Farmhouse Table Vignette for Thanksgiving

Hey Friends, I hope you're having a wonderful late Fall weekend. It's been a gorgeous last few days with lots of sun, but the leaves are quickly falling and the lovely Autumn colors will soon be gone. I have a few more quick posts to share with you before Thanksgiving. They are mostly just a few areas that I've put together with quick and easy vignettes with some of my fine feathered turkey friends.

ReUnited...

I have a meager collection of mix and match small vintage ironstone pitchers and creamers, that I started about 15 or so years ago. Like all my collections, they are congregations of "old things" that I value, not for their monetary value or rarity, but because they are sentimental and visually pleasing. The wonderful concept of "collections" is that a single element may not have much impact, but when you bring several pieces together, the "group" takes on new life.

 

This and That

Time to check in with you all... there's been several things going on "in life", just nothing much that's blog worthy as far as decorating goes. I've said it before, but this is my least favorite time of the year, and even in the best of personal circumstances I tend to be uninspired and in a rut this late part of the summer. 

Furniture talk...

or... I've had a de-stressing weekend.

This last weekend was a workout. All the family was out of town, so we were on our own to get a little more done around the house. In the one storage unit we have left, we are working our way down to the boxes that I'd just as soon leave there indefinitely. You know, the boxes that have out of style shoes and clothes you know you'll never use again, and boxes that are labeled "non-current office", "garage sale pantry", ect. or my favorite... "miscellaneous". what the heck is in that?

the comfort zone...

A couple of months ago when my husband first brought up the pick-up and camper idea, I have to admit I was not really "on board". He'd talked about it off and on for years, but it didn't seem like much of a reality. Then 12 years ago our lives changed drastically with my heart problems and basically our focus on life became more day to day and month to month, rather than long term.

Then Hubbs had his own health problems with Meniere's for a few years. After his surgery a few years ago, he's pretty much back to "normal". But we've both realized that whatever traveling we were going to do was not going to be by plane. Him with an inner ear issue and me having had blood clots in my heart, the thought of flying... anywhere... made both of us shudder. We've gotten used to the idea that there are plenty of wonderful places we can visit and enjoy that are here in the states. Although it would be wonderful to jet off to foreign destinations, I prefer to be firmly planted on the ground. Does that make us over the hill fuddy duddies? I hope not. In our perspective, just a little more realistic and practical.

Spring at Roaring River State Park

Around the Bend and Into the Past...

I know most of us believe in the term "Serendipity".

ser·en·dip·i·ty

ˌserənˈdipədē/

noun

1. the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.

   "a fortunate stroke of serendipity"

   synonyms:

   (happy) chance, (happy) accident, fluke;  luck, good luck, good fortune,fortuity, providence;  happy coincidence "the consequence of serendipity is sometimes a brilliant discovery"

This little occurrence by chance wasn't by chance at all,

and it started for me about 23 years ago.

A Closer Look... at Life

I haven't shared much that's been going on with the move in detail, because, number one, it has been such a major ordeal, and number two, I'm trying let go of the old house and some of my ways of thinking. It goes way beyond "downsizing", but I haven't been able to share all that with you until now. My health is what has precipitated this move, (most of you know that I have had heart issues stemming from an hereditary problem) as the house and property are more than my hubby and I want to deal with now. We need a fresh direction in life.

This move has been one of the toughest things I've had to do in years. I think it's because I have still been having problems with my heart which I haven't discussed much since last Fall, (I'll fill you in later in the post) and because of that, I can't do what I want to do. So much frustration when you can't do the things you used to do, and now have to have someone else do them for you.

God has been at work through all this, giving me the ability to get the house packed and arranging for things to be sold. I knew I couldn't do it on my own, so He has sent people my way to make it easier. This last week, on short notice, He sent my sister and her hubby, my mom, and then a dear friend that is in the junk biz to organize the garage sale, and then haul off all the leftovers. My husband wanted me to forego a sale and just donate it all, but it's been therapeutic in many ways and part of the process of me letting go... and moving forward.

It's not that I'm having a problem with selling the old house, because I'm really looking forward to a new home. We've been talking about what we want and need, and I'm confident that it will be wonderful, and that we'll have a "place" for all that we've stored away. It's just that this has been so long and drawn out; a painful process, in many ways. We know this is a year of transition for us, and transition isn't always easy or "pretty".

I just feel like now is the time I need to be a little more transparent about what's been going on with me personally, healthwise, without being a big bummer for you all. I have an appointment with a new cardiologist in St. Louis that I'll be seeing next month. I cannot tell you how long overdue this is. My current cardiologist, is not a specialist in the area that right now I'm desperately needing counsel in. Because he isn't a specialist, he doesn't see the importance in guiding me to get the help that I need.

