A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

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Do you ever see a photo that sums up the way you are feeling just perfectly?  This one does it for me.  I love the ocean.  The light sparkling on the water and the sand beneath my feet, waves crashing, all make me feel alive, peaceful, and grateful.  But that same ocean, when viewed on a stormy day is another thing altogether.  I feel small and insignificant and vulnerable. Suddenly the life that exists below the surface which at another time might be interesting and delightful becomes disconcerting and scary, dark and unknown.  The beach becomes a place where I feel very unsettled and fearful, afraid of what the storm that lurks may bring.    

This life that I love and live has been flip flopping a lot for me lately.  One day, it is the sunny beach where everything seems possible and the next day (or sometimes even the same day), it becomes the stormy sea where everything seems so impossible.  I feel so incredibly inadequate and wonder if I can keep my head above water.  I feel fragile, yet I know that I possess inner strength.  I feel alone and yet, I know that I am never alone as I have my family and my heavenly Father with me.  I feel scared of the unknown, yet exhiliarated by the possibilities that exist in the unknown.  Maybe this is what it is to really experience life, I'm not sure.  I've had bouts with mild depression, but it doesn't really feel like that...it isn't quite that hopeless and sad.  It's more scary, but in a reflective way if that makes any sense.  Maybe it's my age.  Maybe its menopause (highly likely).  Whatever it is, I am sure, this too, shall pass, but for now, I'm going to try to see what I'm supposed to be seeing.  I know that God has ways of showing us what we need to look at if only we open our eyes.  I'm going to try to conquer my fear and open my eyes to really see. 

You know I lurk your blogs a lot, many times not commenting, just reading and pondering.  You gals (and a few guys) are a great community and a great support group.  I am not always the best at communicating it to you, especially when I feel a bit overwhelmed, but know that I appreciate you putting yourselves out here in Blogland and I feel your love and light, even though I've never met most of you.  I'll be back with more light fare one of these days, but for now, thanks for letting me get out of my comfort zone and take an uncharacteristic swim in the deep end of the pool.  It's where I am right now.

Until next time,

Can Ya Help a Blogger Out?

While doing a little surfing market research tonight, I stumbled upon an online store I'd not seen before, VivaTerra.  They have some very cool things and I like their philosophy as reflected in their "about us" section of their website:

"Our name VivaTerra or living earth is inspired by our dedication to living in harmony with nature - for a healthier life now and for future generations. All of our products reflect a commitment to:
ecology and elegance: The finest goods that uniquely fuse exceptional quality and design with eco sensitivities.
organic, sustainable sources: The purest ingredients and sustainable resources possible - selected to be the best available.
earth and people friendly: Partners and suppliers who share our values and work to make a positive difference in the world.
handcrafted by artisans: Distinctive goods of uncommon value, handcrafted by passionate designers and artisans.
celebrate life: Celebrate life and human spirit by honoring traditions from cultures around the world."

Gotta love that, right?  Anyway, the little 3 bin wire basket shown above is calling my name, but the $169 price tag is not.  Does anyone know where I could get a similar piece with a more "consumer friendly" price?  You guys are awesome resources and I just thought MAYBE someone had come across something like this in their travels.  If not, no worries, I'll probably get over it, but I thought it would look SO cute in the little man's new room (still in progress).

Oh and BTW, little man and I went to our first IKEA store on Sunday. Denver FINALLY got one, the first in the state of Colorado which had opened 5 days prior.  HOLY COW!  It was like going to Disney World...all sorts of traffic directing from the signs at the interstate to the gazillions of neon green vested workers pointing the way.  THEN we got in the parking garage and shuffled in the building along with several hundred of our closest friends.  :-)  It was crazy...talk about feeling like you were stuck in a herd of cows.  MOO!  But it was SO cool.  I got a set of 6 juice glasses, a long ceramic tray that they showed with 3 small pillar candles on a bed of small river rocks, one of those cool metal plant pots that look they are edged with lace on top, and a vanilla candle. All for under $13 bucks, including tax.  Not to mention the awesome ideas I got for future reference.  Sweet!  I see why you gals are so crazy for IKEA. 

Thanks in advance Bloggie Friends!

Until next time,

Have you seen "Patina Style" yet?

