WAINSCOTING BOARD AND BATTEN IN PROGRESS!!!

I love Wainscoting. I think it gives a home such a cozy feeling. It goes with the Farmhouse style, Cottage, and Coastal. Really, just about any depending on the style you choose. It has such a clean crisp look to it. I lean towards Farmhouse/Cottage style in my home so of course I am in love with the look. And I have fallen for the Board and Batten style (second up -Bead board). So I decided to get started on doing it in my family room. I have wanted to for some time. I'll give ya a quick look at the start of it and then tomorrow or Friday when it's all done I'll post an update. Until then, here's a little look at the progress....

PAINTBRUSHES, RECIPES, FAMILY AND GOD

Wow…did I fall off the radar or what? I just looked at this and realized it has been over a month since I wrote anything! I try to do twice a week but obviously I fell far from that recently. It’s just been a very hectic season. I also think I was going in the wrong direction and trying to hard to be something I am not.

I’m more of a lifestyles blogger. Meaning I like to blog about life. EVERYTHING… DIY projects, style, my faith, family, food, and in general, just-LIFE! I do it because I love to write. And I hope someone will enjoy reading it. But I have been trying to be a DIY blogger. Not intentionally. I think I just happened to do a lot of  painting and projects, one after the other for a while and then suddenly I felt the need to keep up! And it’s been tough! I love paintbrushes, recipes, family and God. But NOT in that order. So time to readjust. That’s part of the reason I vanished. I had no projects to post so I didn't write. And I don't want to do that. I will still do a lot of them...because I do love decorating and DIY projects, but I'm not gonna go looking for them and panic when I don't have a project to post. So….I’m gonna just stop trying to be something I’m not, and write about anything and everything as the mood strikes cause that's what I love most. Writing.  J 

So…what have I been up to?...

MY WHIMSICAL TREE IS FINALLY ON THE WALL!

Every room should have a little bit of whimsy! 

I did it! I actually free hand painted a tree on my wall! Yay me. lol....

I am so pleased at how this tree turned out! And also, so pleased it is done! It was kind of a spontaneous last minute decision. I mean I have always wanted to paint a tree on my wall, but I wasn't prepared to do so. But today it was pouring rain and I got the itch and looked around to see what paint I had on hand and voila!

MAD MAX AND THE REST OF THE WEEK

Meet Max. He’s the newest addition to our crew. -Or I should say Mad Max cuz he's an absolute adorable, but psycho kitty. Non stop running through the house, up the stairs, around the corner, back down the stairs and yes....right up your shoulder on to the top of your head. All in a split second before you have time to duck. :) But he is a doll. He is a rescue from a rescue group in town, as are all our little four legged family members. You can see the others here.

So there’s not much going on here around the old homestead other than... 

Putzin around the palace....lol

Me, my daughter and granddaughter

Oh my goodness what a busy couple of weeks it has been. But it is summertime and I am lovin' it.We celebrated Independence Day with a big outdoor pool party and barbecue and it turned out amazing with a great group of people, both family and friends, and a whole lot of food and fun! This week I just putzed around the palace. Y’all know putzin means doing a whole lot of nothing in particular and a little of everything in general. Just sorta cleanin' a little, movin' and rearranging, and all around just tweaking things here and there? And well, my palace? lol..I try to make it our home our own humble little castle.

20 SOME YEARS LATER AND MARTHA FINALLY GETS A FACE LIFT!

So this week I decided to give my "Martha Washington" sewing cabinet a much needed and belated face lift. These little stands were made popular back in the early 1900's when everyone was broke and manufacturers were looking for smaller wares to sell during the Depression. I bought mine in my hometown of Madison Ohio at a yard sale back in the 80's. They actually have nothing to do with Martha Washington and came along after her time. 

They sell on eBay, depending on the condition anywhere from

THIS WEEK'S DIY PLAN WAS A TOTAL BUST!!!!!!!!

The Blissful Bee Blogspot

Well this week was a bust. I had it in my head all week that this was the weekend I was building my brand new beautiful Factory Cart coffee table for the living room. I have the coffee table in there that I "checker boarded" and I'm using but it just doesn't work with the room. It isn't my style and quite frankly...I just don't like it.

MY LIVING ROOM FACE LIFT...SHE LOOKS 20 YEARS YOUNGER!

Here is my new living room! It's not exactly "done" because my home is always a work in progress. Always. But is done for a while. And it is definitely a much happier room. :) I think it's smiling now -I know I am!  Take a look! I absolutely love it...what do you think??  

So we went from this room which I also loved once upon a time too for all it's color.. 

Life without them....

