TWO MONTHS OF 2016 GONE!!!

I cannot keep up with Life.

It seems like I just got through the holidays, and here it is pushing March already!!

I'm a year older!

I'm still dragging things from the old house to the new.  The winter was very cold, so not a lot got done.  Spring is approaching fast and I'm ever so grateful for the temperatures in the 40s and 50s.

My workshop is ready.  All I need to do is unpack boxes and organize everything.  I've been chomping at the bit waiting patiently to get back to miniatures.  It has been far too long.

This past week I paid a visit to my cardiologist and I got the impression that my old ticker is trying desperately to "right" itself!!!  He took me off some med that was not agreeing with me.  Perhaps Life is in charge again.  : )  I sure hope so.

In the meantime, I've still been collecting.  I've got some really terrific pieces!  Once I get my little photo studio up and running, I'll bring these in and photograph them to share with you.  My head is awash with ideas, wish I had the time!!!

Each day that goes by I get closer to the day that I can actually begin again with my favorite past-time...miniatures!!

Sending everyone lots of love.

IT'S ALMOST CHRISTMAS

Tomorrow my contractor is supposed to come to install the cabinets for the "workshop" and some shelving around the interior of our new home.

This house is going to work for us!  I'm excited.

Our first "party" is going to be Christmas Eve when perhaps 20 of us will gather for our annual sit-down dinner.  I'm not really prepared this year, but the show must go on!  I'll be taking the easy way out this year.  The menu will consist of a giant roast, flavorful roasted potatoes, a scalloped corn casserole, string beans, a cherry/cranberry jello salad, and an assortment of pies with fresh whipped cream or French vanilla ice cream.  That should hold back the tide until next year's event when I will have more preparation time.  : )

For fun, we have a white elephant gift-exchange.  Everyone brings the WORST thing they can put their hands on and then we fight, steal, laugh and barter our way through the opening of all the absurdity.  Everyone has a great time as we make new memories.

Soon, I will find my camera and will begin taking photos of the many unfinished projects.

The other night I moved ALL of the egg cartons and drink carriers over from the old house.  I've been collecting for quite a while.  They will become the "stones" for my cowboy house.  I can't wait to get started!!!  I will be sitting in front of the television and cutting the out.  The house is large, so I will need a sizable pile.  I've been dreaming of this project for years.  Finally, space to spread out and actually accomplish it.

Our weather has been cold and snowy and I've been out in it all moving my houses, room boxes, vignettes, dolls, furnishings, tools, etc.  Can't let other move these precious items.  I ended up with what was probably pneumonia, which I successfully fought off with the use of mega doses of Emergen-C and vitamin C.  It was miserable there for a while.  Glad I'm on this side of it.

In the intervening months, I have continued to add things to my collection.  Shortly, I'll be able to share those with you.  So much to do, and so little time!!  Yikes.

Well, may your Christmas season bring you great joy and contentment!  See you soon.

Blessings to one and all!

 

MOVING AGAIN

This move has come up rather suddenly!

The day before Thanksgiving my brother "suggested" that I take a house that became available only days before.  I jumped at the chance!!

Immediately, I began packing and shuttling belongings to the new home. 

Today, I booked the movers.  They will be coming on the 9th of December to get the BIG items that I am incapable of moving on my own.

Perhaps this will be the last move I will ever have to make.  It is truly a hardship to uproot a life. Uh. I've done it once too many times in the past.

Fortunately, this home is going to ALLOW me to get back to my miniatures!!!!  There is an entire wing of the home that will take my collections.  I may even start "a club" to share my time and efforts with other miniature lovers.  That is a happy thought.

My numerous dollhouses, room boxes, vignettes and little people will  f-i-n-a-l-l-y  have a permanent home.  What a delightful prospect this is.

In the meantime, I am going to be a busy soul sorting, organizing, and packing.  This event has given me my "hope" back, something to actually put my energy into and l@@k forward to. : )

I've been away for a very long time and have felt the loss deeply.  The days ahead sound wonderful!!!

"2016" will be the year I'm back up and running.  Absolutely fabulous!!!

