Monday, December 21, 2015

A Kaleidoscope Life

Oh....my friends...
 it's been such along time since I last sat down with you all and shared my heart.
I feel so bad for neglecting you...but please know that I have not forgotten you.
I do hope to return to blogging more regularly soon...
once I catch my breath.

So many of you have checked in with me over the past months leaving messages of love and concern. 
Thank you all from the bottom of my heart!
They were like hugs of sweet sisterhood,
and I embraced and treasured each and every one of them.



So many many things have happened in my life during the past seven months as I struggled to gather my feet beneath me, accept the changes around me, and push forward on life's journey
with my strong husband at my side and sweet Maizie Grace at my feet.

Incredible things. Beautiful things. Exciting things.

Like a kaleidoscope quilt of many colors...
I share my blessings with you.

In May, spring exploded like a brilliant rainbow in the gardens.
I spread about 15 yards of dark brown mulch, carting the trailer along behind me on my lawn tractor.
It's hard work, but fresh mulch always makes any garden look neat and clean,
and helps keeps the weeds at bay.


The fountains trickled cool water for our feathered friends,
and all of our "frog boys" happily returned to party in the pond.


One of our wild turkeys even surprised us one day by laying an egg next to our pond.
That was an unexpected first!


We spent a few glorious summer days floating on our pontoon on a small, private lake
soaking up the sunshine and reveling in the peaceful beauty around us.
It was so relaxing and rejuvenating.


I discovered Flash Tattoos which I fell head over heels for.
There are plans in the works for getting a permanent one in April
with a Biblical scripture on my wrist as a tribute to my parents.


I continued adding more bohemian vibes to this grand old farmhouse,
by painting and distressing my craft cabinet
and gracing it with a painting my father once created for me.
Vintage looking boho fabric was tacked to the doors
for a splash of additional color and texture.


A piece of leftover barn wood was made into a rustic shelf
and hung on the wall over the tub.
It holds two paintings by my parents and a carved Moroccan trinket box.


and another one was added to the fireplace.
I'm glad that we saved all of the old wood from the barn renovation a few years ago.


Richer, deeper jewel tones now fill each room with warmth,
and I discovered a love for bird of paradise plants and orchids
which mix perfectly with boho style.


It was time for a new look for me, too.
So I had quite a few inches of my hair trimmed off.


With a big event planned here at the end of the summer,
it was time to get down to some dirty work in preparation.
We hauled out the old barn doors that had been laying in the meadow,
propped them up, and power washed them.


A few days later, the crew showed up to begin our new screened-in porch
that would be constructed over our old deck.
It would become a wonderfully shaded haven for us to relax during the warm months,
instead of huddling under a patio umbrella in the hot sun.


While the crew hammered the room into being,
I stained...and stained...and stained what would become the planked ceiling.
It was so exciting to watch this space become a room!


In between all of the staining,
I also painted the front porch floor with a fresh coat of lavender hued gray paint,
spray painted the white wicker with a deep espresso color,
 and added kantha quilt cushions.


 And as the hot, humid July continued,
the back porch began to take shape.
Remember those old barn doors we cleaned?
We used them for one wall.



 It took me about three days to paint them with two coats of white.
We love the texture, interest, and historical feel they add.


After four weeks of continuous hot, hard work,
the only thing the crew had to complete was the finished lattice beneath the porch.
The new space was ready to furnish. 


There is nothing more fun for me than to design and style a new room.
Espresso color painted wicker, a palm frond embossed ceiling fan,
a Pier I metal barrel side table, orchids, ferns,
and jewel toned pillows filled the cool, cozy, space.




All in all, the renovations included removing the widows-walk railing over the front porch, replacing the standing-seam metal roof, removing all shutters, revamping the supporting horizontal beams and rebuilding the columns on the front porch,
painting the front porch floor and wicker furniture,
building the screened in porch over the back deck ~
complete with a vintage style screened door that slams,
and finally giving the house a good wash.