I don't like drama and innuendo; leaving people guessing, so I'll get graphic for a moment to explain what all this is about. Last August I knew something was very wrong, I started feeling horrible and had pain that I hadn't had before. After a heart catheterization, a large blood clot was removed that was blocking my stent and we realized I'd actually had another heart attack, and because of the prolonged situation, I had had an aneurysm that had burst and bled out into the surrounding heart tissue. Also that the tip (apex) of my heart is now dead. non functioning. A left ventricular aneurysm is tricky at best, and most people die from this immediately. I had God's hand on me and and He saved my life once again, but now I have a condition that is controversial. 90% of cardiologists know it's a necessity to have reconstructive surgery, or heart "remodeling" where they take out the dead tissue. Otherwise you're a ticking time bomb for having a rupture of the dead tissue pulling away from the living viable tissue. The mortality rate is high, but some doctors prefer to just leave it alone. Problem is that most people that have this are elderly and are in congestive heart failure. I'm not either of these, and I desperately want to have my life back.

So I'm going to see a specialist at Barnes in St. Louis where they have a team of doctors who all they do is aneurysm repair. I'm not worried and I'm confident that they have answers for me, one way or another. I'm looking for an honest assessment of my situation and hope that surgery can put right most of the problems I've had this last year. (Blood clots and a lot of debilitating pain) It will be worth going through open heart surgery again, to be feeling better, and more on track with life in general.

As for these pics of thread... I have had an old sewing machine cabinet of my paternal grandmother's that I knew was time to sell. I have had it over 40 years, and it's traveled all over the US, but now was when it needed to go. I went through the drawers and found a stash of my grandmother's threads and needles, and pulled them out to keep. I also found this wonderful old Meakin Ironstone bowl that I had buried in one of my garage tubs. I love handling the old wooden spools that my grandmother used, and feel a dear connection in them.

Miss Jenkins always has to be close by,

 and if she can be in the photo, then all the better.

The thought of my grandmother using them, their age,

 and subtle mellowed shades, bring tranquility, peace, and calm. 

I'll share more with you in the next weeks as we finish up the house and get it on the market. I know that God's timing is perfect, and I know He is in control of my life and health. He has the buyer for our home, and is planning our new one, too. There are many factors that will have to come together to see His plan come to fruition, but I'm confident that it will. He's never let me down before, so we take each day, knowing He is leading and guiding us.

God has been requiring me to take a closer look at life...

at my life.

To get it all in focus, and to appreciate the smallest thought and gesture;

and to be grateful for all the people he uses to help and walk with us.

I've learned over the years, that if I follow His lead, He not only takes care of all the details, but blesses many people through the "process". And I'm learning that no experience should be wasted or discounted. Life is indeed a process, and I'm believing that there will be answers and justification coming.

As for blogging, I'll be putting the link parties on hiatus, I hadn't meant to stop so soon, but I know now is the time, This week will be the last "Be Inspired" for a while. Anyone that hosts a party knows that it's a lot of responsibility and takes several hours at least to do it right each week. I'll still be blogging, but it will be when I have something to share that's an inspiration to all of you, and then I'll be letting you know how things are going. There have been days where I'm in bed with a boatload of medications...I just can't keep up any longer, especially with this last push on the house business.  I'll keep you filled in. Please know that I hold all of you closely, and enjoy your posts and find the inspiration a daily infusion of joy. I can sit at my computer and get lost in another place. It's important to do this for as long as I can.

I just felt that it was time to share what's going on. I don't like keeping things hidden, and because all of you are considered as friends, I knew now was the time to share all this. You know how much I need your prayers and good thoughts coming. I'll still be here, I'm not closing things down, just knowing now's the time to make some changes. See you Thursday morning...love you all, 

joining in at Savvy Southern Style

                                                           

Around the house and a photo bomb...

This is turning out to be a busy weekend. The big kids are here for their 20th high school reunion ... yikes...just saying that makes me feel old. And Sunday is my last day at Relics Antique Mall, so I'll be clearing out whatever is left of the booth and call it done. I've loved the experience of having a space, but for the last several years I've had to do things on my own, and that part isn't fun. Time to move on to new things, and I'm looking forward to having that day each week to catch up on some other projects that need taking care of.

And speaking of flea market shopping, I found this great little "God Bless Our Home" cross stitch recently.

I have a little soft spot for "homestyle" cross stitch pieces; I created my share back in the 80's and 90's. I always admire the amount of time the stitcher put into the piece and when I see them for just a few dollars I always want to rescue them and give them a new home. I found this one a few months ago, but the dark frame didn't work for me, so when I painted my kitchen table it got the ASCP treatment.

The browns and golds and orange on the shutters made me think to put it out here on the sunporch with the other late summer colors. I tried several places but it ended up on the baker's rack.

And while I was digging through some cabinets yesterday, I found a good bunch of tan striped ticking that I bought last year for a table runner....totally had forgotten about it. So now maybe I can get that made since I'll have a little more time.

LOVE this wonderful wreath!

So, while I was out in the sunporch takings pics, 

who shows up for a little nibbling of the greens?

hmmm...which one looks tastier?

