Hey, everyone. As you can tell, I'm still fiddling around with my blog header, but this one seems appropriate for me right now. A big "thank you" to sweet Becky Higgins for taking this beautiful photo and writing the thoughtful sentiments to go with it. Then she was kind enough to make it available for anyone to use. I hope you will take the time to read her short post that carries a big impact.
Because several have asked, I thought I would share what our plans are. We signed the listing papers yesterday to sell our house. We feel very confident in our realtor choice, after interviewing 3. She actually lives just a few doors down from us, but that's not why we chose her. The first two we interviewed were very nice & we liked their personalities. The 3rd one and the one we chose, was nice but the ultimate professional. Elizabeth is an early 50-something, broker/agent, & part owner of one of the more popular firms in our area. We almost never see her here in our neighborhood because she is a self-professed "workaholic" and that shows in her sales.
After we sell, The Man will retire, and we will be moving our home back to the Phoenix area to be closer to our children and grandchildren. We have never lived close enough to our married children to just have an impromptu Sunday dinner together, so we are all looking forward to that. We are excited that we will be able to have one or two of the grands over to spend the night or just a day to do something with "Nanna & Bappa." We are excited that when we want to travel, we won't have to drive three hours to the airport or pay an extra $200 or $300 to fly out of here. We are excited about more things to do, classes to take, & places to shop! And, if you've been reading my blog for a while, you know that I'm so excited about a new blank canvas to decorate!
I'm not looking forward to the selling process, however. We have lived in this house for 16 years and have done a ton of updating and upgrading to make it the ultimate retirement spot for us. Packing up 16 years of collected treasures seems daunting, but exciting as well, and we see this process as the first step for this next faze of our lives.. Actually, we are looking at two moves because we will probably rent for a year. That's because we are looking in some areas of Phoenix that we aren't that familiar with & want to get a feel for the surroundings before we lock ourselves into homeownership.
Anyway, those are the plans. I don't know just how much blogging I will be doing in the immediate future, but I do plan to keep tabs on my blog-sisters and continue to bookmark all the wonderful ideas I get from you. You are all so terrific, and I appreciate all these special friendships I've made.
Just a side-note, a very important one, our sweet DIL has given us the word that her OB has said the baby could come any day now. We are packing some bags today to be ready, just in-case we have to leave in the middle of the night. We will be taking care of the 2 year old. We don't know the gender of the baby, but just pray for healthy. This will be our #6 and the last one, we've been told.
I think I've bent your ear enough -- writing without pictures is rather boring, isn't it? Please keep good thoughts for us about babies and house sales. Thanks for stopping by and please come by again very soon.
CAS
1/16/11
1/13/11
I'm so surprised to receive an award!
I received the Stylish Blogger Award from Teresa at Our Southern Country Home and Farm.
Thank you, Teresa, so much. Chances are we will never meet in person, but I wish we could. You are always so sweet in your comments.
Here is how the award works:
1. Thank and link back to the person/persons who awarded you.
2. Tell seven things about your self.
3. Award fifteen recently discovered bloggers with the award.
4. Contact those bloggers and tell them about the award.
Seven things about myself:
1. I grew up in Louisiana until age 12, when we moved to Oregon -- culture shock!
2. I've been a stay-at-home mom & wife as much as possible over my 41+ years of marriage.
3. I was a teaching assistant for Emotionally Handicapped Junior High students.
4. I have owned several businesses where I was able to work from our home. The last was a
Newcomer Greeting Service, like Welcome Wagon, but I was the owner/operator.
5. I am rather "freakishly" organized, orderly, and routine-oriented. This could drive an
ordinary man crazy; but, fortunately, I'm married to an extraordinary man who just
accepts me the way I am.
6. I have another blog where I am writing about my life, but have not published a post yet.
It is intended to be self-therapy for me to deal with a lot of sadness. I may or may not
ever publish.
7. I am thrilled at the plans we are making to move closer to our children and grandchildren.
We have never lived close enough to our married children to have an impromptu meal
together, or take a couple of the "grands" for an outing.
