Labor Day 2020
Happy Labor Day 2020! I had planned on a new project post for you today, but this weekend we had a “critical error” on the website. This is what I get for running an “update.” Thankfully, we had a FaceTime date with friends to distract me from the website not allowing me to do anything except gaze wistfully upon it. The distraction worked! We stayed up way too late laughing until we cried. Today, while I wish we were doing something exciting like playing at the beach, I am going to try and fix the last of the problems. Please cross your fingers for me that Wednesday’s regularly scheduled blog…
Happy List: #179
Hello! Much to the dismay of my children, remote school started yesterday. I kept our first day of school traditions alive, but it was strange without the usual pomp and circumstance associated with the first day of school. Our kids have 4 sixty minute classes per day on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Cameras have to be on for the entire time class is in session so the teachers know they are engaged. They get a ten minute break between classes and there’s no homework. On Wednesdays their schedule is a little wacky because that’s when they have all the extra classes like PE, music, Spanish, etc. Personally, I like…
Found Decor in Previous Homes
I’ve found decor for my home in many different places including dumpsters, barns, sides of roads, and in a variety of the homes we’ve lived in. In my experience, people often leave items they no longer want in a house when they move out. It’s not like anyone ever calls these junk leavers to come back and get their broken ladder. Or whatever it is they left behind. No, we just grumble about it and continue moving into our new home. In my case, I grumble about it. Then I get excited about it when I realize I might be able to do something with that junk. Then I write…
Back Porch Shelves for Drink Storage
Some folks build shelves for important things like books. We build shelves for equally important things like drink storage. Reading is important, but have you ever been dehydrated? I rest my case. After living in our home for a year we had a pretty good idea of its problem areas. No, I’m not talking about the leaky roof, the rotting deck, or the oven that randomly switches the temperature display from Fahrenheit to Celsius. Do NOT get me sidetracked on the oven that is messing with me. We’ll be here all day. Today’s problem area was the back porch where we stored all of our canned and bottled drinks. Wait.…
Happy List: #178
Hello again! Welcome back to the Happy List! How has your week been? Ours has had a bit of a Groundhog Day feeling. That endless loop of hasn’t this happened before? Ha! This week on the blog I shared a big milestone as it relates to our curb appeal. I’m also proud of myself for keeping the weeds out front under control. Although, the extra thick layer of mulch I put down may have something to do with that. I also shared my strong conviction that there must be treasure hidden somewhere in our house. Now that I’m thinking about it, maybe I should leave something for the next person…
Searching for Hidden Treasure in Our Home
I am convinced there must be hidden treasure in our home or somewhere on our property. Don’t laugh! It might not be probable, but it is possible. Our home is close to a quarter of a millennium old. You can’t tell me there haven’t been coins, letters, gold bars, jewelry, or cash hidden under a floorboard at some point in time. After all, I grew up reading Nancy Drew and watching Scooby-Doo. If that doesn’t make me an authority on mysteries and secret hiding places, I don’t know what does. There are several creaky floorboards in our house that are my top contenders for concealing hidden treasure. It’s not just…
The Colonial Farmhouse’s Curb Appeal
When we bought our Colonial Farmhouse I knew there was one thing that would instantly improve its curb appeal: actually being able to SEE the house. Funny how curb appeal works. If you can’t see past the curb there is no appeal. If you’ve been reading this blog for the past year (thank you), then you’ll know we’ve been working on that one facet of our Colonial Farmhouse’s curb appeal since the day we bought the place. Are we that slow or was the job just that large? Yes and yes. Yes, we are slow because we tackle things around here in spurts and starts. Yes, the job was just…
A Poem and Another Staycation Week
It’s another staycation week for our crew! I’m not sure how our quiet summer has zipped by so quickly. I feel like our days have been full, but not necessarily busy. I rather like it. I don’t know what we will be doing this week. Probably trying to decide if I’m buying school supplies or not buying school supplies. Ha! But seriously. Before I leave you to your own devices this week, I thought I’d share a poem I’ve enjoyed lately from Emily Dickinson. As imperceptibly as Grief The Summer lapsed away — Too imperceptible at last To seem like Perfidy — A Quietness distilled As Twilight long begun, Or…
Happy List: #177
Hello, hello! I hope the week has treated you well. This week I shared why I love old houses so darn much. The funny thing of it was so many of you related to my sentiments on the subject. That said, don’t begrudge me if someday I move into a house with light switches in every room. Heck, I’d give up the light switches I do have right now if it meant I could have central air-conditioning. I also shared a round up of my latest thrifted finds. It’s taken me all summer, but I did find a few things that came home with me. In fairness, I might find…
My Latest Thrift Store Finds: Part 2
I’ve already written one “My Latest Thrift Store Finds” post, so now I’m writing the much anticipated sequel. Maybe this will turn into a series. Who knows? I certainly don’t. Ha! But in case anyone asks, I do have a grand plan and definitely have my act together. Oh, and we never had this conversation. Now let’s get back to the important business of the day, my latest thrift store finds. They are pinch myself good. My Latest Thrift Store Finds #1: Scalloped Brass Bowl Scalloped designs seems to be having a moment. I’ve seen scalloped designs all over the internet lately, so this scalloped brass bowl that I found…
