Sunflower Meadows

The Leaves...

2008-10-03T11:00:00.003-04:00

(author unknown)

The leaves had a wonderful frolic.

They danced to the wind's loud song.

They whirled, and they floated, and scampered.

They circled and flew along.

The moon saw the little leaves dancing.

Each looked like a small brown bird.

The man in the moon smiled and listened,

And this is the song he heard.

The North Wind is calling, is calling,

And we must whirl round and round,

And then, when our dancing is ended,

We'll make a warm quilt for the ground.

(Photos taken by me at Pixley Falls State Park, NY)

Until next time, JoAnne

Inexpensive bedroom art - take two...

2008-10-02T20:17:00.010-04:00

A few weeks ago, I did a post about some royalty free clip art I framed with inexpensive black frames with the intention of hanging them in my bedroom.

I thought they were perfect but I've found that you can improve on perfection. A friend asked me to make her a set to donate to a charity auction for an organization she belongs to. I was more than happy to give them to her and planned on reproducing another set just like the first.

I found a few minutes to myself last week and went where I always go when I am alone and don't have to be anyplace in particular - TJ Maxx. I found a frame with 4 openings on clearance for $9 and snatched it right up.

What do you think? I think this look is a little softer and a little more sophisticated. I also purchased some tone on tone scrapbook paper for 59 cents that I used to print the clip art on. I like this version even more than my first creation. This is going to go on one side of our new bed above the bedside table. And, on the other side of the bed I am going to frame this:

This is a drawing of Boldt Castle and is where Jeff and I exchanged our wedding vows. Now, I found the picture on the internet but would never feel right just printing it out and using it without compensating the talented artist. So, I ordered a signed, numbered print that I will frame myself. The artists name is Randall Peterson and his work is incredible. He also has done many lighthouses so be sure to check out his site.

Until next time, JoAnne

I'm in Love...

2008-10-01T19:49:00.008-04:00

Now that the weather has turned cooler, we have switched gears from landscaping projects to interior projects so my bedroom redo is making progress again.

Remember my Craigslist find from a couple of months ago...?

Well here it is now...

Isn't it beautiful !?!?! It's painted a pretty creamy white and looks so much more elegant now that it is not knotty pine.

Jeff & I are so happy with the way it turned out. I sanded it and Jeff painted and sealed it with his paint sprayer. It looks like it has a factory finish.

Now it is on to my Craigslist armoire. Jeff put the primer on it today and will start painting it tomorrow. (I think he wants his garage back before it starts snowing.) I think the creamy white will bring out the beautiful details on this piece and will look awesome in the same room with the bed.

I am still on the lookout for bedside tables and hopefully the walls will be a pretty French blue before the weekend is over. Unfortunately, that's going to depend on how my recovery from my little accident earlier this week goes as I'm still quite sore. Next time, I will share the art I have for above the bedside tables.

Until next time, JoAnne

Something old, something new...

2008-09-11T20:29:00.007-04:00

As I said in my last post, we welcomed a new member to our family about 5 weeks ago. My oldest child, and only daughter, had a fairy tale wedding in the perfect setting. The happy couple met about 5 years ago while they were both enrolled at the same college. Since their families come from opposite ends of New York State, the bride and groom chose a beautiful, 200 year old inn in Central New York for their special day.

The Sherwood Inn...

... located in a picturesque town called Skaneateles, NY...

... which is on beautiful Skaneateles Lake.

The Sherwood is tastefully decorated - from the lobby...

... to the dining room...

... out to the porch overlooking the lake where they served breakfast each morning.

And from one end of the hall ...

... to the other.

The guests rooms were elegant and sophisticated, and like the rest of the inn, were decorated with period furnishings purchased through the years at antique and estate sales. Some rooms had fireplaces and whirlpool tubs. All of the rooms had comfortable quilt covered beds, sitting areas and sumptuous wallpaper and fabrics.

Here is the room Jeff, Michael and I stayed in.

Here is my Dad's room ...

... and here is Brian's.

Jenny and Ralph's room was just as beautiful and made a perfect backdrop for the pictures of the wedding party getting ready.

