(fall stuff out front...I can't make up my mind how to treat the concrete slab...paint it? stain it? cover it with brick pavers?)
well...I don't know that it is actually Jamie's t-shirt...but it is a t-shirt with Jamie's logo on it...and it is pretty darn spiffy...there are little rhinestones on the front...but I'm pretty sure that my less-than-stellar photography skills preclude ya'll seeing those...Jamie sent this along, all wrapped up pretty like she mails her items (the woman has a black-and-white jacquard patterned mailing tape...does that speak volumes or what?), just because she's a sweetheartThanks again, Miss Jamie :)
and this is a beautiful little cloche from HomeGoods...I try to steer clear of HomeGoods...I find myself suddenly realizing all the things I desperately truly need...like I need this darlin' little cloche...and there was the identical but monster-sized one that I just about grabbed and stuffed into the buggy too...but I managed to control myself...although I do daydream about that bigger one...
(the bottom is actually pottery not resin...)
[intoning from behind my large curtained off area "Ignore all the Junk, Ignore all the Junk]Here is the mantel we picked up from Habitat a week or two ago...just stopping by to drop off some donations when this was brought in off the truck...and naturally I had to have a closer look...DH & I had just had the conversation about how I really really really wanted a mantel up by Christmas Time...I'm sorry, but a woman just has to have a mantel decorate at Christmas...at least this woman does...
try to ignore the filthy insides of the fire place...I can't decide if I want to find someone to make a curved custom fire screen or if I want to sink that money into a nice fire back...
DH suggests painting the bricks inside of the mantel's opening the same colour as I will be painting the mantel...just cream, nothing fancy...of course, that suggestion came on the heels of his opening [volley] request that "could you please not paint the mantel black?"...how did he know? ...now I'm waffling between painting only the interior brickwork or painting the entire fireplace along with the mantel...
thoughts?
the other Here Lately Big Project...we took down the wall between the kitchen-and-breakfast area and the dining area...neither eating area were overly spacious...in fact, they were just kind of awkward...at some point, I'm hoping to find a nice bookshelf to "build in" between the 2 spaces, using columns to add serving space while keep the open feel...the casing is still bare wood (as you can see on the very edges of the photograph)...I'm of the mind that it would look Fabulous Painted Black...DH is of the mind that I've lost my mind...
there is one more Project-In-The-Works but I'll spare ya'll...
movin' along, I decided it is just ridiculous how I can hardly focus long enough to get through a book...I used to read allll the time...some of the Book Reading Slump can be attributed to the time I spend messin' around on the internet...but reading is something special so I'm rededicating myself to a literary life...of sorts...
ta-dah...the Fall Season Book Stack...
the List: Reflections: Life After the White House by Barbara Bush
Leaving Cold Sassy by Olive Ann Burns
Crooked Little Heart by Anne Lamott
The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier
The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards
The Ice Queen by Alice Hoffman
The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie
The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields
Get Out of that Pit by Beth Moore
Ginger Pye by Eleanor Estes
The Heart of Islam by Seyyed Hossein Nasr
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Rosemary and Bitter Oranges by Patrizia Chen
The Beans of Egypt, Maine by Caroly Chute
Out of Africa by Isak Dinesen
on the shelf below the stack are my Mitford books...I plan to commence reading them (as is now my Fall Tradition) come October 1st...
now for my Surprise...I'm doing a Fall/Halloween Give-A-Way...of these
I've had these about 2, maybe 3? years and they've been in the shopping bag I brought them home in the whole time...I took this as a sign that perhaps some one else might enjoy havin' them around a little bit more than I have...I think I was just overwhelmed by all that glittery magical black, er, glitter and Had to Have Them...I don't really "do" Halloween since the Bird got all grown up...
I'm not sure what line they are...Wendy Addison? I wouldn't swear to it, but I think so...anyhoo...the biggest tree has a little break at the back support so he has to be propped up against something...I didn't notice this until I decided to find out what was in the Pretty Shopping Bag that had been in my office for months...and months...and months...
anyhoo...today is the the 18th, right? so drop a comment between now & the end of September to have your name in the drawing...I'll draw on October 1st and if the winner gets her (his?) name & mailing address right to me, then the pieces will be around in plenty of time to enjoy for this year's Halloween...well, unless the winner lives overseas...that might be cuttin' it kind of close...but we'll see :)
16 comments:
Sheila, Sheila, thank goodness you are Back. thank you for the shout out too. The Kitchen Cabinets look Amazing, dont change a thing!! The Fireplace Mantel is just Beautiful too. I love the Front door with all the Fall goodies. The Wall coming down must have been a Huge job. Keep taking it easy with your back. I know your pain, Hugs and your Pics are not bad at all...
