Showing posts with label family. Show all posts

Sunday, April 19, 2015

The Post I Never Wanted to Write

Three months have gone by since I last posted. A week after my last post my dad had to go to the hospital. He was weak and could not walk on his own. We thought he just needed to get some fluids and he would be back to normal in a few days. We were pretty shocked to find out his kidney's were failing and three days later we lost him. He was the most amazing man, and it has taken a great toll on our family to say the least.
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To make a long story a little shorter, we have moved my mom. and I have spent most of my time the last few months getting her settled in a new apartment. She is in a different senior living apartment where meals are supplied, so it much better for her. She has macular degeneration and cannot see well enough to cook for herself.

The good thing is my mom loves to go antiquing, so we have done a lot of estate sales to keep busy. It has been a big help. We have been taking all of our finds to our booths at Sentimental Journey and keeping them stocked. We have actually had some record months this winter. I will try to start taking pictures and posting our finds. We love to go the last day of the sales to get in on the markdowns.

We sure miss you Daddy, but we are making the best of things.

Love, Ann

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Fall at the Mall (Antique)

Well, so much for posting in a day or two. I was already to get back on a regular posting schedule when my Dad ended up in the hospital. He is 92 now and it doesn’t take a lot to knock him off his feet. He was there for 5 days and came home with visiting nurses. I am the only child that lives close, so I spend a lot of time over at their place helping out with lots of things. I love my mom and dad dearly, so it is my blessing to spend time with them.

At the Antique Mall, I have three booths now. Fall is starting to wind down and I am hoping to get a lot of the Christmas décor in this weekend. I wanted to share some pictures of the booths as they are now before the festive decorations go in. I am not a huge fall decorator, but I did have a little in there.

The enormous silver birdcage has sold and so has the cape and mask hanging to the left. You can see a couple of tiny pumpkins on the dresser, but not a lot in here for fall.

A couple of pumpkins in here and some fall throws. It is amazing how a picture lets you look at your display from a different perspective. This booth seems awfully messy to me. Can’t wait to clean it up for Christmas.

This is the newest booth and it is my favorite. The armoire and china cabinet/desk are both gorgeous. Again, very little fall, but I can’t wait to deck the halls for Christmas!

I will do my best to be back soon with some beautiful Holiday Booths.

Thanks for visiting, I would love your comments and if you have any suggestions for my booth spaces, I would love to hear them. I would not be insulted, I truly want to improve my spaces and become successful at the antique business.

Have a blessed day, be back soon.

Ann

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Turning 60- A New Chapter

Life has been hectic for me for the last two years, I keep thinking things will settle down and get back to normal. My husband and I sold the business we had for over 25 years in 2012. Then my parents moved to a retirement center, then our daughter sold her house and moved home for 6 months. Then we had a precious new granddaughter, then my parents moved again. Then our daughter found another house and we needed to help her get moved. Then my husband started a new business and I get to help keep it running smoothly. During that time we rescued two more dogs and now have three crazy big dogs running the house. My mom and I went from antique booths in one mall to three. Whew! Craziness that will not stop. I kept thinking I would get settled and life would return to normal, but I think this is my new normal.

Last month I turned 60 and finally said, this has to change. I moved all of my stuff back into one antique mall. I do have three booths, but at least only one building. That’s a huge relief. Everyone is finally finished moving and I have decided that its time for me to take care of me. I have a problem with feeling selfish, I have always been the one to help others, but at some point it hit me, I have to take care of myself first.

So, I decided to come back and write again. Share what I love to do, and that is create and collect. I am not only going to write on this blog, but also on another blog I started a long time ago, Stitch Daily. Be sure to check it out if you love to sew.

I know that I am not the only one who has gone through such big changes in life. I would love to hear how any of you have survived big changes like these.

I’ll be back tomorrow with a post about something fun. In the mean time, I’ll be browsing Pinterest. It’s been my me time. Smile

Ann

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

The Wedding Dresser

My daughter-in-law texted me one day (her primary method of communication) and asked if I had a vintage table of some kind. Her younger sister was getting married and having a vintage wedding. They were having the wedding outdoors (in early May) and needed someplace for the minister to set the Bible.

