Thrift Shop Finds

I found this bench yesterday when I was out with my mom. Gary and I talked about getting a bench for the yard but it never happened. It needs some work to get the rust off the metal then needs to be repainted and the wood needs some sanding and restaining. First step - take it all apart. I might not get it finished till next summer but it will look nice. Although, with all the bugs, who knows when I will actually be able to sit in it with out being eaten alive!

Today I found this piece of embroidery. It's in really rough shape. It was in a frame that was too big for it. When I saw this, I was drawn to the colors. I decided to take a chance for $1 and see if I could save it. A lot of the staining came out just rinsing it in warm water. Then I added some Synthropol soap that I use when I wash out my dyed fabric. We'll see how it looks when it dries. I was worried that the colors in the threads might run but they seem ok. 

Playing with Paint

I wanted to play with some paint before I started painting some of the furniture I have. I made this little piece to try layering the paint and then sand it to let the different colors show.

Right now I have it hanging from the light. I had to order some vinyl siding hangers from Amazon, since I couldn't find anything locally. Hope they work.

. We had a visitor the other day. I only saw this one. The dogs didn't see it so it stayed around for a while. 

What was this?

I picked this up at a thrift shop today for $5. It's in rough shape but I can see it as a cute cabinet for quilts or something. It's small enough that it will work in my house. Where? I'm not sure. It needs a lot of tlc, wood putty, wood glue, paint and love. But, it is solid, sturdy and heavy. 

After I got it home, I started wondering what it actually started out life as. The shelf and the bottom are plywood that someone added. The actual bottom that you can see in one of the pictures, has 2 big holes and some little holes that I'm assuming were screw holes.  The back that you see is a piece of cardboard. In the second photo you an see that there is an opening there like the top. There is fabric covering it. I'm assuming the fabric was original. The top opening has ripped fabric around it. The fabric was held in place in a groove with some sort of seal holding it in. I'm not sure if there was ever doors on this. There is no evidence of hinges, but the front edge of the sides might have been sawed off. On the back is a mark cut into it"NC Co. 12" There is also a metal tag at the top of the back "Model 44". I'm thinking maybe it was a cabinet for an old radio?.....or????

Well, I don't know what it was but with a little, no make that a lot of love, it will be a cute cabinet. I love the lines of the legs. I'm sure Alex was wondering just what was I thinking when he helped me carry it into the basement. Like his father, he has trouble seeing the potential in things like this.
Well, off to get some work done.

Finding Joy in the Journey

Well, a lot has happened since I last posted. I think that was in 2013. We've had a lot of big changes in our family. In 2012 Gary was diagnosed with cancer again. This time it was cancer caused by the radiation he had for the first round of cancer back in the late 90's. This time he went through surgeries, chemo and radiation but was not able to beat it. On February 5, 2014 Gary passed away. Even though it is hard for us we are happy that he is no longer in pain and suffering. He is in a much better place.  

 Now, we are moving on in our lives. In August of last year, I helped Kara move out to Columbus, Ohio, where she is attending The Ohio State School of Veterinary Medicine. This has been her dream for years. She didn't get in the first year she applied but God had a plan for her. She was home for Gary's last year with us, which was important for both her and Gary. She applied again in 2013 and got in with early admissions. It sometimes is hard to understand why things happen but God has a plan and every thing worked out in the end. Sometimes it is hard to be patient and accept what is happening.

Alex went to New Hampshire Technical Institute in Concord for 2 years. He didn't finish his degree in Business Administration. He isn't sure what he wants to do but the business route is not it. So for now he is home until he figures things out.

I am trying to figure out what is next for me. What God has planned for me. I am no longer a wife. I'm still a mom but the kids don't need me the way they used to.  This summer, I have a lot of stuff I need to get done around the house. Stuff that has been put on hold for the last 2-3 years. One of the first things on my list is to get the porch finished up. I need to paint the door and re-stain the steps and floor, and paint the post and railing. Not looking forward to the staining since it will mean going in and out through the bulkhead. There will be a lot of stuff I need to learn to to that  Gary used to do.

 I also have a lot of refinishing projects I need, no want to get done. This bench was one of the first. I've had it since we lived in Ohio 20?  years ago. It was given to me by a good friend and I didn't want to paint it or get rid of it. But the paint was flaking off so......

I painted it "Seaglass" by Krylon. It will really look nice on the porch when the porch is finished.

Here are some of the Iris I planted when we moved in.

We don't get the lawn mowed as often as we should but I'm learning to enjoy the beauty of the simple wild flowers.

I'm excited to see where life will take me. It's not always easy and I will have us and downs but I'm going to try and find the joy and see the beauty in my journey. As long as I have God, my family and my friends, I won't be in this alone.

Summer Happenings

Well, between the heat, the rain, work and everything going on in the family, not a lot has been done outside at the house. Yesterday was nice and I managed to get the lawn mowed. Brought Ginger outside for a little grasshopper hunting. She had fun and didn't want to go back inside. 

She also managed to chase a few of these butterflies.

Here's the view out our living room window. We have some bird feeders up, including a couple hummingbird feeders. This was the best photo I was able to get.

Dale made Gary a squirrel feeder. We have also found that the blue jays like to eat from it. The lighting was horrible for this picture but you get the idea.

We managed to get a few things planted in the raised beds. We now have three 4'x4' raised beds. It provides enough for us. Or it they would if the plants were just given enough sun to do anything. We had so much rain that I didn't get somethings planted that I wanted to. It seemed like every day off I had, it rained. 

Trip to Boston

While mom, dad and I were waiting for Gary's surgery back in September, we spent a lot of time in the dining room, looking out at this view. It gave us something to do. We watched the boats and Duck Tours go by.

This was a beautiful sunset while we were eating dinner.

The Shed is Here

Here are pictures of the shed that was put up today. 

This is the little solar panel that runs the light inside the shed.

Underneath the door and under the window is the light. Hard to see it. Guess I should have put up a 

close-up of it.

And finally, a picture of Riley in one of his favorite places to sleep - the back of the couch. He blends in so well that some times we don't even see him up there.