Changes in the Living Room

So what happens when you "shop the house"?

You get to furnish and/or decorate a new space without spending a lot of money. Like we did when we created our library from our extra bedroom. We pulled the wall cabinet from the dining room, the desk from our bedroom, and the wing chair from the living room. We purchased very little specifically for the library. Other than the materials (wood for the bookshelves, paint, overhead light), we only bought a rug and a mail tray.

But . . . you also create some empty spaces in those rooms from which you pulled!

• To fill the space in the dining room where the wall cabinet had been, we shopped the basement and brought up three framed botanical prints that had been in The Farmhouse dining room. They may or may not be there permanently, but they're fine for now.

• To fill the space in our bedroom where the desk had been, we also shopped the basement and used a table that Ron had made for The Farmhouse living room.

• Alas, there were no wing chairs in the basement. So we went shopping. Not in the house. 

Here is our new chair-and-a-half . . . thanks to the library project!

We went searching for a traditional wing chair, but Ron was sold on this chair-and-a-half due to the increased seating options. Two kids, maybe even a third little one, can sit comfortably. Certainly an adult and a child. Even two very slender adults. I must admit that I had reservations, preferring the more traditional look, but now that it's here, I do love it.

I was happy with how it complemented the other furniture in the room.

But then . . .

On a Saturday that Ron was out of town, the girls and I rearranged the living room.

Bekah and I had tried a similar arrangement a couple of months ago, but there were things we just couldn't figure out so we moved it all back. But I kept seeing the sofa on that other wall (loved it there!) so I kept mulling it over. This time we had another set of eyes (Kati's) and we had all day, so we pulled and hauled everything around again and moved and tweaked some more and we got it!

Here is the wall that I envisioned. (I need to lower that mirror now that the sofa is on that wall. It's funny how photos make things obvious. Have you ever noticed that?) 

Ron has completed one set of shutters for the living room windows! (You may have noticed the two different window treatments in the photos above. We're getting there . . . ) 

Another angle . . .

And then on the opposite wall . . .

As we finished the reset of the room, we made a dash to a local antique store. I remembered seeing a pine drop leaf table there and I had tucked it away in my mind . . . just in case!

It was still there and it had an incredible bargain basement price: $49! When I told the lady who was working that day what I wished to purchase, she said, "I am surprised it hasn't sold before now!"

I love having a more open feel in front of the picture window. It draws the eye to the sun porch and to the back yard. The table also provides a place for seasonal decorating.

A few more changes are in the works.

• Ron is working on the second pair of shutters. 

• I am planning to paint the fire screen black. (That was one of my summer projects, but I never got around to doing it.) 

• Ron is also going to build a taller cabinet for our television this fall. The current media cabinet was intended to be a temporary fix, but with the new living room arrangement, the time is right for this project. Ron will mount the TV in the cabinet with an extension bracket, allowing a greater viewing range. A taller piece will also provide balance with the other furniture in the room. And the doors can be closed when the television is not in use. (Remember my policy of hiding ugly stuff whenever possible?) 

Then the living room will be finished.

(Or will it? Because is anything ever really "finished" if you like house-y stuff?)

Has anything changed at your house lately? 

Sunday Snapshots: Birthday x 6

It's been a while since I did a Sunday Snapshots post, but we had a grand time yesterday celebrating all of the August birthdays, so I've gathered some photos to share.

After we ate lunch together, we set up the party table with birthday pies: blueberry, lemon meringue, Key lime, and chocolate.

Everyone looks deep in thought because we were playing a party game. Each August birthday person had been asked a series of questions (i.e. Cake or pie? Math or English? Summer, winter, spring, or fall?) and players had to guess how each one had answered.

Birthday peeps: Mom, Kristin, Owen, Ryan, me, and Ron

Singing "Happy Birthday" was a hoot! It went something like this:

♫ Happy birthday dear Miriam Mom Gammy Kristin Mama Owen Ryan Daddy Cheryl Mom Gran Ronnie Dad Papa . . . Happy birthday to you! ♫ 

Blowing out candles in order of birth date . . . 

