brrrrrr…...

I have not left the house since Monday, except to walk to the mailbox up the street to retrieve the pile that was held for me while I was away.   Next week promises another Polar Air attack but I will be elsewhere.

So what have I done all week? 

Over the weekend I picked up the 1880's mantle clock I took from my mother's and had fixed by the antique clock expert who also fixed the 200 year old grandfather clock that my son inherited.  Honestly, I was going to give the mantle clock away, since it didn't work - but when the clock guy spotted it and raved, I had to let him fix it.  It is here now, ticking away.  It dings on the half-hour and has a beautiful, mellow chime on the hour.  I find it very comforting.  

Monday I spent all day at IKEA looking for storage solutions for this sewing room/office.
I have made lots of progress; you just can't tell from this picture - LOL.

Took lots of measurements and notes and will go back in a few weeks to sit down with a design helper that can work on planning the space with me.  The wire basket (purchased on Monday) is now a repository for Helene's hand-dyes, which I seem to have been collecting since 1997.  Still working on ironing/cutting/sorting by color and am wondering why I have so many drawers and bins of other fabrics.  A few years ago I gave away a ton of fabrics to a friend, but you'd never know it now.

Found this old card while I was going through the family stuff (still cluttering up that end of the room in the picture.  

Yesterday, I finally got out the strips I had been auditioning in Paducah and put them on the bulletin board/mini-design wall.  Who knows what this will be, if anything??  But it is keeping me amused and I am working with color combinations I don't normally use.

I have been making gallons of soup. First, a divine wild mushroom soup (minus the garnish) inspired by the one we had in a restaurant last week.

 Next, a to-die-for butternut squash, white bean, kale soup that was the best thing I have ever tasted. (well, top of the list, anyway). It is a bit of work, but worth it. 
This recipe comes from a blog called For Love of the Table.

I was so cold yesterday (and out of soup) that I couldn't contemplate a cold dinner.  So I got out the head of cauliflower I had bought on the weekend and made Mark Bittman's Curried Cauliflower Soup.  There are a million recipes for this if you google it, but I like Mark's because it is quick and doesn't have any fat or potatoes.  I used light coconut milk and was out of cilantro, but I ate it twice today, it was so good.  Actually, this recipe looks excellent, too - and I might try it next time.  

Oh - and today I wrote my Winter 2014 newsletter and sent it out tonight.  If you want a copy and don't already subscribe, just add yourself to the link on the sidebar and I'll make sure you get one.

Well, my clock has chimed 12 and I should get a good night's sleep.  I must admit is is a luxury not to have to get up at the crack of dawn.  Tomorrow - boring old chicken soup.