Random Thoughts are OK....Aren't They....

Today has barely started...already my mind is BUZZING....I am all over the place with random thoughts of appreciation...smiles...looking forward to what's coming...I realize the bunny trail I'm on is a little disjointed...but hey aren't random thoughts OK.......if you feel like it come help me start my day...

I loved putting this BOO stake out in the garden this weekend....he didn't scare you ...DID HE....

I told you last week I was going to have my GREAT NIECE.... M...this weekend....I had so much fun with her..at four years old she is a tiny little adult...full of thoughts and ideas of her own...I was enchanted by her all weekend...the minute we went up to the Attic she said.."I'm going to decorate and clean my room"...since we pulled the attic together enough for the fam to share it with us...M has called it HER ROOM...she said "I know not for real GIGI ...but whenever I come to your house it is my room RIGHT...."  M woke up at 5:30 in the morning BRIGHT EYED AND BUSHY TAILED....her first request was to go up into the attic so she could finish her "project"...her words not mine....the  first picture  in this post is of a table  we have next to the bed...she asked if she could decorate it...the only items on the table were the Lamp and the books...she arranged everything else....I took a picture of it because her desire to be creative using her own little artful eye tickled me PINK after she was done decorating the table she found some old Ball jars filled with buttons...such a squeal out of her like she found   gold coins....she asked if she could dump them out on this platter to "ORGANIZE" them...she had hours of fun with the jars of those buttons... we sat on the rug as she showed me each one ......I am so blessed to be her GiGi....

While M was here we moved this wonderful white corner cabinet into the corner of the attic just as you start up the stairs...she tried to help by telling us " THAT LOOKS JUST BEAUTIFUL..IT BRINGS LIGHT INTO THE ROOM"...I think that little one is going to be an artist...

As I woke up Sunday morning the first question my sweetie asked was "Honey do you want to have a fire outside its a perfect temperature for it"....of course my reply was an enthusiastic.... YES....this is my sweetie picking up some leaves    ...as I sat watching the flames dance I started to feel wistful...my mind wandered...upward

The clouds were rolling in...the breeze was blowing...I felt the Holy Spirit landing on my heart...I started counting my blessings ....thanking the Lord for the first fire of fall....for the love of my sweetie....you get the idea...I found this scripture in my devotions that fit my thoughts ....Then the land will yield its harvest, and
God, our God, will bless us, with the beautiful
colors of Fall. ( Psalms 67:7 ) This is because; He has made everything beautiful in its
time. ( Ecclesiastes 3:11 )

The blessing of knowing mother nature has an internal clock is comforting to me ...the consistency of it year after year without fail the seasons fold in and out of one another..reminding us that no matter where we are in our journey...the GREAT I AM...the star hanger....the universe creator is in control...he is passionate about us ...you and I...our family's friends all the faces that belong to us.....THAT IS SOMETHING TO PONDER...I hope you all are starting a truly stellar day ...a Tuesday to remember....I am so thankful you stopped by...I wish you big blessings and hugs ....Karena

Jacket Weather....OH BOY....

ODE' TO OCTOBER...

Good Morning girls.....Well ....I can't believe October is here already it was LOTS COOLER in our neck of the woods this weekend...I even dug my jacket out of my winter trunks it felt SO GOOD...this is a big month in our family...we have my daughters birthday...then mine...all wrapped up on the 31st with Halloween...whew no other month except December "fly's" by as quickly...this time of year always makes me feel like "MAKING SOMETHING" getting creative ...sewing...painting...it is always a month to make a homemade treasure...

I can't take credit for this towel...it was at the "Yankee Candle Co." when I was there recently...but I took the picture of it so I could use it later...it suits my post for today

Sometimes SAVING something homemade is just as important...the chair above was handmade years ago ...probably in the beginning of the last century...we found it at one of our local thrift stores...it's seat was cracked in half...the front legs were almost popped out of their joints...and the cross bar was catiwampus the owner of the store gave it to us when I asked him for a better price...I WAS VERY HAPPY...cause I knew my sweetie could bring this cutie back from the brink of destruction..and  he did...with our friend "Gorilla Glue"....some clamps....and a lot of patience...he mended her beautifully ...now she has an honored spot in our family room...

