Summertime Seashell Vignette

Since it's still Summer, I wanted to try to use my antique Blue Willow Transferware Tureen here on the Entry Hall Console. I've had it out with some other "blues" for my Patriotic decor so, I hunted down some of my shells to replace the summertime potpourri.

Cottage Journal Collector's Shed

Many of you subscribe to or purchase The Cottage Journal, 

but did you know they have a website/blog that is frequently updated 

with wonderful feature layouts and stories? 

 You can go to their site and sign up in email for the blog.

 I thought you might enjoy seeing these photos from a recent entry

 on a garden shed that's filled with all the vintage essentials. 

Roses Revisited...

Hi Everyone, I thought I'd stop by for a quick update on this last week. I'm sharing some pretty and peaceful photos from a few years ago that were taken on my sunporch. That was my favorite spot for photos, since the room was north facing and the light was always perfect. I've never had regular rose bushes, but we did have this lovely Knock-Out bush in the front yard. It would bloom proficiently from Spring, all Summer, then into late Fall.

I'll share some prettiness before I bore you with my day-to-day fun...

Centerpiece Basket with Vintage Flags

This last year I've been all about "decorating" the easiest way possible;

How to give a little flavor of the Holiday or Season without going over the top.

Scenes from the Patriotic Sitting Room

Hi Everyone...can you believe the 4th of July is next weekend?

Before it's come and gone, I thought I'd share with you

 a few pics from the Kitchen Sitting Area

where I've added a few flags and some Patriotic Color.

Easy Patriotic Accents with Vintage Bottles

I've been gathering a few of my patriotic and red/white/blue items to 

bring a little July 4th fun to the Kitchen Sitting Area...

Lambs and Ivy

Every once and awhile I run across something that I haven't shared with you before.

 At the old house this wonderful old fruit crate hadn't made it past the garage

 "shop inventory".

 Now at the new house, it again migrated to the garage. 

I'm not sure why except that I've just never known what to do with it...

pretty lame excuse.

Classical Statuary in Eclectic Settings

Anyone that has "moved" can tell you that there will be certain items, that no matter how much you loved them in your old home, that just don't work well in the new abode. The architecture, furniture, setting...whatever...the personality of the new house just doesn't mesh with all your old decor.

Coffee Table ReStyle

Hi Friends, a few weeks ago I needed to finally put away all my "Spring" rabbits, bunnies, and whatever... I'd been putting it off cause I hadn't felt so great, but when everyone started talking "Summer" it was obvious that my sweet little Bunny Man Basket needed to be tucked away for next year.

French Cottage

Hi Friends, I wanted to share a new publication by Hoffman Media that I think many of you will really enjoy, but may not have heard about. It's from the company that puts out two of my favorites, Victoria Magazine and The Cottage Journal. Last Spring they released a Special Issue called French Cottage. It was in magazine form, but could have been a hardcover "coffee table" edition. This year Hoffman came out with a second edition, this time in the hard cover.

Basics for Building a Tabletop Vignette

Although I haven't been changing things up around here too much lately, boredom has set in big time, and I needed something fresh to look at here in the Living Room. Each time I think of putting together a vignette or grouping I panic. Good Grief, where do I start? Then I spend a lot of time hunting down and trying things, moving stuff around, then discarding them; generally wasting my time. Decor books and magazines help, but even then I'm sometimes left without an idea of where to start.

I LOVE doing seasonal vignettes, but no matter if I'm decorating for a specific Holiday or Season, or just something basic, I've learned some foundational "building blocks" that make it pretty simple to put together an "Easy Change" Tabletop Vignette.

Vintage Blooming Prints and the Consult

I don't have a lot of "blooms" around here yet. I've been putting off planting containers outside until I felt more like taking care of them. Some days I don't get much accomplished except laundry and putting something easy together for dinner. I'm really missing the color of my spring containers full of Geraniums, Million Bells and Lantana. So for now, I'm enjoying these old prints on the console in the Entry. Hopefully, I can get some plants out in a few weeks. It looks sort of bleak and forlorn around here.

The Next Step

Hi Friends, I just wanted to check in with you and let you know that I have an appointment with the Cardiologist here in town that does the CTO Procedure. The Chronic Total Occlusion Procedure is done to open up arteries that have been occluded and are nonfunctioning. It's something relatively new on the horizon of Cardiac Intervention and Care. I had tests earlier in the month to see if my heart was functioning well enough to attempt the semi-sort-of-surgical procedure. It's been a long month, people. I'm trying to stay positive, and really I can't do otherwise. God won't let me get too down or have too big of a pity-party. 