They exchanged vows in front of family and friends, under a canopy on the side lawn of the Inn.

All of the guests got a kick out of the irony of a sign advertising psychiatric services just outside of the tent.

The cake was beautiful and was crafted by a bakery located behind The Sherwood that they are affiliated with. We made sure we stopped in before heading home to stock up on delicious artisan breads and decadent pastries.

The flowers, which were fresh, were done by the very talented mother of the groom and they were the most beautiful wedding flowers I have ever seen. She also took the time to research the meaning of each of the flowers she used and included only those flowers that had significant meanings for the newlyweds.

Then Jenny attached a locket from my Mother and a brooch from her father's Mother to the ribbon of her bouquet to remember the grandmothers that couldn't be with us.

My contribution to the wedding was a candy buffet done in the wedding colors of ivory, blue, light blue and brown. I had fun picking up different shaped and sized apothecary jars and filling them with candy in Jenny's color scheme.

The bride's dress was stunning in ivory with a champagne lace overlay.

And she took the white lace off of the veil I wore 27 years ago when I married her father and dyed it to match the lace on her dress. The color was perfect. The final touches to her wedding ensemble were a 3 strand pearl choker that belonged to my grandmother and earrings that were a wedding gift from the groom.

My beautiful and handsome children.

Completing the weekend was delicious food and a hotel staff that are second to none. All in all, I couldn't have asked for a more perfect wedding for my precious daughter. And if you ever find yourself in the Finger Lake region of New York, stop by The Sherwood Inn in Skaneateles and discover the magic yourself. I promise you won't be disappointed.

Here I am...

2008-09-09T18:09:00.000-04:00

Sorry I have neglected this blog for so long. It has been a busy summer. In addition to working full time, weekly chemo treatments for my son, keeping up with the house and keeping Michael's blog updated, we -

... spent a week in California visiting some friends (courtesy of the Make-A-Wish Foundation) and ....

... welcomed a new son-in-law into our family.

So, I am hoping you will forgive me for my absence and as a small peace offering , I would like to share my latest project - inexpensive artwork.

2 picture frames from Walmart: $6

Royalty free clip art found on the internet ; $0

Creating the perfect artwork for your home: PRICELESS!

I have lots of exciting things to share with you (including my redecorated bedroom where you will see these pictures again), so I promise I will be back soon.

Smiles, JoAnne

A room with a view...

2008-06-29T17:43:00.001-04:00

This is the view I enjoy from my kitchen window...

With this delightful scene - I'm sure you won't be surprised when I say that washing dishes isn't a chore at all !! The last 2 sections of deck railing are supposed to be here tomorrow so I will be ready to give you all the grand tour very soon. In the meantime - please enjoy this beautiful Sunday afternoon in your little corner of the world. JoAnne

What's a mantel to do?...

2008-06-19T21:21:00.000-04:00

Talented sisters, Kari and Kijsa, over at Ask Kari & Kijsa are hosting a Mantel Party today. They have invited other bloggers to share their own mantels and I am joining in the fun.

My entire adult life I have wanted a fireplace and mantel to decorate and I finally have one. The problem is - it's a lot harder to decorate than I thought! It has been 3 years and I am still not satisfied with the statement my mantel makes. Here is how it looks today:

Above the fireplace, I have my favorite baby portrait below the most recent portrait of each of my 3 children. Until we finish our basement family room, there is no other place in my home large enough to do this arrangement. And displaying these pictures is more important to me than having a perfectly decorated mantel. So, when we finish our family room these treasures will move down there and then I can start from scratch here.

Another obstacle I have to getting the look I want is that we have standard 8 foot ceilings and a raised hearth on the fireplace. That means the area above the mantle is wider than it is high, so decorating with items of any height look out of proportion. Oh well - I'll keep playing with it and one day when I least expect it, it will be just as I want it.

Of course my favorite time to decorate my mantel is the holidays and here is how it looked on Christmas eve:

(Notice the cookies and milk waiting for Santa to come down the chimney?)

