Morning Glory Cottage

Here's to 2012 being a better year

2012-01-01T22:18:00.000-08:00

This is one year I'm not sorry to see go. Most of blog land is doing a year in review. It's been a pretty dismal year. There's been some good times, but I'm not sorry to put this year to rest. So may 2012 be a better year for everyone.

Happy New Year!!

Hugs, Amanda

The Bare Bones

2011-12-29T15:17:00.000-08:00

Well we're still moving. Have most of the moving out part done. Just the guest house remains to be gone through. That will be my job because it's mostly my stuff. The main house is empty and it's kinda hard to walk through there. It echoes and its cold, not the little cottage that we once lived in. Stuff really does make a home.

I thought I would share some before photos of our new duplex. It's small and definitely cozy once all the stuff was in.

Exterior views. Yep, I warned you it was tiny. These pictures of the front aren't the best. I was being bad and took them from my van. The garages set between the two units.

Tiny patio. Potted plants and a patio set will brighten this up right away.

The living room - nice big window with a big ledge. Decorating potential.

Kitchen/Dining room - small but efficient (or so I tell myself)

Guest/craft/office room - another big window ledge - Miss Kitty will love this.

Our bedroom - with a grand view of the patio/garden area

Bathroom -

And there you have it. The grand tour, all 871 square feet of it in all of it's plain vanilla potential. I know you're probably all wondering why we've moved. We had such a cute house. I've debated and debated about whether or not to put that on here, our reason for moving. But that's another post. This one is long enough.

Hope you enjoyed the pictures. More to come.

Hugs, Amanda

2011-12-02T16:53:00.001-08:00

Tomorrow is moving day. I'm looking forward to it and I'm not looking forward to it. Having to decide what stays and goes, where to put everything. Not looking forward to that.

I am looking forward to decorating it and having a much smaller place to take care of. We've rented a duplex. On a single level - so no more stairs. My knee is very happy about that. No more yard work. Though I've loved it in the past I'm just not able to do it anymore. It just kills my knee. :0( So new adventures await. Smaller payment that's for sure. Looking forward to that.

I took lots of pictures of the empty place today. I'll be sharing soon. Wish us luck.

Hugs, Amanda

2011-11-12T11:32:00.001-08:00

It's finally official. We're moving. Downsizing considerably. A new adventure awaits. Stay tuned for lots of pictures and other updates in the next several weeks.

2011-09-29T22:34:00.000-07:00

Honestly I'm still alive. I've not been abducted by aliens or gnomes or anyone else. Work has been chaotic and hectic. Leaving me so tired when I get home that I have no energy or inclination to do any kind of project. Then I've had a horrible flair up of tendinitis in my right shoulder. I'm right handed and I can barely brush my hair or get dressed. I hate being incapacitated. And here I am whining. I just wanted to let you all know that I haven't forgotten the blog world. Actually I'm spending way too much time on Etsy and Pinterest.
Hugs, Amanda

Road Trip

2011-09-12T19:55:00.000-07:00

So seems like all I do lately is work. No fun. We're really short handed so we all pitch in as we're able. So I haven't been getting any projects around the house done.

Enough whining. Recently my two best friends and I went up the road to Good Goods. I had read about it from another blogger, Secret Garden Cottage, who lives here in the valley also. Was the second trip in just a few months. Went for my birthday back in July. I'll share a "few" pictures of this gorgeous place. I could move right in and only have to bring my clothes. I don't think the gentleman who owns it thought I was serious. Go figure. Enjoy some great eye candy.

Goofy daughter and niece pictures.

Yep, that's an indoor outhouse.

These were taken with my cell phone, so they're not the best. I keep forgetting my big camera. I guess I'm so excited to be going that I just hop right into the car.

Good Goods is this fabulous place on quite a few acres located in Farmersville, CA. Don't remember how many acres the gentleman told me he had, but he has brought several buildings to his property from the surrounding area. Its a little history lesson just being there. He has the barn, a school house (seen in the background in the 2nd picture), water tank house, a little cottage, and of course the house. Sigh... I could stay there all day. Also went to Hobby Lobby. Love this place and though a bit of a drive its closer than any other. Hope you enjoyed the trip to Good Goods.

Hugs, Amanda

Summer Travels

2011-08-17T21:02:00.000-07:00

It's been such an eventful summer and a tearful summer. Didn't get a whole lot done, but did travel quite a bit. Even got to mark a state off my map that I hadn't been to before. That's a good thing.

In June we traveled to Sacramento to see our kids graduate from their tech school. Was a very different graduation and that's enough said on that subject. Tina traveled to Wyoming with some friends and found a job there. That's been a little rough to except. That my baby girl is living in Wyoming now. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

We went back up to Sacramento for a great time with the kids and their friends for the 4th of July. We also did our annual camping trip to San Simeon on the coast. It was wonderfully cool and was hard to come home to hot weather. Yuck! We did visit the elephant seals and played in the sand, sun and surf. So much fun.

The big kids all played ultimate frisbee, soccer and volleyball.

Afterwards we all gathered for yummy hamburgers and hot dogs with a whole bunch of fixin's.

Camping trip - San Simeon

Beginning of August we packed up our daughter's little car and our van. We drove to Sacramento where we picked up her brother and headed for Wyoming with a stop over in Salt Lake City and a midnight tour of the downtown area because we got seriously lost. Our GPS did not like that city. A little embarrassing to show up on our friends doorstep at 2 a.m. but it is what it is. From there we went on to the little town in Wyoming where our daughter now lives.

Early morning view outside of Salt Lake City

Mineral Springs

Small Wyoming town

Red Canyon in Wyoming

I believe this is an old rock quarry but it didn't say anything and it was my best guess.

Leaving Wyoming was hard. Hard to realize that our girl is old enough to live so far away from home. Our son has chosen to find a job in Sacramento and live there. So our closest child is 5 hours away. We are definitely empty nesters now.

I did work on my sewing room and the yard a bit and I hope to spend a lot of time this fall working on projects around here. Hope your summer was great too. I can't wait to spend Friday evenings catching up on blog land. Take care.

Hugs, Amanda

2011-08-02T08:08:00.000-07:00

I know, I know. I've seriously neglected the blog this summer. I've been too busy if there is such a thing. Lots to share when I get back from Wyoming.

Yard Work

2011-07-06T09:54:00.000-07:00

I've been really busy. Trying to get way too many things done before it gets scorching hot. One of the things we have been working on is the back yard. Seems likes there's always something to do with yard work.
We started with this big pile of left over dirt (from leveling the yard last summer)(see here) on the small patio (that's what I call this large piece of concrete). I think hubby put it off so long because he thought it would be such a chore. Only took about an hour and a half.

One lonely rose bush. This whole area will eventually be a small rose garden. Bought the bush then realized we still had bubbler sprinklers to add. So didn't buy anymore rose bushes. This fall I will though.

Now looks like this! Yeah, no more dirt pile.

Morning glories will grow just about anywhere if left unattended. I just had to snap this picture before we cleaned this corner out.

Cleaned the morning glories out for this, a small garden with 3 heirloom tomatoes, a pepper plant and an eggplant. Yum!

The grape is doing splendid this year. It's so loaded with fruit. Glad the carpenter made this extra strong.

So those are some of the things I've been busy with. Along with redoing my sewing room. A complete update on that coming soon. Lots of changes in that room. Got the bubblers in and now it's too hot to plant anything else this summer. So my flower beds are kind of bare. There's always next summer. Have a great week.
Hugs, Amanda

2011 Graduation Quilts

2011-06-09T09:19:00.000-07:00

May is extremely busy for me. There's everything going on at work and then we always attend a Christian retreat at the beginning of May every year. Not complaining, just stating a fact. So I didn't get around to posting a whole lot this past month. But now it's summer break. I can't wait to get all the projects I've been putting off done.
Silly me thought I would start a project at the beginning of May. It's still waiting to be completed. That's what I'm working on now. Sneak peek.

What I really wanted to show you though was the quilts. Of course you can see last years quilts here and the year before here. My quilter friend and I both choose 8th graders that have touched our heart and moved us in some way over the past school year. It helps that we both work at the same school. My friend Kelly keeps me motivated in the quilting department. Without her I probably wouldn't be quilting and I certainly wouldn't be tackling 6 quilts. That's what I did over Memorial Weekend. Sewed and quilted. Extreme quilting. We got it done and the students were so proud and amazed. We love doing this and we hope that it encourages them in their future endeavors to know that someone cared enough to make them something special. So here they are.

I think the most amazing part is that this year we actually had grass under the quilts. Thanks for visiting.
Hugs, Amanda

Yep Still Here

2011-05-25T20:51:00.001-07:00

Yep, I'm still here. I've been trying to work on some projects plus do all the end of year stuff at school. May is an exhausting, long month if you work in education. Especially when it's a middle school (which means graduation and all it's work.) Bear with me. I will be back.

Hugs to all,

Amanda

Saying Goodbye

2011-05-05T21:39:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone. It's been a long, hard week. Book fair at school/work and of course the students are getting wild because summer vacation is coming. Today I had to put to sleep our dog of 13 years, Rascal. He will be sorely missed. He just got so sick last night and I couldn't bear to see him in anymore pain. Rascal was very much Seth's dog. They did a lot of things together.

Trigger keeps wondering where he is. He's pacing a lot. He'll settle down eventually. Trigger turned 2 today. So there's a bright spot. Perhaps we'll find him a companion. Someone closer to his age that will play with him.

So, not feeling too cheerful I turned to my sewing tonight. I got my bedroom curtains done, well at least one side. I went to F&M Fabrics over spring break. A dangerous store if you like to decorate and sew. It's huge and the prices are right. I only paid $5 a yard for all the fabric I bought. Score! Here's the one side. It's night and I know we're not supposed to use a flash but I couldn't wait to post a picture. I'll take better ones soon.

Mucho hugs to all,
Amanda

Main bath mini re-do

2011-04-27T06:00:00.000-07:00

So most of you remember this as being the way the main bath looks and you can read about it's ugly beginning here.

and you might also remember this fab shower curtain that I sewed. Reveal will be in future guest house post.

I had it laid out like this to determine where I wanted each block to go.
Many of you know that my father-in-law lives with us. We moved him from the guest house to the main house when the kids moved out. He's been needing some closer attention lately. I just knew my pretties would not last in this room. A wet rag thrown over this shower curtain would cause me to see red. So I concocted a plan. Remember these?

Yep I moved them to here.

Funny all the coastal/beachy stuff from the two rooms in the guest house fit into this one room. Curious...
The curtain I got at Target during their blue and white sale a couple months ago. No need to worry about a wet rag with this curtain. The only new things I bought were the curtain and new towels. Ours were getting kind of old and raggedity looking. Fortunately the blue in the guest house bathroom and the blue in this room are very similar. Strangely I don't feel quite done in this room yet. But I will eventually.
What moved to the guest house, now that's for another post. Guess you'll have to come back.
Have a great week.
Mucho hugs to all,
Amanda

Organize that Storage Area!

