{the blog}

stop stairing

 

Have you ever fallen down the stairs?

I have.

Unfortunate injury resulting falls.

I think a seagrass runner would help my case.

(and not talking on the phone while carrying a laundry basket, while hurdling a dog gate might help too)

I'm gonna see if I can get a note from my doctor, as I am hoping our health insurance will cover the runner. 

:: photo from Desire to Inspire ::

soften the soffit

I have a soffit over my kitchen cabinets and it bores me.  Had I been involved in the selection of the cabinets at my house I would have said "take the cabinets to the ceiling, no soffit!"

But alas, I had no say.

 

Here's a softer soffit.  Inspiring indeed.

:: BHGvia Mary Ruffle ::

from beast to beauty

Incase you missed it... my sister has been working on her psychedelic bathrooms.  $500 went a long way in this bathroom... see for yourself here.  She mastered turning scary-orange into fabulous-orange.          

Monday, Monday

Bayn (my brother-in-law) informed me yesterday that my blog needs to be updated more often.  I had to remind him what all has been going on in my life lately.  I didn't mention the work and the emails that I can't even find time to respond to... but because I love him (and you, my readers) here I am.  I am making an attempt to do better.

I'm pulling some stuff from my favorites... and today it is this:

 

This house is in Charleston, SC... where I recently traveled, but somehow missed this gem.

It belongs to Muffie, who runs ESD (Elizabeth Stewart Designs) in Charleston... where I did happen to visit.  I bought a couple things and enjoyed the shop immensely. Courtney interviewed Muffie's take on art collecting... it's an awesome post and such a great reminder that art needs to be loved- not something you pick just to "decorate". Read more about Muffie in these posts.

::photo from Style Court::

 

And something else wonderful from Style Court. Haskell Harris (was at Cottage Living, now at Garden & Gun) must have provided Courtney with these photos of her house in Birmingham... they are large images (click on them) and soak them all up.  They are good.  Haskell is blogging too... check her out here.

 

Remember her bedroom?

 

Well, here's her living room...

 

It all suits the house so well...

 

Peace.

she is a she

Today we got confirmation that our little peanut is indeed a girl!!  She is right on schedule and danced around all over the place for us.  She has long legs (like her daddy).  I love her so much already, I can't imagine what it'll be like when I can actually look into her little eyes.   

This means we get to keep the chandelier!  Which is electric and doesn't even need to be rewired.  The angle of the photo I posted yesterday caused some confusion, but it is indeed electrified. 

We plan to use the crib that was mine when I was a baby.  My mom took it to the furniture refinisher to have it stripped a few months ago and went to pick it up yesterday.  I wish I had a picture... but it's nothing fancy, just a simple Jenny Lind style crib.  Mom had her camera with her... but there was something more interesting to photograph then my stripped crib...

 

She emailed me a photo of this darling chest that the furniture refinisher was repairing for someone.  How cute!  I wish the top drawer had been in place.

That's all for today... happy Thursday afternoon to everyone!

 

first purchase for the nursery

 

Pardon the cobwebs. 

Yesterday I bought this antique Italian Tole chandelier for the nursery.

I'm leaning towards soft pink walls and a darker shade of the same color on ceiling.   

Did you notice the rope that bunches the flowers together at the base?  That detail totally sealed the deal for me. 

And... if it's not a girl, this might be for sale tomorrow.

lemons turned into lemonade

A year or so ago I ordered a bunch of 1/8th yard increments of Amy Butler fabrics. 

I intended to use them as samples, because they don't provide samples.

As soon as I ordered them (hundreds of dollars worth of 1/8th yard increments, mind you) they all were discontinued.

Madder than a wet hen.

They have sat in a box in my sample closet for almost 2 years.  On a couple of occasions I wondered what (if anything) I could do with them.  Heaven knows I don't have time to quilt.  So I put them in a box, with a lid and put them out of sight.  My blood pressure spiked every time I came across that darn box.

Pre-yard sale a couple months back, Katie emailed and said "Do you have any Amy Butler fabric that you are planning to sell in your yard sale?"

Well, as a matter of fact I did.

But I didn't have anything larger than a 1/8th yard piece. But I sure had lots of 1/8th yard pieces.

Katie is sweet, I love her blog, and with a baby on the way I decided to just give her those 1/8th yard pieces, I was just relieved to get that box that haunted me out of my sample closet. 

Yesterday when I got home from the office I went to the mailbox.  Look what I found in a pretty little white box:

 

Burp cloths, made by Katiefor Baby Powell.  My heart melted... to see those daggum fabric samples in a precious and sweet application for my little one.  Thank you Katie, you turned lemons into lemonade for me!!!!

And speaking of lemonade... I have been drinking pink lemonade like it's going out of style.  I cannot get enough.

going nuts!?

I've neglected the blog for a week. 

Am I really coming back to blogging with a post about almonds? 

