The Downtown Farmhouse

This months book is Daring Greatly by Brene’ Brown.

The author has studied vulnerability from every perspective imaginable.

I didn’t get it.

The definition of vulnerability is:

When Steve travels, I try and schedule time with friends. Dinner or a movie is always a good girls night out and it’s not taking any couple time away.

Tonight, Diane and I went to see the movie Poms. It was about some over 60 year old women, all different sizes, shapes, ethnicities. Some battled health issues and other struggles.

They lived in a senior community and the movie showed how a group of women, no matter their age could defy the odds and enter a cheer competition.

During one scene, Diane Keaton’s character had all the women sit in front of a mirror and name something they liked about themselves.

I cried.

Because the women could hardly name one thing they liked about themselves.

How many women, including me, can look at themselves in the mirror and only see the wrinkles, the scars, the saggy skin, the acne, the gray hair, the thinning hair and the list could go on and on.

How many woman can’t see past their past and the mistakes they have made? How many can’t see past what others have spoken out loud to them?

When women who look towards each other see the beauty. The beauty from the smile, the way one carries herself, the gorgeous hair, the killer body, the confidence, the ability to dress stylishly, the kindness and this list would go on even further.

We as women, are so hard on ourselves. The comparison game is by far harder than it’s ever been.

This sweet movie moved me.

Being vulnerable is hard but don’t you think it’s better for the people you surround yourself with to be authentic?

Honesty

Integrity

Loyalty

Will it be easy? I’ll bet you $1 million dollars it will not.

Will it be worth it. I will bet you $1,000,001 it will.

I’m a creative soul.

I love to give things a new life.

The old house took priority for a couple of years and Dad leaving for heaven sent my garage time creativity to the bottom of the pile.

I could still see things I wanted to raise back up from the landfill but I just couldn’t get the energy or the “want to” to get it done.

I’m not sure if it was stubbornness or sadness.

I didn’t want to do it without dad. I was mad because I didn’t want to do it alone. I was sad because he was my sanding partner. He made the garage fun. We bounced off ideas and most of the time he would roll his eyes at me and say it would be ugly.

But we would work it out……he would do what I said and we would create an outstanding final piece.

The last two weeks, I have made myself create something to sell.

Just do one thing, I would tell myself.

Take something off the hoard pile and just start.

This little table was my first to finish. It needed a new top since I ripped off its original top to make a desk.

It got a new paint job

It made me so happy to finish and to sell it to my sweet friend.

It gave me the courage to keep going.

These little stools were a spontaneous purchase from the Interfaith Thrift Store and I loved them from the first time I saw them.

They needed a coat of paint and some farmhouse fabric. You know I’m all about white and some checkered fabric.

I think I might need to keep these and put them in our Master Bedroom that will be soon be getting a makeover.

Today, I finished a desk/table/console.

It had been gifted to me from a very special lady.

It was a fantastic piece of furniture that just needed a little love.

As usual, I forgot to take a before picture

It has great bones with an extra special top

Some stripper

Some sanding

Some stain and some paint

Soon she’s heading into Moms house and will be a beautiful addition to her home.

All of this to say……

Today is Dad’s birthday. We would have celebrated his 82nd birthday tonight with chicken wings and pie.

Everyone grieves differently. It’s not right or wrong, it just “is.”

Last week a special lady said to me, “Your Dad would want you to continue the legacy” when we spoke of me continuing to restore items.

There is more to the work I do than buying and selling. It was more than just seeing things from start to finish.

It was the time spent with the Dad that was given to only me. It was him being proud of me as I perfected the skills he taught me. It was the opportunity I was given to work side by side with him during the last year.

He would be proud of me. I’m absolutely certain of that.

Happy Birthday Dad!!! You are missed so much. We are still learning to live life without you but are trying to make you proud.

I’ll see you at the gate one day.

Love,

Your baby girl

Old houses have names.

I BADLY wanted for our house to have it’s original name but no one, absolutely no one can prove to me the original builder/owner of our home and unless it’s factual, I’m not interested in speculation

My Dad moved to a big old farmhouse in the countryside of Ohio when he was in early elementary school . The house had a name.

Grandview

The house was a converted hotel that would house workers that were traveling the Erie Canal.

Isn’t she beautiful?

