Putting Down Roots

 

I came to the sink the other day—and my husband had arranged a few cuttings into this glass jelly jar and set it in the window. I rested the smiley face rock against the glass (otherwise he just smiles up at the florescent bulb above the sink)  … that’s how it made me feel to see those cuttings, in that glass JAR, on THAT window sill.

happy.

 

I haven’t written much these days on the move. Believe me, I have much to say on the matter. There is a time and a place for everything—now is not the time say everything.

To tell the whole story HERE-- well, this probably isn’t the place either.

Recently, I posted a photo of our oldest son’s Tiny-House progress on Instagram, and I’ve opened emails and I’ve even had some texts—inquiring about the move.

I don’t know what to say except; I thought for sure this was it.  I thought for sure this time we’d be moving. I don’t like when that happens—when I speak out of turn.

For now—know WE ARE STAYING.  Whatever plans we had, were just that—our plans.  Evidently, God has other plans.  He had plans when He brought us here; I remember that!  I loved the country but at the same time—felt so alone and very much a stranger. We put down roots; a long time ago.

We will stay here on this little piece of earth, in this little community, in our little country cottage. PLANTED.

happy.

Right in between—three grandsons (and THEIR parents) on one-side and Tiny House builder on the other.

Until He moves us again.

 

‘Til next time-

Patricia

 

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For I know the thoughts I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. ~Jeremiah 29:11

:: My Own Personal Touches

 

I wanted to take a minute to say THANK YOU SO MUCH!  to all of you.  Some of you left comments, and some emailed me directly—all of you warmed my heart with your thoughts, comments, and encouragement!  It truly does make me feel good to know that your warm expressions and prayers are being said for me.  {HUGS} TO ALL OF YOU!

Sometimes a girl just needs to let it all out.  So… I did and I’m done with that.  Now to the guest bedroom progress!
This room is definitely a mish-mash of furniture.  I didn’t take the time to paint any furniture, except for the mirror over the old Magnavox Stereo… which works, by the way!  The walls have been painted and let me tell you… MID NIGHT BLUE… is a real bear of a color to cover! 
 
I’m a sucker for old lamps!  The little lamp on the table is one I picked up years ago—at Bargain land… you might recognize a certain settee and chair in that post!
I’m making notes about furniture, whether we move or not, the furniture needs updating  with paint or repairs. I’m also making notes about finishing up and considering added my own touches. With the hand me down furniture, bedding and things—it will be nice to add things of my own… things that I like!

• The bed came from my mother in law’s house; as did the quilt.  The frame is a bit wonky—and needs bracing with side rails between the foot-board and head-board.  I’m looking forward for the opportunity to use my Kreg Jig, jr on it.  I’m thinking of painting it too.  Though right now, I like the wood. We’ll see.
• The armoire still Mid-night blue.  It will get new paint and I’ve got a water fall dresser, though not identical, they are close enough and from the same time period—they go well together.  It will be painted too.
• As to finishes for the room. We have fans we’re changing out and of course trim/ molding where the ceiling and walls meet.

The walls are bare after taking everything down, and packing it up.  I did hang this triptyche… I painted it a few years back… it was a long work in progress and never had hardware on the back until now!


This is an ‘in progress’ picture, I wasn’t even finished painting the base-board; but, I wanted to show you  the last thing.  We took the carpet up. Wow! what a surprise.  The floors were in very good shape despite being covered with carpet. 

I still have more to show—as I get it completed.  (You can read: The Front Bedroom /before) 

Right now, the only signs a teen ager ever occupied  this room in the past 10 years—are the drums stacked in the corners.  Right now, we are storing 3 sets for my son.  He’s no longer a teen either… so don’t tell him I said that!

‘Til next time, Be Blessed~ and stay warm!

Patricia

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:: We’re in Limbo and Limbo ain’t Pretty!

