Sunday, December 15, 2013

Why Thrift Stores are Like eHarmony - Christmas Edition


They were not what anyone would consider "couple material."

He was old school - classic, hard-working, yet possessing a certain style. He was no spring chicken, but still, he was a real catch. I was surprised to see him there.

He had learned that sometimes you just have to go where life leads you, even if it means losing a job you never imagined would end, and going somewhere new. 

Attitude is everything.



She, on the other hand, was a hot mess. She'd been a party girl, and life in the fast lane had taken it's toll. She'd been on the market before, and there were no takers. The sparkle that once made her seem exciting now somehow just looked cheap and tacky.

But, she had a kind heart. She was nothing if not flexible and she was open to something new.



You would never expect to find them at the same party. But, fate had brought them together at the same place and time. At first, they just chatted. Party talk. It was a tad awkward. 

Then, a bit of her old sparkle shone through, and the hard-working fellow was charmed. She made him smile. She was really quite funny. He need some fun and sparkle in his life.

So, he invited her to leave the party so they could really talk.
They shared a little about themselves. He was non-judgmental, and she liked that. She was impressed by his steadfast ways - she needed some stability in her life. They decided to meet again. They planned a real date for the next Sunday afternoon.



He had a hot shower, but otherwise he did nothing new. He decided the best thing was to be himself. If she didn't like him as himself, it wouldn't work anyway.

She, on the other hand, took the advice of a true friend. She decided it was high time for a makeover. A coat of copper metallic, and some silver on top of that, and she felt pretty; like a real lady. 

She still was the same sparkly girl on the inside, but she knew it was finally time to grow up. 



She relaxed. It felt right. Still, she was a bit nervous. She really liked this guy...and she hoped he might like her, too. What was the old saying, "opposites attract"?



She took one last check in the mirror when the door bell rang. She liked what she saw.

He had been a bit nervous, too. He wondered if they'd have anything in common, or if the chemistry he'd felt at the party would still be there.

Still, he was a gentleman. He would treat her to a nice evening, and if there was no chemistry, that would be the last time they'd see each other. At this point in his life, he was past wasting time if there was no real connection. 

When she answered the door, he was nearly speechless!
She looked more beautiful than he remembered, though he was not really sure why. He complimented her. 

She was pretty sure he liked the way she looked; his mouth sort of hung open for a millisecond...was that a good thing or a bad thing? 



The afternoon was really fun! Effortless. They felt like they had known each other for a long time. Could this be the beginning of something real?



Only time would tell. But for now, it was delightful. Before the afternoon ended, they had made plans to see each other again...maybe they would make dinner together. 

He told her he made a great beef stew, and she had a new trifle recipe she'd been waiting to try...

Word for the Day:
Luke 2:1-5
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, 
because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.


Linking With

Sunday

Sunday Show-off Link Party
Monday

Make it Pretty Monday
Mod Mix Monday
Tuesday

Vintage Inspiration Tuesday
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
The Scoop
Inspire Me Tuesday
Wednesday

Wow Us Wednesday
Blissfully White Wednesday
What’s it Wednesday
Thursday

Thursday Open House Party
Time Travel Thursday
Share Your Cup Thursday
Friday

Feathered Nest Friday
Fabulously Creative Friday
Saturday

Saturday Nite Special


Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Thankful for Finials and SO MUCH MORE...


I have SO MANY things for which I am thankful...faith, family, friends, and of course that includes you!

This past week I was blessed by a friend I've never met in person. I have followed her blog for a while - she does the most amazing furniture revamps, repairs, re-makes - and this woman is NOT afraid of power tools like me. So of course, I follow along, amazed, and glad I still have all my digits. 

Anyway, Kim saw my first post about these finials I had fashioned out of odds and ends.  I mentioned I needed a final finial to finalize the lamp finial and finish it off. 
(Say that three times fast!)