This picture is a little dark I know but I included it because this throw is something I made last year when I found these chenille rugs at "Dollar General" ...they were so cute I bought one of each design...a turkey....a pumpkin...a cornucopia...and a basket of leaves (you cant see the 4th one)...I sewed them all together to make this throw...it's soft and warm...I love it...the picture above of the books is also something I did a few months ago...I found some old paperbacks for 10 cents at a yard sale..I tore the covers off front and back then grabbed some bits of string a piece of fabric...cut out a picture from a magazine..layered it all together...it looks very sweet sitting on a chair of mine...

This picture of my Cardinal friend has nothing to do with what I have made ....but everything to do with the Creator of creativity...I always look to my heavenly father for inspiration...his handiwork is in everything ...so it seems fitting to close this post with a nod of thanks to him for all he's created...AND for loving us all so much he made us with the gift of thought ...which leads us all to our own creative moments....be blessed today girls...remember you are luxuriously loved...big hugs ..Karena

It Feels Like A Cabin.....

It's the FIRST FRIDAY OF FALL....how fabulous...I promised some pic's of the project in our attic today...my little " Pumpkin Buddy" and I would like to.... WELCOME YOU.... this is so much fun to share...I need to ask some forgiveness  ...the lighting in the attic isn't the best..so the photos are a little darker then I'd like....that said I am still happy to present my favorite place to sit...clean...putter...drink coffee....most of all sit with my faces and visit....

My sweetie put this wonderful pumpkin vase together for me by marrying the base of an old antique lamp with a planter we found at Michael's a couple of weekends ago...I had the bittersweet pick already...I thought it was fabulous...what a sweet surpise

I tried to take a picture at the entrance to this side of the room ....but it was too dark ...too hard to understand what all you were looking at so I decided to show you around vignette style...this  spot has another chair next to mine for my sweetie to sit in...we spend TONS of luxurious time here listening to music...talking...looking through old magazines for inspiration...so fun

This  old ladder with splattered paint makes me happy to use as a bookshelf ...a catch all for tiny treasures...it sits on the side of the brick chimney as you get to the top of the stairs...

We put this bed upstairs for visitors....(like us)... on cool Fall evenings we are looking forward to sleeping in the tree tops...

Another angle of the ladder with more of what you see when you get to the top of the stairs...

The attic has 3 dormers in it....this is the first one looking out over the yard..the pumpkin lamps are from the dollar store ...we got them last year...they light up ...(battery operated) the chandelier their hanging from is something I put some battery operated candle's in...put a string of crystals around it...in the evening when were up here it's just magical...

These Pictures hang on the wall as your walking up the stairs...

I have to give my sweetie credit for this creative idea...he took one of the old windows we had in the garage cleaned it up and laid it across the beams of the roof ...filled it with marbles...and some of his favorite things...you may think it's a little OUTSIDE THE BOX..But you know what it really brightens that part of the room  ... the reflection from the glass ...marbles ... the light from lamps (when their lit) is GREAT....Well friends I have come to the end of my photo's I hope you enjoyed peeking into this space of ours....I pray blessings on you today....big hugs to each and every one of you...thank you so much for stopping by........Karena

An Unexpected Surprise....

Good day girls...how are you this morning...when we moved into our "Brick Beauty" a year ago I wasn't expecting any significant SURPRISES...never the less I have received one..... when you think about it that's the definition of a surprise...it's unexpected...sort of serendipitous...my "NEW FRIEND"...Is our Attic...growing up in California I was never familiar with attic's..not until the 70's ....that's when we started watching " The Walton's"...I can remember the first shows that included Olivia or John Boy going up to their attic...

It was filled with OLD THINGS...I picture old pianos....souvenirs....photos...old clothes from bygone era's...I can remember on the show the house had a seperate door that opened onto a staircase that led up to the attic...that was unique for me to see in Cali if you had attic space it was accessable through a crawl space in the ceiling...I have come to love  our attic....

This is the staircase to our Enchanting "Cabin in the Attic"...