 

When it came time to work in the front bedroom—I knew I didn’t want to just go back the way it has always been; you know,  slapping some paint on the walls, putting the furniture back and be done with it.  I wanted to put my own touches on this room. At the same time, we have the move to consider.

However,  at the time I was working on the bedroom—the move was out and we were waiting for an appraisal and getting refinancing,instead.  Currently, we are in limbo about the house.

Let me back up just a bit and explain.  I told you back before the holidays, as far back as Thanksgiving I think—we were finally agreeing it was time to move. Since then—it has been an up and down roller coaster.  Getting the house ready to sell. Then, out of the clear blue we talked with about getting refinancing. 

It looked like that would be the way we’d go instead. We filled out the paper work, got approved for the refinancing and had an appraisal on the books—waiting for the appraiser.  That day, he never showed. I called to find out where he was, perhaps lost, or just running late… what? 

He told me it was canceled and to call the finance office. That is when I found out.  The refinance was off the table. The air let out of my balloon with a big bang!  Not the floating, spitting and sputtering type of balloon that flies around in a funny sort of way.  No. 

BANG! 

This all happened in the past 10 days. Now… I haven’t done a thing. I’ve not scrambled to find another route to take.  I’ve not screamed, cried or stomped my feet.  Oh no… wait.  There was that hour, same day—where I went to bed and cried!

Waaaaahhhhh!!!!!  just like a baby.  I forgot about that. In fact, let’s all forget about that.  It didn’t do a lick of good.  I did NOT get my way. For once in my life, I truly don’t know what we’re going to do…about any of this.

My emotions are wrung out… like a cold wet sloppy rag, if I can say so.

I’m trusting the LORD. At a time when everything within me wants to DO SOMETHING. ANYTHING. TO MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN AND MAKE OUR FINANCIAL SITUATION BETTER. I am taking my moments with my family.  I’m holding babies.  I’m crocheting. Tending chickens… normal stuff. I’m making a mortgage payment at a time in life when, honestly, I thought we’d be done with it by now.

So that… in a nut shell, is why I’ve not blogged much lately.  It is hard to put on a happy face, when you’re not happy.  It’s hard to sit down and put into words how I really feel.  I don’t care much for the sugar coating.

I want to share this little statue of Emmett Kelly,Jr… the wine-o.   I’m not sure if that’s the name of this figure.  But, he’s got a bottle in the hand. He looks destitute.  I found him while working in the front bedroom in a box. I took him out and put him on display…because HE is my style. (more on that later too)

I was given this my senior year in high-school.  By the mother of my best friend.  I kept it for years because it reminded me of her. Every time I see it I think of her. I still think of her.

But now, I keep it because it reminds me of something deeper. It reminds me that no matter how bad things get—no matter the circumstances. Whether the bottom is a bottle or if your rock bottom is something else…Like wrung out emotions and cold wet sloppy rags… God will find you.  Seek Him.

We aren’t promised tomorrow.  But if you are so gracious to wake up and have a tomorrow—it’s because He made it so and tomorrow He’ll be there too. 

 

‘Til next time, Be Blessed~ and stay warm!

Patricia

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:: The Front Bedroom-

Honestly, I’ve not done much with the bedrooms in my house since the last of our kids moved out (about 6 years ago).  In April of 2011, my brother and nephews, as well as my dad, all moved in for a short time- they were in between houses and need a place to stay. This is what it looked like then…

 

It is the front bedroom and well, nothing spectacular really… it has been needing some TLC. 
You can’t tell really, but there is carpet (low pile, commercial office type carpet)and the furnishings are all hodge-podge…which, simply put… is pretty much what I like.  I don’t like matching sets of furniture.  You may like it—that’s fine.  But for me—I like to mix it up a little bit!

Below is the same room; to the left of the bed—Mid-Night Blue walls… a left over from when my daughters (both of them) were still home… and more hodge-podge-ing of the furniture.

