Welcome to my back porch!

I am done with my hutch! I love to sit on my porch and surf the web, create menu plans and a grocery list, browse for recipes to try this month, contemplate and daydream, pray.
We have been blessed today with NINE new adoptees-a neighbor brought over nine fish to move into our backyard pond! This couple is not setting up their pond this year so they offered their fish! They seem to be adjusting well to our water and our other fish-I think we have between 23-30 now! The boys are so excited!

Well, here is an updated photo of the hutch-

And here are some more pics of my porch-

Now, the blue "sofa" is what Icall it, is another gift from same people who gave us the fish. I refinished four  other pieces last year (the ones painted white). These were bright pink, yellow, orange and purple. The Sofa was in the front yard until now. All of this furniture was to be "burn pile fodder" and I am so grateful they offered it to us! Now I have seating for many people!

Of course, the cushions (I got those for $5.00 a piece off-season at Walmart!!!) won't be sitting all katty-wampus! But I was trying out the best ways to rearrange the furniture so #1-it would all fit, #2-we could still get around it, and #3-it made sense conversationally (is that even a word?) for guests. I still have to move the dining table outside after re-doing it, too. It is an old steel formica topped shop table that I want to redo in, of course, white. Again, gotta love Krylon!

There is also a planter I am painting that holds a large boston fern for that plant stand between the wicker chairs. That "plant stand" is also a freebie that is actually a table pedestal. Redone, in white, of course...

I also found some wicker hanging lamps at Goodwill last year that I also want to hang. A few things left to put on the wall, and I am done! Maybe instead of moving all the furniture off the patio to redo the sofa, I'll take the sofa and do it on the lawn.

I refuse to put down the outdoor carpets until my husband installs the doors so I don't have to vacuum 24/7 because of the dogs.

Today, my men went to Grandma's and I got some alone time. What do I do with it? Go clean up the backyard....

But then I also got to sit and watch the new fishies get acclimated. For a long time. A LONG time. Then I came in and got a shower and played on Big Fish Games.

HEADLINE: Unusually Warm Temps Bring DIY-ers Outside!

Here is what is on the agenda for the next few months. I say months, because I have been under the weather for the last month. Don't know exactly what I had/have, but it involves coughing, sleeplessness, runny nose and green and yellow-and I ain't talkin' the colors of Spring here!

Well, now that I have thoroughly grossed you out, here is a pic of the hutch I am about to re-do-

And this is my inspiration taken from the web as to what I would like to do with it-

Now, the people who know me are probably shocked to see it isn't something ALL WHITE (white is my favorite color, and YES, it IS a color-you can add it to anything and it changes the original color to something else, which, to me, means it can hold it's own being classified as a color!)
I was also really tickled pink to see that Ace Hardware gave me a second chance at getting that pretty blue paint for free! I had seen an ad for a free quart of paint just for the asking on a Saturday. Well, that Saturday came and went with me feeling so sick, not even free paint would lure me out. But then, lo and behold, the NEXT Saturday, they ran the same promo and I got my Clark & Kensington Paint + Primer In One, in Better Homes and Gardens Seaside Classic Blue-for FREE! (Did I mention, free?)

So here it goes, fellow DIY-ers and Bloggers, I am now officially going to be held accountable for this transformation. There is a lot of work to be done about it, too. I have to sand the dang thing and fill in holes with putty and then sand them. I would like to change the hardware on this hutch to something more like a knob than a pull. Maybe even something nautical in design. The perfect ones are waiting for me at Carol Beach Knobs dot com.

A few of the stores around here are getting in Nautically-inclined pretties. Big Lots has some incredible items that I would like as well as Family Dollar and Dollar General. I have acquired many items off of Ebay and many I have just had around the house or in storage. Here is just a sampling-

This is stuff from last year that I plan on using. I will post more pretties later on. Stay tuned! Gotta go outside and clean up the front yard and get the little water feature going-he looks and sounds so wonderful! You can enjoy a picture of him here-

The Winds of Change.....

Things seem to be going better ever since my husband left for about a week. He came back with a renewed sense of appreciation for the boys and me. I knew in my heart, even during the roughest moments, that underneath my fear and devestation was a faith that with so many people of God praying for us, that sooner or later, something would change. I am hoping it lasts.

