The House

As all of you know it's been a long year for us.  I didn't realize how much the flood could effect us.  Nothing has been the same since.  In August it was as if my world turned upside down.  I have barely been functional until now it seems.  Part of it I saw, some of it not.
So many of you have asked me about the new house.  Wanting to know how it is coming.  Asking to see pictures.  We moved in the middle of Sept.  We moved our stuff in.  I told DH that we had just a little time left of fall so let's just get in, and we will buy some furniture, finish hunting season and this winter we will start on the house.  It was livable just a little outdated.
We bought furniture we picked out ourself and loved yet it still didn't feel like home.  It has felt like we've been living in someone else's home while they've been on vacation or something.  For the first time yesterday morning I felt like I was "at home" my home. It was the biggest relief.  I didn't know if it would ever feel that way.  It is still a wreck.  We have started doing some things, but we are realistic it will take time & money!!
So, here is pictures of the inside.  Please excuses messes and hideous wallpaper!  I took all these pictures with my phone so they're not the best.

Yesterday I de-cluttered the pantry.  You couldn't get in it for dishes in the bottom. 

All washed and put away.  Now it's clean and organized!!

Dinning room.  

Yes, this is actual wallpaper in the dining room. Anyone over 70 has loved it.  

Imagine that.  It also has matching curtains, no lie.  

 Standing at the front door.  (Excuse the Christmas stuff needing to be put away on the table)

 I was told this was called "the courting room" in "the day"

 It has a coal fireplace. 

 The picture below is everyones favorite bedroom.  

I think it's the windows.  It has wonderful natural light. 

I have started tearing wallpaper off the other side of the room.

 This room with the hideous paper and teal green carpet is our guest room.

Carpet and paper to be removed soon!! 

 This is our bedroom.  I have pulled the wallpaper off it.  It is a horrible "hospital green" under it.

I can't seem to pick a color for this room, but I'm working on it. 

 gas fireplace DH has recently installed.  It is wonderful, especially on cold mornings.

 Master bathroom.  Yes, that is a blood red, cast iron, claw foot tub. 

 my temporary closet DH says.

 Yes, that is geraniums on that wallpaper.  That is what is currently in the master bath.

 One of my favorite things in the house.  

All original doors and they all have the keys to them.

 Upstairs foyer

 9x12 "walk in closet" that will soon be our new guest bathroom!

 The house is full of these old lights.  They're beautiful.

But they need to go.

 Laundry room with half bath. 

 See where I have been desperately attempting to get the paper off?

 Laundry room light fixture, believe that?  Yes it's all crystal. 

 Front door.  It has a wrap around porch.

 Kitchen pictures

 We removed the 1970's appliances with my black & stainless steel ones.

 DH has just put in the dishwasher.  

Yay!!  I am so glad to have it in.

 The kitchenette here is my Momma's favorite room. 

She has a dozen ideas for it.  I think she wants it for a sitting area.

Right now it is a catch all, and our "put our light fixture/ceiling fans together area"

This room and my kitchen are going to be painted "cabin red"

 This is the "den" as DH calls it.  He lives here when he's not hunting. 

He is the mess on the couch, he's sicky this weekend.  

We are very lucky that the whole house with the exception of the kitchenette and the den have hardwood floors under them.  Below is a picture from the master bedroom or bathroom where we pulled carpet already.

We haven't done anything but pull carpet and wash them and they look this good. 

I don't want to sand them, I really like them as they are.  They have character. 

So there is the nickel tour.  

Any ideas or suggestions?

Another Saturday.....

I'm sitting in the recliner, looking at my Christmas tree (yes, obviously it's still up) thinking, I should take you down, but you are oh so pretty and I'm going to miss seeing you.  I should be doing laundry, and cleaning house, since I am ashamed to admit I have not touched since Christmas pretty much.  Hey, the road trip to Memphis last weekend took up some of my time, don't judge lol.  

It was a long night, DH had a horrible flare up of gout and let's just say between his foot and the fever, I've seen more open eye than shut eye.  We had prayer here, but I called Momma & Dad about 12:30 for some back up. His fever has been so high during the night I was afraid to sleep.  He is on the couch resting comfortably and sleeping like a log.  I know this because I set off the fire alarm (don't ask) and I could hear him snoring over it.  It's a shame our fireplace is gas because he definitely could supply some logs this morning. 

It smells wonderful in the house where I made buttermilk biscuits and homemade fried apples.  (No, I didn't burn either of them to set the alarm off.)  It's still snowing here.  It snowed off and on all day yesterday but around 9 last night the roads started getting bad.  It's beautiful outside now.  I took some pictures.  Still have no clue how to get them on my new laptop.  I can blog, facebook, and add music to my IPhone that is my talents on it.  Yeah, I should probably learn.

I'm thinking today is going to be another lazy Saturday.  Maybe I'll breakdown and learn to load pictures on this?  I will keep you posted.  Maybe I can post some pictures later. 