5 months ago we started to seriously consider this space...we made a goal of making a project of turning it into something special ...the fireplace chimney rises up through the rafters...so cool

We had a goal to make a room in time for my sister-in-law to come in May...my sweetie loves attic's ..when they were growing up in Idaho and Oregon they always had attics to hide and play in..so we started to unpack ...we organized the bookcases we couldn't put downstairs....we stacked wooden crates....trunks...hung pictures...we have been busy bee's..there WAS A METHOD TO OUR MADNESS...the real goal in all this is to go through things so we can start pricing it for a yard sale in the fall...

So the folding tables went up...the bin's got shifted...opened...condensed...till....little by little we made progress.... the room we created was ready for Nancy when she got here...she loved it...she was with us 2 weeks...we made lots of progress with her help...we have been working on this project since she went back home...Lots has changed...I am going to share the transformation in the days ahead...I call our attic space "THE CABIN IN OUR ATTIC"....there is something Enchanting that happens up there...everyone that opens that door...walks up that staircase...to experience the attic ALL say the same thing...it's like being in a tree house...up high..above the problems...struggles...and drone of everyday life...I am excited to see what You all think of it...well....for today I think that's it...I will have my great niece Saturday....little M is one of my favorite faces...she is 4 whole years old ...smart...fun...and she calls me GIGI...I am looking forward to having her...I hope you all have a wonderful day....thank you for stopping by....blessings and hugs from me to you girls.......Karena

Finding My Niche.....

Good Morning girls....I was looking through my Picasa albums to choose  pic's for this post....when I suddenly felt the urge to write about something I'm experiencing ...I have been in a state of...."EXPECTATION"....for a long time now....years really...I had a heart attack back in 06'....I am fine now but the experience changed me....in ways that are presenting themselves to this day...I AM ON A JOURNEY TO FIND MY NICHE....the place in this world that I have been created to fill....here's the tricky part...I can't seem to grab a hold of what that is.....so like the picture of this empty niche....the QUESTION begging to be answered is what to fill it with....

There are day's still on this "Journey" I feel as closed up as this tiny bud...pushing forth every ounce of energy I have to burst open....turn my face to the sun ....and live ....

I planted this beautiful Mum after fall had ended last year...the day I planted it there was snow on the ground...I noticed this one forgotten little Mum plant sitting in the elements...left to fend for itself ....with snow on the ground...I remember picking it up ...I apologized as I turned it around in my hand to see if there was any life in it ...could I plant it...would it grow...I dug a hole..turned that sick little plant over to pop it out of the container...and I PLANTED IT.......that little 4 inch pot was tiny...the plant itself was no taller than 3 inches...it was not at all a 'PLUCKY LITTLE MUM'...but I planted it anyway with lots of love...fertilizer...and water...with a little pat on it's petals to try and survive....that tiny ...sick...forgotten little Mum is what you see above...she has grown into the ....tallest ...fullest...heavily flowered Mum I've EVER had...let me tell you I am thrilled every time I water her...walk past her...or see the birds landing on her strong stems...the Lord gave me this reminder right outside my gate ...so that every time I pass by I smile at her hearty presence in my life.....

I keep telling myself even through the hardest days....when I feel like Humpty Dumpty...and no one can put me together again that the Lord of my life can...and will......if I keep smiling...believing ....praising him for all he's doing in my life...

If I keep looking UP....the niche I long to find for myself will come....I won't have to wait...or look...or groan over my empty heart any more...just like the promise of snow in winter....the purpose I am destined to live for his glory will fall.......that niche wont be empty anymore...when I know his plan....what an amazing day that will be....

Thanks for stopping by ladies...big hugs and blessings from me to you....Karena

Do I See ......What I Think I See....

Good Morning girls... I promised pictures of the treasures I found this weekend... so here we go....the first Estate sale I found this great shelf...the minute I saw it I wanted it for the radiator in our bathroom...only two dollars..little did I know the price of this cutie would set the tone for the whole day.....nothing that I'm about to share was more than three dollars...

