I have a new blog located at mtnmusings.wordpress.com. The inaugural post appeared yesterday. Not sure what the theme will be. Please join me so we can all be surprised!
This is my Christmas card to you
Yes, it has been over 4 months since my last post. And this will probably be one of the last posts for this blog. In retrospect, my Dad was the impetus for its creation, & so much of the content was about him. Now that he is gone, I can’t find a reason to continue writing it. Perhaps a new one will replace it…to be decided.
This post is about Christmas, first & foremost. Here are some pics of this year’s decor:
It is also about tying up loose ends. Since Dad’s passing, we have been under construction, trying to finish the house as we have always envisioned it. Some of the changes were a necessity. Top of the fix list was the “pier” that led to the front door. It was rotting out, much to my delight. I mean, why have a pier without a beach? Tony (our ace construction guru) finished the stairs & the Tennessee fieldstone walkway, but it was too wet and cold to paint the wood to match the existing trim before Christmas.
The other major project is a complete remodel of the master suite, which Dad occupied. We decided to move upstairs, because it is so much easier for me to live on the main floor. But the bathroom is not working for us at all. The vanity is so short that at 5’4″, I feel like a giant spitting toothpaste into a thimble! The shower is very tiny, & the big feature (i.e., space hog) is a spa bathtub that I physically couldn’t get in & out of, and wouldn’t use anyway, if you put a gun to my head! Additionally, the plan contains a separate water closet! 😃
The new space will contain a large doorless shower with a built-in seat. There will also be a small laundry room that will house a combo washer-dryer unit. (This appliance washes & dries clothes, which is great. I can remember to wash a load, but drying the wet stuff is often not on my radar! Greg will be so happy not to have to be the laundry rescuer.) All of the tile will be replaced (thank goodness), & new lighting will make a huge difference to the room’s ambience.
In the bedroom, there will be cosmetic changes. We will shiplap the wall behind the bed, as well as the opposite wall that contains a bureau, with a tv hanging above it. The stonework will be removed, and the columns will be boxed in. There will be a wonderful orb chandelier installed in the sitting area. Tony is scheduled to start work on the master suite on a January 2nd.
The other completed project that sent me over then moon was the reconfiguration of the interior stairs. Let me be honest…I have detested the stairs since I first laid eyes on them. They were not built to code (i.e., the distance between treads was random, and the stairs had no backing. In other words, you could see underneath the steps.) Our grandsons were afraid of them, not to mention the fact that the rough wood on back of the stair treads attracted “dust stalagtites” that were impossible to reach/remove.
The other unsavory feature of the stairway was the balusters and handrail. The balusters were wood sticks, many of which were warped! The effect was dizzying and distracting. Additionally, the handrail was not built to code; it was too thick to grab, and therefore useless (as well as ugly!) I knew I wanted something clean-looking, & a bit industrial. Originally we thought about using wire cables, strung horizontally, for the balusters. However, my fear was that there would be too much “give” in the cables for the kids to feel safe. Also, cables are high maintenance. They need to be constantly tightened to make sure they are safe.
I happened upon a picture of stairs that utilized steel pipe instead of cables. Ultimately, that was what we went with: 1″ diameter pipe spray painted an aged bronze color. The posts, which now sport traditional finials, and handrails are now constructed with white pine 4x4s. I initially considered staining them to match the remaining stair parts, but decided the contrast was lovely. They will receive a couple of coats of poly when I get a “round tuit”. (If there isn’t one in my Christmas stocking, we may live with raw wood!)
Tony closed in the open treads, and installed tongue-in-groove boards behind the treads. The piece de resistance is the construction of a bookcase that replaces the bannister above the stairs that lead to the basement. It’s the perfect place to hide the kids’ favorite toys in baskets, as well as showcasing favorite dustables & books. For Christmas, it’s the perfect spot for a candlelit village.
This morning, I woke up early to decorate reindeer cupcakes for the grandsons, & for a friend’s little boys. There was a time that I would have taken infinite care in the construction of the critters. However, my hands do not perform very well lately, so the results are quite comical. The guy pictured on the left, who I christened “Burt the runny-nosed reindeer”, looks like he is suffering from an awful cold. Poor deer! 🤓
Speaking of kids, here are the annual Christmas pics of Jen’s family.