The farmhouse burned down in 1967.

The morning of the fire my grandmother was working the election polls but would have normally been home. My uncle, who was confined to a wheelchair had gotten up to take care of his 2 year old son but would normally have been still in bed when the fire erupted.

If our house can’t have its original name, it can have a name that has meaning.

I wanted to document our name with a sign.

I will be creating something for the front porch of the house but for now, the pool-house gets titled.

Some plywood and some scrap 1 x 2’s are gathered.

I made a sign

And nailed my finger with the nail gun at the same time

Some letters were purchased from Hobby Lobby

I painted them and placed them exactly how I wanted

A little help to hang it and now Grandview 2 – established 2018 is complete.

Grandview is more than a piece of history. It is also more than a new name for an old house.

Grandview is what I see when I wake every morning as people mill around the house making breakfast and preparing for the day.

Grandview is what I see when friends gather around our table.

Grandview is what I notice when we swing on the front porch and wave to the neighbors

Grandview is what is appreciated as we float in the pool on Sunday afternoons.

Grandview is more than a house.

Grandview is the life we have created.

Tomorrow is Mother’s Day………. what does it mean to you?

Presents?

A lazy day?

Breakfast in bed?

It’s no secret I’m not a fan of “card holidays.” The holidays when the stores have special sections just for that day. When there are expectations of gifts or cards or special treatment on a specific day. Bahumbug?

Maybe.

When is Mother’s Day for me? It’s every day but there are some days that stand out.

33 years ago when I became a Mom

31 years ago when I had a miscarriage at 4 1/2 months pregnant

Almost 30 years ago when our son was born

2 years ago when I became a BB (grandmother)

The days I spend time with my Mom. I watch her at the beautiful age of 83. She is healthy and spirited. She has recently painted her entire deck. It’s a huge deck!! She has a giant servants heart. She is a caretaker and sees the needs of others before herself every single time. I’ve watched her have more good days than bad since Dad left.

I aspire to be like her.

The days I spend time with my daughter. I watch her be a Mom. She’s so dedicated to her job. The job of being a mother and a wife. She’s a teacher and a student at the same time. She shares with her son all of her knowledge and she gathers knowledge from books and from Gods Word. She goes to mass almost daily with a 2 year old and rarely asks for help. I watch her be humble in spirit and dedicated to her family.

I aspire to be like her.

The times my son calls. We live in different cities but when we chat, it feels like he’s in the same room. We are different and alike in so many ways. I watch as he is a learner. I listen to him as he speaks so fluently of his passions. I watch as he turns into Uncle Kyle as soon as he sees Jack on the phone screen or as he walks in the door. I watch as he cares for others. Always putting them first and sometimes struggling because he’s put himself last. I see his dad in him and that makes me smile.

I aspire to be more like him.

When my friends and I trade kid/grandkids stories. We are mostly the same age and in the same seasons of life. We have grown children and have grandchildren. We share the good and the not so good. We lift each other up when needed and maybe get put in our place when we are out of line. I listen as they care for their families and cry when they struggle. We laugh at the silly and share pictures that no one else see.

I’m so grateful for my friends

I share my life with him. He is the other half to me the Mom. He helped make me the Mom who I am so many years ago and today.

On this Mother’s Day weekend, I celebrate you, the Moms, the women who would do anything to be a Mom, the tired and over worked Moms, the women who will always be a Mom even though their child has gone on before them, the Moms who don’t or can’t see their children, the scared Moms, the abused Moms, the sleep deprived and soon to be Moms, the grandmoms, the adult children Mom, the lonely and sad Moms……….

To all and so many more…….this might be the card holiday, but I celebrate you and me everyday.

May your weekend be filled with the people you love.

Christmas 2018 family gift was a fishing day in Cedar Key with friend and fishing Guide extraordinaire Jason Lowe who is the owner of JLowes Guide Service.

It’s not the easiest task to schedule 7 adults, one toddler and one guide, who is soon to be a grandpa, all at once for a whole day. This includes one pregnant woman, 2 men who live out of town and the ridiculous schedules for the rest of the crew.

However we did it and April 27th was our day.

The toddler aka Jack was uninvited and spent the day with his PoPo and Mimi.

