Decorating---

Family and Friend style!

Connie's dining room table looks fabulous! 

I love all the details like the candy dosh and the glass ornaments in the crystal bowl. The "noel" is a needlepoint piece.

 This is her table in the breakfast room. It just looks great.

Ooops, not exactly a decoration, but he could be---he's cute enough! He'd be "Dash"ing through the snow---if we had any!

 My friend, Nancy has been making these cake plate scenes. They are so cute!

This is the bottle brush tree she has in her craft room. I was envious of it from the beginning!

My cousin, Chrissy, is the queen of mantles! I'm always attracted to displays that make me want to look at all the details. Love that bowl of peppermint balls on the table too!

Last Monday, we went to Murfreesboro, to help Morgan with her tree. Of course, what could go wrong did go wrong! Starting with---she lives far away from any live trees. We started with a stop at Walmart. They no longer sell "fresh"trees, but she picked up a tree stand. We went on (further) to Home Depot and Lowes. Got the tree. Got home. All she had to trim the tree with was a meat cleaver. That worked, but the tree stand didn't. Back to Walmart---they didn't have a smaller one. Back to Lowes. By the time we did all that and got the tree in the tree stand, she had to go to work and we needed to leave. We were there 3 hours and 15 minutes--plus an hour and a half round trip travel time! She was on her own for the decorating which we had planned to help with. She sent this picture when she finished. It turned out really nice even with all the hassle! Sheesh, it's always something!

I'd love to see what you are doing. There's nothing that makes me happier than seeing Christmas decorations!

Just About Finished

Right off the bat, I can't get these pictures to line up the way I want, so I'll have to start here. Here is the view from Mindy's new condo. This one is from the right side of her living room. She has a corner unit on the 10th floor, so has windows on two walls. That made it a little difficult for furniture placement.

 This is the same view. She overlooks a place called the "Tin Roof" which is a bar/music venue. In the summer, they have concerts on the roof which she'll be able to enjoy from the comfort of her own balcony. This road is the entrance to Music Row and is a "hoppin' " place. The buildings you see are shops, bars and food places. Convenient for Mindy. Her place is in a perfect location for all the "night life" stuff that she and her friends do.

 This view is from the other side. Downtown is to the left (out of view).

Here's the nude sculpture of flying people at the entrance to Music Row. You can barely tell that they are adorned with red Solo cups in honor of the current Toby Keith song. I took some better pictures of it that I'll post later.

The view from Mindy's balcony.

This is another "hoppin' " place called "The Gulch" and is just across the highway. This view is from her balcony too.

 More views from the 10th floor.

 

This view is looking straight down at the pool. I think it's on the 6th floor. This picture doesn't do it justice. There's a whole cabana, lounge, barbecue area for entertaining. What's nice about this is that Mindy can see if any "hot"guys are at the pool and then dash down there.

Now here's the beginning of the post:

As with any move, there are snafus---late deliveries, no deliveries, pick-ups, appointments, missing items, damaged items---to name a few. Mindy's move was no different. Butch and I manned it all with our busy schedules and somehow made it all work for the past two weeks. If he wasn't retired, I don't know what we would have done. Most days we had the timing down to the minute with very little wiggle room.

Friday was the "big" day. The movers met me at Stephanie's to pick up the chair/lounger. They were late which threw my schedule off. I was to be at the condo by 9 to receive the delivery of mom's room divider that I had painted black. I took off while the movers met up with Butch at the apartment.

I also needed to go to Target, but planned to do that after the furniture delivery and between the time the movers arrived. The furniture delivery did not come when it was supposed to. Finally, I got a call from Christy (my friend and old nail girl turned decorator) who had arranged for the painting---that there was a problem. The "guy" had no one to help him move the room divider. By this time, the movers were just about finished. I told Christy to send him right away and I could get our movers to do it. Her "guy" arrived just in time---the movers were literally writing out the bill. I never did make it to Target.

Christy arrived---she was doing the window treatments---another story, but let's just say that even though I started that process the first of December, they are still not done. Christy was to put the new hardware on the room divider, but the screws were too short, so that couldn't get done. And she forgot the little plastic things that hold the one adjustable shelf up. Not the end of the world, but frustrating for someone like me who is such an organized planner and wanted everything done by move in time.

