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.

It's Been a Minute!

 It seems like forever since I have been here and I'm not even sure I know where to start. When we last spoke, I think I told you that I had messed up my days and commitments so my decor swap, which was supposed to start on Monday would now be starting on Thursday. But, even at that, I thought I would be done and back here a lot sooner than just now.

The swap from red, white and blue to sunflowers and citrus colors usually takes four days with putting things away included. And that was still on track until Saturday afternoon when a storm came in completely out of the blue. One minute it was cloudy and the next hail was hammering my sky lights so hard that I thought they would break and the accompanying rain was so heavy I couldn't see out the door. In literally a matter of a few minutes I walked to my sunroom to see if I could see any better back there and water was GUSHING down my brick sidewalk and under the door into the sunroom. Luckily, the sunroom floor is slate so no harm done there.

Wind was blowing and things were flying and suddenly, everything went black. Power was out. Luckily, I have my fabulous flashlight from my brother and sister-in-law and Bennett and I went around gathering up what we may need for a long, hot and yes, pretty boring night ahead.

I did some reading-about as much as my eyes could take having to read by flashlight-don't know how Abe did it-lol-ran and got a quick shower before there was no hot water left and was about ready to jump out of my skin when the power came back on. I went around resetting everything, turned on the TV and we were good to go. I think the power was off a bit over three hours.

The next morning I was happy to wake up and see numbers on the clock and everything was good through coffee and breakfast and I was just getting ready to get on with my swap when the power went out again. It was dark in the house and outside and the thunder was booming again so back to my book I went.

The rest of the day is a bit of a blur. Once the power came back and I had reset everything again, the power went out three more times! Honestly, I have never been so happy to see the end of a day.

Apparently a HUGE storm passed through just my side of town-other areas never got a drop of rain let alone hail, wind, thunder and lightning! Trees took out out power poles and at least two very large ones fell on houses. And, of course, once the sky cleared up, I was outside picking up as much debris as I have had from a hurricane. I picked up parts of trees that are nowhere near my house. I got a lot of it out for today's pick-up but still have much more to go!

Thankfully, I am fine-as is what I can tell so far of my house-and I still had my furry pal here for company so we survived.

And, even though we are still having storms and cloudy skies yet again today, I was able to get some pictures so we can get our late summer 2026 tour started. We'll start in the living room.

When I looked closely at the above photo, I felt as if something was wrong with the balance so I added another book to make the middle cubby just a bit more prominent. Not sure it made a huge difference but I like it...until I don't. Lol

This is a picture that I think I actually bought to use for St. Patrick's Day. When I bought it, the flowers were other colors but I ended up painting them yellow so that I could use it with my sunflowers and I think it works. I know I could find an actual sunflower photo from The Paperhouse Print Shop but I think I am already on sunflower overload so I am good with this. When I finished all of my decorating for this swap, I have several bundles of sunflowers left over so I guess I am ready to cut back some. Lol. It always had that one orange flower so I just left it there.

I think I might also be almost over the book stacks and bead garlands that I made for every holiday/season. Once upon a time, I loved them all but this one almost didn't make the cut this year-and, it is probably still not safe. Once I have a minute, I just might find something else for this spot.

So that is the living room so far. I have an appointment tomorrow and some errands and then I should be back and ready to get on with "life"-as long as Mother Nature plays nice for awhile. I am off to finish up my grout refresh that never got done and then see about starting a new project using a drop cloth from Lowes. I have never worked with one before but lots of crafters use them so we shall see. I will fill you in on that once I get started. Until then stay safe and stay tuned.