    

Memphis & New Years

With the year we've had DH and I we decided to treat ourself to a weekend getaway in Memphis for New Years.  We hadn't been since we went to see the adoption agency 2 years ago.

There is too much to tell on this weekend, so I will give you the highlights.  If you follow me on facebook you will see we "ate" are way through Tennessee.

After work on Thursday we drove 3hrs and had supper with some great friends of ours in Bowling Green

They are such a great couple!!  Love them to pieces!
(sorry Tammy I had to steal/borrow this pic :p )

Tammy & Danny

The next morning we were on way.  We wanted to stop at Mason TN to have BBQ at our favorite place

Bozo's Hot Pit BBQ .  This is where part of the movie "Walk the Line" was filmed.  The part where Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash were in the "diner" is the actually Bozo's.  Hard Rock Cafe bought them out a year or more ago, but I am pleased to say has not taken over and changed things, the original is the same, same people working there. 

DH's cousin and I are texting while we are eating, he says I HAVE to try Gus's Famous Chicken while we are in Memphis.  I said ok, the original location is right up from Bozo's.  So after we literally stuffed ourselves until we couldn't breathe, we went up the street and got fried chicken.  By far the best you could ever stick in your mouth.  

On to Memphis we went.  We ended up eating the chicken for breakfast the next morning.  It was as good cold as it was hot.  After arriving in Memphis we checked in and rested up.  New Years Eve we went down to Beale St to Mr. Handy's Blues Hall it was an experience since it is one of the oldest clubs left.

We also had Miss Polly's Chicken & Waffles the next morning.  The guy outside was the best. 

Later in the day after going to the Peabody to see the duck march we headed on out to Nashville.  If you have never been to the Peabody, Grand Hotel of the South, you NEED to go while in Memphis.

The duck march it's self is worth the stop.

(Of course we had to go into Bass Pro for DH)

In Nashville we took it easy.  We went down to Broadway to of course, EAT but it was closed, for the exception of all the honky tonks.  At which point I told DH I was way too old to even be down there on a Saturday night.  On the way back we looked for a couple of BBQ joints, everything was closed because it was New Years Day, except, which was less than half a mile from our hotel, 

Neely's Memphis BBQ, you might have seen this lovely couple on the Food Network?

Whew, we had to roll back to our room after that one.  I was never so glad to see home last night.

Of course my body did NOT like seeing the scales this morning. 

Unbelievably I only gained 4lbs.  So I wasn't too upset considering what ALL we ate.

It's a new year, I have plenty of time to lose that 4lbs.

Oh, I forgot to mention desserts.

We had lemon icebox pie at Bozo's

Pecan Pie at Gus's Famous Chicken

Peach Cobbler at Neely's

And

If you have never experienced Sheridan's (we became great fans while living in Kansas City)

you have to try their seasonal concretes.  Lucky for me it was "Candy Cane Pot Hole"

If you're not hungry, you sure are missing a good opportunity!! 

Hope everyone had a Safe & Happy New Year and may your New Year Be Prosperous!!

Wordless Wednesday

(google images)

Wordless is Wednesday is back.......need I say more, really?

Love this song.....

As I stood at this kitchen sink this morning washing up the punch bowl I watched the snow fall as softly as I felt the tears running down my cheek.  I was thinking of a text I received from a dear friend this morning telling of how lonely her and her husband's Christmas had seemed with no children or grandkids in their home.  I felt the loneliness for her.  This year the house has felt so empty.  I thought maybe it was just being in the new house and not quite feeling like it's "our home" instead of living in someone else's house.  Yesterday my home was full of family and comfort food but there was no comfort.  I felt like the lyrics from "Pretty Papper"

"In the distance of the ringing of laughter, and in the midst of the laughter  he cries."

 
Last night after coming back from Christmas at Momma & Dad's I sat here snuggled on the couch with DH enjoying the lights of the Christmas tree finding myself wondering if we will ever hear the pitter patter of little feet in our house during Christmas.  Someone peeking under the tree to see what is theirs.  Asking when we are going to read the story about Baby Jesus.  When they won't be able to sleep for the excitement of the next morning.  Will there ever be that excitement and laughter in our home.  In the midst of this I realized I have never felt more alone during Christmas.  There was family, food and love, but and emptiness that is indescribable.
My precious cousin who also had multiple miscarriages and loss once told me, "Maria, just think your babies are complete perfection in Heaven with Jesus and will be waiting when you get there."  I don't know how many times that kind word has kept me.  Sometimes the human side of me is much more selfish and more days than not I want them here with me.  Especially today when I should hear them laughing and playing.  Begging to go out in the snow and play with Daddy & me while it's falling.  
Today I will enjoy the day with Dave and the beauty of the day.  I will be praying for all the other couples who are feeling the same grief as we are today and that their homes will be full of giggles and pitter patter soon.

Merry Christmas