May Be Moving MONDAY Make Over

So I began blogging....well, I've forgotten the reason now.

Jumped in feet first.

Because that's the way you get wet, right?

And tomorrow.

Tomorrow.

Me and EC and the boys are going to look at a house.

Not the house we live in already.

Not the house that I've just started re-doing after 11 years of living in it.

Not the house that has the new coat room and the new deck and landscaping and the primed front door.

Not the house that I've plastered all over blog land.

Not the house I was trying to change UP.

We're going to look at this.

There's land.

A barn.

Woods.

Oh, and a house, of course.

This picture here is what drew me in.

I melted when I saw the window.

And.

Take a closer look.

The handle on the closet door.

Yep.

I melted.

Fell over dripping right onto the keyboard.

See what you ALL have done to me!!!!

I don't know who I am any longer.

What has happened to me?

I used to be a city girl.

Someone told me the other day, I was a farm girl.

Can your spirit be something before your body is?

Just wondering!

And then there are days like these!

EC on the front porch

pickin' his git fiddle.

Sun shining.

Kids playing outdoors.

Me, doing laundry?

Stop.

What?

Me, doing laundry?

Yep, gettin' ahead of the week.

It's ok by me.

I feel peace deep down in my soul.

Then my 9yo swings open the door and runs in the house with these.

"Because I know how much you love wild flowers Mommy!  Here, these are for you!!"

Yep.

Peace deep down in my soul.

Have a lovely Sunday!

Is there a party in the house?

Some fun facts about moi.

I'm almost a middle child.  Second of four.  That means that if I'm not the center of attention I entertain myself!!

Hard to believe, I know.

I love skirts.  I wear them nearly every single day.  Wanna know why?

Practical reason:

My bum, hips and waist just ain't what they used to be.  Yoga pants I love.  Have for at least 20 years!  So if I'm wearin' them I put a skirt on top!  Call me weird.  I love ya anyway!

I don't like my bum sticking out any more.  I used to.  Funny how that happens.

Non-practical reason:

I live in a fantasy world.  I know you're shocked!  I love the 1800's - not all the violence, famine and war.  No.  But the regalia!  I swoon over it!  Just watch a period romance.  Trust me, you may want to put a skirt on, too!

I like feeling like a lady.  I don't always look like one.  But the feeling is what I'm talking about here! When I take the dog for a walk I pretend that I'm Eliza Bennett walking the countryside of Derbyshire.  Please don't leave, k?

Also, I like to twirl.  Twirling happens only when in a skirt.  I believe twirling to be impossible in pants.

See!

I use coconut oil in my hair.  I have this kind of hair that should be really curly because it's really frizzy, not curly at all.  Wavy. And fine.  I slather the stuff on. It's really smooth and melts in your hands.  It works wonders for the skin too.  Dry, we are here.  Flakey dry.  Coconut oil is our friend.  Google it.  It has sadhfa;fa;dfj;aidfj;ajf in it, or something like that, that over-the-counter creams/lotions do not.  Staying power is what I call it.  My skin will literally stay soft and flake-less til I take my next shower - which may or may not be the next day.  And I buy coconut oil in the grocery store. A ha!  Yes I do!  A jar of it lasts a really long time, and it's about $3.99.  It looks like crisco and feels like it too.  The scent, however, gets me every time!  Smells like a warm breezy tropical island.  And it makes me happy!  

I homeschool my two boys.  Ages, 9 and 6.  Never in a milliongazillion years would I EVER think that I would be doing that. We do books.  Oh yeah, but then, I can't stand it (actually, it's the sitting that kills me).  So we shake it up a bit.  

History lesson?

Wake up in London.  A fry-up for breakfast, afternoon tea & crumpets and converse the whole day with a British accent.  My boys do British better than I do.  (I don't know what that means!)

Math lesson?

Empty those piggy banks!  Let's go shopping in the basement for some "new" toys!  They can barter with the ones in their rooms for the same value, of course!

Phys Ed?

Get those hiking boots on, we're heading out to the hills as Native American warriors - flint stone arrows to be made!

I eat Ghiradelli dark chocolate chips EVERY SINGLE DAY.  And I'm happier because of it. Thank you.

I have ALWAYS been this weird unique!  Since I can remember - in the high chair is when it all began...spaghetti on my head or something like that.  

I do not feel my age, nor do I believe that I am a 46 year old woman.  Nope.  I refuse that as a reality.  Thank you very much!

(except for when it dawns on me that I am and I get really nervous about it)

I don't watch television or read the news. It hurts my spirit way too much.  I do indulge now and then in PBS Masterpiece Theater or As Time Goes By, but that's it!  Just about everyone I know thinks I'm extremely odd because of this fact.  Hmm?