The next house was a little cottage that belonged to a woman now residing in an assisted living home....she had a passion for anything "TEA" related ....I counted at least 50 tea pots it was such a cute little cottage...I always head to the bedrooms first at an Estate Sale...looking for quilts...tablecloths...hankies...any bark cloth curtains ....textiles are always top of my list...wasn't I surprised when I lifted a huge stack of sheets and towels uncovering this wonderful quilt...it was so lovely....soft...full of hand stitching the pattern was Log Cabin like...from the fabric I could tell it was from the 30's the back was blue pillow ticking...I FELL IN LOVE......immediately I started looking for the price...never thinking I'd see what I eventually saw....a little round white tag that said $3.00...........yep....I gasped too...I spoke out alone in that room..."that can't be right"....but I grabbed it up to find out then as I walked out of the bedroom I passed the hall closet that had stacks of 1940's table cloths....2 dollars each...let me tell you girls my heart was beating so fast....I found 2 tablecloth's ....

The back of the quilt....blue ticking..........FABULOUS ... when it was finally our turn to check out I held my breath hoping they wouldn't say it was the wrong tag....well not only did they smile at me as I showed them the sticker they said "that will be 1/2 off today...for 3.50 cents I scurried to the car treasures in hand.... smiling and skipping the whole way....

An old book that was ruined...we saved the front and back...I believe they just gave it to us..the rest of these photos are from the Sale I pictured in yesterday's post...I really had so much fun at that house...they had lot's of plants out back near the garage they were taking offers on.....beautiful in my eyes...so we took some home

This beauty was planted in a great container ...

A Potato plant ....It has another plant sharing space as well...I think it's purslane

Impatiens still blooming....

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These are pic's of the tablecloth's...finger towels...and hankies I found

 

This  is the last thing I have to share....it is a "Great hat tin"  ...the lady's said at the sale..but I believe it was meant for something else...something that needed to be kept fresh...it seals up nice and tight...oh well it may be a mystery...that's okay it keeps me thinking...SO...I hope you enjoyed looking at my treasures girls...that's it for now..I will be back tomorrow...be blessed today big hugs and blessings from me to you....Karena

Snug As A Bug in a Rug.........

Monday morning...and all is well with the world....the weather is still warmish ...but the birds don't seem to mind ..neither do I later in the week we should top out around 75 or so...I'LL TAKE IT'........So girls how are you today...I have some pictures to share with you of an Estate Sale we went to this weekend. There were 5 or so in our area...all of them were charming in their own way...we spent hardly any money but came home with some of my favorite TREASURES...This house I'm sharing was so unusual it sat on somewhat of a hill in a normal neighborhood that was probably 25 or so years old...BUT...this house was surrounded by at least 1/2 acre of property nestled in the woods with a babbling brook running through the front yard...so charming...

We arrived early in the morning....very overcast a little drizzle...which only added to the quaint quality of the property...I couldn't help thinking the house looked so snug...tucked into the landscape ...it was lovely....as we walked up to the door to go in my heart skipped a beat that house was talking to me...."Hey come on in...I'm full of GREAT STUFF"...and she was....I have more pictures of what was inside for tomorrow...the outside was calling to me as loudly as the inside....

I'm not sure you get the full perspective in these photos of how layered with knolls ....ravines...natural pockets of landscape the yard had.... it went on and on....this property seemed to be telling a story ....

As I strolled down the lawn toward the trees...the brook below was calling to me...I heard frogs...crickets...birds...and bugs singing a joyous song that called me further into their world...everyone else was passing me by..on a mission to GET INSIDE...it didn't matter...I heard something special calling ....I was content to GIVE MYSELF PERMISSION to answer with quiet....expectant steps toward the sounds and smells of an almost secret garden....

There were bridges....foot paths....brick roads ( not yellow) but fun to follow just the same

Everywhere I looked ...I half expected to see Fairies floating through the air ....or lifting off this piece of driftwood

I couldn't help but wonder as I looked around how long it took  to create all this ENCHANTMENT...

We have arrived....they were very clear about WHERE to enter

This was the 4 car garage....our hunt began ...I will share more of the inside tomorrow be blessed today girls ....know that the Lord loves you this Magnificent Monday....I think your pretty swell too...hugs Karena