Flea Market Finds...How to use Them

Well, hello there, and "Good-Sunshine- Morning" to everyone! How are you and how are you spending your day so far?
  
  I know some of you have/are having really bad weather...and in some places we've seen the devastating damage the storms have wreaked. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
  We haven't had any bad weather in a while and believe me, we are all thankful and aware of how Blessed we are those storms went around us.  

  I don't have too much to talk about today... we are doing well and trying so hard to finish the clean-up of our family home that was loss in that fire. Now, we will have the local fire department to come and finish burning it down in order to clear all the rubbish away. I will be so happy because seeing it in this current state, hurts so badly. 

  On another note, I did want to show you this pic of...how to use some flea market finds in your home. 
 Now that the grands and children are on school vacation, this "style" will be a welcome change to your decor' and easy to clean. 

These repurposed feed sacks used as throw pillow covers are framed artwork! They are so inviting...they make you want to curl-up on the cozy sofa with a good book and relax. 
  
I have to admit, I would have never used this eclectic style however, I have, as I've gotten older, made a number of changes in my life including in my home. 

This is so simple and clean, and I love the farm house table with the mix of chairs in this picture... even the garden chair that the retro covered pillow makes so comfy. The white sheers and blue color on the walls, adds a calmness and simplicity to the room filled with found items. 

The focal point in the room draws it all together...mixing old feed sack pillows with throw pillows in modern print. Doesn't it bring a down-home look that blends these two time periods together? I-love-it!

Wishing You All... A Glorious Week... Happy Monday!!!

What A Wonderful Day!

I can say this each and every day because with each day that dawns it is unique and certainly a Blessing!!
  Thank you for your beautiful comments and visiting with us. I am still at my old house sorting through the ash and giving away things to  neighbors when they ask. I feel so bad allowing them to take things, but if they can reuse any of it, I gladly invite them to take what they want.

  
  We have piles like this all over...this one is from the bottom of my tall cedar chest. Bedspreads bed skirts, curtains, sheets, etc., with the bottom of the pile being the worst. 
  I am determined to work until it it done, with God's help, so we can get it all hauled off. 
  At our home in the city we have also been working to make improvements. The porch was awful this Spring and it took me a long time to clean it...so much pollen!

  
Remember this above...my next project is to restain the rockers...they are looking very tired now.
I also have been checking into screening. I don't have much of a back porch and city codes doesn't allow me to erect a screened enclosure to use as a catio for my cats. I'm still trying even if it will be a screened gazebo...that would be okay. Below is a a picture of what I have in mind for the porch.

  
  It will certainly be nice for the three of them to spend their lazy days there plus, it has a Southern exposure, so it stays cool. What do you think?

Hey it has been a blast visiting with you all today and I hope you've enjoyed your visit here at "Our House" too!! Wishing You All A very Pleasant & Peaceful Day with Friends & Family!!!

Purrs & Hugs...
Loretta

I'm going to sit on the porch with some fresh strawberries and a tall glass of ice cold tea. Wish you were here!!!

Container Gardens & Renovations

Hey Friends, 
  How are you today? Aren't you happy the bad weather and loss has gone away? I am too! It is our hope that you all are well and at least making your way to getting back to normal...if there is such. I'm so sorry for your loss...we are sending thoughts & prayers your way.

I've been doing a little in the yard lately. We took a cue from one of my fave magazine,"Fine Gardening" and prepared some nice containers (like these) since it was so hard to get outside with all the "stuff" out there... (My camera is being worked on.)

  I also found this beautifully manicured lawn a gardener changed with a nice terrace look. I might not have this particular look however, I will be changing my front lawn in the near future. I will keep you posted. 

 The Adirondacks in the picture are beckoning for ones to come sit a while. I love the lushness of the greenery as you climb to the top of the area... Two other chairs (blue)are placed there for privacy. I could spend hours there with a tall glass of iced tea and a good book!!! What about you?

