Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Princess Diana-Grace and Elegance

Today marks the 14th year of Princess Diana's tragic death. I remember the first time I saw Princess Diana on the news. She was just so beautiful and elegant.

We all remember the royal wedding. I watched the whole wedding on TV. Her dress was just beautiful! Her train on the dress went on for what seemed miles. She always had a smile on her face.

What a wonderful humanitarian she was also. Always visiting Africa, holding and cuddling children with AIDS, etc., etc.

She truly loved her children. William and Harry were the lights of her life! I love this black and white photo of them together!


I am sure if she was alive today, she would love that William married Kate! She would have been very proud of him.

I remember thinking as Diana grew older she grew more beautiful every year. Here are some pictures I found on google.com that shows you what I mean:

I love this black and white picture of her!

This white gown really was made specifically for her-she was stunning in it!

Black Velvet always looked fabulous on Princess Diana. She always reminded me of such a graceful swan in all the long gowns and dress she wore. Just beautiful!

Diana was just so stunning in this sexy, black dress.

The day Princess Diana passed away a light went out some where in the world! God Bless her!

Note: All the photos in this post were on google.com.

Monday, August 29, 2011

Craft Room Dreams

I have always dreamed of having a beautiful craft room to create the jewelry, sewing projects, stained glass and some stamped items. I always thought having a window with good light would be a good thing. A large table to layout some items and for cutting out the sewing/quilting projects. I definitely need a place to hold all my ribbon and thread. I would love to have a cotton/gauzy white curtain hanging from the window. I would put some of my favorite pictures and watercolors in there. I would also have to have music in there, can't create without music! I went to google for some photos of craft rooms and here is what I found:

I love the craftsman style of decorating and this reminded me of that. Aren't those cabinets gorgeous!

This island with all the storage underneath is great!

This craft room has everything in it!! You wouldn't ever want to leave.

I love the color of this room! Very creation inspiring-atleast for me it would be!

I have always loved white and wood together. This room is wonderful!

This room is layed out so well! Everything is so organized! It would put my craft room to shame right now. I've got things strewn all over my work surface!!

This shelving is something I would love some day!

The craft room I have right now is fine. I have a 6' table with all my jewelry items on it and the house computer. It is convenient to have the computer right there in case I need to order some supplies, view a tutorial or look up some ideas. The room is on the darker side even though there is a really large window in there. Oh well it is so much fun to dream about the perfect craft room and some day I will have one!!

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Beautiful Coastal Room Retreats

I was looking at an old Coastal Living magazine from October of 2008 and I instantly remembered why I kept this issue. There were some really great rooms in that issue. Here are a few I thought I would share with you:

I love the style of this Living Room! I have a couch and one and half chair that is similar to the one in the picture and I love it. The french doors out to a lovely porch would be my idea of the perfect house. The throw on the ottoman looks like something I would love to cozy up with on a chilly autumn day with a cup of tea and a good book!

This sitting room is just great with the beautiful stone fireplace. I could sit here for hours!


Here is another beautiful living room. I love the post and beam construction in this house. What a lovely view the owner of this house has. I love how the owner put a palm leaf in a vase on the table-great idea.

As many of you know I make jewelry in my spare time. I would love to have a place like this craft room to create it in! Oh the things I would make in that lovely room!!

I have always loved fireplaces. Even though it is a little hard to see, the detail about the fireplace opening is really intricate and adds some beautiful charm to it.

This outdoor setting is ideal I think. You have a great view of the water from this vantage point. What a great place to entertain! At night it must be really lovely out there with some candles glowing!

Friday, August 26, 2011

Hurricane Irene 2011

The picture above was of Hurricane Irene 19 hours ago. I really hope she goes out to sea. The Carolina coast is so beautiful and this Hurricane could really do alot of damage if she hits as predicted. Everyone is scrambling at the coast to board up their windows, evacuate, buy hurricane supplies, etc. Mother Nature can be so beautiful but when things like hurricanes, earthquake, etc. come it shows just how strong she can be!

My prayers go out to everyone who is in her path! Be safe everyone and take every precaution to be safe!

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Mason Jar Lanterns


I just saw this on the hgtv website and thought I would share. I am going to make some of these lanterns for my backyard. All you do is wrap 18 gauge wire around the top of the jar and leave enough to make a hanger, sprinkle some sea glass, marbles, small pebbles, etc. in the jar and place an LED flameless candle in there and presto you have a lantern!!

John and I will be sitting on the patio in the evening now that the temps are going down and I can't wait to see these little lanterns flickering away!! ENJOY!!

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Tea cups

The air is beginning to change more towards Fall. I used to have an iced tea at night and now I am craving hot tea. I don't drink coffee, but I love, love tea! I started thinking about tea cups. I found some really lovely tea cups online on google, which I will share with you.

I have a Belleek china collection. While I don't have any Belleek tea cups right now, I would love to add some-maybe some day!

I collect green depression glass. This is a very good example of a green depression glass tea cup. Just gorgeous!

This tea cup set is beautiful. I love pink/red tea cups.