I hope you enjoyed my pictures. Now, take a hop on over to Kari and Kijsa's to find links to some really awesome mantels. Thanks for stopping by, JoAnne

Meet our new neighbors...

2008-06-11T21:52:00.000-04:00

We have a nice young couple that have moved in behind us and we are happy to have them.

This wonderful neighborhood is located on the sideboard on our back deck (which is almost ready to post). There are a couple of traditional houses set amongst a couple of cottages. And the landscaping is a work in progress.

The couple have chosen the lovely 2 story home on the right. Here is Mr. Wren (or is it Mrs. Wren) enjoying the beautiful day and waiting for his mate to come home.

And when she arrives, Mrs. Wren (or is it Mr. Wren) brings home a lovely piece of dead grass to add to the nest they are decorating their home with.

Aren't they just the picture of domestic bliss? We are hoping that there will be some little Wren additions before too long. Of course, moving to a new neighborhood was an easy choice because well - the old one isn't what it used to be.

Thanks for stopping by and come back soon, JoAnne

I received my first blogger award...

2008-06-09T17:31:00.000-04:00

Last week, Deb over at Deb's Country Kisses gave me the Arte y Pico Award. Thank you Deb! Deb is one of those bloggers that I wish lived closer to so that we could meet in person and spend a couple of hours talking over tea and cookies. I just know she is a wonderful, kind hearted person and I am glad to have met her. Her blog has inspired and comforted me and for that I am grateful.

Now, there are several rules that go along with this award and they are as follows:

1. First, you have to pick 5 blogs that you consider deserving of this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also contribute to the blogging community, no matter what language.

2. Secondly, each award has to have the name of the author and a link to his/her blog to be visited by everyone.

3. Next, each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that presented her/him with the award.

4. Also, the award winner and one who has given the prize have to show the link of "Arte y Pico" blog so everyone will know the origin of this award.

5. And finally, you must show these rules.

Part of the reason it has taken me so long to post this award is that I had a difficult time picking just 5 bloggers to pass this award on to. I subscribe to 60 different blogs on my google reader (and the number grows everyday) and I love each and every one of them although for different reasons.

So without further ado, I choose to share this award with (in no particular order):

1. Susie over at Bienvenue. Susie is another blogger that I wished I could share a cup of tea with in person. She also has been very supportive of me and her comments pick me when I need a pick me up (Thank you Susie). She also has great taste and she makes the most beautiful tassels (which are becoming an obsession with me lately). Another thing that I love is that she has shared with her readers some easy but elegant crafts that I am dying to try out (like these elegant coasters).

2. Joy from Joys of Home. Now, I am not the only person that thinks Joy deserves this award as she has received it before. I am giving it to her again because I find her blog refreshing, funny and REAL. And if for no other reason because she shared pictures of her living room after her daughter "landed" home and I could totally relate! I know whenever I see vintage suitcases, I will think of Joy.

3. Kimba from A Soft Place to Land. I chose Kimba because I love her philosophy towards the home she lovingly creates for her family, they mirror my own (but she expressed them so much more eloquently than I could). She inspires me with here projects and makes me laugh with her stories. She says her family are suburban hillbillies and if that is the case, I would love to live in her neighborhood. And lastly, because her family is building a new house which we did 3 years ago. It was the most aggravating experience of my life (but worth it in the end) so I want her to know I feel her stress.

4. Penny from Lavender Hill Studio. Penny's blog was the first "decorating" blog I ever read and I still look forward to posts from her. I found Penny through HGTV's rate my space and her living room was my favorite room over there (and probably still is). She also creates and sells the most beautiful mosaics I have ever seen. In the few interchanges I have had with Penny, I feel like I have known her forever. I can even forgive her that we both built houses 3 years ago and her landscaping puts mine to shame!

And last (but certainly not least) I want to recognize a new blog I have found:

5. Eva from Cornflower Cottage. Eva's blog is very new (only 6 posts). She and her family are remodeling their home and, judging by her inspiration photos, I can't wait for her to start posting pictures of their work. She enjoys French Country style which is my all time favorite. I hope she enjoys blogging and that this award will show her that there are those of us that appreciate and enjoy her efforts.

