TRANSFORMED, from broken to beautiful
It’s an ordinary Tuesday. The day of the week that I’m most likely to share a home related post. Well, I’ve still got one for ya’ but I couldn’t help but share that there is something about this Tuesday that had me singing in the shower and dancing down the stairs to my computer.
Sometimes our prayers are answered quickly, sometimes we never see the answer in our lifetimes, and sometimes the prayers go on for a long, long time until suddenly…
…
HGTV Tiny House Hunters Red Carpet Premiere Party!
Looking back through pictures I’ve taken during the month of August I thought it would be fun to do a “Looking Back” post highlighting some of my favorite things, and also give you a “tiny” peek at what’s ahead.
First the peek ahead because . . . EEEK . . . I can hardly contain myself! Back in May I posted on my Facebook page that I had the opportunity to assist in decorating one of HGTV’s Tiny House Hunters tiny houses (whew that’s a mouthful) alongside some dear friends of mine. After that initial news we were required to keep all hush-hush about our awesome, crazy, fun experience. This Saturday night, those of us who were the decorators for this Piecrust Productions, Tiny House episode will be getting a sneak peak of the show at our own Outdoor Premiere Party!
I’ll keep you updated as to the date it will air on TV so stay tuned!
On now to the looking back part and sharing some things I’ve done, some things others have done (that I LOVE), and a few family photos.
This is my Favorite New Instagram feed to follow and one of her amazing centerpieces! – Mary Nett @wren_willow
The Gardenia bushes in my yard had a second bloom – Heavenly!
This cutest ever Frenchy Crown from the Queen Bee Art Cottage came across my feed as a memory on Facebook this month.
Gus the Pheasant – My daughter Joy’s new friend whom she met at The National Aviary in Pittsburgh last weekend.
Sasha the Boxador and Cozette the Beagle posing for National Dog Day.
A photo taken in my backyard – After the Rain
Where I am so far in the screened porch makeover – Sitting Porch to Sleeping Porch.
A New Pink Chair for my desk area – Hubby’s choice!
A visit from Seattle friends whom I worked with 100 years ago. We still look the same 🙂
A new favorite Facebook friend to follow – Chic Shabby and French – Her daily feed is stunning!
My beloved daughter Bethany’s 30th Birthday!
That’s my August in pictures my friends.
Love, hugs, and many blessings to you all,
No peaking allowed!
I’ve been known to link up to the following great parties!!!
Sunday:
TheDIYShowoff, LifeOnLakeshoreDrive, SilverPenniesSundays, SundaysAtHome, RusticAndRefined, Spiritual Sundays, GiveMeGrace
Monday:
IShouldBeMoppingTheFloor, TheDedicatedHouse, Dwellings, ProjectInspired, InspireMeMonday, BetweenNapsOnThePorch, CelebrateYourStoryMaking Your Home Sing Mondays, The Beauty in His Grip What Joy is Mine/Monday Musings, Darling Downs Diaries, The Art of Homemaking,SmallWonder, LifeGivingLinkup, MomentsOfHope, Glimpses, SittingAmongFriends
Tuesday:
TalkOfTheTown, HomeStoriesAtoZ, AStrollThruLife, CoastalCharm, CozyLittleHouse, CedarHillFarmhouse, KatheWithAnE,TuesdaysAtOurHome, TheWinthropChronicles, Rich Faith Rising Unite Linky, Testimony Tuesday,Cheerleaders of Faith,Tell His Story, IntentionalTuesday
Wednesday:
SavvySouthernStyle, TheBlissfulBee, Posed Perfection, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Woman to Woman Word Filled Wednesdays, ChristianBloggerLinkup, Whole Hearted Home, Mom’s Morning Coffee, Women with Intention, Coffee for Your Heart, MessyMarriage, ThreeWordWednesday
Thursday:
ShareYourStyle, ImpartingGrace, EmbracingChange, HaveADailyCupOfMrsOlson, MyRepurposedLife, ADelightsomeLife, KatherinesCorner, PrettyPreppyParty, The Deliberate Mom/Shine Blog Hop, I Choose Joy, Live Free Thursday, Thought Provoking Thursday, PartyAtMyPlace, 100HappyDays, SincerelyPaulas, ThankfulThursdays
Friday:
FrenchCountryCottage, TheCharmOfHome, RootedInThyme, TheDedicatedHouseAnythingBlueFriday, ShabbyliciousFriday, Sweet Inspiration, Faith’nFriends, Missional Women Faith Filled Fridays, Dance With Jesus
Saturday:
FunkyJunkInteriors, OneMoreTimeEvents, SaturdaySparks, TheInspirationGallery, Make My Saturday Sweet
What a dilemma I was in when I recently came into possession of something so delightfully gorgeous that I wanted to share it with all my friends and family . . . but since I’m not hosting a Thanksgiving dinner this year (and it’s a part of the Thanksgiving centerpiece) I knew it would remain unseen by all those I hold most dear.
