Thursday, January 30, 2014

Facebook Finds

{Just a few of my favorites from Facebook this past week.}

One of my most favorite pages from Facebook is Porch Sitting Union of America.  I love the pictures they post as well as their porch sitting attitude!  Here is my favorite one from this week.  I could do some serious porch sitting here!


And this house from Abandoned Everything is simply divine!  I love the windows up in the attic.  I can envision a little cozy room up there for reading or star gazing.  Someone just has to restore this gem!



These flowers from Country Living Magazine's page helped me keep my sights on spring.  I can't wait to make a bouquet from a cutting garden I have in mind.  


Do you have any favorite Facebook pages to share?


Sunday, January 26, 2014

Farmhouse Dreams

Photo credit:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Abandoned-Everything/496944700356415

See that beautiful house up there?  You might say it is my dream house. When I look at it, I see perfection. At least it is what I think is my dream, despite the fact that I am not a rehab expert, just an average HGTV viewer.  And I enjoy my modern conveniences, so there is the second conflict in this dream.  But it is fun to dream, and one never knows, it could happen!

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Contentment in Winter

We're having a colder than usual winter, snowier as well. Thankfully, we were still able to go on our annual beach hike at our favorite state park,  Indiana Dunes. We were all dressed warmly, another thing to be grateful for. Our 3 hour drive home was a bit frightful in spots with the wind blowing snow back on the highway  faster than the plows could keep up. All in all, my heart was full and we had a fun family outing.  Only 57 more days until spring!



Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Contentment

I used to define contentment as being thankful for what you have. I still think thankfulness is a big part of contentment, but I also think it is more. I now think that contentment is best defined by simply wanting what you have!
When tempted to be discontented,  I used to feel guiltly, because I was being ungrateful for all that I had. While that is still true, guilt doesn't solve my heart problem. The positive way to stop discontinted feelings is to concentrate on wanting what I have.
When I want what I have, there is no time to want what someone else has. And, wanting what I have is the ultimate in thankfulness.  
(The picture I chose for this post is our wonderful van and pop up.  Both things I struggled to be content with in the past. )

A Front Porch

One of the things I was really hoping to have on a home was a front porch.  We looked at many houses that did have some great porches, and I held out for awhile, but in the end, I had to give up that dream, for the best location. So, now it is time to get creative.  And what better time to think about sitting outside than when you are stuck inside because it is freezing!

I have some good ideas to feed this need of mine.  For instance, our front yard gets wonderfully shady in the afternoon.  So, I am planning to take advantage of this feature and put a couple nicer chairs, like in the picture below, out front.

Yes, I won't have a porch, but I will have a nice spot to sit and enjoy.  I'd really like to make an effort to be out front because I am hoping to meet some neighbors that way.  We do have a really nice deck out back, but you can't be neighborly that way!  And even if the chairs have to be plastic due to money restraints, who cares.

Image source:  Google images 

Friday, January 10, 2014

Beauty in the Humblest Things

"The power of finding beauty in the humblest things makes home happy and life lovely."

~Louisa May Alcott

"Envying someone else's life doesn't make your life better -- like actually enjoying your own life does."

~Ann Voskamp


Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Recent Finds






Happy New Year!!  Recently,I was able to go back to my favorite resale shop with Christmas money in hand, so exciting.  I found the perfect cabinet for our powder room, which had no storage.  It was even the right color, although, I was not against having to paint in order to find the right cabinet.

Then we found bedside tables, solid wood, marked down to 2 for $12!  At first I thought I would paint them this spring, but now I like the dark wood.  Besides none of our bedroom furniture is painted.  I do not mind the mixed wood tones.  These tables were just what we needed and had been looking for.

I also bought a replacement spoon rest.  My free one from Good Will chipped beyond repair, unfortunately. This one is Fiesta Ware, made in America.  It will last for a long time.

And lastly, we had been given a lamp, but it did not have a harp or shade.  We finally found the right parts and put it on the desk in the office.  I know the shade is kind of modern and my furniture is more traditional, but I liked how it looked, so that was that.

I really enjoy making a home via the resale shops!  I hope to go again soon, when the weather improves.  I am looking to add to my 1970's Correlle.