We arrived at the Cedar Key ramp at 9am and the day began.

It was a beautiful Spring-ish day. The sun was shining and the temperatures in the morning were cool.

We began with a boat ride around cedar key. Jason pointed out places of interest and we stopped off at an island to view a very old cemetery.

It was a beautiful island

The mosquitos almost took us away.

We saw the lighthouse

And the Manatees were a highlight of the day.

The family loves to have their pictures taken. Not.

We picnic’ed on North Key. Fried chicken, chips, watermelon and brownies are always a hit.

Jason shared that North Key was once the possible site for a leper colony. Can you even believe it?

Courtney and Mom were dropped off after our sightseeing morning and the boys and I went out fishing for the rest of the day.

The fish were not abundant but we have enough for a great Mothers Day of fish tacos for the family when they come to visit.

Thanks Jason for a great day on the water.

Thanks family for spending the whole day together. You are loved 💜

Merry Christmas to us.

There is nothing I like more than a story behind the meaning of doing something.

When the garage was enclosed on one end, I knew I wanted the wall to make a statement.

We added a planter and filled it with plants.

But I needed to find something special for the wall.

I searched for something extra special for the wall.

One day, this photo popped up on my feed

Holy cow!! I want that !!

Thank goodness there is a trail to find it.

This rose has a story and it was absolutely perfect.

“She” is the classic old Southern rose “Peggy Martin,” named for an avid Louisiana gardener whose home and property stood under 20 feet of salt water for two weeks after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The only plants to survive were one crinum and a tough-as-nails beauty of a rose that Martin had acquired through pass-along cuttings from friends in New Orleans.

One year later, ours doesn’t quite look like this yet but it’s a great start.

Steve built a cedar trellis for Peggy to trail up on

We even had blooms this year and they are stunning

If Peggy can survive two weeks under hurricane floor waters, I think she should survive here. A beautiful piece of history attached to a beautiful piece of history

Have a great weekend.

I do not post pictures of our Master Bedroom because it is not done. It’s completely livable but cute? Not really. I have so many plans for the space and it’s definitely coming to the top of the to-do list.

When you walk into it bedroom, the first thing you see is a cute set of sliding barn doors. Seriously? They need some handles.

When the doors are opened, you see the vanity and mirrors.

Pretty shaker cabinets with a marble top and scalloped edged mirrors. Very pretty but missing some vavoom.

Most of the time, the doors to the bathroom are open.

I wanted to wallpaper the wall behind the vanity a big floral print. I wanted it to make a statement. However Steve is the one who made the statement.

Are you planning on wallpapering behind the vanity? You know there are pipes that would have to be removed and that will mean hiring a plumber……..

Well yes, of course that’s what I wanted.

I even had the wallpaper already picked out and just waiting to add to my cart.

Plan B

What can I do to still make a statement?

I started with Google

Then I went to Pinterest

And I ended with Amazon.

Did you know that here are giant stickers that are like wallpaper?

No moving furniture.

Just pull the paper off the back and stick it on. Here are some of the ideas I found

Big stickers it is!!!

They came in a box

You cut them apart

Place them on the wall in the pattern that you like best using painters tape.

By the way, this is the hardest step.

Climb on the stool

Climb on the counter

Place the giant sticker on the wall with one hand while taping it on the wall with the other

Climb down onto the stool

Step back and either hate or love the current placement

Repeat

Finally…… I’m in love with the giant sticker flowers. I love how they cascade from one side, under the mirrors and land up in the corner.

Why a stool?

Little man likes to come in and brush his teeth

It is no secret that I don’t like cold weather. The thoughts of 5 layers and my eyes watering from the wind makes me a little mad. I like shorts and dresses, sandals and the sunshine. The beach over the snow would win every time.

As soon as the weather app shows the first songs of a warming trend, I sketch out my garden plan and start thinking of the flowers I want to add to our current beds.

I am by no means a farmer but the first signs of blooms, makes me practically giddy with excitement.

This year is no exception.

Dad had a fondness for blackberry blushes and each year he would tend to his. The old house is no exception. We started with two bushes that dad received as a gift prior to him leaving for heaven and we have expanded our bushes to 11. The are blooming and we have already been able to snack on a few.