Not only is she a visionary, and fearless, she's kind and generous. I only WISH Texas were a wee bit closer to Pennsylvania so we could hang out. She emailed me and told me she had a finial that might work...and she'd be happy to send it to me.

Who is this woman? KIM of REPOSHTURE STUDIO.

The first photo above is how it looked when it arrived - I almost couldn't touch it, the patina was lovely. But...in case you haven't noticed since I've been absent lately...I still paint things white.

Here's the finalized finial, with a sloppy coat of white on it:


Fabulous! And it could not have fit any better. 


Thank you, Kim. Thank you, kind bloggers who befriend strangers like me. Thank you, God, for all my blessings, and especially for the ones for which I forget to say, "Thank You."

That said, I'd like to ask you all for a favor...prayers for my sweet Dad. He's in the hospital now with double pneumonia. I have a cold, and have not been able to visit. Needless to say, our Thanksgiving plans look different than they did a week ago. We are playing it by ear...


Many blessings!

Word for the Day:
Colossians 3:15
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

Friday, November 15, 2013

Dining Room Updates - The Big Picture and a Portable Table Scape


About a year ago, I FINISHED the dining room, changing the wall color, changing the wall art, bringing in a bit more furniture and such. 

Since then, it has changed a few more times - in small ways. But life is really all about change, right?



Last December's updates have been re-updated a bit.
I have moved furniture around and out. I have added-to and moved art around.



Most recently, I added a few fall-ish things. I love fall.



So I guess I wasn't finished. Seriously, FINISHED is such a FINAL sort of word...don't you agree? 

We need to invent another word that says "I've done some fairly major changes, but the little things will keep changing indefinitely." Any thoughts?

Sorry...rabbit trail. 

Here is the room last December:



Almost immediately, I decided I had too much furniture in the room. I tend to do that. I'm working on it...

But, wait. Let's go back farther...Here's the room before my re-do last year - yellow-ish walls, but the same furniture arrangement as now. I kept many of the same elements in the room. (Maybe I can paint those golden oak chairs soon.)



Here is the room very recently, sans the black table, with my first fall display down the 8 feet long table:

To illustrate my point about the need for a new word, that photo was taken about an hour before this one:



But, I'm getting ahead of myself. I had finished the gourd display a couple of weeks ago, and knew almost immediately it would not last. 



It impaired the function of the table as a sewing table, among other things. 




A more portable solution was needed. 

As fate would have it, these three wire baskets were sitting empty just a few feet away! 


It took about 10 minutes to re-vamp the tablescape into three portable wire baskets and a couple of mini-vignettes. 


Though I am trying to change my "keeper" ways, I will admit, being a demi-hoarder has its advantages. 




FYI - Except for the dining table, the large angel, the lamp, a fancy bookmark I framed, the dried gourds and the twig pumpkins... everything you see was either purchased at a thrift store or it was a freebie. 

Word for the Day:
1 Timothy 4:4
For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,

Possibly Linking With

Sunday

Sunday Show-off Link Party
Silver Pennies Sundays
Bouquet of Talent
Monday

Masterpiece Monday
Amaze Me Monday
Make it Pretty Monday
Mod Mix Monday
Give Me the Goods Monday
Tuesday

Vintage Inspiration Tuesday
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
The Scoop
The Scoop
The Scoop
Inspire Me Tuesday
Inspiration Exchange Linky Party
The Gathering Spot
Wednesday

Wow Us Wednesday
Blissfully White Wednesday
What’s it Wednesday
Cottage Style Party
Centerpiece Wednesday Link Up Party
Thursday

Thursday Open House Party
Time Travel Thursday
Treasure Hunt Thursday
Share Your Cup Thursday
Grey Dey Thursdey
Be Inspired
Furniture and Paint Party
Friday

Feathered Nest Friday
Frugal Friday
Fabulously Creative Friday
Friday’s Five Features
Weekend
Saturday

Party Junk
Get Schooled Saturday