It's My Life!

 You know how at the end of the year you feel like 

everything will be changed in the New Year?

Anything is possible. 

All the things you couldn't get done...

You'll some how be able to do everything in 2020.

Then come the middle of January the cruel realization 

comes in...that this is it. 

Things go the way they always go.

I did get my Xmas down and a little winter decor up. Very little.

I'm looking forward to Valentines stuff and especially Easter stuff.

Next weekend I think Mom and I are going to hit the Home and Garden Show

at the Fairgrounds. 

I love thinking about Spring.

 I bought this little snowy fox several years ago.

It reminded me of Franklin. 

I bought it shortly after he'd had back surgery. 

I tell Franklin he's my little fox.

 I've been trying to get a good photo of him but 

he doesn't like his photo taken.

Snapped this one real quick earlier today. But he was sleepy.

He is fully recuperated from when he had 

three exploding discs in his back. That was back in 2015.

I wish he'd take it easy. I'm scared to death he'll hurt himself again.

His latest thing he likes to do is run and jump up on the bathtub 

and hoist himself over into it.

I've found him sitting in the bathtub a lot 

over the past couple of weeks.

A very silly boy.

I'll be looking for him and pull back the shower curtain and 

there he is! Crazy pup.

 The other day I decided I needed a small lamp to go on 

my kitchen counter under the upper cabinets. 

I don't have under cabinet lighting but instead 

I have two small lamps under there and they make me very happy. 

You can see a bit of one behind that image above. 

I realized the other day I need one more to fully light my counters.

Well, you used to be able to find these

mini lamps everywhere. 

But now I can't find them anywhere at all.

All the ones I am finding use regular bulbs 

and are just a little too tall.

I have been all over town and can't find a little lamp.

Then I was at JoAnn's yesterday seeing if they might 

have something when I saw these Christmas candles and thought - 

"Hey that will work!" 

Regularly $9.99 but on clearance for $3.99.

I am going to use something around the house to turn it into a lamp.

Perhaps a sugar bowl, flower pot, gravy boat? Not sure what will be the base yet

but am pretty sure it will turn out nice. I'll post when I do.

And then...I found this stove online when 

 was looking up Vintage Look Stoves.

The brand is Hollman and it's available through Home Depot.

Priced under $3,000 for a 30 inch gas. 

I might need a 36 which would be more. 

Anyway...I want to upgrade my kitchen so badly and 

this would give me the french vintage look I crave at half the price. 

Mom recently said she wanted to help me fix up my kitchen. 

That would be money wise.

But I think she means new floor. Which is badly in need. 

Definitely not a complete overhaul.

But when I think of what I want redone in there it's 

stove, dishwasher, counters, sink, faucet, and backsplash

Way more than just a floor. 

So I think just do the floor but if I just do the floor it will have to be changed again 

when I eventually get the stove of my dreams. 

That is my rational for thinking I need a new stove now. 

I hope you are accomplishing more than I am in this New Year.

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Happy New 2014 !!!

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Happy New Year!

I'm having a low key day with friends and family.

Last night I worked till close, then went out to eat with a friend,

then went to a party.

By the time I got to the party...it was over but I had a nice 

time with two other friends and their dog.

Exciting times

Have to say it was one of my better New Year's Eves.

I've had some really bad ones and a few nice ones

but mostly really bad ones where I tried to have 

a good time but it just went so wrong.

Last night was great by comparison.

So that's a good start to 2014!

I hope your's is off to a good start.

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Happy New Year!

Another year...gone...and another year to begin again.

A new beginning...this what New Year's brings....the chance to get it right, start over

a do over.

I hope you all have a wonderful New Year's Day and 364 more wonderful days in 2013.

2013

Wow!

I've been away from the blog quite a bit the past few days...but wanted to review my past year

in blogging.

It was not as successful as I'd hoped.

I had many projects and plans that didn't happen.

Real life kept getting in the way.

I could think and do design, crafts and art 24/7.

But sometimes you MUST do other things not so fun.

Today I thought I'd go through this past year in posts and hit the highlights.

I started out in January 2012 by adding a new pup to my life.