The boys received an early gift of a yellow lab puppy named Shelby. Apparently, she is growing like a weed, right along with the boys! Unfortunately, her favorite snacks consist of Christmas tree skirts & wrapped gifts. Jennifer is not too fond of her…😩
Tomorrow we will be with Riley & Reese to see them open gifts. Unfortunately, their big gift from us is a Lego table, complete with storage bins. I say unfortunately, because the construction elf (their Pop) is still feverishly working to complete it. Maybe not Pop’s favorite project ever, but I know Riley will be over the moon when he sees it!
WordPress is not cooperating very well today. Too much spiked eggnog? So I will close by saying that it will be another 3 months before I wrap up this blog, at which time we will do a complete before and after tour of the completed house.
As an aside, in 2 weeks I will be leaving for a 3-month stint at a Lyme clinic located in Massachusetts. Fingers crossed that they can help me get up and walking without using a mobility scooter or a wheelchair! I had this thought today: we have lived in Ellijay for 5-1/2 years. I wonder if anyone would recognize me without my wheelchair?I asked Santa for a chance to find out!
Truly, I wish you all the merriest of Christmases, & the happiest, healthiest, and most prosperous of New Years.
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That Deafening Silence…
…Is a result of my Dad’s passing away on July 13th. I just don’t feel like sharing my thoughts & feelings very much right now. Just trying to get used to the idea, I guess.
It’s not that this blog is defunct (I just renewed my WordPress subscription), it’s just hibernating for a while. However, Greg & I have been doing a lot of work downstairs. The tile arrived for fireplace & kitchen backsplash, and the barn doors have been shipped. Slowly, but slowly we are getting there. When I do write a new post, there will be a lot to show & tell about.
Take care. Talk to you soon.
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Another peek…
Hi, there! Here is the monthly (or so it seems) edition of my blog. Think I’m a slug? Well, here is one of two things you should know about me: If I don’t have anything to say, nothing gets pubished. My feeling is that the blog should be as fun for me to write, as it (hopefully) is enjoyable for you to read. The thought of being on a publishing schedule gives me the willies. I refuse to write “filler” posts entitled “how to paint your front door”! If you can’t figure out how to do that, you just might be a candidate for the “point & pay” method to get ‘er done! ;>?
I have another corner of the master bedroom to reveal to you. Yes, this project is moving at a snail’s pace, but it is moving forward. Greg has finished all of the woodwork in the space. We ordered & received stainless steel barn door hardware. The next decision is whether to make or buy doors (there will also be a barn door in the hallway for the bathroom.) If you look for doors that have the word “barn” in their descriptions, the prices are astronomical. Conversely, interior slab doors, with similar styling as the “barn” ones, are priced half of astronomical! X’s on the door are fine in some places, but I want a cleaner, more timeless look. The door will be painted gloss white, to break up all the wood, and to lighten the effect of the dark wall paint. Ideally, this is the look I want:
Greg can build those doors, but his honey-do list is already a mile long. Time will tell which way we go…
Speaking of his honey-do list, the next thing he will tackle is the construction of a dedicated sewing table for my office. Here is the second thing you should know about me: When I can’t access my sewing machine, my misery level is ginormous!
A little history: I was “taught” to sew in a Home Economics class, at the age of 13, and I hated it! The blue shift dress we were tasked with making was almost my undoing, after I accidentally sewed the front and back layers of the garment together. Oh, the wailing & tears that ensued! But my Mom, who was a daughter of a seamstress, and a prolific sewer in her own right, sat me down and taught me her techniques & tips. From then on, I was hooked. Thanks, Mom!
So…the reason that the bedroom isn’t finished yet is blamed on my not having an appropriate place to sew. Hopefully the addition of fabric patterns, and selected artwork, and a big, funky “surprise” will close this case! (Frankly, I can’t wait to see the big reveal, myself! ;>}
There are 2 more areas of the room that are finished. The first is the small wall immediately on the right as you enter the bedroom. I started with family photographs, a decorative plate, and 3 chinoiserie wall vases. This is the result:
Those spike-y things in the wall vases are actually the dried stems/stamens from my agapanthus plant:
They looked like this in their natural state, and frankly, they were unimpressive, & downright depressing against the blue walls. A little bit of white spray paint made them “pop”.
The other area of the room, (my favorite) is the bookcase, located immediately to the right of the dresser that I wrote about in the previous post. The bookcase now houses my blue & white pieces, which have been collected over many years. Each looks fine alone, but grouped in one place, their impact is amazing. I covered the edges of each shelf with papers; each pattern is different, but they are quite harmonious, to my eye. A coat of polyurethane will keep the papers good-looking for a long time.