  I sure hope you have a Wonderful Week... You must grab hold of an hour or two and take a bit of time to relax and pamper yourself!! Love you...


Happy Days Everyone,
Loretta  

Mom's

To All The Mom's In The World...

 Each Day Is Mom's Day At Our House...
But, Today Is Your Day All Over The World...And To You We Give This Special Bouquet Of Beautiful Red Roses!

                                        These Are For You!

Awesome Creatures

Good Morning,
How are you good folks today? Loretta and I have been keeping up with the weather the past weeks and it looks like we have all had our share of rain tornadoes and so much devastation. We sure hope ya'll have weathered the storms and picking up the pieces.
  Not too much any of us can do but Pray to the Good Lord that we all can endure all we have to face, and to get us through it! We have an awesome God and there is no other as great as He, nor will there ever be!

No other can or could have created this magnificent animal but the Creator of all things...Himself!!!

What an awesome animal...Loretta wanted me to say these are not her pictures, but they belong to her followers on Google +. We wanted to share them with you too. Aren't they truly beautiful creatures? 
  Looking at them one has to admit our God and Creator of all things is an awesome God, Right?

  We wish you all a Wonderful Weekend with Friends & Family! Hug your Pets for us too!

All The Best To You,
James & Loretta

                                                  For You!!!

More Fun Outdoor Makeover

Good Day Everyone,
  How in the world are you today? I must say we are enjoying a beautiful day here in the South! How about your day?
  It rained last eve...and the cool gentle breeze is quite refreshing and mild. Yes, the sun is shining and the beautiful green foliage of the trees, plants and the background of colors are like a gorgeous painting!!!

After hosing down everything to get rid of that awful yellow stuff, all that was needed...
 "Adding a bright white tablecloth can make an outdoor eating area more welcoming to guest and family."

  See how it soften the look of the black metal furniture... importantly, look how it offers contrast to this garden!!! Simple...but ohooo so good!...

Have lunch in the garden...what a treat for everyone!!  Enjoy...Take care my friends...

Hugs & Purrs From Us...  
      

Let's Talk Curb Appeal

Good Morning Everyone...

  For some of us this subject may be the last thing on your mind, especially if when you look out of your window "white" is the dominate color! Well, don't let this deter you from making plans...

Look at this fun Springy way to boost your Curb Appeal with paint!
  Easy paint projects aren't just for the interior of your home. Brush a little bright color on your home's exterior for a quick new look!
  I have always believed in painting the front door...this is a simple done-in-a-weekend-project. Select a shade that coordinates with other exterior  elements and surrounding landscape.  Aren't these pots bright & pretty! I love the house numbers too...and, look at that door, wow...who said "Chartreuse" is not in anymore!!

  As always, we hope you have all had a fab week and forging ahead toward the weekend

Have a fabulous weekend everybody!!!
Hugs & Purrs...
  

Good Morning

  Oh what a pretty day we have today...Everything speaks Spring! The air even smells of Spring... 
  Someone is burning leaves, lawnmowers can be heard and the smell of fresh cut grass permeates the air... Time for a nice long walk...I love it when the temp is just right and only a sweater is required... 

Daffs have already made their presence known and are so pretty in the beautiful sun rays! Yes-yes, Spring is definitely here!! 
  I so wish it would stay this way...but, no complaints now, I just want to savor and bask in the Glory Of Spring!!!


    Wishing you all A Beautiful Spring Day & Weekend!!!
Happy Spring Everyone & Best Regards,
Loretta 

I've Been Thrift Shopping Again

Good Afternoon To Everyone, 

  How are you today? It is the middle of the week again and for the majority of us, we are in for some more winter weather!! We sure hope you are not having too many problems with it.  

                                                          Click on pictures to enlarge...

I love blue-n-white items and have them among my many other collections. At an estate sale two weeks ago I went searching for something special. I found a box taped and marked $4.00 entire contents. 