Pinterest

The alternative to trusting God over this doesn't work for me. I can gripe and complain, but then He lifts me back up and out of the dark place it's so easy to go. A few of you in the comments from my last post said they felt guilty for complaining about lesser problems and illnesses. But let me tell you...it's all relevant. every. single. trial we go through matters and if they're in your life and causing you worry, grief, and pain they each are known by The Father. He sees us and loves us and will deliver us. I could quote a whole boat load of scripture here, but I'm going to tell you that that is the TRUTH. I have Faith that God STILL has a good plan for my life and I'm believing that He will get me through this.

I'm a CNN Junkie, and I have to tell you I've been so grieved over the death of Prince. Not because I'm a huge fan,(although some of his music was captivating and brilliant) but because it grieves me to see men and women in their 50's and 60's that have so many hopes, dreams, and plans still to be fulfilled, die so suddenly. He was just a few years younger than me. He was a genius, and thought by many people to have been anointed by God as a child. He gave in to all the "showbusiness" junk when he was young, but had had a "come to Jesus meeting" and evidently had changed his life. I don't know what caused his death; some hint at a prescription drug problem brought on by chronic pain. (I totally understand Chronic Pain, it can eat you up and ruin your life) But friends, our bodies and our lives are so very fragile. Life can be over in a moment. Please ask yourself if you would be ready for that day if it were today. 

If you have questions about the CTO procedure, just type in CTO Heart Surgery and you'll get tons of info to check out. I appreciate your thoughts and prayers more than you can know. I'll let you know what I find out after the consultation. 

Love you all...

Debra

Hall Bathroom Shelf and an Update

Hi Everyone, things have been pretty quiet around here the last few weeks, but I wanted to say "Hello" to all of you and check in. One thing that I've finally managed to get accomplished is to put a few things up in the Hall Bath. 

Garden Flower Pot Wreath for Spring

I made this fun Springtime wreath a few years ago after I'd found these old French seed packet labels on Etsy. I added them to some tags and then tied whitewashed flowerpots on the grapevine wreath. Last year I didn't get to use it because it was hidden among a ton of other tubs and boxes in the garage, but this year it's hanging on the mirror on the old door in the Kitchen Sitting Area.

Peach Blossom Branches and a Cover-up

We have a couple of fruit trees in the back yard planted by the previous owner,

and this "Doughnut Peach Tree" really puts on a Spring-time Show.

The Decoratin' O' the Green!

I don't go all out to decorate for St. Patrick's Day, but I do like to tip my hat to the Irish Holiday. I'm sure I have a little Irish blood in me from someplace and I have a daughter named Erin, so St. Patty's always gets a little attention from me around the house...

Spring Window Box with Garden Fencing and a Birthday Bouquet

I've mentioned before that vintage garden goods are my favorite vintage items. I love all things vintage, but there's nothing like some old rusty fencing, seed packets, and garden utensils to get my undivided attention. 

Grapevine Bunny Basket

Last week I was wanting something new and fresh for Easter and Spring; something that made a bit of a statement and that was fun and colorful. I was hoping (hopping) for a moss covered rabbit or something organic, so I headed to my favorite local wholesale-type floral shop to see what they had. I found this adorable black/white rabbit (made from some kind of grassy material) with a basket on his back. He was one of three styles of these cuties. Then I browsed their previously made floral arrangements and found an idea that I thought would work... 

First Glimpse of "Spring"

Happy Leap Day!!

Since tomorrow is March, and Easter is coming early this year, I thought I'd get started on bringing a few Spring Things out of the tubs and boxes. This is just my starting place... on the Dining Room table, which is usually where all my seasonal decorating begins.

The Living Room and Leopard Print Pillows

Hi Everyone, things have been quiet around here and I've been keeping my nose to the grindstone so to speak, in regards to my quest in sorting through more boxes of decor and organizing my storage room downstairs. 

A Little Valentine Chaos

Hello Friends, 

Hope you're having a "Sweet" Valentine's Weekend!

Moss Covered Heart on the Old Door

Do you want to know what the hardest part of "not blogging" has been...?

(aside from not visiting with you all)

I've been in Blogging Rehab...

It's been about 6 weeks since I've written a post, here. It was the week before Christmas when I said I needed a break. So, I've been on a journey this last 6 weeks, and it was a necessary decision that was a long time coming.