2011-04-26T06:00:00.000-07:00

If you have a weak stomach you might want to close your eyes. This post is not for the faint hearted. Remember I warned you.
So this is what remains of our garage. 5 years ago we added a guest house to the back of it. One bathroom and bedroom sit in the garage. We never parked our cars in there and it always was a place to attract clutter. Well obviously it still is. But I have a dream.... (yes I stole that shamelessly. Martin isn't the only one to dream)....
So here it is in all it's present glory...

Why yes that is the yard sale pile waiting for the yard sale this spring. Those empty bins once contained fabric now stored neatly folded on shelves in the craft room. Yes that would be my laundry area in the far right corner inglorious as it is. I hate it in the winter when I have to trudge outside to do laundry, but love it in the summer when I hang all my laundry up right outside the side door. Hmmm maybe it's those two large posts for the new honeysuckle's trellis that I tripped over that caused the knee to flare.
So this is what I want it to be when I get done....

Okay so a girl can really dream.... but you'll have to wait to see what I come up with. It won't cost a lot because we have two college kids, but it's gonna be better. Reveal coming sometime later this ~~year~~ month. If you have any suggestions, please feel free to leave a comment. Thanks.
Mucho hugs to all,
Amanda
Photo credit in order of appearance
www.closet-shelf.com
www.home-storage-ideas.com
www.mysmilenetwork.com
www.bhg.com
www.countryliving.com
www.shabbynest.blogspot.com
www.bhg.com

Another Project Done

2011-04-21T18:15:00.000-07:00

Spring break is here and I've been getting a few projects done. Well until my knee flared up today. Drat that knee. It's had enough I guess. Remember this project?

Yes, it's finally complete. Even got the doors hung. Yippy skippy for me. Here it is in it's home spot.

Money break down:
Shelf $8.98
Paint $0 already had it from other projects done in this room
hardware $0 reused
$8.98
Yep like them figures. Of course I will eventually add knobs when I redo the sink vanity in this room. That's a whole 'nother post.
Of course I'm not totally done decorating this room. Not just yet.
I'll be linking up:
On Sunday, at Creative Homemaker on a Dime - Creative Bloggers Party & Hop
On Monday, April 25th at Censtational Girl - All Things Painted.
On Thursday at My Cottage Charm - Trinkets and Treasures
On Friday at My Romantic Home - Show and Tell Friday
On Friday at Miss Mustard Seed - Furniture Feature Friday
On Friday at French Country Cottage - Feathered Nest Friday
Care to join us?
Have a great Easter weekend.
Mucho hugs to all,
Amanda

2011-04-15T22:57:00.000-07:00

Just a teeny post to show where the kiddos hung the shelf I gave them. It's over their sink in the kitchen. I also gave them the coffee print, tea canister that looks like a milk can, the cup, and the miniature coffee grinder. Hey what are moms for? I think it looks good. Not the best photo because it was taken with his phone. It's spring break this week and I feel great. So I hope to get a tremendous amount done. If the weather will corporate.

Updates and Wishes

2011-04-13T19:37:00.000-07:00

Oh my goodness it's been forever since I've blogged. Shame on me. Work has been hectic and it's been cold and rainy which causes my arthritis to flare and I've felt like getting nothing done. So I haven't. There the ugly truth is out. Actually I've been embroidering, so I have done something. And reading everyone else's blogs and all the lovely projects they've been getting done. Wish our warm weather would come back. Work gets really busy at this time of year. But next week is spring break and I'm hoping for some warm weather with my toes, fingers and eyes crossed.

Lately it's just felt like our house is too big and at 1300 square feet it isn't large. But being empty nesters for the first time ever (we had our first child 10 months after getting married) perhaps that's why. Also looking at all the things still to do and not feeling up to doing them makes me dream of 2 bedroom apartments and someone else fixing everything. Well that's just wishful thinking.

Well just thought I would let you know I'm still alive. Hope, hope, hoping for warm weather next week. Stay tuned to see if it does get warm.

Ta ta for now.

A bookcase and a Few Little Projects

2011-04-04T15:05:00.000-07:00

So last week was amazing, even with the bad news about my knee. The carpenter was home! and he did a project for me because I needed him to do that. I had this really long shelf in the office and it came crashing down prior to his homecoming. I wasn't about to try to put it back up. Fortunately only one thing got broken, but now I needed a spot for all those books I'm just not ready to part with yet. So happy dance he made his mom a bookcase. As par for the course you'll get a picture in it's half finished state. Also finished a few little projects for the kids apartment.
Finished up these letters for their kitchen. Finally!

I got the little shelf and mirror at my favorite thrift store. Both pieces were $1.91 each. Not bad. They just need some fine tuning.

This stuff is awesome. I want to thank Centsational Girl for mentioning this in a blog post. Love it. Won't work without it again. Got mine at Lowe's. It makes painting with a brush really easy. If you haven't read her blog she's amazing. Go check her out. Floetrol (for latex paint) by Flood.

Here they are with their final coat. It was black tea by Dutch Boy I believe. Usually I'm a Valspar gal, but this paint is cheaper and it fits my budget right now. Two in college can drain the pocket book fast.

I also picked up this candlestick for their apartment. Just needed some cleaning. Can't beat $.90. The tag on the bottom said $24.99 from Kohls. Thanks but I'll take the price I paid.

Last but not least the carpenter and the bookcase. Gotta love this boy. He's an awesome son. Of course I'm completely biased. Bookcase pattern courtesy of Ana White. Another amazing site.

Love the morning sun coming through the door. Amazing.... So now I have to decide whether I want a back on it or not. I'm leaning towards completing the back with 1x3s. Then I will paint it. Probably during spring break because the next several weeks at work are crazy busy and it's supposed to rain again this weekend. Go figure. Everyone have a topnotch week.

Mucho hugs to all,

Amanda

Linking to

My Cottage Charm Treasures and Trinkets Thursday

Easter Egg tutorial

2011-03-30T18:09:00.000-07:00

Here is the pattern. Probably not the best way. But I'll continue working on improvements. Make sure the large egg measures 9 1/4" long by 7 1/16" wide. At the widest and longest points on the outside lines. The pocket should measure 4 3/16" long by 7 1/16" at widest and longest points. You'll have to copy and paste into a word document probably and mess with the size of the picture until you get it approximately the right size. I'll be working on a pdf and I'll post that when it's ready. You'll be able to e-mail me and I'll send you the file.

So here are the directions.

2 coordinating fabrics - scraps or fat quarters

1 piece of really thin quilter's batting or fusible fleece - Warm and Natural works great

1/4" seam allowance throughout.

Cut 2 of each piece of fabric - egg and pocket

Cut 1 egg batting

Sew pocket first - Wrong sides together along the top curve. Clip seams carefully and turn right side out. Press. Embellish however you like. Lace, rickrack, embroidery, yoyo flowers and buttons, stencil. Whatever. Your imagination is your only limits. Lace, rickrack should go all the way to the seam allowances on the sides.

After pocket is sewn pin to right side of 1 egg piece - match edges.

Layer - batting, egg piece with pocket right side up, other egg piece right side down. Matching edges. Sew using 1/4"seam allowance - leaving an open to turn.

Turn right sides out - Carefully turn right sides. Press carefully. Sew opening closed by hand.

I hope you're able to use this. Feel free to ask me any questions. These were really easy.

Mucho hugs to you all,

Amanda

Spring is in the Air

2011-03-30T10:34:00.000-07:00

Sing to the tune of Love is in the Air
Spring is in the air
everywhere I look around
Spring is in the air
every sight and every sound
and I don't know if I'm being foolish
I don't know if I'm being wise
But its something I must believe in...
Spring is in the air
in the whisper of the trees
and I don't know if I'm just dreaming
Don't know if I feel sane
But its something I must believe in...
Spring is in the air
in the rising of the sun
And I don't know if its an illusion
Don't know if I see true
But its something I must believe in...
Borrowed very heavily from John Paul Young. Thanks John Paul. Okay onto the real business of this post. Sorry I just couldn't resist.
Alrighty... I fluffed behind the sink. Because that's just who I am. A bad knee can not keep me down at least not forever. I also have a pattern that I'm working on for you all that you will like for Easter. Well at least I liked them last year when I made them. I'm still trying to figure out how to get my hand drawn pattern onto something that you can use for yourself. I'm going to share pictures of some that I've made. Then hopefully I'll post that really soon. The pattern that is.
So here's behind the sink. I brought in an old galvanized watering can I had and filled it with fake flowers. Sorry, they last a lot longer than the real. I added a lamp that shines so pretty in the corner at night. So for now I'm liking it.

Here's a photo of the eggs I did last year. Made more and their little bottoms need to be sewn closed. You could use these in so many ways. My kids are older so I just put some favorite Easter candy, gift cards and cash in mine last year for them. You could give them to co-workers with an Easter cookie and candy in them. You could use them on your table as place settings. (This is beginning to sound like Sam I am). Okay I'll post the pictures and I'm back to the drawing board on how to get the pattern posted for you too. If you know how to do this please leave me a comment telling me how.

Sorry couldn't resist sharing a zillion no good pictures with you. Have an absolutely fantastic day, everyone.

Be sure to check back because I will figure this out. I'm tenacious that way. Remember Spring is in the air.....

Mucho Hugs to You All....

Amanda

(my diabolic planned worked and you will be singing this song all day..... wahaaaa....)

Laughter is Contagious - Erma How We Miss You

2011-03-29T09:48:00.000-07:00

Disclaimer: Long Post - Not for those without some time to kill

I've loved reading Erma Bombeck since I was a kid. I've always thought she was funny, but I think she's even funnier now after having raised kids and being married. Now I've probably really dated myself and some of you might not even know or heard of Erma Bombeck, hence the little linky thing for you to get acquainted. I think she's pretty timeless for a lot of things, like husbands and kids and household things. Such as this quote "My second favorite household chore is ironing. My first one being hitting my head on the top bunk bed until I faint." or this one "Never loan your car to anyone to whom you've given birth."

Everyone does a lot of linky parties which is fine. I love linky parties. It's what gets me through the days. Looking at all your houses and projects and the beautiful, creative things you do. So maybe a funny stories linky party? or Maybe you just browse this blog for a funny story. But who's saying I'm funny. I think I'm funny but the kids and hubby don't always think so. Perhaps you'll think I'm funny, perhaps you won't. But laughter is always the best medicine and it's said to be contagious. So a challenge, okay maybe two. Next Monday have a funny story ready to post. It can be short, it can be long, it can be past or present. Just a humorous story to get us through another day. #2 read something by Erma, just to get your writing juices flowing. Her "The Grass is Always Greener over the Septic Tank" is hilarious and can probably be found at your local library. Perhaps this isn't appropriate on a blog pretty much dedicated to decorating. But I always think humor is appropriate, but keep it clean. I have sensitive eyes. :o)

So now I'll leave you with an Ode to Pottery Barn

Of course I was thinking of this while perusing the catalog last night at midnight and feeling sorry for myself in general.

Pottery Barn how I love you. If only I could afford you. Which I probably could if I gave up my mortage, my car, perhaps eating and definitely the hubby and 2 college kids. Okay perhaps not the hubby who does earn the majority of the income. I wouldn't cut off my nose to spite my face. Somebody has to pay for that stuff and it certainly won't be me on my itty, bitty salary. Do you think PB would look good in a tent at the KOA? Sigh... for now I'll have to content myself with my dog-earred catalogs and knock off decor. Hmmmm..... anyone know what the lottery jackpot is at right now?

