Checking in...

Just wanted to let you know that I'm back home...

image via

and that I'm so glad to be here.

... but, I can safely say that the last few days rank pretty low in the "Fun Ways to Spend Your Week" category.  The heart catheterization and angiogram should be considered successful, in that we found that I did have two major artery blockages that were 99% occluded, and that the only way I was still here was the fact that I had been taking nitroglycerin every few hours since last week just to keep the arteries in my heart dilated. While I'm going through something I never want to talk about how bad it is, but now that it's in the rear view mirror I can look back and say "Holy C_ _p!, that was a close one." (please pardon my French) 

Then on top of the physical trauma of having yet one more stent put in and another artery being "roto-rooted", (too small for a stent) being pumped full of 3 times the normal amount of drugs for the test, pain killers, and every other piece of junk drug they can throw at you, I was sick all day yesterday retching, my body naturally trying to get it all out.

Right now I'm just trying to find my footing in all of this. I've been sitting here this morning at my computer going back through my photo files of the last few years. That always helps me see where I've been and know where I want to be going. Do you know what I mean..? I'm not just talking decorating photos or projects, but where my head and heart are, what I love to be doing, and seeing the priorities in my life. I know it won't take me long until I'm "back". I'm already itching for September when I can safely put out my pumpkins and bittersweet. So I know that "the real me" is still here underneath this "event" that has just happened to me.

I know that so many of us, by the time we reach middle age, have had life altering events, illnesses or tragedies, broken marriages, or family relationship problems. Not many of us are exempt from "life". I know it's all in how we approach it and our mental, emotional and spiritual strength. I know that if it weren't for God's hand of intervention 11 years ago I would have been dead then, so I thank Him every day for the extra time I've been given.

OK, now that I have all that out, I want to say thank you so much for all the love and prayers that came to me from you all. I had tears in my eyes through each sweet and supportive comment. you all are the best. thanks for being there and for your honest care and concern. This may sound superficial and silly in light of all that I've been through, but I never celebrated my 4th blog anniversary and I've had a really wonderful give away planned for quite awhile, so hopefully I can celebrate with you all...hopefully this next week. That might be a good way to get back in the swing of things...a little celebration. I think I can use one about now.

lots of love to you all,

A little Fall inspiration and a Message

Thought I'd share a few images from my Pinterest Boards with you today. I've been going through my magazines and Pinterest looking for some Fall inspiration. I always get excited when Autumn approaches, it always invigorates me mind and body. Since it's a little early for tons of Pumpkins, I found a few others with some apple inspiration instead. If you'd like to repin any of these please browse through my boards,  Fall Decor and Fall Gardens and Porches,to find them there. (Please scroll down to the end of the post first)

Then I have something to share with you...

Those of you who have been with me for awhile may know that I have a hereditary heart condition, and that most of the time I don't have many symptoms or problems. I absolutely hate talking about it here on the blog because in my mind it makes me feel like I'm "old and worn out". I'm not a whiner or a complainer so I put it on the back burner and try to forget about it publicly. But I know deep down that it's just something that I have to deal with, and since I try to be real with you all, not talking about it would be insincere.

The truth is that I have had 3 major heart attacks 10 years ago and open heart surgery when I was an energetic, healthy, and vibrant person. I had no symptoms to speak of other that my stress level was a 15 on a scale of 1-10. Since then I've had another stent put in for a blockage and have an ongoing situation called microvascular disease. This is something that's more common in women which causes high levels of angina, (chest pain) that is a result of smaller vessels not getting good blood flow.

So, now to the present. I noticed a few weeks ago the pain level was increasing, but I thought it might just be due to being more active in the summer, swimming and working in the yard. But over these last ten days my medications haven't been working and now I'm at a place where I have to find out what's going on. I have a high pain threshold and I can outlast an attack that normally would send someone to the ER. (not a good idea).

I'm seeing my cardiologist today and I imagine I'll end up in the hospital for tests and another stent. I'm not worried, because I've been through this before, and I know God is taking care of me and that He is totally in charge of all this. I just needed to tell all of you. And being honest, I need to take a few days to rest. I had my posts done up for the rest of the week, but since I'm not going to cover this up, I felt like I should just postpone things a bit. I'll check in with you when I'm back and let you all know what's going on.

I love you guys, you all are some of the sweetest, dearest people in the world. Your friendships are real and treasured. So I'd sure appreciate your prayers today and this week. You'll hear from me soon.

xoxo,

The Marketplace: Etsy and Online Boutique Showcase

Hi Everyone, and Welcome to 

The Marketplace

Are you all ready to start a new week? 

Well, let's get it going with a little peek

at what's happening in the world of Etsy and Online shopping.