It’s been a while since you have had a Bear update. Yes, he’s still alive, and that is because, as he approaches his 2nd birthday in a couple of days, his destructive ways have pretty much disappeared. Truth be told, he is one of the great loves of my life (naughty, or otherwise). However, now he is being attacked by something (we suspect it is a neighbor’s dog) that punctures & scratches him, which is extremely upsetting. The first incident involved ear & neck bites that caused swelling of the right side of his face; he was on antibiotics for about 12 days. Just about the time that batch of pills ran out, it happened again. This time, the attacks were on both of his rear legs. The vet ended up shaving big patches of hair around the wounds, which makes him look “pant-less”.
This time, it required pain pills, as well as antibiotics. God help the creature that is hurting my puppy. If I find you…..GRRR!
That is all the news that is fit to print. Until next time, stay well & safe.
Back on Track!
Life is returning to something approaching normal, now that my Dad is home, and on the mend. His strength is returning, he spends more time sitting in a chair than lying in bed, and his appetite is good. In fact, Greg and I are now able to slip away for an occasional happy hour session, and we can now resume our dining-out routine on Friday nights.
Our home improvement projects are even getting back on track. Our bedroom is starting to look like a place you might feel safe spending the night in. Greg just finished installing pine wainscoting to the walls, and finishing trim around the doors & window. I have added some homemade art,on the walls, and cannot wait to start sewing the widow treatment, a large settee cushion cover, a chair slipcover, and a bunch of throw pillows. Here is a “before” picture that you can compare with a teaser shot of a corner of the room that is totally finished:
On Pinterest, I found a picture of a dresser that was designed by girlinthegarage.net:
It looked so similar to ours, and I loved the pattern of upholstery tacks the were added to the piece. So, I copied the look, and really like the way it dresses up a nondescript dresser. (Did I create a pattern to create the look? Well, I tried, but it was not helpful, so as usual, I eye-balled it. Looks like the original used the same technique, too!) I also love the mirror over the original piece. LeeAnn gave me a mirror frame that looks very similar. In my spare time, I plan on pickling it, and having a beveled mirror installed.
Three of our most favorite pieces of folk art reside on our dresser. They are raku pottery masterpieces, handmade by the late Mary Garber. The animals are called Pogs, because they look like a cross between pig and dog (with, in my humble opinion, more than a little bit of hippo thrown in).
This little guy with the beach ball was an anniversary gift from daughter Jen:
Then there is the purple piano player, complete with wine bottles and cigar:
My favorite piece is the pair of Pogs in a red wagon.
That piece was purchased in at the Zoo Gallery shop in Key West, and was my 10th anniversary gift to Greg. I decided it was apropos, since these Pogs are howling happy, having a great time, and thoroughly “enjoying the ride”. Pretty much the way I felt about our union, then and now. (As an aside, while on vacation in Florida several years ago, we visited a Zoo Gallery shop in Grayton Beach, and there was an unusually large Pog statue on display. The salesperson said that since Ms. Garber had died, it was one of the last available pieces for sale. How many times have I kicked myself for not purchasing it? I have lost count…)
I love the dark blue walls juxtaposed with the white accents. The only other accent color that will be added to this simple palette is a sunflower yellow-gold.
There is one last major construction project to complete the room. I am really excited to see how the room looks when we replace the traditional entrance door with a barn door.
You will see more of our bedroom’s progress as it evolves. This post is about proffering proof that my blog is back on track. I will revive my mission statement, so please stay tuned!
Our Christmas Miracle
Our Christmas Miracle
It just occurred to me that a blog that started out as a breezy, humorous, decorating missive, has become anything but that. In retrospect, the last 4+ years have been as much about battling health issues as it has been about choosing paint colors and remodeling living spaces.
Most recently, our biggest struggle has been my 88-year old Dad’s illness. From November 25-December 28, he spent a total of 22 days in a major downtown Atlanta hospital, where a team of infectious disease specialists worked to save the life of an elderly man with stage 4 kidney disease (which severely limited treatment options), who was suffering from excruciating pain due to a bacterial infection in his spine, and abscesses in his back.
Atlanta is, under the best of conditions, a 90-minute car ride from Ellijay. Add in unpredictable traffic patterns & adverse weather conditions, and that commute time can double. Somehow, we were there to visit Dad 90% of the days that he was there. Greg did all of the driving, and tried to manage his workload, in between trips to and fro. He is so exhausted.
The worst part of the ordeal was visiting Dad, seeing him in pain, and being unable to help him. The pain management people were over-medicating him to the point that he was hallucinating, but the pain never abated. I cried a lot, and begged them to re-think his medication regimen.
