Gone Junkin'....

Saturday morning dawns bright and early....and Mom and I have plans to hit a couple of estate sales! 

Oh, boy, can we ever get into some trouble when we hit the streets....

And, oh boy!  Did we ever hit the jackpot on this Saturday....

When I saw it, I had to have it!  Ripped the tag and called Eddie on the spot.  "Hurry up and bring the truck!"

Of course, it required a total "rearrange" of the living room to fit it in.  But, Mom was eager and willing.  And Eddie was leaving for work, so we had 8 hours to get the job done.

I don't know why this appealed to me so much.  Perhaps it is the retro vibe...a throwback to something that lurks in my childhood memories.  The color, the fabric, the style....just beckoned me to take it home and make it work. 

We huffed....we puffed....we unloaded a huge hutch and barrister bookcases....and reloaded them in new places.  We strained....we pulled....we pushed a heavy piano around the room to create a new look.

And I'm pleased.  Very pleased.  Ecstatic, even, with the results!

It's a fresh look for the living room.  And the total investment was - are you ready for this???? - $75. 

Now, that's what I call "a successful day of junkin'"!!!

A Little Peek at Home...

Since it's the end of the week, I thought I would share a little peek of the living room as it has come together. 

I just love the light in this room.  A wall of windows faces west and the room is awash with warm afternoon sunlight.  The walls are my favorite neutral shade in the world...Laura Ashley Gold 3. 

Warm, soft, and oh so YUMMY....just like butter.   

Since we have moved into a smaller home, we have had to downsize in some areas.  Thankfully, The Husband gave up his monster-sized television and we moved the smaller flatscreen from our bedroom into the living room.  The scale is much more suited to the size of the living room. 

  The painting on the right was done by a local artist in New Braunfels, Texas.  We call it "Tres Amigos" and Eddie fancies himself as the one on the left.  It used to hang in his office, but my mom and I hijacked it for this spot in the living room.  Isn't it perfect?

Instead of a large coffee table, we used a small antique wood chest, piled with a few picture books.  My favorite touch is the vase of fresh pink tulips, an ode to the appearance of Spring. 

I love the contrast of the masculine and the feminine in this room ~ the rustic star on the wall next to the feathery buffet lamp; the soft pink blooms against the wood and wrought iron furniture.    

I can spend hours and hours in this room.  It feels warm and cozy no matter what time of the day.

This is just a peek, but I'm linking up to "Glimpses of Home" over at Chatting at the Sky, a charming blog.  Check it out!

Sending out wishes for a wonderful weekend!

Jane

Seeking BEAUTY and JOY

The truth?  I've been feeling a little "blah" for some time now. 

With the move and remodel, the last couple of months have been overwhelming and the schedule has left little time for reflection.  I chalked the blue mood up to exhaustion, being spread too thin, and the overly long, dreary winter.  But, now that the pace is slowing down a bit, I have had a bit more time for my thoughts and sorting through them.

I had an "light bulb moment" this afternoon - an epiphany, of sorts.  It came to me that I have simply allowed the present circumstances to cloud my vision and make me loose focus. 

After a long afternoon spent at the desk, paying bills, updating dwindling checking accounts and making numerous phone calls to try to resolve a frustrating business situation, I wandered through the living room and my eyes fell upon a vase of pink tulips.  Eddie Dale picked up a couple of bunches of them at the store yesterday afternoon because we were having our first real guests for dinner at our new place.  Seeing the slant of the sun through the front windows, the delicate curve of the stems and the unfurling petals turned toward the light, I saw BEAUTY and found JOY.

BEAUTY and JOY...two things I have been overlooking for quite some time now.  It's not that they weren't there.  It's just that I wasn't looking for them.  And therein lay my problem.

I ran for the camera, excited to snap the images and preserve that moment. 

These photos are a reminder to me that there is BEAUTY all around me, even in the little things.  There is JOY there for me, also.  I have only to seek and recognize it...and then accept it.

Yes, the circumstances right now are trying.  Come Wednesday, I will not have a kitchen for at least 4-6 weeks.  I am unemployed, as is my husband.  My daughter is in the middle of difficult divorce and my heart is broken over this.  I have a bathroom vanity sitting in my guest bedroom and our backyard is nothing but red dirt and weeds right now.  Our garage is filled to the rafters with boxes and the project list is long.

But, I am so blessed to have a home, a wonderful husband, a supportive family close to me, wonderful friends who have shown up to help and made life here so much more fun....the list just goes on and on. 

Funny how these simple, but intricate, pink blooms made me realize that I have to look for the joy and not wait for it to knock me over the head.  And look how cheerful they are here in our living room. 

Have you ever just gotten so caught up in the day-to-day that you forgot to see what mattered?   I hope that you will slow down the pace a bit today and see the little unexpected things that God has placed in your path to bring you JOY.

Grace to You,

Jane