Friday love

Good morning! 

This little fellow was singing his heart out this morning!

While I was preparing breakfast. 

And there was nothing better then to listen to his happy song while doing it!

For it all made me grateful to be alive!

Happy weekend!

All images by V.Zlotkowski

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Renewal

I love to ring in any new season with changes. It begins usually in early March with cleaning of the fireplace and chimney, thoroughly dusting all the nooks and crannies, trying to select things to change for spring (hard) and letting go of things for good (harder).
I open the windows wide and let the fresh air clean out the scents of last year.
It is easier to get inspired to decorate for spring, setting out different vases or candles, bedding or exchange of knick-knacks and to lighten up appearances.
We are creatures of habit and things become quickly second nature...


Fall/Winter look in our music/fireplace room

And now for spring and summer I change to light colored linen pillows, they have almost a nautical feel....

It is also an excellent time to clean out closets, pantry and medicine cabinets. The old headache pills you've kept for two years? OUT! That goes unfortunately for last year's sunscreen and many cosmetics. If in doubt - out!

All things have an expiration date, sometimes we tend to overlook that even those hiding bean cans need tossing....
It is certainly freeing and makes you feel tons lighter, when you clean out!  Follow up with paper work, books and magazines. 
Winter clothes need cleaning and fixing. When I begin, I always want to start again eating healthier as well. Winter, with it's usual party splurges and God knows how many holidays weekends, puts me always into a weight gain tailspin. I just can't seem to help it! Now is the time to shed pounds, literally and metaphorically speaking.

It is also for me a time for cleaning of the soul and it is no coincidence that many religions have this time of renewal build into the rhythm of the spiritual year. It makes sense to me and although I do not affiliate myself with any major religion, I do have the need to draw inside me, shed ballast I accumulated over the last year, try to meditate and find my center. Cleaning up the outside of my world helps me focus on inner renewal too! A wonderful kind of enlightenment! I listen to Schubert and lean back!

We start the day with lighter things too, cereals, fresh fruits, maybe an egg...gone are bacon, pancakes and maple syrup. I am not a fan of drastic measures and I trust my instincts. I like to have a time, where I feel body and soul have a new beginning. 

There is a time for everything! Nothing grounds me more!


Happy spring renewal! Open your arms wide!










Images via V.Zlotkowski

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It's Friday

And that means a crew outside is hacking away the old path, prepping our house for a new era!

Gone will be these broken stones, the meandering piece of a 50's walkway. Oh, I am so happy!

The light fixtures have been shipped, the door is on it's way, you must guess how excited I am we are.
I think I will keep a piece like a relic from the Berlin Wall somewhere in my keepsakes....

A very happy Friday indeed! (Today's breakfast for a very hungry boy!!!)


Wishing you a lovely weekend with sunshine all around!




XX
Victoria


All pictures by V.Zlotkowski

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Home again

Arriving home after one week is a pleasure, settling in with all the goods from Vermont...
Sitting down this morning to a cozy breakfast was a delight. We recalled the last days, discussed the progress the children have made during the last weeks skiing, the wonderful time we had in our clearly most beloved home away from home: Vermont!


There is maple smoked cheddar cheese and goat cheese from Cabot, maple syrup and a delicious blended honey maple spread, dill pickles from a local farmer in Eden and plum preserve from Grafton,VT!


We enjoy the local made foods and appreciate the pride people have in their home made goods. The Vermonters are special in this indeed. We felt they are incredibly self-reliant, from dairy products to baked goods, meets and sausages, wool and felt products, they have kitchen gardens and everywhere you can find hand made things, tastefully done. The land is well cared for and even in the depth of winter one can feel the love for the land and homes.
One of the beautiful crafts next to furniture making is glass blowing and in many small places you can find a glass blower with his wonderful ware. The most well known of course is Simon Pierce, but there are many more.



This time we brought home a gorgeous glass vase, created by the lovely woman Toby at Hot Glass Works in Jamaica, VT.


She and her husband have been there for over 30 years, hand blowing the most colorful glass. I found her shop purely coincidental while visiting Jamaica, VT. I admired her stained glass windows, small oil lamps and vases of all shapes and sizes.

Blue glass, dipped in silver!

It is wonderful to be home! There is sunshine outside and the temperatures are mild: 46 degrees , we checked, Vermont is still only 26 degrees!!! I promise to catch up with all of you, miss your posts!

Tonight is Oscar Night! Are you going to watch it?
Hope your Sunday is wonderful!

xx
Victoria




All images by V.Zlotkowski.

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