The day before Christmas Eve, I sat and held his hand, praying that God would use our hands as a mechanism to allow healing to enter Dad’s body. Earlier that week I had started spraying Colloidal Silver into his mouth (an element that contains anti-bacterial & anti-viral properties); I continued spraying as he slept. I believe hat God blessed my actions that day.
On Christmas Eve, as I continued to wrap gifts, the phone rang. It was the palliative nurse from the hospital calling. She wanted me to know that it was time to arrange hospice care for Dad. The opinion of his care team was that Dad was tired…too tired to make a full recovery, and we needed ongoing care now that he was in “that state”. I asked her what state that was, and when she said, “well…”, it hit me like a brick. My Dad was going to die very soon! I completely lost it, and spent the hours before our trip to the hospital sobbing at the thought of him dying, still in pain.
When we arrived at the hospital, Dad was sleeping. The nurse said she couldn’t wake him up. I leaned over and said “hey, Dad”. He immediately woke up and said, “good, you found me!” He then proceeded to tell us that his pain was completely gone. He was totally lucid, and we had a great visit!
On Christmas Day, we had similar experience. Dad ate the home-cooked meal we brought him (he noted that his appetite was coming back!), and ate an entire piece of cheesecake for dessert. Sitting up in bed without any pain, he was even able to open his Christmas gifts. Jen and family came and visited Dad, before we all left for dinner at Benihana’s.
Yes, our daughter can now cross off a bucket list item, although we did not sing “Deck the Halls” during our meal. Riley, who is learning to sound out words, asked me how to pronounce our Japanese chef’s name, which was embroidered on his shirt. I looked and started laughing. My response? “Juan”! ;>}
Below is a pic of our hibachi chefs in training:
So, our Christmas came. It was very different, but we were able to find humor in our new “traditions”, and mostly, we all felt so blessed by Dad’s miraculous recovery.
The man who was pronounced nearly dead, was released from the hospital on Monday, 12/28. He had not been out of bed for over 2 weeks. When we arrived home, Dad was unable to walk. Greg had him lay on the floor just inside the door to the house. From there, he grabbed him under the armpits and literally dragged him into to his bedroom. Luckily, the path was all hardwood flooring, and there were no bumps or obstacles in the way. Yesterday (1/1/16), with the aid of a walker, he was able to walk from his bedroom to the living room, where he sat in a normal chair, and watched the first half of the UT-Northwestern Outback Bowl game. My Dad is amazing!
Thank you God! This was our best Christmas EVER!
When Less is (Definitely!) More
I really do try to adhere to the “less is more” school of thought when it comes to decorating. The most difficult part of getting a project right is knowing when to stop. Overdo, and “great” can turn “garish and gaudy” in the blink of an eye. So, when an urge to add “one more thing” arises, I ignore it and call the work done. The exception to that rule has always been when decorating for Christmas, when too much bling was never too much, and the word overdone just did not apply.
This year, however, is markedly different for us from Christmases past. With Dad’s illness, priorities have changed. Our bathroom mirrors are no longer crowned with swags of greenery, the chandeliers do not have snowflakes and shiny baubles hanging from their arms, and much of my pride and joy snowmen collection (including salt & pepper shakers and cookie jars) is still packed away.
Only one section of the banisters is draped in garland and lighted. The dining room table, that needs a new fringed burlap runner is, as yet, unadorned. (In fact, it is piled with Christmas wrap & unwrapped gifts!) My collection of Christmas throw pillows remains under wraps ( but that is more to protect them from the “wrath of Bear” than from a paring down principle! ;>}
The most amusing thing about all of this was my determination to get an early start on several special projects, for a change. I started in early October with an old cupboard door, which became the canvas for a portrait of my “Jingle Bear”. I had seen an item in the Sturbridge Village holiday catalog, of a black laboratory retriever painted on wood planks. Borrowing from that idea, Bear was painted on, surrounded by snowflake buttons, with a bow that was fashioned from a portion of the red leash we used on his adoption day. He was garnished with faux greenery & berries, and the piece is finished off with an elaborately decoupaged “frame”. A greenery swag over the picture, with a tartan bow (because I am convinced he has some Scottish terrier in his heritage) completes the look.
