De-Cluttering

You wouldn't really know it by looking at some of these pictures as I still have a LOT of stuff lying about. But, I can't tell you how much I put away. A lot! To me, anyway, it looks so much better. Phew! (PS, I may just haveto take this lamp down to Riverside. I'm liking the dragonfly theme there.)

I moved all my plants around so they can now enjoy the summer sun without getting burned up. I am amazed, there is absolutely nothing on my coffee table. I moved the copper tray over to the sofa table from there and now the coffee table is completely bare. Oh, I'm sure I'll find something to put on it. Perhaps a coffee table book or two? grin.

I transplanted my fountain from the kitchen to the corner of the family room and added some plants there and more "stuff" here and there. This is a straight shot from the front door and is very important for feng shui. I don't know why I chose what I did, but I'm sure with the water and plants, it has to be good. I'll look that one up later. (I have yet to post on feng shui. One day, I promise.) It sounds so nice in this spot as the trickling water echoes off the corners of the walls. I am able to do this only because Miss Bev is no longer with us and won't reek havoc on my display! I miss her shenanigans though. (Of course, we don't have any nests this year because she's not here. Last year, we had two or three at a time from April through to July; and she was on top of each and every one!)

Giggle, here's some more of that silly eyelash stuff I did along with the blinds. Lordy. I was on a tear, wasn't I? This doesn't bother me as much, as it looks more whimsical and minute. See Miss Bev's picture that my SIL Mary Jane sent me in memory of her? She was such a cutie. Just Friday, I received this memorial from our vets. I just cried. I tell you, lately, the floodgates have been open. I tear up at the slightest thing. I think my HRT needs'a'checkin'. Sniffle.


Here are the bookshelves. As I said, they probably look just as bad as when I started to you, but I guarantee, they aren't. I really did put a lot of stuff away, honest. Now, just don't open the cabinet doors beneath, or their may be trouble. But, no one needs to know that, now do they?










I even did a little rearranging in the study. I moved "grandpa" in there, the old crab that he is. He had quit working in the family room, and I never really liked where he was there anyway. I put him on top of my little secretary and he now refuses to work, again--what else is new? This was my mother's grandfather Dutch's. He was in the Civil War and returned shell shocked. He would always tell everyone to "Cover up those two old women. They keep looking at me." I suppose he was talking about the carvings at the top. Tonight, as I was coaxing him to work, I noticed some writing on the tin plate around the leveler at the bottom. I cannot, for the life of me, make it out. I need to take it to an Antiques Road Show. Wouldn't that be a hoot? But, anyway, he never started working for me tonight. He likes to be tilted to the front on his right side before he starts ticking. He absolutely drives me mad, the old coot!

The hub is in Texas, again; so I guess I'll head up to that great big bed and stretch out. I'm pooped!

What Was I Thinking??

Obviously, I wasn't. A year or so ago, I went to an Holiday open house. Of course I came home with all sorts of ideas I wouldn't "normally" do. Must have been the Holidays or something. The next time I want to do something non-traditional, please just sit me down and have a chat with me.

I have never been "into" window treatments and have always preferred just basic blinds with a valance or cornice. I like a little lace on some windows to soften the blinds; but other than that, I don't do much else. Now I remember why. It gets OLD!

Please note the eyelash and bead embellishments I added to my lace blinds in my family room after returning home from that above-mentioned Holiday open house. Of course, the hub was out of town and there was no one here to say "Whoa girl!" And, having never embellished blinds before, I went for the heavy-duty permanent glue. Wonderful. I loved it. I even "antiqued" the cornice a little. I was so very proud of my accomplishment--for about, say, six months. Then, dun dun dun, you know--out of date. These eyelashes and beads have been bugging me for the past year. Today, I did something about it. It was no less an operation, I tell you. (Folks, never--I repeat, NEVER!--use permanent anything when it comes to decorating. You WILL eventually change your mind on the look no matter how much you love it at first, trust me.)



I first began tugging the stuff off these gorgeous linen blinds that I had purchased from a now-defunct catalog (Rue de France). Then I thought I better not pull too hard and ruin the linen. I sat and thought and thought. I didn't want to put any chemicals on the fabric so I thought perhaps heating the glue would soften it enough to pull the two layers off (yes, I did the beaded seam first then the eyelash seam on top). It worked, pretty much. I still had to exacto knife some and use tweezers to pull the tough little buggers off, all with the precision of a brain surgeon. It worked pretty well. Although you can notice (well, me, I can notice) where it was, I doubt most won't see a thing. I have tried to cover it up with the little cornice that came with the wood Venetian blinds. I also moved the white cornices over here and put the faux ones on the other two doors. It works.