Mucho Hugs to you all~

Amanda

OH SEE YOU NEXT MONDAY WITH YOUR HUMOROUS STORY.

Of course the credits:

Erma Bombeck photo - Wikipedia

Pottery Barn photo - Pottery Barn (because of course that's not my living room in that gorgeous lake housey type photo)

Thank ya very much (courtesy of Elvis)

In case you're wondering about my visit to the specialist. I have early stage arthritis and a torn meniscus. That's a shocker. Okay sarcasm isn't nice. There's very little they can do for me. The meniscus will never heal and surgery would probably accelerate the arthritis. We certainly don't want to make the bone any more upset. They gave me a cortisone shot which is helping a lot this morning but not last night which is the reason I was up so late. They said no more high impact sports.... shoot there goes the Boston marathon and that whole catch-up game with the Lakers. Cause of course this svelte body is always doing those kinds of activities. Oh wait that's right you don't know I have a svelte body because I never post a picture of myself. Trust me the morning glories are prettier. Besides I could walk by you in your own home town and you wouldn't even know me. Keeps the paparazzi away ya know. Oh yeah and they said loose weight. Yeah like it just falls off now that you've told me that. Didn't work when the regular doctor told me that too. So this is a whole different post and I'm sorry I've rambled and vented.

Have a great and awesome day everyone. Amanda

2011-03-24T16:38:00.000-07:00

I got the results back from my MRI on my knee. I'm off to see a specialist. A little nervous about that. I haven't gotten anything done lately because it bothers me so bad. It's all I can do just to go to work and stand for awhile. I should search through some old photos, scan and blog about them. I didn't go digital until 2007. After I had started our blog. So we'll see what the specialist says. Well I guess I'll dig out those boxes now.

Hugs~ Amanda

2011-03-18T07:52:00.000-07:00

Lindy over at Cottage Hill is giving away this amazing lamp that she did. So go check out her very talented work and read all her back posts because she's worth reading. You'll find her as amazing as I do. Everyone have a great weekend. I'll be resting up the knee and recovering from this awful cold.

Hugs~ Amanda

Another Project - Somewhat Completed

2011-03-16T10:12:00.000-07:00

You remember this, right?

Well I finally, somewhat finished it. It isn't enough to have a bad knee right now, but I also have a bad cold. No fun. I did use bead board wallpaper for the back. It's not the best job, more of a learning job if you know what I mean. I figured I have to learn somewhere. It might as well be the back of this cabinet that most people will not see. I did learn a lot of what I did wrong. I have one more coat of paint for the doors and want to bead board wallpaper the inserts for those too. I painted the back blue.

Here is a before of this spot. I've wanted a cabinet for here forever. Okay so it's only been 11 years.

Here's the cabinet sans doors for now.

Yes the paint is blue - just not the same blue as the walls. I don't have any of that blue left.

Now readers I have a dilemma. As many of you know we take care of my father-in-law who is getting very forgetful as he gets older. We've had him tested for Alzheimer's which he does not have so I guess it's just age. After the kiddos moved out last fall we moved him from the guest house to the main house so we could keep an eye on him. He uses this main bathroom everyday. But he's not careful and a lot of my pretties are in here. I have thought of putting my coastal stuff from the guest house in here. I have little sentimental attachment to these pieces. Also I have a lot more stuff to put in the guest house if I went shabby chic or cottage out there. Besides I'm the one who sees it everyday - remember my sewing room is out there. The bathrooms are almost the same blue - so all my stuff would work out there. Would you switch if it were you?

Have a great week my friends.

Hugs~ Amanda

2011-03-13T10:11:00.000-07:00

I want to share with you a project that Censtational Girl is doing. I'm going to inlcude the link so you can read all about it. It's such a great cause. If you feel lead to donate please do. Have a great week everyone.
Hugs~ Amanda

2011-03-09T22:49:00.001-08:00

So I guess I'm going to have to scrounge around in the old pictures for something to share for awhile. I've pulled a ligament in my knee. I guess I did it long enough ago that I've seriously compromised the little supporty thing between the two bones. Resting said knee. No fun here. Wahaaaaa........
Hope everyone else's week is going a lot better than mine.

Home Goods Love

2011-02-28T15:55:00.000-08:00

So our little ole town finally got it's own Home Goods store. Yep I was in line to get into the store. It was crazy and fun all at the same time. Went with my best-friend, her daughter and my daughter (who was in town for the weekend). They were only allowing a few in as a few went out. It was all very civil. I'd never done a grand opening before. I got a few little things for me and a few things for the kiddos apartment. The best thing, I don't have to travel an hour + to get to the nearest Home Goods anymore. Just a few fun shots of what I got. Have a great week.
Hugs~ Amanda

Linking Up to

Sun, Glorious Sun

2011-02-23T11:43:00.000-08:00

The sun has been shining and I couldn't resist a few sunshine pictures in the house. Made a few changes behind my kitchen sink. Enjoy and have a great week. Hugs~ Amanda

Linking up to:

Like Jennifer Hudson "I am changing, gonna get my life together now..."

2011-02-19T10:48:00.000-08:00

Wow! What a week. My hubby took some time off. That's a good and bad thing. Good because he got quite a few things done in the yard, bad because it gives him time to look around at all my unfinished projects. He hates unfinished projects. Personally I think he just hates projects. He's not a project guy. Well onto the good. He said the state of chaos in the house and the craft room was too much. Get it done or he'll take care of it. In hubby speak "it's all going to GoodWill when you walk out the door to work." So I've been busy, rearranging, another thing he dislikes, change. He's of the mindset you park your furniture and that's where it stays until you move out. I like change, I like to move things around. Somehow we've managed to co-exist in the same house for the last 22 years. Fortunately he puts up with me and occasionally helps me out. Here's just a few pictures of the changes going on right now. I'm not done. I still want to change up some things.
Made changes to my little shelf

Made changes in my big white cabinet

Changed out plate racks

Found a new to me lamp at my favorite thrift store. Paid $2 for the lamp and $21 for the lamp shade at Lowe's. I still came out ahead though. I rarely see lampshades that I like at the thrift store. So I save on the lamp and splurge on the shade. It gets really dusty where I live and being able to wash these shades at least once a year is important here. Of course I made changes to the living room when I moved everything back around.

I'd like to strip the top of this desk and stain it. Paint the bottom white and the chair white with a new seat cover. Like this sweet little desk over at Miss Mustard Seed's. I foresee a lot of projects for me during spring break. Good thing I'm not going anywhere. Hope your weekend is great.

Hugs~ Amanda

2011-02-08T10:41:00.000-08:00

Had a fabulous weekend visiting my kiddos and shopping Ikea and Home Goods. The sun is really shining today and I must get to work on several seriously neglected projects. Hope your weekend was awesome also.

Secrets

2011-01-30T18:46:00.000-08:00

Okay, I'm going to admit to something deep, dark and secret. I HATE painting furniture. But I hate retail prices even more. So I broke out the mouse sander this past week and tried sanding on this...

The mouse sander is in the picture because I almost forgot a before picture.

Yes, it had that ladder looking molding up on the top. It was in

shade shape, so I just ripped it off.

You know foggy weather is not conducive to sanding. Tends to get all clumped up and you get saw mud not saw dust. I know, I know quit complaining about the fog because soon enough it'll be 113 and I'll be complaining about that. So hopefully I'll get to sand more this week. It was almost done, the sanding it is. But it got dark. I only have to sand the inside now. My BFF suggested painting the inside a different color. What do you think? The outside is white because it's going in this room. The condition to this post is we can not tell the Carpenter I am sanding and painting a piece of real oak. It's not an heirloom but it's not particle board or even veneer. It's the real deal, oak. Shhhh our secret okay?
Yes I even worked on the craft room this weekend. Pictures within the next century I promise.
Oops!!! Almost forgot the most important part, how much I paid for it. $8.99. Can you believe that!!!
Have a great week!

P.S. Changes being made on the blog. Please be patient. Trying for a cleaner, uncluttered look.

Another Thrift Shop Tale

2011-01-27T09:39:00.000-08:00

Okay you are probably wondering why there's a picture of some funky Tupperware salt and pepper shakers on my blog. Well there's a story to that and sorry a rather long one. I love these salt and pepper shakers. Unlike most girls of my age I had a hope chest and diligently filled it until I got married. I came fully loaded... hmmm perhaps not the best choice of words. LOL. I purchased a set of these when I was just a teenager. Smart me got the all white set. As most of you know who have followed my blog for some time we took care of my mom until she passed away 3 years ago. (Sigh where does the time go?) So during the 4 years she was with us we spent a lot of time in and out of the hospital. The hospital would always put her on a salt restricted diet. Don't know why... she had no high blood pressure usually the opposite... no blood pressure. So it was my job to sneak in the salt shaker. So one hospital visit I was crazy rushing around trying to feed the family (remember I still had a hubby, two kids at home, homeschooling, and working part time plus mom) and get to the hospital before they closed the doors. So I just grabbed my trusty salt shaker by the stove and rushed to the hospital. This was one of those bad hospital stays where she bounced back and forth between ICU and a regular hospital room. We almost lost her during this time. During her bouncing back and forth the beloved salt shaker went missing. I was devastated. Made them search all over for that salt shaker but no luck. So I just put Mr. Pepper away in the cupboard and used another not as good set. You see I'm a firm believer in the thrift store principle. You know the one: that eventually everything comes through the thrift store if you're patient. Well four years later I'm walking through my favorite store and there sitting all by it's lonesome is Mr. Pepper's mate. Waiting for me. I fairly rushed over there and grabbed it. I was giddy with happiness and couldn't wait to get home. $.60 worth of happiness. Silly I know and my family thinks I've gone over the edge that's for sure. But I know you ladies understand.

Linking up to Treasures and Trinkets Thursday

Foggy Distractions

2011-01-26T22:02:00.000-08:00

I am not as talented as these creative ladies but I can vote. Make sure to check out the first round of projects and the winners. Enjoy.

I should have been working on this Saturday

But I was having more fun doing this instead.

The day was just lovely and two sunny days in a row at this time of year is enough to make me giddy. I decided to switch the rooms around because it is just the 3 of us the majority of the time AND I was ready for a change. I really like the mirror hanging there so I'm going to paint it eventually, when the fog clears. Second day of fog delay this week. Puts a huge cramp in my plans.
I did work on the sewing room a teensy bit but got distracted. So still foraging ahead with that room. Hubby did hang my cabinet though. Pictures eventually.
Have a great week everyone.

Sewing Room Update

2011-01-19T10:51:00.000-08:00

So I chugged along on the sewing room this weekend. Have decided that I will paint over my spring break. Which means I'll have to move furniture again. Oh well such is life. It's just been too damp and foggy this year to paint. Because the guest house is detached it runs on it's own heat so can get expensive to run it long enough to dry paint. But here's a few photos of what has gotten done.
The floor plan didn't work out quite as I had expected. Maybe eventually I'll make changes, but for now I just used furniture and things I had on hand. This book case by no means holds all my fabric. Just a small portion of it. I hope to get it down to just fabric on this bookcase and what I have on hand will fit just here. Here's to hoping. I still have 3 large rubbermaid tubs to unpack for this bookcase. Hmmmm.......

