Mosaic Monday: Welcome Christmas

Is it too early? Do you not want to think about another holiday yet? Or maybe you're in a Grinchy mood from all that Black Friday shopping.

Personally, I never want to see another turkey again, unless it is wandering through my backyard. Every year, after Thanksgiving, my husband and I swear that next year we'll have baked ziti. And every year we cave. But 2010 will be the year. I swear to God. Because truthfully, I'm not all that grateful for poultry. But pasta? Yeah, baby. ;)

Before we get to the mosaics, I want to take a minute to welcome all of my new followers. I'm so happy to "meet" each and every one of you, and I'm honored that you take some time out of your busy day to visit Little Red House.

These photos are from last Christmas. What, did you think I was so together that I had gotten all my Christmas decorations up yesterday? Yeah, no. I'll probably still be putting the final touches up on Christmas eve. But I did have a lot of photos from last year that I never showed you. So here are a few. :)

Now let's have some mosaic fun! Here are the instructions:

1. Publish your Mosaic Monday post.
2. Once it is published, click on the title of the post. This will lead you to the static link for your post. The static link is the page with only that post on it. Copy the url from your browser at the top of the page.
3. Paste the url into the appropriate Mr. Linky box in this post.
4. Type your name in the appropriate Mr. Linky box in this post.
5. Click on "Enter."
6. Please link back to this Mosaic Monday post so that your readers can find other wonderful mosaics.
That's all there is to it! It's always a good idea to then check and see if your link is working. If you have any questions, feel free to email me: mrcarroll(at)optonline.net. I can't wait to see your mosaics! Here is Mr. Linky:

Quiet

It's quiet here this morning as I write this -- everyone is still abed. The wind outside is howling. November is going out with a vengeance. We had a quiet but nice Thanksgiving, and the dining room table still needs to be tidied. Dishes and flatware are waiting to be put away. My kids want to start the Christmas decorations today, and I must admit that I'm looking forward to doing it together. I miss the days when they were little. :)

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend, dear bloggers!

Just a reminder: go visit my interview at houzz and leave a comment to be entered in the drawing for a Target gift certificate.

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Please join me for Mosaic Monday this week. Mr. Linky will be up by 8:30pm Sunday. Remember there is no required subject for your mosaics. You may choose whatever content you wish. I look forward to seeing your creativity and imagination. :)

Little Red House in da houzz!

Just checking in for a quick note: Little Red House is featured today at the terrific decorating website houzz! If you haven't already discovered this amazing site, you are in for a real treat. Just a warning, though -- you can lose track of time when you start wandering through all the inspirational decorating photos here. :)

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. Thanks for all your sweet comments and your support. For those of you who are at the mall -- happy shopping. :)

I'm Truly Grateful

Just a little fun magazine cover that I made up last year. Things are getting a little crazy around here with the upcoming holiday, and the fact that I hurt my back while bagging groceries earlier in the week (Gah!) so I'm just going to take a few days to focus on family, and see you on the weekend.

May you and your families have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. And to everyone outside the US, enjoy your week, and know that one of the things I am most grateful for this year is the gift of your comments and friendships. Thank you so much. I am blessed!

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By the way, make your own magazine cover at Big Huge Labs. :)

Mosaic Monday: 2010 Calendar

Here is an unusual mosaic for you today. I've been busy making a calendar! I found the templates at Shutter Sisters, and added my own photos. The pages for each individual month are sized to fit in a holder made from a CD case. You gently remove the top of the case, turn it around, and reattach it to the base. That gives you a stand up holder. Then you simply slip the calendar pages in where the liner notes normally go. Voila!

They would also look really cute hung on the fridge with a magnet-backed clothespin or binder clip. I'll be getting some printed up this week, so I'll let you know later in the week how they turned out. :)

Now let's have some mosaic fun! Here are the instructions:

Publish your Mosaic Monday post.
Once it is published, click on the title of the post. This will lead you to the static link for your post. The static link is the page with only that post on it. Copy the url from your browser at the top of the page.
Paste the url into the appropriate Mr. Linky box in this post.
Type your name in the appropriate Mr. Linky box in this post.
Click on "Enter."
Please link back to this Mosaic Monday post so that your readers can find other wonderful mosaics.
That's all there is to it! It's always a good idea to then check and see if your link is working. If you have any questions, feel free to email me: mrcarroll(at)optonline.net. I can't wait to see your mosaics! Here is Mr. Linky:

Inspiration

I guess this has turned out to be a week of posts about my kitchen. I didn't really plan it that way. In fact, I rarely plan much about the blog at all. I tend to take photographs and then build my posts around them. I know it would be much better to have a plan, but I just can't seem to do it that way. Inspiration is important to me, and you can't really plan for it. It just happens.

