I must admit....of all the things here at the lakehouse...I never tire of looking, in amazement, at one of these wonders of Creation. 

It's all in the details.

Learning how to use my camera

Since Picnik is closing in April, I thought I'd better learn to use my camera.

There are so many different settings I've never used before.

Taking pictures at night never worked, because I wouldn't read the camera booklet.

I always wondered how it would look to take pictures with all the candles  lit.

I even used the sepia setting!!!

Then I opened the lens up wider so I could try taking pictures reflecting in the mirror...hmmmm.

Looks kind of creepy....or maybe the mirror is just dirty????

This little mantle will be going in the bedroom upstairs.

Mr. Lakehouse is going to make another one....a bigger one for the living room.

I wanted one downstairs for the holidays, so I used this little one. It was fun decorating it for Christmas.

Anyway...for an inexpensive little Nikon camera, it has a lot of settings.

I will be busy trying to figure out how to use it for a while.

I was actually planning on getting a different camera. After discovering all the things this one can do...I think I'll learn how to use this one.

It might not be as cool as some of the others out there...but it works for me.
I wonder if it has a setting for a collage?????

Experimenting with blue.

Talk about a crazy winter!!!!!!

Yesterday we had thunder, lightening, and rain on top of the two feet of snow on the ground.

Today we are having wind gusts over 30mph with white out snow squalls.

I feel Mother Nature's pain...being in mental-pause isn't fun.

I was fooling around with the settings on my camera this morning, trying to get that bluish color that I see on some of the "shabby blogs" out there.

I finally got it, but the pictures didn't come out as clear as I wanted.

Plus, they are kind of dark.

I guess that's part of the fun....experimenting.

I'll just keep working on it until I get it right.

Don't forget to pray for Donna at My Shabby Chateau. She's having surgery. God Bless You "Glitter Queen"!
I'm joining Faded Charm for White Wednesday. The button is on my side bar.