Staying Home

 When we first got the stay-at-home policy, I was so thankful.  I was glad for the opportunity to be able to stay at home.  The chance to be able to just stay here and not HAVE to go out every single day has truly been a blessing to me in lots of ways.  

One of the things staying home has provided me is the blessing of simply enjoying the front porch.  Last year I gave Mike new porch rockers and a new porch swing.  The ones we had were older than vintage.  They had been on his grandparents' porch before they graced this front porch and time had done what time does to wooden porch furniture. Slats in the seat of the chairs and bench were broken, the back of the swing had pulled away from the seat, countless coats of paint had begun to chip and wear away and they just didn't seem safe anymore. 

The image above shows a bit of what time had done to the rockers and swing.

So, last fall after Mike said not to give him a gift for his birthday and I said not to give me a gift for my birthday, I took it upon myself to bend the rules a little bit and give him rockers and a swing for his birthday and say that it was his gift to me as well.  I shopped by surfing the net and finally landed on something that I liked and thought would take on a similar profile to what had always graced the front porch.  

The new porch rockers

The rockers are not those tall, 'Cracker Barrel' rockers and have a lower profile like the old ones did.  They have a wide seat that provides plenty of room and comfortable support.  When they arrived in their flat boxes, I could hardly wait to pull the pieces out and put them together.  I love the woven seat and back.  I love the color of the wood.  I just couldn't have been more pleased with the new rockers.  

Shortly after, I also ordered a new porch swing using the concept of a Christmas gift exchange as the excuse for this purchase.  I knew that I wanted something a little longer than the previous swing so that two adults can comfortably sit on it. So, again, I surfed the net and found one that was simple and had a similar curve to the arm as the rockers.  It came unstained and I had to think for a while to decide if I wanted to paint it or attempt to stain it to coordinate with the rockers.

Stain won out and I set to work.  Then, after giving it a week or so, I oiled down the rockers as well as the swing with some of the oil finish I use on the butcher block counter top we have on the island as a protective coating.  It weathered the winter well and I gave it a new coat of oil this spring.

The front porch has sort of turned into an oasis for Toby and me this summer.  We both have enjoyed hours out there.  He stretches out for a nap on the rug and I sit in one of the rockers or the swing and read a book or nap.

The addition of some ferns and flowers have truly made it seem like a summer oasis. I've so enjoyed the beauty of the green, the dark walnut-wood color of the furniture, and the shade.

It is friendly and welcoming as well as relaxing and comfortable whether we are napping or just sitting and watching the world go by.

A tall ice-cold drink in the afternoon or a delicious cup of coffee in the morning will usually be enjoyed right on the front porch.  I've enjoyed the space so much, that other instances of metamorphosis have taken place and even more will be coming.  That's another story for another day, though.  Right now, I hear the front porch calling to me and maybe I'll let Toby tag along!

Random Ramblings Volume # 6

First of all, let me confess.

I really don't know what volume this really is.

I just randomly picked out the number six.

So, we're going with it.

Fall has officially arrived here.  We had warm t-shirt weather yesterday at mid-day and by the time it got dark we had sweatshirt weather.  Then, it started raining and today it is really cool.  I'm ready for it and I think Mike is as well.  I know that my allergies are ready for it!  I'm alternately sniffly, stuffy, coughy, and have itchy eyes.

As much as I love my job, I am always ready for the weekend and today is a lazy Saturday.  I got up at the same time this morning as usual but only to let Toby out to take care of his business and feed him.  Then, since it was still dark, I crawled back in bed and snoozed a bit more.  What a luxury!

When I finally did get roused enough to get up, Mike was already in the kitchen cooking bacon, eggs, and biscuits for breakfast and I simply made coffee.  I had clean-up duty but it was worth it to get the generously prepared breakfast with no effort!

I've spent the remainder of the morning sipping coffee and catching up with the blog feeds to which I subscribe.  Every time I glance up and see this little vignette on the chopping block table, it makes me smile.  I love those happy pumpkins even on a grey day!

I also like this cluster of fall leaves in the urn on the island.  It just speaks to me.  Of course, I know that in a while the counter will be cluttered with the fixings of a meal and need to be cleaned again.  But, for now, it makes me smile.

I also smile at this simple seasonal decor on the kitchen mantel.  It truly is the little things isn't it?

I was intrigued by a news post this week.  I saw this photo posted on a blog and had to learn more.  The backstory is quite interesting.

Doesn't this picture make you want to light a fire and put some marshmallows on a stick?  Oh, what a cozy and relaxing looking space at Rattlebridge Farm!

