Come on in......

Welcome to our humble abode!...
This is the sign that greats visitors to our front door. It's very special because it was handmade by my younger son, Alec, at 4H camp last year. I LOVE it!

I don't really have a decorating style... not one that you would put a name to or find in a country magazine. But it is MY style, and I love it. It's primitive, warm, cozy, peaceful, relaxing, country, family.... it's home.

When you walk in, you are greeted with a mix of antique and just plain old... in other words, some of the decor is not old enough to be antique, but just OLD. My husband's mother collected mirrors and picture frames... this mirror was part of her collection, and it now hangs in our entry-way. The urn came from my kids' great-grandmother's farmhouse (you could say my "ex-grandmother-in-law"... but it sounds better the other way, I think).

The display I put together on the staircase landing... (another urn from the ex-grandmother-in-law's house... by the way, even though I divorced her grand-son many years ago, I loved her. She passed a few years back, and I'm thankful to have these urns.)

A beautiful old quilt we found in Steve's mom's antique trunk.... it now graces our stairway.

Another of my attempts-to-be-tastefully-primitive displays...

And nothing really tasteful about this... plaid on plaid. Hmmmmmm....

The wood stove has always been one of my favorite things in the house. In the winter, it is our only heat source. In the summer, it gets to display some of my painted primitive boxes.

This is my mis-matched hodgepodge corner, which I love. The old lamp is another treasure from Steve's family. The chair was discovered in an uncle's home after his death... it was actually hand-painted by another aunt-by-marriage. Notice the table covering? It was my very own baby quilt.. made by my aunt when I was born 41 years ago!

The silhouette image is of my older son, Kyle -- now 18 -- this was made when he graduated from preschool. What a treasure! And the basket? It's special too .. made with love from a friend and fellow teacher, Jo.

What's that mess in the window? I told you I didn't have a decorating theme! It's not country, not primitive, and doesn't fit in with the rest of the decor... but they are beach treasures... from a vacation with my husband on a clear, cool November day before we were married. How could I not display these?

There's probably some rule against this in a decorating how-to book... I'm sure you're not supposed to display pine cones and sea shells within so many feet of each other?

Basket collection...

And more baskets! I love the basket tree in the corner. But talk about organized clutter!.. it almost hurts your eyes, huh?

The kitchen.
The china cabinets behind the table contain a mix of old and new... but again, all treasures in some way.

My oldest and favorite is this pitcher.... it belonged to my grandmother (mom's mother) who is pictured here. And before that it belonged to my grandmother's mother... priceless.

I have to wrap up my tour with a shot of my younger son, Alec... on the couch with his iphone.

That's a peak into my house, my life. We don't have anything expensive... but it's all priceless. Decorate with what you love... display your treasures, and it will be beautiful.