From "inspired" to Reality...Thanks Cindy!

One of my favorite blogs to read is Cindy's "My Romantic Home". Well, a few months back she ventured out and while on one of her adventures, she found one of the most appealing stores. In one of her pictures, there was a door panel and it immediately caught my eye. It was made with a fabric that I had hanging in my living area and it was matched with one of he coordinating fabrics. Why on earth I didn't think of this makes me want to kick my own arse (not an easy feat). You see, I'd been struggling for months and months, trying to decide what I would use on that door. It's not the most attractive of doors, but I would never part with it because it is original to my house, and being that there are not many "originals" left, I'd like to preserve what little is left. Anyway, back to the door. The door is located between my picture window and a smaller window that is in our "dining area". The panels that decorate these windows are from Waverly and called "Pantry Plaid-Crimson". I'd bought a matching panel but returned it because it was just to much. Since that time, I'd not been able to find anything that would blend well with the plaid...Until now. Gotta love, love, love Waverly.


With Cindy's permission, here is her photo that just grabbed me.
What a wonderful room isn't it?

Here's my door...
My stepdaughter's mom made it for me. What's really great is I all ready have the tablecloth that matches the floral fabric. I'm not usually one for matchy matchers, but these are two fabrics I really do like a lot. I think I may need to have hubby set the bottom rod just a tad lower so that the "grate" that is hiding behind that panel is completely obscured. There is a metal grate there because there are three panels of glass on this door. With two young sons and three rather rambunctious canines, I dare not leave the glass unprotected (or the kids and dogs either). Oh, and the clock will be rehung about one to two inches lower as well. It's just here because there was all ready a nail set there and I didn't want to create another hole...lazy me.

So? What do you think? (never mind the holes on the door, you don't see them! You really don't! And you don't see those little boy finger smudges either! They are just figmants of your imagination.)

Stop and look around you.....

Living in such fast paced times, where everything seems to be about how fast you can get somewhere or do something, I've realized that I truly need to remind myself to "stop" and take a look at what is around me, lest I miss it.
In the morning, before I get the kids up for school...I spend a moment a watch the sun rise over the mountains in the distance, or I'll stop to watch the birds as they go about their morning business.
Back in April, my family and I were fortunate enough to be able to take a much anticipated and deserved vacation. One of our stops was the Grand Canyon. If ever there was a time to just STOP and take in the beauty and appreciate the awesomeness of God and Nature's creation...it's here, in this place. It's simply breathtaking, and no where else have I ever felt such a moment where the need to just Thank God for his blessings and gifts was so intense. This mighty canyon, in all it's greatness, holds such natural beauty.
So today, after you've gone to church, or cleaned house, or just ran errands. Remember to stop and take in the gift of the beauty that is around you. There is much to behold and to appreciate.

Have a wonderful day.

Pink Saturday...

It's that time again! Yay for Pink Saturday! Pink Saturday is graciously hosted by Bev at "How Sweet The Sound". Be sure to pay her a visit and see who else is "wearing" pink

One Pink Dress of fluff~~~Two Sweet Girls

This dress was made for my eldest girl when she was but 14months old. Yes this little gal is now twenty~three and in her last year of pre-med.
Some years later the dress found a new owner in "baby sister" when she was but 10 months old. This baby girl is now seventeen years old, a senior in high school, and busily applying for colleges.

Where or where does the time go?
I hope everyone has a great Pink Saturday! (and weekend too!)

E-A-T (and got tagged!)

Hi!
I've been busy scoping out new decor and accessories. I can't even begin to tell you how overwhelmed I'm feeling. I don't want to spend to much so I'm really making sure that whatever I choose I better like a whole lot! I'm also finding my creative side. Look what I did! Granted they are not "perfect", but for a "first timer" I'm happy with the way they came out. I really like them. Now I'm just trying to figure out if I should hang them above the window that's over the sink, or if I should hang them over the red shuttered doors that are at the end of the kitchen. Care to share your opinions? Thanks!





Deb, the Garage Sale Gal, tagged me!
It's the fun one. I'm to list 7 things about yourself...random, funny or whatever...Hmmm, let's see...

1. I'm not afraid of spiders. In fact if I see one in my house, I'll rescue it before anyone else sees it, either by picking it right up, letting it crawl on me, or getting a cup and letting it crawl inside. Then I take it outside and deposit it into my front planters. I can't help but wonder how many have come back inside (lol).