This is the carved tile that is centered in the backsplash behind our kitchen range. I had actually considered putting an antique fireback in there, but couldn't find one that fit in with my cheap renovation plans. And I wasn't entirely sure that it could be attached to wallboard without pulling down half the wall. So I went to Home Expo for some inspiration, and came home with this tile. And it turned out just fine. :)

Today is my daughter's eighteenth birthday. I can hardly believe it's possible. I would post a picture, but she won't let me near her with my camera. Happy birthday, Pookie! (Yeah, even though Mom can't embarrass you with a picture, she can still use your baby name. And no, you cannot get a tattoo for your birthday!)

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I hope you will all consider joining me for Mosaic Monday. Mr. Linky will be up by 8:30pm Sunday night. Just a reminder for those of you who are new to the meme -- there is no set subject each week. You may create your mosaic on any subject that catches your fancy. I look forward to seeing your creativity!

Yellow and Green

Just some yellows and greens for you today. I've been busy cleaning out closets and drawers in my kids' rooms. Oy! But once it's done I'm sure there will be a great sense of accomplishment to be had. It's just that until then there is a royal mess that spreads across several rooms. You've got to break some eggs to make an omelette, right?

In the meantime, the light was so beautiful in the kitchen the other day that I had to record it. Isn't it funny how light can make such a difference in your attitude? Here's hoping we have a bright and sunny weekend.

Happy Friday, dear bloggers! :)

Feelin' Gravy

I probably make gravy about twice a year. We're just not a gravy kind of family. But I love gravy boats or sauce boats. I've already shown you my silver-plated collection. Here is a small creamware grouping in my kitchen.

I found this one in HomeGoods. It's from the Hera Collection, made by Roscher & Co. I love the twining leaves, and the curvy handle. It's such a pretty pattern that goes with any other creamware, and also with my brown transferware.

Isn't this little cabbage leaf sauceboat adorable? I found it a few years ago in my favorite thrift store. I've never actually used it for gravy, but I love to display it, and it makes a sweet little container for flowers too. It's ironstone, from Shorter & Son, Stoke-on-Trent, England.

This simple little beauty is another thrift store find. Very plain, but with quite beautiful lines. It looks like it may have been a piece of restaurant-ware.

Here they are, all lined up on the mantel above my kitchen range. That beautiful black iron cornbread mold was a gift from my dear friend, Robin. I love decorating with culinary antiques. And old iron makes a beautiful dark counterpoint to my soft yellow cabinets.

So, have I converted you yet? Are you feelin' groovy? Or maybe feelin' gravy? ;)

Mosaic Monday: Pink and Gold

We had an absolutely beautiful sunset on Sunday, with the sky shading from soft blues and golds to pinks and roses. Gorgeous! There are still some beautiful leaves clinging to the trees, but most have fled before the north wind. Darkness falls by early evening, and we turn inward to sit around the kitchen table and share a casual dinner. These are the quiet evenings I love, before the craziness of the holidays sets in. Sweet autumn. :)

Now let's have some mosaic fun! Here are the instructions:

1. Publish your Mosaic Monday post.
2. Once it is published, click on the title of the post. This will lead you to the static link for your post. The static link is the page with only that post on it. Copy the url from your browser at the top of the page.
3. Paste the url into the appropriate Mr. Linky box in this post.
4. Type your name in the appropriate Mr. Linky box in this post.
5. Click on "Enter."
6. Please link back to this Mosaic Monday post so that your readers can find other wonderful mosaics.

That's all there is to it! It's always a good idea to then check and see if your link is working. If you have any questions, feel free to email me: mrcarroll(at)optonline.net. I can't wait to see your mosaics! Here is Mr. Linky:

Coming Up for Air

I'm baaaack! Did you miss me? ;)

Just kidding. I somehow managed to get bronchitis on top of a flu-like virus. But I'm finally feeling as though I'd like to rejoin the land of the living. I sound terrible, and I'm weak as a kitten, but I'll live. lol My son went back to school on Tuesday, and is feeling much better except for a nasty cough. Thanks for all your get well wishes. :)

I hope you will all join me for Mosaic Monday this week. Mr. Linky will be up by 8:30pm Sunday. Have a wonderful weekend, dear bloggers!

