Our Exchange Student Experiences and a Giveaway

A couple of weeks ago, I had a giveaway. The prize was never claimed, or in other words, they never answered me as to where to send it to them. Therefore, I'm again giving away this little ribbon tree and a dozen paper roses in the next week or two. I'd stay tuned and visit here often to see when I'm giving it away. Leaving a comment, become a follower, and give me a way to get in contact with you and you're in for the drawing! That'll do it. Easy Peasy, gals!

Not these; they're for my home, but I'll make some just like them.

Many years ago we hosted some exchange students. Our first was Rafael from Spain.

He was the perfect student and house guest. We loved having him for the school year he was here. His father, a lawyer, and mother came over with his younger brother to visit and go skiing in the Idaho ski country and they were delightful.

Then we had a girl from Spain. She came over for a summer tour and was also a very good house guest. She came back for a month or so to visit but she never went to school over here. She loved the USA though.

Then we had David from the Republic of Georgia. That didn't go well at all. He was a charmer but definitely a communist. He stole checks from me and forged my name. Luckily, the bank became suspicious and called me. I got the police involved and would have sent him packing but another family took pity on him and took him in. I doubt they regretted it but they probably wouldn't do it again. That was when I told hubs I'd never ever host another person. Just too much responsibility.
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Sometimes you just fall in love with everything on the post you are creating. That is the situation here.

While I like blue, it's not a color I use a lot. But this small area of a kitchen made me smile. I think it's quite cute.

While this style of beach chair is making a comeback, I remember the original ones back in the 40s. They can now be made with any color or pattern of duck or canvas fabric so they are friendly to adding style instead of just plain ol' beige duck fabric.

Blue again! Another fabulous dining room.

Okay, I'm seeing a trend in this post: blue. This is a stunning kitchen, dining, whatever room.

I'm really not into little girls' rooms but I couldn't pass this one up. I would like to see this in Miss Caroline's room, but her room is definitely cute in pink and purple.

Again, blue and with Cath Kidston elements thrown in also.

This lids and bins underneath the shelf are cleverly done with style.

I thought you'd like to see these darling jewelry holders.

Okay, orange is my least favorite color as I've said several times before. This, however, is gorgeous with the pink, red and purple to offset the orange.

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Photos courtesy of google images, pinterest and tumblr.

Perplexed Sometimes

I really need to comment on this as it has me bewildered.


Have any of you, when you're viewing your own blog, look to the "next" blog as it says up in the extreme left hand corner of the browser? It's just on the opposite side of where you see your name, new post, design and sign out on the right side. I did just recently, having been inquisitive for a while about it but never cared enough to click to the "next" blog.


Now, mine is a chick blog, but the several ones next came up as scent or various other things, but not anything near to what I blog about. Some of them hadn't been updated for a couple of years. Some even said they gave up blogging. I don't know if they just happened to forget to delete the blog or not but they still showed up. Lots of them. Some even had absolutely nothing to do with my blog. I thought perhaps they might be similar blogs but nope, nothing at all I'd be interested in. Very perplexing. Give it a try sometime and see what you come up with.
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I really like the look in this room. Very elegant, vintage and rustic.

Polka dots are also a favorite of mine. I don't have much around the house in dots but I could if I found the right stuff.

A French flour container with gorgeous flowers.

Another French looking dining room.

A tiny writing area.

A beautiful old lamp to a beautiful entry.

You know by now how I feel about decorated bottles, right? You should!

Aaaaaah, to have that much fabric that neatly organized would be a blessing.

A quiet lunch with a friend.

Exquisitely saved for her posterity.

Love these colors.

Beautifully elegant chandelier with rusty elements along with silver and rose make a lovely vignette.

Nice spot for a glass of lemonade to relax.

Pink Sofa I lust over.

I have several of these hanging on my doors in my home. I stuff them with sawdust, which is light, and fragrance them with fragrant oils I buy online.

I have so wanted to paint our pine dresser but it just isn’t getting done in the near future. I like this one though.

A vintage cabinet we’d all like to have.

A very unusual bathroom.

Pretty window.

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Photos courtesy of pinterest and tumblr.

It Ain't Easy Hemming Pants!

Welcome to another Pink Saturday. Visit Beverly's blog and see all the other participants.
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Recently I bought a pair of Tencel pants from an upscale online store. I love the feel of them, rather silky like. But as always I needed to hem them. I'm 5' 4 1/2" tall, which is considered average, but pants are always too long for me. I have a 26 1/2" length from the crotch seam to where I like the pant to fall. So I had to hem them and therein lies this story.


I rarely make or fix anything in sewing that I get right the first time. These pants were no exception. It took me 3 days to hem them—actually a couple of hours of actual doing it and the rest of the time to recuperate/think about doing it.


The actual measuring and remeasuring took at least one day. I didn't want to be hasty and regret it by cutting them too short. This has happened before and I had to add lace to the bottom, which was actually serendipitous because they turned out beautifully and people take notice of them and ask me where I got them. They say they like them. Good thing because they're way too short without the lace.


Then I cut—with extreme caution. That took a full day because I wanted to be sure. (Let me say here that I'd go read a book, come in here and blog or eat myself silly in between these times!) Then another day...well, let me cut to the chase there. I hemmed them and they were way too long, so I had to take the hem out, cut again and hem them again. This took the rest of the time I mentioned above—a full day—to get up the energy to finish the hem at 26 1/2". I hate hemming pants!
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I love old architectural details. Oh, I don't buy many but I do love to feast my eyes on them. They simply bring peace to my heart and soul.

See, you don't have to use red and green and gold for Christmas decorating. I've used pinks, purples and reds for the past three years as this homeowner has done.

Quiet, serene, peaceful are all applicable to this lovely patio.

Wonderful place for a honeymoon or an anniversary celebration.

Another homeowner who follows her own rules instead of letting others dictate what she probably doesn't like as well is this stunning door.

Squeeeeeal!!! Can you imagine this in your home? While it isn't feasible it sure is cute and makes a great photo shoot.

Pretty similar to the white wreath on my front door.

This is my front door.

Just some gorgeous eye candy for you. Aren't these colors and items spectacular?

I have some rose plates just like these.

Stunning red doors that look very old but still gorgeous.

This has to be just for show because there is no way you could put tea, coffee or chocolate in it and pour. Gorgeous however!

Flowered sofas I thought you'd enjoy seeing.

Fresh pink flowers to brighten this charming mantle.

What a gorgeous cabin living room.

Cute display for coat racks. I have 2 of them I don't have hanging in the house because I didn't know what to do with them, but this gives me an idea.

Unique idea for storage if you have an open staircase like this one.

I also love classical furniture. Yep, I sure do.

I really do like this chair but somehow I can't see it in my house.

Another classic setting I love.

This just looks so inviting and peaceful I had to show you.

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Photos courtesy of pinterest and tumblr.