But then, you know how all progress ground to a halt with the hip surgery. When my sister flew down for a visit in early November, she insisted that the Christmas tree be set up, so she could decorate it. One too many glasses of moscato dampened that desire (I can relate that truism, only because she never reads this blog! :>), so she went home leaving a very bare, sad-looking tree. Enter my Tree Angels, LeeAnn & Faith, who did a marvelous job of decorating the tree:
Here is the finished tree (which always sems to be leaning, but is not! I must be crooked when I snap the pic!):
For the mantle, we didn’t swag any greenery, for a change. Greg cut up some leftover ceiling beams and placed them under the television. This allowed me to place garland and light on top of the mantle, without interfering with the tv screen.
A home-printed print, a woooden lantern, some snowflakes, real preserved pomegranates from the tree in our Atlanta yard, and new pair of faux baby owls from Grandin Road complete the look:
For the bannister, we combined an old green garland with last year’s ribbon garland, and lots of white lights. I then added snowflakes, snow angel ornaments, and a sparkly red netting bow:
The relatively new shelf in the entry area is probably the jolliest spot in the house. Tiny trees, decked with Dollar Tree battery-operated lights, are joined by a handmade Santa (made by me several years ago), Snow Lady, a primitive snowman birdhouse, and a wreath with a little Santa perched inside:
And, of course, our Christmas decor would not be complete without our “snowman nativity set”:
The front door wreath is a favorite, especially against the newly painted green door:
And, last of all, I framed some pics, that I found on the internet, and then ran through Waterlogue. The are hanging on the wall next to the front door. I love that they look so much like real watercolors:
Surprisingly, I am really enjoying this year’s pared down, streamlined version of Christmas décor. And putting everything away after the holidays won’t be a multi-day affair that would have me swearing that never again will I get carried away with holiday décor!
Dad updates:
12/18/15: On Tuesday, 12/15, Dad was back in the ER due to excruciating back pain. Once again, the Jasper hospital, because they do not have an infectious disease specialist on staff, transferred him to their main campus in downtown Atlanta. Greg & I, who normally love to spend time in the city during the holidays, will be spending this weekend in Atlanta, right around the corner from dad. No window shopping for us this year. :>[
Dad has discitis, which basically is an infection that forms in the space between the spinal discs. The pain it causes is excruciating. Even morphine is not successfully masking it. The worst thing on earth is to watch someone you love suffer, and be powerless to help them. Pain management is the most critical piece of his recovery. Once that is under control, he will be going to rehab before he can return home (haven’t had the courage to break that to him, yet!).
Christmas will be very different this year. Jen & family are scheduled to come to Ellijay for Christmas Day. Instead of cooking the traditional meal, she suggested we find a Chinese restaurant (a la a “Christmas Story”). She thinks it would be fun to sing Farararara with the waiters! My daughter seems to have a strange bucket list, no? (Greg keeps telling us we have to be flexible this holiday season, but reenacting one of his favorite movies may be a bridge too far!)
So, it is the week before Christmas. Not one present is wrapped. None of the gifts to friends and family have been mailed. And the shopping has not been completed. We will make it through, just like the Whos from Whoville did, when Christmas CAME, with or without presents. The Grinch finally understood, too, when he uttered the famous words:
“Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store…Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more!”
Dec. 21: Dad is still in the hospital. Today is Jen’s day to visit with him. I needed a day at home for physical therapy on my leg, as well as to get some presents wrapped. Jen and I take turns trying to squeeze information out of the doctors, who are not very forthcoming about what’s going on with Dad’s condition. It is beyond frustrating! One thing is becoming clear: he won’t be home for Christmas. I am beyond sad about that…
Well, dear readers, I hope you enjoyed the Christmas tour of our home. Once again, I entreat you to keep my Dad in your prayers. This is, after all, the Season of Miracles, and your prayers & kind thoughts would be most welcome.
Wishing you all the Merriest of Christmases, & the Happiest of New Years! God bless us every one.
I Found “Twubble”
…Or it found me. Either way, it landed me on Greg’s “what the hell were you thinking?” list. I was embarrassed, for it is not like me to be so reckless, but the truth was a) I wasn’t thinking, and b) I love a great deal (am I sounding a bit like Donald Trump?)
I try never to pay full price for anything. If I had a million bucks to spend, I would still buy my clothes in consignment, and yes, even thrift shops! I wear name brand clothes for a fraction of retail, and nobody knew my secret (except I guess the world does now :>} In fact, the only articles of clothing that I don’t purchase “gently used” are my SHOES!
So, with all of that in mind, and add to it the fact that I have way too much idle time on my hands, while this hip heals, I stumbled upon an online auction called thepropertyroom.com.
