PIVOT!

 So for a bit I have been hinting about a project with a drop cloth that I picked up from Lowe's. I have seen many people use the fabric for crafts and I had a "brilliant" idea that I didn't want to spend a lot of money on because I wasn't sure I could pull it off-so I thought I might give this a shot.

I won't go into my long, sad story but suffice it to say that my brilliant idea quickly became a "no-go"-but not until after I had already done some cutting on it. Thankfully I also wanted to try to make a sort of ottoman cover for the black ottoman in the sunroom so I had to pivot and move on to that. Luckily, none of the fabric that I had already cut had to be wasted-in fact, it was almost the exact size that I needed.

Here is a reminder of the ottoman.

Again, the dark ottoman didn't bother me when I had a darker chair there but the new, lighter chair just seemed to be a bit too much of a contrast. Of course, there is a lot of other black furniture in this room so I guess it wasn't that awful but I decided a change was in order,

At first I thought I might want a cover where each side is a loose flap and then they were tied together but, for some reason, that just seemed too fussy for me so I went for the absolute basic. I cut one piece of fabric for the top making it large enough for seams on each side and a bit of leeway in case I ever wash it and it shrinks. Then I cut four more pieces for the sides leaving them longer so I could decide how long I would leave this after it was done. I made sure to write myself notes so I didn't put the pieces together incorrectly since the sizes were close.

Then it really was just as simple as sewing the four sides onto the top and then sewing the side seams on all of the sides. The corners can be a bit tricky but this fabric has enough "give" that they went together perfectly!

Once I got that far I couldn't wait for a "fitting" because I truly am not the best when it comes to precise measurements. Lol  And, it was just right!

Once I got this far and was happy with the fit, all I had to do was mark a hem and get it stitched up. I decided that I wanted the cover just a bit off of the floor and not showing as much of the feet (because they too were black) as they did originally. And voila...

So, some thoughts now that I'm here. Firstly-do I wish that there weren't all of those wrinkles? Absolutely! That is an easy fix except that on a day with a heat index in the triple digits, I'm not about to drag out the iron. At this point I'm hoping maybe the humidity will help a little.

Secondly-could this have been a much more upholstered look with bindings, trims, etc.? Absolutely! But, that is really not the look or feel that this room calls for. This is the room where we are comfy. Nothing is pretentious-actually that kind of describes my whole house. I truly just wanted it to look like an unstructured cover-and I think that is exactly what it does.

And, thirdly, could I have chosen a "nicer" fabric? Be it better made or a better color or a better pattern or a better texture? Absolutely! But, again, summer is not my friend! And, the last thing I would want to be doing in this heat is running around this town trying to find the right fabric-especially now that JoAnns is no more.

And so, I am good with this. The color doesn't jar my senses quite as much and it is comfy!

And, while all of that fun was happening my phone dinged to let me know FedEx had just made a delivery!

I have to say that I do get a bit apprehensive when I know FedEx is delivering something that I ordered-especially now that I have the cameras around the house with the "neighbors" feature where people can post anything happening around them and, except for lost or found pets, the number one issue is FedEx delivering packages to the wrong house. I guess today was my lucky day!

Not only did I get my two "sunflower" candles-which I will admit not only have a pretty label but smell quite nice also-but I grabbed a "harvest" for November-I LOVE the Indian corn on that label-and, maybe one of my absolute Yankee Candle favorites, Autumn Leaves for September. I probably already have  a few of each of these but, I was a G.S. and I like to "be prepared" just in case. Lol I also like to use the jar lid rings to help the candles burn "straighter" and not be affected by fans or A/C. I think I have them for every holiday/season but for my sunflower decor. I used a generic copper one-that is pretty and is still going to be on one of my candles-and then a generic silver one that just didn't cut it with the warm hues of the sunflower candle. I grabbed this new one that not only looks like those "could" be sunflowers but it also incorporates the other citrus colors that I am using right now. It is so pretty!

And so, I have had a good day. It's time to change some sheets, pick up and put everything I have dragged out away and get ready for family to arrive in the morning. We still have a bit of our tour to finish so I'll be back. Stay safe and stay tuned.

