I Finished the Chandelier

I received a delightful email from a blogger the other day that made me chuckle and truly just made my day.

She said that she'd seen my name and picture/logo around the blogs on comments but didn't think we'd have anything in common. Finally, she got up the nerve to come over and see what I did and was like. WOW! She then told me she loves how I write and loves my blog and photos of my home. I chuckled all the way through it because I've always said people don't know how to take me. While she was having issues with my calling others honey, sweets, chick, sweetpea, she finally decided to take a look after those sobriquets threw her off thinking I was something of a new wave beatnik. Nuuuuuu, not at all. What a sweetheart to confess she judged me wrong. I have definitely done this. I'm very opinionated, you know! I have also done the exact same thing. (As a matter of fact, one of the best friends I ever had was at first my nemesis.) She said she'll be back and that she loves my stuff and felt ashamed for judging. How generous and sweet of her to admit it even though we'll probably never meet. I think I'd found a new friend and I want to thank her profusely for giving me a glance and chance! :-)
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Time gets away from me sometimes when I'm reading a good mystery. Ever happen to any of you? Well, it definitely does for me.

But anyway, while taking a break from a book recently I finally got to finish the froufrou-ing up of the white painted wrought iron chandelier.

You can still see the hot glue strands I neglected to pick off.

I used 3 different kinds of ribbon, then glued paper roses to each candle holder arm.

I have a plethora of tiny pink roses so I glued one to each candlestick. Okay, let's be realistic here—I probably won't ever light these candles. ;-)

I then put a candle wreath in the center with a rose. I may put another one or two on there also and I wrapped the top with white garland. A pink ribbon is attached to hang it from the ceiling.

It was really windy when I photographed this just as the sun was over the peak and before it set for the evening.

And this is the final result.

I really do like to get photos of it in different locations with different lighting so here are a few more. I beg forgiveness. ;-)


Okay, I added a tiny rose to each of the strands of hanging pearls and also a larger one to the wreath in the middle.


And as the saying goes: The rest is history. I looked all over this place for a spot to put it. I first thought I would hang it in the guest bathroom but that just wasn't going to work out. No matter how high I put it, it was still too low and the beads would have grazed and graced the heads of visitors. :-)

And, yes, I did bring the fancy prom dress in from the office to our bedroom. I thought it would look nice in here for a change.

And while it looks a bit crooked, it probably is. But I haven't adjusted the candles in it while up on the bed. I got off the bed backwards, and since it is so high, promptly almost fell on my bum while attempting this and it was NOT a pretty sight seeing an old lady totter backwards so to keep my balance! Trust me. I have no clue how I managed to maintain my dignity. So I'm not adjusting for a while, but it is also handmade so there's a good possibility it isn't perfect. It only adds to its charm for me that way.

And, yes again, those are my purple socks on the floor next to my side of the bed. And, yes, Love Bunny asked if it would stay here (the chandy, not my socks). I said, "Yes!". . . for a while anyway. ;-)
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Nesting and Some Random Thoughts 7/6/2010

For me it's all about "nesting." Staying home and cocooning with my hubby. It hasn't always been so to the degree that it is now. For many years I worked outside of the home and my nights and weekends were very sacred to me. But, actually, monday night was my most favorite night of the week to me. No, we didn't watch sports but it just seemed the nicest night of the week for me.

But now as we grow older it is nice to not have to go anywhere if we don't want to. Our church sets aside monday nights for the family and sundays after church for families also. They encourage us to spend as much time with our families as possible because of the busyness of the world.

Several months ago I did a giveaway of some hanging wood elements that said this. I loved those letters but I made another set for our family room. Truthfully, I meant to get the letters H, O, M and E but I forgot when I picked these out. When I got home I decided to keep them and do them in the same fabrics I did them in back then. I cannot seem to find the post on which I gave these away and they're not exactly the same trim but the fabric is.

These will not be given away, but will go either in my living room or my office. I haven't decided yet, but I do know they are mine!