The man had no idea what the contents were and didn't take the time to look, but I did...a box full of these goodies!

I handed him the four dollars with a thank you and only a grunt from him! Who cared...I had what I was looking for!!!

It certainly isn't often if ever, you go to a sale and get just what you were looking for! I must tell you some of the pieces
are marked...

I'd put my purchase in the car and came back for a table and chair I'd seen, when the man who sold me the box came up and asked if I was finding what I needed. 
  Imagine my surprise...he didn't recognize me!! I thanked him and told him I was interested in the table and chair. The table was sold but he offered me a good price on the chair $2.00 and I took it!!

I have these items in a book shelf ...there are only 3 or 4 pieces of them marked. To boost the vignettes that I create, I add in other pieces to make it look full.  
  My living room is blue and white everything. If I can get some pics together I'll post it next.

 Have you been thrift shopping lately? I went that weekend just to get out of the house. I was surprised to find only a few customers were shopping at that place and I had a great non-crowded shopping day!!

   It is always so nice to hear from you and for your stopping by. Hope you are having a good afternoon...We Wish You a Lovely Evening with Family...

Warmest Regards,
Hugs & Purrs... 

Our Weather Woes

Good Evening,
  How are all of you this evening? I know the last thing you want to talk about would be the weather, right? However, I just wanted to let you see...you are not alone! Why, it dipped way down here in the south and touched our tootsies too! Lol!!

This is at the top of our back steps looking down the very hard icy walkway...

The roof of the garage also had a sheet of ice. The Kitties were quite fascinated looking out of the windows. They ran from room-to-room as if trying to figure it all out.

The front walk was a sheet of ice...look to the top left of this pic and you'll see where hard rain made a track the night before. Believe me when I tell you...I am certainly not going out in that, especially since our lawn is on an incline! I can't afford to break anymore bones! Weather man says one more day of this... Schools have been closed and roads are lightly traveled... We're not showed in but, iced in!!!

Izzy is one of our new Kitties, another Tuxie. She loves the computer and commandeers it every morning because she knows I'm eventually going to use it. When I try to remove her, she claws and hang on to everything trying to stay in her spot...she's like a magnet drawing everything off the desk...

A better shot of her- Izzy

Of course, this is Miss Kitty, our first Tuxie... she is also my first Kitty ever...how could I have been without one in the house?

 Here is my darling Ino...she's the one who doesn't like to be bothered, and very territorial. She is settling in quite well...

I love her markings...can you tell? There are little drops & dots of black all over...it makes her look as if she hung around an artist and her paint splatter on her. I tell you, through it all they have all been my saving grace. I couldn't have made it without my pets! Since I spoke of them I thought I would share them with you. 

  So, now you see you aren't alone in weather woes. Folks are saying we don't have long to wait before Spring... however, I don't really care because I know we will have to experience the other extreme in a little while. Oh well, what can I say or do but...DEAL WITH IT!!! Right?

I Wish You All Well and Hope You Are Coping with This Weather The Best You Can!! Keep warm dry and toastie...

Take Good Care... 
Loretta

Row-House Renovation

Hello Friends,
 We sure hope you all are well and, I just know you are so tired of the ice and snow but hopefully, Spring is around the corner for us all! 
  We have weathered the storm with the tragic loss of my son-in-law in the fire and trying hard to mend emotionally. We do have time & prayer to get us through it all... we are relying heavily on both.

  If I had a choice of styles in my favorite home it would be a Victorian. I just love the lines, colors and different styles. Their interiors are from a period in time that I've also admired. The rich wood; walls ceilings and windows with the period panes; and especially the pocket doors...they capture the warmth and grace of those old homes. 

  Look at these before & after photos of a nicely renovated Victorian.

Before... An ugly Run-Down Row-house...
  This classic Victorian row-house was in serious need of a rescue with its decaying exterior, old windows, chipped paint and overgrown landscape. But look at her below after a serious make-over...what a doll! 

