an entertaining armoire and other stuff

 Hi everybody!

Hope you all are enjoying the holiday season!

We are having friends over tomorrow for a casual supper and I thought I would share the transformation of our old armoire that was lugged up to the mountains by the movers. It was used in our Ohio house in the living room/man cave to house the television that my husband watched sports on. 

It would have been nice to use it again in the same way but it did not suit the space next to the rustic hearth so the television is now exposed which is fine because in a cottage with one main living area, compromises have to be made. We decided to convert the armoire to a bar instead. (We have had 3 golden retrievers and have three watercolors. The wall needed color so I placed them two of them  here. They were scattered around our old house.)

It was an easy transformation as the shelves were in the perfect position. I lined them with grasscloth wallpaper.  I covered the big hole on the middle shelf that houses the glasses with a wicker flask. It had been drilled for all the cords. I attached little push stick-on lights for illumination. The wine racks are from Ikea.

I tried a mirror first but the space needed color and life. So I placed an old needlepoint I did many years ago on the back, using a push pin to hang it with. I first put it in our kitchen but moved it here after unpacking some watercolors that suited the small kitchen.

Here is the super simple table setting for tomorrow's dinner, nothing fancy. Did not even iron the linen napkins. I actually love to iron napkins but these look great natural.

The amaryllis I planted a few weeks ago has been gorgey. The narcissus are taking their time. Usually the other way around. 

We are finally feeding the birds.  Fearful of the bears in the warm weather, we had not put put out the feeders although plenty of people up here do. We bring it in at night. So wonderful to see them flitting around. So far, nuthatches, chickadees and tufted titmouses. Not sure if we will keep it up in the summer. After having dogs, several bird feeders, pond fish and frogs in our Ohio house, we are excited to finally be sharing space with living creatures! The feeder hangs off the little side grilling deck.

It has been warm enough for porch living. Amazing in December for us snowbirds! With the vinyl blinds rolled down, it is very warm and toasty. 

We enjoyed a warm winter hike in town a few days ago. Discovered this cool barn

and Lindenwood Lake, part of the Highlands Biological Station and Nature Center.

We were in Atlanta visiting friends last weekend and checked out the Cezanne and the Modern at the High Museum.  It is the collection of Rose and Henry Pearlman. Several pieces of an artist I was not familiar with were included, as well as other artists. We loved the all the work of Chaim Soutine, this one was my favorite...

I love the huge plate installation in the lobby of the High by Molly Hatch. It is gorgeous! She hand painted over 400 plates to create a beautiful mosaic.

She describes it here. 

photo: High Museum of Art

That's all for now. 

Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah everyone!

Cindy