Moving Things Around!!

We had our lighted fountain on our back patio for a few years now. . . but since we added the other water feature of our rock pool ~ we didn't think we needed two trickling sounds :)


So, I "encouraged" my hubby to help me move it to our front yard ~ in our little courtyard area. It's on a dawn/dusk timer which turns on the water and the underwater lights (man, I needed to replace those lights and did I ever have a hard time finding replacements ~ good ole' Internet ~ after running all around the county checking brick and mortar stores ~ I finally found replacement bulbs on the Internet!)

This area doesn't look as "grand" as it usually does. . . because. . . remember we had our house painted this month? Well the painter chopped a lot of this area away to obtain access to the trim and to secure his ladder to the second level. My Clematis in the antique urns was absolutely beautiful before the painter got to them. They were climbing up the copper pole and blooming in all their glory *sigh*. I guess that's the price to pay for home maintenance upkeep!

Our little fountain looks like it belongs here. . . don't you think??!!

Blessings. . . until next time,

OH TO BE A KID AGAIN!!!

Celebrating Labor Day Weekend at the Cottage

We headed up north to our cottage ~ late last night. The weather forecast is suppose to be beautiful. High 70's low 80's!! The picture above is of our youngest (on the left) and her fellow cheerleading friend we brought with us last weekend to the cottage ~ trying to get in each and every second of summer before school starts on Tuesday!!

However you spend your Labor Day Holiday ~ enjoy yourself, your time and your family.

Blessings,

*Sigh* The Good Life

My husband and I have been blessed to have a little cottage up north here in Michigan. We built it ourselves (When I say "ourselves" I mean like with hammer and nails ~ we built it "ourselves" people!) Yeah, my husband is one handy and talented man. . . and I take direction well :)

We were fortunate enough to steal away to the cottage last weekend. What a lovely surprise awaited us in our back yard when we awoke early Saturday morning.

And wouldn't you know the name of the street our cottage is on is "Whitetail" ~ just. . . like. . . the. . . deer!!

Blessings. . . until next time,

Myrtle Beach Vacation - Condo Tour

Oh What A Wonderful Vacation We Had!!!!

Come on into our condo with me! We rented a condo in North Myrtle Beach. It was part of the Hilton Hotel's Kingston Plantation, called The Royal Palms. It was wonderful!!

This is at the entrance to our condo. Closet to the right and left for hanging items. Second door on the left was one of the bathrooms (the one our girls used).

Here's our girls' room. They had a room with two queen sized beds. My hubby and I were at the opposite end of the condo. . . so that was nice because we couldn't hear them in their room late at night talking, laughing and watching TV.

This is a shot of the girls bathroom. It's soooo hard to photograph bathrooms!! They are so small it's hard to fit them in the photo.

Our beautiful kitchen area. I'm so glad I had the opportunity to cook and clean for a week in this kitchen. It has totally nixed my thoughts of granite counter tops for our home in the future. No thank you. I will be happy to stick with my Corian Solid Surface. This black granite showed everything. It was so hard to clean too. I couldn't believe it. Every water drop showed, every streak was magnified!

Off of the kitchen was a laundry room. Yes, I LOVE having a washer and dryer on vacation. That way before we return home I can wash my family's clothing so I don't have to do it when I get home. Everyone can just put their clothing right back in their closets and dressers!

This is the balcony off of our rooms. We could enter the balcony from the living room or from the master bedroom. Oh yes, we had the end unit on the 24th floor. And what. . .a. . . view. . . we. . . had!! This is the master bedroom with a bathroom off of it. To the left (can't see it in this picture) is another doorwall leading to the same balcony as above. We had a wonderful walk-in-closet that was the size of some bedrooms I've seen.

This is the master bathroom. Behind the door is the Jacuzzi tub. I'm strange. I only get in my nice, clean Jucuzzi tub I have at home in my bathroom. I've read about all the germs in the tub and on the remote controls. No thank you!!

This is the view from our bedroom walking into the Living Room/Dining area. Yes, hubby is on the phone WORKING. . . on vacation. I'm not sure what was supposed to be over the buffet in the dining area. It looks like it may have been a photo or a mirror that wasn't there any longer. You can still see the hanging hardware attached to the wall, however.

This is a shot from the dining room, into the kitchen. To the right, you go down a hall and back out to the exit door.