Alaine (who missed being an August birthday by one day!) was our Birthday Fairy, distributing lovely packages to the recipients. 

Decisions, decisions.

Macie chose chocolate.

It was a happy, healthy gathering! And it wouldn't have been complete without Wrapping Paper Antics! 😁

Aunt Love

The girls are so blessed to be aunts. They love their role!

When Bekah became an aunt for the first time, she was only 20 months old. Her oldest nephews and nieces are almost more like siblings to her. But she has grown in her aunt position as more little ones have come along.

Here are a few recent pics of the girls with their baby niece . . .

Seeing my children with their children, and my children with their nieces and nephews, warms my heart through and through. 

Squeezing Summer

We've been doing our best to squeeze an entire summer into the month of August!

We're over halfway through the month now, and we have done quite a bit of squeezing! It has done my heart such good to get out of doors, enjoying God's marvelous creation, and to gather here and there with my dear ones.

We (various assortments of us) have gone to the beach and to a water park. We have celebrated three birthdays (so far). We went to a 50th anniversary party. We had a sweet friend over for a coffee chat. We had our grandchildren for a visit while their parents celebrated their anniversary. We had the littlest grandgirl one morning while the rest of her family took in a dollar movie. We were invited to dinner by dear friends. 

The day we were at the water park, I nearly had an ugly cry. Out of the blue. 

I was wading into the pool. Up ahead of me were nine of my grandchildren, my daughter-in-law Sarah, and Kati and Bekah. I looked at all those precious people, each one healthy again, enjoying a day of fun after a couple of hard months . . . and I suddenly felt like the richest woman in the world. I breathed thanks to the Lord and I really could have just stood there and cried with gratitude, but I did not want to attract that kind of attention, so I got myself together and hung out with my people and soaked up the joy of the day. 

There is more squeezing -- more adventures and celebrations -- on the horizon for these last days of summer, plans that I must continue to hold loosely, for "if the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that."

But I know that I will continue to see His footprints. And so, still I sing . . . 

               Tho' sometimes He leads through waters deep,

               Trials fall across the way, 

               Tho' sometimes the path seems rough and steep,

               See His footprints all the way.

               Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, 

               Sweetest name I know, 

               Fills my every longing,

               Keeps me singing as I go.

Gathering the Moments | July

It has been a rough summer. 

Filled with struggle. Filled with sickness. Filled with disappointment. Filled with stories that are not mine to tell, and yet they are stories that intertwine with our hearts and lives. 

As I have continued to paddle with one oar, I have prayed. I have pondered. I have wondered. I have asked for answers. I have felt a little sorry for myself. (Yes, I admit it. I am not prone to pity parties, but I've had a few this summer.) I started to "gather the moments" of July but I didn't have many photos and I didn't like many of the ones I had and I wasn't even sure what I would say, so I stopped. 

And then I read these words*: 

"Is our 'I' in the dust?" 

And I had to answer honestly. No. 

A pity party is all about "I." And while I will continue to pray and ponder and ask for answers, I am determined to put "I" aside and walk forward in trust. 

* from Edges of His Ways: Daily Devotional Notes by Amy Carmichael

And as always, there are so many blessings . . . so many moments of beauty if only we're willing to see . . . 

There were ordinary moments. A Sunday afternoon drive along the river. A kitty on an old quilt. A Sunday morning mocha. 

We were blessed to be able to gather to celebrate the July birthdays. (With all of the other things that have been postponed or cancelled this summer, I am glad that this was not one of them.)

Milestone birthdays for both of our July girls!

Eve turned ten, which means it was her year for ten presents and a special box made by Papa.

 Maddie is thirteen. Amazing.

Around the house,

July was the month for sprucing up the sun porch . . .

. . .  and for filling in a space that was made when we "shopped the house" for the library. (More on that in another post.)

 ♪ ♫  Take my moments and my days,

let them flow in ceaseless praise.  ♪ ♫