Thank you to all who prayed and continue to pray for us. I am infinitely grateful-some of you I don't even know, but I take seriously into consideration all suggestions and comments. I appreciate all of you who take time to share with me.

Now, the subject that has been occupying most of my time when I am not homeschooling, cleaning house and a million other responsibilities I have:

I have dreams of grandeur about our backporch this Spring. Note, I didn't say "summer". I can't wait! I have plans on refinishing a hutch and putting all sorts of nautical/beach pretties on it. It has been MOST fun purchasing things to put on it-seagul, fish, crab, mermaid, starfish, sandcastles, seashells, blue, agua, cream-oh! I can't wait! Trying different furniture layouts, using what I have in different new way. Gotta love Krylon!

I will be posting progress as I go. Just another do-it-yourselfer on the world wide blogs. Most of my inspiration comes from the web and the http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/. There are so many talented, inspiring, creative blogs out there, I am sure I haven't tapped into a billionth of them! I drool over the ones that have beach homes or anything to do with the ocean, beach, water, coast. If you know of any that I might enjoy, please pass them on!

I also have some tablescapes planned. Not so sure how to post on other sites, yet, even with detailed instructions generously supplied by the blogger. But I do know how to post here!

Well, enough for now. Might post some of the items I bought for the porch and various other aspects of this project soon-stay tuned! Nothing like "Before & After" photos to make one accountable-even if it's only to me and my blog!

Toodles!

Coming to a head

Not much to report about Christmas. Not worth the trouble it caused when I got home and the next day. Given ultimatums, things packed and ready to go, hurtful words thrown at me, threats made, realization of what my husband is facing with us leaving led to prayers and forgiveness on both our parts, and have left us in limbo. He is willing to leave us behind. Much needed break apart for now. Lots of snow. And prayer. We will have to address this sooner or later, but for now, peace reigns. Whole family on both sides backing me up...infinitely grateful......

Hope...

That is what I see this season as-hope. I am trying to leave things in God's hands as I wait, hopeful, that things will change in my husband's heart and things will go back to the ways they were. But then something will happen that makes it all go back downhill again-but not lately. So I remain hopeful..in the spirit of the season that I hold so dear, that things will return to their rightful destiny for our little family. I will be joining my husband's family next Sunday as people all around the world celebrate, but without my husband. I don't know what I will say before I go, or when, but I do know that the boys and I are going. I might not go bearing gifts, but only with an extremely grateful heart that I can be with these people who have taught me the meaning of family and what it means to give to one another and support one another. And I will praise God all the way there and all the way back, that next year, my husband will be by my side, joining me and the family in all the season was meant to be...

Wonder.......

I wonder what this season holds for me. I have some important decisions to make concerning the Christmas season. I would love to join in on all of the blogs listing their favorite things this time of year, but I can't. I am still in limbo waiting on the Lord for his guidance and direction on my husband's decision to follow a certain churches beliefs on holidays.
 It used to be that I felt like I had all of this joy inside of me-kinda like an eight foot Christmas tree with 1500 lights on it. That is the amount I would usually use, give or take a couple thousand! Now I just feel like someone has pulled the plug on my joyous heart.
 My ringtone, when I had a cell phone, was "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" sung by the one and only Judy Garland herself-AND was used all year long.
I hung stockings and filled them with candy coins and stuff I knew my boys would love. Race cars and little pretend shaving sets. Gum balls and chocolates.
My boys seem to be taking this better than I. They know Santa isn't real-my husband never grew up with that, but I did. I grew up with Santa and Halloween and all the other "pagan based" holidays and I'm not in some cult or worse. It was fun while it lasted and made for a joy filled, memory-making childhood. I mean, how much of oneself can you give up without losing all you are? Can you really re-write what makes you happy?
Have nothing to look forward to? Just accept things to keep peace and go along with it when it's not in your heart? What an unhappy, untruthful farce of a life....

