Farm House

So, we're just driving along I-29 near St. Joseph MO when I see this billboard:

Oh yeah, I'm so going there. If it wouldn't have been for being on the way home from a long weekend I might have insisted we stopped. But, we were all tired. The kids were asleep. And The Mr....while he will say that going to these kinds of stores doesn't bore him to tears, he will stand around and make sighing noises loudly so I end up spending only 10 minutes in a place like this as opposed to 3 hours. Ya know? I mean, this is the same man who calls potpourri and scented candles "man repellent" after all.

So, I'll just wait and hit this place the same time I hit this this one....Nell Hills And it will be so, so sweet........Ahhhhhh

Mistreating My Window

Nester is having a little Window Mistreatment thingy over at her site today and I cannot believe I'm actually going to post these pics of my own mistreatment, but here goes:

And you know, for my first attempt, they look pretty good. The fabric is really, really pretty and these photos don't do it justice. I'm just not convinced I'm in love with the swaggy, drapey look and might take it down and make more of a straight, pleated look? Then again, that sounds like a lot of work.

I will say that anyone who comes over always comments how much they like it, so it can't be too bad.

Thanks for looking! FF

All talk...

I want to go here: http://www.nellhills.com/ It's in Atchinson, Kansas. Only a 2, maybe 2-1/2 hour drive from where I live. My mom and I have been talking about going here for several years now, but that's all it is, talk. We are going this Fall. We will.

In the meantime I bought this book on Ebay:

Now if it would just hurry up and get here already. I need something to tide me over.

FF

Old House

My love affair with big, old homes began as a child. I was friends with a girl who lived in a huge house built in the early 1900s. It was a Four-Square, which is probably why that is one of my favorite home styles. It sat on a hill with several other homes that were equally huge. Getting an invitation to a sleepover at her house was a frequent treat. I can still see it clearly in my mind; it had a huge front door.

I remember that when you rang the doorbell, the deep, rich sound of the bell sounded as though it was coming from somewhere deep within the house.

I remember the foyer was huge and rich with lots of oak woodwork. There was a floor to ceiling beveled glass mirror off to the right and an elaborate built-in hall tree with a bench just next to the mirror.

I remember that there was this cute little powder room under the stairs right off the portico. It had a portico!

I remember it had this huge open staircase with a landing. Giant, oak balustrauds. We used to pretend we were princesses gliding down those magnificent stairs.

I remember a laundry chute in one of the upstairs bathrooms. That fascinated me to no end. That you could drop laundry down a chute and it would end up in the basement two floors away was mind boggling to me.

I remember it had a back stairway. A servants stairway just off the kitchen.

I remember the big old attic and the creaky old stairs leading up to it. We spent lots of time hiding up there and scaring each other silly.

I remember it had something like 14 rooms. 14 rooms! Can you imagine? It was just a mansion to me.

Several years ago I collected historic postcards of my hometown. And I couldn't believe my luck when I stumbled upon this: That's the house. As it originally looked. When my friend lived in it it was painted a light yellow color and a screened-in porch had been added to the one side. I came across this the other day when I was sorting through stuff. And I framed it. Kinda weird maybe, but so many great memories of playing with my friend in this house. And it's what started me on my life-long love affair with these old homes.
The home isn't in her family anymore. They sold it when all their kids were grown and they downsized. Her mom owns the cutest store ever in my hometown. It's full of all kinds of cute shit, just like their home was. I need to get back and visit that store.
Anyway, the people who bought it from my friend's family did some painting and restoration on some of the woodwork. Then they put it up for sale about 6 or 7 years ago. I walked through it at an open house. I was afraid it wouldn't look as big as I remembered it, but I needn't have worried. It was as glorious, if not more so, as I remembered it being. Happy times! FF

Score!