This yellow tea cup and saucer reminds me of a daffodil. Really wonderful.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Pictures of Owen with my Family

I promised I would post some pictures of my family with Owen and here they are:

My sister, Sandy holding Owen. Owen just loved Sandy. He just kept staring at her and smiling.

Owen and my Dad.

My Mom holding Owen.

My niece, Devyn loved her time holding Owen. I guess he loves those NJ girls!!

My other niece, Shawna loved holding Owen too.

Mommy and baby. I love this picture of the two of them!

Papa John holding our grandson.

What a cutie pie! I love this picture.

Owen fell asleep while my sister was holding him. He loves to sleep with his hands on either side of his head. We all got a good laugh out of this picture!

I hope I'm not boring everyone with pictures of my grandson. As you can tell I'm a really proud Nana!!

NJ Family had great visit with Owen!!

Thursday night everyone from NJ arrived for their visit with us and Owen. My Mom, Dad, little sister, Sandy, my sister's daughters Devyn and Shawna all arrive around 7:30. Jenny brought Owen down on Friday morning for a few hour visit. We all had a great time taking turns holding him! I will post some pictures tonight when I get home from work for your to see how Owen loved everyone!

I really miss my sister, Sandy. We had a great time. We stayed up almost every night until 1 in the morning talking!! Hopefully her family and my family can all get together really soon!

John and I finished the weekend out with a picnic at some friends that live on Lake Norman. We took a really great boat ride on the Lake and just plain relaxed!

Great weekend all around!!

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Visitors from NJ

I won't be online very much until Sunday. My parents, my younger sister, Sandy and 2 (Devyn and Shawna) of my 3 nieces will be coming from NJ to visit with us tomorrow night through to Sunday morning. They all want to see Baby Owen!! They are going to visit with us too-LOL!! Owen is my Mom and Dad's first great-grandchild. My sister has lots of nieces and nephews on her husband's side of the family and Owen will be her first great nephew! I think there will be alot of visiting, eating, playing with Owen and shopping. I will take lots of pictures and share after everyone has gone home. I hope y'all have a great weekend!!

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Folly Beach by Dorothea Benton Frank


I just finished reading a Dorothea Benton Frank book called Folly Beach. I love books set in the South at the Beach.

Here is what amazon.com had to say about Folly Beach:

Home is the place that knows us best…

A woman returns to the past to find her future in this enchanting new tale of loss, acceptance, family, and love.

With its sandy beaches and bohemian charms, surfers and suits alike consider Folly Beach to be one of South Carolina's most historic and romantic spots. It is also the land of Cate Cooper's childhood, the place where all the ghosts of her past roam freely. Cate never thought she'd wind up in this tiny cottage named the Porgy House on this breathtakingly lovely strip of coast. But circumstances have changed, thanks to her newly dead husband whose financial—and emotional—bull and mendacity have left Cate homeless, broke, and unmoored.

Yet Folly Beach holds more than just memories. Once upon a time another woman found unexpected bliss and comfort within its welcoming arms. An artist, writer, and colleague of the revered George Gershwin, Dorothy Heyward enjoyed the greatest moments of her life at Folly with her beloved husband, DuBose. And though the Heywards are long gone, their passion and spirit lingers in every mango sunset and gentle ocean breeze.

And for Cate, Folly, too, holds the promise of unexpected fulfillment when she is forced to look at her life and the zany characters that are her family anew. To her surprise, she will discover that you can go home again. Folly Beach doesn't just hold the girl she once was… it also holds the promise of the woman she's always wanted—and is finally ready—to become.

Folly Beach, filled with the irresistible charm, saucy wit, and lush atmosphere that have won her the devotion of fans and propelled her books to bestsellerdom, is vintage Dorothea Benton Frank.

My review: I enjoyed this book and all the references to George Gershwin, Porgy and Bess, etc. At first I had a hard time getting used to every other chapter being an Act in a Play but as I read the book I got used to that style of writing. It also explained alot of the history for the present day people and what they were experiencing. I really liked the main character, Cate. She had alot to deal with and she did! Her aunt and her special friend, were characters too. The only disappointing part of the book for me was the ending. I felt like as the tale unfolded there should have been more substance to the ending. Overall the book was a good summer/beach read.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Candles at Night and the Good as new Gazebo Birdfeeder

Friday night the humid weather seemed to break a little and there was a lovely breeze. John and I lit all the candles and the lantern on the patio. The moon was coming out behind the clouds but my camera won't take really good night pictures so I don't have any picture of that. Here are some candle pictures:

Here are all the candles shining brightly on the picnic table. The picture isn't clear, but I still thought it looked beautiful.

Candle burning brightly in the lantern.

Closeup of candle in the lantern.

Almost all day yesterday John and I worked on the birdfeeder my Dad made for us. The squirrels had really done a number of it. The gnawed away at the railings of the fence, the supports for the glass that holds the seed in and the edge around the base of the feeder. I used wood putty like molding clay and recreated railings and all the other parts that were gnawed away. I think it came out pretty good if I do say so myself! After church today I put the last coat of paint on it. Here is the finished product!