I grew up in a small town in Northeast Ohio. Right on lake Erie called North Madison, Ohio. After graduation I moved away.  A whole 2 or 3 miles from the edge of Madison to our football rival's town right next door in the small town of Geneva. Lol...that's as far as I went. All my life was spent within a 5 mile radius of Madison and Geneva. I grew up there, married there, divorced, remarried. My kids were all born there. They grew up there. My first grandchild was born there. My mom, my sister and my brother and his wife live there and all their kids and grandkids live there. We all stayed. Until 2007, when I moved over 700 miles away and started a new life.

Goodbye Dad and Bethy too...

I've been thinking about my dad who passed away 4 months ago- October 23rd 2011. I only knew him for a short time. He left when I was little and my mom raised us as a single parent. Their were lots of struggles but she raised us mostly on her own and did everything she could to take care of our needs. I give her credit for her perseverance and great strength. It's tough. My dad left when I was little girl and I missed all those things most girls take for granted growing up with a father. I never got to be daddy's little girl. I never got to dream about marrying someone like him. And he never walked me down the isle.
But we reconnected about 12 years ago. He asked for and I gave forgiveness. He turned out to be a good man who made a very bad decision many years ago in his youth. And I learned long ago that unforgiveness serves no purpose and only makes one a bitter person. It takes hold of your heart and turns it black. And the person you refuse to forgive isn't hurt by it, you are. 
Besides, I wanted to know him. So we got to know each other through 1 wonderful visit after 30 odd years and many long distance calls. He drove with his lovely wife Gloria clear across the country to see me. We spent a week together. That was the one and only time I was to have with him. We lived more than 2000 miles apart. Unfortunately very little time was had before he passed away. It doesn't seem fair...
My "daddy" was a man I never really got to know.  And I have a half sister and half brothers I never got to know. Occasional emails or post on Facebook but that's it. 
I saw this video and thought of him. And then I thought of Betheny, an amazingly beautiful young woman and part of our "heart" family that we lost last year. She was such a beautiful 25 year old  woman and mommy. She was my daughter Jessica's best friend of almost 20 years...since they were little tikes. They grew up together. She had so much more living and loving to do. But now she's doing it in Heaven. You can read about her in this other post...

http://buildingsandcastlesinthewind.blogspot.com/2011/10/bethy-and-louiewhat-wonderful-world.html

But take a listen to this wonderful song, for the both of them...

Ch...Ch...Changes....

Hey there,

So this blog started out to be just about my faith. But slowly I have come to realize that I have more to say. Much more. Uh oh. Yes, I am a child of God but I am also a woman who likes to read, laugh, decorate, garage sale, beach it, fish, hang out on the fishing pier, find great recipes, talk about my grandbabies, and did I mention-decorate!?!! All those things make up who I am, along with my faith. Like threads in fabric they all are woven together to make me-me! And I'm pretty cool, actually. LOL...Hey! It's not just my opinion-God says in Psalm 17 that I am the apple of His eye...so there! So I am shifting this blog to be more about................

Bethy and Louie...What a wonderful world...

As I breeze through the house cleaning, I stop and do a turn and sway to the music.The day started sad. So I made a choice this morning. To listen to the music. Now, there's a smile on my face. Louie Armstrong, one of my favorites is singing. He is chuckling. And I chuckle with him. Because in this moment, this one small moment of time, we share a single thought- What a wonderful world it is. I smile. It is a matter of perspective. To see beauty in what could be an ugly world. Good will overcome. Although this year I questioned that. More than I ever have in my life.

Sweet, vibrant CRAZY Betheny

2011 came in with a roar. A viscous roar. There was Bethy. Sweet beautiful Betheny. Now this -this rocked my world. Straight to the core. I am still in shock and still rebuilding my heart......
This is why I need to write today. To remind myself of the beauty of this world amidst the ugly. Perspective? I can't seem to put her loss in its place. This one still makes me cry all the time. Makes me wonder about this world. Beautiful and full of life. She was the one who always dared. Dared to be different, dared to be noticed, dared to do anything. No fear in her at all. She was larger than life. When she was little she had a way of always making sure you knew she was in the room. And that never changed. She was my daughters best friend. She was a part of our entire lives. From childhood to adulthood to motherhood. And I can not believe she is gone. She was suppose to be here to see her best friend, my daughter Jesse's little Addison born. For her and Jess to raise their boys together as friends too. To fight with Jess's other friends for the position of Maid of Honor at her wedding. I really wanted to see the end of her story. To see her as an old lady. To see her raise her son. I watched her grow from a little girl into a young woman and then a mother of her own child. Its the circle of life. I never thought for a moment she wouldn't finish that circle here with us. My heart still aches. There is a saying..."Live life out loud". Well if ever someone did, it was her. She piled a lot into her short life. And that was taken from her at 25. From us. Her family, friends and from her son. Bethany was murdered February 19th, 2011. Along with her boyfriend Cord. They died at the hands of another. A lost soul who made a decision to takes her life along with the life of Cord due to his own brokenness. Violently and selfishly. A split second decision and act of violence from this man and lives are robbed. -And Bethy is gone from us all. And hearts are destroyed. Families are pulled apart and a little 5 year old boy is left without his mother. My daughter Jessica lost her best friend. I lost a "daughter". And her mother, my dear friend Julie, lost her world, her heart. It will never make sense to me. I will never understand it. I look at her picture on the shelf and still ask why? My comfort comes in the fact that I believe I will see her again. My hope is in this.

