Frustrations!

We've  been living between two homes for over a year now and I have reached a level of acceptance that it is going to be quite awhile longer. I am trying to focus on the daily happy things  that happen in our lives and pushing larger hopes and dreams to the way back of  my mind. I will just go with the flow as the level of anxiety was starting to creep into that dark zone that I never want to visit again. We will continue the work on our house and perhaps the housing market will recover better as right now we are in a buyers market to sell and a sellers market to buy and the housing prices are vastly different.

Things that make me happy...

An unexpected little rain shower that is helping the bulbs and seeds that I planted a few weeks ago grow. I am hoping to have a lovely little flower garden at the front of the cottage  that I can pick flowers for a bouquet on the table. In the picture to the left you can see the little ditch that I dug to keep my little flower garden from washing away.

My Crafting... I'm always happiest when I am creating.  I've really enjoyed this past weeks creative sessions and am looking forward to what the next couple weeks holds ... meeting some new card makers, sewing quilt blocks and perhaps some sewing of clothes for myself. Here are a few of the things I made this week...

 And of course these 3 Cottage Kitties always make my heart happy...

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. 

More Butterfly pictures and a project

Yesterday I made a Christmas gift - can't say what it is or whom it's for but I will show this much. It's 100% Wool and I want one for myself as well. I will have to include specific care instructions so that it doesn't shrink to Barbie size and hope the receiver reads them. I had enough yarn left to make myself a delightful little wool coaster for my coffee mug to set on at my desk. Perhaps my coffee will stay hot longer while sitting on this; my desk is metal and it seems to zap the heat right out of my mugs.














Yesterday I was able to catch a few photos of one of the black butterflies that visit my lantana by the lamp post. This one looks like it's had quite a few close calls with birds; it's wings were looking pretty raggedy. I absolutely love the delayed shutter control on our little camera. These didn't turn out as well as the previous ones as this butterfly did NOT like the added attention it was getting. I need to set a chair up out there that I could just sit and wait for them so that they would get used to my presence... perhaps I could even catch a picture of some of the tiny hummingbirds that visit.