This big thing was hanging in the kitchen as a spice cabinet. It is being reincarnated into holding all that small scrapbook/paper crafting stuff. I'll be hanging it on the wall over by my table.

See it's really large. The carpenter made it a few years ago for me. He's a great son. This also meant changes in the kitchen. Hubby hates changes so he's been cranky, but I love change. Post on the kitchen later this week.

Here's the creating corner. Small dresser that by no means holds all the supplies. Sigh. I must simplify.

That cabinet will hang here. Hopefully also get a paint job over spring break. The mini blinds are going and simple curtains will take their place. That I can do right now.

This sewing cabinet the carpenter bought me at my favorite thrift store sometime last year. I love the built in thread holder and all the drawers.

Of course my machine does not fit this opening but I thought I would just use a solid piece of wood and be able to use the whole surface for scrapbooking or whatever.

Thread holder. Love it!

Fortunately the bed did fit into this corner. Makes for a nice reading spot for me also.

This treadle sewing machine belonged to my husband's great grandmother. Yes the machine is still in there and it still works. My daughter is determined to make a quilt on it.

Of course changes in the big room prompted changes in the bedroom. Moved the bed to accommodate the small desk from the large room. I figured since we really don't use this room much that having it against the wall wasn't a big deal.

This is the sad story of the unfinished other side of the room. Still working on it. I might actually get to sew sometime this year. Sigh.... well must go get this side of the room worked on. Have a great week.

2011-01-17T23:44:00.001-08:00

Kris and Kim at the DIY Dish have done it again. Another couple of creative projects. This time for Valentine's Day. Check out their video and go make those placemats. They've also got an incredible give away.

No Painting Here...Just Dreaming

2011-01-09T15:10:00.000-08:00

Well damp, foggy days are not conducive to painting where I live so what's a girl to do? Dream I guess. I hate fog. It's the other season here; as in summer and fog. We get two seasons and fortunately the fog season is realtively short and the summer season is loooongggg. I did buy my paint and supplies so I'm all ready when better painting days appear.
On a positive note I've been given plenty of time to think about what I need in this room and what I would like. Lots of time to troll the internet searching for ideas; like this awesome crafting desk over at Knock-Off Wood. She's got a plan for just about everything I think.

and these awesome shelves for the wall of bookcases I have envisioned along that north wall.

Ana White's site is one of my favorites. I check it every day and save things on the to do list which is a great feature. I mercilessly send pictures to the out of town carpenter saying can we build this on your next trip home? At this point he'd either have to come home for several months or every weekend for the next year. Suppose I should learn how to use those power tools. I mean if that little bitty thing Ana can do it ( and I am by no means or stretch of the imagination little) I should be able to do it. So I wonder where he hid all those power tools???
Cheers! Have a great week.

Sewing Room Wishes

2011-01-04T17:58:00.000-08:00

This past summer I re-did our guest house, at least the small bedroom and bathroom. I hadn't done this room yet. You can read about the re-do of those rooms here .

As I was saying yesterday, the office works great as an office but it's too small for crafting/sewing. Hubby gave me the green light to make the large room in our guest house my craft/sewing room. So I'm going to show you the room I hope to update in all it's present glory. It's definitely become a catch-all room. So I'll be getting rid of several pieces and painting and bringing in pieces that will facilitate my creativity I hope. It's a fairly large room at 12x15. It's long and narrow. I'll be changing the green to a soft white. The funky thing about painting this room is that it will have to be done in stages. There's no other place to put the stuff that's staying, so I'll have to shift, paint, shift, paint until it's done. We have no garage as a good hunk of it went to the guest house. It's more a glorified laundry/storage area. No problem until I want to do a project like this.

Both of these bookcases will be moving. The one on the left to another corner and the other out of the room. The door leads to the bathroom.

I think I want the one with all shelves for my fabric stash. I have quite a bit of fabric so I also hope to weed that down to fit just into this bookcase. I believe I'll put a desk and shelves in this corner.

The bed will be going into this corner. I'm going to swap out this bed for the one in my front bedroom in the house. It doesn't have a head/foot board to work around. That way a guest can still stay in here.

I think I'll put the fabric bookcase in this corner. Goodbye painting.

The computer armoire and curio cabinet will be exiting this room also. So will all the stuff. I hope to put a set of short bookcases along this wall on the right for storing supplies. I'm going to float a folding table in the middle of the room to work on for scrapbooking and sewing for now. The armoire is covering the third window.

This room gets a lot of great light. I can't wait to claim it. I'm so excited. See lot's to do.

I'm not complaining mind you. I'm thrilled that I have this space that I can use. Not everyone is so lucky. So enough said. I'm off to Lowe's to purchase paint. Valspar Woodrow Wilson Linen I believe. Sigh... have a great week. I'll be busy.

2011-01-03T10:43:00.000-08:00

Saying goodbye just doesn't get easier. I think every time it's harder than the last. Sigh.

Well the holidays are definitely over. The house was way quiet after the kids left yesterday, even the animals laid down and took a nap. Hubby was over at his brother's helping to finish up their move to their new house. Even he wasn't around. So what's a gal to do? Well I'm a list making a gal. That doesn't mean I ever check those lists again (therefore I've learned to date them to have a serious laugh over later on and to see if I actually did do anything on the list.) There's really more I need and want to get done than I know where to start. So mostly I sat and thought... pondering what to do. This whole, new sparkling with promise year ahead. You would think now that the kids are gone and I only work 17.5 hours a week that I would be getting loads of things accomplished around here. Not so. So where is my time going? I think I know... all those games on Facebook. I've really got to give those up. I've also decided that the office room works great as an office but not for crafting/sewing/quilting, etc. There's just no room to move around in here. Especially if I set up to sew or get any kind of craft going. So here's what I'm going to propose to the hubby. I want the large room in the guest house that sets empty the majority of the time and seems to be a catch all room. I should rent it out, but it creeps me out to think of someone I don't know living in my backyard. Is that weird? I mean I don't mind sharing. I'll tuck that twin bed into the corner out of the way. So wish me luck. I will be posting photos of course.

Putting 2010 to Rest

2010-12-31T22:55:00.000-08:00

A lot of people in Blogland are doing a recap of 2010. I was thinking that I probably didn't accomplish that much project wise, but there was certainly a lot that happened this year anyway. So I thought pictures mosaics would be nice since pictures can say a thousand words. Mosaics compliments of BigHugeLabs.
All Grown Up - Tina graduates, turns 18 and moves away to Sacramento to go to school, Seth joins her in September and they share an apartment - that makes us empty-nesters for the first time in 20 years.

Projects from around the house and yard - started the office projects, redid the guest house, finished numerous small, very old projects - like the bookcase, kitchen cabinets, closet, leveled our backyard, got our grape growing on the trellis the carpenter built and a couple of cute cloche projects.

Here's to a great new year in 2011. Wishing YOU all the best.

Cookie Exchange 2010

2010-12-18T22:25:00.000-08:00

Something that I've wanted to do for awhile is to host a cookie exchange party for the holidays, but raising and homeschooling kids, taking care of parents, working and other commitments kept me from doing. This year with the kids gone and other commitments at a minimum, I purposed to have one and I'm so glad I did. It was fun. I invited the gals I hang out with most everyday in my life, my co-workers. We had a wonderful time and everyone left with ten dozen different, wonderful cookies. It was so much fun. I'm already thinking of what to do for next year to make it even better. So I'm sharing some awesome pictures of the time we had.

I hope that everyone's holidays are wonderful, filled with many happy occasions that will make for great memories and God's choicest blessings for the New Year ahead.

Christmas House Tour 2010

2010-12-15T11:18:00.000-08:00

So here's my Christmas ~~house~~ room tour though I'm not joining any of the fun parties out there in blogland. I only decorated my front room this year. There's so much going on outside the home and felt that at this point it was only reasonable to do that room. Somehow doing it when the kids were home and little was more fun. So here are my pics. Sorry I took a ton of them. I go a little camera crazy. I did host a cookie exchange party last night and that was a lot of fun. I'll post pictures later this week. I kept my decorating simple this year and only used things that I had or could make.

Still waiting to find one more of these plates at the thrift store. I'm patient.

This is the collage that I made last year. I had so much fun doing it. Most are family pictures and some are from the Graphics Fairy. The rest is scrapbook stuff.

I made the old fashioned looking prints from PrintShop and then added glue and white glitter in the snowy parts.

One of my two pieces of transfer ware.

Have a great week everyone. Merry Christmas.

Busy-ness

2010-12-08T17:43:00.000-08:00

I can't believe I haven't blogged in so long. Thanksgiving was terrific and very busy. It's just been hard to get motivated to get anything done. I have been working on this.... yep our office/craft/sewing room - hey how about multipurpose room or does that bring back too many grade school memories?

and this.... a runner that I made for a good friend. I used a yard and 1/2 for the center part. To make it longer for her. I think she'll love it. It has this great village all over it. You can go here for the tutorial to make one for yourself or a friend.

and this .... the carpenter made new shelves for the hutch while home over Thanksgiving. He also installed a new light in the multipurpose room. Love it. Got glass for my picture frames I found at my favorite thrift store. I put the kids' high school pictures in them. Kind of hard to see the new shelves in this picture. I had no shelf on the left side and half a shelf on the right side. I got enough board for him to make a new center shelf, not because it needed it but so it would match.

and a new tutorial. Hopefully I will post that Friday. I need to start my winter decorating soon or why bother. Hope everyone is doing great.

Easy Runner Tutorial

2010-11-19T14:08:00.000-08:00

Ok bear with me. I've never done a tutorial on the blog before. You're gonna love this little sewing project. It's easy trust me.
SUPPLIES
1 yard focus fabric
1/2 yard coordinate for ends
1/4 yard contrast for bands

1. Prewash, press and trim selvages and ends of all fabrics.

2. Cut the 1/2 yard coordinate and 1/4 yard contrast band in half. You need 2 (9") strips and 2 (4.5") strips.

3. Fold the contrast fabric in half longwise, right side out. Press.

4. Open out your focus fabric to single thickness right side up. (* This is where you get to decide whether you want a short, wider runner or a longer, skinner runner. If you want it short make sure you choose the width of fabric as your end, you're fabric will fold selvage to selvage. Skinner you'll do a cross wise fold, your fabric will fold raw edge to raw edge. You'll have to remember which end you cut the selvage off of. Chalk or pin it if you have to so that you remember where you cut off the selvage.) Layer the focus fabric, contrast band with raw edge against the raw edge of focus fabric then place the coordinate right side down, single thickness. Sew using a 1/4" seam. Press - make sure your seam goes towards the main focus fabric. Repeat for other side.

5. Fold right sides together, creating a tube of fabric. Sew using a 1/4" seam. Make sure that you leave an opening to turn right side out. * I like to reinforce my opening by doing a little back stitch on both sides. This keeps the seams from popping. You'll want that hole big enough to stick your hand in.

6. Now fold it so that the seam runs down the center and press that seam open. Make sure you carefully press where the opening is. You want that part to fold too.

