Oh, We Had Hot Dogs and Potato Chips!

Most men are more or less defined by their jobs...whether this is right or wrong, (understand that I am not speaking in a religious vein, but in a practical everyday one). Men derive some of their self worth from being able to provide well for their family.

Women, on the other hand, seem to derive some of their self esteem by the state of their homes. (Now, you know it's true)...Once, when my son was about 8 or 9, he called me at work to let me know that he and Daddy had brought home a visitor for lunch. I thought he was referring to another child, but he was referring to a very well known coach from a university! I almost died. "What did you have to eat?" There was NOTHING in the refrigerator remotely worthy of someone famous. I had that beginning panicky feeling. "Oh," he replied, "We had hot dogs and potato chips. And don't worry, I put out a clean towel in the bathroom." Yes, that thud you heard was my heart hitting my feet. How could he do such a thoughtless thing?...You see, my house was a semi-wreck that day, and I was mortified. Were the men? Not mine...probably not the "famous" coach either, but I will never know.

So keeping my house in decent condition has always been a priority to me. (Never know when you might entertain royalty.) I noticed that every few months I grew tired of the way something looked and began a "search" for something to perk up the atmosphere. Nothing wrong with that...right? But to do that over and over seemed like it was bordering on obsession and never being satisfied. I began to feel uneasy ...was something wrong with me? And then something happened that changed my perspective... I got a room decorated and it stayed that way for several years. Wonder of wonders, I still liked it. What was the difference?

I know the answer to this age old question...WHY CAN'T WOMEN BE SATISFIED WITH WHAT THEY HAVE? Answer: Because we are so used to putting others first, that we have to skimp on details of the home that would make us feel comfortable...finally. For example, a new couch is needed. The old one is well, old and dirty and fraying. But Junior needs braces, so we throw a slip cover over the couch and make do until Junior's bite is corrected. All the while, avoiding eye contact with said slouchy couch. There is this underlying feeling of dissatisfaction in "that" area of the room...but we do our best to bury it.

 Get to the point, mam...just the facts, please. Ok, here it is. When I am able to decorate even in a modest way, it makes me feel better temporarily. But when, I decorate in a more substantial way (aka spending more AND GETTING SOMETHING THAT WILL LAST) I feel more settled longer...maybe even for several years. Maybe forever!  So, the answer to feeling better about your home is this...besides cleaning it...SAVE UP FOR WHAT YOU REALLY WANT AND MAKE PURCHASES WISELY. Make do with inexpensive trendy items until you can do what will give you lasting pleasure. Does this make sense?

Here is an example. Swags I made 15 years ago were still doing their job.
Did I love them? Fabric, yes...style, uh, no.



Whala! New updated drapes and I love it! Makes the room seem larger and lighter.
Even though I feel guilty for letting the old swags go...they served us well.

I added this centerpiece after the pictures.



A friend gave me this toile planter years ago...it works just right now!

I updated the buffet lamps with shades that have a leaf design on the lining.
They came from my bedroom.  (The value of using a similar color palette throughout
your home is re-arranging is so much easier.)

Cloche with nest and Peter's Pottery bluebird add "the hope of Spring" touch.



I brought out a small glass cabinet and added my lambs, some redware and
my great grandfather's little Webster's dictionary.



My hutch needed a good cleaning and I added some painted metal hearts that sport tiny bird's nests.





February signals time to bring out some of my vintage Valentines.
One of my favorite holidays!!



Even the bathroom got a little touch of spring.
I found the print bath cloth on sale for fifty cents...
The bottom line is trendy is ok, in small doses...but saving for a substantial
upgrade is more satisfying in the long run.

HAPPY GROUNDHOG DAY,



Summer Tablescape + What Design Type Are You?

I am trying to decide, at almost 62 years of age, exactly WHAT is my decorating "type"? I've tried them all...Early American, Primitive, Contemporary (reluctantly), Country French, on and on.... the only one I keep returning to over and over is Traditional with an Eccentric twist. (No, I didn't mean Eclectic...I mean Eccentric. I am just plain weird....as my friends and family will be more than happy to attest to.)

With that info in mind, I enter Tablescape Thursday (see button on right to visit. It will be live tomorrow 6/2) and my photos will show a rather restrained tabletop. But, first things first.

While pondering my "decor type" I was perusing a Victoria magazine (Jan/Feb 2011...p. 78) and it hit me...I was reading about a designer named Jessie Davidson. She is a Chicago designer, and I noticed something about her showcased home that was very appealing. Her colors were extremely muted, she used lovely traditional accessories and then...THERE IT WAS... a pop of color here and there.... that's all...just a WOW factor casually thrown in. However, if you look closely, you will notice NOTHING she designs is just thrown in. It may look like it was casually tossed in the mix...but she has a definite MO. (For non-CSI fans...that's method of operation.) P.S. I also LOVE HGTV's Sarah Richardson's sense of style.

I gravitate toward that look...muted but with a twist. The thing that made the look so appealing to me is that it's not suffocating, nothing is overpowering. It all flows together in a very calming way. No red walls...just a subtle red used here and there. Ahhhh....I feel better because I LOVE red, but in overdoses it makes me jittery. So here I am, here's my style...Muted with a Caveat!

