Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Life, Faith & Sock Monkeys

I’ve been away from my Little Miss Laptop lately, so I’ve not posted a blog, been able to catch up on some of my blog reading, facebooking friends and tweeting.  Sometime life just gets in the way.

Life getting in the way can been looked at as a good thing, even if the things you have to deal with don’t appear that way. Things like an aging disabled parent or a difficult to deal with sibling are hard.  There are lessons to be learned, though, from these tough times.  I do believe God has put me on this path for a reason.  I may not know why, but I have to believe it’s for the good.  I have a wonderful 90 yr old neighbor who I chat with on occasion, and at the end of every conversation his words are always the same…”Keep The Faith, Now!”   How right you are Mr. Humphrey. And I do have faith…but I need to be reminded. Thanks!

So, the downstairs “mini-master suite” is looking good and aside from a few minor details I’m satisfied with the way it came out.  But, Little Miss Laptop and The New Office have gotten a little ignored lately.  I am in here working.  It’s functional and actually quite comfortable.  Even the Neatnik that I am can tolerate the unpacked boxes (tucked ever so neatly in the corner, of course).   I have faith that it will all work out in time.  You gotta “Keep the Faith”.

So among all this there is the issue of the sock monkeys I promised my grandaughters’ that I would make for them.  It’s been well over a month since I first made that promise.  I cringe every time they ask if I’ve made them yet.  I think the lesson Someone is trying to teach me here is this; listen to the children

I’m listening God…I’m making those sock monkeys!

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Saturday, March 28, 2009

Reflections of The Past

I got that old mirror of gramma's in the house, all ready to get painting it my favorite creamy white to match the old dresser of my Hubby's I had just painted...and something began to happen to me. As I was cleaning the years of dust and cob webs from it, something came over me.
This wasn't just and old mirror I wanted to paint that would look so good in my new bedroom... no, this was different. This was my gramma's mirror. Thought's of years gone by started running through my mind.
How many times had she cleaned this mirror the same way I was now?
And I'm sure my Grandpop had his hand in putting it up for her. I could almost picture it in my mind.
How many times did my Aunts primp and fuss in this beautiful old mirror when they were little girls so many years ago?
I'm sure even my dad probably ran a comb through his hair in front of it at some time or another.
Almost 100 years that mirror has been in our family. It was part of my gramma's bedroom suite when she first married in 1917.
So many hands have touched that mirror. Hands of people I loved dearly. My grandparents, my Dad, all of my Aunts...and with the exception of one Aunt, they are all with the Lord now. For me, here, they only live in my heart and in my memories...but somehow they still live in this wonderful old mirror.
I could not bring myself to paint it. I put it up above my freshly painted creamy white dresser and knew it would look gorgeous white...but for now, at least...I will not paint it...it will stay cleaned and polished just as it was many years ago...I will hold on to the past a little bit longer.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Final Few Episodes of "As The Furniture Twirls"

I don't think I can believe it myself, but, I think I'm almost finished with this season of "As The Furniture Twirls". We may be coming up on our last few episodes. As some of you know, from previous posts, furniture twirling is a long standing Vaughan family tradition. This particular twirling event has been a little harder on my sons, as their Dad is getting a little old for the sport.

Yes, I've just about got the "mini- master" and the new office pulled together...under budget (well the imaginary budget, that is). Unfortunately, I haven't finished on schedule. Never thought that was gonna really happen, did you...it never does.

A few blinds to hang, a tie-up shade sewing project (I think the Nester would call it a "window mistreatment"), the cork board to put together, and maybe hooking up the new printer in the office might be a nice touch...considering the fact that the need for my own printer is how this whole thing got started...the printer wouldn't fit on the little writing desk with my lap top...which no longer fit in the corner of my tiny little bedroom...and before you know it... I need an entire room (well...wanted an entire room)!

I have been taking pictures as I go along, but have I mentioned...I am a terrible photographer...yes, I think I have mentioned that. And have I mentioned that I'm not very savvy with the photo software, either...yes, I think I've mentioned that, too.

I would love to take some digital photography classes, but that's not in the imaginary budget!