What does one do in such a dilemma? One blogs about it of course!
Mr. OTN happens to work a job where he has to work every other Thanksgiving and this year is one of those. Thus, no big Thanksgiving dinner. Even so, as I was playing around with my Fall centerpiece and the placement of my delightfully gorgeous new acquisition the other day I began wondering how it would look with a fully set Thanksgiving table.
The china that my mom passed down to me, Noritake’s Royal Hunt, called out to me from the buffet and before I knew it I was laying everything out for a photo shoot.
The sun was streaming in through the plantation shutters that day, casting such a delightful display of light and shadow in my room that you can see how I really couldn’t help myself.
I love having my mother’s china for the holidays. Even if we aren’t hosting a big Thanksgiving dinner it makes for a nice display.
Each plate has three pictures around the border, an elk . . .
. . . a pheasant . . .
. . . and a bunny rabbit!
All the plates have small hunting dogs dancing around the edges of their lovely plaid border.
The gold flatware was also given to me by my mom. I’m so happy that gold is “in” again.
But THIS! Look at this delightfully gorgeous foul, Mr. Pheasant, with his colorful feathers and beaded backside! I’m sorry you can’t see how much they sparkle in my photographs.
He is simply the perfect addition to my Thanksgiving table!
Mr. Pheasant was purchased on a recent trip to the Biltmore Estate in Ashville, NC. I wasn’t going to buy him but I was with a friend who likes to encourage me to do things for myself. In fact, she talked me into making two purchases that day, Mr. Pheasant and some amazing glittery branches that I added to the top of my Christmas tree. Yes, my tree is decorated already but that’s for another post.
I will miss hosting a dinner this year but I can still enjoy this wonderful gift from my mom.
As soon as the Fall decor is put away I’ll be back to share the before and after pictures of my dining room makeover.There will be a ton of fun details in that post so I do hope you’ll come back and see me again.
Have a blessed Thanksgiving holiday,
TheDIYShowoff, LifeOnLakeshoreDrive, NiftyThriftyThings, SilverPenniesSundays, SundaysAtHome
Do rainy days make you happy? Sometimes I like the rain, but not when it continues day-after-day, week-after-week, without a single peek at the sun. One Saturday morning just a few weeks ago, our day began with a shroud of clouds and drizzling rain that seemed to mirror the gray feelings inside me. Enough with the rain already!
On this drizzly day Mr. OTN and I decided to “escape” from home. We escaped our lists, our piles, our things-to-do . . . and spent the day just JUNKING.
As we walked down Main Street of a quaint old town Mr. OTN caught sight of this wonderful vintage strawberry crate all alone on the sidewalk. It caught his eye, not because it was something he’d like for himself, but because he knows me . . . and he knew it was something that would delight me.
I have childhood memories of a strawberry crate much like this one. One week in summer. One long, hot week picking strawberries. In between the strawberry fights and sweet berry juice running down my chin, it was the hardest work I’d ever experienced. In fact, it was probably the only REAL work this city child experienced. But I was motivated to do the work in order to earn spending money for our family trip to California.
And what did I do with my hard earned $14.00? I bought a souvenir gift for each of my friends. I was quite proud of myself . . . but not proud enough to go back to the strawberry fields again the next year. Like I said, it was HARD work!
While Mr. OTN was making the purchase I was already making plans in my head for what I would do with this weathered and rusty old crate.
Once back home I began by laying down tablecloth and table runners, then lined my crate with vintage lace.
I filled it with everything needed for a dinner with the one who knew that this strawberry crate would bring sunshine to my day and warm me from the inside out.
I tucked in a few floral branches to remind me that Spring is right around the corner . . .
. . . and as I prepared to take some pictures, the sun broke through the clouds . . .
. . . turning one gloomy, drizzly day into a day filled with bright happiness!
Blessings,
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