• The dining nook…

    January 22, 2013 / 5 Comments

    When I posted “a little tour” of my new home, I mentioned that I would share photos of my dining nook when I purchased a table and chairs.  My daughter, her two youngest children and I ventured to the furniture store before Thanksgiving.  Grandchildren are very helpful and actually wise beyond their years (especially my 8 year old granddaughter) when it comes to selecting furnishings.  It “had to fit all of us for Sunday dinner” according to my sweet girl and she proceeded to explain how this would work.  There are two extra chairs in my storage room on the lower level.  The table has a hidden leaf which can be opened to an oval which seats six when needed.   We actually scoot in the computer chair too and it seats seven!  Otherwise,  the table looks like this.  Right now, there is a protective cover on the table and my sewing machine!  It’s the perfect place to sew and watch old classic movies at the same time if I so choose.  😉

     

    In past years, I have used the shelves on the hutch for favorite dishes.  This time, I’m enjoying using it for photos framed in black.  I still have several more photos to frame for the buffet.  The perfect place to enjoy my family on a daily basis.

    I have so many books that I needed one more bookcase.  Although I ordered the identical bookcase, the stain on the one on the far left was a little lighter.  After putting it together all by myself, there was no way I was returning it!  Come Spring, when I can open windows, I will try to darken the stain to match.  In the meantime, I really don’t notice the difference and am living with it!

    I love this little setting.  The antique was a gift from my children’s dad on our twelfth anniversary…many years ago.  The angel was a gift from my daughter and her family.

  • A little tour…

    November 12, 2012 / 5 Comments

    It’s hard to believe that I’ve accomplished all of this (with some wonderful help from my daughter and her family!) in just FOUR weeks! Granted, there are still a few more boxes and more books than I had room for…so I ordered one more bookcase for the living room.  I showed the messy parts too at the end of the slideshow!

    The weather is turning cold now, but the condo is warm and cozy. My Camry (you know the one with almost 154,000 miles!) is happy to reside in a garage. I do have to walk across  the small parking area to it and that might be a bit of a challenge when it is snowing…but we do what we have to do. 😉

    (There are captions on the photos but they don’t seem to be showing up!  I did not show the dining area.  I will add pics of that when I purchase a table and chairs.  It’s at one end of the long living room.  The pink “shabby chic” room is the guest bedroom.   The other bedroom is mine.  The guest bath is the one with the brownish tile on the walls.  There are 3 sets of sliders that lead out on to the tiled porch.)

    livingroom

    I love that the sofa and chair pillows are filled with soft, squishy down and actually conform and support your back!  Even though you can’t tell in the photos, they’re actually the perfect colors to go with the rug too.

  • Looking more like home…

    November 4, 2012 / 7 Comments

    It was Summer in Memphis in the photo above…a few years ago.  I’m guessing that my niece Sharon (left) and I were about 3 and 5 at the time.  She is my oldest sister’s only child and we grew up more like sisters.  If you’ve read my other blogs, then you’ve read about our adventures.

    Sharon is an artist and an amazing interior decorator.  I wish she were closer so she could help me decorate this apartment.  In a way, she does help for I have three of her wonderful “snow” paintings.  After the recent move, I couldn’t find the largest one.  I searched and searched – finally during the “work party” on Saturday, I found it!  I was so relieved and happy to see it.

    I hung the paintings yesterday on either side of the fireplace.  It felt a lot more like home then.

    The top painting below is an original watercolor by well-known Memphis artist, Lafayette Ragsdale that I purchased years ago.  I’m sure I couldn’t afford one of his originals now.  The other three watercolors are by my precious niece.  (I have no idea why that smudge appeared on the photo – there’s nothing on the glass!)

     I have now been here for three weeks – making progress but still boxes to unpack!  Will eventually post pics when I’m a little further along but here you see the result of the multitude of book boxes – unpacked!  I never feel at home until I can see my books!   And, yes, those are cookbooks on the lower half of the left shelf – there is also a bookcase of cookbooks in the kitchen!