My Grama's Soul

I have posted before about my little fireplace project.  Still fine-tuning the darn thing as I am trying to create something I am happy with. OK....here is the latest fix.  See the colored tiles I have incorporated in the recess.  I love them.  Our wall color in this room is still not a color I love...but must live with it for now. Here is another shot of what I have done.  Are you ready for the "rub" with these photos.  The "tiles" are NOT tiles at all, they are some wonderful colored papers I cut from a book I own.  Affixed them with Elmers glue and water and bingo.....looks just like expensive tiles.  When I have to be inside I always put my thinking cap on and try to figure out how I can be creative in some way...without spending any "cash".  The pillows on the sofa are old ones...and I simply pinned that little decoration on the front of the yellow one. Here is a shot of the room from afar...

At my age it seems like it takes forever for me to get a project done.  But I keep plugging away at it a little at a time. You can see the changes in the above photo and if you check my last post you can see where I began.  Still have some mantle painting to do...doing a green wash over that black and then coming back with a final light, light wash of gold. Still have to finish up the edges and do a light wash over the face I have decoupaged.   I did a slight wash on the right side panel just to see what it would be like.   As I said Still working........ Hugs. Jo 

I have not been in the blogging world for quite some time now.  I have missed it and I have occasionally visited various friends here.  It does seem that this summer's events have really put a damper on who I normally am.   As most of you know....we moved in late July....a downsize which we love..but was SO VERY MUCH WORK.  Unpacked in about 5 weeks.  I mean everything...pictures on the walls everything organized for living. THEN....on August 26th my wonderful soulmate had some very serious colon surgery.  We are not "spring chickens" any longer so recovery has been a slow process for him.  And, it seems, for me also.  LOL LOL Perhaps there is a tad bit of depression going on....but I plan on snapping out of it and getting back with the business of life. Speaking of which.....tomorrow is my birthday.  Nothing big planned, although we are going to be going on a little trip for a week or so with our traveling frie...

"Wealth consists not in having great possessions~~ but in having few wants." Epictetus Right now as I'm going through our home and purging things ...... it has occurred to me that we spend most of our younger years acquiring things and a good part of our older years trying to rid ourselves of all the "stuff" we have managed to accumulate. I don't know if it is keeping up appearances or just the human desire to have "more".  I had a very dear friend once say to me that "it is good for the soul NOT TO GET EVERYTHING one wants".  At this stage I would more than agree with her...because as you collect and collect...there will come a day when you will have to give away and give away. In fact, when you really think about it..  "LIFE" IS A LOT LIKE THIS.  In your younger years you are vibrant and healthy and as you get older...more and more of your body betrays you....you cannot hold onto your looks ...

Do you have ungrateful people in your life?  I know I do.  Some of them are more in my life than I desire...but I do try to weed them out as I can. It does seem that a sense of entitlement goes hand in hand with a lack of gratitude.  I believe we American's as a whole believe we deserve the PERFECT life....since we believe we live in the perfect society...or so we are told in every way possible.  There has never been the perfect life.....nor will there ever be. Life is difficult at best and at other times it seems as though events are insurmountable...as the recent Boston Marathon can attest to.  Our  country is one of the few in the world who don't have to live every day with a constant threat of danger.....I MEAN CONSTANT....examine Israel....for just a small example So...on this day.....after yet another tragedy.....I vow to up my gratitude quotient....by focusing entirely on what I have instead of what I don't have.  A...

"Patience is waiting. Not Passively waiting~~that is laziness.  But to keep going when the going is hard and slow~~that is patience." I have not always been the most patient of souls.  In fact, when I was younger I'll admit I had very little patience....and that has come back to haunt me in more ways than one. But.......as life has a way of slowing even the most impatient of us down.....I find lately that I have acquired more patience than I ever dreamed possible. Anything worth having....is worth waiting for is an old saying I have heard and repeated often. I believe that in the U.S......the "land of immediate gratification" patience is often placed on the back burner because of having to "keep up with the Jones's and the ease of charging everything" thereby never having to wait for anything. I'm not sure this has served us well....I certainly believe that I have benefited greatly by being able to wait until the time is ...