Mosaic Monday: House of Contagion Edition

Welcome to Mosaic Monday! Yes, you read that title right. We're having a bit of a flu epidemic here at the moment. Or maybe just flu-like symptoms. At any rate, I have definitely felt better. My son, who attends school in Philadelphia, ended up in the emergency room Wednesday night with a fever, chills, aches, etc. My husband drove round trip three plus hours to bring him home. Endless cups of tea and bowls of soup later, he's beginning to feel slightly better, but now I have it.

Ick.

So this week's mosaic is just a bunch of images from last week, all bundled together. I'm thinking that I will be taking a few days off this week, and although I will visit all your mosaics, I probably won't be leaving comments. I hope you will understand. :)

And I hope that everyone else will take up the slack and encourage one another! Till later in the week then... :)

Now let's have some mosaic fun! Here are the instructions:

1. Publish your Mosaic Monday post.
2. Once it is published, click on the title of the post. This will lead you to the static link for your post. The static link is the page with only that post on it. Copy the url from your browser at the top of the page.
3. Paste the url into the appropriate Mr. Linky box in this post.
4. Type your name in the appropriate Mr. Linky box in this post.
5. Click on "Enter."
6. Please link back to this Mosaic Monday post so that your readers can find other wonderful mosaics.

That's all there is to it! It's always a good idea to then check and see if your link is working. If you have any questions, feel free to email me: mrcarroll(at)optonline.net. I can't wait to see your mosaics! Here is Mr. Linky:

Happy November

Well, it's definitely November here in New Jersey -- dropping into the high 30's overnight, with cool, windy days. But at least it's been sunny. And quite beautifully colorful, too. :)

We had such a terrific turnout for Mosaic Monday last week -- 90 participants! I have been overwhelmed by your wonderful images and your friendly comments. Please join me for Mosaic Monday this week. Mr. Linky will be up by 8:30pm Sunday.

Have a terrific weekend, dear bloggers!

Collecting Fever

I'll be the first one to admit that no one really needs more than one silver-plated gravy boat. But somehow, whenever I see one of these little babies, they just call my name.

I love the shape of the bowls, and the gently curving handles. And sometimes they have monograms, which are like icing on the cake as far as I'm concerned.

I tend to let them go unpolished. Patina is good, right? That's what I'm telling myself at the moment anyway. lol

I've gathered them together here on this painted tole tray, but I'm trying to find a permanent place to display them. Maybe in the kitchen?

So tell me, is there some object that calls your name? That you have too many of, but can't seem to stop collecting? Tell me all about that one special object, that you just can't resist.

Please tell me I'm not the only one who needs to tweak her meds. ;)

Tell Me, Do: Favorites Edition

I thought I would do a little slideshow for you today -- a few of my favorite things, collected from some of my flickr photos. There are twenty images on the show, so sit back and enjoy. Then don't forget to come back and answer our questions. This week they are all about favorites. :)

1. What is your favorite movie?

2. What is your favorite piece of clothing?

3. What is your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?

4. What was your favorite childhood book?

5. What is your favorite room in your home?

This one is easy -- one word answers for the most part. So I want to see lots of answers today! As always, my answers will be in the comments section. Have fun!

Mosaic Monday: Fall Foliage

OK, I swear to you that this will be the last autumn leaves mosaic for a while.

I promise.

But I've been editing fall foliage images all week, and I wanted to put them all together in the same place. Sometimes the whole is greater than the sum of it's parts, ya know? ;)

All of these images except the top left and the middle left were taken at my favorite park in Far Hills, NJ. It is called Natirar, and you can read about it here, in case anyone wants to learn more. I actually have so many images of Natirar that I could publish a book.

The building you see in the middle right photo was part of the original Natirar estate, and has since been purchased by a consortium of businessmen including Richard Branson of Virgin Airways fame. It is being developed into a luxury spa, restaurant and cooking school. But the surrounding land is owned by the county, and is open to the public as a park.

Now let's have some mosaic fun! Here are the instructions:

1. Publish your Mosaic Monday post.
2. Once it is published, click on the title of the post. This will lead you to the static link for your post. The static link is the page with only that post on it. Copy the url from your browser at the top of the page.
3. Paste the url into the appropriate Mr. Linky box in this post.
4. Type your name in the appropriate Mr. Linky box in this post.
5. Click on "Enter."
6. Please link back to this Mosaic Monday post so that your readers can find other wonderful mosaics.

That's all there is to it! It's always a good idea to then check and see if your link is working. If you have any questions, feel free to email me: mrcarroll(at)optonline.net. I can't wait to see your mosaics! Here is Mr. Linky: