Feathering the Nest

By, Cheryl Harwell Bailey

 Hang old plates on the wall.
 Purchase plate hangers at the dollar tree or Wal-Mart for $1.00.
 Plates from mom or grandma, and yard sales.

Display your quilts on the back 
of sofas, chairs, even as a tablecloth!

 Make live bouquets of greenery or flowers.
 Wild flowers are pretty in old jars or tin cans, (remove labels).

Firelight, in the fireplace
 or a candle.

Wind chimes, a ticking clock, a teapot that whistles.
All these sounds say "HOME!"

 Open up your windows to allow your nest to breath.

Put an American Flag out every holiday.

 Simmer a bouquet of spices on the stove or in the crock-pot
 using orange slices, cinnamon, cloves, and 3Tbl. of water. 
Brewed coffee, apple pie baking, a fragrant fireplace, 
 fresh flowers, are all cozy scents.

 Cozy up with the ceiling fan.
 Use the small switch on your fans axis to turn blades 
clockwise to stay cool in warm weather
 and counter clockwise to circulate heat in the cold weather. 
Add a pretty tassel to the fan pull-chains.

Lamps can be purchased for pennies at yard sales, goodwill etc.
 Lamps with shades put out a cozy glow. Overhead lighting is not as beautiful. 
I bought this lead crystal lamp for $1.00 at a flee market last year.

 Put pretty tassels on furniture knobs and door knobs. 
Tassels are found in the notions section, curtain and drape area, 
at stores like Wal-Mart, Target, or the Dollar Tree at Christmas time.

 Give furniture or cabinets new life by 
replacing hardware, (knobs and handles).
The glass ones in my kitchen were less than $1:00 each.

Paint is cheap and gives a powerful punch to any room,
 furniture, indoors or out.

Use wrought iron furniture outdoors.
 It never wears out like plastic and wicker.

Beg and borrow seedlings, bulbs and plants from all who will listen.
 Flowers and a kitchen herb garden are a must for a cozy cottage nest.

Feed the birds. Put bird feeders, birdbaths,
 hummingbird feeders, bird houses everywhere.
 Feed the butterflies, plant a butterfly bush.

Bookcases mixed with, china teacups and saucers, old classic books,
 Children’s books, and a Bible.

Old family photos. Especially of weddings and babies.

 Potted plants in terra cotta pots.
 No plastic pots please.

Curtains (not heavy drapes) allow as much sunlight as possible.

 Decorate with nature’s treasures, pine cones, leaves, birds nest,
 and hollow eggs. Fallen butterflies (don’t kill them)!
 And fallen fuzzy bumble bees, pressed or dried flowers, sea shells.

Needlepoint, samplers, hook rugs, all of these are cozy!

Slipcovers can give new life to sofas, loveseats, and chairs.
 Make sure they’re machine washable.
I wash them every season!

Baskets are both beautiful and functional.
 Baskets are especially good for storage.

  
Mirrors, crystal, mercury glass,
 and silver reflect light and brighten up your nest.

Soft comforters, blankets, pillows, towels and sheets
 are a cozy must have. Down filled are the best.
 My grandma’s sheets were so soft! 
"I asked, how did you get them so soft grandma?"
" That’s easy, she said. They are 100 percent cotton. 
The older they are, the softer they are. like me!"

Use a staple gun, and glue gun to recover foot stools, chair seats,
 slipper chairs, window seats, benches in fabric, such as canvas or bark cloth.
Old and new extraordinary fabrics such as bark cloth can be purchased
 on eBay, goodwill, and yard sales for pennies.

Always hang something beautiful
 on your front door seasonally.

Cuddle
My Mom and Dad. Married 61 years.