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Random Thoughts:

Evil most definitely exists in this world. I've seen it in some people. No, it isn't associated with mental disorders; evil needs no help. It exists just fine by itself. We are all born with the light of Christ, but some people choose evil. Yes, they choose evil! I see it today among many popular persons, and it astounds me how much evil can exist to the extent it does in the world today.
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A couple of weeks ago while getting ready for bed, Love Bunny started laughing out loud when he took the pillows off his side of the bed. I asked him what was so funny and he said that I had moved the chair he usually puts the pillows on and all of a sudden it was back that night and he wondered where it came from in just a couple of days. He got me to laughing hard also, but I told him things change around a lot in this house. He should be used to it by now, right?
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I saw on the news where that Dutch man killed that young woman in Peru and if found guilty he can get UP TO 35 years in prison. UP TO??!! Where is the sanctity of life? He should be in prison for LIFE for killing an innocent woman. I was astounded.
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Scenery isn't particularly interesting to other bloggers when I post it. Oooh, there might be a house or a garden but just plain old scenery? Nahhh. So I don't show it too much. I had hundreds of photos in my collection of places we'd been and it all sort of ran together after a while so I threw them out. After all, when you've seen a mountain, beach, lake or field, that's pretty much it. I don't want to stare at them in photos anymore.
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Sometimes people don't know how to take me. I'm cheery, upbeat, humorous and just about always smiling. Why? Because I'm a happy person. (Yes, I do have MY days, but all-in-all I'm happy!) It seems as though they think I'm weird or nuts, but I'm not. I'm much rather be on the bright side than gloomy. I want to water the world with Hope. I think I do, but I refuse to be gloomy on a regular basis as some people are.
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When I say I let it all hang out that usually means I'm not wearing a bra.
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Giveaway

I realized a few days ago that I've surpassed 900 blog posts! I wanted to have a giveaway then but decided to wait until this day to combine the giveaway with Kristina's giveaways. You'll do well to visit her. She's truly a hoot. You'll become addicted to this chick and her blog regularly gets hundreds of comments on each post. And do NOT let the photos of Mickey Rourke (whoever he is) scare you away. You'll probably be on this chick's blog for hours reading.
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I am following Kristina's advice to celebrate your love for America and Freedom by fulfilling people's insatiable need for greed and covetousness by participating in Kristina's Giveaway on her blog, which you will LOVE! Hers is the only, and I mean ONLY, blog I have ever found where I went back to her very first post and read all the way through. (Yes, she got better at it. Wink. ) Though Mormon like me, she loves Britney, Mario, Th' Hoff, Las Vegas casinos, Cowbell, a certain office mate—who shall remain nameless (but he knows who he is and his name starts with a Cha....)—and just about any completely weird person (Snuggies are a favorite love of hers even if they aren't a PERSON). I do believe she's seeing a counselor for these addictions, however, so give her a break. I truly do love this chick and her warped sense of humor, which by no means is indicative of all us Mormons—only a few of us. (I've also had serious doubts about her actually BEING a Mormon since she hasn't given birth every 3 minutes like most of us (THEM and not ME!) and regularly states how she despises babies and has an unhealthy fear of all things in diapers and that upchuck and/or smell like baby puke.) In her spare time she knits feminine products for the disadvantaged ladies of the evening and hosts dubious seminars around Utah and lunches with moms who inflict their little munchkins upon her and scare the heck out of her with them. I can tell this by the look of fear on her face when this happens. Go figure!

My giveaway will be six (6) of these coffee filter roses with rose fragrance. I promised Kristina I wouldn't do the Mario Lopez scent of his armpits, just heirloom roses. So just leave a comment on this blog right here. Now, what could be easier, chicks? I also promised Kristina that none of this would ever be known by her Bishop . . . unless, of course, I run short of money at the end of the month and need to increase my bank account. Then all bets are OFF the table, sugar!

And look like this when clustered in groups of six. Uhhhhh, in white of course. ;-)
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Lemonade and Roses for 4th of July

Happy 4th of July, my sweet blogger friends! I hope each and every one of you takes the time today to think about what our forefathers did and went through to give us this great country. Thank your military and veterans today also. They give up so much to protect us and our country.

