new things

Well....it has been pouring rain so I couldn't get any pictures of our finished garden spot but I love the way it turned out. I'll try again tomorrow. In the meantime, we have added some great things to the store for tomorrow.

I love this old sofa and it is the best turquoise color.

Look at the arms on this set. Not only are the arms to die for, but the legs are claw feet and the upholstery is leather.

I wish that I had a spot for them at my house! We also brought in a new china cabinet painted in Annie Sloan Paris Grey, a sideboard, new desks, chests, and lots of new one of a kind lighting made just by us! Come and see us tomorrow.

what do you think?

Here is the beginning of the arbor. Four old columns that we had, a few 2x4 s , and some old tin.

Jay had to start at 6 am to try and beat the heat so here is our progress at lunch time.

I think it is starting to look quite spiffy, if I say so myself.

As soon as it cools off a bit, we will add some more junk! I can't wait!!

Too HOT!

It is 103 degrees and 100% humidity in Southwest Georgia. The air is so thick you can hardly breathe and the gnats are even thicker. Why, oh why, do we choose THESE days for remodel projects??? Our lower garden has been looking pretty sad. It is one of those areas that is really great and has lots of potential BUT is also one of the "our of sight, out of mind" spots. We kinda forgot it was there until Jay decided it was a good project for the week.

We are covering the ugly walls with this scrumptious wide corrugated tin. All rusty and crusty and just perfect for my plans.

Here is the other side. It is waiting for an arbor tomorrow so that I can put my iron bed under it. I can't wait to show you the progress! Meanwhile, Lindsey and I have VERY important work to do inside(where the air conditioning is!) She is putting new items on the online store and I am busy painting furniture to have for Saturday!

having the time of her life

My daughter is having the time of her life in Africa. She spent the first 2 weeks in Swaziland camping in the Savanna. Their mission was to monitor the activity around a "watering hole". Ok, I conjured up this mental image of a great big mud puddle with a few tents hidden in the trees and a big water bottle hanging from the tree for a shower. Here is how it really was. "Mom, this is the most fabulous place on Earth. Our campsite is on the ledge of a mountain overlooking the Savanna and a beautiful river. I can wash my hair and look down in the valley and watch the baboons, giraffe, impala, and elephants playing in the river". That mud hole doesn't sound so bad anymore! They spent their days counting stork nests, watching animals come to the river, and searching and collecting the poachers traps that are prevalent in this region. She didn't want to leave.

Until they reached their next destination, Kruger National Park. Again, "Mom, this is the most fabulous place on earth! We are sleeping in thatched roofed huts where the monkeys and baboons come and sit on our porches. Today, we had an all day safari and then took a sunset/night safari. We saw Lion, leopard, bufflalo, hippo, rhino, elephant, and some animals her Mom has never heard of! I never want to leave."

Until they moved on down the road. "Mom, we did the most amazing things today! I dove 40 feet off of a cliff in the Blyde River Canyon then we washed off in the waterfall before we went to explore the canyon and go caving. After lunch, we took a river cruise and saw hippos and crocodiles. I am definitely going to move back here and live."

I wonder what tomorrow will bring? She still has 2 more weeks of fun ahead.

I wonder if she is going to want to come home?

Isn't it magical to be 19 years old and have a dream come true!

Kelsey, If you have time to read this...keep trying new things, take a moment every day to let the wonder of it all sink in, and please come home! I love you, sunshine.

in a tiny little church...

In a tiny little church...in a tiny little town... another love story has unfolded.

This simple little country church has seen so much love over the last 175 years. This is the church where my Great Grandparents, Grandparents, Parents, myself, and my children have grown up. It still looks the same. The floors still creak in the same spots, the pews still feel the same, and the stained glass windows still hold the same magic for me.

The giant bell still rings as majestically as she always has and children(and adults like me) line up to take a turn pulling the rope.
As I sat at my pew while the wedding party rehearsed, I thought about the pews that were empty now. You see, the protocol in a small country church is; each member kinda owns his or her own pew and it ain't cool to sit in somebody elses pew! If you think a sweet southern elderly lady can't be tough-just go and sit in her spot! So, as I sat in my proper spot, I remembered one of those sweet little ladies. Ms. Leak. I couldn't tell you what she looked like or really much about her other than the location of her pew and that she handed out hershey's kisses to all the children EVERY single Sunday. I thought she was the cat's meow! She has been gone for a very long time, but I am sure that I could feel her sitting in the back left hand corner counting to make sure she had enough kisses for everyone! Love. Love is a beautiful thing, isn't it?

It comes in weddings(isn't this a cool chalkboard program)...

It comes in memories...

It comes in our families and all of their silliness...

It fills our hearts ...

till we think they might just burst! I hope your weekend is filled with Love and Joy and all thing silly! Congratulations Kristen and Nick. You are loved!

wedding fun

This week my family is celebrating! We are having a wedding! Weddings are a wonderful excuse to party and play and do all things silly. Last night, we had a girls night out complete with wine and fabulous food then we topped it all off with pedicures.
I am so blessed. We are a farm family that has lived on the same land over 100 years. My Dad is 88 and his brother is 86. They were born and raised right where we celebrate this week. Most of us have moved away and have lives elsewhere, but coming home is always...well, coming HOME. Home is a sacred place that is buried deep in our hearts and souls, it may fade with time but just come back and the colors seem to intensify as you look around. The sights, the sounds, the smells...delightful!
Today, we are putting up tents and cleaning as the reception will be in my parents backyard. I feel like the stars that are going to shine down on us Friday night will be filled with precious souls like Grandma Girlie, granddaddy Lewie, Papa Taylor, Grandma Taylor, and Great Grandmas and Grandpas that we haven't met yet. I'll bet my Aunt Eva and Aunt Nellie will even be watching so that they can have a little gossip(picture 2 little tiny old ladies wearing sensible shoes and a hat, sitting quietly in the corner watching everything that is going on! That was Eva and Nellie!) There, they all will watch as we welcome a new member to our family.

vacation blues

Ya know how you go on vacation and everything is new and fun and an adventure and the most important decision you have to make is whether you will have a cup of french hot chocolate or a glass of prosecco; then you come home. For me, it is usually to a house that is upside down from all of that last minute packing not to mention the 4 dogs and 3 cats that share our home. Then you go to work and have to catch up on all the stuff that you didn't do for that week you were playing... That was my week.

We did manage to get a few new items on the online store and we have lots of new goodies in the store. I love these new pillows.

I think these antique french market baskets may be my favorite new item this week. These things just smell like a warm croissant and a glass of wine(or they may smell like old french cheese cause if you remember back in March when we were in Texas, I thought a dead skunk on the road smelled like fresh coffee brewing! ha!)

ooh, I love this desk too! I painted it with Annie Sloan Paris Grey paint. Speaking of desks, We have so many great things for college apartments now. Desks, tables, beds, end tables, signs that say,"CALL YOUR MOTHER!".
I hope everyone out there has a fantastic holiday weekend and the fireworks never end!