The Glorious Pile

Source: apartmenttherapy.com via Liza on Pinterest                                                 From The Glorious Pile          (momma loves you) Hello little house, it's been 14 years since I signed the papers, got the keys and opened your door for the first time. You were freshly painted and groomed. Sunlight streamed through your un-curtained windows and the first thing I did was put my grandmother's portrait up on the mantle. She had passed away earlier that year and when I found you I knew she would approve. I promptly pulled up your tattered green carpet that hadn't budged in 20 years. Your vinyl wallpaper, 4 bedrooms and 2 baths were so quaint and dainty that I almost wanted to leave everything in tact. I had never lived in a house so big in my adult life, certainly not by myself. You weren't my first property but c...

During my "One room per week" cleaning routine, I managed to clean the Kitchen and Den in 2 weekends. Mind you, they hadn't experienced a deep cleaning overhaul in many many moons, so hours went into cleaning them. As an added benefit, the weather was nice enough to open the doors and windows, play some french music, wash some clothes, recycle, bake some salmon steaks AND sort out tax stuff all at the same time! Judging from the contents of the vacuum and discarded dust cloths, I'll be breathing a bit better too. Maybe it's seasonal affective disorder or just being over-worked, but I just haven't had the time to put things back where they came from. It might not look like a huge difference to you but trust me, I'm so relieved that part of my home is functioning better because it's cleaner. At some point I'll want to wash the walls down, paint and do a deep tissue cleaning on the place. But for now,  I got a thermal blanket for my hot water heater a...

Thankful for the milestones and the seemingly impossible boulders over the last year. I feel humbled, blessed and hopeful. There are so many things that I am grateful for: including new and old friends, jobs that I love, a   roof over my head , my little dog child for as long she decides to hang in there with me, my bff, my health, and Gods healing and redemptive power in my life! Though I had to work today, I got to have a turkey lunch complete with cranberry sauce and stuffing. And even though my family didn't call, I know that the Lord hasn't forgotten me . Happy Thanksgiving! Oh yeah, I'm thankful that I finally repaired and painted my garage doors. Last spring, I did a little cleaning and found this wood rot but couldn't afford to do anything about it. Other than the obvious rotting wood and branch in the roof, the cleaning did a lot of good. Before After The orange color was supposed to be a little more peanut butter in color. I might still change it. W...

I've been feathering my nest with things I already have around the house. I'm Not entertaining for the holiday but I'm continuing my quest to recycle, purge or give away. Here are some of the feathers in my nest, taken with my Blackberry since my camera is STILL out of commission: I'm keeping the turkey platter and the wine decanter, though they are both empty! I'm re-arranging furniture in the living room ( I may be moving the white sofa into the den and I'm looking for a white faux-animal hide for my conversation pit. I also need better lighting and my chair recovered...and as long as we're making of list of things I'd like to do when I have more money...make the curtain panels from the silk I bought years ago.) found these lamps at HomeGoods but decided not to buy anything just yet. I had these sconces stored away in a box and since I can't afford to run the electric to them I just nailed them to the wall on either side of mirror! Someon...

I have some AWESOME news! My long belabored home loan modification has finally been APPROVED! 16 months of anxiety, tears and frustration washed away by a signature (notarized of course). My pessimism and lack of faith in my mortgage company has made me slightly suspicious even still, but my faith in God keeps me believing that ANYTHING is possible! ALONG with this blessing comes the completion of my film, which is in the process of being marketed, and the freelance job that I'm in love with, which couldn't have come at a better time, and the cushion that I experienced during a recent fall in the driveway, which could've been much much worse than it was, just some bruising and scraped skin. How grateful I am to have the loving hand of God on my life, in good times and bad. He is my keeper. I feel like I'm back home again...  back to my glorious pile.

  I adore this photo which is the cover of Home & Design Magazine .  There's a place for everything, even the dog!  I realized that I have some things that I could put in a built-in like that (but I would have to work at building a collection that's as colorful and flawless as in this photo). I will definitely have something like this in my imaginary beach house Here are some things from my mediocre collection: MADE IN THE USA. It's the real McCoy, I bought years ago. Don't you just love the crackled glaze on it?! click right on the photo to get closer love this vase, can't remember where I got it found this at a tag sale on capitol hill, 15 yrs ago reproduction soup tureen my cow painting by Shannon Smith and my sweet puppy dog on a remnant of fabric. love the lighting inside this butlers pantry too maybe one day I'll get around to just painting the back wall of my own butler's pantry and calling it a day! until then, I'll keep dreaming ...

But I've got plenty to say, as always. With the weather in the high 90's, I've got sweet iced tea and porches on the brain... mostly because I need something to go with this yummy creation, which I call  "The BEST" (Turkey Bacon, Basil, Egg, Spinach, and Tomato) But because I'm incredibly busy this summer, I don't have time to fix up my screened-in side porch.  So I've been imagining myself basking in dappled sunlight and a cool breeze with my sweet Iced Tea and sandwich... Let me pour you some tea while we refresh ourselves on nice porches like these: click on the photos to make them larger my friends porch includes an incredible view of the savannah river Wrap around porches in Savannah I love this cottage in Palmetto Bluff, SC A dining porch? Looks so glamorous! A porch with a view! I can see how families would want to spend lots of time on the porch um, can you say 'dreamy'? I think I might need to move here Shabby...