7. Now so the ends closed. 1/4" seam, straight across.

8. Pull the fabric to the right side through that opening you made. Make sure your corners are correct and pointy. I used a special tool but anything long and sharp enough to get into the corner will work. Slip stitch that opening closed by hand. Voila! Easy, peasy runner. Press and place on display.
I did this runner in 30 minutes even with taking pictures and trying to figure out in my head what to say. I've already make 3 and have several more I want to do. I see this being a great Christmas gift for the gals at work. Gotta top that apron I made last year ya know.
So here's my finished projects. Let's see yours!

Linking to My Romantic Home Show and Tell Friday.
Have a great weekend everyone!
Please let me know if these instructions are understandable. I've taught sewing, quilting, etc. before but never written down my instructions. I'll be very happy to change and edit these if necessary. Thanks!

Buffet Questions

2010-11-16T05:00:00.000-08:00

So I need another project like cows need wings. But my buffet has been bothering me for sometime. I know it's from the 30's simply from its design. Very art deco. The price was right so I've lived with it. I do like having the drawers in the middle and the two side storage shelves. The top is solid oak but the rest of it is mostly veneered wood. I've really been liking the wood top and the painted white bottom lately. Like this buffet at Frosted Gardner or this table at Feathering My Nest. So I'm wondering if this will look good on this buffet. Please be honest and tell me what you think. I think that I would even paint the sides around the mirror. So here are the pics of the piece in question.

As you can see it has a bit of damage in places. The veneer is missing in a few non-crucial places on the inside. Well tell me what you think. I am trying to put together a tutorial this week. My first ever. So be sure to check back later this week.

Weekend Trips

2010-11-15T20:30:00.000-08:00

I decided on the spur of the moment to go see the kids this past weekend. I had a fabulous weekend visiting them up north. The weather was fantastic. We spent a great day together at Ikea and Home Goods. Also worked on their bedrooms in their apartments and cooked dinner together. So fun having adult children. But they've always been fun. I got two new prints for the guest house at Home Goods. They're perfect for this room. I've decided to just collect slowly and let it evolve. Usually I'm really impatient but it helps that I don't go out there every day. LOL.

Helped my daughter rearrange her room, hang new curtains and try to decide on a decor theme with her for her room. I think she's going to be very eclectic. Not cottage like me. Tried to get just a few shots of her room. She still has a ways to go. They're both enjoying being out on their own and starting their lives. Exciting times for them. She did find a really cool print at Home Goods that she really liked.

I hope everyone had a great weekend too.

Veteran's Day Thank You

2010-11-11T09:51:00.000-08:00

This is a huge shout out to those who have served past and present for this great country. For those who knew that freedom always comes at a price. Those that pledged all, even the most costly price of all, their life. I am a veteran. This day has huge meaning for me for several reasons. I think everyone should have to serve at least 2 years for this country in some capacity whether it's in the military or helping inner city kids or in rural areas, whatever. You'll never truly understand freedom or the cost of it until it involves your own life. I thought I would share some pictures of my military life.

These are the barracks that I lived in for 2 1/2 years. State of the art don't you think?

The supply room where I worked and my supply sergeant and my comrade in arms, Eric Hatfield. I hope you're all having a wonderful day today no matter where you are. I still think of all of you often.

My bestfriend and cohort in basic training - Tammy Bator

Yep one of those girls is me. Can you figure out which one?

My granny and I on my first trip home after basic and AIT. She was so happy to see me. I love you Granny and miss you terribly still.

My uncles - two of whom served this country. Obviously my Uncle Terry in uniform and my Uncle Jimmy on the right. Love you both and miss you too.

Of course my favorite military man the one I married. You see I had to go all the way to Virginia to meet a California military man. He wore his Class B uniform for our wedding. Love you honey just as much as I did on this day if not more.

I am so glad that there are those who put country first and self second to secure for us the freedoms we enjoy to this day. Freedom is never free. Happy Veteran's Day.
Today is also my mother's birthday. She would have been 59 today. I love you Momma. Miss you still. I know you're not in pain anymore.

P.S. I'm the girl on the far left in that picture.

Evolution of a House Part One

2010-11-09T21:20:00.000-08:00

I thought I would do a series of posts on the evolution of our house. We bought our house 10 years ago. She was a bank repossession in need of some major love. She had great bones and fabulous potential. She had her original bathroom and kitchen when we bought her, complete with original tile. As the pictures will confirm that. Mostly we painted and watered and moved in. For 5 years we lived with a lot of things. My hubby is not a DIYer which is okay because I still love him, faults and all. We can't all be perfect. As he once told me "I'd rather work the overtime and hire someone else to do the job." Deal! So we saved. I'm sharing the bathroom first because that's the first room we had redone. This is our main bathroom. We combined the shower and tub, turned the old shower into a storage closet, added new tile and painted. I like to look at old photos to remind myself how far we've come since we bought this place. Especially if I ever feel discouraged about all the work that still needs to be done.

Before

Floor Plan of our House

During

Oh my, were we really showering above all that rot? We didn't fall through?? Amazing.

After

Ralph Lauren paint - some kind of blue. I wasn't blogging in 2005 and didn't even know about it. So I didn't keep paint colors or anything. The white is Valspar Swiss coffee. I only know that because it's a white I still like to use.

Son taking picture for his mom.

There are some new changes coming to this room. So I promise to post new pictures. Hope you enjoy this post. I have several more that I want to do about the changes over the last 10 years.

Cloches Again

2010-11-06T08:33:00.000-07:00

I was shopping with my daughter while she was home one weekend and came across these lovely, little cloches at Big Lots. Not sure if they have these outside of California. It's a discount store, I suppose you would call it. Anywhooo, I knew I had to have the only two the store had. Brought them home, visited the thrift store for the rest of the components and so here they are. Still not sure what I'm going to put in it yet. Of course my new piece, the hutch, prompted a complete fluffing.

This old North Wind chair freaks everybody out. It's a family piece so we keep it. Doesn't bother me. Yes I got stuck with the fish when the kids left. We felt they wouldn't have made the 5 hour trip north.

This is a Thanksgiving card my best friend made and gave me several years ago. It was a piece of fabric. I thought it was so cute so I framed it to use with my fall decorating. Which I still haven't done and probably won't. Sigh.... so many projects so little time.
Hope everyone has a great and fabulous weekend.

Fall Revisited

2010-11-03T20:21:00.000-07:00

I've been in a re-decorate mood lately but can't seem to find enough humph to do it. I decided not to decorate for fall this year because there is so much I have to get done before a whole lot of out of town family come to visit. Thank goodness for the guest house. We'll be overflowing here. I told my hubby if I get to fall decorating, I get to it if not they'll still eat dinner without fall decorations. No one will probably notice anyway except my kids. So with all that said I thought I would share a few past fall decorating pictures. It's definitely, finally feeling like fall around here. Except this afternoon. I think we hit at least 86. Sigh... that's living in southern California for ya. Without further ado here we go. I'll try to include the year.

These are from 2008

These are from 2009

It's fun to look back and see what has changed. I find myself saying things like "oh my goodness, I don't even have this piece anymore" or " I forgot I even had that" or "Oh that's right, we did have the such and such there". Yes you're right in 2008 I went from having a pine dresser in one spot to having the buffet I have now. You never know what will get added or subtracted next. That's all in the fun of decorating, right?
Have a great weekend everyone!

Blogger Love

2010-11-01T07:54:00.000-07:00

Jo over at Secret Garden Cottage is having a giveaway. Her blog is gorgeous, so if you're not familiar with her blog, go check it out. She has lovely photography and a beautiful home. Have a great week my friends. Cleaning out the sewing/craft/office room this week. Hubby finally installed my shelves. Can we say organized at last!

Happy Halloween

2010-10-31T17:54:00.000-07:00

Just sitting here answering the door when the trick or treaters come. Realizing that it seems like yesterday that my own were trick or treating. How many good memories this brings back. Wishing you all a Happy Halloween.

Halloween 1997. Robin Hood and Maid Marion
Costumes that I made

New Piece for My Front Room

2010-10-25T16:27:00.000-07:00

So I couldn't wait to share the first photos of my new piece. I've wanted something like this for this spot forever. The carpenter still needs to cut me some shelves. One is missing and one is broken. I got such a good deal on it though. It was worth it just for the bottom piece, mega storage.
You can just barely see the front door on the right and to the left of the hutch you can see the defunct floor heater. I'll have to have someone crawl under the house to drop that thing. It's massive. The house was built around it, so as far as I know there's no taking it out other than to let it fall down under the house and build the floor over it. I hate that thing. It allows cold drafts in the winter not to mention that it's an eyesore.

Now, would you add one or two shelves to the side pieces? The front has glass doors also, but I really like it without them. So I'll fill in the holes and put a new coat of paint on it soon. It got scratched during it's recent moves. I love the mirrors. It adds so much light to this part of the room. It has lighting in it too. I just need to add bulbs and plug it in. Of course I'm not done decorating it not by a long shot. When the carpenter comes home at Thanksgiving he's got his work cut out for him.
Hope everyone had a terrific weekend and that you have a wonderful week.

Edited to add a few more pictures with lights. It has lights but I'm not sure I like how they did it as you can see them when you look at the piece. The carpenter says he can fix that. So nice to have a woodworking son. So here's a few pics of the new piece with the lights on. Sigh....

Linking up with

Treasures and Trinkets Thursday at My Cottage Charm

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Have a Great Weekend!

Just Because

2010-10-22T09:55:00.000-07:00

Just because I haven't posted in awhile that is. Sheesh, between work and being sick I've gotten nothing done. I thought that I would have quite a few things accomplished with not homeschooling for the first time in 12 years and the kids out of the house. Not so. Where is my time going to? Too much computer time I'm thinking. Looking at all the pretty blogs and Facebook, reading... Hmm I guess I have had time to get things done, just not getting them done. Guess I'm just a major procrastinator period. Yikes, the truth hurts.
So I thought I would share pictures of the top of the bookcase/computer armoire area that will soon be departing my front room. I looked all over my blog and couldn't find any pictures. I guess I never shared. Probably because I never liked how these pieces looked together. I know I should have painted the bookcases and it would have flowed better, but I'm a seriously major procrastinator when it comes to painting furniture. Just as well. The bookcases will be getting a new home in the guest house. The computer armoire I'll be selling because I don't need it anymore now that the kids are gone. I'm also sharing a photo of the top of the new piece that is taking the place of the three departing pieces. Couldn't resist sharing. Seeing as how I'll need mega help moving all this I've gotta wait on the only help available these days, the hubby. He's not too enthusiastic about moving or changing anything. Sigh.....

As attested by the boxes and empty shelves in the pictures you can tell I have started moving some of the books, etc to their new homes. ;o) Hope your weekend is great. I'll be at the Open Air Market at Into the Forest. Having a blast, visiting friends, and shopping of course.