Time Warp

 I had a busy day yesterday ending with the arrival of grandson #2 to help me figure out my fence around the A/C unit and pool "stuff". As I mentioned in my previous post, my husband and I built the original fence but, that was so long ago and I really didn't totally remember how we did it. I explained to Hud what I was thinking and how I would like it changed up a bit and, literally in about a minute and a half, he shows me a picture on his phone and says "is this what you're thinking?"...and it WAS! Exactly-except that his rendition now incorporated a gate at the short side so that servicemen could get in and out without me having to dismantle the fence any more! The funny thing is that the A/C tech who had been here earlier that morning had suggested the same thing but that was way above my pay grade. LOL

In another minute he had the measurements worked out, how much of each size lumber that was needed and the estimate of just how much said project would cost. I don't think of myself as a stupid person but I am definitely willing to accept the fact that the younger generation definitely has more knowledge at their fingertips. I have the same knowledge available to me...I just don't know where to look or even that such knowledge is even available. Lol I feel as if AI has me doubting what is real or not these days and I'm not crazy about that but, apparently that is who sent him the picture of my future fence and I was in awe! I actually thought he might use his dad's computer program that is used for their design business but I guess even that is not necessary these days.

Now if we could just get AI out here to build the thing. Lol Hud assures me that even though they are heading out of state for a bit, this will be done before he heads to UF in August so fingers crossed.

I am back today because I am once again waiting for a tech to arrive and I don't like to be in the middle of anything big when he's here and I have to show him around the house. In the "old days", we had the same tech for years and I didn't have to show him around but the company was bought out and this company seems to run things differently. I never know who will show up and he doesn't know my house so my presence is needed to help him navigate.

And so, as I wait, I thought we could take a peek at the sunroom. You probably know by now but, this is the one room that I purposely keep things at a minimum so that surfaces are readily available for use as this seems to be one of the most popular places in the house when anyone is here-probably because it is fun to watch all of the goings on in the yard with the birds, squirrels, etc.

Take note of that black ottoman in front of the chair. There are a lot of black pieces in this room and, when I still had the old chair here, that ottoman went fine but now with the new chair, for some reason that contrast bothers me. It has for awhile and I just haven't done anything about it but, that may be changing later this week so I'll let you know what I have in mind if it works out.

I didn't realize just how well this pillow goes here until just now. The sides of the chair are burlap so this little pillow that I grabbed at HL last year for 75% off couldn't be a better match. Serendipity!

I wasn't all that crazy about the sunflower canvas that I did because it really didn't feel like it had a big enough presence but then I remembered a trick I used to do and added the empty black frame around it and I am a bit happier with it now. It's the little things in life. LOL

I've gotten a bit lazy with this console table but the plants need the light so they just stay there and the lantern looks pretty glowing in there at night so once again, I'm OK with this for now. 

For this season, the shelves are just full of "everyday" pictures that don't get seen too often. As I was looking at this I realized that this might be a place where I could bring in some more colors of the season so we shall see how the summer transpires and I will let you know if I come up with any brilliant ideas. Right now, except for all of those adorable faces, these areas are a little boring if I do say so myself.

So that's where we are for now. I still have my drop cloth projects to get to and as I was trimming the jasmine I noticed a LOT of leaves have come down since last I raked and are up against the privacy fencing which just contributes to the aging of the slats so, as soon as all of my garbage cans are emptied of this week's debris, I have that task waiting for me. It will be fun trying to fit that in between all of out summer thunderstorms of late-several a day! Gotta love a Florida summer! Stay safe and stay tuned.

Biding My Time

 Good morning and happy Monday. It's bright and early and the A/C guy is already here doing the yearly check-up on my unit so the warranty doesn't get voided and I am trying my best to stay out of his way! And so, I thought I would come in here and see where I was on this tour. It looks like we are on our way into the dining room so let's get started.

This is one of the areas where I cut back on sunflowers. Don't get me wrong, you will see some in just a minute but I wanted all of my olive branches out this year. They help add to the Mediterranean vibe and lessen the "overkill" of the flowers. Lol

This shelf is the perfect example of my Ballard Design, Southern Living and Pottery Barn years.

