Mental Health Break!

Sometime Moms need time away to get their act together.  Last week was that time for me.  Wednesday was a tough day and I awoke Thursday knowing  I needed to get away.  I spent that day and Friday in a nearby town looking for treasures.  I found several  - but more on those later.  By Saturday, my sweet husband was ready to run away too so I got online and found a bed and breakfast in Granville, TN,  a town just north of his favorite fly fishing spot and was thrilled to find that a room was available.  The innkeeper, Rick Phipps, was kind enough to make us reservations for dinner.

I made my way through Watertown, TN, stopping in the historic little town square and meeting some GREAT shopkeepers.  Jim, Joyce and the kind lady at Roomer Has It.    Then on to my destination, Beechwood Hill Blue Bed and Breakfast in Historic Granville, TN.  Rick and his wife Kay had told me to come in the side door and make myself at home.  I took a look outside and found I was not alone. The sweetest little face greeted me.

Their two month old Basset Hound, Kiley, was very excited to see me!

Mike showed up from fishing at around 3:00 and toured the house. We stayed in the Victorian Room which was beautiful and had the most comfortable mattress! (Always a plus!)

Dinner Reservations were for 5:00 at Sutton General Store. We only had 1 block to walk.  Granville is NOT a big town!  Community volunteers serve a country cooking, all-you-care-to-eat family style dinner with meat, 3 vegetables, bread, salad, homemade desserts and drinks.  After dinner, we gathered in the store for a live bluegrass concert. 

After dinner and a show we walked down to the Cordell Hull River and found a porch swing, right at the shore line.  As the sun set, we watch the newly hatched shad chase the bugs an top of the water and the bass jump trying to eat the shad!  That makes it dinner and TWO shows for the evening!

  

We returned to Beech Hill Blue - our cozy retreat and curled up on the big overstuffed couch and watched a little television until the big treat of our day.  The arrival of Rick and Kay!  What a sweet couple!

They were recently married and bought the house and opened the bed and breakfast.  

Rick was asked to be the pastor of the Historic Methodist church - the only church in Granville. We shared stories and Rick gave us some encouragement we needed and many things to think about.  We left the following morning after a hearty and delicious breakfast!

If you ever need a get-away we highly recommend Granville and the Beech Hill Blue Bed  and Breakfast

!!  Tell Rick and Kay and that I sent you!

Thanks for stopping by!

Lori

Should I be sad or thrilled?

I love pottery!

The ability for a person to take mud and make a plate, mug, bowl or pitcher is amazing.  

It is also neat to be able to use these works of art in our everyday life.  

To find a beautiful piece of pottery in a thrift store or garage sale always brings mixed feelings.  

I think how sad the potter would be to see his work had been donated as an  unwanted item.  

"Yet, O Lord, you are our father.  

We are the clay, you are the potter, 

we are all the work of your hand."

Isiah 64:8 

How many times are people, the work of God's hand set aside and unwanted because someone can't appreciate their usefulness and unique beauty?

Just look at the careful detail of this beautiful pitcher!  

Carefully crafted with special details.

I'm so thankful that the potter of my life is with me wherever I go.  

He loves me even if I am an broken, chipped, or cracked!

So want to know what I paid for these priceless items?  

Bowls and plate... $1.60 each.  

The pitcher... $6.60

And though I don't need them... 

I HAD to adopt three hand thrown mugs for 40 cents each!

Love a potter!

(I know one that loves you!)

Thanks for dropping in!

Lori

Bingo!

I love to go through Goodwill and see what treasures await me!  Sometimes I leave empty handed but sometimes... SOMETIMES... I find a GREAT treasure!  This week was a great week!  Take a look!

A lead crystal ice bucket with tongs (still wrapped in plastic)

Label still on the side....

Sticker on the bottom

So I looked it up online and found that it sells for $95 retail.  (listed at $105 on Ebay)

Here's one site I found.
And what did I pay?

Not $6.99... I actually got 10% off today.  Final Price $6.30!

I found some other awesome things this week.  I'll share more later!

Thanks for stopping by!

Lori

Staging Project

I'm making progress on a large staging project.   I thought I'd share some photos I took today showing some before and "almost" afters!

Entry Hall Before

Entry Hall After

Basement Bedroom - Before

Basement Bedroom - After 

Living Room - Before

Living Room - After

More pictures to come!  Thanks for stopping by!

Lori

Great upholstery video!

I bought two upholstered dining arm chairs not long ago. They are in good shape but the fabric just doesn't match anything I have so this is going to be my first official upholstery job. Here's the video I plan to use to guide me through. My chairs are the same as the one he is working on so that should help! Stay tuned for the results.

Here's my chair...

First of the Month Goodwill frenzy

Half price plus 10% off... I just can't resist! 

Here are the treasures from this past Saturday.

Silver Pitcher $1.80

Cabbage Salt and Pepper Shakers $1.20

Vintage Avon Cologne Bottle

Label Vintage Avon Cologne Bottle

Lace Trimmed Sheers and Valance

Green Pea Lidded Casserole

6 Ivory Linen Embroidered Corner Napkins

5 Butterfly Salad Plates

Detail of Butterfly Plates

Vintage Lidded Rooster Box

Custom made Valance and Shower Curtain

2 Salad Plates with Navy and Gold Trim $ .40

The Swan

While waiting for a thrift store to open (can you imagine??? ) my husband and I explored some back roads near Harrisonburg, VA and found an old mill. The lake feeding the mill was peaceful and quiet and the only movement was this swan slowly making his way across the water.  I so seldom slow down enough to notice things like this.   I'm so glad I did that day!  It's he beautiful?

As we were leaving, we saw another sweet sight.  A Momma duck and her babies entering the water for a morning swim.

To be able to awake to these sites each morning would be such a blessing.  

HOWEVER... it's off to work for me!  

Maybe I'll drive by the lake on the way to work this morning!

Have a great day!

Lori 

Family Reunions

This is my PaPa and Nannie, my Daddy's Mom and Dad. Some of my fondest and funniest memories of childhood of those made at family reunions.  This past weekend we gathered for another reunion of PaPa and Nannie's family.  My Dad, his two brothers and little sister were all there.  Most in their 70s, they still pick on each other, laugh at the pranks they played, and the guys still play a mean game of horseshoes.

I can remember all the crazy things that have happened through the years.  Dysfunctional family? You could say that I guess.  But you know what???  As the years have passed, the family ties have become stronger, the hugs longer, and the love stronger.

To all of Nannie and PaPa's family... thanks for the memories!

Let's keep the tradition alive!

Lori

I love this poster by Mary Englebreit.  

You can find more of her items at her website

 http://shop.maryengelbreit.com/

“If you ever start feeling like you have the goofiest, craziest, most dysfunctional 

family in the world, all you have to do is go to a state fair. 

Because five minutes at the fair, you'll be going, 'you know, we're alright. 

We are dang near royalty.”    

Jeff Foxworthy