Here are a few of the items that grabbed my attention last week:

Blue Pastoral Scene Transferware Platter

from Fleaing France Brocante Society

Sunflower on French Script Pillow Cover

from Urban Farmhouse Chic

Shell Picture Frame

from Cereus Art

Mid Century Lamp

from the Zoe Bird

Antique Farmhouse Enamel Topped Table

from Prodigal Pieces

Halloween Favors

from the Gift Garden Shoppe

And today, The Sponsor Spotlight is on Eleanor Brown Boutique where you'll find the most amazing Santos Dolls, crowns, milagros, and ex-votos; so many beautiful treasures with French flair. It's not too soon to think about Christmas, so you'll want to visit their online shopping and be sure to keep up with news and sales with the Elenor Brown Blog.

Cream Shabby Rusty Crown

Now on Sale
The Cream Santos Cage Doll

Gilded Paper Mache Angel Wings

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Do you have an Etsy Shop or an Online Boutique?

We'd love to have you join us by linking up to three of your items. If you have a shop blog that's great too, but you don't have to have a blog to join in.  All links need to be items that are for sale, and please link to the individual item if possible. If you do have a blog and you'd like to spread the word about The Marketplace, you can grab the button below for somewhere on your blog sidebar. And I'd love you to be a follower of Common Ground.

This linky is open all week, so be sure to stop back by later in the week to see the new items being listed. 

Thanks so much for coming by,

 Happy Shopping!

Around the house...

Hey you all...

hope you're having a good weekend!

I thought I'd just share some of the sunporch tweaking that's been going on this week. There's been a hint of Fall around here, as the weather has cooled off a little this week, and the "light" is changing. You know what I mean...the angle of the sun shifts just slightly and the light starts to change. Shadows and colors and even the blue in the sky takes on a subtle difference from Summer. 

This week has been a little slower and I've had time to think about a few things out here. One in particular is this basket hanging on an old screen door that I've had probably for about 10 years. It was a dark sage green and it really needed to be freshened up, so I gave it a coat of some taupe/gray "test" paint that I'd bought last year when painting the master bedroom.

then I did a wash in a darker gray craft paint mixture...

then highlighted it again in the taupe.

...an easy fix for something that was dusty and a little blah looking.

Some faux sunflowers brought it up to season.

I don't show this corner of the sunporch often 

as this little wicker tea cart has a habit of getting too cluttered.

hmmm... that might be why you're only seeing the top part...

(you might laugh at a funny story from my first few months of blogging.

and you'll also laugh at the photos.

 I think that was 3 cameras ago.Just click here)

But I have a cute little vintage metal shelf

 that holds a few of my English Cottages...

that I haven't shared for awhile.

sugar and creamer and salt and pepper.

a candle and another salt and pepper.

Here's an old celluloid thermometer and butterfly print

 that was a salesman sample for advertising...

is tucked into my wicker floral basket along with an ivy.

...and here are the last of the hydrangeas that

had already started to wilt on the shrub.

these purples are so pretty.

That bush started out white, 

then the tips started to change to pink

and now this deep magenta.

The blooms haven't been big this year,

 but the color has been spectacular.

You might have noticed that I've already changed out the quilts and pillows to more of an Autumn palette. I'll share more of the "Early Fall" sunporch changes this next week.

so tell me...what are you doing this weekend...?


Joining in on these great parties:

Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm
Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House
A Stroll Thru Life
The Scoop at Cedarhill Ranch

xoxo,

Be Inspired # 153 White Done Right.

Hi Everyone and Welcome to Be Inspired!

Can you believe that we're into the home stretch of August?

and Fall is just around the corner...yay!!!

There are a few people I can easily gush about, and Lynn from Shabby Story is one of them. Lynn and her hubby recently finished a new garden house, where these photos were taken.  Here are a few pics of her decorating start in the interior. Lynn's style and photos are always so lovely...she's a girl that does "white" right!

And here's more great inspiration from last week's party:

Mallori from Vintage Finds has been working on her Dining Room and recently found some cane back chairs to make over. I'm in love with this wonderful brick wall and another fabulous chandelier.

Karen at A Stylish Interior gave us a tour of her porches, where they recently painted them out to keep up a Southern Tradition of Haint Blue Porch Ceilings.

Tammy from My Flower Journal

created some fresh fun Flower Art using old book pages.

Pat from On Crooked Creek

has outfitted her Dress form Lizzie, perfectly for Sunflower Season.

And check out these adorable Beatrix Potter Book Page Letters

from Jamie at Domestically Speaking.

thanks so much gals for sharing all the inspiration!

(Please click on the original post to pin any images.)

Today's Sponsor is Michele from Glass Bead Treasures. Hope you'll take a minute and run by and take a peek at all the fun items in her wonderful Etsy Shop.

thanks so much Michele!

Time to get this party started!

Link up all your inspiration from this week; vintage, decor, diy, crafts, recipes...

whatever has been inspiring you!

Please be a follower of Common Ground 

and please have a link back to this blog,

 within your post to be featured.

Thanks so much for joining in!