After... A Beautifully Restored Row-house.
  What a difference! The row-house revival begins with the replacement of every window, a new coat of gray paint on the siding, cream on the trim and darker green on the accents. 
  New wooden railing & balustrades ascend the concrete and terrazzo steps and two new sets of columns support the portico.
  
  To perk up the lower level, a new garage was installed as well as attractive garage doors...featuring inset panels and arch top  windows that echo the curve of the classic bay window. 
  Overgrown bushes were removed and stacked-stone retaining wall keep the new yard tidy. I truly love this renovation... She might have looked a bit tired...but, she showed her bones were still very strong... What a beauty!
  
Wishing You All A Great Day...
Best of Wishes To You,
Loretta

Tragedy Hits Home

Good  Evening Friends,

It is with heavy heart that I write this post today...
  Saturday morning there was a huge horrific house fire at our family home where my eldest daughter lived with her daughter and husband Willie, my son-in-law. Willie  died in that fire!  We are devastated...

  My daughter tried to run into the house to save him, then had to be restrained when flames burst from a closed door...thankfully she wasn't harmed because someone pulled her back.
  I am numb with pain and grief as I suspect all my family members are. It was such a massive destructive fire and I lost everything that I had in the house...she also lost everything! They didn't have insurance so our family will have to find a way to put him away. 
Please pray that we find a solution and for my family...this has rocked us to the core...

  My mother is trying so hard to be strong, but I can see this has really shaken her! I am so afraid for her because of her age-84...we have gone through one crisis after another the past year with no let up in site! 

  We would really appreciate your prays and words of encouragement! Thank You so much...

A Fellow Blogger & Friend,
Loretta

Weather-Who Knew?

Good Morning Friends...

It has been roller coaster weather here in Louisiana...who knew with all of this bitter cold rainy and icy weather we would get snow also!

                                                          Snowing In Natchitoches         
This picture was taken outside my sister's house in Natchitoches LA Tuesday night. In some areas it was ankle deep. For us, that is a lot! I still can't believe how quiet and still everything is after it snows. 

  On the way back home the interstate still had patches of ice and drivers were driving too fast...I guess trying to get where they were going before the interstate was closed.
  
  Suddenly just in front of me one car started to slide and before I knew it there was a bad pile-up! I had the presence of mind to slow down almost to a stop rather than brake which saved me from sliding into the pile... 

 This delayed us two more hours. I was terribly shaken because of seeing the victims etc. being pulled from those cars. Two 18 wheeler's were in it too and there were fatalities. It was  very distressing and I was still shaking after arriving home. I was so thankful to be there in the warmth and safety of home and to see my fur-babies. They were comforting after that harrowing day!

 You hear of accidents like this but actually witnessing it is altogether different. I know many of you have to drive in this type of weather more often and I certainly don't envy you one bit...but I do want to say... please be careful...drive for yourself and the other person too! 

  Taking risks is for hot-heads and speed demons! Those same ones that were driving too fast in that accident were the ones who caused others to lose their lives and their lives too! Be Safe, drive safe...the life you save may be your own!!

We Sure Hope You Have A Lovely Weekend...

Love & Best Wishes To All,
Loretta & Family

Wake Up Your Bookshelves

Dear Friends... Good Afternoon To You...
Welcome to Our House...

  We sure hope your Wednesday has been a delightful one. I don't know if I've mentioned to you how much I love bookshelves. Every home that we've owner I've always had built- ins. Of course, that didn't mean I didn't create one of my own.
                                Picture from BH & Garden

  An impressive way to wake up your bookshelf is to incorporate a few favorite objects from throughout your house into your display. First, either paint or paper the back wall of your bookshelf with a fave color or pattern. Then, from your founded items, maybe a nice coordinated serving platter you love but never use. A fave figurine... I think something equine, this always look nice.
  How about things with different shapes or designs... look for items that have commonalities... such as white finishes to create a more unified display. Look at the shelves above... the dark blue with the white is striking!
  