Well, there is my list. I could go on and on with a whole list of wonderful blogs but I will end for today. Please take time to visit these blogs and I hope you find them as delightful as I do. Thanks for stopping by, JoAnne

It's a porch party and you're invited....

2008-06-05T01:57:00.000-04:00

Rhondi over at Rose Colored Glasses has invited all of her blogger friends to her First Annual Front Porch Party. All you have to do is post a photo of your porch or, if you don't have a porch, your dream porch. I love porches so I decided to join the fun.

Now, we don't have a front porch on our home but we do have a back deck which we love. But unfortunately you are not going to get to see pictures of it today. You see, we are in the process of building our new deck and are waiting for the rest of the railing to come in. So, I thought I would share with you the porch Jeff and I dream about spending our retirement years rocking on. And here it is-

Isn't it gorgeous? I have always loved timber frame homes and would love to build one as our retirement home. I just love the wood with the stone fireplace on this porch - it is so warm and inviting. I can just imagine sitting here on a cool spring morning with a nice cup of tea and my favorite decorating magazines. Or perhaps a fall evening while sharing a glass of wine with some friends. And I can just imagine rocking my grandchildren (that my children haven't given me yet) in one of those chairs. But that is only half our dream. We both would like to find a secluded little piece of land to build this home on that has something like this running through it -

Doesn't that just seem like heaven on earth and a perfect way to spend your golden years? I won't keep you any longer as I know there are a lot more beautiful porches to check out. Now hop on over to Rhondi's place and check out her beautiful porch. I know she has some delicious treats waiting for you. Enjoy your tour and come back again soon, JoAnne

I've made a decision...

2008-06-03T21:42:00.000-04:00

I've made a decision on the chairs for my bedroom. If you recall, I had found this chair on the website of an antique store about an hour away. It's certainly a beautiful chair. The color is perfect and the style is just what I was looking for for my French Country bedroom.

On the negative side - there was only one available and I really was looking for two. I am really interested in symmetry in the part of the room I want to place these chairs. I wasn't sold on the dark frame either. I had something lighter in mind. And the cost was $295 for one chair, which was what I was hoping to spend for two. So I am leaving this beauty for the next person.

A couple of weeks ago, I had also spotted this gem in a local antique store. I loved the lines of it. I even liked the worn rose tapestry fabric. I decided to buy it (depending on the price) and make the decision later if I would recover it to match my redecorated master bedroom or leave it as it was and place it in my new guest room.

There was no price tag on the chair so I went up to the front to inquire about the cost. Unfortunately, this particular antique shop is made up of many different vendors and the owner of this chair wasn't in that day. And when they tried to reach him by phone, he was unavailable. So, I reluctantly left and decided I would stop back. A couple of days later my husband and I stopped back and my little treasure had a "Sold" sign on it.

I was bummed. I had even found this pretty Waverly fabric at a fantastic price on Ebay and was looking forward to making the little chair mine. The fabric is a pattern of bees and Fleur-De-Lis and would be perfect in my decorating plan. (I may still find a place to use it in my room.)

But don't despair, this story has a happy ending. A couple of days ago, a search on Ebay turned up these beauties. Aren't they perfect? They are covered in a blue and white check pattern and according to the seller are in excellent shape. I won the auction and got both chairs for $199 plus $100 shipping.

I plan to use these chairs as they are for now. When I get my current list of projects done, I may paint the frames the same creamy white I am painting the bed and armoire. Time will tell. I may also purchase the fabric I showed you above. It would only cost me $30 for enough fabric to do both chairs. But for now I am just anxious to get them home and see them in my changing room.

Thanks for stopping by, JoAnne

I may have found a chair...

2008-05-29T20:25:00.000-04:00

If you remember from the post about my bedroom redo, I said I was looking for a second chair for my cozy seating area. I think I may have found a contender. What do you think?

