Making time for Joy

 

I'm heading out to have some quiet cottage-time in the morning.

I'm taking a long weekend away to spend some sweet time

with my brother.

On our Thanksgiving weekend, the flowers looked like this...

it was a "gift"

to see the summery colours and blooms.

 

Can't wait to just relax with him

and chat

and just enjoy his friendship.

 

Our daily lives get so busy

and we don't seem to get as much time

to just get together and visit with the dear ones we grew up with.

We both travel about the same distance,

time-wise to meet together here.

But its so worth it!!

 

And the scenery along the way

calms my soul,

and brings me into a place of quietness.

And throwing in some Cd's to listen along the way

soothes this gals inner being so!

I pulled over on my way

at Thanksgiving to look at this 

roadside church.

I love the journey

as much as the destination.

 

It'll be a little cooler this time,

but its supposed to be sunny!

No matter what the weather,

our hearts will be warmed

in the bonds of family & true friendship...

friendship that is deep rooted in love,

  and won't let go..ever xo

Now, for some autumn coziness..

I'm thinking...hot apple cider with cinnamon sticks?

And fresh baked pumpkin bread.

I better get started on the pumpkin bread then!

 

I hope joy jumps out at you this weekend,

and that you even get "surprised" by it.

Have a beautiful weekend my sweet friends

:)

Deborah xoxoxoox

 

 

 

 

 

Projects, and then some...

 

Welcome November!!!

It was a bright sunny autumn day here

and I spent the day creating.

I've been waiting to get to one of the many projects

I'm wanting to do...

and today was just the day for it!

Since my Annie Sloan chalk paint shipment isn't here yet,

I decided to do a chalkboard paint project.

My husband cut me a piece of metal that he had in the garage

and away I went to paint.

I also did a mini-chalkboard project while I was at it!

 

I fell in love with this wooden frame 

when I was browsing at our thrift store this summer.

It had screening on the back of it

and I knew immediately what this was going to become.

Off with the screening

and 

blackboard...here we come!

Hmmmm...

Was it the heart I loved

or the way the wood looked?

Or a whole lot of both!

:)

 

This dollar store barnboard looking frame 

is a favourite of mine,

and it was destined,

as of today,

to become a mini-blackboard.

 

I've been busy working on our bedroom..

The walls are a beautiful antique white now

and I'm loving the look!

I picked up these sheers at summers' end

and I have to say

I'm adoring them so much!

I can't remember if I paid

$7.00 or $9.00

but which ever one it was,

I know I got a great deal!

I hung them by clips

and I love the scalloped look it gives them.

I'd love to paint the bedroom set white,

but my hubby would prefer them black,

so I'm working with the black/white contrast.

I have to say..I am really liking them together.

:)

I've been so inspired by the lovely Rachel Ashwell.

I love her inspirational cork boards,

and last evening I decided to start creating one for our bedroom.

I'm loving the personal intimate touches 

that you can bring into making these lovely pieces.

Of course, I got all emotional

creating one of these.

As I went through some of my personal treasures,

I realize anew how very blessed I am

to have such beautiful children,

and I am enjoying adding memories

and little pretties to my board.

I've only begun, and I'm having such fun!

The great thing is that you can change these up,

and freshen it up as you add new pictures

and treasures to it.

I'll show it to you when I'm finished it

:)

 

I love adding all the personal things

that mean so much when I'm decorating.

Rooms that are an expression of who you are...

 

I just painted this frame white...

and I love it...

I love the intimacy this photo 

seems to invite us to...

It speaks of friendship,

and quiet moments spent with loved ones.

Is there anything sweeter?

 

Okay, back to the kitchen...

My hubby put my freshly painted piece of chalkboard

onto the back of the wooden frame

and put it up for me tonight.

I really love it!

 

Can't wait to start writing on it....

but I'll give it a few days to let the paint cure

:) 

 

And for this mini-blackboard I'm going to attach some twine 

on the back and hang it up 

as soon as I find a spot for it.

That was the fun part of my day..

how about you...

did you do anything that you really loved today?

I'd love to hear!

Much love,

Deborah xoxoxo 

  

 

 

 

When Dreams become Reality

I made this "Pantry" sign months and months ago but wasn't sure where to put it.

I wanted to put it on top of our pantry but quite frankly,

I wasn't very fond of how our pantry was looking,

and wished I could do something with this blah spot in our kitchen...

Well, heres what we did...

Enter.... one yucky pantry cupboard

with a chalk-board paint gone wrong.

It has great bones and it is a great helpful cupboard,

but it lacked lustre.

I thought chalkboard paint would be nice on this cupboard

 but I didnt like it when it was finished....

so after living with it for a bit...

I was still hoping,

dreaming,

waiting

for something that might help me out with it.

Enter.... one sweet loving Dad,

that'd be my Dad, of course
:)

If you've ever watched "Field of dreams"

you'll recognize that saying

in the movie...

"If you build it, he will come".

Well in my case, its

"If you have a dream, he will come and build it"

:)

My Dad is such a kind hearted, giving father

and thats what he did.

One morning my Dad and I went for a day trip

out of town,

not too far, only 1 1/2 hour drive.

We ended up in Chapters book store and we were both

browsing all the great books in there.

I had decided to buy

Pale and Interesting,

and when I was paying for it

my Dad said he wanted to buy it for me.

To make a long story short,

we had such a wonderful day

having Dad & daughter time.

We also went to a motorcycle shop and looked around..

My Dad still has, and drives his own motorcycle

and he's 81 years young!!!!

Amazing, free-spirited father I have!

Did I mention he once had his own ultra-light airplane?

Well Ill save that for another post

:)

When I got home from our lovely outing and had some time to

gaze at every image,

I fell in love with this one...

and it became a dream...

one that was a real possibility!

My pantry cupboard had all the bones

to be turned into something beautiful

like this!!!

I showed my Dad

and the dream became reality.

My Dad started working on this girls dream.

He did it on my days off, so I was happy to enjoy his

company and help him in small ways.

Enter...McDonalds cinnabuns!

Mmmmm...bribing him?

Not a chance!

I had one too! Lol

Right before my eyes my dream unfolded!

Ooooh-la-la I was falling in love

My-oh-my!

It just keeps getting better

:)

Yes...moulding!!!

In love with moulding..always have been!!

He filled in a little bit with wood filler..

I still needed to sand it a bit.

Now all I had to do was wait..

for my Annie Sloan chalk paint order!!!

Oh its so hard to wait sometimes!

:)

Okay Annie, I'm just waiting for your lovely paint now!!

Oh my goodness, you're at the door now!!!!!

(lol, not actually!)

I'm loving what my Dad did for me

and loving my new pantry!!

Dreams do come true!!!

I'm just finishing it up now,

and then the door handes...

I bought ones to match my shaker cupboards.

Im waiting for my second can of old white chalk paint to finish this,

and then ...

Im already in the middle of another project.

I'm re-covering these road-side cane-back chair cushions

with some fabric which I'd been searching for...

it was in the remnant bin and it cost me $3.50 for the whole piece!

But I still have to finish painting the chairs and the table...

hurry up "old white"!!!

I'm waiting for you

:)

Hope you all are enjoying this autumn weather

and waking up to a wee bit of frost some mornings....

I think   w i n t e r   might be on its way?

:)

Wth all my heart...Deborah xoxo