Enjoying this week between holidays...

This was such a peaceful and wonderful Christmas. It's sad that we didn't get to have our grand baby here for her first Christmas. But her Daddy had to work... even on Christmas day. I felt sorry for them. But they dealt with it graciously. God is good. We will be able to see them at the end of January for a complete Christmas and Birthday celebration party! Big party! My husband is turning the big 50, my son's birthday is tomorrow (oops*) ... my daughter-in-law's birthday was 12/10 and mine was 12/17. So, I'm hoping to get some family together for a good time. (*Son's birthday is not until 1/30... my bad.. and as usual I'm always confused!)

I have new pics to show, but don't have time right now... maybe I'll get to them when I come home from work. I still need to download them from my camera. Progress is being made, slowly but surely on my hutch. I've placed an order for some glass door knobs, and resin drawer pulls. I'm also adding appliques. I don't want to overdo. I think a few properly placed pieces can have more of an impact than pieces placed on all the surfaces, i.e., drawers, doors, sides, you get the idea.

Gotta run... stuff to do before getting ready for work and a couple of errands to run before going to work.

Hugs all around,
Penny Sue

Project #1 set for completion in January 2011...

Since most of you know I'm the procrastination queen... (we all want to be queen of something, don't we?) I have started working on a project that will hopefully be done in a month.


Quite a few years back I received this old china cabinet/hutch from my Dad. It had been my Mom's to hold the "overflow" of home decorations which she kept in the basement. She would frequently change her cabinet decorations around, and this cabinet was well used. It's been through a couple of flooded basement fiascoes... smelled musty, and was just what I wanted! Really!

Anyhow, I painted it Antique White a long time ago, removed the musty smelling drawer felts, and have used it ever since. However, it's in need of a fresh coat of paint, attention to detail such as the hardware, a new bottom, a new shelf, and a top and back. If I'm going to paint this again, it's going to be done properly so as not to have to do it again in the near future.


Doors and drawers... this is the space that needs the new bottom shelf, and the recessed shelf to make a second layer for storage. The original shelf was very warped and the bottom is as well. The drawers just need their hardware back and a pretty drawer liner to cover the wood. I was thinking copies of sheet music that I have of melodies from the 40's. I love that old music. I have piano sheet music on hand, as I play the piano, so I won't have to purchase anything.


This top piece is not permanently attached to the base. It's the piece that is in need of the most visible work. There are two shelves and two doors that are not attached right now. I would like to put the doors back on but don't know what to use to replace the amber '70's looking glass I removed. I bought panes of glass to try to replace them myself and ended up breaking one using a glass cutter. I suppose I could take it to a glass business and pay them to do it. Since the doors will most likely be open a majority of the time, I was thinking about having lavender colored glass put in. When I get tired of the lavender (which will be NEVER) I can always get something else put in its place. Also, the entire piece will be embellished with appliques from "Do It Yourself Chic". They have a website that is referenced in some of my magazines. doityourselfchic.com. Their prices are reasonable, and they have so many beautiful appliques to choose from. That, for me, will be the hard part. Making a choice among so many pretty things.


Looking up through the top at the face of my printing press drawer, which is the only thing big enough I had to use as a makeshift top.


The peg-holes for the shelf supports. The shelves are removed for the time being.


The top portion removed and preparing to paint.


The bottom portion waiting its turn.

Oh, and the wallpaper? Not staying either. I'm not much into the oriental motif. People either love it or hate it. Guess which I am?

I'll take pictures along the way. Wait until you see the backing color I picked. There's a hint in the photos. :)

Hugs all around,
Penny Sue

The count down has begun...

And I'm not ready. Big surprise! The Master Procrastinator is here! I supposed maybe it's because I work so well under pressure... (not!). I'll be stressed tomorrow when I try to get more done in a day than I can possibly do... but always remembering that it is self-induced. Oh well... I wouldn't know how to be any other way, as much as I might like to try. In fact, after Thanksgiving company has left, that is one of my major goals. Get organized. You see, I'm organized in my head, it's just the follow-through that suffers immensely. My sister was born organized (and 5 sizes smaller, but we won't go there) and I love to go to her home to be inspired. Our tastes vary, but I glean the sense of order and comfort. I doubt she spends days looking for instructions she knows she found in some book or magazine or publication as to taking care/laundering/pressing/storing vintage and antique linens. She would have it in a file someplace, and go put her hands right on it should someone need it. Well, you get the idea.

Charlie and Colleen and baby are arriving sometime around Noon on Wednesday this week. Charles is supposed to be home around the same time. Since I have to work Wednesday evening, I'm planning on having a nice meal together for lunch, and perhaps some navy bean soup in the crock pot for their dinner whenever they get hungry. I'll be posting pics and info for "foodie" stuff on my other blogspot page... "Come join our table". As I've shared before, things have slowed down this year as far as the home entertaining goes, and I have not had much opportunity to post. However, this year has been a difficult year for us.

I received this past Friday the baby's Graco Pack-n-Play. It's a play-pen, crib, bassinet, changing station all in one. It's heavenly. And it's a bit larger than I had anticipated. I'll go take a picture of it to post here. Right now, I need to go get ready for work. I'll be back later. OK, I'm back, it's late, I'm tired, and I'll take the pic tomorrow.

Hugs,
Penny Sue

It's so cold!!!

And just like that... I'm sick. I went to work this afternoon, and within a half hour, I have caught a head cold. I hate having a cold. I've been sucking down the Vitamin C hoping to tweak up my immune system. I'm heading to bed... and I'm sure I'll sleep.

Finally, a good night's sleep...

I've been having difficulty sleeping for the past couple of weeks. I fall asleep, then wake up several times in the night. Or I can't fall asleep for hours. Then when morning rolls around, I'm exhausted, and don't want to get out of bed. Last night was marvelous. I slept well and completely. I'm so thankful.

Looking forward to these days before Thanksgiving day to clean, tidy, organize and get my house in order for coming family. Our son, daughter-in-law and grandbaby are coming for the holiday and I want everything to be perfect. Perfect is kind of far away right now.

Here's a pic of our first grandchild. Her name is Riley Anne Grace.

Good night everyone... rest well