BRING ON THE RAIN.

Call me a weirdo, but I love a rainy day. IF I am fortunate enough to have some hours at home to enjoy it. To me, rain is so peaceful. Gimme some rain, something good to read, a blanket, and something tasty. Pure bliss.

I feel like sometimes it takes the rain to make us slow down. Maybe plans got cancelled, or it's just too yucky out to make the trip. Perfect. My favorite place in this whole world is home. That's why it's so important to create a space that you love. Home is where you rest. Where you recharge your batteries. Where you make memories with those you love. Where you recuperate and heal. Where you get ready to take on the world each day. Where you come home to unwind at the day's end. Where you try new recipes and feed your family. Where you make messes. And clean them up. Where you walk around braless with no makeup. {Right?!} Your home should be You.

{Does this last pic not look like Curtis' and my engagement shoot? Dog cannot. get. close. enough. Sure, lick my eyelids while I'm blogging. Totally cool. And normal.}

GUEST POST: CURTIS LOEW

Whattup, furless friends? Curtis here. How are things on this frigid Sunday? It's going pretty well here in my new neck of the woods. I finally got one of my parents to walk the neighborhood with me. You know, there are lots of rude dogs around here. I just walk along and mind my business, not saying a thing. But, every house we walk by, somebody starts up, and then their friends join in, and pretty soon, you have a whole street full of barking fools. Reminds me of that horrendous stay I had at that animal shelter place.These dogs have no raisin's at all, it seems.

Anyhoo, the walk was refreshing, but it was a bit cold, and my dad never remembers to put on my sweater, so we didn't stay out long. Plus, my ears always get cold and I have to keep flapping them around to get the blood flowing again. 

When we got back home my mama was moving books and furniture and stuff around. I don't know why, but she is always doing that. Sometimes she paints pictures, too, and puts new holes in the wall. I guess humans like for things to sit around so they can look at them. I like to do that, except I like to look out the windows in the front room, and growl at this man who brings papers and envelopes and puts them in this box by the front door. He brings them almost every single day. Seems like he would wise up and maybe come once a week and bring a whole bunch at one time. Maybe he likes the exercise. Whatever. He seems like maybe he is a nice guy, but I just remind him that he is not welcome to come inside the house. I don't think my mama and daddy really know him, anyway. 

My daddy made these flames and sparks inside the brick thing again. I tried to help him, but it was too hot for my nose. He has been yelling so loud at the TV. Sometimes he even jumps up and down and claps. He kinda gets a little scary when he watches some things on TV. There are all these guys wearing the same outfit, and playing with a ball. But some of the guys have on a different outfit. There are always lots of whistles and people in the crowd yelling. My daddy yells too, but I don't have the heart to tell him that the people in the TV cannot hear him, no matter how loud he yells. Sometimes, you just have to let the humans do what they think is best, even if you know they are just wasting an opportune time for a nap. 

My daddy is done playing with the flames now, so I am going to say goodbye and hang out over here and play with my rope. If my mama asks, tell her I did a good job writing for her, so she will let me come back.

MANTEL: DRESSED FOR WINTER

Hello loves! I don't know about where you are, but it is absolutely frigid here. We aren't used to this kind of cold around these parts. If you've been reading awhile, you know I help at my father-in-law's store, Davis General Store. The building was built in 1908 and there is no running water.

And no indoor restroom.

There is an out house........... Mmm-Hmm.

The temperatures were in the teens today. Good times, good times. I could see my breath inside the store the whole day unless I was next to the gas stove. And I still love my job. Now that you're imagining using an outhouse in the freezing cold, let's move on to the mantel, shall we?

I do love a mantel. It's like a canvas created for vignettes. No commitment. Easy to change up depending on the season or your mood. The same can be said for a nice sideboard or entryway table.

This year, I wanted to use the milk glass vases I've picked up in thrift shops over the last couple years. And, I thought I'd leave the mirror up from Christmas because I like the added light it brings to the room. Once I placed my milk glass and white wooden salvaged piece {not sure what else to call it}, I added in a couple of green vases and others that I'd spray painted. I topped it off with some green candles and fresh rosemary from our yard {which smells amazing and you can never go wrong by adding some plant life IMO}, along with some sprigs of gold, and a tiny, sweet deer I picked up at Goodwill. It still felt like something was missing, so I got the silver vintage garland back down out of our Christmas decorations and added it to the bricks for a nice contrasting pop.

Meanwhile, Curtis Loew is all like, "What is that black thing attached to the front of your face?"

I'm diggin' it. But, February may beckon the vintage Valentine's cards. We'll see.
Please believe there will be some flames flickering in that fireplace tonight. Holy Brrr.

How often do you change up your mantel decor? Am I the only one with this illness?