 

Yes.  Because I'm pregnant.  And pregnancy is the best excuse ever... next to "TBI", which is the one Chance is using these days. 

Por ejemplo:

Chance: "I can't take out the trash, I've had a TBI."

TBI: Traumatic Brain Injury

He's also claiming that it's going to get him out of changing diapers come September.  He's wrong.

Oh and after his CT scan* today he broke a tooth (eating a potato chip at lunch).  So the nursing gig has really been kicked into high-gear.  We have plans to get the tooth fixed tomorrow. 

Back to the almonds. 

Those Emerald Cocoa Roast Almonds are really, really good.  Joan shared some with me back in December... and I was hooked, but we don't get to Sam's Club that often.  Well today, we ran through Sam's after the CT scan and I picked up a gallon.  I highly recommend them.  They aren't chocolate-dipped.  They are dusted with a cocoa powder that is heaven on earth.  Try 'em.  Let me know what you think.

 

Also note:  He's driving again. Watch out.  The doctor said he was allowed to after 2 weeks.  Today is his first day of freedom.  Mine too.  I have felt very much like a soccer mom these last couple of weeks.

I cannot believe I have this photo of him (above).  We took a trip (can't remember where we went) but on the way home it was late and I fell asleep in the car.  When I woke up and looked over at him he had his motorcycle helmet on.  He had been wearing it for quite some time and was waiting for me to wake up. 

He kinda looks like a Power Ranger. 

He's not wearing it today, but I think it might not be a bad idea.

And a side note... we have an ultrasound on Thursday where we will get confirmation that the peanut is a girl... or find out that she is actually a he.  But anyway, I've been ordering some pink paint samples... more on that later.

Both images (above and below) from House Beautiful.  White Dogwood by Sherwin Williams is the color below, and above is Valspar's Paris Pink MS037.

 

* - we won't have results from today's CT scan until next doctor's appointment on 4/30, but Chance is feeling great and we are still blown away everyday but everyone's love and support.  Thanks again!

grateful

hello

Really sorry for the lack of posts... been caring for my husband.

Who, I am glad to report, is doing much better!

I even drove him to work today and let him stay a few hours.

Wednesday we went back to the neurosurgeon, because he was having excruciating pain behind his eyes, neurosurgeon wanted another CT scan.  CT scan showed the same results as the first 4 he had done.  This was good.  Chance got some pain medication (which he originally refused, and later realized that was a bad idea) and has been doing better ever since.

I was out of work most of last week.  Somehow working when my husband is at home alone after a head injury didn't seem appropriate.  So I stayed home and I enjoyed my time with him... I probably told him 30 times a day "I love you so much".  It was really nice to put everything on hold.  He's well worth it. 

I've learned that I'm a MUCH better wife when I don't work 10 hours a day.  I can keep the house clean, make breakfast, and do laundry... without complaining.  It's been nice.   

Our friends have filled our hearts and our stomachs.  What a blessing to have so many meals and kind people in our lives.  We are so blessed and grateful.  Thank you!

I'm trying to get back to normalcy... and right now blogging about pretty interiors seems silly.  I'm sure I'll get back into the groove soon, but for now... I'm focusing on keeping my husband healthy. 

If you have emailed recently I am trying to get caught up, please bear with me.

Thanks to everyone who has prayed for us... we are so grateful! 

home

We have made it home safe and sound.  Chance was moved out of ICU on Saturday afternoon to a regular room.  In our visit with the Neurosurgeon late Saturday night we were told he could go home yesterday.  Although there was no change in his 4th CT scan, the doctor allowed him to be discharged since all neuro signs are good.  I'd prefer to have heard "the blood is being absorbed and it's looking good", but hopefully happen with time.  I spent the night with him on Saturday night and he had many visitors that afternoon and evening.  Thanks to everyone who made the journey.  Chance is blessed with the best employer and co-workers anyone could ask for... they are like family and I can't imagine not having that support in our lives. 

Dad left this morning at 4:30 to fly back to Chicago - thank you Bayn for taking him to the airport.  Dad, thanks for dropping everything for us. 

My patient had a rough night.  I think he got used to those hospital beds that raise and lower at the head and knees.  Or maybe it's that he was hoping I'd wake him every hour to take his blood pressure and ask "Do you know where you are?" and shine a bright light in his eyeballs.

I think the biggest challenge ahead will be keeping him from over-doing it.  I might need to put him on a short leash.  We are both totally exhausted and I can't think of anything else to tell you... except thank you.  Thank you for the prayers, the emails, the phone calls, the text messages, the notes in our mailbox, the food (and cookies and candy), the helmet, the dirt bike magazines, none went unnoticed and all were appreciated. 

We will go back to the hospital for a CT scan in 2 weeks and schedule follow-up visits with the Neurosurgeon, we are praying that he will continue to heal and be back to normal in no time.

Okay, I have to go check on my patient... thanks again for all your love and support!!