Not really sure of its history, but I guess it purports to be a police site, where confiscated goods are sold at pennies on the dollar, to the highest bidder. You name it, they sell it: jewelry with precious stones, computers & all sorts of tech gadgetry, vehicles, & tools, to name a few.
Well, curiosity piqued, I had to check it out. The first thing I bid on, a kit to build solar-generated toys for grandson, Riley, I won! Uh-oh. I was hooked. I made the mistake of checking out the “jewelry” category. Lo & behold, there, ripe for the picking, were a lot of lovely, and unusual sterling silver (.925) pieces. (Sterling silver jewelry is another of my weaknesses, right up there with shoes.) Telling myself that many of them would make great Christmas presents, I bid on a boat-load of jewelry, never thinking I would be lucky/unlucky enough to score any of those treasures.
There are several caveats to the bidding process. As with eBay, once you place a bid,, there’s no changing your mind. Also, they have this deadly feature called a proxy bid, whereby you set the maximum bid you are willing to spend on each item. If the item never reaches that threshold, and you are the high bidder, you pay the actual bid price, if it is lower than your maximum. It just frees you up, so you don’t huave to monitor each item, and manually counter every time somebody places a higher bid than yours. In other words, it is way too easy to score deals.
The biggest problem with “winning” a bid (Greg gets mad every time I use that terminology. He says “you didn’t win anything; you just bought a bunch of crap!” Yes, but it’s competitive and…addictive..and it’s great stuff!) is that, no matter how inexpensively you obtain merchandise, the shipping charges are killer. For instance, I “won” a sterling silver ring with mother of pearl inlay for $1. But add $6.75 in shipping to that item, and suddenly, the cost of that ring spirals out of control.
All told, I purchased 6 pieces of silver jewelry, each packed in a separate box, shipping from the same location, on the same day. Cha-ching! That’s $40.50 just for delivery of the goods.
In addition to the jewelry which, let’s be honest, I will mostly be keeping for myself because I am heavily invested emotionally in them, I also bid on a no-touch stainless steel soap dispenser, as well as a set of 1500-count queen-sized sheets. I consider those a great deal; the sheets, with shipping, were under $35!
I had a great time getting into “Twubble”, but be assured, that was once-in-lifetime hiccup, that will never, ever be duplicated! After my bidding experience, I didn’t even look at the emails that they sent to me that showcase new merchandise. In fact, I unsubscribed from the site yesterday. (And, yes, I felt a twinge when I did it!)
In retrospect, a man I used to work with by the name of Don Caudle, upon hearing us women talk about how much money we had just saved on a lunchtime shopping spree, stated “you would have saved 100% if we just hadn’t gone shopping!” Surprisingly, that fact never would have occurred to me. It is, however, impossible to argue with his logic.
And so, in closing, you were right, Don! I hope to avoid future “twubble” by remembering your simple fiscal wisdom.
A Bit of a Setback
I made a comment to my daughter, Jen, the other day, that once Halloween passes, the rest of the year is toast. No doubt (since we were speaking on the phone), there was an involuntary rolling of the eyes, and an “oh Mom” thought on her part. But, since mothers are never wrong, I have proof that I am right:
It doesn’t get more legit than when the fairy godmother thinks so, too.
Why am I even concerned about the passage of time right now? Well, karma delivered me a wee setback during Halloween week. You know that statement: “Life is what happens when you are making plans”, & then there’s “the best-laid plans of mice & men”. Well I am a prime example of a person with a plan, and all of the confidence and energy to complete said plan, until the unexpected happened. More on that later.
Greg & I have been busy beavers trying to turn the doggy lounge into a bona fide, relaxing, & dare I hope, luxurious master bedroom. Below is a sample of the dog- dominated space (chewed sheets & blankets, I assure you, are in there somewhere!):
Below are pics of the initial painting process:
I had originally chosen a SW color called “Dignified”. Thankfully, I just purchased a sample size of it, because it had way too many purple & magenta undertones for my taste. We finally settled on SW “Denim”, which is a deep, rich blue, but not as dark as midnight (remember, this is a basement studio apartment, and our bedroom only contains one 36×36″window, which, due to the surrounding treed land, lets in minimal light). Greg added 4 ceiling pot lights, which help
In my previous post, I described how touched I was by the lyrics of the “Peace like a River” hymn. Well, since our bedroom walls are now newly painted I decided to create that sentiment on one of the large, blank walls in the room. Little did I know that this minor project would take 2 full week-ends, with very few Michelob breaks in between, to complete. Once I describe the process, it will be clear why it took so long.
