• tomatoes in a colander on the happy list
    happy list

    Happy List: #177

    Hello, hello! I hope the week has treated you well. This week I shared why I love old houses so darn much. The funny thing of it was so many of you related to my sentiments on the subject. That said, don’t begrudge me if someday I move into a house with light switches in every room. Heck, I’d give up the light switches I do have right now if it meant I could have central air-conditioning. I also shared a round up of my latest thrifted finds. It’s taken me all summer, but I did find a few things that came home with me. In fairness, I might find…

  • my latest thrift store finds vegetable basket
    decorating,  thrifting

    My Latest Thrift Store Finds: Part 2

    I’ve already written one “My Latest Thrift Store Finds” post, so now I’m writing the much anticipated sequel. Maybe this will turn into a series. Who knows? I certainly don’t. Ha! But in case anyone asks, I do have a grand plan and definitely have my act together. Oh, and we never had this conversation. Now let’s get back to the important business of the day, my latest thrift store finds. They are pinch myself good. My Latest Thrift Store Finds #1: Scalloped Brass Bowl Scalloped designs seems to be having a moment. I’ve seen scalloped designs all over the internet lately, so this scalloped brass bowl that I found…

  • colonial farmhouse front yard landscaping
    colonial farmhouse,  decorating

    The Reason Why I Like Old Houses

    I had an epiphany while painting the wall of our main stairs about the reason why I like old houses. I’m qualified to speak on this issue because it’s is my blog and these are my feelings, duh I have lived in new construction, 100+ year old homes, homes built between the 1960s and 1990s, an apartment, a condo, and even a duplex in Europe. I know how lovely it is to live in new construction with that fresh-everything smell and a fabulous home warranty where the builder comes out to fix every single nail pop. I know how satisfying it is to take a home that is a money…

  • happy list

    Happy List: #176

    Hello! Welcome to another edition of the Happy List! How is August treating you? As you know, we live on the East Coast. On Tuesday we were pounded by rain from Storm Isaias. We’ve been without power all week! Hopefully, by the time you are reading this, the power will be restored. This week on the blog I shared the new chandelier for our music room. I love it more than I love temperatures in the 70s. (But don’t ask me that question on a 90 degree day.) I also shared my Summer Bucket List: Covid-19 Edition. One of the items on that list is celebrating the little things. That’s…

  • flamingo pool float summer bucket list: covid-19 edition
    Family

    Summer Bucket List: Covid-19 Edition

    I’m no stranger to a summer bucket list, but I never thought I’d be writing a Summer Bucket List: Covid-19 Edition. Our quiet summer is proof that 2020 is not at all what I anticipated it being. I know I’m not alone in recognizing that 2020 has thrown us all for a loop. In fact, if ever there was an understatement, that would be it! I fully expected us to be traveling outside of our state this summer. As it turns out, it is hard to leave our state now without having to self-quarantine when we return. I fully expected us to be hosting visitors for at least a month…

  • music room wood chandelier
    colonial farmhouse,  decorating

    Wood Chandelier in the Music Room

    We have a new-to-us wood chandelier in the music room and I couldn’t be happier about this turn of events. Our music room was once used as a formal dining room. In fact, it got the 1990s/early 2000s royal treatment with a gigantic silver chandelier that was way too modern for the space. It was also a head knocker. No, it did not knock some sense into me. I know one of you just thought that. I usually have plenty, thank you very much. Here’s the music room on the day we moved into our Colonial Farmhouse in 2019. Here’s the music room after I took down the wallpaper and…

  • miniature golf new jersey on the happy list
    happy list

    Happy List: #175

    Happy Friday, folks! We have plans this weekend that will completely disrupt our routine. Can you believe it? Actually, I can hardly believe I said yes. I’m turning soft during this pandemic! We are hopefully getting not one, but two kittens from a neighbor. *Crossing fingers this all works out. Otherwise, my kids will be devastated.* The compromise we made is that the cats will be outdoor cats with the task of prowling the property for rodents. We need all the help we can get on this front. Let it be known that I said our last cat (when we lived in Georgia) would be an outdoor cat and the…

  • Bus Stop Gardening Station
    gardening and landscape

    Bus Stop Gardening Station

    Gardening stations or potting benches come in all shapes and sizes, but the bus stop gardening station I have to show you today is pretty darn clever. I’m throwing “bus stop” in quotation marks for the moment because this bus stop gardening station is not made from an actual bus stop, but it looks like it could have been. Behold! I take zero credit for this clever idea. It’s not even on my property. This is a Junk Whisperer project. If you’re an original reader around here, you’ll know I’ve featured several Junk Whisperer projects over the years. Who is this mysterious Junk Whisperer and how can we learn her…

  • fruit in pasta bowl
    gift and learning

    8 Satisfying Things I’m Enjoying This Summer

    I don’t know about you, but I’m spending an inordinate amount of time at home these days, so today I’m sharing eight satisfying things I’m enjoying this summer. I’ve always said it is the little things that make me happy and that’s even more true right now. Eight Satisfying Things #1: Bug Zapper I don’t know if there really are more bugs outside this summer or if we are just hyperaware of the number of bugs pestering us, particularly while we are swimming. Handy Husband ordered this ultraviolet bug zapper and thinks it is the best thing ever. I’m not joking. Find a person who looks at you the way…

  • cornfield in new jersey on the happy list
    happy list

    Happy List: #174

    Hello, friends! Is it sweltering where you live? New Jersey has been taking summer very seriously this past week. Can’t wait to get my electric bill. Not! This week I shared two new blog posts. The first one was a well researched (sarcasm alert) feature on why you should wear a vintage watch even if it doesn’t work. The second blog post was an update on the decorating in my son’s farmhouse-style bedroom. On Facebook and Instagram I like to keep things random. Actually, that’s just my life, so it is what is is, but I’d love to connect with you there too. This week I’ve shared some behind-the-scenes of how we actually…