August 2011

Seems as though this summer just whizzed by so quickly. I have been in a funk for several months. Just have not felt very good at all. Have been so tired. I get out of bed, and usually just lay on the couch and doze until 10. I try and push myself to keep up with the house work, but that seems to be as far as I get. I have been to the Dr. several times, getting all sorts of tests done. Did get changes in allergy meds, since I was having some breathing issues. We are now trying to figure out why my hemoglobin is so low, and my liver and spleen are both enlarged. Had and endoscopy yesterday, just waiting for some biopsies. Dr. says everything looked fine, but they did have to dilate my esophagus. Hopefully things will improve soon, sick and tired of being sick and tired.

One thing that I have done a lot of this summer is spend my Saturdays with my daughter Joan. We have done a lot of garage sales, antique stores and just general junking. We have had a blast, and have done some more changes to the house.


In 2005 my granddaughter Katisha was staying with us so we painted the one bedroom pink. It has since been referred to as the Pepto room. It was time for a change. Don and I found the wonderful little desk at an antique store down in Valley Junction in Des Moines. A week later, found the little stool to go with it, at a different store in V.J. Don did extend the shelves to the ceiling, on the right. We tore out the carpet, and am going to leave the hardwood floors.

We painted the walls a darker green, Valspar Green Peppercorn. It turned out so gorgeous. It is perfect. This jewelry hanger, I made from an old window that we replaced a few years ago. I took all the glass out, put screen in the bottom panes, to attach pierced earrings on. I attached a small curtain rod, across the top panes for bracelets, and the bottom has 4 decorative knobs, from Hobby Lobby attached, for necklaces. It has a crackle finish to it. I first painted it red, then crackle medium, then white.


I made these two canvases for the Pepto room. Just decoupaged and added some of this and that.

Don also built shelves on the left side of the window. They just so happen to fit some of my suitcase collection. I numbered the suitcases, and I made tags so that I know what is in each one. Yup, do use them for storage and I love them. The photo on the right is the shelves Don extended. I also have a few more luggage pieces, and lots of my scrapbooks stored here. I am going to get some pipe and fix the ladder like a library ladder that slides from side to side. Will also be able to attach it to the shelves on the left side.

I was lucky enough to be looking at my emails one day when an ad for two old trunks were listed for FREE. I busted my backside and was lucky enough to get them both. The people had been moving them all over the country for years and decided they didn't want them anymore. This one made it's way to Russia in the 1920's. I love it. The violin, and case I got for $2.00 at a garage sale. The dress top was from my husband's grandmother's wedding dress. I have acquired the other items from thrift stores, junk stores, garage sales, etc.
This to die for mirror I got at Junk Jubilee. I totally love it so much. I was going to put it above the bed, but couldn't do it, so put it above the window. Have I said I love it?

This is the wall between the closet and the door to the room. The two cup and saucer holders were purchased at different times. And to be honest, when I purchased the first one, had no clue what it was for, lol. The cups and saucers were Don's grandmother's. The shelf I purchased at a Farmer's Market in MN. a couple years ago. The other things have been purchased here and there, thru the years. On the right is the headboard that Don and I made with our old fence boards. The red items were all purchased for a total of $6. I think they are so awesome. Love the patina.


I made these quilt wall hangings. No, I don't quilt. These are pieces of quilts that I cut up, and added some other things, buttons, lace, postcards and flowers. Love the look.

This is what you see when you walk in the door. Just want to lie down and rest.

Well that is the basics of my former Pepto room. I just love the way it has all turned out. Next you will see the "Red" room. Have made some changes there also. So til next time......

Way Behind, I know............

Last year as I was doing all the work in my basement, I also did our bedroom. When we bought the house, it only had two bedrooms upstairs, and a huge family room, with a fireplace downstairs. We put the girls in the bedrooms upstairs and we took the downstairs room for our bedroom. We had painted it before, but never put a whole lot of work into it.
When Katisha and Tyree were little we did put up the fence, and the three of us stenciled the flowers, insects and tree on the wall. Everyone wanted me to leave it all there, but I wanted to change the whole theme of the room. This is what I came up with.For the headboard, I used two old gates that were in our back yard when we moved in. I love the color, it is so soothing. The red baby buggy is a gift from Don, many years ago. I had spotted it in the Salvation Army window, and told him that I wanted it so bad. He surprised me with it for Christmas that year. The window with the 6 pictures is from our house, when we closed in the bathroom. The frame with 5 slots was my grandmother's. Just don't know if I want to put anything in it.

The Spinning wheel was brought over from Sweden by my great grandfather in the late 1800's. Most of the stuff was either hand me downs from family, or garage sale finds. This fireplace was the reason I loved this house and had to have it. The red jacket on the left was Don's when he was a little boy, back in the 40's. Wish I could find a picture of him wearing it. The yellow quilt was made for him by his Grandmother Perry, in 1957. It is dated on the back. The blue one was made for me by my grandmother Thomas, in the late 70's. The dresser was made by Don's great grandfather in 1876, and signed. The drop leaf table was my grandparents, the Thomas'. Figure they got it in the 1930s, when they got married. I love having these pieces that give us fond memories, of those that loved us.