This is the view from our room. I didn't visit the pool. I spent my days laying on the beach under an umbrella. . . reading a book and just totally enjoying myself. Our girls and my husband enjoyed boogie boarding and renting jet skis. I enjoyed looonnnngg walks on the beach in the morning and late evening. *Sigh* What a great time, family time we had.

We ended our vacation by visiting Charleston. What a great city! We visited the Middleton Plantation, The Marketplace, the beautiful old homes, Justine's Home Cooking Restaurant and the wonderful downtown area with all the delightful stores and antique shops. Our hotel was not as impressive as our condo though. Due to the history of Charleston - - space, of course, is at a premium. We stayed at a beautiful Embassy Suites which was a former military academy. We opened our door to our "suite" and our girls asked us where it was. I would have taken a picture for you all, but it was too small to even bother. But, we all enjoyed ourselves in spite of the small, close space.

Blessings. . . until next time,

Well. . . Well. . . Well, What Have I Been Up To???

I've been sooo busy. . . that's what I've been up to!!!





Oh, I think I could use another vacation. Since returning from vacation I've managed to paint the guest bathroom (including the ceiling with a 20' high sky light enclosed in such a small area that a two year old would feel squished. . . don't ask how I fit), painted a vanity chair for our 14 year old and a small thrifted rocker for yard decor, disassemble our rock pool and put it back together (it wasn't functioning properly so I took it apart and discovered a "family" of toads had invaded the pump area!!), found the "speciality" lights for our courtyard water fountain - ordered them on-line, drained the water and installed them, AND helped paint the last room in our church's children's wing. *SIGH* DONE for now. And this was along with Cheer Practice everyday, school clothing shopping, gymnastics lessons!!

At least I get to mark off some major items from my TO-DO list. I wanted to tackle these small, loose ends before painting our master bedroom. Major RE-DO project. Only one item left before the bedroom make-over. . . and it's to make drapery toppers for our den. That's NEXT on my list. I already have the fabric and fringe. . . maybe next week I can get started.

I want to post pictures of our wonderful vacation in Myrtle Beach. I will do that within a day or so. Tonight we are heading up to the cottage and I plan on making some major time for blogging. I've missed you all.

Blessings. . . until next time,

ON VACATION!!!

It's F I N A L L Y here!!!!!!

Well folks, it's finally here. I'm off for a week long vacation to Myrtle Beach, SC. My family is leaving very early this morning and will be gone for just over a week. I. can't. wait!!! I'm sooo looking forward to spending time with our entire family; my hubby, our oldest and youngest daughters. Yes, it will be wonderful.

While we're gone we are having painters paint the outside trim on our house and the service doors. So, when we get home it will be all. done.

See you after the 16th ;)

*Edited to add* I have no idea who that kid is in the picture. I just founded it on my photo editing software and thought it looked like how I'll feel on vacation. Whoo - Hoooo!!!!!

Blessings. . . until next time,

A Little Sample of Things to Come!!

NO, it's not a pile of junk. I'm compiling items for my new master-bedroom make-over. Think toile, damask, black, beige and a touch of pear green for accent. I'm so excited - I just purchased a really great looking sleigh bed on Craig's List that I am going to paint black to complete the "picture in my mind!" Strange as it may sound. . . that's how I decorate. . . in my mind. I visualize what it's going to look like and then go for it.

But first, we're heading off for a "family-moon" also known as a much needed family vacation. It's a great opportunity for our family to reconnect with each other due to the crazy schedules of working, school, college, etc. We're off to Myrtle Beach on Friday. . .so for now, I'll just have to continue to decorate in my mind. I'll get started when we return. . . maybe. I have a few small things I really should finish up first before beginning such a large project.

Blessings. . . until next time,

Rock Pool FINISHED!!!

After our Rock Pool was installed it needed some finishing touches to it. (I shared that I would post a picture of it when I was finished too.) It needed some filling in around the base, a few low growing perennials, some more small stones and marbles. Yes, I added clear marbles. They glisten wonderfully in the sunlight and I'm liking it :) You may click on the photo to enlarge if you'd like. Oh, and I can't forget the lily pad either. It's floating in the pond as well.

I love sitting on my patio and hearing the water trickling down the Rock Pool. I think every patio could benefit from a little water feature. . . it's soooo relaxing people!!

It's now all finished and I'm loving it!!

Blessings. . . until next time,