I like it. I like that clean look, again. I think after returning from Riverside and looking around my house, it seems a tad "cluttered" to say the least. I think this week, I'm going to try and de-clutter my family room. It's looking overdone to me. Every time I see some tchotchke I must have, it normally ends up in the family room. I think the bookshelves are a little overrun with "stuff." (hehe, Please don't notice the Wisemen still out!)


This is my chore this week. Spread the wealth to other places. I am very reluctant to take any of my prized possessions to Riverside, Lord forbid there is ever a hurricane that demolishes it; but I think I have room to move some of this stuff to other places in the house--can any one say "box it and put it away?"


The hub is out back barbecuing for the first time this year! Yea. He is making grilled chicken. I can smell it and my tummy is just growling! Yum!!

Spring Gardening

I finally broke down and redid my window boxes. I figure there is no way it can freeze again, can it? hehe. At any rate, I couldn't wait any longer, the ivy from last year was still hanging there, dead. Pitiful. (Note the half dead holly below the window, sigh.)

I had to find different annuals to use this year as my favorite little garden shop went out of business. I cry when another mom and pop shop goes out of business for the likes of Home Depots and Walmarts. Grrrrrrr. I truly try and use the smaller shops as much as I can when shopping.

Here is the sad state of my gardens. As I had mentioned, the last freeze really did a number on them. The new growth was in full swing when we had several days of below freezing weather. My rose bushes look as though they have bit the dust. I am going to cut them as far back as I can tomorrow and plant wave petunias around them to fill in.


Take a look at my nandina. Pitiful, just pitiful. Looks more like fall around my house! I guess I need to cut back all the brown, but I just don't know. We have never had this much damage from late freezing (not even frost, my friends). The holly has taken a beating also. They are all dropping their leaves like wildfire. My azaleas also look awful. They were gorgeous when we left for spring break. I mean, they were already budding and were going to have a beautiful show. Sniffle. (But do note the lily of the valley coming up! Yea!)

And speaking of wildfires, here is the holly that was involved with the smoldering mulch way back when. I knew we were going to lose that one. The people who put the mulch OVER the light is going to have to remove and replace it at some point.

The better news is that my peonies are budding. Oooh, finally, something is alive, it's alive! I can't wait for them to come into full bloom.

We hung the spider plants (that mom had taken care of all winter) on the bottom porch this morning and I set about some pretty potted plants here and there along side of the rocking chairs. It's beginning to look like spring, again. Let's hope it lasts a little longer this time.

A New Blog Found

I found this blog through one of yours yesterday, don't remember who just now. It is simplistically refreshing. I like this woman!

Go take a look. I think you'll enjoy it.

The Woman, the Man, and the Kid

Riverside & Fairhope Steet Festival (March 2007)

View from kitchen window @ Riverside

These are the pics that the hub had on his laptop of Riverside. Since I've been longing for Riverside, I thought I would post entry this one. This was our first day at the new retreat; and the kid and I are totally mesmerised by everything. Sigh.

Here's the kid in the kitchen area as the sun begins to set.










Our new found friend Reese, our favorite neighborhood dog, who watched us carry everything up all those stairs then laid down to rest.








This is at the Fairhope craft fair that I have briefly mentioned. There were so many wonderful artists and I wanted to buy so many things. I enjoyed visiting Suzy Toronoto's booth. She has some wonderful prints with great sayings for women. You have to visit her site! I bought a few magnets for myself and friends and a couple of 5X7 prints. I bought myself this one (borrowed from her website). Wacky, indeed!


And speaking of wacky, here are some more of those crazy pelicans hanging around on the corners of downtown Fairhope.


A pleasant surprise was meeting up with Maggie Lindley from non-other than Franklin, TN. If you'll remember, she is the one who does the wonderful phrase artwork that I so proudly display now both here and Riverside (See here). When I approached her, I told her I loved her artwork and owned several pieces, that I came from Franklin and enjoyed seeing her at Franklin's Main Street Festival each year. She was so sweet, just as I remembered her. When I told her I had put her in my blog, she knew who I was! hehe. This blogging world continues to amaze me! I certainly had a chuckle over that. I can't wait until the festival here in a couple of weeks. I think I need a couple more. I carried my old "Cherish" canvas to Riverside and it is now hung in the old gun cabinet(ew), displayed beautifully.