This is another of the inexpensive pillow covers from HL that I tried my "painting expertise" on a few years ago. Some were a bit more successful than others and this one turned out to be one of the keepers-maybe because it was so easy no one could mess it up-unlike the bunny I did for Easter that we no longer talk about. LOL

I'm still not sure how I feel about these sunflowers that I made a few years back. They took forever to do-not because they were hard but just because they had so many steps. They are made with paint dyed muslin strips knotted around a Mason jar ring. The centers are the centers of the jar lids covered in small pebbles and painted brown. They are quite heavy and I just could never seem to find the right things to serve as stems and they are just a nightmare to style. Honestly, every year since I have been so close to tossing them but for whatever reason, I just never seem to go through with it. Their fate next year remains to be seen. Lol

And then there is this. I honestly can't believe that I still have "Christmas" pine boughs in this basket. It seems as if I just stick lots of things in front of it that I can get away with it and it is a lot easier than trying to find another place to store more Christmas greenery-especially at this late date when it will soon be time to bring it back out again! Lol

I just draped that little towel that I think I found at $Tree last year and then stuck in that book that I made but could never seem to find a place for.

So that is the dining room for this year. Not sure when I will be back because I have a bit of a busy week ahead. 

Grandson #2 will be stopping by after work today to help me with a new project-well, it's not really new-it has been needed for a long time but it's just that I am just now addressing it. I have a fence around my pool equipment and A/C unit so that when you are sitting on the deck you are not looking at all of that stuff! Here it is last year.

My husband and I built that so many, many years ago and I have been nailing and nailing it back together for a very long time. And, every time the A/C people have to be here, I have to take the end piece down so they can get into the unit to work. And so, that was one of my chores yesterday except that when I went to do it, I remembered that last year's tech took it upon himself to put it back together for me. That was very sweet but he must have used 100 different screws in at least that many different places and some of them were stripped. I had about every tool I own out there and the only thing that finally got it apart was a large crow bar and a sledge hammer. Lol

I will say that I can actually still put it back together but there is so much wrong with so much more of it that it is time to bite the bullet. And so, Hud is coming over and we are going to see what we can do. I have never been a fan of the pickets so I'm thinking we may try dogeared slats more like the privacy fence but, he's the engineering student so we shall see what will work best with both aesthetics and budget.

Florida Pest will also be out here one day this week and then daughter #1 and my grand dog will return on Thursday for a few days. I will keep Bennett while my daughter heads to Gainesville to get granddaughter #4 moved out of her apartment and into the new house she and a few roommates are renting for their next year of schooling. And, I am "REALLY" looking forward to this visit as I hear rumors that I am finally getting the two chairs my daughter has had in her living room and I have lusted over ever since she got them. She just finished a complete remodel of her lower level which included all new furniture and, much to her dismay, these beautiful chairs no longer fit the image...her loss, my win!!

I honestly don't think they will both fit in her car so we shall have to see but you will be one of the first I will share them with if they arrive. And then it looks like they will no sooner be on their way home that I will have two other grand dogs here for a week while daughter #3 and her family travel out of state. I love these two dogs as well but they are both a bit more needy so there won't be many big things happening that week. Lol

That's it for today. I'm off to see what is happening at the other end of my house but I'll be back. Until then, stay safe and stay tuned.

Moving On

 Let's head into the kitchen today. There are a few changes in here but most of them just involve the "art" pieces. As I looked back at past year's late summer decor tours, I realized that I really haven't changed much at all over many years. I had to adapt the living room to the new shelves, but that has already been a few years. And I have changed a few of the smaller accessories in some of the rooms but, by and large, late summer decor is what it has been for awhile. I'm guessing that might just be because I am NOT a summer girl-that's probably not a surprise to most of you. But, it might also be because I do love my Mediterranean stuff and the citrus colors that that brings so there is really no need to look for a change. I'm not sure but, whatever it is, here's to the kitchen.

I don't know why but I love all of my "Ocala" towels that I find at a friend's boutique here in town.

These are the only family photos that I have with "real" sunflowers. Daughter #2 and her class, that my granddaughter and her daughter was in that year, planted this sunflower garden at their school and the girls and I stopped by one day during the summer to see how it was going...and it was going WELL!

I'm using these pictures from HL again because I think they contribute to the Mediterranean vibe.

I love the little spoon holder that granddaughter #1 made for me so many years ago. Not sure why I don't have anything in it-guess I should think about that. Lol

This is nothing spectacular but I add it to remind myself next year. I still love the little dove shaped ring tray gifted to me by a friend.

I was starting to get nervous because Yankee Candle discontinued their sunflower candle a few years ago and I am down to my last two. I was so happy to get an email from them finally introducing a new one. The label isn't quite as pretty but at least it's not one of the "cartoony" ones they have been trying to talk us into recently. Lol I've already got two on the way since they made me an offer I couldn't refuse...50% off!