2. Even though I was born and raised in the city (suburbs actually), I long for a country home. Somewhere thats quiet. I'd prefer somewhere along the central coast where the pines meet the ocean.

3. I love vegetables and salads.

4. When I was younger I always SWORE I would NEVER, EVER drive a mini van. Guess what. I drive a mini van. LOL!

5. I love dogs and have three right now.

6. I love coffee! I grind my own beans fresh, every day and enjoy two cups every morning.

7. I love classic movies like "Wuthering Heights, The Ghost & Mrs. Muir", and most anything with Gene Kelly.

I know I have to tag others, but I say if you feel like participating and want to share a bit of yourself with us, then please do!

I hope everyone has a FANTASTIC day!

"An Enchanted Cottage" is having an Enchanted Give away!

Be sure to visit Donna at "An Enchanted Cottage" to enter. She's put together some great treasures for some lucky winner's Autumn decor. Go enter! Go enter now! I'll see you there!

Surprise!

Yes! It's really me and we've been busy. Here's the big surprise!
After over a year in "arrested development", some progress has been made on my kitchen. The walls, ceiling, & cabinets were painted. Plus the ceiling was repaired! Yahoo!!! No more holes, no more Corona cardboard taped over the holes. I don't know if you can imagine how happy, that in itself, makes me. The walls are Behr "Wickerware" and the cabinets & ceiling are super white. All done in semi gloss to make cleaning much easier on me. The bifold doors at the end of the kitchen (that lead to my laundry room. I'll share that another day) are colonia red in high gloss. We are not finished yet though. Not by a long shot. I still need to hang a wood applique of some kind above the doors where the microwave is, but I'll decide if I really need it after the molding is up. Yes, we still need to install the molding around the top of the cabinets and after that I'll decide if I want to take the molding all the way around the room. These will be painted in a super white high gloss. While I love the look of crown molding, I'm concerned that it may be "to much" in such a small space. As you can see this is a typical 1950s galley style kitchen. I like to think it's functional, yet cozy...c'mon roll with me on this one. Hubby was great about installing all the new pulls for the cabinets and drawers...and YES! Those are my restored hinges you see. It's so gratifying, satisfying and electrifying (LOL) to see them back up in all their glory. All that hard work was definitely worth it. Since they are a polished chrome I chose polished chrome pulls for the drawers and cabinets. Hubby's contribution to the whole project? He picked out the cabinet pulls.
So, we stop for now. Down the road we will update the counters and the flooring. I'd also like to add a bead board backsplash and we still have bead board to hang on the side of the base cabinet. I'm also thinking about adding "feet" to the cabinets to give them more of a "furniture" kind of look. The cabinet where my glassware is currently, is another one of my dilemmas. Do I leave the doors off (of course we'd remove the hooks inside the cabinet) or do I install glass fronts and then rehang the doors. Your thoughts? Ah, plus I still need to decide what to do to cover the windows. There are faux wood blinds behind those sheers. I'm thinking perhaps hanging a valence and cafe panels...sigh* Your thoughts?
Right now my computer armoire is here in the kitchen, but that is another "just for now" thing. My goal is to convert a closet into our computer space and then add a small table and two chairs to the kitchen area.
Pfew! So much done, but still so much that remains on the "to do" list. Right now I'm going through my "art" and accessories to see what I want to keep, what I want to make over and what I'll be parting with. I also need to have my crate labels framed. Those will go on the wall where the computer armoir is currently.
It's good to be back! Thanks to all who left comments for me.


BEFORE:




Then cabinet, counters and shelves were added and microwave was mounted above the stove...Recessed lights installed but holes and cuts from old lighting and fans were covered by the Corona boxes.

I'll call this our "DURING" We've still so much left to do, but I wanted to show you what had been accomplished so far.



I'm so happy with the way the new hardware looks with my restored hinges.


I will be removing that paper towel holder & buying a new coffee pot. I love mine, but it's beginning to sputter. I'm just going to buy the same brand in the newer, prettier style.

So once the molding is up, I'll be working on the decorating. The really fun part of this whole process! I cannot wait. I think we may be getting the molding up within the next few weeks or so.

Going MIA for a few days...

I will not have computer access for a few days. I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday! I'll see you when I return...with a big surprise!