So I found some serious cute shit today, y'all! Just so you know, I used to be all about the cute shit and decorating, blah, blah, blah. We used to live in a log home and believe you me, I was all about decorating it. Then we had one kid, then we moved, then we had another kid.....and well, at least for me, the last thing I wanted with babies and toddlers around was cute shit. Now I start reading all these cute blogs, and slowly get back into visiting antique stores, consignments shops, flea markets, and well, ya know....
So, back to my finds. I loaded up my two little guys and we went to a garage sale yesterday. Now let me just say, I don't love garage sales. I'm not really a competitve person, and I loathe crowds, so a garage sale just doesn't go with that mix. But they had a nice big ad in the paper and it was nearby in a fancy-schmancy neighborhood....and the kicker? Lots of home decor. So off we went. It was to start at 9:00 and we got there at 8:55. The garage doors were closed, but people were already lining up, and she had some cute shit sitting in the driveway. Looked promising. Finally....finally! she opened up the garage doors at around 9:05 and the vultures descended. I ordered my boys to wait outside and look at toys and I was going in.
So, here's what I came away with for $8 even. And that doesn't include the Discovery Binoculars/Viewmaster I bought the boys. Sorry about the blurriness! And here's where it ended up. I had to put that placemat down otherwise the accessories just kind of blurred into it. The tray: (The plate is laying next to it. I just need to pick up a plate stand so it will set upright)
And another look at the tray. You can't really tell, but it's huge!
And here's one of the birdhouses. It made it's way onto the deck where I have my other ones. The cute little white one with the green roof shown in the first picture? I don't know what to do with that yet, so I put it away for now. Along with my cute little witch who will hang on my front door in October.
So, yeah, I guess it was worth the sweating and twitching to get all that loot for $8. However, that was the ONLY garage sale we hit yesterday. One was enough! :)
FF

Busy-ness

Sorry to be away from the Blog for a couple days. Busy, busy, busy around here and I'm doing good to get online much at all, let alone blog.

Since The Mr. needs to "make hay while the sun shines" ;) the yardwork, which is usually his area, has fallen on me. I really don't mind though. I actually love to mow. It's a mindless activity where I can have some thinking time and the kids aren't demanding my attention. For some reason, they tend to leave me be when I'm mowing.

I also get the task of running parts out to The Mr so he doesn't have to be away from the job site. I like getting that call because that means I get to go for a drive in the country. The boys enjoy going to see Daddy work as well.

We've been school shopping, dentist appointments, packing in last minute summer fun activities. Got my 6yo signed up for piano lessons.

In the midst of all this crazy busyness, I'm also planning a project; painting the kitchen, the dining room and hallway back to the master bedroom. Here's the hallway:

I'm going to take that picture down and move it elsewhere and I'm thinking of doing something like this:
And here's part of the living room. I'm trying to decide what to do with those niches. I don't know if I should pain them a different color or the same?
So that's what I've been busy doing. Painting will wait 'til after school starts as I don't need any little helpers for that, if you know what I mean. :)

Have a good one! FF

My vice

I have a confession to make. I have a little vice that unfortunately doesn't get as much time devoted to it as I'd like; Consignment Stores. And I'm picky too, it must be a nice consignment store, as in clean, neat and orderly. Because frankly, I don't want to sift through someone else's dirty junk. I know some people like that thrill of the hunt where they have to really work for their bargains, but I just don't. It makes me get all weird and twitchy. And then I feel the need to go home and take a shower.

Anyway, back on the subject of consignment stores: I have three that I frequent; one is devoted entirely to clothes and accessories, the second has a mixture of clothes, accessories, and home decor, and the third is all about the home; furniture, home decor and the like.
My love of consignment stores started years and years ago as a way to find bargains. Now it's more about the fact that I feel good buying something and reusing it rather than it getting tossed out. And in the case of buying used clothing; I like that the chances of me running into someone wearing the same thing are pretty slim compared to if I went over to Target and bought a shirt, ya know?

And you won't find me giving out the names of said stores either. In fact, I'm afraid I've already given out too much info as it is. I like to keep them a secret, though I will take my mom with me sometimes, but she wears a different size than I do. And besides, she doesn't tell anyone about these stores either. I have a friend who wears the exact same size as me and she is always saying, "that's a cute top. Where'd you get it." I have to be very careful how I answer this, because I'm not a good liar, but I don't want to give up my information, so I will say something like, "Oh, it's Banana Republic", because technically, that's not a lie. It is Banana Republic, I just didn't buy it there. ;)

Another reason I'm anxious for school to start; I can start shopping again. Shopping with two boys does not work. First of all, you cannot take them into a store with breakables because I don't want to end up buying a ton of broken crap. And secondly, in the clothing store, before I know it, there's a pile of clothes laying on the floor off their hangers and I'm getting dirty looks from the saleslady. Not fun!
17 more days, 17 more days, 17 more days....*sigh*

FF

Voyeur

One time on Oprah she said something to the effect that people like to see how other people live. I guess that's true, otherwise I probably wouldn't feel the need to watch Real Housewives of Orange County. Really though, I like to see what other people's homes look like.