Henry Franklin Longfellow or just Franklin.

That was one project begun and finished, successfully.

Actually he's a project in progress..he gets better and better...he's a sweetie pie.

I finally got all the bottles I needed for my spice rack and showed it off in 

late January. See post here.

Then I got lost in a few months of working two jobs and being miserable.

Once I quit one of the jobs...things started to look up.

After obsessing about hutches turned into potting benches....I ventured out to 

find one for myself.

Here is the tale of my Craigslist adventure.

But...when Mom came up one day she declared that my hutch was just what she'd 

been looking for to go in her back breakfast room. I gave her the hutch.

So...

Back to hunting on Craigslist again and soon I found this one for me...

I liked the size of this one better anyway.

The plan was to paint it and have fun styling it this summer.

But I soon learned my friend Shannon was very ill and my free time

went out the window while I kept her company.

Time very well spent as I lost her last week.

I cherish all the time I spent with her this last year.

At least I don't have regrets about not being with her.

Ugly truth is...this hutch has now been in my breakfast nook for 6 months

in the way. It's waiting to be painted before I put it outside.

I am very tired of walking around it. 

Very sick of it.

So are the dogs.

This hutch must be a priority to paint this winter...so I can put it out this spring.

So that is Project Number One for 2013.

I did make myself a few seashell topped bottles for my fireplace mantel this past summer.

I love projects like this...I just didn't have any spare time for stuff like this in 2012.

I better have time to implement my ideas in 2013.

Life is not fun for me unless I'm making stuff.

See the tutorial on how to make these ...here.

I was lucky and found 30 plus doilies at a flea market to make myself a doily table runner.

When I went to make it...I could not find the sack of them.

I threw them away accidentally when cleaning the kitchen.

Darn....maybe I'll find a bunch again this year.

Project delayed...

I restyled my open kitchen shelves.

See here.

I did this in preparation for showing my new kitchen island.

Bad Craigslist photo.

I took the table top extensions off and added wheels.

I stalled when I couldn't come up with a countertop for 0 money.

I planned on showing this anyway on the blog but my

kitchen seemed to always be messy when I had the light to do it or I was rushing off somewhere.

Project to be continued...

photo of Franklin from later in the summer. 

He is a scamp. A precious scamp.

Hopefully, there will be more time to photograph dogs this year.

By late summer I was getting desperate for some change in my decor.

On a whim I moved this large outside planter inside in front of the dining room window.

I really like it there flanked by shutters given to me by my friend, Deidra.

Another painting project to come...painting those shutters.

Deidra is moving back to my neighborhood...I hope she doesn't want her shutters back.

Hmmm...I better ask her before I paint them.

I did find the time...or made the time to do this painting for my good friend KC.

She actually commissioned me to do it.

That is why I got it done. She paid me, so I had to.

I still have another painting to do for someone else.

It should have been done by Christmas but I didn't get to plan my schedule much this year.

Best laid plans and all....

But I did have a great time creating this painting and am looking forward to being much more creative in 2013.

I have started the New Year with a bang.

I ordered this yesterday at Pier 1.

I'd been wanting it forever for the living room to use as a coffee table.

It was on sale for $199.99.

I used my Pier 1 Christmas bucks (they give us $50 as bonus at Christmas) plus I won a few contests

at the store too and then a friend gave me a Pier 1 gift card.

With my discount and after all that...it was only $30 out of my pocket and it was mine!

Mine all mine!!!!

I've been wanting a tufted ottoman ever since viewing "The Holiday" years ago but they are always so expensive. 

But the one at Pier 1 is not. 

I think it's going to be the perfect addition to my living room.

I will be recovering it.

I love those legs but my living room has so many legs....I'm betting this is going to get a skirt

because you know...too many legs in a room makes a room jittery.

No one wants a nervous room.

But we'll see.

I'm thinking I'll recover in a velvet similar to above but not sure.

Perhaps a slipcover so I can change it out easily.

That's a good start for the New Year....don't you think?

And a newly repaired Mom...a pretty good start.

Oh...and I have a plan to make my Aunt Jane move to my neighborhood.

I just have to convince her.

I know she would love it here.