I wanted everything finished by the time Mindy came home from work. We had already planned to have "happy hour" at her place. I had brought everything for that.

Anyway, Butch and I started in on the unpacking. Mindy has so many clothes, that I really expected to spend just about the whole day in her bedroom. Luckily, the new "closet" was installed the day before---sort of like California closets. I did spend a good deal of time in there.

About 2:30, I was starving so Butch went out for food. That was our one and only break. Carson dropped Morgan off after school. She is a hard worker and helped me finish the clothes. Butch hung everything on the walls and was just finishing up with the piece over the bed when Mindy called that she needed for someone to let her in. What??? She got off early and didn't call. I wasn't ready for her. My favorite thing when I help anybody move/decorate is letting them have the "wow" factor. Now she was early and we still had boxes everywhere, the bed wasn't made up (I did have the sheets washed and ready) and the empty boxes hadn't been hauled away yet. We weren't expecting her, Steph and Nicky until 5:30---it was only 4. We let her in and put her to work---which with Mindy is like no work.

At 5, it was time to "wrap it up" so Steph, Nicky and Merrill (who was picking Morgan up for babysitting) could have the "wow" factor. They did. And here it is (I forgot to take "before" pictures---I always do):

The living room: grey concrete floors, 10ft. ceilings, windows on both sides, rug, cubes and pillows saved from my recent redecorating. The only thing "new" is the tv stand.
                             
Here's the chair/lounger. It's really too big for the room, but Mindy is going to live with it for awhile and decide whether she would rather have a chair. Of course, we've already donated her living room chairs (our old ones). Luckily, the chair/lounger is growing on us.

Here's the room divider---painted black. It turned out awesome. You have to imagine the chrome handles on the doors. Mindy loves it too. I'm so glad that she has something of her grandmothers. She also has her everyday silverware. She bought the standing clock at the flea market. We found the big "m" there too which we also painted black. The rug came from our family room. 

Mindy's favorite color is red. I saved everything from our bedroom and bath. This rug came from our bath room and it has flee de lis. She has a lot of New Orleans style decor. Her bathroom is really big. Steph had a fit when she thought I had gotten Mindy personalized towels already. But really, I just gave her a couple of ours---after all it is the same name!

She has tons of cabinet space, but only 4 little drawers---8"---not even big enough to hold the smallest utensil divider. All of her appliances are new. She couldn't use her washer and dryer as the condo complex requires a particular model. I should have taken a close-up photo of the concrete floors. Just imagine a basement floor with a shiny, clear sealer put on top.

Mindy had one wall painted red. The only thing new is the tone on tone black rug. Her nightstand is a jewelry armoir that we found at Target when she moved in to her new apartment.

On the left of the dresser is the door to her balcony. On the wall here is an old, chipped up frame that I hung her needlework in. She has a couple other little things that will go in it too, but I hadn't come across them yet. There are still 2 laundry baskets full of little stuff and a tub of bathroom stuff that needs unpacking.

The closet. The space with the hangers is for skirts---I need to get some skirt hangers. I've organized everything by color---like my own closet. She says she's going to keep it this way. We'll see---doubtful.
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The closet looks at least 4 times bigger now---and looks pretty big in these pictures, but it's not that big.

When we got home Friday night---7:30---I told Butch that my legs and feet were absolutely throbbing. His back was hurting from hauling stuff from Mindy's third floor apartment with no elevator---long outside steps. That's what happens when you stand on concrete all day long with only a 15 minute lunch break. I'm a work-a-holic for sure. I do work hard and fast. Even Butch couldn't believe we got it ALL done in one day!

As for unpacking and organizing, everything is done with the exception of those two baskets and tub in the bathroom. I had told Mindy that after Friday I couldn't do anything else. I have too much going on this week---something every day and just about every evening---classes, AYM, shopping and cooking for Morgan's Winter Formal dinner and getting ready for St. Louis.

As it turns out, I have to squeeze in the cable guy on Monday from 2-5. He came on Saturday while Mindy was there, but needed to get in a room that the building manager was a real jerk about and refused to open. Told Mindy he needed to come M-F, so here we are---squeezing something else in to the schedule. I don't know how all you working people did it. Luckily, Butch had me to handle everything on the home front.

