{ Renovating the living room....a work in progress }

We moved into this house in May of 2015.  We bought the house in 2019.  Through all these years I have had a vision in my mind of what I wanted to do with each room.  

 

I'm sure you remember when we first moved in, that I had very strong opinions about some of the rooms, especially the dining room and the living room.  The paneled walls in the dining room are still not a favorite but I've learned to live with them, though I will be painting an accent wall in there.

 

The green living room on the other hand, boy did I hate it.  Let me remind you what I walked into. 

 

 

 

 

I couldn't do it, and I tried over the years but I kept hoping and hoping and looking forward to the day that I could change it all.  But that means money and time and God's timing for things to happen, so I waited and now all these years later, I am finally doing what I want to with the room.

 

My inspiration is a Boho, earthy, very calm and nature like living room.  Lots of dark green, wood, plants and comfy pillows, bookshelves filled with books and books in corners of the room too.  

 

So let me show you where we're at right now:

I knew I wanted a darker green, something in the sage green family, but I wasn't sure exactly which shade to get.  Funny enough, I walked into Lowe's, looked at the green swatches and immediately grabbed this one, which is called Olive Grove.

 

I was hoping it would be what I was looking for, but the minute I put it on the wall I knew I had picked the right color.  Curtis was still a bit unsure, he liked the darker but didn't know how the final result would look.  This was and is my project, so he gave me full reign to do whatever and just helped me with anything I needed, which was getting the second coat on some of the higher areas that I couldn't reach even with the step ladder. 

I was so eager to get this done that I just went to work with the little roller and little drip pan I had on hand.  Needless to say, that lasted about an hour and then I thought "nope, gotta get the bigger ones or I'll be painting until eternity".

 

Again, I am still working on the baseboards, trims, doorways and windowsills, but the main part of the room is finished and I could not be more thrilled.

 

As I decorate and get everything done, I will keep sharing with you, but here's what the room is looking like at the moment.  I couldn't love it any more if I tried. 

This lamp I already had in the living room, but I didn't think it fit with the look I wanted, and also didn't want to go spend money on a new lamp, so I decided to change it up with what I had on hand.

 

I used twine and redid the shade.  I LOVE how it turned out ♥

 

 

 

You can in the picture above, how the lamp used to look.

 

Overall, it's been a lot of work but I am really enjoying making these changes.  I am currently painting our bedroom in the same green, and of course I will show you that as well when I'm done.

 

What do you think?  Better than it was? Do you have any ideas for the room, would love any advice, tips etc.

Welcome February, where did January go?

This month has been a bit of a blur, it seemed to have come in quietly, quickly moved through the year and disappeared out the back door with nary a sound.

We always complain about time moving fast, but this month of this new year, may just take the cake, and the cherry and the whole shebang.  Anyway, it's February 1st and here we are, enjoying what seems like late Spring weather.  That's Texas for you though, gives us some temps in the 70s but as we move into the middle to end of February?  We will no doubt get our huge snow and cold temps.  It's always like this!

We've been receiving a lot of rain, which is always welcome and very much needed around here.  The minute it starts pouring down, my soul changes into a slower pace.  The candles are lit, blankets are pulled out of baskets to be snuggled with, and books are read.

You can see my current read above.  And speaking of reading, I want so much to make this year my comeback to reading.  I go through phases where I read a ton, then go years without picking up a book, just admiring them on my bookshelf and telling myself, "I really want to read that one" or "I can't wait to get into that book".

 

I'm hoping those thoughts manifest into actual reading, so I can then say that I've read it and not just admired it's beautiful cover.

On rainy days, the fur babies and I have spend a lot a time at the big windows, just looking out into the yard and watching the rain coming down.  There is such a soothing rhythm to the sound, it lulls you into peace, or at least it does for me, but then I am a rain lover, so maybe that's why.

 

A few days ago, I decided that I was going to take the day for myself.  I've been keeping busy the past two weeks, moving more, working out, cleaning and organizing and de cluttering the house.  Then that time of the month rolled around, and between the cramps and the muscle soreness from the workouts, I thought I deserved one day of rest.

So I did.  I made myself a sort of nest on the couch, with comfy pillows, warm blankets, my book, candles, coffee and I settled in to watch some period dramas on tv.  Oh my gosh, how I've missed those too.  Why do we tend to stop doing the things we enjoy?

I often sit and wonder why I can let go of some of my favorite hobbies, and then go months or even a year, where I don't touch them.  Photography, crochet, period dramas, those three in particular have been so neglected and for no real reason.  But, I am bringing them all back and have been loving getting reacquainted with each.

I'm enjoying the slower pace of life.  More days of pottering around, enjoying every nook and cranny from my home and just living life in a simpler, more subdued kind of way.

I've also picked up my crochet hook and have fallen in love with this beautiful form of art, all over again.  Why did I stop crocheting?  It brings me such joy.

I have purchased and started a new blanket.  Something new to me, or rather a technique new to me as crocheter, the Mosaic overlay.  I am currently working on a Nordic Blanket that is just too beautiful for words.  I can not wait to see it finished, and to know that I did it with my own, often sore, and arthritic hands.  Mind you, I must say that crocheting hasn't been exacerbating the pain in my joins, but rather relieving.  Weird!