The armoire, a hand-me-down piece from my Granny’s house.  It was left over from when HER mother owned the house (a duplex) and rented out half of it.  It is Art Deco period, water-fall type and very big on storage!  I’ve had this in my possession—for about 25 years.  It stores—winter coats, clothes, boxes of old VHSes … (not all at once) but heck, it stores pretty much WHAT EVER YOU WANT IT TO STORE!

It was also slathered in MID-NIGHT BLUE paint.

The week after the babies were born—I started working in there…  This is my BEFORE.



I know… that was 3 weeks ago and now you’re wondering why I’m just now telling you all this.  Because well, I’ve been work, work, working- ON WINTER PROJECTS! 

I’ll show you how it looks pretty soon.  It’s not finished.  But, my word…!  It’s a big change! 
I’ll also be bringing you up to speed on the move…
Oh... and I'm counting down the days until I turn 50... You can read a post from about 6 months ago, here-- Leaving Something for our Children. (written by your's truly)

Have you been working on winter-time projects?  What do you do to keep busy when it’s cold out? 

‘Til next time, Be Blessed~ and stay warm!

Patricia

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“ He has shown you O man, what is good, And what does the Lord require of you; but to Do justice, Love Mercy,and to walk Humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8

:: A Party and Projects-

 

So if the last project I did in  2014 was my floor--- and you saw the pictures here and here.  Then you know… at some point my kitchen HAS TO GET A NEW PAINT!

That is exactly what I’ve been doing this past week… that and getting ready for a surprise baby shower that our two oldest daughters were throwing HONORING the youngest daughter.  I think she was surprised… take a look!  

It’s January y’all!    Just a matter of weeks and we’ll be blessed with 2 …new grandbabies!  Littles, Littles GALORE!

So… of course getting a house ready to sell is still, for me is bittersweet. I have much anxiety. More than I’ve shared here with you.  That’s another post.

The progress on the paint?  I’ll try to just give it to you in a 1-2-3 fashion… so not to make this too long.

 

 

• Getting rid of Yellow (in progress)
• Touching up lower and upper cabinets 
• Patching Hole near vent hood—from the last time I moved it 8 inches  -from that post…

Then I shoved and pulled and pushed that heavy stove over toward the table a whole 8 inches.  Yes folks... 8 inches is all it took to make a difference in the foot path of my kitchen.  My work triangle is complete and works so smoothly now!

• Also patching the cracks over the doors—no before photo, Only during.

Yes! There is my step-back cupboard that the hubby built with my youngest son. STILL in the living room. Whoever said, “These things take time.” – sure knew what they were talking about!

There is much more going on and plenty more to talk about—and I’m not even going to talk about the weather.  It is what it is… Besides doing all this—that I’ve mentioned, I’m in the process of decluttering, and cleaning out. I’m working on budget goals and paper work too.

What projects are you working on?  Are you hunkered down for a long winter’s nap—and just taking life easy? 

‘Til next time, Be Blessed~

      Patricia



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::Small but Simple Living

 * affiliate links included

Since taking our little excursion before Thanksgiving.  I have fallen off the blogging track!  No reason really, though we have gotten a case of the crud over the holidays and been a little under the weather.  Other than that—I just haven’t had much to blog about.  I said I was going to try and keep from that—and write more often, eh well- brush myself off, get up and begin again.
I was looking through pictures of the trip. I wanted to share this old farmstead with you.  I was amazed at the preservation and the feel of the place.  It got me thinking about our move. What I want in a place.  Obviously—where ever we land is going to need some work.

This place though not for sale—it is historical after all.  The Parker- Hickman Farmstead or just google the name.  Lots of information on it.


Just for fun- I’m taking a look at it through a property buying venture point-of-view.   So looking at the above photo …

• First thing we’ll be needing.  Indoor plumbing!  That little bitty building to the left in this picture sets waaay back from the house--- and well, let’s just say, it’s not heated in the winter, and leave it at that!

