At Considerable Cost

No big trips.   Just a relaxed schedule, a day trip, special food treats, and a few spring sprucing projects. I've been watching this lantern at Hobby Lobby for almost a year.   I could only find one at a time and figured that was a sign I didn't really need them.   This past week, candle holders and metal decorative items were 50 % off and there were two lanterns!   We installed them on our front porch and they add such a welcoming touch.   It's beautiful to have real candlelight at the front door. Real candles! I'm in a painting mood.   So, don't stand still for long at our house!   I painted the kitchen door leading into the garage and the exterior side of the back porch door this lovely turquoisey-teal color.   Such a happy touch of color!   And I'm getting better at painting without taping off the area.   Angled brushes are the key. See, that birdhouse sat still too...

I'm able to post some of our progress on our new home .   I finally found time to transfer and organize all the photos from my phone!    It's been fun to work on the house and make decisions, but it's been different from earlier homes because we were making several big changes to surfaces.   I had to make sure that my choices would work together and fit with the overall look and feel I was trying to achieve.   And I had to shop around for the best deals!   I am so thankful for a floor plan that works so much better for our family.   Home schooling has been so much easier and I realized I was fighting against our old floor plan. So, starting at the front door: This is a picture taken before closing.   The house was very cold and contemporary.   Believe it or not, this was just a dorm for the owner and her children while they attended university, so it was sparsely furnished.   I knew we...

I'm on a painting kick.   If you stand still for too long, you will end up being painted black--either brushed on or more likely, spray painted.   I do this every couple of years.   Mama had lots of metal yard pieces--plant stands, flower carts, etc. and they need to be repainted every so often.   I love metal pieces because you can so easily freshen them up with a fresh coat of paint.   I think nothing looks sharper than a crisp black finish.  The last time I was on spray-painting-spree, I called a friend and told her our fence would look really great painted black.  "I think you need to stop spray-painting for a while, Terri," was her reply.   Here are a few of my little projects. BEFORE: Outdoor love seat and coffee table purchased a  garage sale.   I found a great deal on a cushion at Overstock.com! AFTER: Metal outdoor furniture will rust over time, so I waited until I could find som...