No one understands the relationship between individual achievement, dignity and strength than our armed forces. Through every war our soldiers have held this nation's destiny in their hands. They have not failed us. They cherish freedom enough that they are willing to die for it. Our duty to them and to ourselves is to treasure freedom enough to live up to it. The desire for freedom is in every human heart. Thank you!!!!
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I make a fresh pitcher of lemonade everyday. Yep, I sure do. I love it, but I love the fresh kind the best. I don't add sugar until it's poured into the glass. That way visitors or Love Bunny can sweeten it to their preference and with sugar or artificial sweetener. I use artificial sweetener because I don't want the extra calories. It tastes wonderful just fresh squeezed with the pulp floating around in it. Yuuuuummmmm...

And you thought I'd forget the eye candy, huh? As if those two hunks in the above photos weren't enough eye candy for you!! Purrrrrr... Nope, here are some roses I have in the house that are not real—don't know if some are silk but the first one is. I found this one only many years ago and have never found any more like it. Usually people think these are real.

This one feels like a real rose. I have no clue what it is made of but it's a very sturdy material, whatever it is. This has fooled many people with it realness. It is beautiful and I have several like it.

The rest are from my rose garden and were all taken on the same morning—wednesday the 16th of June. Aren't they beautiful? I even Photoshopped some for a blogger to use if she wants to use them for her designs.

The rose garden in front of the house.

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Pink Saturday 7/3/2010

First of all, I have had so many bloggers email me the past several weeks complaining about losing their old templates. I've told you to save it before doing anything with the new "Design" element. And I've had to save a couple of bloggers bacon. So if you want your old templates back, you can get them. But you need to check out my blogging tutorial for the information at the top of my blog above. The info is there and yes, I'm going to make you work for it, but a good idea would be to check on my post from Wednesday, June 30. That might cause you to not waste so much time. AND next time, be very careful and heedful when I tell you something!
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Please join Beverly of How Sweet The Sound for Pink Saturday by going to her website and checking out all the chicks. You won't be sorry.

The bloggers I visited last week for the first time were: Christi of A Southern Life, Jenn of The Red Bulletin Board, Sonia of Miss Bloomers and Jen of jnichelle. Visit with them! Cute blogs.
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I finally got to cover this vintage suitcase, but I'm not sure now if I'll put it on the plant shelf. Hmmmm...

Oh, why not! It looks good up there.


Random Thoughts:

The other day I got home from buying gas for my car and hubs asked me what I paid for it. I said, "$2.72 a gallon." He raised his eyes and said, "Ooooh, that's good!" I never, ever in my life thought I'd live to see the day when he said that about $2.72 gasoline!
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Look, can we talk about self-esteem for a minute? I am so sick and tired of people talking about the self-esteem of children and teens. I don't think they worry about it half as much as their moms worry about if their child was prettier, too fat or smarter. That has nothing to do with self-esteem. It has to do with confidence and truly knowing who they are. I know who I am. I have no problem with self-esteem. I'm confident in my ability to be...what(?)...a nice person, a child of God, not a raving beauty (In fact, if homely was a disease and had an organized charity, I could be their poster child.-!) I guess someone in my life—parents, grandparents, hubby—has made me realize how special I am, as each person can feel by just realizing their own abilities and working to the very best of their ability. And don't even get me started on plastic surgery for 12 year olds. That's absurd! When we are resurrected, we'll be just as we are now without all the plastic surgery and gender changes. (And for me that means, no gray hair (and I love it!), no wrinkles, no age spots on my hands, no saggy...uhhhh...you know, and an ideal weight. I can promise you that! So, get a life, live it to the fullest and thank God you are here at this particular time in the history of this earth.
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And speaking of that, the other day I got out of bed and looked in my mirror while hubs was shaving and asked him how he could love somebody that looked that I did in the morning. He looked over at me, closed his eyes and gave me a kiss. Then he said, "Like this, that's how." I knew at that moment how much he loves me.
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I was at Sephora in the mall the other day to buy a face brush for cleansing my face. I paid for it and the saleswoman asked me if I wanted a sample of some face cream or something like that and I said, "No." She kept at me until I finally said NO rather emphatically. I didn't want or need it so why take it when I know perfectly well I wasn't going to be enticed to buy it. So, what is it with people when they simply can't take NO for an answer?
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Why liters instead of ounces? We live in America and don't do liters and yet on every bottle of soft drinks it has liters and I have to guess what ounces they are.
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I'll leave you with these today. I have lots more I can assure you. :-)
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