We are all doing pretty well. Kids are growing like crazy, Teddy is now a teenager, and Grace will be 12 in July. Will try and post again, soon.

Hello Spring.........

Are you out there??? I haven't complained about this winter at all. I have actually enjoyed it, especially after last year. I am getting very anxious for some sunshine and spring. Haleigh did inform me that the rain today means it is SPRING, so I'm going with her on this. Although when I took Chester out a while ago, there was snow, not rain. Hey, it's IOWA.

Joan has had a complete recovery from her surgery in Dec. Blood work has been fine. Then, a month ago her Meniere's Disease flared up. While suffering from this she can't drive. She went back to the doctor and is now on more medication for it, and thought it was getting better, but then she got the bug that the entire family has had, except Katisha. We have run fevers, severe sinus headaches, coughing sore throat, just feeling crappy. We are all recovering, and Joan says that hopefully she can drive in the next few days.

So just trying to keep up with everything going on, and running constantly everywhere, not much else going on. Just wanted to update.

Doing great

Figure I should at least post an update on how we are doing. Joan is healing well. She said yesterday that she felt great, still tired, but more like her old self. I can't explain what this ordeal has done for our family. There are so many things that just don't matter anymore. As long as we are all alive and healthy, nothing else matters.

We have all looked at each other and realized just how important we all are. We have all learned that our family is as strong as any power out there. Others may try and stomp us down, but united, nothing can come between us.

This past year and a half, have really put a huge strain on all of us. Katisha moving to MN., losing Don's mother, Katisha moving back, losing my dad, Tyree graduating, my mom disowning me, and then almost losing our daughter seems like a horrible nightmare, mixed with a couple of good dreams.

The thing is, we are so very thankful for so many things. Katisha has grown into one of the most beautiful 20 year old women I have ever seen. She has seemed to have gotten over that hump, and is figuring her life out, and owning it. My mother-in-law lived 98years, with a very clear mind and the most beautiful skin in the world. Yes, I miss my dad, my hero since I was 9 years old, but I thank God for every moment I had him, and also thank God that we had the last 16 years, to really get to know each other, and love each other.

Yes we got Tyree all graduated, lol. He hasn't figured out what he wants to do with his life yet, but how many 18 year olds do know what they want to do the rest of their lives?

As for mom disowning me, well, what can I say? There is nothing to say...........

Almost losing Joan, that has changed us all forever. I know that what I want in life is to surround myself with the truth. I refuse to allow people to treat me with anything but respect, which is the only way I try and treat everyone. I refuse to lie and put other people ahead of myself, my wonderful husband, my gorgeous daughters and my amazing grandchildren. I only have to answer to my God, and myself.

I will never be able to say THANK YOU enough for all the support, love and prayers we have been shown the past 18 months. They have let us know that we are loved by many, and no one can ask for more.

My gorgeous daughter

The first time my Grandma Thompson saw Joan, her comment was, "she had to have been born with a smile", and she seriously was. I wasn't draped, the doctor caught her, held her up, she looked at me and grinned. I swear! She and I were so close it was almost freaky. Don't get me wrong, I love my other daughter, Misty just as much.

Joan has always said that she loves her dad and I the last number times the last number, and she does. Joan was a very healthy baby, but around age 5 she started having some major issues. First was her kidneys. She had severe infection, and at the age of 7 we came very close to losing her because of it. Our pediatrician told us he had never seen a child come in the hospital so sick and survive. We fought this until she was 11, and then she only had a couple episodes after that.

When she was in high school she started getting so sick off and on, with some very serious illnesses. Lots of tests, a surgery, and hospitalizations, but never anything definite. It was so frustrating, and very scary. I still think that she had contracted Lyme disease.



Joan is the single mom to three beautiful, wonderful children. She has never had a bit of support from any of the "dads". She works like crazy. She is the best friend anyone could ever ask for and maintains her friendships forever. She is an aunt to two terrific kids, but I know they both think of her as their second mom. She is there for everyone, 100% of the time. She has a homeless man in town that she always gives her cans and bottles to, and has given him clothes after our flood this past summer. She has always had more kids than her own at her home. We always say that she attracts anyone down on their luck, and would literally give them the shirt off her own back.

6 years ago she had some huge problems with her optic nerve. At first they thought it was a tumor, and after a battery of tests, and lengthy hospital stay, she got better. Again, no definitive answers, but around that time, in doing lots of tests, they did discover that she had a hemangioma on her liver. The past year it has really been bothering her a lot, with pain. She had a liver biopsy, and was sent to various doctors. The thing ended up being 7", basically the size of her liver, and was also attached to her gall bladder. She was finally sent to a surgeon that specializes in the liver. We knew there was a great risk in having the surgery, but the risk of not having it was just as great.