• NEXT A FRONT PORCH- Since we’re looking to downsize We’ll probably have to build this-- I love a front porch for sittin’  -- it’s extra living space!  I use my front porch for rocking the babies, reading a book, drinking the coffee, crocheting the hand towels… all sorts of living is done on the front porch.  This one is complete with  HOMESTEAD HOOKS! (pictured below next to the screen door) and a “welcome, please come in”  sign! 

twig hooks

I always want my guests that come up to the porch to feel welcome!  AND… have a place to hang their jacket

*see those natural hooks?!

• BASICS::  Space/ Lighting/ Heating - A good sized living room.  With ample lighting.  This fireplace is nice for warmth, and the windows look like they might allow a little bit of breeze—but that little … HOODIS of a light just won’t do!  Maybe a couple of swags lamps …might brighten this room up a bit!  :)

While I do like quirky and vintage--  I would think a door knob, maybe glass would be pretty here and a little bit of white paint?  Though I have to appreciate the ingenuity of this knob and latch on this door leading up the stairs.



This picture was taken with a flash…because well, IT WAS DARK!   Like scary-movie dark.  Look at the treads on this stair case!  Very well worn.



The bedroom at the top of the stairs was one open room…and even darker.  I don’t think I got a good enough picture to show it.  But—I just pictured a room full of kids bouncing on the beds up there!  Like every night was a slumber party!

• CHARACTER- on my list of things in my next home —I don’t think I’d like a cookie cutter sort of house.

Onto the KITCHEN.

• MY NEW KITCHEN- Doesn’t have to be big. I have a good sized kitchen now, though it is an eat in kitchen, we still have ample room. This was probably an eat-in kitchen. I have never gotten accustomed to using a dishwasher.  So I DON’T NEED or want one of those. This house had a large summer kitchen.  Not ONE CUPBOARD or sink or drain-board. Imagine the possibilities! I would think the dishes might have been washed outside and the dishwater used to water the garden or tossed out into the yard.  ( I do that already too!)
• 

It had a large walk-in pantry for storing all sorts of food and rations for winter. Complete with a bench for sittin’  stored on the top shelf– I like sittin’.   :)

• The 1st floor BEDROOM:   If we had an 2 story house—I’d think I’d want a first floor bedroom--- unless of course, the view was spectacular from upstairs—honestly, I lean toward a single story home.  Can you tell?

There was a door leading out—I’d like that if there was a private patio on the other side!

 

and more Character!  ALL TYPES of paper glued to every surface, including the ceiling in this old farmstead. Most likely, insulation—but may as well be pretty too.



That’s the house!  In a nut shell.  That’s all I need…or want really.  Small and simple. 

Seeing how this family lived—so simply, calls to my simplistic ways so strongly.  Now If we can just find a piece of land… for not much money.  Maybe a tiny house!






I have all the other buildings to show you--- the granary, the chicken house, the smoke house and the two barns!  For us… a bit much.  But it’s nice to see and dream about simple times.

Stunning Nature and Lovely Bird Themed Wood Wall Hook

‘Til next time, Be Blessed!
           Patricia



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Trust in the LORD and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD; and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it. ~ Psalm 37: 3-5

:: What I did Wednesday-

 

After driving all day on Tuesday to come home from our mini-vacation. 

All I wanted to do was just chill in my recliner. Nothing. Not move.

Just.

SIT.

THERE!

I knew I needed to shop for Fruit Salad and make cornbread.  :/

But every time I looked up -- I’d look up and see my Vintage swag lamps!  Oh how I love them.  Oh how dusty they become!

You remember them…

I’ve loved them since they hung in my Mother In Love’s home… of course she didn’t display them ALL TOGETHER… with such artistic design… LIKE ME!

She didn’t play around with 1977 filter and plaster them all over INSTAGRAM… (no, it didn’t exist!)

let’s face it—not everyone has a penchant for VINTAGE SWAGS….like I do!

