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Archive for the ‘Ect.’ Category

Garage Revelations-He gets Me

Posted in diy, Ect. on July 15, 2011| 1 Comment »

This is the current state of the union when it comes to our fireplace. I’m campaigning for painting it white and somehow dealing with the ugly brass firebox. Handy Hubby (worn out by my projects, I’m sure) likes it as is. It’s one of those round and round discussions at our house. Kinda like how big of an issue it is that I heard a creature in the attic. I’m sure it’s a rodent of unusual size (name that movie). Hubby is convinced it does not exist, I’m hearing things. Nice try, I don’t buy it baby.

All this to say, our home, like all issues in marriage is a matter of compromise and negotiation and hopefully a little grace for everyone involved. That’s why this reclaimed banister (white on right of fireplace) made my heart skip a little today. Joey brought it home and said, “I’m not sure what we’ll do with it, but I knew you’d like it.” It sat in the garage for a week or so because things were super hectic around here. Today it caught my eye, I brought it upstairs, dusted it off, and over coffee it hit me: He gets me. Thirteen years, two babies, four degrees, and a ton of up and downs: He gets me. He knows full well how difficult and flawed I am and he still loves and surprises me. He gets me, that’s a narrative I need to remember.

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Baby Blue

Posted in Ect. on July 12, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Y’all remember the tree house on my parent’s farm.

I had major fun staging a general store area with my mom. There are goo-goo clusters, cokes in bottles, and moonpies galore.

The tree house kitchen doesn’t have a window, so I wanted to add some color with vintage tins and funky platters. Hello 24 foot ceiling.

We were getting the place ready for sweet Kacee’s baby shower.

Kacee’s hubby Matt trimming trees. How could the shower not be at the tree house for these two?

Miss May made another appearance along with carrot cake cupcakes, cucumber sandwiches, fresh fruit, and my grandmother’s recipe for cheese ball. The strawberry cranberry punch is a family favorite from Grey Gables in Rugby.

Aunt Becky brought the hydrangeas from Aunt Kaye’s.

I’m finding it very difficult to host and document. Four Copley sisters (Lyna, Becky, Kaye, and Suzan, we missed you Jeanie) were there along with all six Copley grand daughters (Kristen, Kelley, Kacee, Katie, Tori, and Balee-just graduated law school, woot, woot) and all three Copley great grand daughters (Maddie, Ava, and Caroline). Photo op missed (thumbs down) but I kept everyone’s punch cup filled. It’s the small things, right?

Ava and Liza playing bride. Be still my heart. Hope she has her front teeth for her walk down the aisle.

Maddie and Liza playing mommy and me. Love it.

Sweet times for a sweet baby Nolan on the way!

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Jordan’s Gems

Posted in Ect. on July 9, 2011| Leave a Comment »

On Thursday I hosted a party for my friend, Jennifer. Jennifer’s business Jordan’s Gems is a Narrative of God’s grace through trial and pain. Jennifer tells her story best. Please check it out at www.facebook.com/Jordans.Gems. Her business cards sum up her vision very well, “Though He brings grief, He will show compassion, so great is His unfailing love.” Lamentations 3:32

I had my camera out but was having so much fun, I didn’t take any photos of the incredible jewelry -Sorry Jennifer! This is the gorgeous hostess gift from Jennifer. She’s one class act that girl! Jennifer inspired my post about the aqua tool box. I know God has used her to encourage countless others as well.

I did have a moment to snap some shots of the food before everyone arrived. Y’all know, I do love to eat! I kept the menu supper simple as it’s been a wild, wild week at the Thompson Inn.

Greek pasta salad with feta, capers, spinach, and home-grown tomatoes. Kinda makes me want to watch Fried Green Tomatoes and My Big Fat Greek Wedding. I feel a movie night coming on.

Strawberries with ganache and sweetened cream.

Goat cheese with pesto and sun-dried tomatoes. Cheese from a goat- sounds awful but is so wonderful, I love a good paradox!

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Have Lasagna, will Travel- Welcome Young Life from Madrid, Spain

Posted in Ect., Foodie Goodness, tagged lasagna on July 6, 2011| 4 Comments »

I had a wonderful opportunity to cater today for a group of 40 from Young Life in Madrid, Spain.

I couldn’t let go of the red, white, and blue (it’s July 5th after all) and this is the first taste of America for these students.

Thank you Kristen for the Hydrangeas!

Paula Dean’s Banana Pudding or as my dad likes to call it Sycamore Springs Banana Pudding was a hit.

I’ll level with you, this was a joy to do, but about 20 till 7, I thought I was doomed. I just couldn’t see how I would finish in time. Enter guardian angel server/volunteers. They tossed salad, cut garlic bread (this was creative as all the utensils were locked up at this venue), moved tables, made me laugh, and were all together wonderful! Thank you Guys! You were an answer to prayer!

Please pray for these wonderful Young Life students far from home. Please pray for blessings, protection, and that they come to know and serve Jesus. Jesus and banana pudding -great Southern combo!

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Buh-Bye,Boob Light – Don’t come around here no more!

Posted in diy, Ect. on July 5, 2011| 2 Comments »

As I’ve mentioned before we love our home, just not some of the 80s details. Enter exhibit A. This is in fact a horrible builder grade Boob Light from the 90s. If you have these in your home, please don’t be offended. I have three more yet to be replaced in mine. Female anatomy, however beautiful, should not inspire lighting.

