Painted Chair - A Work In Progress

First of all, I got the brushes I was hoping to get for Mother's Day from my darling children.  Not shown here is the ASCP roller and extra rollers.  The blue bristled brush I already owned.  I can't believe how much better it is painting with these brushes!  The paint goes farther and so does the wax with the wax brush.  Thank you kids!

It's been rainy again, so even though I had lots of lights on and painted in the afternoon, the photos are not really great.

I decided to start experimenting with this chair, which is one of three that I own.  Its a cute children's classroom chair for preschool/kindergarten sized kids.  

You can see that on the back portion of the chair that some of the veneer had come off.  It makes it look like the wood is cracked but its just the veneer.

 I thought I'd make it look shabby chic, so I painted it with French Linen and planned to do a wash of old white over it.

 I don't have a photo of the wash, but I didn't really like that, so I painted the whole chair Old White.

 I liked that better but it needed something.  My mom suggested I do a color on the seat portion to contrast.  I had been considering that and the only colors I had were some Florence and Emperor's Silk.  I went with the Florence, and while I like it and think it's very pretty....

I'm wondering if I should have mixed Florence and Old White together to so that the contrast wouldn't be so strong.  I don't think I want to use dark wax on it.  

I'm having fun trying different things.  I may mix some Florence and Old White and do a thin layer of that over the darker Florence, letting some of the darker color show through, but lightening the over all color intensity.

Thoughts?

Thrifted Treasures

Last week, while out running errands, I popped into a thrift store in a nearby town, that I rarely go into, though I drive by on a regular basis.  When I go through this town I am on my way somewhere else, and I was this time too, but decided to come that way on my way home and stop in.  I am so glad that I did.

I love thrift stores.  Not just for the fact that some of the money goes to help others, but because I feel like a rescuer of lost treasures.

First up was this first edition of Sea Star by Marguerite Henry.

 The dust cover has seen better days but the book is in good condition, including an inscription to to someone.  It was given for Christmas the year it was first published which is 1949.  I'm sad to think this book was in someone's personal family collection, and no one wanted it so it was given away.  I'm happy to have rescued it.  It may end up as a gift for a horse loving daughter for her personal library.  Oh, and the cost? $2.00  I saw a copy in similar condition for sale on line for $40.


I always look for books, of course, and found these that caught my eye.

 Longbourn by Jo Baker, tells the tale of those who serve 'downstairs' in Pride and Prejudice.  I'm interested in reading that soon.  Mr. Darcy's Daughters by Elizabeth Aston caught my eye, too since I am a Pride and Prejudice fan.  Not of all the 'sequels' are worth reading, but for .50 cents I thought this one was worth giving a try.  Then C.S. Lewis - I've heard of the book but have never read it.  My girls will be interested as well.

The next treasure is a dust ruffle.  My mom had been looking for one and the only kind she could find easily are the more tailored style.  Knowing that dust ruffles were hard to find, when I saw this white embroidered one that fits my bed, I checked it out, then put it back, then came back to it and put it in my cart.  I figured for $4.00 it was a good buy.  It was!  I love how it looks on my bed!

I always look at dishes and glass ware, too.  I found this silver plated footed tray.  I cleaned it a bit but need some cleaner so I haven't finished it yet.

 It has a pretty monogram in the middle! It was $1.00 - seriously.

 The last treasure to show you is the first that I found.  I love history and Williamsburg, Virginia is a favored place of mine.  I spotted these prints behind some dishes, on a bottom shelf.  I hung them over my desk.

They are of the Bruton Parish Church

 The Raleigh Tavern

 and the Capitol.

The artist is Coby Carlson, and I found one of his litho prints of the Raleigh Tavern for sale on line for more than I paid, which was $2.50 each.  These are special to me because of the interest I have in American Colonial History. They are not matted but the frames are decent, but I may paint them.  Eventually I may matte them as well, but we'll see.

I appreciate that other folks don't think of these items as treasure, but I sure do, and I am thankful to be able to furnish my home at such low costs.  I like to think that I am rescuing once loved items as well, and giving them new life.

Do you like to hunt for treasure at thrift shops, too?  What is your best find ever?

Joining Bernideen for BTTCG and Sandi for No Place Like Home.


Also joining The Scoop @ StoneGable

Mother's Day Photos

We had a lovely day yesterday.  Very relaxed.  Rachel ordered a large platter of chicken strips from Chick-fil-A on Saturday and she  brought them home with her from work.  She only had to reheat the Sunday afternoon.  It was easy and delicious!  Sarah made a huge green salad, someone brought beans, and Lindsay made two wonderful desserts - a chocolate cake and fresh berries and whipping cream!  Yum!

Of course we always have to try to get photos, and it was very windy so my hair and my dress kept doing crazy things!  


First a group selfie!  Rachel is good at this!

My mom and I!  My hair really is not this weird under normal circumstances!

Here is a photo from last year -

Sarah being Sarah wanted to hang from the tree!

My handsome son! 

You can't tell from this photo but we were fighting the wind and a certain photobombing husband.

She's a softie and decided to reward her photobomber!  {smile}

I'll leave you with a photo that delights my heart

My darling bookends!

Hope your day was a sweet as mine was.  My kids gave me a generous gift certificate to buy my paint brushes and maybe some paint and Rachel gave me a can of Old White by Annie Sloan!

I feel so blessed to call these people mine.  I'm grateful for them all!

Happy Mother's Day

to my momma!

We are different from each other in many ways, but we have built bonds of love, friendship and encouragement with each other.  I am thankful for her today and always.

Love you Mom!

Homeschool Evaluations

Our state requires that we have an end of the school year evaluation, by a qualified evaluator of our choice.