If I still lived in my old house that was close to the road where you could see such a fun decoration, I would copy this idea in a heartbeat!  I just love those striped and polka-dot witch's legs I see around anyway and this is probably the cutest application of them that I've ever seen!  Thanks for sharing Home Is Where The Boat Is.

I cannot tell you how much I agree with the perspective of Emily in Wear Better Pants.  I read the transcript, of course, but I'm sure the podcast is wonderful, too.  They usually are.

I've also done a lot of thinking and trying to encourage my daughters lately because I remember well how hard it is to mother little children like they are doing.  I think they are doing an amazing job and are just, well, amazing anyway much like Karianne describes in her book So Close to Amazing.  I know that they are already keeping this idea in mind and encouraging their children.

I thought this was the cutest idea that it made me want to go to the farm stand and get more pumpkins and pull out my hobby paint and create one.  But, really, we probably won't have any trick-or-treaters and pumpkin season is half over at this point.  I did pin it for next year, though!  I really love lots of Jennifer's ideas over at Dimples and Tangles and often get inspired to perk things up and add a bit of spunkiness and bright colors.

If I was buying for myself, I would get one of these ASAP!  And a pair of those pajama pants with the monogram.  Have you seen those?  And have you seen those sparkly slip-on sneakers?  Don't they look fun?

My daughter has been making these signs. The one above and the one below were donated to her children's school fundraiser recently.  Aren't they attractive?

I'm sure they made the silent auction bids go higher, aren't you?

This one saying home is another of her creations.  I really don't have a spot for any of them other than on my back porch but I do love them!

Well, that wraps up my randomness for a while.  I'm spending the afternoon watching SEC football, sipping on spiced tea, listening to the washer and dryer run, between folding loads of laundry and stirring up a pot of soup.  Hope your Saturday is random and relaxing as well!

Chalkboard Art - Keep It Simple!

I guess I'm a bit late to the chalkboard craze that is all over decorating.  I've liked it but I would think about the dust from the chalk and the dust I already have in my house and I just shied away from it.

I've admired it from afar.

I've pinned it to different boards.

I've even printed out small printables that look like it.

I put an easel chalkboard on my wish list and thought about places where I might set it.

Then, I got a chalkboard for my birthday and I realized what fun and creativity can be expressed.  I drew a design for Thanksgiving.  I drew a design for Christmas.  It was small scale.  It was simple.  It was fun.

A simple winter design on my chalkboard

I got the easel on my wish list.  My daughter, Bridgette, crafted it from pallets and plywood.  When I got it, she had sketched a message on it...

Simple Christmas greeting

A design on both sides.

Doesn't Toby look impressed?

Planning to do absolutely nothing on New Year's Day just to celebrate making it through one more year, I decided that chalkboard art was next to doing nothing and would be creative and fulfilling and fun.

I learned a few things.

Keep it simple.

It takes a good bit of chalk to make those fancy designs one sees out there in creative Pinterest and blogland.

I have big ideas.

Keep it simple.

My ideas are sometimes bigger than my creative drawing space.

Chalk drawing is forgiving and allows for erasure and do-overs.  (Thank goodness!)

Keep it simple.

I was right about all the dust created when crafting chalkboard art.

The letter S and the letter D are difficult to draw with dimension.  Heck! Any letter can be difficult to draw with dimension!

Remember to keep it simple.

Chalk is flaky and crumbly.

Going back to the drawing board can be more than just a saying.

Just because an inspiration drawing looks simple doesn't mean it really is all that simple.

My larger winter design - not quite as simple

Sometimes the inspiration piece is just that - inspiration.  That doesn't mean the end result will be an exact match.

While chalkboard art is creative and can be satisfying, it isn't always relaxing and pleasing to the creative soul.

Most importantly, I learned...

Keep it simple, stupid!

Favorites

It is always interesting to see which things turn out to be hits with children when it comes to their gifts.

For certain this one was a hit from the beginning.  Bonnie says that Levi takes it back and forth from home to the store every day because it is such a favorite.  Funny about the men in this family and their towmotors - they seem to really love them!

Bridgette says the girls wallow round on their bean bag cubes on a daily basis.  I'm certainly glad my hunch that they would turn out to be fun, comfy perches turned out to be correct.

Bridgette also says that if Santa had only known how much fun pushing this vacuum around would be, he probably would have bought this little cleaner-upper one that really sucked up dirt!

Mike and I worried that Harris would be afraid of this gift from Santa even though she was requested and hoped for but the recipient truly looks like he is enamored with her on Christmas morning doesn't he?

Don't they seem to be checking one another out while sitting in this big old chair?

Of course, what's not to love about a face like that?