The first step was to find a font that, at size 72, was legible on the wall. The only one that fit the bill was “An Unfortunate Event”. It would not have been my first choice, but, it passed the visual test, so it was a go. Next, I printed out the verse in MS Publisher, and cut each word out separately.
Then, I grabbed my level and yardstick and with white chalk, marked a 24×36” rectangle for the text to (hopefully) fit in. (No, I did not perform any mathematical calculations in this step. I am very much a “fly by the seat of your pants & hope for the best” kinda person.)
The next step in the process was t-e-d-i-o-u-s, made more so by my writing difficulties ( i.e., controlling the movements of a pen or pencil). It involved rubbing white chalk over the back of each word, placing the word on the wall, right side out. Then, I traced over the text, hoping against hope that the chalk would leave an outline that could then be filled with white paint.
It took about 8 hours to transfer, & then paint inside the “lines”. The major difficulty was figuring out which scratch marks were the correct ones. :>) Needless to say, a lot of ad lib-ing took place, but since the end result was “rustic” but legible, it was deemed a success.
After the text was painted in place, I wondered how to frame it. After considering a wood frame, the decision was made to decoupage a leafy bower around the quote, complete with a yellow bird perched atop. (Sorry about the quality of this pic; better ones to follow):
As an aside, I have apparently contracted another incurable disease. The main symptom of this new scourge is a compulsion to decoupage anything that doesn’t move. Really! Wonderful graphics (I collect them ravenously), homemade Modge Podge (Elmer’s Glue-All diluted with just a tad of water), my wonderful HP color laser printer, and an old version of Microsoft Publisher, are the tools of my trade as I sneak up on an unsuspecting piece of furniture, or wall, that is crying out for some bling. There are two real problems created by this affliction. First, the floors in the house always looks like this:
The second is that the process is so fun, and the results are so interesting (and sometimes, unexpected), that it’s hard to know when to stop!
So, with that project done, my next steps in the bedroom makeover require a lot of sewing: window treatments, a cushion cover, throw pillows, and a bed throw. I purchased a queen-size blue & white quilt set for $39 on the zulilly* site. It is still so pristine, since it is still in its original packaging, far from the attentions of a destructive Bear.
Before we even started painting the walls of the room, we decided to make a major furniture swap between our bedroom and the guest bedroom. The guest room furniture featured a queen-size platform bed with storage drawers, a storage headboard, and a roomy dresser with accompanying mirror, complete with glove box. The finish on all these pieces is pickled pine. I really like the contrast between the dark walls, and the light wood.
Sadly, my participation in this reno process, as well as the commandeering of holiday decorating activities, must go on the back burner for about 6 weeks. The reason is this: I have bi-lateral hip replacements. The right one has been the bane of my existence for over a decade. It has dislocated at least a dozen times, which is extremely painful. Each time it comes out of socket, it must be re-set under anesthesia. Well, the right prosthesis popped out again on Thursday, Oct. 29th, when Greg was in Knoxville visiting his father in the hospital! Luckily, Dad was home, and he helped me arrange an ambulance ride to the hospital.
When we arrived at the hospital, after waiting for my Atkins bar breakfast to fully digest, 3 very competent orthopedic specialists were unable to reset the hip, due to a revision that was made to the joint in 2005 to prevent it from ever dislocating again! So, it was back into the ambulance for a 45-minute ride to a hospital in Cumming, where my official orthopedist now practices. By the time we arrived there, it was too late to perform surgery, plus I had already been served a daily dose of knock-out drugs. So, it was 7:30 on Friday morning before the operation started…almost 18 hours after the dislocation. I don’t have words to describe how painful it was to lay in bed for that amount of time with a dislocated hip that kept causing pulsating waves of pain. Drugs can only do so/not so much…Anyway, I now have a shiny new ball and socket! Oh, boy..:>{
If there is a silver lining from this mishap, it could be that the 4-hour surgery fixed a problem that was causing me awful back and groin pain on my right side. Apparently, the old prosthesis was becoming imbedded in muscle! If that is the case, hopefully, my walking will improve as soon as I can move around. Truly, I feel like I am way too old to go through this slow & painful healing process again, but do I have a choice? Nyet!
Now, if I told you folks that there wasn’t a rousing pity-party starting up in my mind after this latest hip debacle, it would not be true. There has been plenty of wailing, frustration, pain, and gnashing of teeth! However, the timing of placing that quote on our bedroom wall is amazing, as it has given me pause, and allowed me to acknowledge all of the blessings I have been given. Pain is temporary; the love of family & friends is eternal. All is well with my soul!