Fab Weekends

2010-10-18T22:30:00.000-07:00

I had a fantabulous weekend. Our daughter arrived on our door at 8:30 p.m. Friday night. Surprise visit. Always welcome of course. So I got to spend the day with her Saturday, out shopping. Got a new bed for the guest house and a new piece for the front room. Of course these were found at my favorite shop - Into the Forest. So love that place. Next weekend is their Open Air Market. So fun. Can't wait. I also got to go for the very first time to Home Goods. It is as fantastic as blogland has said. Our closest one is about an hour and 45 minutes away. 5 of us ladies loaded into my best friend Kelly's car and headed south. We had such a great day. We also learned that sometime next year they will be opening a store here in our city. We are so excited. Hubby went and got my piece for the front room today. He had the day off. So I hope to post pictures soon. I've got to clean out an area though. It's huge!!! Hope everyone's weekend was as great as mine.

Hutch Talk

2010-10-09T10:25:00.000-07:00

Thanks for all the comments on my two hutches. I still haven't done anything yet, but there are tons of projects I need to work on first. Like finishing the guest house and the office to name a few. The older hutch has this great finish on the inside so white would probably be a good choice and I've seriously considered that. It is real sturdy. Amazing considering what it's been through. I do have two panes of glass for the bottom. Once I fix the hardware so I'll be able to open it without breaking glass to get in I'll put them in. The outside finish is horrible in most places. It's all beaded up probably from floating in the basement during one of the ranch floods. I did start to strip it at one point and realized how foolish that would be if I was only going to paint it. It's made of pine I'm sure. Which would have been a really cheap wood in that day. Most things were made of oak and stained dark to look like mahogany the desired wood of that day. I do have some of the missing molding but not all. So any pieces added would not match the old wood, so painting it would definitely hide that. The back gaps quite a bit, would you dear reader put on a new back or live with the gaps?

One kind reader commented that it would make a lovely bottom for a sink. Which it would. My husband at 6'3" would love that. But considering the bottom hits me above my hip, I would need a step stool just to use the sink decently. Oh the bothers of being short. The entire piece stands at 8' tall. So it's massive and definitely has a presence in any room.
I've been under the weather this week with strep throat. The hazards of the profession. Yuck. I haven't had strep throat in probably 20 years or so. So nothing got done around here. :o( Feeling a little more human today. Thank goodness. Here's hoping you have a great weekend.

Keeping promises

2010-10-05T11:19:00.000-07:00

I promised myself that the next time I moved this little bookcase I would paint the back. I mean I've only had it for probably 10-13 years. I think I'm a major procrastinator. What do you think? Especially when it comes to painting furniture. But don't you just hate it when you've put off a project that long and it only takes 15 minutes at most. Then you wonder why you put it off for that long.
I've been moving things around in my master bedroom because a few pieces left the room when the daughter and son moved away. I now have more room in that area or at least I think I do. Of course the moving around drives the hubby crazy. His philosophy is that once it's placed, it's parked forever. We don't see eye to eye on that one. We've agreed to disagree as long as I get my way. :o) So, here's the project and a few of the changes in the master bedroom. Not that you would know the changes because I avoid sharing this room. It's not pretty, YET! Remember I'm moving things around. I used a sample can of sparkling lake by Valspar. I like it.

Have a great week.

Hutch Love'N

2010-09-30T08:00:00.000-07:00

Or in my case hutches. Love me sum hutches. Both of mine are real special to me. One my son built and the other was built my husband's great-great uncle (I think). The poor thing sits abused and neglected on my patio. Hopefully awaiting a makeover some day. Only I'm not sure where I would put it. That's probably why I've never done anything with it. It's very awesome and huge and heavy.
So first one is the one that Seth made and it took him and his team to nationals in Las Vegas in 2007. Which you can read about here. I should mention that we won it in the raffle they held after the competition was over. I just felt so lucky that we won. I'll share a few photos that I have of it. First is decorated for fall, then just an everyday and the last is where it sat at the show.

The next is my old hutch. The hardware says patented February 7, 1871 on the back of it. So it's a really old piece of furniture. Before I acquired it, it sat in the basement at my husband's family's ranch house. So it's even been through a flood or two. Who knows what else. I'm not sure where it was before that. It's missing a few pieces, mostly molding. I still love it though. Fortunately this thing comes apart in two pieces or you'd never be able to move it. I've included a few photos of hardware. The pulls are just fabulous with their buckle and flower detail. The panes of glass at the top are original and have that old wavy glass look. As you can see it's very neglected. So what would you do with it, dear reader?

I'm hooking up with Treasures and Trinkets Thursday over at My Cottage Charm.

P.S. I do have all the original hardware tucked safely in the drawer. Some is salvageable and some is not.

Shelf Completion ... Sigh....

2010-09-28T22:04:00.000-07:00

Before Seth left home I told him there were a few things that he had to finish before leaving. Sniff...Sniff...
Remember this?

That's right my shelf. I said he had to get it done so that I could get that box out of the corner of the kitchen. So he was a good son and finished it. I painted it and then he installed it. I'm so happy.

So what do you think? I couldn't decide which photos were the best so I just included them all.
Have a great day.

The Empty Nest

2010-09-27T22:03:00.000-07:00

Perhaps I should change my blog title now to the empty nest?? Nah I like Morning Glory Cottage. Well this past weekend we moved the kiddos up to Sacramento. Quite a few hours away. Our children are 2 years apart but both left home at the same time. So it's certainly quiet around here now. But I've been busy. Cleaning out things and going through the garage and storage shed. Also working on my office/hobby room. The dogs keep me company now.
I thought I would share a few photos of the few little things that I did before the move and one thrifty find for their apartment. Of course a moving day photo. Couldn't resist.

We've had this dresser for ages and it's been in the daughter's room, hiding in her closet. It really should have been painted during her room remodel but we ran out of time and besides it was out of sight, out of mind. Well it had to come out of the closet for the move. So I knew that I needed to get busy and paint it. So couple of coats of black paint and new knobs. Viola "newish" dresser. Good enough for a first apartment. Here's the before and after. Poor abused thing.

My great thrift find was to find these prints for $5.95 a piece. Yes!!! You heard me right... I was jumping up and down for joy when I asked the price. They weren't marked and when I asked it was all I could do not scream out loud and jump and down. But I remained calm and dignified but giggled happily all the way to the van. They're huge too. So very happy and the kiddos liked them too.

Hope your week is a happy week.

A Desk for the Office

2010-09-19T23:43:00.000-07:00

Ok, I couldn't wait to show this off. I saw this done in a magazine, oh ages ago. Only they had taken the table apart at the center where the leaf goes in and then mounted it to the wall. I just had to do something a little different. I knew I wanted a long desk/table thing in the new office. So I've been hunting for a table high and low. Finally found it! And almost didn't get a before picture of it. Horrors!

and this is what I did with it. That's right cut that puppy in half or at least the team did. Don't you just love my messy garage?

Here's the team - the serious team that is.

Here's the crazy team and I'm not so sure I want them cutting my table now.

We put a long piece of wood onto the table to give us a straight guide. Like I did anything but supervise and take pictures. Then the guys cut it apart.

We added a cleat and Seth even countersunk the holes so the screws don't show.

Seth - the Surgeon. Darn blade on the Skil Saw wasn't long enough.

Once apart it was mounted here.

Yes a long table/desk to sew and scrapbook at.

Absolutely not! I will not show you the rest of this horribly messy room until it is done.
Well I'm off to do other things because this was not a priority but so badly needed to be done or at least I thought so. Before the carpenter left. I still need to sew some things and touch up paint a few things before we leave for Sacramento on Thursday morning. Have a great week everyone. I'll post pictures of the kids new apartment next week.

Cleaning House So to Speak

2010-09-19T21:09:00.001-07:00

Okay. So I'm making some changes around here. Please be patient.

DIY Dish Second Season

2010-09-14T16:20:00.000-07:00

So the DIY Dish is back for a second season. Kris and Kim have started their second season with a cute owl pin cushion. I know exactly who I will be making this for. They're also having a great Janome give away. So check out this site and have some fun.
Sorry If I seem to be doing hit and run blogging lately. I've been helping the kids get their stuff together for their first apartment. I'll be sure to get pictures next week after the move in.

Have You Forgotten?

2010-09-11T10:18:00.000-07:00

"The only thing necessary for the triumph [of evil] is for good men to do nothing." Edmund Burke

2010-08-26T20:00:00.000-07:00

I am so exhausted. We haven't even finished the first week of school and I'm wondering if I'll make it to Christmas break. Hopefully everything calms down soon. Ugh! And to top things off we've been having a tremendous heat wave. The kids are cranky, I'm cranky, the parents are cranky. Ick!!! Enough.
But the good news is this...

Yup I've got it already and thoroughly enjoying it when I have a chance to read that is. Hope everyone in blogland is doing great.

2010-08-21T12:33:00.000-07:00

So if this past week at work is any indication what the rest of the year is going to be like, it's going to be a humdinger of a year and not in a good way. I'm exhausted already and the school year hasn't even started. Worked until 10 - 10:30 last night. Maybe I'll clean my new sewing room today. See ya. Hope the weekend is great. The real fun begins Monday when we add students to the mix. Wish me luck.

First Awards

2010-08-16T11:03:00.000-07:00

I've been awarded by the very kind Jo from Secret Garden Cottage. Thank you sweet Jo. My first awards. Wow. Really don't think I deserve these when I see all the talent out there in blogland. Really I'm just a great copier not creative or anything. No original ideas here.

1. Thank the one who passed the award on to me: Check.

2. Sum up your blogging philosophy, motivation, and experience in five words (A Blog With Substance): Friendship, Inspiration, Motivation, Love Writing

3. Tell seven things about yourself (Versatile Blogger):

1. Served 3 years in the United States Army

2. Met my husband while serving in the Army

3. Homeschooled my kids for 12 years

4. I love historical reenactment - though I belong to no such group currently

5. Would love to do something creative with my life - like own a shop, bed and breakfast, whatever

6. I love to cook though you wouldn't know it because I never seem to share any recipes

7. I have a huge fear of heights - why I don't like to fly

4. Pass these awards on to 10 other bloggers. I'm passing this award on to the following people because you have touched my life in some way. I am inspired daily to get up and get going because of people like these in blogland. Thank you all so much for contributing of yourselves in so many big and little ways.

1. I would you choose you Jo, but here goes

1. Becca of Becca's Bugs and Brownies

2. Kathy of Kate's Place

3. Ann Marie of La Maison La Fortune

4. Missy of My Cottage Charm

5. Jona of Stop Staring and Start Sewing

6. Rue of PBJ Life

7. Joni of Old Centennial Farmhouse

8. Allison of Allison's Handmade Life

9. Yoli of Apron Senorita

10. Manuela of The Pleasures of Homemaking

Guest House Reveal

2010-08-12T20:23:00.000-07:00

I'm a little nervous to share these because they are unfinished. But here goes. I hope to use mostly pieces that I have and try not to over decorate like I usually do. LOL! Just keep it simple or at least I will try.
This is the fabric that inspired it though Seth had already picked the colors - Mark Twain House Oak and School boy blue both by Valspar. The theme for the whole guest house will be cottage by the sea.

Bedroom reveal - trying to reuse pieces I had with a few additions.

The blue dish I found at the thrift store for .90

Reused the headboard from my son's room. Pillows are new and so is the blue tray on the small bookcase. The picture frame I want to paint white and add a beach landscape. I've found one I like just waiting for the money.

Ignore Rosie the pink toed tarantula in the corner. She'll be leaving in September. The sewing cabinet was hubby's grandmother. I want to paint it and the headboard white.