So what’s a girl to do when she has eyes on moving and selling her house?   She creates a new swag.

One with simple, understated lines. 

Notice I don’t even have a cutesy little cord cover ON THE THE CORD!

NOPE.  Just a cord, from a light I saved- from the garbage!  A previous occupant (a.k.a.- my daughter) left behind. It had faux lapis discs hanging from it—I took all that off and added this

lovely.

simple.

understated.

lamp shade- AND VOI`LA!  

You want to see what else…this lover of all things vintage has a penchant for?  Submitted for your approval

 

‘Til next time, Be Blessed!
           Patricia



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May the LORD bless you from Zion; He who made Heaven and Earth.  ~Psalm 134:3

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:: Preparing to Move-

I can’t believe this is really going to happen.
We’ve talked about over the years. We bat the idea around… and I always chicken out.
Yes! I’m packing boxes.

:: Making Mental Checklist -

Today I puttered around the house. While doing so I made mental checklists of Things To-Do before putting the house on the market. That sounds so odd seeing that in writing. But it’s true.  It looks like it’s going to happen.

I took the curtains down in the kitchen window and both the curtains from off the lower cupboards on either side of the stove and washed them.  It was chilly outside…but the wind blew like the dickens.  So after washing and hanging them out—they dried pretty quickly. Not to mention,… did I mention the wind?  The curtains were wrinkle free!
 
Yes!  high winds take the wrinkles out!  I thought about standing outside and let the wind blow past me and see how well it worked!

So onto my Mental Checklist--

• I swept the kitchen floor.  (made a note that something will definitely need to be done to the kitchen floor)
• I wiped down the upper cupboard doors.  (NEEDS FRESH PAINT)
• I added FAN REMOVAL / SWAP to my list.
• Last week, I began dusting all the ceiling fans in the house.  They were over due and I’ll be reversing them soon for better heat circulation—Do you reverse your fans in the winter time?  Ceiling fans are a must for comfort here in TEXAS.  We heat the house with wood…and the fans help to circulate all that stagnate hot air up at the ceiling.  Makes a big difference.  The key is slow speed.  I was working in the kitchen today and those fans have already been cleaned and dusted.  
• There are two fans in the kitchen.  The one over the dining area needs to come down and a light fixture needs to go up instead.  It should then be swapped out with fan on the kitchen side—as it is more cohesive with my Farm House kitchen.  The one in the Kitchen side—needs spiffing with paint and new blades and put into the master bedroom.  The old one quit in there. 
• Ceiling needs paint.
• Shampoo Both Rugs and Remove one; keeping only one rug for under the table.
• Remove 1 table – keeping the smaller drop leaf and 4 Chairs.
• Get boxes and begin purging dishes and appliances.  Packing up will be one of the first things!

That's just a small list of things that popped into my head while I was cleaning.

After all that cleaning.  I got busy cooking. It was chilly though, like I said.  So I made chili and cornbread for supper.  It was quick and easy.  I’ve post a recipe for you here.  The oven warmed up the kitchen nicely too.

Over all --- it was a pretty productive day.



No.  It was a wonderful day. 

‘Til next time, Be Blessed!




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Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.~ Ephesians 5:15-17

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I'm participating in Nester's annual -31 Days of writing

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"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." ~Joshua 1:9