We've been using the same evaluator since Nate was in high school.  The wonderful thing about this is that she really has known the kids since they were little, and Kyle his whole life!  She really can see their progress from year to year and celebrate their victories over challenges, because she knows what they are!  

She is an encourager, and we all love her.

Our state also requires standardized testing in 3rd, 5th and 8th grade, so both Kyle and Sarah have testing this year.  Sarah loves it, and Kyle does too, except the very end where he needs to write a brief story. 

This is Rachel's last evaluation, then graduation is a week from today.  Time flies.

We take a portfolio with a sampling of their work for each subject, and any extra stuff they want to show her.  Over the years, the kids have taken frogs, recorders, guitars, violins, cellos.  They've played the piano for her, showed her lego creations, and she has seen their learning fair displays.

 We also include a daily log.  This can be a simple as a calendar marking off the 180 days or as complicated as you like.  Tim made this for me years ago and it's just right for us.

 We also include a list of books read independently by the student. This is Kyle's list for this year.

We also include a curriculum list, a list of objectives for the student with each subject that is turned into the school district at the beginning of the school year, and this year Rachel's high school transcript.

I love this time of year when we get to look back over the whole year and see what we've accomplished.  Next year I'll have only two full time students, and Kamryn who'll be doing Kindergarten with me.

I'm thankful for the opportunity to learn together by schooling at home.  We are able to be flexible and take the opportunities for 'out of the box' learning.  Some days are harder than others, but home education is part of our daily lives, where the kids function not only at home, but in volunteer opportunities, service projects, outside classes or tutoring (as in music lessons).  It is a natural way to flow into adult life.

I'm thankful for these years, and for educational choice which has allowed us to choose this way of learning for our family.  It works for us.

Co-Latha Breith Sona (Happy Birthday!)

We celebrated my dad's birthday Wednesday night.  We decided to make it Scottish themed, and turned the living room into a Scottish Manor House.

Kyle looked very dapper!  My family is part of Clan Donald and my husband's clan is Campbell.  Sort of like the Hatfield's and the McCoy's!  Kyle is wearing the Campbell tartan on his bowtie.

Lindsay and I made real Scottish Fish and Chips.  I bought wild caught Haddock from Norway, and I made homemade tartar sauce.  We also cooked some chicken for those who may not want fish.

I forgot to get a photo of the desserts but I made yellow layer cake with whipped cream and strawberries, and Lindsay made two rustic apple tarts!

My mom invited three couples but I only got photos of two of the couples!   

My parents have really good friends!  We like them all!

The most special part of this evening was when Sarah, accompanied by Nate and Rachel, sang for my Dad.  You see, months ago, my dad told Sarah that her voice was the kind that would sound just right singing Scottish and other gaelic folk songs.  So she talked to her voice teacher and Sarah learned one!  She was very nervous but she did so well!






Happy Birthday, Dad!


Joining Thoughts of Home on Thursday

Ah, May!

It's a busy month for us, as we have four immediate family birthdays, my niece's birthday is in May.  We went to a wedding on the first, and the eighth is Mother's Day.

This is what I'm hoping my kids will get me....

We have our homeschool evaluations this Friday, Sarah and Kyle have testing as well, then Rachel has graduation on the 13th.  We also have our state homeschool convention that same weekend.

Two of Tim's siblings have wedding anniversary's this month as well!

Add to that a little something I've been planning - more on that on Thursday! 

Also this month Kay and Emily have their twenty week ultrasounds on the same day and Kay is planning a gender reveal party for that evening!  So exciting!

May has always been full of family events for our family.  Do you have a month like that? Or are your family events all spread out neatly through the year?

Tea On Tuesday - Celebrating!

My granddaughter lost her first tooth, this last week, and yesterday when she and I were together seemed a fine time to celebrate this big milestone!

She drank Sweet Apple Chamomile by Celestial Seasonings with raw honey and ate animal crackers.

She loved using one of my little tea cups that I keep on hand for young friends - they are just the right size!

My darling is going to be six this summer and in the autumn, she'll be a big sister!  What a year she's having already!

With so much to celebrate, I'm sure we'll have a few more special tea times together.

Joining Bernideen's BTTCG and Sandi for No Place Like Home

Beautiful Wedding

A young woman we know married the love of her life yesterday, and we were so blessed to be there.

Chelsea and Emma were close pals in their teen years and still care about each other, though their paths don't cross much anymore, work, school, marriage have a way of doing that.  We are in that season of life when our kids and their friends are getting married.  I'm enjoying this season so much!

This wedding was so Chelsea.  She is detail oriented and over the last 10 months she has worked on those details to give the exact romantic atmosphere she wanted.

Lace and burlap, soft pinks, candles, gorgeous flowers, homemade bundt cakes (made by the bride, Mother of the Bride
and both grandmas).  

Our gifted friend Susan of Divine Florals, did the flowers for this wedding also.  There were a lot of flowers for this wedding, so I got to help out with making the arrangements for the centerpieces.

The only detail the bride couldn't control was the weather.  She dearly wanted to be married outside, but we had rain, so the ceremony was set up inside the huge tent at the wedding venue.  

Here are some photos and videos of the wedding.

Here is a video of the bride coming down the aisle and a bit of the ceremony - Here comes the Bride!

Entrance to the reception

First Dance

Off on their honeymoon

It was a beautiful day and we were so happy to share it with them and to celebrate this happy event in their lives!

God's blessing to them, and may their marriage glorify God.

ps - sharing with permission from Becky at Hospitality Lane.  She's the Mother of the Bride.  I'm sharing also because so many of you know her and have shared in Chadd and Chelsea's story, and have prayed for them.  Continuing prayers welcomed.