I didn't have any old tables, but I had this lovely old dresser. With its pretty pink glass knobs, it was perfect. They loved it, but wanted it to be off white. So, I tried some home made chalk paint. I had not used the unsanded grout recipe before and decided to go with it. It worked great, but I didn't like how it set up like plaster, mix a new batch with each coat. I would love to hear the solution to that.

Well, it snowed here and the ground was a mess, so the wedding had to be moved indoors. There ended up not being enough room for the dresser since space was so tight, but her parents ended up buying it for her as a keepsake from her wedding. I love seeing young people who love vintage pieces as much as I do. Sorry for the poor quality picture, but the weather was not cooperating to get it outside in the daylight!

I also made a blanket and Bumbo cover for the flower girls. Since my granddaughter still needs a little help sitting up and her cousin set behind her.

My darling grandson was the ring bearer, dressed like a little newsboy. And my daughter in law was a bridesmaid. It was truly a vintage wedding in an old converted barn. Really cool place!

As you can see in the background, they were feeding the cake to each other, while I was taking pictures of my kids, whoops.

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Restyled Sundays #57

Welcome Back to Restyled Sundays

Sorry I missed the party last week and have been out of touch. We have been dealing

with the Blizzard of OZ times Two. I did get some beautiful pictures, but we had 12" of snow

a week ago Thursday, and then another 12" this last Tuesday. For someone who thought

that Spring was almost here, I was not prepared. So I made soup and pie and lots of goodies

and did nothing but paperwork for two weeks .I was suffering from gray skies and a

lack of inspiration.

The trees were completely bent over by the weight of the snow.

Such a beautiful winter wonderland.

These yews normally completely hide the utility box.

At least it was interesting to look at. But I am so happy that

we are going to hit 40 degrees today and see some melting.

Anyway, back to the party!

Two weeks ago, the party had a couple of great projects I want to feature!

I love this corner cabinet makeover by Shabby Gals

be sure to check out the cute seat cushion on the chair next to it.

Next, this basket makeover is really nice. Kathy at Life on Lakeshore Dr

performed a quick and easy update. Great styling.

I'll try to stay more motivated this week, and maybe I will even finish a project!

Now let's see what you have been up to lately!

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Restyled Sundays #47

Welcome Back To Restyled Sundays!

Wow! I actually made it back to start the party! The other day I mentioned my newest grandchild

would be coming any day, well she actually came that night.

Alaina Jean was born at 3:45 am on Tuesday, October 16th.

She weighed in at 6lbs 13oz and was only 18" long. She is a

sweet little petite angel. Her big brother is crazy about her already,

as well as mom and dad and all of the rest of us. I am a redhead and so is her father

(I had 3 redheads and 3 brunettes) and she has a hint of red in her hair.

We are so excited to say the least!

My daughter and I made her bedding and just got it done last week.
Had to take these pics with my IPhone. I hope to get some good pictures this weekend.

Still have to finish the window treatments, so I hope to get those done this week.

I do want to feature my favorite project from our last party.

Shabby Gals shared this vintage wheel turned picture frame.

How sweet would this look in Alaina Jeans room?

I may just have to find something like this to copy.

Now let's get the party started!!

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Restyled Sundays #34

Welcome Back to Restyled Sundays

Well once again, this party is late getting started. We have been out of town this weekend and just got back, so I wanted to get the party started even though it is late. We went to see my father-in-law who will be celebrating his 91st birthday tomorrow. He is truly amazing, still living on his own and very active. He plays the saxaphone in a jazz band, and he plays every single day!

Let's see what you all shared last week.

I love the restyling of this pair of end tables by

Blue Star Antiques

Jen from At Home In The Northwest made

this cute garden trellis from scratch.

The Joyful Thrifter always finds the greatest stuff.

I love these 70's crewel designs.

Again, thanks for sharing. I hope to see you all again this week.

Friday, February 3, 2012

My Sweet Princess

Thanks to Alison at The Polohouse, I am showing off my favorite child today!

This is Lady Di. And, Yes she is a princess! And yes, my other 6 children know she is my favorite!

Not only has she never given the grey hairs that they did, she loves me even when I scold her.

Lady is now 6 years old, seems hard to believe, yesterday she was just a puppy!

This is the day we brought her home.

We have a daughter in law who is a veterinarian, who recommended we get a Goldendoodle. They don't shed, they have the temperament of the Golden Retriever, and the brains of the Poodle, and they don't shed. Yeah! We were ready for that after two lab mixes.