I was browsing Craigslist tonight and came across a listing that piqued my interest for "Vintage and Antique Furnishings". I clicked on it and found the web address for a decorating business whose mission is to "offer older and antique furniture at reasonable prices". And this little gem of a chair was on the site. Wouldn't it look perfect in a blue and white, romantic, French Country bedroom? It doesn't match the style of the chair I have in my room now but this one is so pretty, I may have to find a new spot for my step-mother-in-law's chair (shown below). The one above looks much more comfortable and inviting. But of course that would mean I am still on the lookout for a second chair.

This shop is about an hour away from my home but it is near the hospital where we go every Friday for my son's chemotherapy treatments so I may have to make a little detour tomorrow (depending on how Michael feels, of course). I will let you know if I stop and what treasures I find. Thanks for stopping by, JoAnne

I went to the store to buy grapes...

2008-05-28T22:18:00.000-04:00

...since tomorrow is Michael's turn to take snack for the class and grapes was what he chose to share. The grocery store I shop at just happens to be in the same plaza as our local TJ Maxx - so I had to stop - right? I'm sure I heard somewhere that if you are within 500 yards of a TJ Maxx and you don't stop that your decorating creativity can suffer and wane. What, you never heard that? Okay, but if my husband asks...

I have to admit, the shelves at our local TJ Maxx have been pretty empty lately but not tonight. They must have gotten truckloads of new stuff in the last couple of days and there were some things I just couldn't live without. Like 2 of these pretty embroidered pillows with crocheted trim. They are going to look absolutely divine on my restyled bed.

And I couldn't pass up these pretty canisters with filigree tops and antiqued brass labels that say "Sugar", "Treats" and "Tea". There is also a bread box and cake plate to match these that I think were very sad that they didn't get to come home with me. I may have to rectify that - hhmmm - I do have a birthday coming up.

And as a certified decorating and gardening magazine junkie (or is that "certifiable?"), this rack looks so much more stylish than my current storage system - which is my kitchen counters, coffee table, etc...

And to think, I found all this with just one quick, cursory trip around the store. Imagine what I could have discovered with more time. Oh well - at least I remembered the grapes!!

Have a great night and thanks for stopping by, JoAnne

A peek at my bedroom projects in progress...

2008-05-26T17:02:00.000-04:00

My vision for my master bedroom is really starting to come together and I couldn't wait any longer to share some of the details with all of you.

I have started sanding the precious 4-poster bed that I purchased for $100 last month. It is even more beautiful in person than it was in the pictures on Craigslist. Since it is made of knotty pine, I will put a little polyurethane over the knotholes and then I can begin painting it a pretty cottage white. I also purchased an applique and a wooden plaque to cover the funny little cutout on the headboard. (I don't want to spoil the surprise on my plan for the plaque but I will say that it will make the bed uniquely mine and my husband's.)

I have also been on the hunt for the perfect armoire and I finally found it. It, too, was listed on Craigslist and I snatched it up for a mere $275. (Remember, you can click on any picture to enlarge it.) There are a few surface scuffs and scratches but since I will be painting it to match the bed, that should be no problem. The detail on the armoire is exquisite and the scale is just right for our room. The applique I bought for the headboard is almost a perfect match for the carving on the top of the armoire.

And here is my color palette - shades of blue and white. You may have figured out by now that my bedroom will be done in classic French Country style. The bedspread and shams I wanted so desperately were on sale a couple of weeks ago and they have arrived home to wait patiently to cover my new bed. The tissue box cover was made for me a few years back by my favorite aunt and has graced my nightstand since the day she gave it to me. And, the little bear came in a beautiful flower arrangement my husband surprised me with when I was pregnant for our son.

This little table belonged to my grandmother and the chair is from my husband's stepmother and together they are the beginnings of a cozy sitting area in front of a sunny double window. And, the dainty floral fabric will find a home covering the shade on the pretty table lamp. I am still searching for a second chair and the perfect bedside tables but my romantic French Country bedroom is definitely starting to come together. Thanks for stopping by and I hope to see you again soon, JoAnne

I hope this becomes a Mother's Day tradition...

2008-05-13T21:20:00.000-04:00

Last year for Mother's Day 2007, my 3 children took me to a local nursery and allowed me to pick out a couple of trees for my under-landscaped yard. We brought my treasures home and my sons planted them for me. (And considering our soil is some of the heaviest clay I have ever seen, that was no easy task.)