Needless to say, we were thrilled with the results!
The new porch looked like it had always been there.
It "completed" Heaven's Walk.


Everything was finished just in time for the big event mid-August...
two days after our 31st wedding anniversary.

 Heaven's Walk hosted a wedding.

It must have been the most hot, humid day of the summer,
but at least it was a beautifully sunny one for the 160 people that attended.
We will be hosting another one in August 2016.


After the busyness of the summer, it was nice to slow down a bit and return to our seasonal chores of harvesting the garden, canning 350 jars of salsa, 24 pints of pickles, and freezing summer and spaghetti squash.


New bohemian dream catchers for some wonderful customers filled my studio...




and I even squeezed in some time for decluttering and reorganizing pantries,
drawers, and closets. I tossed out all processed food and sugar.
We are eating healthier now than ever before (low carb/no sugar),
and after losing eight pounds so far, I don't plan on ever changing this lifestyle. 


Seemingly, in the blink of an eye,
the garden was transformed from this...


to this....


and then back to this.


 Regardless of the warm winter we're having
(which I am loving by the way),
Christmas arrived at Heaven's Walk with new peacock colored ornaments
 that I am totally enamored with.
(I am also hoarding cherishing peacock and pheasant feathers sent to me from
a couple of kind, thoughtful Instagram/Facebook friends.)


I tucked some peacock feathers into our Christmas tree 
and laid some on the Moroccan coffee table tray.
Some treasured peasant feathers were placed into my dream catcher, the mantel garland,
as well as the cluster of candles,
which created an exotic feel to the decor.


 Yes...it's definitely been a kaleidoscope kind of life over the past seven months...
full of

 rich color,
warm love,
and deep blessings.

And I pray the same for you
this beautiful Christmas season!

~  Eucharisteo  ~



PS ~ Be sure to follow me on Instagram (bohemiansoul26) and on Facebook.
It's always the first places where I share what's going on here at Heaven's Walk!

Linking to the parties on the lower right of my sidebar.



30 comments:

  1. Such a beautiful post from a beautiful person! You are such a jewel Laurie! Wishing you blessings and love this holiday season.Xoxo Jen

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  2. Laurie,
    What a pleasant surprise to see you in my news feed, dear friend!!
    You've, truly, been missed herein The Land of Blog!!!
    While I enjoy keeping 'in touch' with you on Face book,
    I thoroughly enjoy hearing from you here, also!!!
    Merry Christmas to you and yours!!!
    Fondly,
    Pat

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  3. glad your back !!! and I must say your home and gardens are simply stunning, wonderful, beautiful, unique, cozy, simple, and you look beautiful as well, Merry Christmas !

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  4. Love your beautiful new porch! I bet you cannot wait to get out and enjoy it more in the spring. Depending on the weather, I may just serve Christmas dinner on the porch this year! I think it's going to be around 50 which as you know is really warm for this time of the year! Thank you for inspiring me to lose weight. Just like you I am in this for the rest of my life. I lost the weight that I wanted to, and I feel amazing!Wishing you and your husband a Merry Christmas! Blessings in the coming year!

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  5. Dearest Laurie,
    I have been smiling ear to ear to see this update and heart warming post. First up how pretty you look, smiling with your new cut golden locks. Laurie I can not even count the times I've checked your blog to see if perhaps I just missed a post, hey what can I say hope springs eternal. Your kaleidoscope of the past 7 months is refreshing and soulfully rewarding. Seriously 350 jars of salsa? Oh what a amazing yield. Your boho touches and your renovations have enriched your nest and I am sure comfort your heart. I am so glad you are back to Blog Land. i posted my Christmas presentation dealing with yet another loss and I will return back in 2016 with new adventures and a joyful heart to share,
    Wishing you and yours a blessed Christmas.
    xoxo,
    Vera

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  6. You HAVE been busy! What wonderful, productive months you've had...Now settle in to enjoy the winter and savor the results of your diligence. Merry Christmas!