Gazebo Birdfeeder all fixed up!

Upclose view of the birdfeeder.

We can see the birdfeeder really good from the patio. I think when my Dad comes for his visit this week, he won't be able to tell the squirrels had a hay day with it.

I'm really glad I could repair this feeder, because as some of you know my Dad has Lupus and he was not in remission (like he is now) when he made the birdfeeder for us. He was quite ill and he said making this feeder for us was therapy for him. I will always treasure it and the squirrels better just leave it alone!!


Friday, August 12, 2011

Let the Weekend Begin!

Starting on Wednesday it felt like Friday to me. I am so glad Friday has finally arrived. This week has been really hectic at work (nothing new there), John and I celebrated our anniversary yesterday, I found out my parents, younger sister and 2 nieces will be visiting next Thurs. through to Sunday, etc., etc. I am SO ready for the weekend to begin.

John and I were going to plan on going somewhere on Saturday, but you know what we have decided to just stay home and take care of some things around the house. We have a bird feeder project that we really need to take care of too. My father made a beautiful gazebo bird feeder and the squirrels one day went crazy on it and chewed on it. I guess they weren't happy that we didn't fill the feeder up. Needless to say, I was heart broken! I really looked at the feeder and I have decided to take on the challenge of repairing it! Wood putty will be my friend this weekend-LOL!! My Dad painstakingly glued on over 388 little wooden shingles for the roof and thank goodness they didn't eat that. Unfortunately the gnawed into the wooden support pieces that hold the pieces of glass (where the seed is housed)in place. I want to have it all put back in a presentable shape before my Dad arrives on Thursday. It will not look as good as new but atleast it will have some resemblance of its former self when I get done with it!

Sunday I am going to see The Help with some of my knitting girls! We decided we needed to see it as a group. I think there will be atleast 10 of us going! Can't wait.

So what is everyone doing this weekend? What ever you are doing have a wonderful one!! HUGS!!

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

August 11th my 32nd Wedding Anniversary


John and I were married on August 11, 1979. It was a very warm August day. Our wedding was at 11:00 a.m. I wore a very simple wedding dress I bought in Morristown, NJ. John and I paid for our own wedding, so we could only afford to have 80 people. My sister and I rode in a horse and carriage to the church. The sun was shining and everyone on the street was waving and wishing me well! When I got to the church John and his best man and groomsmen were all waiting for my girls and I to arrive. Right after the ceremony the wind picked up and it looked like it was going to rain. We went to a local train station and had some pictures taken. While we were riding in the horse and carriage to the reception hall a few raindrops came down. As soon as we walked in the reception hall the skies opened up and my new mother-in-law said it is Irish Good Luck to have rain on the wedding day. I guess Mom McDermitt was right because here we are 32 years later!

Here we are! Don't you just love John's baby blue tux!! Gotta love the 70's. Needless to say he and his groomsmen picked it out! What happened to the gray Morning Suit I asked!

John and I are going to have dinner out and then just relaxing with each other.

Cheers sweetie!! Happy Anniversary to the one I love!

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

My Love of the Beach and Beach Cottages

For some reason I have always loved beach cottages. Whether the cottages are in Key West, California, New England or right here in North Carolina I have had an attraction to them. I also love the beach chic way of decorating-nothing fancy just comfortable and relaxing living. I think because alot of white, blues and a splash of color here and there are used in decorating these cottages the appeal is there for me. Going to the Beach is always a restful time for me. You can take long walks on the beach, hunt for shells or sea glass, just watch the waves roll in and basically just chill out and let the world go by. John and I were hoping to go for our anniversary this year (which is Thursday) but that isn't in the cards for this anniversary. Hopefully sometime in September we might be able to plan a long weekend.

I went online and found some wonderful beach cottages and pictures I thought I would share with you.

Isn't this pink cottage lovely! I can just imagine staying here!

Key West has the most gorgeous sunsets and sunrises. Sitting on this porch watching the day go by and seeing some of the sunsets would be wonderful!

I saw this picture in Coastal Living Magazine and I could see myself almost living on those swinging beds just watching the waves or reading.

This dining room was featured in Coastal Living magazine. I love everything about this room. Can you imagine having your breakfast there just looking out at the ocean!

At the end of the day at the beach I could see myself settling into this bed to read and then drifting off to a nice peaceful sleep. I love the textures used in this room-linen, wool, and cotton.


Nantucket has really awesome cottages too. The roses growing on this one is typical to the area. Just gorgeous!

I happened across this picture on google and fell in love with it! The coral pink and limey green picket fence goes so well with the twig basket and geraniums-just beautiful!

I could watch the waves rolling in at this Nantucket beach all day!


I love to collect shells, so that would be a large part of one of my days at the beach. Sea glass is another thing I love collecting.

Lastly you can't forget how beautiful the beaches in NC are!! The Carolina blue skies and the beautiful white sand just amazing.

Now that I've done this post I really want to go to the Beach even more. I really hope John and I can plan a long weekend in September. I think we will really have to make this happen!