  Don't overdo...resist the urge to add just one more piece... keep the display balances! If you have a large collection rotate your items in and out from time to time, rather than displaying too many pieces at one time. 

  Keeping my shelves this way guest are constantly asking when or where did I get that piece. When I tell them it was in the shelves a month ago...they don't remember seeing it!  
  Remember... displaying too much at one time makes your bookshelf look cluttered, and you certainly do not want this look...do you?  

Thanks for stopping by today...we always love having you near. We wish You a Lovely Evening...Until the next time...

Big Hugs & Warm Regards...
Loretta                 

Salad As A Meal

Good  Sunday Morning Dear Friends...

                                       
                                Buffalo Chicken Cobb

                                            

 I love looking for recipes that I can prepare and work into my diet. What better way than having a salad that includes all food groups... Importantly, simple and quick to prepare. 

   
  Most of the ingredients are in your well stocked pantry...check out this simple recipe below...

Buffalo Chicken Cobb

Ingredients

1

25 1/2 ounce frozen buffalo-style boneless chicken wings

2

hearts of romaine lettuce, halved or quartered

1 1/2

cups sliced celery and/or carrots

1/2

cup light mayonnaise

1/4

cup crumbled blue cheese

1/4

teaspoon ground black pepper

2

small lemons

Directions

1. Prepare chicken wings according to package directions.
2. Meanwhile, line a platter or individual plates with romaine. Top with celery and/or carrots; set aside. In a small bowl stir together mayonnaise, blue cheese, and pepper. Squeeze juice from 1/2 of a lemon (1-1/2 tablespoons) into mayonnaise mixture; stir to combine.
3. Slice chicken. Arrange heated chicken over romaine mixture. Cut remaining lemon into halves or wedge and serve with salad. Pass dressing. Makes 4 servings.

Simple and ohhh so good!  

We sure hope your Sunday's a sunny and relaxing one... 

Importantly, Worship...

 

Warmest Regards,

Loretta & Family

What's The Difference

Dear Bloggers, welcome to our home...

I baked these cakes below and used the identical recipe for both down to the frosting.

If you look closely you will see the frosting is different in color, although...

the pics were taken behind the other without movement or change in lighting etc...
What is the difference? Can you tell... 
 The cakes are spiced raisin pecan with cream cheese frosting...

Premiere's Sunday Night

Happy First Saturday 2014....

  We hope you have gotten off to a great start this Year. One of the events I'm looking forward to is the Premiere of a favorite series, Downton Abbey airing Sunday January 6, 2014 on PBS 9PM EST...check  your local listings.

Season 4 promises to be very good considering Matthew had gone on to greener pastures. The writers didn't allow his departure to deter any plans in their scheme of things. Of course, new blood is promised
with a storyline that is sure to draw Downton's fans in for a season of interest and intrigue. 

The storyline will begin 6 months after Matthews death with Mary still mourning his death. Little George...the new male heir has yet to find his mother's arms.

  OH My...as you can see I an a Downton Abbey fan and if you have not yet...please join us and watch the first episode this Sunday night...we just know you will love it! 

  We know the weather has brought many of you much cold snow and rain in some areas... Please, take care and keep warm! Don't take unnecessary chances exposing yourself to the bitter cold. Bundle up if you must...
  
  Wishing you a Wonderful New Year 2014!
Best Wishes,
Loretta

Poll Results for How Do You...

Clean For The Holiday...
 Thanks for your participation in our holiday poll.

We valued your opinions and will be able to use the results in future references. With a total percentage of 100 these are the results:
  
1. Deep Clean................................35%
2. Clean the house
  and neaten up when needed........50%
3. clean the entryway, kitchen
  first floor and leave the rest........15%

Thanks again for your help & support in this poll. 
Happy 2014!

Loretta