Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Entre Amis { Among Friends}

http://www.projectwedding.com/

It is forecast to warm a bit today with rains setting in this afternoon... Seems I haven't entertained a couple friends for quite awhile with the use of simple but elegant pieces to create ambiance with aged lovely china, candles, and fresh crisp linens for quite awhile.. I am almost needing to treat myself as well to this bit of bliss. Haven't purchased a object for my home for a number of months and being indoors seems to be dampening my spirit some... Although I love being at home I think I am feeling the need for just something different and fresh... Ready for the hints of romance to be in the air with the planting of flowers and herbs as the scents wafts through the air... A potpourri of old aged objects tucked between the lovely colors and foliage's and ground covers... Although my needs are quite simple every so often my thoughts of inspiration become quite extravagant.. My back yard outdoor space when completed for summer use does offer a wonderful " get away from it all" leisurely place to be... A couple more weeks of patience will be required to obtain this however.... Life can be a bit like a simple piece of french toast... it needs the dash of spices and the pouring of syrup for enhancement to enjoy it at it's finest... For myself the ambiance can be minimal yet elegant with the simple use of water... and tucks of vintage luxe..
    A recent bit of mystique of French has been in my desires as of late.. Little ways and tucks to experience a touch of the French flair.. I have never been to Paris nor do I plan to go but it has always been heard of and all it's praises since childhood... Thoughts of moments of Entre Amis { among friends} are increasing as the time of year will soon be here soon to enjoy these moments...

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Garden Dresser Bliss

  Ever so strong winds again today..  the effects we here in NW Ohio have received the past couple days from the storm that has been going up the East coast... All my " outdoor efforts" have ceased for several days now , with a promise of a better week coming.. I am once again wanting inspiration for the garden and outdoor spaces..Yesterday afternoon we purchased a small water pump and a gazing ball but didn't find the wind chimes I desired... My china fountain I make every year will be placed on the front porch this year but I need to have some patience there also.. My little bird house has a mother finch on her nest and she gets very disturbed when one makes her fly from her nest... She just hatched her eggs and is very protective and I don't care to cause her stress... Maybe by " Moms Day" I can complete that project... The gazing ball I have plans on just laying it on the ground in the stones landscaped area around the pool with the hopes it will survive the youth that will be making use of the pool over summer...
     The above picture I just love and it was taken from Pinterest... What is it about the dressers and chests of drawers that is drawing me in this year... I just love the look.... Maybe it's the thought of the treasure hunt for just the right old piece of the past....

Friday, April 20, 2012

Friday Morning Musings



Yesterday was a very lovely day.. Finished working on the past years solar lights and will be placing them in the front garden area as soon as I post... I have attached a picture of one of the jar solar light I created yesterday... of course removing the light from it's ground stake and a old ball jar and a jar lid ring... using a top from a oleo container I cut a circle to fit the jar top and another circle the size of the solar light for inserting.. added a ribbon and a couple silk flowers and a budget little light for my outdoor table was created...

By doing these small projects I am trying ever so hard to create the lifestyle we all dream of.. a lovely outdoor space for entertaining and relaxing in my style and tied with a very tight shoestring budget... With little treats of inspiration, it just coaxes ones self to come from hibernation and enjoy the lovely gifts of nature.. A comment from Richard a few post ago made me smile cause a bit of my style and passion does seem to be a bit of decayed elegance but also I enjoy placing something very lovely and maybe a touch of glam or glitz.... I enjoy ruff and ready objects indoors as well as outdoors... Many times I enjoy seeing garden objects used inside the home and certainly knowing this style is not for everyone but has become very popular...I was also trained that when purchasing for retail for others you purchase only a couple of what you love and and 10 of other things you don't love so much to make a store that everyone would like to shop... If we would just purchase what we love for retail we would certainly limit customers.... As Tom would think " whatever makes your putter flutter" as he has left for the golf course several hours ago... Today however he will be returning home early afternoon to do the mowing of our lawn... then we are off to another Tinora baseball game this afternoon at Pettisville... Tom said he would take us out for a sandwich after the game... it won't be a candlelit dinner but it means a break from planning and cooking supper of which is always nice once in awhile...

