Bloggy business and further decorative tweaking

I find myself doing a lot of decorative tweaking in the winter months, most likely... and this a no-brainer... due to spending more time inside.  I thought I'd share a few pictures after a "bloggy business information interruption" (say that three times fast).

I had a hic up in the Hotmail account a few days ago when a few e-mails just disappeared... poof... no idea where they went (not even in the delete folder).  So, if you don't hear from me... that is probably why.  One of them was from my blog friend who offered to loan me her copy of Marriage to a Difficult Man; The Uncommon Union of Jonathan and Sarah Edwards. 

Before I accepted the offer, I checked my library and found they actually had it!  I have already started reading it and so far think it is a wonderful biography!  Thank you, anyway.  :)

Speaking of e-mails (quickly), I get a lot of spam in my comments and e-mails.  Just recently, I found out a few reputable comments had been sent to the Blogger spam folder.  I know the same thing happens to the e-mail account.  So, if you don't see your comment listed here or get a response to your e-mail (although it can take awhile for me to respond)... that is most likely where they landed... spam folders.

Now, for pretty pictures...

I tweaked the bottom shelf of the china cabinet a little more after realizing it wasn't as pretty as the magazine picture.  I really like the way it looks now.  It needed a plate and a platter standing up in the back.  I just love getting inspiration from magazines.

The other shelves had plates displayed in the back so it also made the overall affect of the china cabinet more consistent.  The picture shown above is the middle shelf of the three.  I wish I didn't have to use a flash for it distracts slightly from the rich colors of the teacups.

When a blog friend, Margaret, sent me this cute wall quilt (along with a few other wonderful goodies), I was inspired by another decorating magazine picture to display it as shown.  All I did was lay it on top of a double mat and place it in the frame.  It took minutes and the mat wasn't harmed at all.  I love the way it looks in the living room.

That mat and frame was a thrift store find for just a few dollars long ago.  It has shown up in various forms in my pictures through the years, usually with a calendar page taped to the back of the mat... one could never tell it was not pricey artwork.  This is a new way to utilize it.

 While I'm doing a little "show and tell", this Victoria kitty was created, named, and dressed by my grandchildren at a Build-a-Bear in New England and sent home with Christopher and Miss M.  I enjoy the fact that they knew Grammie would love bunny slippers and a housecoat on her stuffed kitty.  Once again, the flash makes the stuffed Victoria more shiny than in person.

Her little friend is a bear my husband bought for me on a business trip to Germany eons ago.  He bought it in the airport on the way home and carried it, along with his briefcase, in the airplane, hehehe.  I can just see this tall engineer (who still looked somewhat like Harrison Ford back then) with a trench coat, brief case, carry on luggage, and a teddy bear tucked under his arm... airport security would probably get suspicious these days (that was just weeks after 9/11).

I'm sure there will be even more tweaking before I turn my attention to the outside come warmer weather.