Busy Week!

 I always love it when I'm checking my calendar for the next week and  it looks pretty empty but by the time it rolls around, it is so much fuller. That was last week for me. I think I told you my friend was here for a day and we cooked and gabbed the entire day away. 

Then, grand daughter #5 was having a Color Run at her school to raise money for their PE Dept. Last year, no one was allowed to attend because of Covid but, this year, rules were relaxed a bit. My daughter and I started the day having lunch at our favorite downtown place and then were on to Blessed Trinity.

 

 I have never actually been at a Color Run so I wasn't sure what to expect but I did know it was super "colorful" because I saw Presley last year after her first one.

The kids have an absolute blast...as do the observers! I'm so happy I could go this year. Afterwards, I went back to Jen's for the evening and got to catch up on everyone's news.

 Then on Saturday, we were off on another adventure-our traditional trip to Sorrento to pick strawberries. The weather was a bit cooler than usual but the sun was out, there wasn't a cloud in the sky, the fields were bursting with berries and, they are sweeter than they have been in many seasons! We always have a good time here. Presley brings her BFF and we have our routine that the girls insist on. First we pick then they play on the playgrounds.

After they're worn out, we head in to Eustis and eat at our favorite Mexican restaurant. Usually we eat outside by the fountain but this year it was shaded and just a bit too chilly by late afternoon.

After lunch, there is ALWAYS ice-cream...no matter the temperature. As we were walking, we spied this cute shop. It has literally been in Eustis for 34 years-although it has been in several other locations-and, we have never seen it. I can't quite imagine why but, suffice it to say, it's a good thing none of the boys were with us because we went in there, met the owner and ended up being there over an hour shopping and gabbing...and, having little cocktails, appetizers and dessert...which they pass around to everyone in the shop. I'm just saying...not a bad way to shop! Lol And, the girls loved it as much as Jen and I-especially after they coaxed the cat out of the window so they could pet her!

We got home later than usual but we didn't care...another fun day was in the records...and our memories! It is really funny because Jen and I were asking the girls if they wouldn't rather find another restaurant in Eustis this year or maybe head into Mt. Dora but, no, they LOVE the tradition of our trips. We sat at lunch and listened to them share remembrances of past trips and it made my heart happy to hear how much they remember and how much it all means to them. And I thought it was just "Old Nana" who loved tradition so much!

So, that is it for today. My brother and sister-in-law are coming on Tuesday and I owe my sister-in-law a birthday celebration so I will be off to the store tomorrow to shop for groceries. I have found a new recipe that I want to try for her and then I'm making an "old" favorite cake recipe using some of my delicious picked strawberries! I love being able to decorate a nice table and make some good food-I hope. Not sure why I want to try a new recipe on others before I've tried it on myself but, it is from Ree Drummond so the odds are that it will be good. Stay safe and stay tuned.

Another Dreary Day

Our weather is a bit warmer today...although this weekend is supposed to be really cold with the possibility of snow flurries! As bad as that sounds for Florida...and my garden...I would kind of love it to happen. We haven't had "snow" here in many, many years. But, I digress. In any case, it is another "one" of those days and I am busy finishing up two more projects-albeit SMALL projects.

Since I still have a stack of the wood tags that I cut a long time ago, I always perk up a bit when I get a new inspiration for another holiday tag. I made a St. Pat's tag last year but it is the predictable look for me.

While perusing Pinterest, I saw a tag with darker green than I would usually choose for St. Pat's and it spoke to me. Lol There really isn't much to say about the process that I haven't said before but, I did do it a bit differently this time. I usually paint in all the background color and then create a stencil to use as a block and paint over it all with the top color. Then, when I remove the block, I have my image. I'm not sure why I didn't do that this time but I just painted the tag, drew the shamrock and filled it in.

Then I used a white paint pen to add the word, distressed it ever so slightly, gave it a swipe with the antique wax and a light coat of a matte clear acrylic spray and added some twine for the hanger.

And when that didn't fill my day, I pulled out the other pallet board that I made and decoupaged a pretty Victorian print. The same routine as always. Load up the board with all of the background colors you want and then finish with the top color. This time I used pink, red and antique wax with a top coat of chalk color chalk paint.

Once that is all dry, I hit the edges with sandpaper to bring out the bottom colors and make it look chippy and old. The print went on and then I hit the edges with more antique wax.

