I was chatting over the phone with blogger Laura Beth a few weeks ago and she said, "I'd love to se you house. Your always finding cool thrifty treasures.I'd love to see what you do with all of them and how your home is decorated." Well Laura, I am almost to embarrased to show you my home. Almost.
It's no accident that my thrifty post are close ups rather than with big views of my home. I have a house full of children and dogs, so you can understand that my home is well lived in. Very well lived in. But, I am also trying to live my the Erma Bomeck poem more these days and understand the real important things in life. Like inviting friends over more often. Real Important things do not include laundry, though try to explain that to an eleven year old girl who has to wear "These" jeans tomorrow. But I digress.
You're all friends to me! So, I welcome you in.....koolaid stains and all. Come on in.....It's no accident that my thrifty post are close ups rather than with big views of my home. I have a house full of children and dogs, so you can understand that my home is well lived in. Very well lived in. But, I am also trying to live my the Erma Bomeck poem more these days and understand the real important things in life. Like inviting friends over more often. Real Important things do not include laundry, though try to explain that to an eleven year old girl who has to wear "These" jeans tomorrow. But I digress.
(Click photos to enlarge)
Lets begin at the entryway of my home.
I shared that I painted much this past summer. That included the entry and hallway. My hallway is filled with much loved mementos and treasures, pictures and mirrors. Many of my wall treasures have been passed down, while others are thrifty treasures picked up at yard sales and the thrift store. In this photo I added in text what was on my wall and its significance. You can click on the photo to see it.
I love to mix mirrors in with my photographs. This is a steep and narrow hallway so I incorporated the mirrors to help reflect some additional light in here. I cannot stand a dark house. I like light!
I failed to show you in main entry my chandelier. See it there at the far left top of the photo? It's all glass crystals. It was a house warming gift to Big Daddy and I when we moved into this home 10 years ago. It was from Big Daddy's paternal grandparents and was a twenty fifth anniversary gift to them. They have now been married over seventy years and are still very much in love. I gotta hand it to them. Love aint always shiny like glass chandeliers. But like glass chandeliers, if you are certain to give time and polish to it, it will sparkle just much as it did so long ago.
Here is the view looking up the hallway...
This is the same view with text of some more mementos on that wall (again if you care to read you can click to enlarge).
This letter "B" was a Hobby Lobby find, very cheap. It was gold, but I added some white paint to age it a bit. I like things that are or appear to have some history to it. To me, it is those things that have a story behind it.
This framed needlepoint came from the thrift store. It was actually in a different frame, but I took it out and put it in this one, which was gold. I spray painted it back and while it was still wet took a paper towel and lightly wiped off the relief areas. I love that needlepoint print. It was $1.98 find but it reminds me of how priceless good friendships are. And when I look at it, I think of my special friendships. I am richly blessed and I honestly thank God each and everyday for my special people-and this includes you too!
This is my fathers cradle roll certificate that he received when he, I assumed, moved into an older aged Sunday school class. I blurred out his name. I just love this certificate! I think it's so sweet!
I found this family tree poster many, many years ago, I dont even remember where, its been that long. It's been in a closet and needed some new family members names added. I recently found it and added the new baby names. The frame used to have a Kirklands print inside, but I took it out and added the family tree. I like it much better. I do think I will treat the frame as I did in the last photo, with some black paint.
Remember that Sheet Music book from my Thrifty Thursday post a few weeks back?
Here we are at the landing at the top of the stairs. My mother purchased the mirror for my daughter when Sister Sledge was much younger. My mom thought it looked like a "Mirror Mirror on the wall" mirror. It is now, obviously in the hallway and I like it in this spot.
The "B", was a thrift store find last week for 79 cents, it still needs some painted love and attention...in due time. The lamp came from Kirklands several years ago. I have been wanting to change out the shades and actually paint the base white, but haven't gotten to it yet. My cousin Beckie gave me this gate legged drop leaf table. I just adore it!!! I think it's just precious. It's very special to me because she gave it to me and seems happy in it's current spot. Thank you, Beckie, I love you!
On the table is a framed 50th anniversary celebration invitation of my late great grandparents, Its dated 1953.
And finally on the table, yet some more family photographs and a small globe inheirited from my late Aunt Merle. (J Smooth collects globes and LOVES geography and world history. He likes to play with this globe)
And there you have it, a tour of my hallway. I will continue to show you more of my home, if you promise to step over the piles of laundry and overlook the love notes and grocery list written in dust atop the furniture.
Thanks for dropping by Bloggeritaville today. I genuinely appreciate you taking time from your busy day to stop by Bloggeritaville. It's always a treat when you do! Come back soon! Won't you?
The following was written by the late Erma Bombeck after she found out she had a fatal disease.
If I had my life to live over, I would have talked less and listened more.
I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded.
I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.
I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.
I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.
I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.
I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains.
I would have cried and laughed less while watching television - and more while watching life.
I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.
I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.
I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.
Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.
When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner."
There would have been more "I love you's".. More "I'm sorrys" ...
But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute... look at it and really see it ... live it...and never give it back.
Erma Bombeck
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