When we bought her from a breeder, she was living in a barn with alot of other puppies,

and she smelled like she was living in a barn. We had two puppies to choose from, two were

twelve weeks old and two were 9 weeks old. She was 12 weeks old and a little bigger than I thought

I wanted. But as I picked up each of the four puppies they were all licking me and squirming around, except for Lady. She just laid her head on my shoulder and whispered 'take me away from this place'.

How could I ignore that? So, home with us she went!

I couldn't wait to give her a bath ( I think she was hoping for one also).

She obviously didn't belong on a farm. She was royalty after all!

Here she was taking her first bath. She fit in the kitchen sink!

She was ready to cuddle after she was all cleaned up.

And, here she is today! Doesn't she look like a princess?

Of course she has to get dressed up by my granddaughter when she comes over!

I am not so sure she likes that part, she thinks she is pretty enough with out the pj's!

She loves to look out the window.

Gotta keep an eye on those squirrels!

This was a rare camera shot of her looking straight at me.

She avoids the camera at all costs. Drives me crazy!

After her hairdo, she is in the back of daddy's car.

See how she turns her head!

But the best part of all is how she gives me a hug when I come home!

I would love to hear about your little sweetie pie.

Linking to:

Friday, September 16, 2011

It's A Great Room Again

We have lived in our house for almost nine years.

We had the great room just as we liked it shortly after we moved in.

Here is a picture from back then.

Then we decided to paint the room. We moved all of the furniture out and painted it. When we put the rug back in, hubby said this would be a perfect place for a pool table and I said ok. So, after an exhausting

effort to find the perfect pool table, we had this.

Of course the dogs had to get in the picture.

It was really fun for about the first year, then it got old.

And nobody played pool very often.

So, we decided to put it back like it was.

Please forgive these pics, they were taken at night.

We just put it back together a few weeks ago, and I still have a lot to do to update it and get it like I want it.

I think with the darker walls and the dark leather sofas, it needs some more color.

Maybe some more light pillows?

I would love some ideas!

I am linking to:

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Tuesday's Thrifty Treasures (Formerly Monday's Treasures)

I am finally giving in to the fact that Monday's are too crazy for me. I actually don't work at my day job on Monday's, which means I stuff the day full. Full of errands, full of appointments, full of everything. And apparently, too full to blog! I have a hard time realizing that I can't do everything, but, I still like to try. I have decided that I am not going to beat myself up about it, I am just going to change it. From now on, we will have Tuesday's Thrifty Treasures. I really would like to make it a linky party, but I am not sure if there is enough interest. Tell me what you think, would you all like another place to link up? I also would love to do a giveaway each week for the most unusual thrifted item you share. How about it? Leave me a comment. Let me know what you think!

Before I share this weeks treasures, I have to tell you about what my daughter and I did yesterday.
We went to our first storage unit auction! It was so fun. We are both addicted to Storage Wars on A&E.
When I was looking on Craigslist this weekend for Estate Sales, I found a post for a storage unit auction close by. I called her and we decided we had to go. It was scheduled to start at 10:00 am Monday and we were there by 9:30, along with about 20 other cars. We promised each other not to bid, this was a chance to observe and learn. We should have bid. They auctioned off 8 units and the most expensive one went for $180 and the one with the most furniture went for $30. It had 2 french provencial dressers and numerous other pieces that we could not tell for sure what they were. If that was all there was, we would have jumped on it, but it was a 10ft x 30ft unit with boxes piled to the ceiling. We just didn't have a plan to get everything out of there. But, now that we know they go for reasonable prices in Kansas, we are making plans for the next one.

Now onto my thrifty treasures.

I bought this beautiful little antique rocker with a carved back for $7.50 from another dealer's closeout sale.

It's going to get a beautiful makeover.

This old (1960's) Winnie the Pooh book and very old interlock letters came from an Estate Sale that had to be 95 degrees inside. It was miserable, so I didn't stay long, but did grab these two things before I fainted.

This cute yellow pitcher and sweet little bust came from a Goodwill I don't normally get to.

I think they are both so sweet.

I love this little poodle I found at an Estate Sale.

And last but not least, my favorite little helper is displaying one of two

Couroc plates I found at the same sale. (Isn't he doing a great job?)

Thanks for looking and I can't wait to read your comments!