This part is difficult because it's really hard for me to chose since I like all of you and feel you all deserve this award a lot more than me; so a special "thank you" to all of you who follow &/or comment on my blog. I truly appreciate each and every one of you.
Now for the 15 "newly discovered" (that would be "new" to me) bloggers:
1. Collectin Texas Gal
2. Beautiful Nest
3. A Bowl Full of Lemons
4. My Domestic Bliss
5. Organizing Made Fun
6. Pretty Handy Girl
7. Purple Chocolate Home
8. Red Couch Recipes
9. Lisa's Room by Room
10. Rusty Rooster Vintage
11. Sew Many Ways
Thank you, Teresa, so much. Chances are we will never meet in person, but I wish we could. You are always so sweet in your comments.
1. Thank and link back to the person/persons who awarded you.
2. Tell seven things about your self.
3. Award fifteen recently discovered bloggers with the award.
4. Contact those bloggers and tell them about the award.
Seven things about myself:
1. I grew up in Louisiana until age 12, when we moved to Oregon -- culture shock!
2. I've been a stay-at-home mom & wife as much as possible over my 41+ years of marriage.
3. I was a teaching assistant for Emotionally Handicapped Junior High students.
4. I have owned several businesses where I was able to work from our home. The last was a
Newcomer Greeting Service, like Welcome Wagon, but I was the owner/operator.
5. I am rather "freakishly" organized, orderly, and routine-oriented. This could drive an
ordinary man crazy; but, fortunately, I'm married to an extraordinary man who just
accepts me the way I am.
6. I have another blog where I am writing about my life, but have not published a post yet.
It is intended to be self-therapy for me to deal with a lot of sadness. I may or may not
ever publish.
7. I am thrilled at the plans we are making to move closer to our children and grandchildren.
We have never lived close enough to our married children to have an impromptu meal
together, or take a couple of the "grands" for an outing.
This part is difficult because it's really hard for me to chose since I like all of you and feel you all deserve this award a lot more than me; so a special "thank you" to all of you who follow &/or comment on my blog. I truly appreciate each and every one of you.
Now for the 15 "newly discovered" (that would be "new" to me) bloggers:
1. Collectin Texas Gal
2. Beautiful Nest
3. A Bowl Full of Lemons
4. My Domestic Bliss
5. Organizing Made Fun
6. Pretty Handy Girl
7. Purple Chocolate Home
8. Red Couch Recipes
9. Lisa's Room by Room
10. Rusty Rooster Vintage
11. Sew Many Ways
12. Southern Comfort in a Northern Life
13. Southern Fried Gal
14. Southern Inspirations
15. The Little Round Table
I hope all of you have fun with this award and relish the opportunity to get to know some sister bloggers just a bit better.
CAS
13. Southern Fried Gal
14. Southern Inspirations
15. The Little Round Table
I hope all of you have fun with this award and relish the opportunity to get to know some sister bloggers just a bit better.
CAS
1/12/11
It's insane, I tell you, INSANE!
I'll be linking to:
Kim's Boring to Better Party
Tablescape Thursday
Vanessa's Inspiration Party #19
Alison's Anything Goes
Thrifty Thursday
Cheryl's I'm Lovin' It /Fridays
Let the insanity begin! Yes, that's what it feels like. We are interviewing realtors this week and plan to have our house on the market by week's end. We had our first interview late yesterday, and it went very well. She was quite impressed, but we are kind of over-built for our neighborhood. I busted my butt yesterday trying for pristine, comfortable & inviting all at the same time. Hopefully, I accomplished that and thought I would share some things I've done. Oh, by-the-way, nothing new was purchased for any of the following vignettes. Just shopped my decor closet, woohoo!
I'm really trying to keep tablescapes more simplistic, but still charming. These are more from our living room.
This is a vignette I used early last fall or late summer. I don't think it's boring, but I needed something for my "before" photo since I forgot to take a pic of the sewing machine in all its bareness
.
Again, not boring, just a change from this,
to this. You may have seen this wallhanging before, but not with this viney, twiggy thingy. Don't you just love blogging for the simple pleasure of making up words and phrases?