Anyway, I can't say, I'm unhappy about this turn of events. This will give me the opportunity to finish up those last baskets. I'll be happy to head to St. Louis for a much needed vacation! I plan to kick back and just have fun---and maybe win a little money from the fam!!!

Later...

Problem Fixed!

I spent 5 hours taking apart the new tree on Monday and re-decorating which includes 3 hours spent at Target buying "new" stuff. Red, that's the ticket. I knew that would show up and it does. Aside from the fact that I've packed away almost all of my "cool" ornaments and marked the boxes---"Living Room Ornaments---Do Not Use"---I'm pleased with the results. In 15 years, when I replace this tree, my ornaments will be all new to me again. In the meantime, I'll be on the lookout for unusual red ornaments. There is some lime green ornaments on the tree which look good too, but it's the red that really shows. Believe it or not, there are over 250 ornaments on the tree. None of our tree toppers will work, so I bought a new red star, that wouldn't work either.

I procrastinated with the decorating this year. I wanted it all done on Friday, but I just hate every minute of it and didn't finish until Sunday (well Monday, with the re-decorating of the tree). That's thrown me off schedule with the wrapping.

I saw this idea in a magazine. It looks okay, better in the magazine. I'm thinking of adding it to my dining room table decorations, but can't do that until after Mindy's birthday party on Saturday. I'll take a picture when I get that done. I have a really neat idea that I can't wait to do. We'll see how it turns out.

The thing with the tassel is actually a pillow sham that I found on clearance a couple of years ago. Originally, it was intended for the guest room. I never used it there and had it in the "get rid of" pile. I thought of it when I needed something for the entry table. Fabric always softens "tablescapes."

 At first, I couldn't find my needlepoint pillows. Turns out they were in the Christmas closet in a shopping bag all covered with tissue that looked like a bag of "wrap stuff." My memory---or lack there of---scares me. I searched everywhere for these pillows and finally decided they had to be in the Christmas closet.

 This year I decided to just leave my mantle alone. Rather than moving everything and putting up the traditional Christmas stuff, I just added magnolia leaves (which I always do anyway), holly branches and cedar trimmings. Much easier and it still looks festive and Christmasy.

I bought this handsome fellow in a Christmas shoppe in Bath, England. His hand-painted face reminded me of the other elves I have. His face and hands must be plastic because Butch already knocked him down and he didn't break.

 I love leaving my old jars out and just adding ornaments to turn them in to Christmas decorations.

 Connie gave me this Scrooge teapot many years ago. It's still one of my most favorite things. The Christmas platter is in front of a "photo tray" that Sandy made me for Christmas a few years ago. It stays up year round---I need to remember to take a picture of that.

Stephanie made this tree for me a few years ago. This is the perfect location for it.

Again, I took the lazy way out this year---just incorporating the Christmas stuff with my regular decorations. Does it look too much like a store? Want to buy something?

 My friend, Linda, started this collection for me years ago.

 Another old jar filled with ornaments, more Fitz and Floyd and my ceramic Christmas trees I've had for 25 years. I think it all looks good on Grandma Zimmermann's old tablecloth.

 I'm determined this year to be able to use the bar during the holidays. Usually it is blocked by our live tree. We're going to block the French doors with the tree this year. We'll see how it works out.

Nothing new here---I do this the same every year. Except, there's usually a clock dangling from my big elf. It got broken last year. When you walk in the front door, you are supposed to pick up on the idea that it's "time" for Christmas.

This little tree has all hand-made (by me) ornaments on it. I'm going to let all of my holiday guests take one home. There are glittered snowflakes with Christmas yoyo's from an old quilt that I found at an antique shop that I took apart. I added a vintage button to the center. Some have a vintage button on top of old milk caps. I made those last year.This year I did the tart tins with the vintage jewelry in the middle with crystals dangling. They're all pretty cute if I do say so myself.

I love my collection of Murano glass trees. I had planned to add to it when we visited Venice, Italy. I never saw a single one. Pretty disappointing. Our private guide at one of the Murano glass factories didn't know what I was talking about and even hinted that I might not have bought authentic Murano and may have gotten ripped off. Believe me, they are authentic---probably just made for Americans.

