Candle Chandelier for our Gazebo

We recently purchased a canvas gazebo for our back patio. I REALLY wanted a candle chandelier but did not want to pay the money the big box stores and Pottery Barn were charging for candle chandeliers.
Boomer and I went to a local thrift/antique/consignment store and found a brass light fixture. The owner helped rip out all the electrical parts and we flipped the light fixture. It worked perfectly. I sprayed it with Krylon black Primer and then Krylon oil rubbed bronze. I love it! I can't wait to light it for the first time!!!

Spring/Easter Teacher Gifts

In an effort to make useful teacher gifts this Spring, I worked on several clipboards for Goosie and Boomer's teachers this year. I used wrapping paper, plain clipboard, modge podge luster, and ribbon. Along with the clipboards, I made post-it note holders by using plastic 5x7 photo frames, scrapbook paper, and ribbon. Enjoy!

How to make little people happy on Sunday morning...

Make Mickey Mouse pancakes :). The Mr. made these pancakes for Goosie and Boomer. They were beyond thrilled! We had so much to celebrate... Goosie had straight A's for the 3rd quarter in a row AND she had received her ribbon for writing a book for the Young Author's program at her school. WAY TO GO GOOSIE!

Kid/Guest Bathroom... before and after

We decided to "upgrade" the bathroom by replacing the chrome construction grade hardware. We replaced all the hardware and faucets with brushed nickel and took down the plain mirror and replaced it. At first, I was not in love with the green we chose for the walls but I love it now that everything is in place! Enjoy!

Bathroom "makeover"

So... we decided to update the construction grade hardware and faucets in the kid/guest bathroom. The Mr. has been painting and prepping the past few days. We managed to score great deals on hardware and the faucet by not settling for big box stores and searching the internet. (pics soon)
President's Day weekend has turned out to be productive and the weather has been warm for this time of year. We started our "kitchen" garden with some chives and basil seeds finding a nice nest in pots in the house.
I long to go home to WV but that will happen soon enough, I suppose.
Time to paint some trim in the bathroom and make some potato pancakes...

6 months

If a doctor gave you 6 months to live, what would you do? I think that after those words... everything that followed from his/her mouth would turn to white noise. I would not hear how things would shut down, how I should prepare myself for hospice, how I should make my final preparations and wishes known.
My Grandfather has 6 months. How can that be? As his granddaughter, this seems impossible.
I'm so many miles away... I need to be closer so that I can just be... just be there without words, even.
This isn't a grandfather where we loaded up in the car, drove a couple of hours, visited, and then packed the car again and drove home... nope, he lived 10 minutes away from me for most of my life.
He used to sneak me to a drugstore for an ice cream treat called a "Jo Jo" and then tell my Grandmother that we went to town to go to the bank or to get some medicine :).
He used to tickle me till I screamed for mercy... I would love to curl up next to him right now and tickle him and make him laugh and smile.
Memories are floodng into my mind nonstop. Tears flow and lumps in the throat form as I think of the moment he leaves this Earth and we are one less fabulous person on this ground. I feel as though I'm in a forest, lost, and searching and searching and searching for something but I'm not sure what... then, I feel as though I shouldn't be the one searching... I love you with all my heart and body...

Every evening I turn my worries over to God. He's going to be up all night anyway. ~Mary C. Crowley

Knittng for my girl

One of my goals for 2011 was to teach myself how to knit. I asked for the knifty knitter for my birthday so that I could start there and then work my way to hooks. Hooks are still required, though, with the knifty knitter. Here is the first sucessful project! I made a hat for Goosie and one for her American Girl doll. When my model returns from school I will post pictures of the other hats I have done.