Got this cool old window down at my favorite local shop. Perfect!

Just loved the way the evening sun was coming through the window.

Bathroom reveal -

Several of these pieces I already had in my master bath. So I'm reusing them here and I'll redo my bath eventually.

The sand dollar my husband brought me while he was still a diver for the U.S. Army. It's a very small bath at 6x9 feet. The walls were originally a light purple called evening stardust I believe. My mother loved purple and the guest house was built for her. So I decorated towards her tastes.

I've been collecting sea glass and shells for awhile now. I was dancing up and down last summer at the beach when I found this large blue piece. Kids thought I was crazy.

I had hubby install the shelf low because there isn't much counter space.

There is still so much I need and want to do. Sew curtains, paint the furniture, install more shelves in the bathroom, shelves in the bedroom, create something for over the shower area, and the list goes on. So the guest house will be available in October should you care to visit. ;o)

Hope I didn't bore you with all the pictures and unfinished pieces. Would have loved to wait, but I couldn't. The guest house also has a large room. I won't be redoing that until after Seth leaves at the end of September. Hope everyone's weekend is a great one.
I'm linking up to Cindy of My Romantic Home Show and Tell Friday.

Cream Ware and Milk Glass - Little Treasures and some Awards

2010-08-12T07:54:00.000-07:00

Hello! Wow the last two weeks have been a killer. Like some kind of marathon or something. At least for me. LOL! Painted the guest house along with getting my daughter ready to leave for school. Then traveling with her up to Sacramento to leave her, that was harder than giving birth. But on to the subject of this post. Sorry to wander.

I've been collecting Creamware for several years now at least 13 or more. It started with yard sales when we lived in Virginia. I kept running into this one pattern and just really liked it. It has no marks the ones I've collected, but I do know it's a Homer Laughlin knock-off. Homer Laughlin did have it's own pattern of this, but I liked the chunkier knockoffs better. Go figure. A couple of weeks ago while at an antique store I found a matching teapot. I've never seen a teapot. I do have the creamer. Found that years ago while visiting my mom in Mississippi. I was so excited. It was $11, it's even decently priced at the antique stores. Then last week I found this cute individual soup tureen. Added that to the shelf. Almost everything on the shelf has been found at yard sales, a few pieces have been gifts and a few have been bought at antique stores. Enjoy.

Here's the teapot. Just love it.

I loved the design on the butter dish. No bottom but felt it needed a home anyways.

This little soup tureen was found at an antique store in Missouri. Mom, the kids and I were on a trip many years ago when I discovered this treasure.

These milk glass cups were thrift store finds, each a separate week but found at the same thrift store. Two are identical. The little covered milk glass dish beside it I found at an antique store but it was marked way down due to a flaw which is very minor.

Here's the soup tureen I found.

These cups are on a different shelf but I kept going to my favorite thrift store and these three cups and saucers would be there every week. I finally felt sorry for them and brought them home. LOL

One of the cups.

I call this my orphan tea cup shelf. The cups on the left belonged to my husband's great, great grandmother. Who knows where the saucers went. The ones on the left however where orphaned by my hubby. Yup broken saucers over the years for various reasons like playing ball in the house with dog, knocking a shelf off a wall. Hubby has broken more china than my kids. Go figure. Of course what do orphan tea cups need? An orphan sugar bowl with no lid found at the thrift store. I pulled the lace back so you could see the treasures better.

Here's the whole shelf. Seth made it for me. One of his very first projects in high school. The blue and white willow ware at the top belonged to my great grandmother. That's a treasure also. My daughter who loves blue and white has already asked for this set. In the next couple of weeks I'll box this up very carefully and find something else for this spot. I'm just glad she likes it. My great grandmother loved Willow ware. When she passed away ( I was 16, quite a few years ago) and we were going through her house we found three complete sets of Willow ware plus various pieces.

The creamer to my creamware.

Wow! Long post, sorry. I'm linking up to

Treasures and Trinkets Thursday

I will be posting pictures soon of the guest house. I'm reluctant because there's so much more I want to do in there yet. But it's the end of summer and money gets really tight after your second month of no paycheck. Go figure.

Jojeana of Secret Garden Cottage has given me my first awards. I'll be posting those in the next few days because this post is long enough. Thanks so much Jo!

2010-08-02T22:33:00.001-07:00

Happy days are here again. I finished the guest house painting. Hallelujah!! Photo reveal coming soon.

Finding Yourself

2010-07-28T19:55:00.000-07:00

I think decorating your home is probably about the best way to discover things about yourself. As you pick up pieces to furnish and decorate your house you realize who you are. I've discovered I like strong contrast. Brown and white or blue and white or blue and yellow, etc, etc, etc. For instance I love my oak shelf with all my cream ware and milk glass collection. There's something about all that white against the brown oak that just speaks to me.

Lucky me found another piece for this shelf just the other day while out shopping with my BFF, Kelly. Which means I will be making changes in this display to add the new treasure. Well back to painting.

I'm linking up to :

Treasures and Trinkets Thursday

Summer project

2010-07-27T15:57:00.000-07:00

So everyone knows that late July/ early August is the best time to start projects, right? Because 100 degree weather is nothing, right? Actually I've got so many projects to get done before work/school starts in 3 1/2 short weeks. Next week I'll be extremely busy getting my daughter ready to go to Sacramento. :'( She's heading off to school. So what better time than to tackle the guest house. When I get back from Sacramento I won't have much time before work begins and I want to get her old room made over into my sewing/craft room. Is that terrible or what? She's hardly gone and I'm making changes already. So of course I just jump right in and take no before pictures, but I promise to have several after pictures. I've chosen a cottage by the sea theme for the guest house. Should be fun and should give me lots to do this fall, making it all spiffy. Here's a before picture though. My FIL has been living in the guest house but with both kids leaving we moved him into the main house and the kids to the guest house. Crazy I know. So of course it needs a makeover. We've painted over the green walls. The pictures below are what it looked like when it was the school room/craft/sewing room. I didn't take pictures of it when my FIL was living in there. Suffice to say it was green and messy. After pictures to come in the next few days.

Giveaway at Secret Garden Cottage

2010-07-16T11:09:00.000-07:00

Hi there blogging friends. Thought I would tell you about a giveaway over at Jojeana's. She's a great lady and has reached her 300 follower mark. Check out her gorgeous garden and fabulous house. Leave a comment to enter her giveaway. Thanks for stopping by. Have a great weekend. Stay cool.

Choices, choices

2010-07-14T18:34:00.000-07:00

So I have this question I need to put out there because it is driving me crazy. We have been given an opportunity to move to a much larger, newer house. It's only 6 years old and has 2,664 square feet. It's actually cheaper than our current mortgage. Would you move? It's not a cottage house, possibly a ranch would be the closest to it's design. I've put a lot of me into this house, but it is just a house. My hubby has always wanted a newer house. We've made our pro and con lists, but still can't decide. What would you do in this situation?

Summer is here!

2010-07-09T19:12:00.000-07:00

Hello! Sorry I've been absent lately. It's been so hot here and I just haven't felt like accomplishing anything except for reading a book in front of a fan. I didn't think that would make for interesting blogging. Though I have gotten just a few small things done.

Seth continues to plug away at the corner raised bed in the backyard. We hope to plant our strawberries here this fall when it cools off. I also want a potato bush. Wanted one of those for awhile now.

I did finish the bag I was working on which made Tina happy. I've also been working a little at my favorite local shop. I'll have to share some pictures of the shop later.

The grape is performing exceptionally well and the grass, well the grass is competing with some kind of weed for backyard domination. Hub's is not too happy about it. I told him the Bermuda will choke it out eventually. Bermuda always wins. Thought I would share one before picture of the trellis and the grape to compare it to now. The dahlias and sunflowers are doing well now that it's really warmed up. The wild parrots appreciate the sunflower seed.

Hope your weekend is an exceptional one. As always.....

Happy 4th of July

2010-07-02T17:35:00.000-07:00

America the Beautiful

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!

America! America!
God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassion'd stress
A thorough fare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness.

America! America!
God mend thine ev'ry flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law.

O beautiful for heroes prov'd
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved,
And mercy more than life.

America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness,
And ev'ry gain divine.

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears.

America! America!
God shed his grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea.

Music - Samuel A. Ward, 1888

Words - Katherine Lee Bates
1893

America the Beautiful as I see it. Have a safe and happy 4th of July!!
As always,

A Boy and His Power Tools

2010-06-29T18:40:00.000-07:00

My oldest son, Seth, loves to work with wood. He's been taking classes for several years now. First at the charter school we attended and now at our local junior college. This past spring he took a class and I got the product of that class, a night stand. Unfortunately, like most wood lovers, he hates when I paint anything wooden unless it's plywood or something like that. I figure he'll probably be the receptor of these things he's created for me some day so I don't change them all that much without permission. :)
Lately he's been working on my shelf in the kitchen. He didn't like the product that's been up there so he's been trying to devise a way to do it differently. Of course we live in an older house so the walls aren't level or even or anything accommodating like that. So he's just been plugging along trying to figure it out on his own. My hubby doesn't do a lot of project type things like that (Seth gets that from my side) so he's not much help to Seth but Seth just plugs along until he gets his mind wrapped around it and gets it figured out. He's just about done but how about a sneak peek? I can't wait to get it painted and finished.
Here's the before shot. That middle bracket just always bugged Seth and I.

The driveway is the perfect place to work.

Level, measure, level -
Me "Is it done yet?"

More measuring and more leveling -
Me "I'm sure it'll be fine just like that."

Sigh, still waiting. As always

Way too much to do or never enough time

2010-06-27T15:52:00.000-07:00

My oldest took me to see Toy Story 3 the other day. I'm a huge Pixar fan. So there I was crying over the leaving for college, cleaning out the bedroom scene. Probably because I will be or am facing the same thing with my youngest in just a few short weeks. She's already begun the clean out my room process all on her own. You remember that room don't you? If not you can check it out here. This room will become my new guest/sewing/scrapbooking room. I can and can't wait. A place to call my own again. It's been 3 long years since I said goodbye to my own space to call my very own. So now I'm thinking what do I want to do with this space? How do I want it to function for me?

I wish it still looked like this, clean I mean.
It looks more like this now again.

Of course she is going through things and figuring out what stays and what goes and what gets tossed. The bunk beds are gone already. She outgrew them a year or so ago. Now two young brothers are enjoying them. I get leftover furniture. The twin bed. So what to do, what to do? What would you do with this space? It's small. 8x11 and that's stretching it.
I've thought about having the oldest, the carpenter make me a desk like his own. Not the best shot, but you get the idea. It's attached to the wall, long and skinny with two legs to support the front. He built the desk and stained the shelves. He's pretty handy that way. Well it's time to go for our Sunday evening ritual of waffles, strawberries and swimming at our friends house. Bye!

Just another backyard update and a sewing project

2010-06-25T12:57:00.000-07:00

Thought I would share pictures of the backyard again. With it level and everything. Now if only the grass would spring up, I would be so happy. Can't wait for it to do that. I want it to look this again (7th picture down. These photos aren't on my computer anymore so thought this way was easiest.) Just want the green part because it wasn't level even in this picture. Made for interesting games of croquet though.
Here it is with the sprinklers going in. Rascal is inspecting the job. He's our oldest dog and really showing his age.