This exhibit was fun. I wanted to buy a piece, but the price range was above what I could spend. Su Abbott had wonderful pieces that I still think about how nice they would look at Riverside. grin.


Here again is some of Sloane's work (like I know him!). I am sure I have more pictures of his booth, and I think the hub is holding out on me with some of my pics on his laptop! hehe.

Anyway, here is the other piece I bought. How appropriate for Riverside is this? If you'll notice, he uses all types of materials in his pieces. This one has an old Alabama license plate in it which fit the bill perfectly. It is now proudly hung over the fireplace mantel. The flag that I posted yesterday, he told us, has old pieces of his father's and grandfather's legal library book covers incorporated in it. You really must click on these to see the detail and "ingredients."

Yes, I just found more pics on the hub's computer. I loved this! Wish I had more info to share, but all I have is the photo.


These are some of Robert Griffis' pieces. I am definitely thinking about getting some of his canvasses for Riverside. The colors would work so well.

Here is the front hall as we left. Grab your tissues.

Spring Flowers In Need

I am dying for some color here! I looked at some pics from last year this time--how depressing! We've had drought, heat, deep freezes; and it shows in our gardens. Not a piece of color and even most of the green is dying. The last freeze really did a number on all our new growth. I only hope the bushes and trees aren't as dead as they all look. Most of the evergreens are dropping all their leaves. Whaaaa. So today, I went out and purchased a couple of containers of pansies. Can't do much damage to them even if it does turn cold again.


I'm longing for Riverside; but I doubt I'll be able to get there for a while. I found four cheap kitchen table chairs today. Now, the hard part--a table. Of course, I don't have the measurements I need to purchase such things, including curtains. I do need to add some of those to the master bedroom nook since the hardware is already there--and {some} sun still gets through the plantation shutters in the morning. Guess I'm getting old, as it bothered me for the first time in my life. Light never bothered me before. It will also soften that area a little. Above is a piece I bought at the Fairhope craft show. It's by Sloane Bibb, and his stuff is just amazing. I actually purchased two of his pieces and hope to add to my collection at some point. To the right, here, you see us beginning a collection of treasures from around Riverside. If I would just get all those pictures off the hub's laptop! Gee whiz.

BOOM! Snap back to reality.

I'm behind on my chores here--laundry running amuck all over, beds unmade, breakfast still sitting about--what to do, what to do. Everything is still exactly as I left it this morning, and here it is already 5:30.

I have dinner going, sloppy joes with corn (only because that is how it was served for lunch in the Arlington County Virginia school system). What was your fav lunch combo from primary school? I'm even being lazy there. I tried a Baked Pork Chop recipe that turned out just horrible last night. (Do you know what a No. 2 1/2 can of tomatoes is?) And do you see where it says to cover the dish? Duh, I should have known better with rice. But obviously didn't so of course, it was all dried out. Oh well. So it's back to the same ol' grind tonight.

Ever have those periods of pure blahs? Guess I'm having one of those. Wouldn't say it's the black or blue cow hovering overhead, just down-right lazy, I suppose.

Din Din

I'm sitting here eating Melba Toast and an apple 'cause I am starving. The hub had to drive to Memphis today and he's coming home later than expected. Therefore, dinner is on hold.

Tonight, I made a classic kid's favorite. My mom used to make this on "off" nights which satisfied us just fine. We called it Hamburger Pie.

Just brown onions and garlic, add lean hamburger meat, brown. Remove access oil, season. Add your favorite gravy recipe/mix, pour into casserole dish, cover with biscuit dough (I used crescent rolls from the can this time), cook according to rolls' instruction and boom, done. (I like peas in mine, but the kid doesn't "do" peas--won't even pick them out-- Therefore, they go on the side.)

Oh, you can also use up the remaining dough as dessert. Just dip in margarine or butter (I'm kinda hooked on this "Smart Balance.") mixed with a little cinnamon/vanilla sugar, sprinkle with extra cinnamon and cook with the pie. Boom, done.

Now, if we could just get the hub home so we could eat!!! There's a piece of watermelon I'm eyeing. At this rate, I'll be done by the time everyone else eats. hehe.