She has been so sad since losing her daughter and I think moving near me...is just 

the new start she needs.

Now I just have to convince her.

When I called and told her of my plan...which included the house that I've already picked.

The house will soon be on the market and we'll have first shot at it.

She just said..."Oh..my!"

She just laughed as I told her the plan for the rest of her life.

I am so sure this is what Shelly would want.

But it was an uneasy laugh.

I think she thinks I am just slightly suggesting...and joking.

But I am not...this is what I am positive needs to happen for her.

Now I just have to get my Aunt Jane to sell her house...buy a house by me and 

have a new beginning.

I'm crossing my fingers.

When this delightful, fantastic, crazy idea came to me....I thought 

Shelly would want this. I know she would.

Now I just have to get Jane to do it.

I blew off Mod Mix Monday this week....just could not get to it.

I'll start anew next Monday.

I'm sure some of you are wondering how I can be so cheerful after all that has happened of late.

Well, I just cannot be sad any more. I'm happy my Mom will be good again.

I've wasted enough time being sad over things I cannot change.

There is nothing I can do to make the past different but I can make the future different 

and that is what I plan to do.

Happy New Year!!!

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Happy 2011!

I was going to ignore posting today but that is no way to start off a new year.

I don't do resolutions because I've always got a list of stuff 

I'm trying to accomplish and working towards.

And what is the point of writing down the things we all wish to be and work on?

(thinner....healthier....wealthier)

I see Kim over at Savvy Southern Style is already busy painting one of her rooms today.

I was thinking I might go to a movie.

I'm not even taking down my tree till Monday.

I have friends coming over tomorrow and they want to see my decorations.

So that must wait one more day.

So instead of listing here all the things on my list to accomplish this year,

I thought I'd share instead of my Bucket List,

my list of things to give up on and accept.

My _uckit List

1. I'm never going to get things done as fast as others, 

but when they are done...they will be done well.

2. I give up on making other's happy.

I just need to make myself happy.

3. The dining room that didn't get finished by Christmas.

Oh well, there is always next Christmas.

4. Harvey will always over eat. 

I bought him diet food yesterday...baby steps.

5. I will always be over weight.

I'm thinking about eating Harvey's diet food along with him.

That's enough for now.

I am going to try to show my other bathroom this week. 

I should have shown long before now...

but I have an electrical socket that looks bad and 

a towel rack that refuses to stay in the wall.

(I really don't know what to do about that) 

But I'll ponder it this week so that I can mark that off

my existing list of projects.

I will try to get that dining room done as one of the first things in the New Year.

And then I'll start on hopefully some fun projects that have been waiting while

I did big projects.

I hope you are having a lovely New Year's Day!

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Happy New Year!

This is who I am celebrating New Year's Eve with -

Yes, I'm at home with my friends over at Bravo at the Bravo New Year's House Party.

But I used to go out seeking the biggest and best New Year's Eve Party ever....

After many years of disappointment, I've decided it's best to just stay home.

A word of caution about New Year's Eve.

Be very careful when opening those bottles of champagne.

Once a long time ago my friend Pam and I planned on going to a great New Year's Eve Party.

I had the most gorgeous dress to wear.

It looked straight out of the 50's - black velvet with a black tulle underskirt that made it stick out.

Totally like something Rosemary Clooney would have worn in "White Christmas".

So, Pam and I decided we needed champagne to drink while getting ready. 

We got out the cork screw and I tried to get it open with no luck. 

Pam said for me to go take my shower and she'd work on opening it.

All of a sudden I heard a loud explosion and Pam say,

"Ugh"

I ran in to the room to find that the bottle had exploded and one of her fingers was barely attached.

We did not know that you are not suppose to use a cork screw with champagne.

You are to pop the cork...but we were young and stupid and we did not know.

There was a wild trip to the hospital where they checked her in and scheduled her for 

surgery early the next morning.

I still went to the party...after she was checked in...(well, there was nothing I could do).

But it was a dud and I quickly left.

Pam had to do weeks of therapy and that finger has really never been quite the same.

I absolutely will not open a bottle of champagne to this day.

(Happy New Year, Pam!)

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