Of course Trigger has to help also.

Not the best of pictures because the sun was going down and not helping my photography one bit, but I was so anxious to get a photo of it completely level.

Thought I would also share a picture of a project I've been working on lately. The Paris Flea Market bag, but I think it's really just called flea market bag in the pattern. The pattern is by Cindi Taylor Oates Easy To Make Totes With Zippers (Taylor Made Designs #TMB-155) I made one for myself a couple of years ago and my daughter has been begging for one. So I had embroidered a piece for the pocket, because she insisted it look like mine. It does kinda. It's cute and she likes it. Hope to finish it this weekend. Hope everyone's weekend is a spectacular one.

Backyard update

2010-06-20T19:36:00.000-07:00

I thought I would post some recent pictures of the backyard. We finally have sprinklers, it's leveled and Monday we'll plant grass seed. This flower bed wraps around the outside of the master bedroom addition. We believe this part of the house was added sometime in the late 60s. I have the best luck growing things in this bed.

The irises have faded but the other flowers are still coming on strong. We've had such lovely weather so they'll continue for awhile I hope. Seth was inspired by his trip to Ireland 2 years ago to plant dinner plate dahlias. They're doing fabulous. So far only the yellow have opened up though.

The small pink flowers are humpty dumpty dahlias. I've had a lot of success with these and have even divided and transplanted elsewhere. Most of these pictures are pre-leveled back yard.

The hollyhocks did fabulous this year and even got taller than the grape arbor which is very tall.

The grape is filling in fabulously. We leveled this area and we're thinking we'll put in flagstone or something similar this fall. That's what Seth wants to do at least. I found a great teacup chandlier to hang in here and I'm thinking once the flagstone is in a little bistro set would be great. Already asked Seth for a bench for along the wall.

Kitchen Dreaming

2010-06-16T22:52:00.000-07:00

So I dream of having a kitchen like this....

traditional kitchen design
or one like this....

traditional kitchen design by chicago general contractor Stonebreaker Builders & Remodelers
but the reality is this....

Yes a shoe box. My kitchen is only 9x12 and that's being very generous. I'm sure there are smaller kitchens out there, in fact I know there are, but I dream of larger and larger. Sigh .......

I have been working on this small kitchen lately. It's not going as nearly as fast as I would like it to. Sometimes I think a wand or nose wrinkle would be the best. I try to comfort myself with it's the journey that counts. It's not working though. I just want it done. But the carpenter did take down this ...

To replace it with something better.

But what we've really been working on this week while hubby is off is this ...

Of course these were taken at the height of the rainy season we had. There are real plants out there hidden among all those weeds. After 4 years of begging we're finally getting it leveled. Hallelujah!!! I can't shout it enough. Friday is the day. I'll leave on a positive note, most of the flower beds are cleared and looking good.

{{HUGS}} Amanda

Project Completion

2010-06-13T21:13:00.000-07:00

So I spent my weekend or at least my Saturday working on this project.... remember this? Yep it's pieced. Waiting for borders and a backing. I'll be posting the finished product later this week. Hope your week is a good one too. {{HUGS}} Amanda

Quilts for Students

2010-06-10T09:57:00.000-07:00

So here are this year's quilts. We actually got 6 of them done and had numerous problems with #7 due to the batting. We're just learning this long-arm quilting thing, so we'll eventually get it right. My BFF Kelly just got her new long-arm this spring. We thought quilting these students' quilts would be the best thing to learn on and they probably wouldn't notice or complain about them too much. :-) So here they are.

We try to match the quilts to the kids or at least what we think they would like. The majority of these quilts were all pulled from stash. Kelly's and mine. The red, white and blue quilt was one that I actually started years ago, so it was good to finish it. Yeah!!!! The students all loved them. Most of them are just floored and don't realize that we made them just for them. We hope these quilts help them realize they are someone special and that even when times are bad making the good choice is always the best way even when it's the hard choice.

Please take my poll on the right hand side. I'm trying to determine which way to take this blog. I'll be having a lot more time on my hands this next year as I graduated the last child. The years just fly by.

Happy summer,

{{HUGS}} Amanda

Just Musing

2010-06-09T14:15:00.000-07:00

So summer is here and the living is easy. I've been pondering, should a blog be about one particular subject or theme? Say decorating or gardening or sewing or etc. Basically we started this blog for a school project 3 years ago. The kids moved on and I stayed or inherited this blog. Fine with me. I like to write and I love to let our friends and family know what we've been up to. But lately I've been wondering and also looking over past posts should a blog be streamlined so to say? I know when looking at other blogs I look at some for their decorating or cooking. I seem to kind of wander around in my posts and so should I split those different subjects into their own blogs? I've posted a poll on the side bar and if you don't mind answering the questions I would much appreciate it.
Thanks!!!
{{HUGS}} Amanda

Confessions of a Readaholic

2010-06-07T19:53:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I'll admit that I like to read and I like to read a lot. My childhood wasn't the best and I read to escape a lot of the unpleasantness of it. Enough said. So I guess that's why I love my job as a school librarian. It's hard for me to imagine that so many kids today don't like to read. Go figure. Or maybe they say that because reading isn't cool and associated with all things nerd or well I have my beliefs on what the other reasons are. Reading helped me to realize that there were others worse off than myself and that I could escape the circumstances of my childhood. I didn't need to repeat the offenses of it. So there I've admitted everything. I love to read, but my darkest secret is that I love to read children's literature. Not because my reading level is so low but because it's great stuff.
I started reading to my oldest child before he could even sit up or crawl. I would lie on the floor beside him and hold the book above us while I read. I couldn't wait to introduce my favorite world, the written word, to him. I've read to him ever since.

Even today we still read together because it's fun to share a novel together, to discuss and have someone to share it with. We still like a lot of the same kind of literature. When my youngest came along, we continued to read together while I would nurse her. So she too got a very early introduction to the written word. They both love to read. Tina, like me, would rather read to herself than be read to. I love to read aloud to others but not be read to. Go figure. Books of all kinds have found a home in our house.
So I'd like to introduce a book that I've come to really like and can't wait for the third book to come out. Hence the clock that is counting down at the top of my blog. If you get a chance this summer read this series. It's awesome, especially if you like dystopia fiction. The movie rights have been bought and I can't wait or maybe I can because I already have these characters so firmly etched in my mind as to what they look like. I haven't decided totally who I would want to play the two leading characters, but Bruce Willis gets my vote for the alcoholic, cantankerous Haymitch. He'd be perfect at it. Hunger Games and Catching Fire are awesome. If you're having a hard time to get your middle school children to read, suggest this series. Even my reluctant readers were hooked by this one.
Now we did have a great time at Yosemite and the quilts went over really well, so I'll be back to posting regularly I hope now that school is out for the summer. Also I hope to have more time to visit and leave comments.
{{HUGS}} Amanda

Yosemite here we come!

2010-06-03T15:28:00.000-07:00

School is out for the summer and we're off to this incredible place for the weekend. I haven't been to Yosemite since I was a kid and we've never taken our children, so this should be fun. Wishing everyone a great summer vacation.

Crazy, Crazy Month of May

2010-06-01T22:00:00.000-07:00

End of year is always amazingly busy. I don't know why but it seems that we hit that month of May and things just accelerate and every weekend has something to do and before you know it's June and school/work is getting out. So just to hit the highlights this is what I've been doing and then had to put on the back burner. I hope to get started back up again next week once work is over for the summer.
I did start painting my kitchen cabinets. The top cabinet that is. I originally started by painting the new cabinet the same shade of green as the lower ones. I'm not sure why. Maybe because it was new also. I never even finished it, probably because I didn't like it. Tina finally said why don't you just paint it white like the other two older cabinets? Well duh!! Why didn't I think of that?

You can just see a touch of the green left in this photo. I left the back of the one cabinet green because someday I think that would be a great display space when I don't have to store so much up there. There's only the doors left to do. I love what I've gotten done so far before graduation and quilting seven, that's right 7, quilts for our end of year kids that my BFF and I do every year. I'll post pictures of those hopefully tomorrow. They turned out so nice. Can't wait to give them to the kids and see their faces. So have a great week and weekend. We're headed out of town for camping this weekend at Yosemite. Can't wait.

Happy Memorial Weekend

2010-05-29T23:55:00.001-07:00

I've been so swamped lately with Tina's graduation and end of year stuff at work, but I promise a real blog post soon. Hope everyone has a great Memorial Weekend.

Just a little lettered project

2010-05-05T18:07:00.000-07:00

So I'm wondering, do you struggle to come up with catchy titles for your posts? I'm just curious. I suppose that's a holdover from the essay writing days when I had to have a title for my English essays. I could just go title-less. Is that rebellious?
Enough wondering. I've been busy trying to finish all those little things that just never seemed to have gotten done when we redid the kitchen. I have a hard time with all the finishing details. Hey, close enough to done, let's just use it and live with it. But I do so like it all finished, just not the tedious chore of finishing it. I would probably be labeled ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) if I was a student now a days. ;-)
I did finish a little project that I thought I would share with you today. I've had the letters for at least a year now. Pondering which paper to use. I went back and forth between something floral or fruit or polka dots or whatever. I finally settled for Graphic 45's Domestic Goddess paper line. Just fell in love with it. Now to figure out where I want to put it. I've got some ideas brewing. I just used Mod Podge to adhere the paper to the letters. Super duper easy. The letters I bought at Michaels.

I'll be out of town for the next two weekends so I won't get anything done. Drats! But I do hope you all have spectacular weekends. Wonderful Mothers' Day for those whom that applies to.

{{HUGS}} Amanda

Backyard Progress

2010-05-03T08:32:00.000-07:00

Well I had a great weekend and I hope you did too. We celebrated our son's 20th birthday yesterday. I can't believe he's gotten that old. Time does fly. So happy birthday Seth.
Last fall Seth built me this great grape arbor. The posts that we had had simply rotted away and it had just been resting on the ground. It was time for a new home. So we pruned it back hard to retrain it and it's doing really well. By the end of the summer it will have probably filled the grape arbor or at least I'm hoping. I'm also hoping it will provide shade for the guest house as that end of it faces west.

But it seems that another little being thought it would make a good home. It's pretty amazing that this grape arbor should already provide shelter in it's first year. I think it's great. A little morning dove has made her nest here.

We've already got a few things blooming in our garden and we hope to have more. We've actually had spring here. Usually we're into the 80s and staying there by now and climbing. But just the other day I had the heater on. Couldn't believe it. Almost May and the heater on. I know some of you are still using your heaters full time, but that's a rarity for us where we live. So I thought I would share progress on our very sad backyard. Hubby has promised to rent a rototiller while he's off the next 2 weeks and finally level the backyard. Yeah! I'm so excited. I would love to have grass again. The contractor who built the guest house just left our backyard a mess. It was beautiful before that. Those little bobcats can do quite a number on your landscape.

I hope to be working on my kitchen this week. I am determined to get it finished. So hopefully I'll be posting pictures later this week of this area that will finally be completed.

Hope you all have a great week!
{{HUGS}} Amanda