The Downtown Farmhouse

I love it when a random text comes through and says “is it ok if we bring the girls to swim?”

Yes!

We chat

We play

A conversation was started and it sounded something like this. “What are you writing about these days?” I replied “nothing really. I don’t like to just write to write. I want to have something to say.”

This blog holds my thoughts, some stories, a lot of house projects and a little of this and a little of that. This memory popped up.

10 years ago.

We moved from the only place I had ever known living. A place where I grew up, went to school, fell in love, had a job, had babies, made life long friends and so many memories. A place where my parents brought me when I was 2 years old and we lived and created a life until 2010.

As we prepared to move and leave our kids behind, I was terrified. I knew ZERO people, my job would move to a spare room in a new town. I would be sequestered to a back room for 8 hours a day………ALONE. Well JR would be there💜

I was ready for a new adventure but I would I have been lying if I’d said I wasn’t nervous.

Nervous to make new friends

Nervous about a new town and the possibilities

10 years later we have moved 3 times.

We restored a 117 year old house

We welcomed others to the fold and sadly said goodbye to Dad in 2017.

We have made wonderful friends. There are so many, but these two are some of my favorites.

While we miss those left behind, we have created a life, a life I could not have imagined. A life full of adventure and love. A life that only the God of the universe could have written just for us.

Today I feel as if I had something to say.

Here’s to the next 10 years

Once upon a time an AC wall unit hung amidst beautiful colonial blue cabinets and other lovely items. It felt ugly and a little misplaced.

In another land, doors left over from a yonder project were left discarded amongst other rubbish.

The AC unit was framed out by the fair renovation princess. The junk whisperer might be a more accurate description.

The doors were cut to size and the insides removed.

Decorative panels were purchased that would allow air to flow through the doors while covering up the ugly. The panels were cut to size and inserted through the back

While the princess/junk whisperer liked the look…..the holes in the panels showed WAY TOO MUCH of the AC so in her mind it defeated the purpose of hiding it.

Plan B: the doors were taken apart 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄and a panel of plywood was inserted and the decorative panel was reinserted.

Pretty and functional

Win Win

Everything was painted and put back together

The doors were hung

The insides of the doors held a little surprise. One side was painted with chalkboard paint and the other was covered with cork. A 266 square foot home needs all the amenities it can hold.

What a sweet and decorative way to hide the ugliness of a wall unit AC unit.

Ready for the next junk renovation.

How do you handle stress? Hard things? Bad news?

Covid 19

George Floyd

Ahmed Aubrey

So many things to process. It’s overwhelming at times and I run to the garage. I insert my ear buds. Worship music flows. Loudly.

Books are listened to

Podcasts are absorbed

I’m not sure hiding in the garage is what I should do but it’s my safe place

Tonight, I delivered a piece I have working on for a couple of weeks. It’s been the piece I ran to. Here’s the story:

A “few” years ago, a vanity was dropped off.

What do I do with it?

It’s not really my style

It’s really cool and has so many pretty details

Stick it in the hoard.

Way in the baaaaccckkkkkk

Move it around every few months while looking for the next thing to work on

The husband rolls his eyes as it’s moved and as you say “one day I’ll figure out what to do with that piece.”

A few weeks ago, I had a paint brush in my hand, big shock, and I swiped the front door of the vanity to see what it would look like painted white. Still no plan in sight.

Fast forward a few days from the paint swipe………

I received a message from an old friend

“I’m curious do you do projects/furniture pieces for others, like for sale or no?”

I replied “Yes girl!!! What can I help you with?”

She needed a vanity for her daughters room.

I thought to myself………..for real???

We exchange pictures of the vanity. I explained that it was ROUGH and imagination would be necessary to see its beauty and the potential

I received the “Go” to restore!

I repaired

I primed

I painted

I distressed 💜

New knobs – thanks Hobby Lobby for always having cute knobs

I even lined the drawers with the cutest fabric

Never give up on the perfect place for pieces. While it didn’t end up in my house, it will now be loved in a young woman’s room

Making beauty from ashes is not only a hobby, but it allows me to block out some of the noise of the world, even for just a few moments

This morning as we woke and swung our legs over the side of the bed, the sweet feel of grit was welcomed.

Not really welcomed

Our bedroom has been undergoing a facelift and while it’s fun to see the newness come to life, there are things that are suffering.

I would rather put on my work clothes and work outside than clean ANYDAY. But some days, cleaning has to come to the top of the list.

Today……. it’s clean the floors.

Cleaning the floors means more than swiping a mop across the floor because as the cleaning begins, so many other things are needing attention. It becomes a giant black hole.

To do list begins.

