What Was I Thinking?

I started another project in our kitchen this week. I have felt for some time that the wallpaper in our kitchen needed removing. It is outdated and the kitchen needs an updated look. I thought that I would start on one wall and then continue around the room. I have found out that removing wallpaper that has been on the walls since 1987 is harder to remove than I thought it would be. It is going to be a slow and laboring process. After working a few hours I quit for the day. This old body can't take it.

                                                                           Day 1

                                                                          Day 2

                                                                    This is next.

The wall behind the dinningroom hutch will take me a week the rate I'm going.

                              Rowdy keeps watch as I work my tail off.

This weekend I am going to party with the family and then Monday I'll get started on the kitchen again. Sanding and painting will be in the works soon I hope. 


Hope everyone has had a great week.    Christine

This Little Light of Mine

While I was shopping at one of my favorite stores (Hobby Lobby) this weekend, I spotted this little jewel. I don't mind telling you that I just had to have it. You know, when you think you can't live without it and your mind can't let it go kind of thing. So I whipped out my 40 % off coupon and bought the little jewel and took it home with me. The lamp shade is made of off white material with droopy cloth flowers attached. Ruffles run down the sides all around the shade.

This little light of mine sits in one of our spare bedrooms, The Yellow Rose,  and looks like it was made to be in there. (Yes, I name my rooms. Doesn't everybody?) In six months my hubby will notice the lamp and ask me when I got it. I'll tell him, "That old thing. I've had it for six months!"

The  French Provincial bedroom suite was my sister's when she was a little girl. My mother painted it yellow and distressed it after we both had grown and left home. It's almost 50 years old. The new lamp looks rather frenchy sitting on the nightstand, don't you think?

I love the way my yellow bedroom turned out and the lamp is the finishing touch.

Au Revoir,

Christine

Postnote: I noticed in the Sunday paper that lamps are 50% off this week at H.L.  Wouldn't you know!

Go Back To School

There are many blogs I follow that after leaving a comment I have to type in two words to verify I'm not a robot. (as Gloria would say)  I would be happy to if I could read the squidly writing. Even with my readers on I have a terrible time trying to read the letters I'm suppose to be copying. I say Blogger needs to go back to school and learn how to write readable penmenship.

Now I've said my peace and I feel better.

Christine

Postnote:  Thank you Vee. She led me to this website. http://jillthinksdifferent.blogspot.com/2012/01/captcha.html
This site explains all about this type of printing. Now it makes sense.

Rocky's Antics

Ever since I got a haircut the other day I've had the flyaways! Someone said Static Cling might help. 

First Snow

We woke up Monday morning to our first snow this winter here in NE Oklahoma.  By the afternoon is was gone. Just the way I like it. Some areas got 2-3 inches. Last year we received around 28 inches of snow and by the end of the season I was sick of it.

                Morning doves were at the birdfeeder bright and early.

         To my friend Ina in Alaska, we have moose in Oklahoma too.


Smiles,
Christine

Love

My parents were married almost 59 years. By example they showed me how to love and respect another person. They taught me how to love unconditionally. They taught me to love the Lord first, then my husband, then my children and then to accept and love others. I am so thankful and was so blessed to have them as parents. I wish them many heavenly Valentine's Days. 

Christine

Terrible Twos

Our oldest son and his wife went to a marriage retreat this weekend and my husband and I kept the girls. Our oldest granddaughter is eight and her little sister is two. This was the first time our youngest granddaughter had been away from her mother and daddy. It was also the first time we had kept her for that long. All I can say is, I'm glad her sister was here with us because she helped me a lot with the little one.

I know that this little sweet face looks adorable, and don't get me wrong, she is, but........ this is what I learned about keeping a two year old for the weekend.

1. Pick your battles.
2. Admire independence.
3. Have patience.
4. Remember, this too will pass.
5. Monday is a new day.
6. I'm too old for this.

The picture below is a picture of my oldest granddaughter after dealing with her sister all weekend. Her comment to me was, "I'm going to have to come back next weekend by myself for a break."

I promise this picture wasn't staged. She had had it with her little sister. Thank goodness her parents came to get them an hour after this. My husband and I have been resting all day today trying to get our energy back. It may take a few more days.

Christine

Grandmother's Cottage - Part 2

I promised pictures of the interior of my aunt's cottage in Harlingen, Texas but let me give you some history of the home first. The home was built in the Revival English Tudor style in 1925.  When she and her husband first saw the home it was empty and had suffered from a fire a few years before. It was literally out in the country sitting on two acres. Needless to say, she had to have it. 

 She has lived there for 25 years and she and her husband have built on to the home adding more living space over the years. Since her husband died in the late 1990's the home has fallen in disrepair somewhat. She hasn't updated or changed any of the decor since refurbishing it many years ago. Living on a fixed income has made it hard for her to do the things needed to repair and update.  Even so, I love the charm of it and love taking pictures.