Oh, the Lord does work in mysterious ways!
*zulily.com is an amazing shopping site. I have done a lot of Christmas shopping there, because the prices are unbelievable, and the selection and quality of goods is wonderful. If you place 2 orders there within 24 hours, the second order ships free! (Beware. It can be very addictive to frequent that place!)
Posted in life's surprises, pain is a pain
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Peace, please?
I don’t talk about myself very much, because I value my privacy very much. But this post is very personal. I decided to share my story because I believe that a lot of you are feeling the same unease that I am about our upside-down world.
In such uncertain and downright scary times as these, the lucky ones have religion to turn to. I am not so lucky. Religion has always made me uncomfortable. I think of myself as more of a spiritual being than a religious person. Also, I have a complicated relationship with God. Born a Catholic, my butt was planted in a church pew every Sunday, until I left for college. With the birth of my daughter, the church angered me so badly that I just stopped going. It wasn’t God that I was mad it; it was his misguided earthly emissaries {minions? HA ;>} that raised my ire. (And they still do!)
As a kid growing up in the South, where everyone seemingly has read the Bible at least once all the way through, I smugly told my friends that Catholics don’t study the Bible (which was true then, and may still be so). Anyway, the closest I came to any biblical exposure was the priest reading the Sunday gospel which, to me, usually sounded like “and blah, blah, blah. Amen!” I now envy those who can quote chapter and verse from the Bible; with that knowledge, they have God’s words as guidance when navigating life’s dilemmas.
To further complicate things, many years ago, I asked God for a wish. I solemnly promised that if He granted me that wish, I would never ask Him for anything EVER AGAIN! Well, He delivered in spades, so I don’t ask favors…not even to be able to walk again. (LeeAnn, who had a close relationship with the Almighty [and no, I am not being sarcastic!] says that is ridiculous; God doesn’t have favor quotas!) But I do think that’s why I have a hard time praying. If I’m not asking for anything, what do we talk about? As far as I can figure out, there’s nothing I can say that He doesn’t already know, including what is in my heart. So, I just give up.
But lately, I have been feeling such a sense of unease about life in general. Writing a post about paint colors and new furniture seems so inane, when there is so much suffering occurring around the world. My personal belief/value system no longer seems to exist. Could it be that my reality was just smoke and mirrors? In this strange world, it seems that right is wrong, good is evil, and everything is relative!
I need a closer relationship with God now. I need to know He will always be standing with me, giving me strength to face whatever the future holds. But how to make that happen?
So, it occurred to me, the other day, as I was looking at decorating pics on the Internet, that maybe I have been using the wrong mode of prayer. What I found on Pinterest was a beautiful living room on the City Farmhouse blog, that showcased a large framed quote, the contents of which took my breath away:
Immediately after reading that quote, (which is an excerpt from the United Methodist hymnal (hymn #377), and authored by Horatio G. Spafford), the feeling of peace that came over me was amazing. In an instant, I realized that music is such an integral part of my life, which is why that verse touched me so deeply. For me, Christmas has always been about the beautiful carols that mark the season. So there it was: in the future, God & I will converse through music!
Afterwards, I found myself trying to remember that verse. I felt the need to keep repeating it in my mind, like a mantra. However, I could not recall the exact words. So this version came to me, and with a bow to Horatio’s lyrics, this is the version that resonates with me (only because I can remember it!)
When peace like a river flows through my day,
Or when troubles have taken their toll,
With a heart full of thanks
Though hast taught me to say,
All is well, all is well with my soul!
My next project is to stencil those words on our bedroom wall. (And yes, we are finally working on fixing up the “doggy lounge”! I will begin to unveil cover that whole process in the next post!) Thus, it will be the last thing I read at night, and the first thing (besides Greg!) that greets me in the morning.
Another quote that I stumbled upon, comforts me enormously. If you ever doubt that God loves us unconditionally, please read this and keep it near your heart:
You are God’s Masterpiece –
started in His heart, formed by His hands,
and offered as a gift to the world.
Much more that a work in progress …
you’re His good work.
What He started in you
will gloriously unfold for a lifetime
and be completed in heaven.
He sees beauty in you
because you are made in His image
and redeemed by His love.
It’s true.
God says you are …
created, chosen, cherished, celebrated,
His forever. –Holly Gerth
There is nothing more I can add to this post than a hearty
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