My photos today are of the "other side of my back porch" with the outdoor wrought iron table set for a breakfast for two. Do the hubster and I regularly dine at 6:00 a.m. with such frills? NO.

But because I had "done" the other side of the porch, I couldn't let this side feel slighted.
However, an early morning breakfast would taste even better outside on the porch!
(For a full view see Back Porch Makeover post from earlier this week.)

Here's where my "weirdness" comes in...the centerpiece is a wreath made from Paula Deen's green checked cupcake papers...I know, I know...I can't help myself.



I have done my dead level best to make sure that every home in Rankin county has at least one bird's nest residing somewhere in it. I can't do it alone...help me. I've loved nests since I was a little girl. Here, I plopped one in the top of a topiary that I've had for years and still love her!

Berry wreath charger; McCarty Dinner nutmeg plate; green "majolica" salad plate; hobnail glass; Peter's pottery mug; Gorham Buttercup silver.

McCarty Pottery sugar and creamer...FYI: that's the Mississippi River flowing down the sides of this nutmeg pair. (McCarty trademark...McCarty is located in Merigold, Mississippi.)

Tea, anyone? Ok, you caught me...sorry to burst this bubble but do you REALLY think I could get the hubster/coach to sit on the back porch and sip hot tea? NOT ON YOUR LIFE...Gatorade, maybe. But it IS a pretty little teapot.

Could you have passed up this embroidered tablecloth with 6 matching napkins for $6 at the Flea Market? May I be frank? If you said, "Yes", then you don't know a bargain when it's staring you in the eyesockets! I use green as an ever-present neutral in all my decorating.

Vintage salt cellars and salt spoons that match my silver pattern.

May we talk? Look, I know there's nothing particularly spectacular here...but what good does it do to show tablescapes that are totally out of the reach for most of us? (Except to make us dream and maybe covet...oops.) The way I see it, if this post gives you a little boost and a few ideas, then it's time well spent. But if it depresses you and makes you think, "I can't do that...I don't have all that stuff "...then the post has defeated it's own purpose! Now, go put a bird's nest somewhere in your house!

Wishing we could all eat out on the porch every morning,

Old Book...New Planter Tutorial

I am working on a project that I hope you will find interesting...I'll tell you about it later this week, however, I've been diligently pulling everything together for the past few weeks. Today, I finished another "spoke on the wheel" and thought you might like to see the fruits of my "labor." (A little Mother's Day pun..ha.)

The finished product is pictured above. Let me explain how we got to the above state of being. It all began with a yard sale find...

Three of these little planters were crying out to be taken home a few Saturdays ago. So for 50 cents each...who could resist? They have never been used, are wood overlayed with paper and each has a plastic insert inside...they were also marked $19.99! What?! Who in their right mind would pay $19.99 each for these things?

I decided to cover each side with old book pages. I marked black around the sides in case my overlay of book pages didn't quite meet on the sides.

I traced the sides, cut out four sides from the pattern and Mod Podged the sheets of an old science book onto each side. Using Tim Holtz Distress Ink, I aged the paper sides and MP'd again.

Ok, but rather Plain Jane if you ask me. So if a little is good, a lot must be better!!

A few floppy flowers, some velvety leaves, polka dot ribbon and feathers....and wahla... Cutie Pie!

Let's try her outside! Cute but oh, the sun will kill her!

Brought her inside and let her sit next to Peter's Pottery bunny! Yes, that's much better!

I love the colors and the overall look here. I don't know what I'll do with the other two planters, but this one is ready for next weekend...

I am linking to BoogieBoard Cottage & Amaze Me Monday (Dittle Dattle)...see buttons on right and come and join the party.

Hope you can find a fun, cute project to do,

Happy Anniversary! Mantel Before & After

Thirty three years and counting! Yes, I've been married 33 big ones! Those of you who read this blog regularly know how "blog shy" the hubby is...can't even mention his name (!) but I can't pass this opportunity to let you know about his kindness to me.
Our anniversary was actually yesterday, but being a coach's wife has made me very flexible when it comes to celebrating big events. We celebrated today. We began the day with breakfast made by him! Then onto Magee, Mississippi where we dropped by Gene Polk's Drug Store. What on earth, you are asking yourself!! Well, Polk's in Magee happens to have one of the largest inventories of Peter's Pottery in the state!! I was treated to this statement, (are you ready?!) "Whatever you want!" Music to my half deaf ears!! So he waited in the car as I surveyed the whole realm of pottery and made my selection!

Close your mouth...you ARE gasping, aren't you? It's the jade and nutmeg swirly cotton row VASE!

For those of you from Mississippi, you know the quality and beauty of Peter's Pottery. This vase is heavy and tall and WONDERFUL! Then on to Trees and Trends in Hattiesburg. I needed some greenery for the vase. 40% off works for me!! Now home to "flutter" as he calls it.

This is my mantel before. Adequate, but nothing to write home about.

This is the mantel with a few updates for spring and the big Mamajama vase.

(I know, you don't like the brass fireplace enclosure. But we do, so it's staying.)

I bought this oil painting at a garage sale years ago...I still love it...primitive as it may be.
I love the new look and truly appreciate the "Whatever you want" sentiment...lol. I am blessed to have been given such a good man.

Blessings and joy-filled hours on this Saturday,