If you're family or close friends this is the front door. It leads into the screened-in porch at the back of the cottage.

Grapevine with lights hang from the ceiling of the screened-in porch.

 An antique stove is in one corner of the porch.

A twig bicycle planter in the other corner.

The livingroom and dinning in the forground. These rooms are in the front of the cottage and get morning light.

Dark wooden beams and woodwork are throughout the home. The floors are also made of wood and red tile cover the floors in the sunroom and kitchen/den area.

                                      Another view of the livingroom.

    The formal dinningroom is orginal to the home and is large and full of light.

The sunroom has large windows that look out to an enclosed garden that leads to the hottub.

                   A reading nook in one of the corners of the sunroom.  The master bedroom is just a few steps away.

     Antiques are scattered throughout the home which adds to the charm.

A large hall leads to the master bath from the master bedroom. The shower and utility room are to the right of the dressing table and sink. A door leads outside to the hottub from this bath.

Everywhere you look there are little tables, shelves or bookcases full of pictures and knickknacks.

The front door is made of dark hardwood and has a beautiful arch at the top. Many of the doorways are arched.

There are two other bedrooms and bathrooms and a large kitchen, eating area and den combo. I didn't get pictures of these rooms but they all have large windows that let in lots of light. From one of the bedrooms there are stairs that lead to a large bonus room. In the past my aunt used this as her art studio. Today she is unable to get up there.

One thing I might add is that she claims this house has a resident "ghost". Several family members and guest have heard the "ghost" but have never actually seen it. I have yet to hear or see anything and I've been there many times. Maybe it doesn't like unbelivers.

The city has moved out toward her home and she is no longer in the country. Housing additions are all around her and it's five minutes to the nearest shopping center. Even so, when sitting out in the covered porch, it is quiet and serene. Early mornings are best to hear the many different kinds of birds that come to feed at all of her birdfeeders. Her home is a wonderful place to get away and just relax.

I might add that when we go for a visit my cousins and I do all the cooking while we are there. We want her to sit back and enjoy our visit. Of course, being family, we enjoy all the stories she tells of growing up with her brothers and sisters. (our parents)  We laugh a lot.

                                     My aunt when she married .

                                           My Aunt Grace today.

Hope you enjoyed the tour of her home. I had fun showing it to you.

                                                    Christine

Grandmother's English Cottage

Today I am going to show more of my aunt's garden in Harrlingen, Texas.  I also want to show you pictures of her home.  It is the only English Tudor cottage in Harrlingen.  When she and my uncle bought their home 25 years ago it was a small two bedroom, one bath home with an eat-in kitchen. Over the years they added two more baths, a bedroom, den and a garage built on to the orignal house with the same style. Most of these pictures were taken when it was cloudy and don't do the grounds justice.

Front view of my aunt's cottage.

This picture is a view of the front of the house. Notice the giant Pony Tail plant near the large window.

This summer she will have flowers blooming across the front of the house.

The back of the cottaqe near the screened in porch. We spent many mornings and evenings sitting out on the porch watching the different birds feeding at the feeders.

To the far right you will see a swing hanging from a large tree where two people can sit and converse or spy on those in the hot tub. (smile)

The pond at night.

The bridge at night.

My aunt's granddaughter was married a few years ago in the backyard of my aunt's home. Lights were strung everywhere. My aunt has left some of them to light the garden at night. It is absolutely beautiful.

Tomorrow I will show you the interior of her home. It is just as charming as the outside.

Christine

Postnote: My header picture was painted by my mother. Did you see the wolf lurking in the background?  Poor little rabbits.

Grandmother's Garden

Last week my cousins and I drove down to Harrlingen, Texas to visit my dad's baby sister. She's eighty years old and the last surviving sibling of his family.  We love her dearly and try to see her often. Most of us live out of the state of Texas, so it is a long trip for the opportunity to see her. For the next few days I am going to let you see her home and her garden in pictures. I hope you enjoy them.

 Before my aunt's husband died they designed the garden together and the two acres around it. It is beautiful. The weather was in the 70's and 80's and humid while we were there and this time of year is their spring. Actually, they don't have much of a winter if you ask me. Her flowers from summer were still blooming. 

A panoramic view of her back yard.

A bridge that built by her son takes you to the orchard.

Another view of the bridge and flowerbeds.

 

A screened in porch and an enclosed hottub behind the house.

                                                     A bubbling pond near the bridge.

Her husband built this garden chest many years ago.

                                          A cousin and my aunt standing near the arbor.

The orchard behind her home where we would pick fresh grapefruit and oranges every morning.

                                                                 Pink grapefruit.

This was just a short tour of her garden and I will show more pictures tomorrow. 

Christine