My Grama's Soul

O.K. people.....here's the thing....We are all in this together, so do something wonderful for yourself.  Please bring something beautiful into your home.  You deserve it, your emotions deserve it, your family deserves it, and your space deserves it. If you lucky enough to have a yard....go out and whack on some bushes and bring some greenery inside.  I've  done this here with  trees and bushes that are flowering at the moment.  I can't go the grocery store and buy fresh flowers because of our stay at home mindset right now..but I can raid my yard.  Things in pots count too....go cut off some stems of greens and put them in a little vase inside.  You would be amazed at what this little bit of effort does to your immediate space. One can only image how long this "sheltering in place" will be in effect but don't let this bump in our society let you lose your long term goal of living and having a ...

I have shown this work of mine in a previous post. Like most things I do....I'm always revising and refinishing until I achieve the desired result. Still not done here but wanted to show my progress on this little wall piece.  Painted with Behr paints you can by at Home Depot and worked on a little at a time when the spirit moves me. I could not do anything like this when Brad and I were traveling back and forth to the San Juans and out to our little place in Montana.  I was not able to get the supplies easily and it seems as though we were ALWAYS on the move.  Anyway....now that we have settled in our little spot....I can pretty much experiment any way I want as long as I don't rip out walls and attempt to do any major construction.  This is a little slow going as I get older...but it does bring me such joy just to be able to work creatively. I try to be patient with things like this now as new ideas take time to gel. ...

O.K.....so you might ask.....what is bimbelling?  Came across this word somewhere in my reading.  It is akin to putzing or puttering around one's home or property.  I'm ALWAYS doing that. Thought I would share my  latest adventure into the bimbelling world...covered Brad's dad's old bench in an old scarf I have had for years.  While I was at it I decided to also cover an old cream lampshade with the same fabric.   We also hired a friend to help us hang this gigantic mirror that has been sitting on our floor for the last four years. Little projects being completed with little or no cost to us. Next on the list: This pillow remade with fabric from an old tote that was falling apart.    While I was at it, I used the pom poms on the tote to embellish a favorite jacket.. Also used a strip of the African print on the edge of the pillow above. Added part of an old scarf to a Euro Sham on our bed to fluff...

I am always tickled when I see yet another post in social media about collecting plants....as though THAT was a new thing!   I have always had plants once I had my own home.  In fact...in my early twenties and thirties I had as many as 150 of the little friends living with me and my family. I do admit that number became little over-whelming as I had my children and life became more complicated....but I never disposed of my friends...I just became more selective in which ones I was willing to nurture.  Actually, that is kind of like life....you only keep friends you REALLY VALUE.     Anyway...my plants have been with me through thick and thin...in fact they used to travel with us when we would leave AZ for the summer. But...due to time and age factors (both mine and my plants) I have cut my numbers significantly....(the plants..NOT my age)  haha.....  My next several posts will be about amusi...

I have spent most of my adult life trying to find silence within....that calmness we all seek...free from anxiety and worry.  This 71st year of my life I am going to focus on just that!   It seems as though I am not alone in this endeavor as yogis and meditators seem to lurking around every corner in social media.  I know this is certainly not a new situation in our society....in fact it has been around since the beginning of man only their anxiety came from a different source...(not getting eaten alive by predators);  although some would say that situation exists today, as well.  :) Each one of us approaches this area of our life in our own way, for me it is starting a yoga class.   Over the years I have neglected my self care always focusing on my husband, worrying about my adult children or fussing with my home.  This year is going to be a year of self care and hopefully I will continue this for the remainder of my l...

Included the above just because I thought it was neat! O.K.....here is what I want to share with you........ This is perfect....is it not. xo Jo

June is always the hottest month in  Arizona. That is why, if you are able, one must surround your home with as much  GREEN  as possible.  Here, in the desert, much of what we see during summer months is brown...brown....brown. So that is why Brad and I chose this little spot in order that we would feel as though we LIVED in a greenhouse. These photos are from both inside and outside our home.  Every room has something live growing.... When you walk into our home you are looking directly into our backyard via huge glass windows. I know....one might feel as though you were in a jungle...but it makes everything feel so very cool and refreshing. These plants are in my kitchen on an elevated bar area...I have a huge skylight...so they get that much needed light.  Moisture from the faucet does not hurt as well. By our front door....requires little light. Good old pothos in the b...

What a wise quote for the beginning of 2016.  I plan on staying PRESENT this year and enjoying every minute of it. xo Jo quote:  Values.com

Life keeps moving on at it's normal pace....... with events happening that are totally out of our control, but one thing we can control is how we take care of ourselves..which is needed especially during difficult times. I am a  big fan of organic and natural skin care, and since good cosmetics have become so very expensive I often come across something I can make myself that I believe has a wonderful effect on one's skin. This skincare recipe is from the above publication.  I had not seen it before so I picked up a  copy to see how I could incorporate some of these items in my personal care. It is such a simple concoction and so very easy to make.   3/4 cup chopped cucumber..no need to peel 1/4 cup liquid coconut oil...I personally use organic 1 cup white sugar Basil leaves as much as you like .. mine are from my garden out back I chopped cucumber and basil.   Put them into my blender, added the sugar, then the coconut...

Here it comes............. ENJOY!! Art:  Maria Pace Winters hugs, Jo

Hugs from me to you.. Jo

It is a cold and rainy day here in AZ.....this is a cheery thought.  Let's all stay warm this weekend. hugs, Jo