Now on to some new ideas in the kitchen. New garden window display. I have since repotted the poinsettia into a pretty red pot that I already had, but forgot to take a picture. How do you like little Miss Chicky? The Man bought her for me and I think she is so darn cute. The plate and the other chicken are things I've had for a while. Added some faux fruit to one of my apothecary jars just to add in some more color. Did I need more color? No, but wanted it anyway!
....and in the blink of an eye, Miss Chicky has found a new perch! Rearranged a few things in this corner of my kitchen & found a better spot for her. This corner of the counter is very deep, so I put this large tray on an angle across the corner & put the canisters in front. Much easier for this "shortie" to reach!
She is so cute all lit up. I told you the other day that I'm kind of into small lamps and little spots of light. Miss Chicky really fills the bill.
This little lamp has been in several different places around my kitchen. The red covered container was originally filled with a candle, but long since used up. Now it holds some hard candies. The colorful plate is from Pier 1 on sale for a couple of bucks.
I should replace this photo with the new one I got at Christmas, but just haven't done that yet. This one is still one of my favs.
I really like having touches of red throughout our home this time of year. It's kind of a simple nod to Valentines, but mainly just a way to add one of my favorite colors. Hope you enjoyed this little tour. Please come back and visit again real soon.
CAS
Kim's Boring to Better Party
Tablescape Thursday
Vanessa's Inspiration Party #19
Alison's Anything Goes
Thrifty Thursday
Cheryl's I'm Lovin' It /Fridays
Let the insanity begin! Yes, that's what it feels like. We are interviewing realtors this week and plan to have our house on the market by week's end. We had our first interview late yesterday, and it went very well. She was quite impressed, but we are kind of over-built for our neighborhood. I busted my butt yesterday trying for pristine, comfortable & inviting all at the same time. Hopefully, I accomplished that and thought I would share some things I've done. Oh, by-the-way, nothing new was purchased for any of the following vignettes. Just shopped my decor closet, woohoo!
I'm really trying to keep tablescapes more simplistic, but still charming. These are more from our living room.
Before
After
I use this votive holder all the time, but always some place different. Had the green & red berry vine that doesn't look Christmasy and it added just enough texture around the base. I changed out my pillow covers, too, but no before shot.
This is a vignette I used early last fall or late summer. I don't think it's boring, but I needed something for my "before" photo since I forgot to take a pic of the sewing machine in all its bareness
.
After or current
I did keep The Man's little truck from when he was about five, and tucked my burlap wreath in behind it. Kept the top of the old singer very simple. I really like the pop of color with the flowers against the coppery brown of the container & the little bird. Both are old purchases from JoAnne's. The lamp was from Kirklands months ago.
Again, not boring, just a change from this,
to this. You may have seen this wallhanging before, but not with this viney, twiggy thingy. Don't you just love blogging for the simple pleasure of making up words and phrases?
Now on to some new ideas in the kitchen. New garden window display. I have since repotted the poinsettia into a pretty red pot that I already had, but forgot to take a picture. How do you like little Miss Chicky? The Man bought her for me and I think she is so darn cute. The plate and the other chicken are things I've had for a while. Added some faux fruit to one of my apothecary jars just to add in some more color. Did I need more color? No, but wanted it anyway!
....and in the blink of an eye, Miss Chicky has found a new perch! Rearranged a few things in this corner of my kitchen & found a better spot for her. This corner of the counter is very deep, so I put this large tray on an angle across the corner & put the canisters in front. Much easier for this "shortie" to reach!
She is so cute all lit up. I told you the other day that I'm kind of into small lamps and little spots of light. Miss Chicky really fills the bill.
This little lamp has been in several different places around my kitchen. The red covered container was originally filled with a candle, but long since used up. Now it holds some hard candies. The colorful plate is from Pier 1 on sale for a couple of bucks.
I should replace this photo with the new one I got at Christmas, but just haven't done that yet. This one is still one of my favs.
I really like having touches of red throughout our home this time of year. It's kind of a simple nod to Valentines, but mainly just a way to add one of my favorite colors. Hope you enjoyed this little tour. Please come back and visit again real soon.
CAS
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