And so IT Begins!

May we all make it through the next 4 years of lunacy.

Saturday Exploration

In Pickens, South Carolina

This past Saturday Scott and I took a break from home repairs and explored a bit more of the area. We stopped at The Stockade Antiques as I have been wanting to stop there ever since I first drove past it. It was a little creepy but the antiques were so lovely that we didn't mind "being in lock-up".

This piece had such beautiful inlay work and I believe it had bronze metal work as well... if not bronze than brass. It's one of those pieces that I fell in love with but would never buy it to have in my own home as I go for durability and usefulness above beauty. And it was absolutely stunning and I hope someone will take it to their home and appreciate it.

They had several round tables and if the new home will allow it space wise I want one in the kitchen. I would probably get one in oak... a sturdier wood than this one though. I just love a round table as I think it is easier to have a conversation with everyone you have at the table and not just the two people to the right and the left of yourself.

Scott LOVED the old butcher block in this photo (toward the back and left). It was well worn from YEARS of use.

I adore beds like this but again I would not have one as it doesn't look very sturdy.

We also stopped at a couple thrift stores; one of which was the Goodwill not far from the house and I found a couple things to bring home... of course.

The box at the front was something to hold knives I do believe and was $2.49. I have since ripped the inside bits out and will be doing something artistic with this to use on a coffee table to store little bits. The tree pillow was a previous find that I bought at the ReStore a couple months back. I just loved  the colors in it. The blingy pillow was one of Saturdays purchases... $2 at Goodwill. I thought it would go well with the tree pillow and I love them sitting together (close-up below). I also got a skein of crochet cotton for 99 cents and the cross-stitch kit was $2.99. We never spend a whole lot on these adventures as it's all about just seeing whats there that counts. We always have so much fun together thrifting. 

January For Us

Well here it is the middle of January 2017... 2017! Wow when I was 18 it seemed that 2000 was forever in the future and I remember standing in the barn on the farm where I grew up in upstate New York and thinking... "I will be SO OLD in the year 2000... I will be 38". Oh to be 38 again! Time really does get away from us doesn't it? I am now 52 and before too much longer I will be 53. I find myself seeking ways to explore life more; trying to take more of every day in and being thankful for every second. I'm trying to be more outgoing but it is not as easy for me as it is others as I don't trust as easily as they do. But I am trying.

 I bought a new paper trimmer with the money my Mother-in-law gave me for Christmas. I have not opened it yet but plan to today as I want to make some Valentines to mail out this next week.

Scott bought me this wonderful cart for Christmas and I love it! I have been wanting one for some time for a paint station that can easily be moved around. It holds so much and is really helping me stay organized with my paints. Just LOVE Harbor Freight!

Here is the cart all loaded up!

This is one of our favorite places to eat that is not far from where we are staying in the cottage in Greenville, SC.

Message from the fridge!
We all take turns leaving a message on this dry erase board in our kitchen in Cayce.

 Out with the old and in with the new! We decided to update the stove and the dishwasher in the house in Cayce. I learned an important lesson ... NEVER PAY FOR THE INSTALLATION. Scott had to do it right when he got down there as the person that delivered it was a plug and slide in only on the stove. THANKFULLY I did not pay for the installation on the dishwasher. There is so much more to putting appliances in than hooking them up to power and sliding them in. It took us two full days but we got them in place and level.

 The week after next I will be at the house while Greg is off visiting friends in Maryland and my plan is to paint the ceiling in the kitchen, scrub down the cabinets with Murphy's Oil Soap and really scrub the floor and apply a couple coats of floor wax to it. I will also go through the cabinets boxing more stuff up and emptying the upper cabinets on  the left side of the kitchen so when Scott comes down the following weekend he can tighten them back up to the ceiling. We have decided to leave the kitchen as it is and not worry about ripping the old cabinets out... we will leave that for the new owners to do. We will rework the cabinet where the wall oven used to be and put down new flooring in the den. We are trying to cut back the projects and just get it to a point where someone walking in could say... I could live here.

 Now KITTIES!!! I only have photos of our 2 new "boys" to share in this post. I will share some of Callie in a future post.

Tippy - AKA "Little Man"

And Howie - AKA "BIG BOY"

Tippy is a snuggle buddy when  the other two go off hunting.

 And yes it snowed last weekend but it only lasted about 3 days and then was gone... my favorite kind of snow.

SHHHH... don't tell but my quilting stash has followed me to the cottage and is hiding under the bed.

Flower and a quote bookmark I created.

Trying pork n' beans with breakfast - twas tasty.

The moon was amazing this past week - I took this Friday morning.

Christmas Weekend

Me  - all dressed up and ready to go see our son and his girlfriend.

Greg and Dakota

Grand-kitty - Piper

Our gift from Greg - a counter top dehydrator that I plan to put to good use once we are established in a new home and I am gardening once again.

Piper - spoiled rotten

Greg loved having us down with him over the weekend. It was nice to spend time with him and to get to know his new gal a bit better.

Me Christmas morning - frizzy hair and all but my shirt says it all - "PERFECT IS BORING"

Yes... our kid is a bit spoiled. But I buy throughout the year when I find GREAT deals.