This is our family's latest "mini," little Kaylee, 8 months old.

THE FRENCH DOWAGERS

 

Young & Aging

These two lovely ladies now have "portraits" of themselves! 

Aren't they darling?

Won't it be fun to get the chateau put together with all of the wonderful things that I have purchased for them over the past year...fancy iron bedsteads, pretty painted commodes, lovely dressers, ornate fireplaces with mirrors, period carpets, knickknacks galore, even a pet or two.. 

I'm really trying to be patient, but my mental juices are flowing in every conceivable direction!!!

I know that I have to get my Real Life in order BEFORE I settle down to the miniature tasks at hand, though it would be so easy to just put off emptying boxes and dive into my passion....miniatures. 

Sadly, the other individuals in my Life would not appreciate that scenario!  And, do believe me, I would hear about it.  Don't want to go down that path.  LOL

So for the present, I will sneak time on my blog and add photos to entertain you and me!!  (hee hee)

IT'S BEEN A YEAR!

I cannot believe that it is just over a year since I last made an entry!

Where did my Life go???

I'm still wondering that myself.

There have been moves, illnesses, births and deaths which have taken up my time, energy and stolen many hours, days and months from my very existence. 

Miniatures have had to take a back seat!  I've missed them terribly.

Now, that my latest move is nearly behind me, I'm thinking again about my beloved miniatures.

I have to locate my camera and begin taking photographs of all that is "new."

Stay tuned...

I may have been out of circulation for quite a while, but my "collecting" has never suffered.

There will be so much to share!!!

:  )

MEET OUR

NEWEST 

"MINI!"

 ...Kaylee...

WHAT A DIFFERENCE!

These are photos taken 2 days later!  

What a contrast!!!

WILD FIRES!!!

Western Montana is shrouded in smoke today!
 The sky has a yellow tinge to it and looking both East and West there are no mountains to be seen!

The smell of burning wood is permeating everything.

May God protect His wild-life 

& the firefighters.

  

"SHABBY" PRESSED-BACK CHAIRS

Today's mail brought these extraordinary Bespaq chairs 

that have been "shabby-ed" by miniature artisan, Matthew Weston.

I adore them!

The featured doll is a Marcia Backstrom reproduction.

[Don't forget to click on the photograph to enlarge]

These items will be used  in a "shabby" bakery.
Absolutely beautiful!!

"OLD-WORLD" WINE CABINET

I've just returned from a two-week road-trip
to the East Coast.

L@@k what I found when I got home!

[Be sure to click on the photo to enlarge]

This "Old-World" wine cabinet was designed,
and created by miniature artisan, Matthew Weston.
Most unique.

The sweet little girl in green is a Bonnie Justice doll.

The rose-laden wedding cake is a creation by Christina @ Majestic Miniatures.
So beautiful.

Once I get things organized,
I will once again engage myself
in my many miniature projects.

The weather is humid, but fair,
and I'm eager to find my way out to the workshop!!

: )

TWO VERY "SPECIAL" LITTLE CHAIRS

~ Okay, my camera finally has a new photo-card ~

Here are two charming armchairs 

that I have chosen to "showcase" tonight...

Both were hand-painted by talented artisan Sue Ayers.

The detailing is phenomenal! 

 Refreshing daisies!

Sweet rosebuds!

[Don't forget to enlarge the photos to see the details!]

The colors are clear, bright & alive.

My plan is to "create" a Mary Engelbreit house 

in which I will incorporate these wonderful miniatures.

Too cute!

: )

You might like to check out another photo site of mine:

 https://www.flickr.com/photos/97498585@N06/with/9076639585/

 

IT IS JUNE 2014 ALREADY!!!

[Don't forget to click on photo to enlarge!]

These are just three of my latest little-people.  

Aren't they precious?

Well, as you probably didn't know,
I've been "locked out" of my blog 

ever since before Christmas 2013!
 

Just this past week I was actually able
to get myself back in.  

I am so thrilled.

  

Now, to pick up where I left off.