Now that I have my reality out there on the table, in my heart, these are the things I love during this time of year-
                         Watching snow falling                        Kenny G's Christmas CD        

    Hot Chocolate with tons of marshmallows                 The Christmas Story read on Christmas Eve  

   Throwing Beautiful Dinner Parties for Family & Friends       Watching my boys play in the snow

Christmas Trees being adopted on top of vehicles                A blazing fireplace

  Christmas trees decorated-professionally or by the hands of children and families

Baking things for people enjoy                      Decorating every room in the house           Candles (lit)

Live Violin playing "Silent Night" (it brings tears to my eyes!)             Fleece Gloves        A Long Wool Coat

Cream Colored Cable Knit Sweater (preferably borrowed from someone male)    Cities/towns decorated

Houses decorated with wreaths, candles in  windows, lights and red poinsettias     Christmas Carols/Music

Businesses that have one little tree out in front decorated with lights (random act of beauty!)

A shoveled off pond             Fleece Anything              Super Soft Lap Blankets        Anything Glittery 

 My Mom-In-Law's Christmas Earring Collection    Snow Covered Roads that haven't been driven on yet

Niece and Nephew's Christmas Programs         Ice Skating            Walks in Snowy Woods     Hiking Boots

Egg Nog      Christmas Cookies (eating AND making!)      Hallmark and Lifetime Seasonal Movies

Christmas Villages       The Overwhelming Joy of Buying for Others (and trying NOT to tell them!)

Creative Present Hiding       Wrapping Presents         Making Christmas Cards       Christmas Day Calls

Huge Icicles that hang from roof to ground (on houses with too little insulation) that look like waterfalls

Red Rosy Cheeks (kissed while still cold)     The Idea of Santa     Angel Tree Toppers     Felt Ornaments

Old December Issues of Victoria Magazine           Beautiful Special Occasions Dresses for Little Girls

Getting Someone that one thing they REALLY wanted                   Ribbon Candy           Snowmen

Drifts higher than a house (only saw one back in 1978!)                    School Closings/Snow Days

Playing Card Games while the wind howls outside                      Bells on Store Entrances  

"Feeding The Chickens" (putting salt on the sidewalk)              Nutroll from Corey Brothers Bakery

Rozkys            The Nutcracker Suite         Garland           Decorated Mailboxes            Pine Boughs      

Flavored Candy Canes        A Snowflake Up Close          Flannel Nightwear          Slouch Socks

My Dollhouse (a Greenleaf Pierce done in Victorian Christmas 1904)         Memories of Christmas Past

My skating skirt, wool coat, Jody Doll and Diorama, (and other favorite past Christmas Gifts)  

Staying up 'till past midnight assembling/wrapping gifts for the boys       Animated Snow Screensavers   

Snow Globes      Christmas Tablescapes         Train Sets that run around the Christmas Tree base

Watching Bubble Lights     Yearly purchasing ornaments for the boys that corresponded with their interests to given them when they had trees of their own (name and date on bottom)

Super Huge Gigantic Cow Femur for DC (our German Shepherd) smaller one for Laddie Boy

 Special Steak Dinner on Old Country Roses China just for Hubby and me on Christmas Eve

Not ONE Store Open on Christmas Day (used to be)   

Well, if you're still with me, that's all I can think of for right now. It's not just giving up what I thought was a celebration of Jesus' Birthday, it's all it was and meant to me, too-which was showing Him to others more than any other time of the year....it just seemed easier when everone else was thinking along the same line.
  

Wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday!

With a lot of help from my Husband, his family and friends, I had a wonderful time setting up the tables for our two Thanksgiving celebrations! I will post pics as soon as they are downloaded from Mom-In-Law's camera. She has this really cool 14 point something mega pixel camera (which is 10 more plus mega pixels than the one I have!) and it takes really cool close ups of things. I was able to get amazing details of the table we did today. It was so pretty! Hope all of you had a wonderful holiday, too. I also found out just how much support the family is giving me with all of this church's teachings to my Husband.
It is strange how I can recall childhood memories of Thanksgiving-my Grandma had a huge table with a thousand leaves and extremely heavy. She would set out the tablecloth and pretty dishes and we would be relegated to the "Children's Table" HA! I resolved NOT to let ANY child sit at some card table set off to the side with the "safe" plates and plastic cups! NOOOOOO! My husband and I set up beautiful tables with stemware and napkins from Dollar Tree so the young ones can learn table manners and etiquette. I mean, how are they to know if someone doesn't teach them or give them the tools to learn and practice with? So they break one-it's back to the dollar store for a replacement!
Well, more some other time. It is getting later and I want to look over some of the other Tablescapes for ideas for next year!