As soon as I post I am off to take more items from storage and get them placed as I want to enjoy the breezy morning in the country on some of God's precious acres north of a small town in the USA...



Friday, April 13, 2012

Desires not Needs

chest.... http://google.com I have several areas I could use this idea if I could find a old chest at a budget price....


wagon... http://home.bunch.com I have a old victorian buggie frame that has had a old antique box on it that appears very similar to this is my front of my home as you enter.... This is the look I desire to work in with other objects....



I haven't completed any further work out of doors and I had thought I may so a couple simple projects like restringing wind chimes of which I do every year...I have ask Tom if I could have a new wind chime this year.... the really nice large pipes with the deep sound and the bigger price tag... you know the ones... I do so love and enjoy wind chimes ... especially in the country where the wind is always showing it's authority...I was looking for ideas of what to be shopping for as far as solar lights also... My plan is to bring the ones we purchased last season out to the front garden area and purchase new ones for the new pool area... I must be limiting my desires... if I ever want to get out of the house with the debit card again... The chemicals for the pool to open this season has been purchased at a earlier date when they ran a pre -season sale... It is quite expensive to get a pool open and up and running but it is worth every bit of it when the enjoyment of the coolness of the water is enjoyed by ones self and family and friends.... I really do need to limit my thoughts and wants this year and just try to mix some found objects with existing ones... Old and new can very easily be combined outside with a one of a kind look that will delight ones self as well as family and friends... I would like to add just a touch of French flavor to the deck that is off the kitchen-dining area... Summertime this area becomes our all time dining space for lunch and supper and entertaining.... sipping of iced beverages and conversation.... I encourage you to create a space no matter how small for yourself to relax.... Somewhere personal and special can always be created...


Enjoy this day which the Lord has made....


Thursday, April 12, 2012

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

It does seem even in retirement that nearly every day holds a lesson to be learned..Many times these lessons may come with a high price to be paid.. With the following thoughts our lives could be much easier and joyful.
There are two days in every week that we should not worry about, two days that should kept free from fear and apprehension.
One is yesterday, with it's mistakes and cares and it's faults and blunders, it's aches and pains. Yesterday has passed, forever beyond our control.
All the money in the world cannot bring back yesterday. We cannot undo a single act preformed, nor can we erase a single word we have said... Yesterday is gone..
The other day we shouldn't worry about is tomorrow, with it's impossible adversaries, it burden, it's hopeful promises and it poor performance.. Tomorrow is beyond our control.
Tomorrows sun will rise either in splendor or behind a mask of clouds, but it will rise. And until it does, we have no stake in tomorrow, for it is not yet born.
This leaves only one day... TODAY... Any person can fight battles of just one day... It is only when we add the burdens of yesterday and tomorrow that we break down.. It is the experience of today that drives people mad.. it is the remorse of bitterness for something which happened yesterday and the dread of what tomorrow may bring.....
"LET US, THEREFORE, LIVE ONE DAY AT A TIME" unknown

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Memories Made

Our combined families enjoyed a very nice Easter and present day memories and discussions of memories past were shared from my children's childhood... Most seemed to be of my Mother and her generous efforts to make Easter special when my children were small... They seem to remember all the little details of which I think is a wonderful honor to my Mother....

Mother Nature has dropped a it of winter on our area the past few days with the cold and winds.... Her work has taken my action to work outside and place it on the back burner but the desire for beautifying for spring remains very strong...

Today I will head down to the rec room where all my altered art supplies are and create a card for Tom's youngest grandsons birthday this coming Saturday... Hopefully when I get started I will find the desire to be more inspired and create a couple more small items... Friday night we are getting together with two other couples for conversation and playing cards... I would like to share a couple books that I have completed in the past couple weeks so maybe a altered art book mark and tag would be a special little treat...