Well, I guess that's it for this year---until I get my dining room table decorated. I'm really excited about that.

I'd sure love to see everyone else's decorations. The bad part about living away is I don't get to see family decorations! Even here in town, I get to see just a couple of friends decorations---and they are few. Not very many people have things during the holidays. It's my favorite time to entertain. Heck, might as well, while the house looks different!

Speaking of which---the new lights go on the outside on Friday and the renovation work will finally be complete. I'll be posting some "befores" and "afters"next week.

Catching Up...

I need to go all the way back to last week. Pam, Nancy and I went to a new antique place in Bellvue. It was really nice---a little pricey---but set up so cute. And when it comes down to it, if you love it, you'll pay for it.

 They had the cutest tags on all of their stuff. The tags were punched with a scallop punch and attached with ribbons and pins. Makes me think these gals are scrapbookers. I didn't think to ask. Anyway, the tags were a little added bonus---I've added them to my stash.

Here's my haul---old casseroles---probably not microwave safe, blue linens, a vintage corner shelf that I plan to put in the sunroom.

 I had to have the pink tin and dresser scarf. The blue bowl is cool, not sure what I'm doing with that yet. And then that blue tablecloth embroidered in black---destined for my office. You'll see that later.

On to Washington.
When we arrived at the Mayflower Hotel (which is probably one of the nicest hotels I've ever been in---huge room), I immediately figured out where I would be setting up my "home-away-from-home" office. Knowing that I'd be up half the night, I needed a place to go.

That place is always the bathroom. We don't usually have suites or anything. I put the coffee/tea set-up in there. I was so happy that they had Twinings Tea---still riding high from that stop in London. Beverages, check.

I took the extra blanket, the decorative pillows from my bed and made a cozy little "nest" in the tub.

 I didn't have much in the way of food---a Butterfinger snack size and 2---actually, disgusting mints. But when you get up at "o-dark thirty" you do get hungry. By 7 a.m. it's really lunchtime for me these days. Better than nothing. I snagged a cookie one day and enjoyed that with my tea one night. I had everything I needed, tea, snack, computer, headphones to listen to Pandora, reading material and plenty of work that I wanted to do. Heaven! I can get along anywhere. I just can't be idle.

Always travel with a pashmina or scarf! This is why. Thank goodness, I took the scarf off before eating. I dribbled 1000 island dressing from my ruben sandwich. There was no time to change. Luckily, I covered it up with my scarf. Still, I tried to wash it out at the hotel---it didn't. I may have ruined one of my PINK tops---not like I don't have dozens more.

That reminds me---I alluded to another "health" related issue yesterday. Well, let's just suffice it to say that I experienced a problem that I do not ordinarily have. Putting it politely, I had to "bury" a Prep "H" wipe. I spent about $90.00 arming myself with every possible thing available. Ultimately, the situation got so bad I had to call my doctor, find a pharmacy and get a prescription in D.C. I know, TMI! It was not good. I may have been a little overzealous on those squat/thrust machines at Curves---but who knew I had "this" problem. Lesson learned---go a little easier.

One other thing I have to mention. I had the best time watching the Cards win the World Series. Those were the best games I've ever seen in baseball. I don't follow baseball unless the Cardinals make the Series. Janice and I had a bet going---I told her I'd only bet if I could have the Cards. She "hedged" her bet with others and actually had 3 bets going---2 for the Cards and the one with me. We had so much fun texting back and forth during the game. What an exciting game. She said it made her miss her "ball" days.

Arriving home Sunday, we went straight to the Titan's game. I've joked with my friends, that I've figured out a way to NOT have to go to the games. We tailgate, one of the girls uses my ticket, I leave and Butch "hitches" a ride home. The perfect plan. I just can't sit still for 4 hours and do nothing. What a waste of time. At least at home, I can watch the game, enjoy the commentary and STITCH at the same time. I actually can say I enjoy the game that way. The only thing I like about being at the stadium is tailgating with our friends. Otherwise, it's just long, boring, too hot (usually), or cold (sometimes). We have really good seats, but everyone stands just about the whole time. And then when you finally get to sit down, you have to get up about 50 times because people are going in and out. Just not fun. Anyway, my perfect plan is "flawed." It puts Butch in the position of being a "moocher" about the ride home. I get that. It's okay. I'm just glad that I have the girls to use my ticket. I always said that I only did the Titan's games for "love." Now I can still "love" the game from home.

