WE ARE BLESSED...

Fall has finally arrived.

  It seemed a little slower this year but now,

 the colors are showing and they are beautiful.  

We are in love. 

I had no idea that I would be sending out this post 

to you as soon as I am.  

 The Captain and I were sitting around 

(no pun intended)

trying to come up with another scheme

 for the sitting room. 

 I have mentioned before that I have never been happy with the way it turns out 

whenever we attempt to change it.  

We have just never been left

 with that "contented feeling" after each process. 

We came up with a few ideas,

 but the one we really wanted to do, 

we knew we wouldn't be able to accomplish alone. 

 It seems like such an imposition to ask for help 

for anything that we could always do, ourselves, 

in the past, 

but the kids happened to call, asking if we wanted some company over the weekend. 

 The job got done more quickly 

than we ever imagined.  

I can't say enough about

 how loving and caring our kids are. 

 They are always so helpful and willing

 to fight the traffic

 to come help with anything we need done. 

 We are so thankful and truly blessed.  

We love you guys. Thanks so much

The large settle bench 

that we had in the dining room, 

we put under the window in the sitting room...

...we have this smaller bench 

outside on the side porch.  

It has been sitting there for over 30 years

 and each year it gets a little more beat up. 

 We have wanted to move it for some time now

 and this change gave us the chance to do so.  

It will replace the larger one in the dining room. 

 Pictures of that will come later

as there is some work to do on it.

This pretty little tavern table was gifted to us 

about 50 years ago by friends. 

 Somehow it came apart during the move here

 and has sat in our garage for all that time.  

The Captain glued and screwed it back together, 

painted the apron and the legs black 

and refinished the top. 

 It is like seeing an old friend again.  

It is flanked by the two blue armchairs 

that we hope to change sometime in the future. 

They all sit in front of the settle bench

 along with the beautiful flowers the kids sent to us for our 65th wedding anniversary.

I opened the doors on the chimney cupboard again 

and displayed the crocks. 

 The little dress and apron, hanging on the door,

 is an Amish creation 

that I bought many years ago 

when we were doing shows.  

The Amish bonnet on the top of the cupboard

 was found at the same time

 and both have been collecting dust in the laundry room as long as we have lived in the Cottage...

 The hat stand is made up of two candlesticks

 that my Dad carved.  

I have never really used them

 as I didn't feel that they always matched my decor 

so now they are taking a place of honor

 which they deserve.

I showed this rug last time. 

 We ordered it from Rugs USA.

  I like that it looks like it might have been worn

 and faded over the years 

and brings in the blue from the parlor.

The part of the change up 

that we really needed help with

 was moving the TV set up.

  We took the cedar chest

 that had been if front of the window 

and put it to use as the television stand.

  We removed the large drawer,

the Captain put a shelf in its place 

and that is where the recording devices now live. 

 I love how it looks but know that 

I am really going to miss the chest for storage.

This is the view of the room from the dining room...

...the view from the entry...

...into the room from the parlor...

...and looking from the library.

Other things needed to be moved around 

so we created a small gallery wall 

by raising the large painting up higher 

and filling in with smaller items.

This lamp base was picked up at a consignment shop and the new shade is from Amazon.

When I wanted to do a more prim look for this room,

 I knew that I needed some lighting

 that would fit in with the style. 

 I don't even know if there would be original lighting

 for that era available

 especially around here.

 There are reproductions for sale

 but the prices are too rich for my budget just now. 

 I have a few lanterns that have been gifted to me, or ones that I have gifted to myself,

 so, I thought I could come up with some "make-dos"

 as they said way back when.

  I bought a few candle lamps from Amazon

 for around $12 each 

and the Captain made sure they fit into the lanterns. 

 I am very happy with how they all turned out.

This very small lamp is a reproduction 

but by the time I paid shipping on it 

I don't think it was worth it...

 but it is cute.

Both of us feel now like we have been

 holding our breath but not really knowing why. 

I think we have moved back, a little, 

to what we liked in the beginning

 when we collected 

more country, primitives and antiques. 

 The house feels more comforting

 (for lack of a better description).

 

Each room is a little different in the Cottage 

but I think she feels like it has all come together

and is, finally, feeling like we, all can...

For those of you who might be 

as big a TV nerd as I am 

I have a recommendation that you might enjoy. 

 It is on YouTube and called 

In the Garden with Gwen. 

  If you want to see beautiful gardens, good recipes and lovely tea parties 

all accompanied by beautiful music, 

this might be for you. 

 The Captain never watches most of what I do

 but even he enjoys this channel 

and I think you might too.

See you next time...

...xxoJudy...

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