I will do my best over the next few days (did I say days...that might be a little premature) to get the final pics taken and uploaded. I hope the pics come out half as good as I think the rooms came out!!

Wish me luck!

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Love & Money

I have to bring up the very depressing subject of budget. Over the past few weeks I started the project of switching rooms around and making myself a home office in one of our spare rooms. My hubby and I talked it over and determined a budget for this project. I was satisfied with the amount , although everyone would like to have an unlimited budget for their decorating and remodeling projects, we all know that's not for us normal folk. I was very inspired by all you wonderful ladies I've been following out here in blogland. You all seem to be able to do so much with so little. I have to say I've learned alot and am proud of what I've done, so far, for so little money. I even thought I was going to get some of my landscaping projects this spring done with some of the money left over in the budget. I saved quite a bit by doing so many clever frugal things decorating my new little "mini-master suite" and office.
I have to confess, my husband takes care of the finances, for the most part and I was just taking him at his word that the budget was there for these projects. He had just paid off a few credit cards we had some balances on(which I knew about) and I thought the budget was money he had left over from that.

BOMBSHELL... I found out yesterday the budget plan is to use the credit cards he just paid off!!!

I have to take some blame here because I should be more involved in the income and outflow of our money. But, I am so depressed to know that we are accruing debt while all the while I thought I was being very thrifty...and what's worse the projects aren't even complete (I thought I'd be done by this weekend but, life gets in the way). Not to mention, what about the gardening projects I thought I was saving for? Aaaarg!! I was so angry at him...and also at myself for not being more involved in the finances!!


In his defense, he claims that we were managing the larger debt OK, and with it paid off the small budget he gave me wouldn't be a problem to pay off easily. That was his reasoning. I don't agree with it...but I know he wants to support me in my love of decorating and doing all these crafty little things I love to do that make our little house a home.


Lessons learned:



1. Discuss project budgets more thouroughly with hubby.


2. Be more involved with the household finances, ALWAYS.


3. Hubby loves me a whole lot...(maybe a little too much)!

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

The Mirror

Except for a few more details the bedroom looks pretty darn good. I wish I had a window with a view, though! One of the details I'm waiting on is a shade I ordered from Penny's to cover the window with the non-view so that my pretty window treatment doesn't look so silly around it.
I also have to get sewing that pretty little cover for my old lane chest...that could take a while as my office/sewing room is in an upheaval. I covered it with a pretty sheet for now just because it stuck out like a sore thumb.
The most difficult task of all...I was searching for a mirror...either oval or round to go over my newly painted dresser...very hard to find what I had pictured in my head (...head pictures, as I call them are always either something that doesn't exist or totally out of my budget!). Then I remembered my gramma's old dresser with the attached mirror that used to sit in my parents old laundry room...was it still there? Oh, please let it still be there... OMG yes...it was and it was more beautiful than I remembered it. Of course it needs quite a bit of TLC and some nice creamy white paint and sadly the dresser itself was a total loss, but the mirror...so much better than my head picture.... I know you sent her to me...thanks Gramma!!!

Monday, March 16, 2009

Pulling it All Together

Well, I started taking some pics...finally. I've been bargain hunting...painting rooms, old furniture pieces, lamps ...and I'm just about ready to pull this decorating, furniture twirling episode to a close. I think it should be just about complete by weeks end (I hope). So prettying up my new little "Mini-Master Bedroom", new Office and my blog should all come at about the same time. Gotta get to it now. Stay tuned...pics to come.
P.S. I do keep getting caught up in reading and gazing over all those beautiful blogs out there.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Time to Pretty up My Blog!!

I've been so obsessed with keeping up with following my favorite blogs that I'm not working on my office project (and a multitude of other things I'm working on simultaneously + life in general). I guess I'm so infatuated with all of your beautiful blogs that I'm absorbing much inspiration. And I must say I haven't been this inspired in awhile. So it's a good thing. All good things come with time. The one thing I must get on is the photo thing...that's the beauty in the blogs. I love the reading...but I so love the beautifully inspiring images! I must start that..getting some good shots and getting them up here. My blog is so plain and univiting! It will get better. I'm committing to that.