Also got some girl scout cookies, which we do every year, although this year I am not eating them.  Ok I won't lie, I did have two, but one was a gluten free toffee that I bought specific with my new diet in mind.  Something to enjoy once in a while, as a little treat.

The rest have been enjoyed and devoured by the 3 men in the house. 

And finally, the beginning stages of our renovation in the hallway.  We suspected that there was some damage in the sub floor under the carpet, and when we pulled the carpet back, we confirmed those suspicions.  It took a while to get all the nail strips out and to clean this floor, we also replaced that spot of floor and now the new flooring will go on this weekend.  So exciting!

I am also going to be painting the walls, as you can probably see, they are this brown wallpaper.  I don't know why the previous owners ever picked that, but that's their taste and that's fine.  It doesn't work for us, and now with the new flooring going in, it will really not look good.  So I'm painting the walls white, which means that paper has to come down, which means it's going to take me a few days to do that.  

Even knowing that, I am so excited to finish this renovation.  Once that is done, I need to paint our bedroom white, and the living room I am wanting to paint a sage color.  It is currently mint green, and it's not a color I ever would have put on my walls, but it was already here when we bought the house and I've slowly gotten used to it, but it needs to go.

If you have recommendations on the best wall color, or know of a pretty sage, please let me know down below.

Anyway, just a quick update, even more for myself to register it here, but, I am now down 8 pounds and so happy.  I've been working out every day for 15 to 20 minutes.  I will eventually up that to at least 30 minutes, but slowly because my sciatica won't allow me to go all in right now.  Either way, the new way of eating and the workouts are showing results and I'm beyond thrilled with that.

Now, I am going to get off here.  I have a Walmart pickup between 10 and 11, but before that I need to go to the commissary on base to pickup the meats, as I find them to be much cheaper than anywhere else.

Then of course, come back home and put it all away.  The part I most dislike about grocery day, do you agree?

I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday, and I'll see you back here either tomorrow or Saturday.

{ Working together }

Well hello everyone, it's been a few days since I've sat down and composed a proper post for you.  Truth is, I'm sick with a nasty cold and it's left me quite exhausted and devoid of any energy.

Even Dayquil is making me sleepy and knocking me out.  The past 3 days, by 6pm I am passed out for the night, sleep all night long, and wake up feeling like I could sleep another 3 days.  It's been interesting to say the least.

I am not one to sit around, and I usually feel guilty if I'm in one spot longer than 5 minutes, but I have not been able to do anything or go anywhere.  I'm only really starting to feel slightly better, tonight.

I do hope that by Friday morning I am 100%, because I have grocery shopping to do, errands to run and a daughter to take to work and pick up as well.

God willing, this crud will be gone.

I've been able to still help my husband, a little here and there.  Not as much as I want or I will, once I'm over this cold, but enough to not feel completely helpless.   I do have an amazing husband, I must say.

We have moved on to our second project since buying the house, and this one is an outside project in anticipation for Spring and Summer.

My dream has always been to take the back fenced in yard, and turn it into a series of areas with specific uses.  A covered patio for entertaining family, grilling and just relaxing.  Nothing fancy, I don't want these super expensive mansion looking patios, I want a plain cement ground, short cement walls, a very simple roof and hanging flower baskets all around.

A chicken coop in one corner.  A greenhouse with a surrounding vegetable patch, brick walkways, tons of fruit trees and gorgeous bushes and flowers sprinkled throughout the yard.

It all sounds like a lot of work, but when it comes down to it, it IS our forever home and we are able to finally start working on these dreams, little by little.

The first thing going up is my greenhouse.  Curt has already begun building it in the garage, and I have helped him in every single step of the way.  I am not a woman that shies away from work, whatever it is, and I do really enjoy working together with my husband.

We love being in the yard, digging, planting, building.  I find that if you actually work as a team, everything that you create takes on a new meaning.

It's our home, our dreams, and we want to build on it together, every brick, every nail, every brush of paint.  

While I've been sick the past few days, Curt has been working on laying a foundation for the greenhouse.  We've put down some bricks which will be set in place later, after the ground has been leveled and the brick pavers spread out to our liking.

They will make a walk way from our patio to the greenhouse.  A wall will be built around the greenhouse (eventually) to close in my vegetable patch which will run along the side of the greenhouse and the whole area behind it.

It's hard to describe and as you look at the photos above, it will make no sense whatsoever.  I see it all in my mind, but unfortunately you will only be able to understand it fully, once it's all built and working and I can show you.

There are numerous projects inside the house that will be addressed too, and many more outside too, after all, we are now owners of 3 acres of land that we intend to fully invest in and use up. 

I wish I could snap my fingers and it all be done, but alas that is not how things work.

Just can not wait to see the greenhouse working, my seedlings growing, my vegetable patch brimming with all sorts of yummy goodness and gorgeous colorful plants all over. 

For now though, I need to get back into bed, take more medicine and pray that this cold leaves me as soon as possible.