I wear scarfs/scarves.  I love them.  I make them.  I buy them.  I take soft silky shirts and tie them 'round my neck.  I use scraps of fabric, no hems, and wrap 'em round.  I don't know why exactly.  Do I have to?

This is the man of my dreams.  EC, is what I call him here.  He's one of the greatest men.  The love of my life. He would lay down his life for a friend. I've seen him do it. 

I cannot believe that he fell in love with me some 18 years ago!

I gave birth to these sweeties! My. My. My.  How does God do it?  All this love flowing....just pierces my soul!

This is all because of Vee at Everyday Kings! & her Honest Scrap Award!

xoxo

MONDAY'S Marvelous Mayhem

You all know where I've been.  You all know what I've been through.

Now it's time to dance!  I'm overjoyed with the outcome of our new room here!  I had to give it a name!  Ladies, meet "the coat room"!

I made the sign in the middle.  The tin mirrors on the left and right use to hang in my bedroom.  They fit here perfectly! I attached a tassel for the light so my boys can reach it.

Here's what "it" looked like before!

You helped me SO much!

Here's what we see when we walk down the hall now!  Lovely to our eyes!

Which version do you prefer?  I cannot decide.  Left or Right?

Took the very large black bench out of here.  Painted the shoe shelf - heirloom white.

Hung some photographs on the blank wall

(Doors in Provence, from my friend, Abigail's trip!  Thank you Abbie!)

Photo of a balcony in Provence!

EC's mom sat in this stool playing her beloved organ!

Rug on left came from the kitchen.

Found this in the basement.

Bought these "step flashing" things.  My 6yo used his hammer to bang 'em up a bit!  I had fun, too!

then I printed out these and painted them black

Then glued them to the flashing and stuck everything to the piece of paneling!

Found these groovy sticky things for the corners.

And hung the sign.

How has the coat room changed our lives?

Well, for one, I have gained an enormous amount of confidence in my ability to transform the mundane into something useful and creative.  Thanks to you.  Seriously.

And the amount of clutter is diminishing.  Not gone, but slowly everyone is getting used to putting their shoes in their proper place and hanging up there jackets.  My boys could not reach the coat hook before and the closet was stuffed, making it difficult to get anything in or out.  Now they run in and hang up their hats and jackets.  (after I shout at them to remind them, of course!)  

There is freedom to walk to and fro in this area.  A big score because it was horribly crowded before - doors opening this way and that, shoes all over the place, everyone bumping into each other. Now, there's the "ahh" factor.  More space.  More grace.

But, there is still the front door?

It's primed and ready to paint (see the blue tape at the bottom?).  'Cept I'm having the hardest time trying to figure out the color.  I'm leaning toward a putty color.  See it there on the door?  I was going to paint it yellow and then my hormones got realigned.  All is well now!


Have a lovely evening!

SATURDAY NIGHT THERE'S A PARTY GOING ON.

EVERYONE'S INVITED!

Buttons!

This was my first button.  It's my kitchen table in my breakfast room.  I like it.  But I didn't love it.  I took the picture.  Keith, being the computer wizard, put it in htmlspeoruautdsdrjtatahasdfjsdfjld format and put in on my blog!  High fives, Keith!!!

Keith is Amy's son.  Amy, from ALL THINGS HOME, has become one of my dear blogging friends. She offered her son's computer expertise in helping me set this little sweetie up!  I could NOT have done this without them!  They are the sweetest family!  I just want to hug and kiss them for their kindness and generosity!  Smack!  So this little button traveled a bit.  Such kindness from you gals here in blog land.  Taking me with you!  

Then along came Polly from MAKE MINE BEAUTIFUL.  She was playing around with her graphic stuff and sent this to me.  Who are these lovely people?  Could they all be any nicer?  I'm melting in their generosity!  I fell. Completely in love with this.  It spoke to me.  It spoke of me.  Everything about it.  The colors.  The whimsy. The swirls and scrolls.  Even the explanation mark after my name.  Because I'm always font screaming!

So this is the new me.  

She's over there on the side if you'd like to take her with you!  I love visiting friends!

Btw, big reveal of the entry way is on Monday's Madness Maddening Marvelous Moving Mischief Makeover!  See you then!

MONDAY MAKEOVER-is something done yet?

Yes.

There are things that are done.

The entry way will be finished by the end of the week.

I've had quite the experience.

Here are a few sneak peaks:

Notice my apron?  And no power tools.  All by hand, thank you very much.  And my wrist is aching like nobody's business!! 

EC thought he'd get in on this and take some shots of me in the closet!  Working away!

A very special find in the basement!  Oh  my!

I was going to be putting the finishing touches on today.

But Ginger called.

So we went here instead.

You understand, don't you?

Sometimes you just gotta get out of the house!

Here's a little change up before I go off to bed.

Remember this next door curb find?

I think she feels better this way.

Don't you?

Have the most wonderful evening!!!