Does anyone else need an “in your face” list? Mine is written on the mirror.

In sharpie

I wanted to prepare our bedroom for an “after” photo but obviously it’s not ready. And I am really ok with it.

Our church series has been on pausing.

Hitting pause is H.A.R.D.

As it I look around and see the undone things.

I didn’t repurpose our bedroom for anyone else but us. A room to welcome us in the evenings after a long day of work. A retreat.

While I will still enjoy writing and taking pictures of the before and after, I’m going to pause for a minute and enjoy the ride

Mothers Day Sunday usually includes a row at church filled with family members honoring the mothers. Sweet hugs from friends and the many happy Mother’s Day wishes This Mother’s Day is a little different because church is held in our living room sitting on the couch eating a muffin and drinking coffee in our shorts and t-shirts.

My kids are still here all under our roof. They know my thoughts on the “Hallmark holiday” but know my heart skips a beat when can be together. I’ll take it no matter what day is.

Happy Mothers Day to my mom.

We have a new mom in our home . While she is not in our everyday craziness, we still have the honor to listen to stories about your big kids and the grand babies. Happy Mommas Day D. Your house family loves you

My babies aren’t babies. They are all grown up with families and lives of their own. However they will always be my babies.

I birthed you

I raised you

I whooped you when nevessary

I kissed your boo boo’s and wiped your nasty noses

I loved you then

I love you now

I’m forever grateful to be your Mom

On this day May 10, 2020 happy Mother’s Day to all the moms, the wanna be moms, the mom whose heart aches this day for whatever reason. Know that you are thought of, prayed for and loved.

Charma

The bathroom…….

It might not be the first room you think of as the absolute favorite but it is mine.

The bathroom size is astoundingly large for a studio apartment. It’s roomy, has plenty of storage, a really large shower and even a washer and dryer.

You walk into the bathroom through the cutest of sliding doors painted the same pretty blue as the kitchen and bedroom cabinets.

Love

Love

Love the bathroom

A small and mighty bedroom is what we have.

Comfort

Storage

Convenience

And a surprise

Since 266 square feet is super tiny, I wanted the decor style to flow from little space to little space.

This was my inspiration photo

I did not have troubles with the headboard! Some plywood. A little batting to give it cushion and pretty fabric and bam!! A beautiful headboard.

Remember those holes I didn’t know what to do with?

The door to the left is the bathroom and next I will show you the prettiest room in the basement apartment renovation.

I’m excited to share!

When you were born you made me a grandmother. I’m your BB

When you were 1 you were sweet and inquisitive. You look so much like your daddy and you absolutely have stolen our hearts.

When you were two, you became a big brother!!

I blinked and now you are 3 (you say thaaaaaaareeeeeeee!)

You are so sweet.

Jack William Wissinger I cant believe that you are already 3 years old. You fill my life with so much joy. You are loved from the inside out and all the parts in between. Today we celebrate your special day.

Love,

Your BB

Once the plans were drawn up and I knew how large and in charge the kitchen would be, I went searching for inspiration.

Should it have white cabinets with dark counters like the big house?

It just didn’t feel right. I wanted it to feel like my vibe but it needed to have a flair all its own.

This photo stopped me in my tracks. While we don’t have a window and I didn’t have room for a farm sink…….the cabinets were my jam. Cottage farmhouse! I found the vibe I wanted.

I began searching for the perfect shade of blue, found the best backsplash and color matched the white I wanted for the walls and trim.

The budget did not allow for custom cabinets built by the fairy cabinet maker so we searched Lowe’s and Home Depot for stock cabinets that would fit. Can you even believe, after picking out the most fabulous of refrigerators, the stock cabinet sizes were perfect.

No fillers were needed

It was a miracle

I wanted white quartz counter tops.

Nothing more. Nothing less. But when the quote came back $1600 for less than 6’ of counter with a sink hole I might have cried a little. Come on!! I just couldn’t not justify spending more on the counter top than the whole kitchen cost. I hung my head and shopped the laminate section of the store.

Oh my word people. The marble looking laminate was absolutely positively wonderful and I am a little ashamed at my behavior over laminate. Forgive me laminate for doubting you. $300. Are you kidding me? I was ecstatic.

The last thing to do was slide in the full size narrow refrigerator, install the microwave/convection oven (do you know you can even bake cookies in this thing?) and call it a day.

A cute coffee mug holder.

The cutest basket on the wall for fruits and vegetables

A flowered rug

This kitchen is a wrap

Tomorrow is Jack’s 3rd birthday so my post will be ALL Jack but I’ll come back Saturday with the bedroom.

Have a fantastic Thursday