Just me here doing the quick check in.  The Colorado mountains were lovely but now it's back to the routine.  We rode horses, rode an alpine slide, the boys climbed the climbing walls and jumped on the bungee trampolines, we rafted, we boated, we swam, and we ate (a lot!).  Good times were had by all, but boy were we pooped!  Anyway, thanks for your comments on my last post.  I will try to get around to visit you in response, but it may take me a while-bear with me pretty please.

So, when I saw that Brooke Giannetti of the blog Velvet and Linen and her talented husband Steve had a book coming out called "Patina Style", I wasted no time pre-ordering it from Amazon.  It came just before we left on our vacation and it does NOT disappoint.  I would highly recommend it if you are a fan of Brooke's style as there are many beautiful photos to salivate over.  I have not had time to savor it and read it cover to cover as I would like due to all of my irons in the fire right now, but I have no doubt the text will be as interesting and wonderful as the photos.  There are MANY inspiring rooms and vignettes using antique and vintage treasures for you to ponder and delight in.

Just a quick sampling to tease you.  Must get back to big baby boy's new room.  I'll check in as soon as I can.  Enjoy the wonderful summer while it lasts!

Until next time,

Just checking in...again.

Hi friends!  Hope you all have been well.  I want to start off by saying I have been working my butt off pulling up carpet and stripping off 2 layers of wallpaper that has been covered by 2 layers of paint.  Yes, it is worth it.  I am doing it for my big little son so he can have his own room that isn't a pit.  And it is worth it because 12 years ago, I promised this old house (107 or so years old) that I would save it and help return it to its former simple beauty that existed before idiots came along and did their best to screw it up.  I am making small steps, but steps nonetheless. 

Sigh...I haven't taken my children to the pool as much as I would have liked.  I haven't been to even one free concert or farmer's market.  Fifi and Mark have not been round to visit MY house.  I haven't taken a picture in I don't know how long.  I haven't made any mosaic art in even longer.  But I'm okay.  One step at a time.  I am a crummy blogger in that I don't document every step of everything I do, but I love this old house, and one of these days, I will have some pictures of the "after" to share with you.  If I am actually willing to share them with you, it will be a miracle, because this redo is literally on a shoestring budget.  BUT hope springs eternal, so bear with me. Later today,  I'm taking my kiddos up to the mountains for a little fun for several days, so I will be out of the loop even more (no computer access-yikes!  I haven't gone "computerless" in a LONG time).

PROUD MOMMA ALERT:  In a photo that I did manage to shoot this summer, I have a picture of my gardening boys showing off the fruits (or would that be vegetables?) of their labors that the pesky squirrels didn't manage to make off with.  Radishes...yum.  They were so proud.  I think they tasted extra good.  From my little boys' hands to our table...now that's summery goodness!

Until next time,

Just checking in...and some garden tour pics

Hi Blogging Friends,

It's been a long time...how are you?  I am just taking a little moment to check in so you don't think I've fallen off of the planet.  I mentioned in one of my earlier posts that our garden was on a garden tour at the end of June.  It was a lot of work getting ready for it, especially since it was the weekend immediately following the mutha of all garage sales (which went well, by the way...YAY!), but it was worth it.  Now we get to enjoy our beautiful yard SANS junk and clutter for the rest of the summer.  I thought I'd share several photos of our home and outdoor space since I don't think I've ever done that before.  I didn't spend much (any) time sprucing up the pictures, so they are pretty much straight off the camera.  Award winning photos....well, not this time, but I really want to get a post out there before I have to move on to my next project for the day. :-)

On our front porch by the door, this sweet angel welcomes you. 

Also sharing space on the front porch is my antique European goat cart that is carrying a huge geranium that my husband overwintered from last year.  Yes, that is ONE pot!

As you look at the side of the house, you see the meandering flagstone path taking you to our backyard and large gazebo type covered deck.



My husband's attempt at being artsy.  I like it!  Cute AND Zen inspired!



Asiatic Lily

Rocky Mountain Blue Columbines, one of our favorites...



Daylilies

One of my favorites, lavender, with a little concrete bunny peaking out.

Another "critter"

My favorite spot to hang out all summer long in the form of our outdoor living room.  Pardon the pillow in disarray, but apparently Mazie the cat didn't like it the way I had it.  She says, "Meow" to mommy's blogging pals.

My shelf holding several of my mosaic pieces as well as an old quilt which has on more than one occasion been used to wrap up in as one or more napped on the couch.  I love decorating my outdoor space just like an indoor space.  It makes for a very cozy and welcoming spot for friends and family alike.