:: Smack in the Face Reality-

Yesterday, Honey had his check up at the V.A.—last week we went for labs, this week followup with the doctor.  It was perfect timing, this week so no Littles tagging along.
We stopped to look at property on the way home.  There I said it.  It’s not something I want to talk about—especially after the post the other day about this being my Home Town now; but it’s true.  We are discussing a move.  I’ve talked about it here on Corn before.  But I wasn’t serious about it then.
There are so many things to consider when moving:
INCOME:  We are retired. He’s says he’d go back to work.  However, he is unable to work and has health issues that would hinder him working in the type of field he is qualified for; and lets face it—he’s not ‘door greeter’ material.  No, I’m not retirement age- but I do have some health issues that keep me from working outside the home.  Truth is—baby sitting our grandchildren helps supplement quite a bit. We lost a big chunk of pay when Weston started school and his momma quit her job due to risky pregnancy.  I’m not sure how long that will last as she is planning to return to school after the baby.  So many things to consider.
OUTGOING:  we have a mortgage – not well planned when the Honey retired.    Removing the mortgage is the first and most important step in making a move.  Being able to get top dollar for our home is the biggest key to that.  We would have to get enough to pay off the house with enough to pay cash for something small. 
That brings me to my own reality.  There are a few.

• First, if we’re serious about putting it on the market… I have to look at my home as a PRODUCT.   No longer my home, but a house. 
• Secondly—in order to do that.  I have to make changes here.  Less my tastes and decorating style; no more “what I’m willing to live with being less than perfect or inoperable”.   I have to make sure the paint is fresh, the floors are pretty, the cabinet doors all close and are not to cluttered.

That brings me to my SMACK IN THE FACE REALITY…  and a brief story
I found a place online.  Friday we had time to drive by and see it.  It wasn’t easy, as the house address wasn’t disclosed in the listing.  I used my Super Sleuthing Skills  and found the address.  It was on the way back from the doctor’s office. 
We pulled up and it’s a wooded lot on 3.5 acres.  They’re asking under OUR Top dollar that we’re willing to pay.   Now you’ve seen our place, we have a few trees LARGE OAKS, but mainly open pasture.  I like that. Honey, on the other hand doesn’t like the mowing involved.  So a wooded lot is right up his alley.
The thing is—It was POSTED: NO TRESPASSING VIOLATORS WILL BE PROSECUTED TO THE FULL EXTENT OF THE LAW!   all over the place.  I backed out, and got the number off the sign and Honey called.  She gave the go ahead to drive up and have a look around.  What I saw gave me mixed feelings.  A lot of them bad.
You see the house was small – just like what we’re wanting. We didn’t obviously see the inside since we didn’t call ahead. But I’ve seen pictures online and it is clean on the inside.  Looks very suitable.  The back yard—fenced, for Buster.  Perfect. The woods—just creeped me out.  
Then…
there were the SHEDS.  Yes, 5 sheds listed with this property.  I was totally thinking CRAFTING SPACE!  in a sing song Jo Anne Worley  voice!  But there were a total of 6.  All different in degree of usefulness or repairs needed.  The first one, closest to the house…needed a new floor but could be made serviceable—quite easily.  The second—was obviously a sewing craft room—it had vinyl flooring, sheet rocked walls, windows—and there was an office chair, a thread spool holder, and a yarn basket left behind.  The third shed a TOOL shed—sort of grimy—needed cleaning out.  But for the most part useable.
The last 3 sheds—Oh MY GOSH!   FULL!  full of STUFF!  Craft stuff, Sewing Stuff, APPLIANCES… EXERCISE EQUIPMENT, … old furniture… a boot jack… CHRISTMAS DECOR,… FALL DECOR,  boxes and crates of magazines… SOOOOO --- MMMMMUUUUUCCCCCHHHHH --- SSSSSTTTTUUUUUFFFFFF!!!!!!
That’s when it hit me. We can’t buy that house. It was too scary.
I have my own stuff to deal with.  I AM THAT WOMAN.  The woman who moved away and left all her stuff.  Probably at her husbands INSISTANCE!   She lived in a tiny house… and kept it so lovely…because she had THREE SHEDS TO PACK IT ALL AWAY INSIDE THERE; NEVER TO SEE IT AGAIN.

 

‘Til next time, Be Blessed!




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Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.~ Ephesians 5:15-17

 

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I'm participating in Nester's annual -31 Days of writing