She had her surgery this past Tuesday. It lasted 2 hours and 40 minutes. Three hours later, we got to see her, and it was horrible. She was whiter that I have ever seen her. Her blood pressure was extremely low, and her pulse was very high. She had little to no urine output, even though they were pumping in tons of fluids. She got to where she couldn't breath and was rushed to surgery again. She was back in for 2 hours and 50 minutes. When we finally got to see her she did look better. We were later informed that they were minutes away from losing her. She was hemorrhaging and her kidneys had totally shut down. Never in our lives have we ever been so very frightened. I just kept thinking of all the people I know that have buried their children, and knew that we could be facing that possibility. She had been given 13 units of blood and blood products in just a matter of hours.




She is still in the hospital, and will be for a while longer. She is still receiving blood and blood products trying to get her hemoglobin up. She is still improving, but certainly not out of the woods.

This experience has made all of us different people. We have all realized how fragile life is, and how much we better show our love to each other. I have always known it, but this was a huge eye opener for all of us, and we do know how much we do love each other.

I hope and pray that we have a much better 2011, because this year has really been quite the strain on all of us.

We are all looking forward to a joyous Christmas, and will certainly celebrate the true reason for the holiday.

Keeping busy

Since I got the three rooms done that really needed it, I will post the bedroom soon, I promise, I have gotten into lots of other things to occupy my time. In the purging process, and going thru some things at my mom's, I have run across lots of treasures, and want to display them. I have also gotten into Wendy Vecchi and Tim Holtz not just for scrapbooking and card making, but also a little decorating. What I have discovered, in my purging, I have a ton of vintage items, and some antiques, but wanted more, lol. Goodwill, Salvation Army, Junk stores and garage sales are great for finding some very cool things. I am working really hard to not buy anything, unless I have a plan for. I will be posting some of these things and what I have done with them. One of my very favorite finds was at a garage sale, daughter Joan actually found it, and held it up to see if I wanted it. $2 for a violin, in it's case, along with two bows. YES!!!!!!




Some of these things are items I have already had, the glasses and case came from Don's family, as did some of the jewelry and trims. The rest are purchases from various places.


The Lyre that is holding the violin was a Goodwill find. It is so heavy, and cost a total of $2. The ceramic piece, another cheap find. And old books and sheet music, cheap, and can always use them for lots of different things.

What isn't to love about these cool Funeral Home fans. Got them at one of my favorite places, JB Knacker.

Also got these buttery yellow kid gloves at Brenda's store. Perfect to finish off this table top.



This little vignette is in one of our spare bedrooms, generally referred to as the "Pepto Room" Because of the bright Pepto color it is painted. I was going to paint it a buttery yellow, like the gloves, but decided to keep it pink, and soften it a bit with some new, or repurposed pieces. Will post more later. Thanks for looking!

The cowboy room

I have been complaining for some time about feeling like our basement area looked and felt like some dungeon. So once I decided that I was going to paint and purge, I actually started with our former garage. When we purchased the house it was a garage, but a year later we had a garage built, so the former garage became my husband's weight room/junk area. At one point we did paint part of it, but nothing that would remotely be looked upon as decorating.



































I knew I wanted a turquoise room, and thought this would be the perfect space. I started out painting the pine paneled wall a beautiful shade of red, then slapped on a bit of the turquoise. It just didn't seem right. The grandkids didn't like the two colors together. So I put the turquoise in the laundry room. Back to pick out a new color, and came up with a carmel color. The ceiling I did go with a pale turquoise. Somehow, went with the cowboy theme. I know it is because of my maternal grandfather, and having lots of items I wanted display.




The oak buffet was my great grandparents. They were married in 1900, so assume it was acquired shortly after that. The gorgeous crocks were from my grandparents.















Between what I had, garage sales, junk stores and Hobby Lobby, this is the end result. We still need to do some work with the ceiling area, where the water pipes are, and we want to put a floor in. Oh we do want to get rid of the old upright piano.


I have had this printer's drawer for many years, just never did anything with it. Pretty proud of how it turned out. The blue padded rocker below was my grandpa's. His thumbnails wore impressions in both arms. Always think of him when I see it. The other chair was a Goodwill find, for $39.

















The pillow was a piece of linen like fabric, that I sewed up and painted with the &. Painted the stairs and put the treads on.



The little blue outfit was worn by my great grandfather, around the mid to late 1800's, in Sweden.






The bench to the right was a Hobby Lobby purchase a few years ago, for $20, on clearance. They now have it for $149. I sewed the cushion for $2, fabric also from H.L. on clearance.


When I put up the dartboard, the wall was instantly ruined from the darts. I covered it
with corkboard
sheeting, but it looked really bad, so covered with fabric, and stenciled on the wording.

The mice will probably leave after Halloween, lol.






Thanks for looking. A little more tweaking to the room, but is going to be our new entry way, and a fun little family area.