One of my favorite projects, a chandelier dewired, rusted up with my favorite Sophisticated Finishes patina solution, topped with glass globes, blinged up with some old chandelier crystals, and filled with little fresh flower posies.  I usually have candles in them, but dressed it up this way for the garden tour since it was during the day, obviously.  My husband and kids think I'm weird to have a chandlier outside, but I know you gals get it, don't you?  Of course you do!

 My little collection of old vases and flowers pots.  Most of them are McCoy, but some are just unknown beauties.  I don't generally plant any flowers in them just because with our extremely dry climate, you have to water little pots like these probably twice a day and that just doesn't fit in with my life right now.  It's okay though, I enjoy them just as is.

I call our house "Doodlehaven".  It's really just a joke, but one time I was working an estate sale for a family that was from back east, old money.  We were looking at the family's album of old pictures and their history and we noticed that people that have money always have a name for their home.  These were very stately sounding names like "Pine Crest" or "Ravenswood", you get the picture.  Anyway, we of lesser means began giving our own homes names.  My boss lives in a 30's Tudor style bungalow and she said her house could be "Tudorcrest" or something like that.  I said my momma used to call me "Doodle" when I was a little girl, so my house would be "Doodlehaven".  I got some very pretty cracked china from the estate sale, one of which had been purchased from Tiffanys so I had to make a mosaic nameplate for the house.  And there you have it.   Doodlehaven.



Thanks for stopping by and taking a little mini tour of our outdoor space.  

We're in the middle of ripping out the nasty carpet that was in our upstairs.  Every room, carpet glued to the 100+ year old hardwood floors.  Yes, I said GLUED.  Can you imagine?  Anyway, when we bought the house, we were told the floors upstairs were in "pretty rough condition".  Well, after removing the nasty carpet, scrapping rubber backing, and sanding it down (one room down, 3 to go, plus a hallway and stairs), it looks pretty darn good.  I can't even guess when I'll have pictures for you, but I will share some, I promise.  I guess you know what I'll be doing instead of blogging!

Until next time,

Where Does My Time Go???

I'm sure I speak for most of us when I  say that I don't know where the heck the month of May went!  Just a moment ago, it was April.  All good.  Then WAMMO!  My calendar says it is June and double digit June at that!  Well, I guess when I started doing a little retrospective of what I'd been up to, I can see why my time may have gotten away from me.  I've been sewing up a few of these large lavender heart sachet pillows made out of antique European grain sacks for my Etsy shop.  They smell so good and, I might add, would look great with Maria's square lavender grain sack lavender pillows.

I've been busy listing fun things (besides the lavender sachets) as well.  I love this antique wire basket. Almost kept it. 

 These cool Indian clubs were sold within a few hours of listing (means I sold them too cheap more than likely, but oh well...).

I was fairly busy with helping out with my 5th grader's Shakespeare play, "As You Like It".  The kids did so great.  Pardon the blurry picture, but I haven't quite gotten the hang of photographing stage performances.

 

Never thought I'd see the day when I got to put makeup on my kid and his friends.  They were really good sports though.  I think they were really committed to the production and knew that stage makeup was just part of the deal. My little man didn't need mascara because he has the most amazing naturally dark and super long eyelashes.  SO not fair.

Then there was graduation day.  My big boy is now a middle schooler.  I'm not sure I'm ready for this, but I think he is. He and his friends clean up nice, don't they?

Then there's my youngest little one.  Some things just defy explanation.  And for the record, he did this to himself.  AND he is still smiling.  That's my boy!

Then there's the impending mutha of all yard sales next weekend followed by our garden which is going to be on a local garden tour the following weekend (Mr. FL has been working very hard to get ready; I'll have to take some pictures and post them soon).  We spent all day getting the covered porch opened up for the season last week.  So much work but we've been in heaven enjoying being out there.

There's also been a few little DIY projects, not really worth mentioning, but time consuming nonetheless.  So that's my story and I'm sticking to it.  I can't wait to have some free time to catch up on my blogging, but the project list for this summer is lengthy and then I would like to spend a little time enjoying the monkeys while they are out of school, so I may be in and out, but I will catch up when I can.

Until next time,

I'm linking up to Debra's Vintage Inspiration Friday.  I can't miss a good party, busy or not!