Breathing Again!

 As I have said a few times already today, "today is the first day of the rest of my life". Yesterday was my birthday and it was the end of an incredibly FULL and FUN week, I'll tell you more about that at the end.

But, for now, why don't we head into the dining room?

So there is a change on these shelves. I have mentioned before that I have a hard time decorating these shelves-don't know why. They should be like any other shelf but, never-the-less... 

My brother and sister-in-law brought me the Irish flag home as a souvenir from their trip to Ireland. My plan had been to fly it out front replacing the decorative flag that I have there that they actually gave me as well. And, that decorative flag was the first flag I got starting me on my current "flag collection". Lol But, best laid plans...I fly my flags on a dowel hooked into my fascia but that requires a casing at the top-which this flag doesn't have. It does have two grommets but the flag itself is thin and the grommets too far apart to support...so, to make a very long story short, I decided against flying it outside and decided to use it as more of a banner in the house. This is where it is for now but it might find another home if I ever get time just to sit and mull. Lol

And then, this happened. I used to do a lot of vignettes like this back in the day when I displayed my teapots and teacups. But then one day I had had my fill of that and didn't do any more until...I was just perusing Pinterest as I often do when I started to see a lot of this kind of decor. To me it is reminiscent of an Irish cottage feel and I decided to drag out anything I had that was green. Of course, we all know that green is my favorite color so there would probably be no way I could put out everything I wanted-and I couldn't-but I like this. It gives me a chance to display the shamrock and lily-of-the valley bone china that my dad used to buy for my mom when he was working out of state in areas where he could find these. And then, I have my daughter's and my "Irish" cross stitch pictures, the books that I painted green, the green jug with a few shamrocks and the cute little tea set that I bought years ago and have absolutely no recollection where I found it. Most of the vignettes that I saw also featured a vintage post card. I had this one already printed from something else I must have been doing so I popped it in and I love this shelf now. I don't think I will continue to fill it this way but it just feels right for St. Patrick's Day.

I changed up this area as well this year. I had the shamrock bushes and the pip berry picks to use somewhere and they just looked nice to me in a favorite PB vase. Then the two little jugs and the small framed pieces and I was good. I also used the doily that my mom made so many years ago. It is now glittered in gold and I love it. I had so many doilies and didn't know what to do with them all after she passed away so I started trying to make something using them for each holiday to give to family. Martha Stewart was actually the inspiration for this as she did the glittering on doilies in one of her magazine posts. I just thought the gold worked well with the St. Pat's theme so here it is for now. It does tend to move around from theme to theme so be on the lookout for where it might land next.

The sign propped against the lamp lost its home when I got the shamrock print so here is where it landed for this year. It is actually another thing that I was going to find a better place for-just haven't gotten there yet.

So that is the dining room for this year. Now to fill you in on the last ten days. I already caught you up through grand daughter #5's lamb showing and auction. That was followed by two more lacrosse games for her, one more for her brother, all of Hudson's showing of his steer where he took second class in the highest weight class of the show, his auction, his showmanship, his tractor driving competition, the arrival of daughter #1 and grand daughter #4 with grand dog Bennett, a fun happy hour at daughter #3's new office, dog sitting for Bennett while Kris and Liv were up at UF and then my birthday celebration. I had the time of my life but, I'm definitely feeling my age this morning! I have lots of pictures but I'm just going to post some of them-and probably not in the exact correct order but I just want them here for posterities' sake.

Just look at that sweet face!

That was a BIG steer and he handled him so well. I'm very proud of his second place as he is a "city" guy as far as where he lives and doesn't live on a ranch as so many others do. He has to keep his steer at the barn at their school and has to go back and forth from there twice a day to feed him, exercise him, etc. as the kids who have their steer on their own property have so much more time with their animals. It is a commitment in any case and these kids do a great job. The fair goes on for over a week and the kids work about every aspect of it-missing school with the school's blessing as it is a school FFA group but, still expecting their grades to remain where they are all while they are also practicing or playing lacrosse every day! I'm not sure how they do it...I guess age may play a factor. Lol

This is Hud's girl friend who also showed a steer and took grand champion in her class.

And this was my view for three days. My handsome grand dog constantly wanting to play.

And then suddenly the week was at its end and we were here. We were missing a few of the gang but I either got to face time or talk with each of them so my day was complete. And, of course, that very HEAVY coconut cake from Wright's Gourmet Deli in Tampa doesn't hurt!

I had more than enough hot air to take out those few candles!

The girls did a wonderful brunch full of my favorites-fruit salad, huge muffins from The Mill in G'vlle., funeral sandwiches, hashbrown casserole, three kinds of quiche and, of course, the cake!

This dog just loves people and being close. There were four people squeezed onto that couch and he just had to get up there in between! Lol

And, while I was dog sitting, my daughter and grand daughter were being feted at UF Law School. All of the students accepted were invited up for a two day get-to-know-you session. Liv still hasn't committed. She has been accepted at three schools so far but is still waiting to hear from others. That being said, I think she may be leaning ever so slightly more to UF which, of course, makes all of the family very happy. Can't wait to have another Gator in our gang!

So that is it for today. Both grandchildren have a lacrosse game at home tonight so we are happy to all be in the same city for a change. Not sure where the rest of the week will take me. I have so much to do to catch up on things I have let slide not to mention a few errands...and more games...so I'm not sure when I'll be back. Until then, stay safe and stay tuned.