 My plan had been to put this on the wall shelf in the guest bath but, I forgot that I already had a picture there that looked really good and was actually a better size. While I was looking for another spot, I passed the hutch in the kitchen and realized that this print would complement and be complemented by the roses on those shelves. Of course, my Scherenschnitte was already there so it needed a new home...and here we go again! Lol Here is where everything ended up.

I moved the Scherenschnitte that was here on the lower shelf to the top and added the one from the hutch. Then I moved around the other things and we're good to go.

The new print found its home in the hutch.

And this is why I like this arrangement...all of the roses go together so well. It's "serendipity".  Lol

I'm off to have some lunch. My girlfriend was here the other day and it was so nasty outside that we decided to stay here and have lunch. I made a big pot of yummy soup and spinach, corn and cheddar biscuits and, even though I sent a bunch home with her, I still have leftovers. It will be perfect for yet another dreary, chilly day. I really think I am done with Valentine's Day but I'm not promising anything about St. Pat's and definitely not Easter so we shall see what I come up with next! Stay safe and stay tuned.

 

 

Thankful for a Fireplace!

 Today we're moving into my favorite room...at least it has been for the last few days. Winter has finally hit central Florida and, although our temps are nowhere near as low as they are in most of the rest of the country, they are low enough to get my attention! As my mom used to say, "we southerners have thin blood". Lol I feel the chill and, even though I would rather be cold than sweltering, I still look for ways to be a bit more comfortable without cranking the heat way up. More about that later.

For now, let's head into the family room.

Not much has changed on the mantle.

I added the word "love" to the pallet sign last year and I like it so much better.

I still love my stiffened crochet heart banner that I put together from the hearts that my mom made for me many years ago...although, it does look like they could use a bit of glitter refreshing around the edges. Lol

 

I love this room all times of the day but, at this time of the year, I really love it when it is time to sit down, put my feet up and relax...and keep warm. I love the fire so much and it is an addition to our house that I am as happy with today as the day my husband and his friend finished building it...and this room for us!

So that is the family room for this year. I've got some more craft projects going so I am off to work on them. When they're done, I'll be back to share. Stay safe and stay tuned.

Desperate Times...

 Yes, desperate times call for desperate measures! I woke up this morning with all sorts of grand plans to be outside and tackle some chores. I truly don't know what bubble I have been living in because all it took was one look at the paper and I realized that winter was finally here...and we would be having at least the next two nights with below freezing temperatures, I think I have mentioned that I dodged a bullet the other night but I don't think I will get away with it again.

And so, I have to get out there and wrap my bougainvillea and sky vine...and, I don't want to. It is cold as we speak! And so, I really pushed the envelope and found another project I could do to help me procrastinate just a bit longer...and I had to go all the way ahead to Easter to do it.

I think I am done with St. Pat's until a new idea comes along so I headed to some Easter images and found one that really spoke to me. I didn't have any wood or canvases the right side so I got out my trusty friend (my miter saw) and grabbed a few of the old slats I had pulled off of my fence last year. I had to run the wood the opposite direction to be able to get the proper size that I needed for my print. I could have gone the other way but that would have necessitated ripping a long length of the slat and it was just easier...and safer...to go the way I went.

After the wood was cut, I used wood glue on some pieces of paint stir sticks to hold it together. I put a tiny nail in each end just to hold the glue until it dried. Once that stuff is dry, I swear you could hold together a new house build! Lol

I pulled out some colors from the print and began layering them on to the wood. First the antique wax, then green, then light pink and then a darker pink. I finally covered the whole thing with chalk colored chalk paint.

Once all of those colors were dry, the fun began. I started sanding away some of the white to reveal the other colors underneath. I almost wish I was painting on this wood instead of decoupaging the print. I would have loved for more of this chippy effect to show.

Then, all that was left was to decoupage on the print using ModPodge. When it was dry, I went around the edges with a dry brush of the antique wax to emphasize the torn edges. I don't know why this speaks to me so much but with the vintage bunny and the printing on the image, I am in love with this thing!

I'm going to wait and see where he lands before I decide if I want to add some embellishment. We'll see. And now, I have no more excuses so I am off to the frigid outdoors. Lol But, I won't be out there long...Lol Stay safe and stay tuned.