In my parents’ wonderful, treasure trove of a basement I found and was awarded one 1950s orignal school light with heavy milkglass. These lights were replaced in said school with florescent lighting (the bane of my existence design wise) in the 70s but they did not replace the lights in the closets. This school was being demolished for a newer one when my father (tender-hearted giant) rescued it. Hallelujah!

Handy Hubby rigged this so the base could be painted.

Here is the after. Angels sang.

Grand total of four light fixtures replaced, 10 really ugly ones to go.

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Swim team, Social Activism, and Steak Houses

Posted in Baby Boos, Ect. on June 28, 2011| 1 Comment »

Pirates and Princesses Swim Meet at Gettysvue

Yesterday I spent an hour at swim practice. Then an hour packing the car and running to the party store for supplies for the theme of the meet. After 3.5 hours and a rain delay at said meet, hubby tagged in and off with grumpy preschooler I went. I missed the one minute my daughter needed me. There was a false start. She was in the pool frozen, people yelling. There were tears. Sweet coaches encouraged, kind mommies stepped in, her daddy gave her the, “buck up little missy” talk. She’s fine but I can’t get over spending all that time and missing the moment she needed me.

My living room looks like this. Painting is going slowwwwww. Three year old tantrums, swim team stress, paint messes, I may or may not have scarfed candy in my bed while watching reruns of Friday Night Lights and chanting “Tomorrow will be better”. All this to say…..

I’m heading off to see my favorite social activist and lyrical genius this weekend! Throw in a little Demo’s steak and spaghetti and I’ll be a new girl. Well, at least a well feed and rocked out one.

Oh, Bono. Only you could share a shelf with C.S. Lewis.

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Treasurey Goodness and a Recipe-ish

Posted in Ect., Foodie Goodness, Thrifty Treasure on June 25, 2011| Leave a Comment »

I planned on dropping Miss May off at the Homespun Sidewalk Sale and heading out to other adventures today. But I was caught up in the fun: part yard sale, part family reunion, part carnival (well, there was a duck game). It was hard to resist. These lovelys came home with me.

The black iron candle sticks were a steal and you know I’m a goner for anything old, funky, and with a literary theme. This piece had me at type setter’s drawer.

This happy yellow made me smile so it had to come along for the ride.

I spent the better part of my morning at Homespun and running around town. As I was heading home I realized I was starving. This is a recipe-ish that came from Rachel Ray then my sister Kacee then I just did my own thing. Like I said recipe-ish. Here is Gemelli pasta with Chick Peas, Kalamata Olives, Capers, and Basil Marinara.

Start by sauteing onions and peppers in olive oil.

Add sea salt, black pepper, one can rised chick peas, capers, tomato paste, olives, and two cans petite cut tomatoes.

Looks like this.

Rinse then puree the other can of chick peas, add, and you should have something like this.

Add lots of fresh basil. Really can you ever have enough fresh basil?

Enjoy!

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Ghost Potty and Costume Jewelry

Posted in diy, Ect. on June 23, 2011| Leave a Comment »

We moved into our current home a little less than a year ago. It is a tremendous blessing after our previous house was on the market over 18 months. Our home was built in the 80s and has some unique features. Not the least of which is the plumbing. We noticed a wail, moan, gurgle from the master bath our first night. We were too tired to care. After a few weeks, handy hubby remedied the ghost potty issue. Soon after, there were issues with the tub. We plan on remodeling the entire bath, so patching dry wall is low on our list of projects right now. Previously I covered the vortex of plumbing woe with a mirror but now it’s got a new lease on life.

I bought the shudders, you guessed it, at a yard sale. Now they hold my costume jewelry and scarves and cover the vortex. It makes me smile every time I see it. And I think that’s the key. Our homes should make us smile and tell our story. It doesn’t matter if even your best friend doesn’t get it. If you love it, find a way to use it in your home.

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Beauty for Ashes

Posted in Ect. on June 23, 2011| 3 Comments »

So notice the little aqua box. Please don’t notice the white walls (we’re painting this weekend-whoo hoo!) or the lamps that I’m over but haven’t found replacements for yet. Back to the box- bought at a yard sale from a widow cleaning out her late husband’s tools. It was gunky and I have no need for a tool box but it spoke to me. I loved the color and the worn patches that gave it such character. Enter in God, moving through two friends who shared their lives with me this week, and the box took on new meaning. My friends shared heart ache and pain and most of all God’s grace moving in their deep hurt. I am learning, slowly but learning, that God wastes nothing. This time of year is a little tricky for me. If you knew me then, think summer 2003. I don’t have all or even many of the answers but I know that the worn, broken parts of our lives allow God’s grace to shine through when we are real and open. That’s a little of my story. A little of why I named the shop design narrative. God is weaving his narrative through all our stories-sometimes all the more through the broken, worn pieces. Isaiah 61:1-3.

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Who doesn’t love a good before and after?

Posted in diy, Ect., Shop on June 19, 2011| 2 Comments »

I picked up this sad little picnic basket knowing she needed a little TLC

A little help from the helpful hardware place in Banner Red

Now she’s ready for a 4th of July bash. You could channel your grandmother’s spirit and make a blackberry cobbler or rhubarb pie. Wear her pearls and be belle of the barbecue.