Big brother Brian and little brother Michael planting a pretty Autumn Flame Maple last year.

This year it was Michael and Daddy planting a total of 3 Autumn Flame Maples to completely line the street in front of our home. And when they grow, they are going to be absolutely beautiful and our "new" home will feel like it is in an "old" neighborhood. I can't wait! And wouldn't it be nice it if that is how we spend Mother's Day for many years to come - planting lovely trees on our 2 acre lot? Do you have any favorite Mother's Day traditions in your family?

I am not sure how often I have to water this little sprout!!

But being the fortunate woman that I am, the trees being planted weren't my only gifts I received. My wonderful husband gave me a dozen roses and a card that touched my heart. My 3 kids got me a beautiful necklace and Michael gave me an organza bag with homemade soaps (which I have a passion for).

The soap actually came from the unit where Michael has his chemotherapy every Friday. They had a table full of gifts that the kids could pick from to surprise their mothers and Michael picked the perfect gift for me. Also, the children in Michael's class put together a Cookbook for their mothers. Check out Michael's blog for the details on that.

Here is a closeup of my necklace (which my daughter found on Etsy). It is just perfect!! It is shaped like a nest with 3 little pearl eggs for my 3 little chicks. I will cherish it always. What is your favorite Mother's Day gift?

I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day -

I know I sure did. JoAnne

A Few of My Favorite Things...

2008-05-01T10:05:00.000-04:00

Tracy at Notes from a Cottage Industry challenged all the readers of her blog to tell 6 unimportant things about themselves. It sounded like fun so I thought I would take the time to tell you about a few of my favorite things.

1. Sour cream fudge - I have only found one place to buy it locally and that is from a couple that goes to all the local craft fairs. Being able to only buy it occasionally makes it special and I savor it all the more.

2. Cuddling on freshly laundered, 1000 thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets - They are one of my little splurges and I find them reasonably priced at Overstock.com. (And then I take care of them like they are the most delicate priceless china so they last a long time.)

3. Having my hair done - If I ever hit the lottery the first thing I am going to do is hire someone to come to my house every morning to do my hair for me.

4. Working in my gardens with my young son - and seeing the wonder in his eyes at the beauty that is Mother Nature.

5. Browsing antique shops, thrift stores, Craigslist and Ebay for treasures (ie. bargains) that make my home more and more a reflection of me and those I love.

6. Getting up before everyone else on Sunday morning - Making myself a cup of tea, grabbing the latest decorating magazine and snuggling next to the fireplace in the winter or out on the deck in the summer. And then I just enjoy the absolute peace and quiet (while I can).

What are your favorite things? JoAnne

I have some good news and some bad news...

2008-04-22T23:30:00.000-04:00

The good news is... I got my new bed home and it is even more beautiful than I thought it would be!

The bad news is... I am in the middle of refurbishing an old desk (pictured below) that was my Dad's while I was growing up so I can't start painting the bed just yet.

The bad news is... I took our old bed (pictured below) down and we are sleeping on our box spring and mattress on the floor. My husband complains that it makes him feel like a college kid.

The good news is... I listed my old bed on Craigslist and sold it for $150 more than I paid for my new 4 poster bed. That means I have enough money left over to buy new linens. These on Linensource certainly caught my eye. (Now I just have to wait for their next sale.)

The bad news is... we had to travel six hours today for a doctor's appointment for my son.

The good news is... I got to stop in my favorite store in the whole world, Country Curtains. Usually when we are in that area, Michael is not feeling well from treatments or tests, so today I took advantage of his feeling great and got my Country Curtains fix.

On a side note -If you are not familiar with Country Curtains, check out their website and request their catalog. And if you are ever near one of their stores, stop in. You won't be disappointed.

Well I am off to work on that desk. The sooner I finish, the sooner I can get to that beautiful bed. Thanks for stopping by, JoAnne

I'm sooo excited...