We have baby tomatoes showing up and I’m sure that tie wraps are not the appropriate way to attach them to the stake. However, I did mention that I am not a farmer.

We have peppers and eggplant, okra and I’m even trying watermelon this year. Somethings are a huge success and we reap the bounty and some……..not so much. The pumpkins last year were obliterated by moths. It was a sad day when I pulled up all the vines.

The backyard was planned to be full of edibles and we are well on our way. Currently we have peaches

And lemons

Hopefully next year we will have limes and tangerines.

There is nothing better than seeing your hard work and care provide beauty as well as food

Enjoy this beautiful day friends.

Get outside and let the sun shine on your face.

Thanking God for the grand view He has provided.

I wanted until the end of the day, as we drive home to write this post. Why? Well I wasn’t sure we were going to make it home.

We had taken a layer flight than our friends because we wanted a few extra hours on the island. We arrived at the airport in plenty of time to turn in our rental car and head to the gate to pick up our boarding passes. It was a smaller airline so pre-boarding was not an option, which makes me nervous.

This was the line upon our arrival.

Lines aren’t such a bad thing. It was as beautiful day. The sun was shining and the breeze always blows on St. Croix.

However the line didn’t move.

And it didn’t move again and again.

An hour passes and we are still standing in the same place. The same families were standing at the counter the whole time. I assume they were having difficulties and as as they were done, we would begin to move. However that didn’t happen and there was talk of a cancelled flight.

Uh oh. Cancelled flight means we miss our connecting flight and it goes down from there. My thoughts go wild. We will have to sleep in the airport in San Juan, etc. Dang it. I wore a stupid dress and that means sitting up all night. I had all kinds of thoughts rambling around and in the end……. it wasn’t our flight so all those ramblings were for nothing.

Small airports crack me up. All the gates are seated in the same area and the planes look like they are parked in the back yard.

We were flying from St. Croix to San Juan for the first leg of our journey home. I was concerned about the size of the plane since it was a short plane ride. I’m not my most comfortable self while riding on airplanes. I’m a little bit of a chicken.

So as we boarded our “puddle jumper” my poor tall husband had to fold himself over as we found our way to our seat.

And then there were propellers that I could actually see.

Not a fan

One final view of St. Croix as we fly over

Does anyone else overeat junk food while on vacation. It’s ridiculous and I’m ashamed…..

We made it onto our last flight and unfortunately we weren’t able to sit together. My seat partner just happened to snore

The

Whole

Way

Home

Thank goodness for ear buds.

We now are heading home via the turnpike and will soon find comfort in our own bed.

Vacations are so fun and I love them but there is truly no place like home.

We left the condo at 5:30am to attend sunrise service. The moon was still pretty high in the sky but we were excited to share and celebrate the resurrection of our Lord!

Church was held at the Judith’s Fancy Sugar Mill. It was the 43rd year, they had held Easter Sunrise service.

‭Easter service included a 9 year old INCREDIBLE singer and a Pastor and his wife that I could have listened to for days.

It began to rain for a few moments and afterwards, the clouds parted for a spectacular view.

Becky had wanted to surprise us with the steel drum player that had participated in the sunrise service for many many years. We noticed in the program that he would again be attending but mechanical difficulty left him stranded. The service proceeded with disappointment.

Near the end of the morning, the pastor prayed and during the prayer, the steel drums began to play from the back of the seating area. Becky and I looked at each other and she mouthed “he’s here!!” The morning was filled with beauty and wonder of such a beautiful place. It was filled with friends and fascination and an overwhelming experience. But the best part of the morning ? The celebration of our Lord and Savior. The one who died for us and rose again. What a glorious morning it was.

We returned to the condo and had bacon, eggs, cinnamon rolls, OJ and coffee.

Soon after, we headed to the beach/pool area and enjoyed a few hours of pure relaxation.

Easter dinner was the most memorable meal of the weekend. Hotdogs, deviled eggs, pork and beans pickles and Oreo cookies for dessert. The dinner of champions and it was perfect.

Easter concluded with an evening kayak tour of St Croix’s Bioluminescent Bay. One of only seven super glow biobays left in the world. The St Croix Biobay was a great way to end a fantastic weekend.

Thank you Glenn and Becky for inviting us into your home away from home and for your friendship. Here is to our next adventure together.