Yesterday the bunnies and eggs were placed in a box and once again put in storage for another year... This creates a desire to maybe frequent a antique shop and find a few small objects to place in a couple of my glass cloches as I do like to change them up quite often... it creates a casual personal style.... Well for right now I guess I will just settle for the transferring of laundry to dryer and adding another load to my chores... There went the inspiration but as Tom reminds me every morning before he leaves for the golf course to be thankful I have a place to do laundry.... grrrrrr..... Somehow that doesn't set well with my morning coffee.... Wishing you all a good day and so remember to count your blessings of a washer and dryer but you know as I remember back to when I had to travel to a laundromat it truly is a good thing... I did not enjoy it there....so I guess today is truly one of my lucky days....

Friday, April 6, 2012

Joyeuses Paques

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God did not send his son into the world to condemn it, but to SAVE it..
Another special holiday is coming upon us... sharing time as families can be a wonderful experience but as always some reverse effects can be also felt by many... Some families live far apart and some are not on very good terms due to divorce and other happenings.. For our health is is important to feel happiness.... and may be a good time to mend some fences as they saying goes... Very sadly holidays can cause us some melt downs... We need to try and keep in mind that Easter is a time of Re-birth....
Traditions and celebrations are a very large part of the family gatherings... Our traditions here in my home are fairly simple.. with the sharing of a large meal... candy for all whom gathers... and a Easter egg hunt with Mother Natures blessing... All takes place after the first event of Easter worship that will be at our lovely country church of St. Michael's Ridge...
Wishing you all the magical shades of Easter eggs as we celebrate the joy that the meaning of Easter brings...





Thursday, April 5, 2012

Thursday Musings



As I enjoyed my Romantic Homes magazine I also found a lovely blog that was featured in the magazine and have shared a couple of the lovely pictures from her blog... the name of the blog is http://blossomsvintagechic.blogspot.com and what beautiful inspiration with the perfection of the love of vintage....


I had originally planned on household chores for more making ready for Easter but have changed my mind as the morning seems not to be going as well as I would like ...starting with the washer sounding like a helicopter ready to launch from it pad in my utility room... I am going out to the grass area and let the sunshine and the brisk wind take over my thoughts as I take the solar lights from storage and add batteries and try to make them ready for use.... Maybe tomorrow will turn out to be a better cleaning day.....





Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Entertaining Angels Unawares

BE NOT FORGETFUL TO ENTERTAIN STRANGERS: FOR THEREBY SOME HAVE ENTERTAINED ANGELS UNAWARES Hebrews 13:2 kjv

A lovely start to a morning here in N.W. Ohio. A show of wind is chiming as the wind chimes are playing music to the strength of the wind..
On a small break as this morning is to be spent clearing area in dining room and kitchen to prepare for a good mopping.. Chairs and table and area rug have been cleared.. Now let the fun begin... Oh yea... This is most likely a job that should have been conquered next week after company has left but you know a lady of older time it is the thought that cleanliness is next to Godliness. Some times as of late I crash and burn however. Do you think it could be the aging process...
The beautiful words above were found in a lovely read I just finished yesterday. The title of the book. "Love Finds You In Sugarcreek Ohio by Serena B. Miller.... I enjoyed the read that places a mysterious outsider in the shadow in Ohio Amish Country. Policewoman Rachel Troyer has always looked after her three elderly Amish Aunts ... Joe Matthews is no tourist when the bearded stranger lands on the steps of her aunts begging for shelter for himself and young son. So the story begins.....
Also sifted through my Romantic Homes magazine received this week and found it to be quite delightful as in years past... I have enjoyed the last couple issues.. Many lovely objects to use for inspiration.
Sunday I will be playing host to house guests for our family Easter gathering... Oh I find it to be much more of a struggle than in years past... I don't seem to mind the food preparing but it is the clean up to the days end that takes it tole... I have even resorted to using very large strong paper plates to cut some of the work... Yes...once again.. I am sure it is that old aging process thing..
Tom and I have slowly started taking outdoor furniture from storage and placing it out side as we inch our way into spring. Much to be done yet however... Our grass is experiencing rapid growth along with the weeds and dandelions but the trees are really different.. The helicopter that spiral their way to the ground are on the trees but not the foliage... this due to the 65 degree weather we had in March and now the cooling... Nature is confused and I am going to be confused if I don't end my break and get busy with the floors that are staring me in the face...
Hope as many of you are also making holiday plans as the holy week travels by that you will all have many blessings and enjoy the moments....