Another Annie Sloan Before and After

Trying to tie up loose ends before knee surgery at the end of the week.

One of the Mississippi Annie Sloan distributors asked me why I didn't

Annie this wonderful old print!

Indeed, the glass is old and slightly wavy and the print is beautiful...
but that frame! Yikes!
Someone painted it with gloss white and then antiqued the details with a horrible gold.
So....

out came Annie in Old White....

and 45 minutes later...isn't she lovely?!
I love her so much I might keep her...but I think you'd like to see it at the shop!

Annie can transform anything!

What Is HOPE Really?

In the hot, humid summer, we long for the coolness of fall.

In the midst of swirling emotional crises, we long for peace and quiet

and a sense that all will be well.

Just as surely as these leaves will turn scarlet, Christians have a HOPE.

Not a hope as today's world defines hope.

Today's "hope" is a wish for something that we have no real assurance of getting.

Our HOPE is different.

Those who possess this HOPE understand.

Biblical HOPE is "an indication of certainty..a strong and confident expectation."

HOPE isn't "a static passive thing...it is dynamic, active, directive

and life sustaining."

 HOPE is

"a confident expectation,

the sure certainty that what God promised in the Word is true,

has occurred,

and or will in accordance with God's sure Word."

HOPE is a sure anchor.

Don't just hope...instead HOPE.

Beginning to Look Like Fall!

We've had two days of cooler weather (in the 80's) so, of course, it's imperative

that some the "fall" stuff comes out!

 Yay for Fall!!

Because I am having my second knee surgery of the summer next week,

I've got to get it in gear a little early!

I found these leaf and grapevine pumpkins last year at the end of the season!

Pretty napkins and my fall china are all in place.

I have been working on my Indian and pine needle basket collections this year.

McCarty Raccoon family is preparing for winter.

Found these feather wreaths that can also double as candle rings.

A sale Pottery Barn metal basket with burlap liner holds fabric pumpkins.

Love, love, love the scent of Bath and Body Works Pumpkin candle!

Will add more next month...leaves and more, you guessed it...pumpkins!

Hope the weather is cooler in your neck of the woods, too!

If You Need Happy, Don't Read This...

Let's don't beat around the bush here. I've always been sort of a "bottom line" kind of girl...let's get to the point. Getting old is THE pits. Now, don't message me with "you are only as old as you feel" comments. If that were the truth, I'd be 999.

The past few weeks have NOT been good ones. I must admit, I tried to keep a stiff upper lip through it all, but that's just not cutting it anymore. Let me recount for you.

It began a Sunday or two ago with my 84 year old father saying that he didn't recognize the "little old lady" getting HIS laundry basket out of MY car...lo and behold it was little ole me! Then he advised me to dye my hair. Strike one.

Then some old (and I say that kindly) friends dropped by the shop and in the conversation one friend mused that she would have never recognized me. Well, what can I say? It HAS been 45 years since I last saw her. However, I WOULD have recognized her right away. Now, this means that either she hasn't changed very much or I look like an 18 Wheeler has hit me. That was strike two for the week.

Now for strike 3. As I sat with the frozen vegetable pack on my bum knee, trying my best to get the swelling to go down so I could limp to work on Saturday, I caught a glimpse of my hands. I've always had bad cuticles but on the good side, I've had great strong nails...that's the problem, I use them for things like turning screws when a screwdriver isn't handy...but those two items aside..my hands look, well...OLD. And they aren't strong anymore...sort of frail and "veiny". I can't open the pickle jar and have to have help opening locks on some doors..what's happened?

I'VE BECOME OLD..THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENED!!!! Now, I ask you...is old so bad? And now I answer that...YES, it is. Gray hair, a changed face and frail hands. So very NOT me...but now so very me. Tears flow more easily than they used to; pains occur in places I really never noticed I had; and time is spent reflecting on the past...Before "old", I never had much time to reflect. Now reflecting is helpful and reflections (in a mirror)..not so much. I have to admit...I am a little afraid of the future. (I used to charge forth like a warrior...now, I couldn't do any charging except to hand my charge-card to someone.)

I say all that to get to this bottom line...enjoy your youth. Don't waste it on vain and useless pass-times. Old age creeps upon you suddenly and you will take comfort in memories and worthwhile endeavors. Try to cultivate and use your sense of humor, believe me, you will need it! And gray hair? Well, that's something I've been giving some thought to...not sure about that.

P.S. If you see me...DO NOT tell me you would have never recognized me. Even if you don't. Pretend.

                                                         Thank you for letting me vent, 

No More "Dead Space"

Dead space...ugh. What a name for something. I was caught up listening to an HGTV segment of Design All Stars on Tuesday evening. Hillary, one of the contestants, spoke about "dead space" usage in a room she was helping to design. That triggered a thought as I sat and watched more of the show. I began assessing my own home for those "nooks and crannies" that had no real life...they just sat there gobbling up space and had no apparent reason for living...thus, "dead space".

Now, this does NOT mean that every square inch of wall space needs to be covered up with stuff. However, sometimes there is a space that needs to be filled and we tend to just fill it, even if filling it doesn't serve any real purpose. The idea of vanquishing dead space is to color in the areas so they become useful, functioning components of a room....not just a place for clutter to land. My theory is that any area that attracts clutter IS a dead space. You must figure out how to re-think and organize the space to function properly.

One such space was found in #1 Grandson's room. There was a wall to the right of the entry door which had an unused space between the entry and the closet. I had put a small table there ( well, it NEEDED something) and it quickly became a catch-all for everything from unused phone cords to packages of bubble gum. What to do? What to do?

First, I looked at the room's overall use. He needed a computer and chair for school work (check); two book shelves hold books and the t.v. for Play Station (check); an overstuffed chair and a half  makes down into his bed (check); proper lighting (check); bedside table (check).

What was missing? Oh, yes. A study area. He has been studying in the dining room. The light isn't conducive to study and the t.v. noise from the next room is a distraction.

I had a 42"x18" mini island made for my kitchen. IT, too, quickly became a catch-all and I was constantly bumping into it (and the "hubster" didn't like it at all.) Wonder if that might fit into the dead space? Well, guess what...it was a close call. But, if I must say so myself, the island was converted to quite a handy desk area.

We have about two inches between door and desk. (Whew!)

From left to right:

closet, desk, entry door = NO DEAD SPACE!

I had a vintage stool that was Ryan's great grandmother's and we placed it as an economical seat.

Since he is left handed, his lamp was placed on right. Pencils, rulers and extra paper is to the left.

Pictured above the desk are his baseball plaque, a "Dwell in possibility" saying, and

my Pottery Barn knock off typewriter key picture.

(Psst...guess what? He is actually using it!!)

What areas of your house need re-vitalizing?