After the game I went up to my office and decided to clean out my closet. I uncovered a few problems---or I should say, my "multiples" problem is clearly visible. Notebooks---I have a few. But how could I EVER resist those pink ones---you don't see pink binders all the time.

Now having this many envelopes is actually funny. I have every size possible. But I never seem to have what I need. Case in point, I needed a regular legal size envelope---nada, not a one---nor or there any regular envelopes---I have boxes from old stationary, invitations, and several boxes of card size from my card making days, etc. Can't seem to throw them out.

Notebooks---lots of them. I can't live without spiral bound notebooks. When mom died last year, I asked Jeanne for one so that I could start handling everything. I couldn't believe it when she said she didn't have any! Most of these aren't even new. I've always kept the girls notebooks at the end of the school year, tore out their stuff and kept them. I shouldn't have to buy another one for the rest of my life---unless it's pink.

 Binder clips---a nice big box. I use them in place of "chip" clips too. They come in handy for just about anything. I have a few floating in my car and beside my chair in the family room. I want everything I need at my fingertips.

The pens. I'm particular about the feel of a pen in my hand. I write a LOT! I like how the ink glides across my spiral bound notebooks. This is my favorite type. They are hard to find. When I do, I buy at least 3 boxes. They used to come in blue, but I haven't seen them in years and am sad that I don't have any left. I don't use red much, but had to have box of them. I might have enough for the rest of my life.

Bubble wrap---I think I've identified another problem. I decided to keep only what would fit on the lower shelf. I have grand plans to sell stuff on Ebay, but never quite get around to it. When I do, I'll have the packing materials.

Here's the whole thing cleaned out. It took me about 3 hours. I got rid of tons of stuff. Well, not really, Butch saw what I was getting rid of and moved a lot of it down to his office. Sort of defeats the purpose of purging if you just move it to another part of the house.

Now, finally, the view of my newly re-painted office. It used to be "hot" pink. I wanted to go with something completely different---more calming. I went with the same blue paint color I used on the ceiling in the kitchen and sunroom. I love white woodwork. It really sets off any color.

Here's that blue tablecloth. Perfect in my blue and black office. The lamp in the rear is one of a pair that I got from my "adopted" grandma in the early 1990's.

 This view is from my desk. Those bunnies sitting in the chair on the left I plan to put on Ebay---sometime. The paintings we bought on a cruise with our friends about 15 years ago.

Aside from the new plantation shutters, I didn't want to spend a lot of money in this room. These are about the cheapest window treatments you can do. They match what I have in "mindy's" room except her room is pink. I wanted a uniform look from the outside. There is a transom window under them.

 But what you need to know is that they are totally fake. This is NOT fabric rolled up. The fabric is just wound around a cardboard tube. If I knew how to sew, I'd use a swimming noodle---that way you could have it as fat as you want. Then, it's just a scrap of fabric about an inch or two wide, rolled up and pinned in place on the end---giving the illusion that it's all fabric. Really cheap---well, except for the labor---they always get you there!

This is my most favorite piece of needlework I've ever done. It's called "kaleidescope." It was really hard---especially on that black. I thought I would lose my mind. It was so hard to see---especially since my robes are black---it was very hard to see a contrast to stitch. I need to have that tired, worn mat replaced. I'll put that on the list.

And there you are---all up-to-date. We only had 2 trick-or-treaters last night. I actually had almost all of the Halloween stuff put away last week. A month is enough for me. I did it before we went to England which was about September 10. Butch said, "you're taking it all down before Halloween?" I was "over it."

Hive update: not good. I have not been able to taper down yet. Trying today, say a prayer. My doctor called yesterday and is concerned about the level of Prednisone I'm on for so long this time. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. When the doctor worries, I worry. I don't know what bad stuff it's doing to me, but I don't need anything else---with the "roids" and all.....