Yippee, fun to hear about all you've been doing.
I really, really, really (did I convince you?) like those kitchen cabinets.
The mantle is a great find, I don't know about painting bricks tho.
Let me know if you make the recipe I posted - or what you come up with using the idea as a jumping off point.
Darla
Just saw Julie's blog- in love with her jewelry! She said such great things about your home, wanted to check it out. Love any home remodel! Also would love to see the mantle and bricks painted black and distressed- a fabulous look!!! Bricks are very easy to paint, just be sure to prime well!!
I love your kitchen cabinets. Glad to hear your back is better. I can sympathize with a broken battery case door. Mine has been broken for two years. Gotta get a new one.
Love the cabinets - it's always nice to check one project off your list. I'm glad that you found a mantle, too. I'd hate to not have one to decorate, especially for Christmas. Your front of the house fall arrangement looks very festive. I really like the clay looking pumpkin.
Hi Sheila, I love the cabinets as they are right now. Boy you sure made up for lost time without your camera. How do you ever find the time to do all that reading? I'm still trying to decide which book to start that you've already sent me.
I would stain the outside patio, you can always paint over it if you don't like it, can't you?
Thanks for your kind compliments on my blog, and it wasn't me that sent the e-card.
Glad your back and with your camera...sounds like someone needs to be getting you a new camera for Christmas.
Have a Great Day
Mary
This weekend I am hoping to get the fall stuff out, now that it actually feels a bit like fall.
Good to have you back! You've really been busy! Love the mantle and I would paint the bricks. The cabinets are fab - love that chickenwire. That was fun to here what you've been up to!
Manuela
Finally, a new post!! What took you so long?!?!
ha!! Just kidding!
Looks like you're been busy! I love your front door display.
I love your entrance way...will watch to see what you do with the floor...Glad you can take picturea again, holding the door & focusing sure can be a challenge, but you succeeded!!!
Hugs
Diana aka Farmer Di
Hi Sheila , it is almost worth your absence just to get such a great post. I love thr kitchen cabinets and the mantle - I don't need to be entered in your giveaway as we don't "do" Halloween here in oz but wanted to say Hi and welcome back anyway .
Hello dear Sheila! Our friends,I mentioned in the blog today, have their camera battery compartment held together with tape. I think ya'll are starting a trend!;-)
As for Harry and Bess' house, I do believe it leans toward Italianate. Built in the Victorian era..it belonged to Bess's family first. When we were there, the upstairs wasn't open to the public. I believe it is now. I'd like to go back and see that part of the house. Harry's hat and coat were hanging by the side door, he exited from each day for his walk. Bess's coat is there as well.
I like the new mantle..I'd love to find one for the back porch.
I've started Virginia Woolf's Mrs Dalloway. Cherry Menlove (Pixie Wood) has a little book reading thing going and I thought I'd jump in. I hope to read on our drive, this weekend. You have an impressive stack of books, for fall and winter!
Pat
We've missed you! The pictures are fabulous and I can't wait to see what happens with the mantle. You're right, there has to be a mantle for Christmas.
Enjoy your reading. I'm rereading the Mitford books, too.
Could you etch the concrete and stain it brownish?????? front door looks great....I am anxious to get out my fall stuff!
And you are ambitious with the book list! I bring home about eight or ten from the library, and only get thru maybe one!!!
Good to hear from you again..thought you'd been quiet! Glad you're feeling a bit better. I am feeling on top of the world (although I have a sore throat and headache)because school's out for 2 weeks and we're heading on a family holiday! First time my kids have been on an aeroplane!!! Time is almost mine, for a short time.
I swear I'm not a weird stalker...I'm just enjoying your blog so whenever I get a break, I'm trying to read old posts. You've probably already decided what to do by now, but I think if you painted the bricks inside the mantelpiece whatever color you paint the mantle it will all read as a whole and look great.
Your cabinets look so good distressed and chicken wired! Do you ever sit down...you get so much done!
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