  

If that were not excitement enough, 

I located "the link" to the new site that I put together:

http://iamminteriors.blogspot.com/

 but I'm pretty sure that I will abandon that one 

in favor of this original blog!  

So now, the best is yet to come.

: )

A WHITE CHRISTMAS IN THE MAKING???

This is what I awoke to this morning!

Can it be true? 

A white Christmas in the making for us here
in Montana, USA???

It all depends now upon the up and coming weather.
If the temperatures stay lower for a week this may actually happen.

IF, however, the temperatures rise, as they have been this past week...high 40s
low 50s (I'm not complaining), then we may not get a WHITE CHRISTMAS
after all.  That would be sad.

Time alone will tell!!

*</:)>

FULL MOON ON THE RISE

Caught this night before last.  Beautful experience.
I moved the camera.  Darn!

BABY, IT'S COLD OUTSIDE!!

The temperatures have been brutally cold the last several days!
It does feel like winter is here.
The river is beginning to show signs of icing.
Brrrrrrrrrrr!

L@@K WHAT WAS HIDING IN THE CLOUDS...SNOWY MOUNTAINS





After two days of clouds, rain and grapple, this is what emerged from behind the shroud!
Sunshine on the snow-capped range.  Winter is on its way.

  

NO MOUNTAINS TODAY



Only clouds today! 
The mountains are totally obscured.



You would never guess that behind these white clouds reside our lovely mountains!

My workship basking in the morning sunshine.



MOTHER WHITE-TAIL & HER TWINS!!!

Enlarged photo of deer.

I apologize for the grainy quaility of the photograph.  I had to take the photo quickly from inside the house.  It has been hunting season and I'm sure these creatures are ever so skittish.  When I hear the gunshots I cringe within, KNOWING what each means.  There are hunters out there stalking their prey!  I don't like this time of the year...

Mother white-tailed deer and her twins grazing before the sun came up!

THE COLOR PURPLE

Not many people like the color purple,

but I have a little witch named "Violet"

who just adores the color PURPLE!

She has been hinting for quite some time

now that she would really like it if I would

build her a small cottage.

[Oh yeah, that is just what I need, a PURPLE house!]

I do agree with her on the reference to small,

but I am really struggling with the color PURPLE.

I suppose that I could use A LOT

of white around the windows and door, plus

I could also consider adding plenty of

"gingerbread" to all of the eaves, as well!

Sounds good to me.

Violet is an Aquarian, so she does exhibit

eccentric tendencies.

For starters, she wears quite a bit of PURPLE,

and she decorates with it as well.

Her kitchen is unusual, to say the least.

You have never seen anything like it!

[I will have to go out to the workshop

and dig about in the boxes to find it and photograph it.

It is truly one-of-a-kind!!!]

Today, I'm posting a photo of Violet and her

nearest neighbor, who also likes the color PURPLE.

Sweet "Violet," a little witch.

Gladys Nightshade, a neighbor, with her feline friend, "Spooks," who loves to ride along!

This is an ancient screen that will be used in the PURPLE cottage.

 

A well-worn armchair.  It belonged to Violet's grandfather and she refuses to replace it.
Obviously it has seen better days, but Violet insists that it is comfortable and has a lot of life left in it.



One of many PURPLE pillows.
 


One of many PURPLE plants.




A pair of Violet's garden boots.  Too cute!!!





I CAN'T STOP SHARING THE BEAUTY OF MONTANA

I feel so blessed living in God's Country...MONTANA.
The beauty is ever-changing.
I thank my lucky stars that I get to live this miracle everyday.
And, I just wanted to share it with YOU!

ANOTHER WIZARD "CORNELIUS"

This extraordinary fellow is by BellaBelle Dolls.
Cornelieus will be joining the other wizards at Wanda's (my lst witch)
for some good old-fashioned shop-talk! 
There is much to discuss...books, potions, spells and the like.
Makes for an entertaining evening for one and all.

Be sure to CLICK ON PICTURE to ENLARGE!!!
Enjoy.

Close up of a pair of very fine eyes, full of wisdom, understanding & kindness.