2008-04-16T06:26:00.000-04:00

I just checked my email and someone has made my day. More on that in a minute - first I have a confession to make. My name is JoAnne and I am a recovered Ebayaholic. I live in a very rural area and antique shops, thrift shops and the like are few and far between (good ones anyway). With my discovery of the internet and Ebay, I was able to fulfill my craving for bargains, treasures and trinkets.

Then the unthinkable happened - someone successfully hacked into my Ebay account. I was devastated (and more than a little nervous). I immediately closed my account and went cold turkey! After awhile, I opened a new account and took certain precautions to safeguard my personal information. But alas, the thrill was somewhat tarnished.

A few months ago I discovered a new outlet for bargain hunting - Craigslist. The hunt for treasures was on! But to my dismay, none were found locally. Then I discovered you can change the city you are searching for in Craigslist and I was delighted. I started searching in the Syracuse and Utica areas, which are only an hour away but are filled with a wider variety of interesting and unusual items.

This brings me to my email and excitement this morning. For some time, I have been looking for a canonball 4 poster bed for my bedroom. I want to paint it white and I have some guilt about painting "new" furniture so I was looking for a second hand one. I was very particular - I needed a queen size bed. I wanted something substantial in scale (no pencil post bed for me). I wanted a quilt rack on the foot board. And of course, it had to be a bargain. This picture from Ashley Furniture shows the style I was looking for.

I was growing discouraged that I would ever find exactly what I wanted when what should appear on Syracuse's Craiglist but the PERFECT bed. I quickly emailed the owner yesterday morning. Since she listed the bed Sunday night, I was on pins and needles waiting for her to tell me that nobody else had snatched up my treasure. She only wanted $100 and I was afraid other bargain hunters would be quicker to the keyboard than me. Well, this morning I received my response - the bed is mine! Here is my new find -

Isn't it beautiful? The posts aren't canonballs but the rest of it is so perfect that I can overlook that. (And actually I kind of like the detailing on the posts.) I can't wait to get it home and make it mine. I think I will paint it a creamy white. And I would like to add an applique to the headboard like this one on Do It Yourself Chic.

I think Craigslist and I are going to have a long and happy relationship. Now if you will excuse me - I am off to sweet talk my brother-in-law who owns a truck into making a trip to Syracuse. JoAnne

Welcome to my new blog...

2008-04-15T22:31:00.000-04:00

Michael's blog started as a serious project - an efficient way to keep family and friends connected to Michael's journey. Along the way I became utterly hooked on blogging! I plan to still keep that blog's focus on all that has to do with Michael but have decided to start this new blog to write about whatever strikes my fancy. It will be lighthearted and fun. And I hope it entertains and inspires you.

I have been following several wonderful blogs for the last year about soapmaking and homemade body products. I've have been educated and entertained by them and found them to be a welcome respite from everyday stresses. I even began the process of starting a home based bath and body business before Michael needed all my energy. Perhaps someday I will be able to pick up where I left off, but for now the most important thing in my life is keeping Michael healthy.

I also have a passion for decorating. When I first entered college out of high school, I was enrolled in an interior design program but since I decided to put down roots where I had grown up, there was little chance of making a living at it. We have seen a tremendous economic expansion in the area in recent years but in the eighties, this was a very rural area with zero demand for interior designers.

Now I am content to decorate my own home and offer decorating advice to friends and family (sometimes solicited, sometimes not). I love to watch HGTV and the DIY Network. And since I am not a big fan of reality shows or shows with excessive violence, I find taping my favorite HGTV shows allows me to watch what I want to watch, when I want to watch it.

And on the internet, I have found a host of other people (mostly women) that share my love of their homes. I first found these wonderful souls on the HGTV's Rate My Space website. This is where ordinary folks can post pictures of their homes and other members can rate their handiwork on a scale of 1 to 5. Then the spaces are ranked according to popularity. I have seen some beautiful homes and have been inspired and motivated. (And with all that has been going on with Michael for the past year, I needed some inspiration and motivation.)

In the coming weeks, I plan on posting images and stories from my own home. I will also share with you some of the wonderful webpages that I enjoy so much. So sit back. Kick up your feet. And enjoy the journey. JoAnne