Ever since I was a kid, I've loved to go for drives in the car right at that time of the evening where it's starting to get dark outside, and their lights are on in the house, but they haven't shut their blinds yet. And I have to run on my treadmill because when I run outside I find myself slowing down to check out people's landscaping, therefore not getting a good workout.

Of course, in this day and age, it's easy to be a voyeur. There's real estate listings online and blogs. I have an extensive file on my computer that is full of photos I've gotten (stolen?) from online of rooms I love. I may not necessarily want to decorate my home that way, but it still serves for inspiration.

Here's a few rooms I found that I love. I hope I'm not violating some copyright law by posting them, but it's just because I admire their beauty:

What an adorable laundry room, and it appears to be lint-free. How does she do that?

I love this Santa Fe-style home. That's my problem though; I love too many different decorating styles. That's a whole 'nother post.
I had been pondering what color to paint my kitchen, then I found this picture and she has the same finish on her cabinets as I do. I love this color! I think I'm going to use it!

This one's been on my computer for quite some time. I just think it's cool-looking. Another laundry room. Someday I'll have a grown-up laundry room just like this.
So you see, I'm not some crazy peeping Tom person. And let me tell you why: Years ago I saw a butt in a window as we were driving by, and not a cute one either. Ewwwwwww.

FF

Outhouse

I want an outhouse sooooo bad. And no, it's not because I would just love to have a spot to pee or poop where someone, i.e. a little person, didn't wander in every. single. time. Actually, I want one to use as a teeny-tiny potting shed. :) And not only do I have The Mister on board with this idea; he agreed to build me one. Yee-haw!
I found this one online and it's kinda cute:
Ooooh, I'm liking this one too. Would ya look at the weather vane?! I just noticed the sign. Smokey's Lounge. Does his wife make him go out here to smoke?! HA!!!!!!

Here's the spot where it's going to go. Yes, the swingset/fort/play area is leaving. I am positive there will be lots of crying and carryin' on when it does, but they don't even play on it. They play on the neighbor kids' because their's has a tunnel.
We're planning on some raised beds on either side for a small garden; some radishes, lettuce, asparagus, tomatoes. Also some zinnias and some marigolds, to honor The Mister's grandpa who recently passed and who happened to be an avid gardener who grew the most gorgeous zinnias every year. They were his favorite.

It's going to be my own little mini-farm and I can't wait. Now if I could just have chickens......

FF

New Window Treatment

Or rather, window mistreatments as they're called by Nester, which is where I got my inspiration. There are few things that I really despise, but one thing that I loathe behond loathe is hanging curtains, treatments, curtain rods, blinds, you get the idea. Now don't get me wrong, after doing this project, I still don't like hanging this stuff, but the bright note is, it's fairly inexpensive. The fabric was on clearance at Hobby Lobby for $4.00/yd, and the curtain hooks were on sale 50% off at Shopko. Upholstery pins were super cheap.

So here is the before. I had swing-arms from Restoration Hardware that the Mister hung for me and these cheap panels that I think came from Shopko. I was so over them. Not really sure why I was into them in the first place other than I liked the green. Excuse the dark picture, I didn't have some settings right and I was so anxious to hang my new treatment that I couldn't be bothered:

After much sweating, and I'm not kidding, my hair was drenched in the back, I got these hung. Don't even ask me any specifics because I'd never be able to explain. Let's just say that it involved a yardstick and math is my enemy. In high school I was in what we used to call a not so PC name that starts with an "R" and I don't mean remedial, though it basically means the same thing. The official name on the roster was Business Math. Scary! Anyway, I got it done and I think it looks pretty nice actually. The fabric is really nice and of heavier weight. And the best part? No sewing! That's something else I despise. Oh, how I wished I liked to sew, but 4-H and Home Ec ruined me forever on that one.

Here's the close-up because they look darker in the next picture. They actually look kinda dark here as well, but they're really a nice chocolate brown.


And last, but not least, I found all kinds of good bargains at Hobby Lobby. That pillow you see there in the middle? $6.99 on clearance! Gotta love Hobby Lobby!



Actually, there is one more thing. A disclaimer; if your husband is anything like mine, it's best to tackle this project when they're not home. My husband is a math whiz, unlike me, and he cringes when he sees me with a tape measure, hammer, nails. And holes in the walls? Forget it! Now, he is fine once he sees the end result (usually). He just doesn't want to be around while it's in progress. It's bad enough I had to endure comments from my 6yo the entire time saying things like, "Mom, that looks kind of sloppy" or "can I take a picture of you hanging those to show Daddy what a mess you made?" Heavens no, Child!! Sheesh!





Thanks for looking! FF