Or a sweet look like that?  Bryan says they still run and ramble and play together constantly.  So, I guess Hope is just what that little man hoped for, huh?

It is always great to see them play with wholesome toys and enjoy traditional play.

Of course, it is always easy to please this one so long as she gets something relating to a horse!

This long, tall Sally was worried that the certificates for her riding lessons were going to expire before she gets to take advantage of them.  She was so worried that her mother finally called and talked to the riding teacher to get confirmation that they would be good at least through the summer!

I also love it when I see that they enjoy reading and being read to.  That is one thing nobody will ever be able to take away from a person and experiences which help them travel to multiple locales and stay with them for the rest of their lives.

It's Summertime and the Living is Easy

Some of the grands have been enjoying their summertime break from a school routine.

Luci was too little to actually be a golfer at the putt-putt golf park but she seemed to like the cows.  Notice that she is moo-ing!

Let's be serious now.  Ice cream is always a delicious treat and chocolate is absolutely the best.

It truly makes a girl happy - and front teeth are not a requirement!

The cool fashion diva reminds us, however, that just because it is summertime, all protocol doesn't go out the window. "Uh, oh!  There's the police...act casual."

Random Ramblings Part 3

We've had a bit of down time since the grands went back home.  When we have down time, Mike and I tend to wallow.  We veg out.  There is TV involved.  There are books and blog readings involved.  Social media overload is involved - taking it in and adding to it.  The good thing is that I have discovered a few things.  Important things.  Things like:

I noticed that The White House now allows photography for the first time in 40 years.

not this white house - we always encourage photos

I'm not getting married again but if I did, I would want a few of these monograms and I'd want a door like that to hang them on, too.  (I guess these would be good for showers, teas, Mother's Day celebrations, birthdays, and other occasions or even just for an everyday pick-me-up!)

I might have to craft me a bit of porch decor like this monogram, too.  It seems even easier that the one below!

When I saw this project, I asked myself, why did I give those cabinet doors somebody gave me years ago away?  And isn't that a cute little knob to hang Toby's leash upon?

He's probably thinking about that, too.

I loved the July 4th Google Doodle didn't you?  You can read about it's Americana Story, too.

This article made me think about how we are living in a world divided and it made me wonder how I can contribute toward making it more of a world that is united, rooted, and established in love.  Mainly it provided an opportunity for me to think and continue to think about how I can and should be.

I learned the secret to happiness.  Well, not really learned, I guess, because this article simply reaffirmed what I already knew about being and becoming happy.  Plus, it made me strive to look at things in a more positive light and be a more positive influence in the world.

What do you do when you have down time?

Something Shared

As I have mentioned in previous posts, we are awaiting the birth of a couple of sweet babies in our family.  It has been my tradition to create a sweet dress for each of the granddaughters to wear as infants.

Then, along came Harris.

His father does not want him wearing any "lace, frilly, or prissy stuff."  So...

I had to adapt a bit and and create a new pattern and make something that was almost like the classic sweet baby boy clothes.  You can see how I did that HERE.

Now, along comes Levi.

I've got something similar to the one-piece outfit for Harris in the works for Levi.  Yet, he is one lucky little fellow and already has loads of clothing.  However, his mother did say that they probably could use another gown.  So...

I decided to personalize one just for him.

I did some thinking to figure out just what connection I wanted to use in the personalization.  Levi's dad, Stephen, enjoys relaxing with a fishing pole pointed at the water.  That is one thing he and his father, Mike, share.  After a day spent beside a fishing hole, both of those guys seem to have a fresh approach to life.

So, I decided to use that as a way to personalize a sweet little gown for Levi.

I cinched up the bottom with elastic as an adaptation of the sweet gowns my children had which were drawstring at the hem.

The pattern is a simple one with sweet little tucks at the front shoulders.  Just below the tucks on the left shoulder, I used the squares of the baby-check and cross-stitched a fishing pole with a bobber on it.

If you look really closely at the fishing line, you can see the subtle way I made this little daygown personalized just for Levi...

Sweet Little Levi's Gown

Knowing that tiny babies generally spend a lot of time propped up on somebody's shoulder or chest, I decided to add a little something to the back as well.

There on the back is another fishing pole positioned up on the right shoulder.

Since the gown features a sweet little pleat, I thought it might be fun to hide a little fish inside it!

So, when Levi is lying on his tummy up on a shoulder or chest, the little fishy can be peaking out of the pleat!

I know it will be quite a long time before Levi will be wetting a line at the fishing hole  as a way of sharing time with his dad and grandfather.  Till then, he can do a little dreaming about the catch of the day...