This may be the last year we see these sunflowers. I made them a few years back out of brown Kraft paper that I painted so it kind of feels like leather and brown velvet for the centers. Not sure I am loving them as much anymore as I once did. I also removed the little sunflower tag that used to hang on the candle-guess I'm over some of the tags as well. Lol

I remember being so excited when I found the ceramic pitcher and the large plate in a favorite decor shop down in Dade City. They had an "Italian villa" area set up right about the time that I was redoing my kitchen and had added this area to a blank wall. If I had had more room-and LOTS more money-I would have bought everything they had. I settled for these two pieces. And the square Italian countryside pictures are from Southern Living many years ago when daughter #1 was a rep for them. I loved everything they had and was so sorry when they discontinued selling their decor items although they may have a small line still available at Dillards. I haven't checked recently.

That small pitcher on the left and all of the candle holders are also Southern Living as well as some other pitchers you will see in the dining room and so many of my olive jars and urns. Southern Living, Ballard Design and Pottery Barn kept me in decor for a very long time!

So that is the kitchen for this year. I'm off to tackle the next round of storm debris from the "neglected" side of the yard. About the only time I am out on this side is if I have one of my granddogs visiting or I am checking after a storm. This is the side of my yard that still has the most and the largest trees so they usually produce fallen branches and vines after any kind of wind but that storm on Saturday brought down way more than usual. I have already had out a large pile of branches and filled cans that were picked up on Tuesday and I want to get this out before my next pickup. I'm pretty sure it will fill all 6 cans that I have but then I should be good to go-until Mother Nature lashes out once again. Lol

 Until then, stay safe and stay tuned.

Surprise!

 I bet you are as surprised as I am to see me here! When last we spoke I told you that I had an appointment today. What I didn't tell you is that it was a doctor's appointment-just a regular check-up but, those of you who know me know how much I dread anything "medical". It goes way back to my childhood and is too long a story-nor would you probably be interested in hearing it-to get into but to say I have white coat syndrome would be a total understatement.

And, honestly, at my age, it still surprises me too. It's not that I am afraid of anything going on or that I have a low threshold of pain-I just don't like going to any medical appointment. I guess I'm really lucky to be as healthy as I am for my old age. Lol

AND, we all know how much I "love" change. This appointment was going to be a double doozy! Not only was it a doctor's appointment but it was to meet my new doctor. My doctor whom I loved and treated both my husband and I for many, many years decided to retire from the office and take a position higher up in the practice that didn't require as much time. I knew it was coming but when he gave me the official word on my last visit I was sad. He knew me well and the things that other nurses and doctors saw as issues, he did not-like the spike in my blood pressure the minute I arrived at the office. He knew that by the time he and I were done chit chatting and going over my updates-not only health but family as well-it would be right back down where it needs to be-and it always was!

Before this gets way too long, let me cut to the chase. As I was sitting fully dressed with hair done and make-up on and just waiting to head out the door, the phone rang and it was the doctor's office saying the doctor had just called out for the day and they would need to reschedule! You would think that would have made me happy but I was raring to go at that point and so...here we are. I didn't think I would have all of today so I really am looking for things to do and, looking all "dressed up with nowhere to go" as my mom used to say means that I'm not about to head out into the yard and get all full of mud...and so, I thought of you.

I actually took these photos last night when I was looking at how pretty the house looked all glowing from the "candles" and I realized that except for the family room I might not have shown you some of the other vignettes lit up at night.

This is my favorite! I love this room at night no matter what holiday/season. Sometimes I get so comfy and relaxed in here that I have to force myself to get up and head to bed.

I guess I could have lit the real candles for this picture-I honestly never thought of it because except for my Yankee Candles that are in the glass jars I rarely ever light a "real" one anymore! That kind of stems from me forgetting one that was burning one time. It wasn't a disaster but it could have been. Lol

Usually the coffee table in this room also has the flameless candles but I guess I have less of the yellow and gold color than I have of others so it too is outfitted with the real ones.

There are actually a few other single candles lit in the kitchen and other rooms of the house but I didn't catch them all.

And, believe it or not, I didn't catch this faux pas until just now. Do you see it? I seem to always forget at least one item from the previous decor and I guess this time it was the 4th wreath hanging over the mirror. It's gone now but I didn't want to wait until tonight to catch another picture so just pretend you don't see it. LOL

I guess by now you're getting a bit tired of my loonnnggg post for the day so I will sign off. Not sure what will come next but if it's fun or interesting, you will be the first to know. Stay safe and stay tuned.