Around Home --- Summer 2025
We have had quite a few changes around home this Summer. Jared and Lydia's living arrangements changed which meant adjustments for us. It meant I could change the kids bedroom around some. I still keep clothing, toys and a place for them always, but it meant I could redecorate. I admired my step mom and Daddy's yellow bedroom. I decided to cope with the change by doing something cheerful and sunny.
Sunny Yellow Bedroom
Below: Another glimpse of the new bedroom set. I LOVE Facebook marketplace! We have met some of the nicest people and gotten some hella deals on great stuff! We totally redid this bedroom for around $1300. Painting made us realize the screens on the windows need replacing so we'll do that. We also realized the ceiling fan was messed up so we just got a new one. Much better.
Below: the new wall above the bed with a painting and some scrollwork plaques. 
They are well made, historic, and Kenny's grandmother used to sell this stuff when it became known as "Home Interior". I am very sentimental. I could not stand the gold leaf look though. Instead I spray painted it satin white. Once dry I painted the details on it with glue and sprinkled it with white sand.
Next I gave it a pearl wash and as that dried I sprinkled it with diamond dust for sparkle. I enjoy doing floral arranging so this was a fun project for me. I ended up with something lovely and antique with an updated look.
Below is the finished product on the bedroom wall.
I ordered a universal remote for a spare TV and now that bedroom has its own TV which is handy.
The kids go in there and watch movies or cartoons when Papaw is monopolizing the TV. 😃
Happy the Kitten-- New Addition to the Family
Back Memorial Day weekend we visited my parents in Virginia. It was a great visit. My dad and step mom had numerous kittens thanks to someone dropping off a couple pregnant mama cats. They were wonderful and got the mothers cared for along with the neighbor Mrs Peggy's help. The mama's are spayed. The female kittens are spayed. Daddy at 81 has ALWAYS liked cats and almost always had a cat. He'd been without one since Sugar died. Sugar was his cat and let's say not the most friendly.
She liked Daddy, Brian, Joshua, and Valerie. Most everyone else she would attack. He didn't want to get anymore cats partly from grief, but partly from thinking a new pet might outlive him.
The stray kittens were issued by the Cat Distribution System of the Universe. So he whispered to me one evening" Don't tell Nana, but none of these kittens is leaving here!" He has been like a little kid with a new toy. He delights in their play and is so good to them. One black and white female kitten ran to Gabriel and jumped into his arms. She is his kitten and we named her Happy. She has a super dyna whoppin' ultra mojo purr motor. Especially for such a tiny creature. We brought her back to Tennessee and she has been an endless source of entertainment and snuggles. She's even been good for our two adult cats. They teach her how to behave and she makes them play and exercise again!
She got really sick and we thought she might not make it, but thank the Lord she healed with help from the Dr. Walker the vet and the Village Pharmacy in Eagleton compounded flagyl for kittens. She had a gut infection she may have had since birth. She is all well now. I told her I wanted her to go back to being a terrorist. She has done that and more.
Below is granddaughter Tessa holding Happy
.jpg)
Below: Mia wears mittens to handle Happy when she is in one of her feisty moods. It is funny. Mia has a drawer full of mittens from my Mama and wears them all.
Below is a cute video of Happy chasing Mia. It is so cute!
Below is a cute video of Gabriel playing with Happy in her tunnel/office. You wouldn't believe all the stuff we found stashed there! Lots of Mia's jewelry!
Indoor Pursuits
I have had to spend a bit more time indoors as I'm going through an asthma flareup. The worst in decades. Thankfully I've got plenty of hobbies to engage in while I'm healing. I am a real creative person. Music, art, design. None of it will ever take the place of being outdoors, but I do enjoy it.
I am a big fan of candles. I love for the house to smell good plus they make a room cozy.
I bought a bunch on sale after Christmas. One was vanilla and when I went to use it realized the container was shattered! I melted it down and repoured it using the wicks and wax and a pretty Swann Creek candle bowl I'd saved. It turned out great. I have really slowed down on making candles, but this one was out of necessity.
Below: finished product. The original swan creek candle in this bowl was so good I used it all up fast!
The bowl was too nice to toss so I ended up re-using it. Waste not. Want not.
I have really neglected my flowers and plants outside this season thanks to the need to remain indoors more. I did manage to grow some sunflowers, herbs, zinnias, and lots of tomatoes.
I've made a few new floral creations for myself and Crystal. Some of my stuff I made previously was getting in foul shape from wind, weather and time. It was time to make new stuff. Crystal's dog Rip is enormous and as tall as a man when he stands up. He was destroying the wreaths I made her. He could reach them easily. She asked me to make something that was not as oblong and would be harder for him to get and attract his attention a bit less.
Below : Crystal holds her new tobacco basket creation I made. It is not as dangly and will be a little harder for Rip to reach.
Below: Mia helps me bake Papaw's birthday cake. Gabe helped too. He did the cooked caramel icing since she is scared of the stove. This was the first time she wasn't too scared of the mixer. Now she likes it!
I have spent the Summer in the water at either the lake, river or pool. It helps me get outside without tearing up my lungs too bad. I am sure I'll be making more visits than I want to the lung specialist, cardiologist, and allergist. It is important to get this situation with my health figured out why so bad so suddenly? I am sneezing my head off every day. I have cleaned. Dusted, Vacuumed, worn masks, stayed indoors, and changed my medications around. Hopefully if the Good Lord wills it I'll be better soon.
New Playset at Gabe & Mia's House
Above: barrel of citronella, lemongrass and thyme.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thanks for reading and commenting. I enjoy hearing from those who read & make use of my blog. I have made some wonderful friendships through emails from readers. I respond to all comments and emails. I appreciate folks reaching out to let me know when my blog entries are not functioning correctly or if the situation somewhere has changed. Many Blessings to you!
Dana 🐝