Anyway, I brought in my hubby's old childhood dresser for the new paint job...can't wait til I see how this one comes out. I absolutely must take some before and afters of this project. I'm right here and now commiting to getting some photos on my blog!

Monday, March 9, 2009

Paint It!

After wandering around the beautiful land of blogs I have become very inspired. I absolutely love all things painted!!! I started out by painting my old knotty pine nightstand. It came out pretty good and that has set me on a mission. I intend to paint everything and anything I have. Well not everything but if I have been hanging on to it because I still kinda like it but it just doesn't quite fit in...my new motto is...PAINT IT!
I had a couple of different framed prints I picked up at Target a few years ago and I was really not too fond of the finish on the frames but I just dealt with it...no more of that...I painted one creamy white...distressed it a bit...then wiped some warm colored stain over it...very nice I must say!! I didn't want them to be the same (too matchy-matchy) so I just painted the other a lovely Ben Moore color called Dove Tail. I stood back to look at my handiwork...pretty darn good, even if I do say so myself. They will be hanging in my new "master bedroom". I do love the new soft look!
Yes...Paint It...It feels good to let go of the fear of ruining something. What was I afraid of, anyway?
Oh, and I have just picked up some Modge Podge to go with that beautiful paper I was saving. I have my eye on the drawer fronts of my very boring and utilitarian looking white sewing table. It has to stay in my new office and it's sticking out like a sore thumb the way it is!
Yes...Decoupage It...I think that's gonna feel just as good as Paint It.

Saturday, March 7, 2009

A Neat Freak's Decorating Dilema

AAAhhhrrrg!! I am such a visual person that I can't see beyond the boxes in the new office to figure out the finishes!!! I just want to get them the heck out of there or I feel like I'll never be able to finish. Problem is, though... I need to take stock of my stuff (which is in the boxes) to determine my storage needs. And of course I want to coordinate my storage containers to the rooms decor. I know I have to make a mess to do this. Always a problem for the neatnik that I am. There's nowhere to do this without it being in the way somewhere while I make a list of storage containers. Did I mention the rooms in my home are probably the smallest on the planet earth!! It's driving me nuts!!! I suppose I will have to do the inventory taking in the office itself. Which was the original plan. It will just look so bad during the process and I never have time to finish it all at once of course...which means looking at it strewn about for days on end. Something like torture for me!!! I know I just have to tear into it or I will be stuck sitting on the edge of my bed with my laptop...no printer...no sewing machine...no ANYTHING!!! It's all packed up! And my grandaughters want sock monkeys!!!

Monday, March 2, 2009

Beautiful Blogland

I can get so lost reading and admiring everyone's beautiful blogs. So inspiring!!! I love all the pictures and am so jealous of the gorgeous layouts! I 've got to be one of the world's worst photographers so I don't take as many pictures as I'd like. When I want some really good shots for my scrapbooking or framing I usually hand the camera to my youngest son. He always manages to get the shots that I'm looking for. I would like to say I could get him to give me some lessons but, I'm sure that's the last thing he feels like doing with his spare time. It can't hurt to ask, right? It's either that or the old trial and error method. It works for most everything else. Yes, I want to get some good photos together to post here. I'm so wanting my blog to look pretty and more personalized. I really want to get rid of the pink background but when I tried to change it when I first got it up there I couldn't remove it. I haven't tried to mess with it lately...been to busy with all my other projects...of course too many at one time, as usual!! I just painted my old knotty pine nightstand. I haven't done a project like that in a while and I don't think I did the best job the last time I tried it. This time I think I did a little better and I actually like the way it came out!! I didn't take any pictures and I wish I did. I have more pieces to redo so I will practice the photography and get something posted as soon as I can get my camera back from my oldest son. And I have to work on redesigning my blog layout! Yeah, just add that to my list of projects. I'm not looking forward to that one cause as I've mentioned before...I'm not as tech savvy as I would like to think.
Well, I can still wander around all the other blogs and dream!