Mimi Sue's Cottage

A home is much more than a house built of lumber, brick, or stone. A home is made of love, sacrifice, and respect. We are responsible for the homes we build. We must build wisely, for eternity is not a short voyage. There will be calm and wind, sunlight and shadows, joy and sorrow. But if we really try, our home can be a bit of heaven here on earth. Thomas S Monson







Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Bookcases!

Cue the hallelujah chorus!
 
The bookcases are done!
 
The Mister did a fabulous job on them. 
 
I know I'm a lucky girl to have a husband that was willing to tackle
this huge job.   Thank you sweetie!
 
 
We've had boxes and boxes of books in our storage room for the last four years
that are now seeing the light of day.
 
Fireplace surround, hearth and mantle are still on our list.
It'll be a great project when the weather is cooler and we're not spending so
much time working in the yard.


 
There's a nice little spot for the television and it's accessories.

 
And lots of storage underneath.


Our last house came with a large built in bookcase.
 
I spent months sifting through books at the thrift store looking for fun titles and covers
that were just the right colors.  It's a sickness, what can I say?
 
But the result was pretty cool.

 
Cute accessories...hello from Hollyhocks and Honeybees boutique.
It's called the Hive and she's having another one in the fall.



 
And now I have my decorating books out and available.
 
It's like seeing old friends.

 
It was a long and tedious project but soooo worth it.
 
It's so nice to check off another thing on our to do list!
 

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Sunday Sayings

 
"A life without love is like a year without summer."
                                                                                                      Swedish Proverb

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Happy Pioneer Day!

In our beautiful state of Utah, the 24th of July is set apart as a day
to celebrate our Pioneer heritage.
 
There are parades and barbecues and fireworks.
 
Sounds just like another July celebration, doesn't it?
 
Almost everyone in Utah has the day off!
 
Another reason to celebrate!
 
A few years back we drove through Wyoming, our state neighbor to the north and east.





















They also honor the brave men and women
who left all that they knew and set out for the wilderness in search of religious freedom and a better life.
 


 
Whether your family came across the plains in a covered wagon or flew over our nation in a 747,
it's a great day to stop and think about where we came from and the sacrifices that our ancestors made to make
this country what it is today.
 
 
Happy Pioneer Day!

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Sunday Sayings

 
 
"Before you act, listen.
 
Before you react, think.
 
Before you spend, earn.
 
Before you criticize, wait.
 
Before you pray, forgive.
 
Before you quit, try."
 
                                       Ernest Hemingway

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Fairy Garden

 
 
I've been wanting to plant a fairy garden for several years.
 
This year there were no plans to plant lawns, build patio covers or install fences
so I decided that this would be the year!
 
 
I found a cute little chair that was just the right size for a garden fairy.
 
I already had a polka dot mushroom.
 
 
In my shed I found a picnic basket that had seen better days that wasn't being used for anything.  I lined it with cocofiber
that I got from the nursery.

 
A  half a cup of fish tank gravel made a great little path.

 
Baby tears, an impatien, maidenhair fern, and a little polka dot plant surrounds the fairy chair.

 
And a tiny little white bunny to keep the fairy company when she comes to visit.
 

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

A Sweet Treat

 
When the Sweet Peas were here we decided to try a new recipe I saw on Pinterest.
 
It's a sweet and gooey treat!
 
 
 
 
It's the Rice Crispy Treat recipe only instead of Rice Crispies (crispys??) you use Trix cereal. 
 
 It was a huge hit with the kids.
 
And also the son in laws.
 
And probably the son.
 

 
 
A little too sweet for Grandpa though.
 
I just loved all the pretty colors.

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Sunday Sayings





"Expecting a trouble free life because you are a good person is like
expecting the bull not to charge you because you are a vegetarian."
Jeffery R Holland
 

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Our Fun 4th

We had the Sweet Peas and their parents here for a fun in the sun 4th of July week!
 
We decorated a few sidewalks.
 

 
We swung on the swing.

 
We played with balloons and giant flyswatters from the Dollar Store.




 
We watched a parade.
 
It was sure hot!


 
We spent the day at Cherry Hill, a local water park.





We went to the Children's Museum in Ogden, we celebrated a birthday, we played on the slip n slide, we ate, we watched some fireworks, we ate some more. and we sure had fun!
 
And now the house is too quiet.
 
There isn't a pile of dishes to be washed.
 
No big meals to be made.
 
No hugs and kisses from little people.
 
No sticky fingers to wash.
 
 No little voices floating up the stairs.
 
 
Sigh...
 

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Sunday Sayings

 
 
"The grass isn't always green on the other side.  It's green where you water it."  Anonymous

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Happy 4th of July!

 
 
The 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays.
 
We're spending it with family and friends.

In our little town today
 there's a parade, carnival, barbecue, and of course fireworks tonight.

 
Hope your Independence Day is safe and happy!



Loads of Love,

Mimi













Tuesday, July 2, 2013

A Mystery

 
Do you remember this post?
 
It was about the little wire heart hanger filled with yarn for the beautification
and comfort of the neighborhood birds nests.
 
 I happily hung it on a little branch in one of our trees.
 
And waited.  And waited.  And waited.
 
I never saw one single bird take one single strand of yarn out of the thing.
 
Although one day I saw a squirrel hanging from the basket taking a few
brightly colored pieces of yarn for his (her) nest.
 
 
 
The other day I went out to check on it and this is what I found.

 
No wire heart thing.
 
Only little pieces of yarn scattered here and there.


 
 
I've looked all over the place for the little wire hanger.
 
I don't think the squirrels were strong enough to take it.
 
Could it have been a raccoon? 
 
 
It's a mystery.