My daughter Jessica and Beth  BF's Forever!

Through all the pain, heartache and loss I have felt this year, I still believe in good. I remind myself of the good things in my life. I have a good man. A strong, loving and kind Christian man. He still opens doors for me after almost 10 years together. He calls me babe, and means it. He still offers me something when he gets himself a glass of tea. He puts me first. He was raised to be a gentleman, and remains true to that. I have children. Not always without issues and troubles, but they are mine and they love me. They still come to me. We still talk and laugh together. I have beautiful grandchildren-all ages. Newborns to 10 years old. Nine of them! I have been in the room and witnessed 3 of their births in the last year. A beautiful home with a pool within a mile of the the beautiful Atlantic ocean. A nice solid running SUV that I love and can drive out on the beach. A great loving church and church family. Wonderful friends. Yes, its a wonderful life. Not perfect by any means. But I am content. Could I use some more money? Yes. Would I love that new fridge? Yes, absolutely! Do I wish some things had turned out differently? Yes. But joy comes from within. And I am joyous. And I believe contentment is learned. And I am content. I am learning such joy and contentment at this stage of my life from the small things. The "jasmine?" scent that filters in my windows. The breeze coming through the front screen. The gentle rain. The birds chirping. The word "gram" from a child. The drive over Snows Cut Bridge with the Cape Fear river on one side and the ocean on the other. Laughing with friends. Revelations from God. And listening to Louie.....

Do I say these things so someone will be envious? NO! I know I have a good life and I am blessed. Many do not have the same comforts as I do. And some have more. I say these things to remind myself. So I do not get blase' about life. Both the big things and the small. Life is fragile. It is to be honored and held dearly in your hands. We are given gifts from God to cherish.

I am still grieving the loss of Bethy. I miss her. A mother herself, a beautiful child such as her should not be taken so young from parents and friends who love her. But she was. So I try to honor and hold dear the things I have. And not waste "life". The things I cherish. And yes, appreciate the simple things such as the sweet fragrance coming through my window. If I can learn to honor and appreciate all the little things in life, the blessings I have, then I think it honors her memory. To not take for granted all the little things that were stolen from her. I thought of her a lot this morning. I think of her every day. But today, the tears began. So that's why the music came on. She loved music. She loved to dance. I can choose to look at the negative or the positive. To love or hate. To be angry or peaceful. To gripe or be thankful. To forgive or hold on to unforgiveness. To sit or to dance. I didn't always have contentment so I appreciate it now. We get so wrapped up in all the things we don't have that sometimes I think we need to take a moment and remember what we do have. And speak it out. Words have power. Life and death comes from our lips. So speak LIFE!!! So I visualize it. Speak it out. Write it down. Smile about it. And speak thankfulness. Loudly!!!. .........And remember to hold life dear. And I will strive to remember all of Bethy. Not how she died, but how she lived. And if you can do all that while listening to a little Louie, then that's even better. And dear sweet daughter Bethy, this dance with Louie, is for you.....

Beth and little boy JJ

Cord and Beth

Bethy

TURNING 50

APRIL 24
To all my friends and loved ones out there.........
WOW...this is Tuesday and I turned 50. Friday my family took me out to celebrate!
I started reflecting on this a while back when my dear friend Dave turned 50 (he's older than me... ;) -and I received a letter about his feelings on it. I began to think about how I felt about the "big day".

Moving to North Carolina

October 28 2008
Well its been a year since making the big move from Ohio. Time sure flys. I finally got to go home last month and see my family It was great to see them. Its hard though when you have 4 days to shove a year of missing into. Knowing that you probably wont see them for a long time again, so you feel pressure to make the visit count. Of course it falls short. And theres never enough time. And I left feeling like I didn't say and do as much as I would have liked to.