I guess we all need our fiber...

joining in on these parties:

Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings
The Scoop at Cedar Hill Ranch
Knick of Time
Savvy Southern Style

Hope you're having a good weekend!!

xoxo,

The Unseen...

No, that isn't the title to a new horror movie,

although, there have been times when this room looked like

 it might be from that sort of B-Movie set.

It's just the lower level guest room, which isn't used very often, and mostly is the storage room for massive pillow explosions and wayward quilts.

I think that I've considered showing this room once or twice, and maybe I have, but usually it falls in the "off limits" category of blogworthy spaces. Today I was cleaning and fluffing getting ready for the kids who will be here next week, and I realized that I didn't think I'd even shared this old white cupboard that was spiffed up a little to hold some of the overflow of my quilt stash.

Once upon a time it had had doors and a drawer that actually worked. When I found it the doors had been literally ripped off their hinges and the door frame was splintered. The drawer was just a nailed in front, but I didn't care, 'cause I was going to use it for the quilts...or possibly for my booth space "display".

I just added some molding around the edges, painted it out, found some pretty frenchy drawer pulls, then put it to work. These are only about 1/3 of the quilts, the rest are in an old armoire in the family room, where the light is bad. (you haven't seen that one either...)

love this set of old wallpapered hatboxes.

Do these pillows look familiar? Actually, I found these two just last week that match the other set of this great toile. So, now I have four...yippee!!

Old floral still life from the 40's.

I fell in love with this Ralph Lauren yellow floral 12 or 13 years ago and still use it. Some of the sheets and pillow cases are threadbare, but I LOVE. that. fabric. and so it stays. The quilt is one that is a "Flower Basket" pattern put on backwards. Too much pattern makes me dizzy in my old age...

OK, just wandering off the beaten path a little today. I STILL have more of those "unseen" places, give me time, I might get them presentable...maybe...

I'll be joining in with these parties:

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Tips and Tidbits at Stone Gable
The Inspiration Exchange at Yellow Bliss Road
Blissful Whites at Timewashed
Share Your Cup at Mrs.Olson's
From My Front Porch to Yours
The Shabby Creek Cottage 

Rooted in Thyme
The Charm of Home
French Country Cottage
Redoux
Craftberry Bush
Shabby Art Boutique
Blitzed on Pinterest

xoxo,

A little weekend randomness...

You all know we've been spending a lot of time in St. Louis for hubby's doctor appointments (hopefully, they will be winding down soon), but when we're there we are so blessed to be able to stay with our daughter and her husband, oh, and can't forget Vinnie, the grandpuppy.

Pic of their 100+ year old home taken last Fall.

I wanted to share this guest room that doubles as Erin's dressing room. She has a relaxed eclectic style; mixing traditional, vintage, and modern pieces. She's not a "fusser and floofer" like me, she loves antiques, but isn't into shopping flea markets. She would like her vintage goods and antiques to magically appear for her decor pleasure. (sometimes I'm her "picker") She's not into clutter, piles of junk, or white chippy furniture. What?...I know.

I've told her that if this white set of vintage monogrammed luggage goes missing, 

that it probably came home with me by "accident".

When the Ritz Carlton in Clayton was renovated a few years ago they bought several sets of Birds Eye Maple furniture with king size beds for their guest rooms for a song. 

Aside from the great mix of pattern, color, and comfort, I just love how she's used this tiny children's suitcase  (or doll clothes case?) to corral some of her jewelry on the nightstand.

They are bulldog lovers and over the years they've found some fun bulldog collectibles, that are scattered throughout the house. If you look closely you can see a set of glass dogs that were popular in the '50's. Keith is an "all things tobacco" aficionado, so she also has this wonderful little Dunhill ladies lighter from the 40's here too.

I neglected to take a photo of her shoes on display.

She's a heels kinda girl, and let me just say that

she has quite the hoarding and shopping gene when it comes to fabulous shoes.

photo by Kortni Wu 

(for more great photos click above)

And for a little inspiration we stopped by The White Rabbit (click here for their blog and shopping) LOVE this store! I could hang there all day, but we were on our way out of town so I kept my visit short, but just had to grab this photo of a wall of moss in the garden area. so wonderful.

And one of our fave spots for a relaxed dinner is Pi. "On the Loop". President Obama had pizza there a year or so ago, and he gave it a rousing thumbs up. yummy. This license plate art is hanging on the wall. It's a good sized piece, and since it's reflective, everything else showed up black on this phone pic. pretty cool.

This will be a working weekend, hopefully we can get the pool opened and the patio furniture out and cleaned up. Our other son-in-law is our right hand man when it comes to jobs around here.

Hope you have a great Memorial Day weekend.

I'll be here for The Marketplace on Monday as usual.

Come by for a visit in between cookouts and family fun!

Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings

Mod Mix Monday at Mod Vintage Life

Make it Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm

Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House

The Scoop at Cedar Hill Ranch

xoxo,