Last week at this time...

...I was ironing table cloths and setting up an extra table in our sun room for our Christmas dinner.

I was admiring my new grain sack tree which arrived on Christmas Eve!
I was moving furniture to make sure Granny would have the best seat in the house during the gift exchange festivities on Christmas morning.
I was making a 'treat' buffet out of our dining room table to ensure that holiday visitors would leave with full tummies.
I was lighting candles in the fireplace.
And I was spending weekend afternoons out on the chilly streets supervising the little one and her new bicycle from Santa.

Next week at this time I hope to the holiday decor neatly stored away and the house put back together.

PS- I'm totally suffering from the post holiday blues and it's not even the new year yet! Anyone else having a hard time?

I wish I could do it over knowing I wasn't going to Spain and not spending time doing laundry and packing but playing and relaxing with my kiddo.

The 'adéu' that wasn't to be

Today I was to embark upon my journey to Barcelona with this good friend. By 1pm yesterday I was checked in, boarding passes printed, and almost packed for my trip. At 4pm I received an email from Continental that my flight to Newark was cancelled due to the blizzard on the east coast. Although the flight to Barcelona wasn't cancelled, there was no way for me to get to Newark today to make that flight due to the weather in Newark. While I'm overwhelmed with disappointment, I'm not one for messing with fate.

It just wasn't meant to be.

**The road of life twists and turns and no two directions are ever the same. Yet our lessons come from the journey, not the destination**
Don Williams, Jr.

This was to be my bon voyage post, but mother nature dealt us a different hand for this week. Now Lisa will join me here in Houston for a few days of R&R and hopefully replanning our big trip for sometime in the Spring.

Follow the path that pulls you, no matter where the road may lead.

*Happy 2011 to you!*

Thank you for joining me on this blogging journey. Your comments and encouragement mean the world to me and your own blogs keep me dreaming.

Until next year,

Hugs~
T

images of Barcelona sights via New York Times

{Peace}

{l♥ve}

The rooms were very still while the pages were softly turned and the winter sunshine crept in to touch the bright heads and serious faces with a Christmas greeting.

Louisa May Alcott


{joy}

Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.

Calvin Coolidge

A special thank you to Linsey for our gorgeous Christmas card! She also helped finalized the photo-shopping to take N out of London's Snog Frozen Yogurt shop and into a wintry wonderland minus her dad's white sneaker and big watch. ;)

::Wishing you the merriest of Christmases::

From a heart filled with peace, love, and joy~
Tricia

Home for the holidays

I was so excited to have a few pictures of my home featured in this week's holiday decor issue of Houzz {here}.

Here are some final glimpses into my holiday home.

And some other homes that are way too cool for me to be included with in the same post!

Be sure to head over to Houzz to check out all 50 ideas!

Grain sack holiday~ Morning T style

It all started with a tree.

Not just any tree, but this tree, covered in ornaments created out of antique grain sack fabric.

This tree was all over the blog world last year and these ornaments were created by Kymberley Fraser at 3 Fine Grains. I was so in love with that tree last year that I vowed to have a similar tree of my own this year with similar ornaments that I, myself, would make.

The year sped on past me and before I knew it, pictures of this year's tree were all over blog land.
With a new spin on last year's grain sack ornaments.
All of this inspiration lead me here: And here:
I've had my sewing machine out in the family room for about 2 weeks trying to whip up at least 20 ornaments.
I managed to save a few for my own tree, but the majority of my hand made linen and burlap {3~fine~grains~ish} ornaments went on our holiday wine bottles that we give as gifts to close friends and family.

I finished my sewing on Sunday, packing up the sewing machine and leftover fabric. Satisfied that our friends and family would each receive a special ornament on their wine bottle, but a bit disappointed that I only had enough time to make 3 for my own tree. After checking in on my favorite blogs first thing on Monday morning I see a glimmer of 'antique~grain~sack~via~3~fine~grains' hope for MOI.
YAY- I won Gina's giveaway!! This sweet antique grain sack fabric tree is heading to Houston, TX to live with me. This sweet thing may be up year-round in my house I love it that much.

Thank you so much Gina and Kymberely~ I can't wait to see it and display it in my home. No more copycat action for me as soon I'll have the real deal!
**Merry Christmas everyone from one grateful and blessed Morning T!**

I'm dreaming of a white sun room

Somehow gaining access to our Christmas decor at the back of the garage had a domino effect on our entire home just a few shorts weeks ago. Out with garage clutter, quickly turned into out with house clutter. By house clutter I mean furniture, loads of accessories, chairs, ottomans, benches, dollhouses, clothing, etc.

Fast forward to today:

~ we have a virtually unused and empty sun room

~ moved the desk/office area out of family room so once tree comes down will have big empty space

~ moved furniture in family room so heavy leather chair is in less visible spot

~ removed mini shades off of all lighting in home and am waiting on drip sleeves as replacements

~ dining room moved around to allow better traffic flow and put wine fridge in less visible spot

~ computer moved to guest bedroom upstairs (which also had to be shuffled around)

~ yes, we STILL have a packed full and disastrous garage, UGH!

I'm not comfortable with empty rooms, in fact I consider it a special talent or gift that I can always figure a way to fit 35 pieces of furniture into a small space AND still be able to manoeuvre within that space. Hubby doesn't appreciate my so called 'gift'. :)

Here's the sun room today:

Up against this painted brick wall will eventually be a small love seat or settee.

We'd like to turn this room into more of an adult conversation area. A room where we can drink wine and visit with friends. An overflow room for parties, which have been limited to just our family room and small dining room in the past. Or a room to just sit and relax and read when kid shows or sports are being blasted on the big screen in the family room.

It's taken me a few weeks to get used to the unused/transitional space, but hopefully after the holidays are over we'll venture out to find a settee and small table to complete the space. I will strip and antique another of these chairs to coordinate with my white chippy burlap chair. A settee, small coffee table and 2 chairs directly across from the settee will complete this space, or so we hope.

The antique table is serving as a desk for now but will likely move back upstairs to our bedroom.

The side opposite the brick wall is all windows overlooking our backyard. The {badly in need of replacement or a new cover} bench is Max's squirrel tracking perch. You see we already have a small stash of wine here and the cigar hutch. Ready for action once we get the right pieces in here.

I know the treadmill is a huge eye sore but we have no other options for it and I do use it for training when hubby is out of town or the weather is bad.

My inspiration files include Kasey's fabulous sun room. I love her settee and her narrow bench/table would be perfect for us!

Joni just shared this sun room with us this week so I've added this to my inspiration files. We can't fit {well, I can fit it all, but HE won't allow it, smile} such big pieces into our room but I love the overall feel here and the wicker love seat.

Something a little more cozy than this:
via Atlanta Bartlett

Yet not as sweet as this:
via Country Living

This settee from Wisteria is just what I'm thinking:
But Ballard has some nice things too:

Whew, ok back to the holiday focus now.

It's the last weekend to pull it all together, HO, HO, HO!