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  7. You've had a busy year. I've enjoyed seeing it all on Facebook. I love your explosion of color. Wishing you a blessed, and, Merry Christmas!

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  8. What a lovely post and a wonderful year! I have enjoyed seeing on FB and instagram but do miss the blog have a wonderful Christmas and a blessed 2016!

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  9. This is quite a year. All good things and blessings to a beautiful, Bohemian soul.

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  10. So happy to have you back! I had just started following you when you disappeared :-) I can see why now and how wonderful to have all that done. It looks wonderful! I just love your style!

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  11. Laurie Nice to read you again....your home is wonderful....enjoy the week....
    Merry Merry Christmas love Ria ❤️❤️❤️

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  12. Oh so happy to have you back and to know that you are well and having wonderful changes in your life. Wishing you the best for Christmas and the New Year.

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  13. So wonderful to see you postings here. Yes i see your beauty on Facebook, but here it all flows together like life. Your many changes like the seasons have found you with peace and the comfort of living with a colorful life, and yet the snow that has fallen compliments the layers you have added to color in your home. Loving the hippy in you girl! Boho suits you well, so reminds me of the young Tracy Porter and her boho style! Do you know her, her books I still have and often dream of going wildly crazy and adding everything I love with colour.
    The heavens walk looks amazing with all the add on to a summer porch so zen like, and the beauty in creating form your barn wood.
    Thank you for sharing hope to see more of you here.

    A very Merry Christmas to you my dear.
    Xoxo
    Dore

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  14. Your old barn doors are beautiful as is your old farmhouse. Merry Christmas to you and yours.

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  15. Dear Laurie... thank you for sharing the seasons at Heavens Walk here on your post... it looks like it has been a most wonderful year for you... I love all of the changes in your home, the boho lifestyle suits you well, and look at you, you are stunning gypsy girl!... your home is filled with so many pretty things, precious heirlooms, happiness and love... wishing you and Rog and Maizie a very Merry Christmas... love you, xoxo... Julie Marie

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  16. Laurie, Glad to hear from you!! Love all the changes you've made to your beautiful home and garden. Happy Holidays to you and your family. I'll be featuring you this week at Simple & Sweet Fridays. Wonderful Post!!
    Hugs,
    Jody

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  18. Busy work for your new porch!! Many compliments for your home!!! Happy New Year!!

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  19. Nice pictures! I'm very happy to see your interesting article. Hope you will be healthy in the new year.

    Please visit Helen's blog

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  20. Well I haven't missed it as I follow on FB. But its so nice to have it all in one post and when you do, we realize how fast life is moving and how many amazing things can happen in just one year. xo

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  21. It all looks just lovely Laurie...the new porch is a great add on and looks like it has been there for ages.....love the boho look ...have a nice week...Gail x

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  22. Hi Laurie!
    Wow...how utterly beautiful!
    I l o v e that porch...what a work of love and beauty!
    And the winter shot of it...gorgeous!
    Bless you sweet friend.

    All my heart,
    Deborah xo

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  23. I just came here from Connie's blog Hartwood Roses, and I love what I have seen so far. I look forward to visiting more often. I've been inspired by your lovely place.

    FlowerLady

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  24. Gorgeous photos. You have a lovely blog. :)

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  25. Laurie where are you? Its January 2017 now and I miss your blog and lovely posts. I loved reading the emotions you expressed with everything including taking down the tree which was how I discovered your blog. I hope your absence means things are going beautifully!

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    1. Hello sweet friend! I'm still here, but just lost my mojo with blogging after my parents passed away a couple years ago. I've kept my blog open for those who want to visit past posts, though. I'm so happy that you took the time to leave me a sweet message. I am spending much more time on my FB and IG pages, if you want to follow me there. My IG acct is bohemiansoul26. I may get back to blogging sometime in the future...who knows. :) Bless you and thank you again for your concern and love! Hope to see you over in FB or Instagram! xoxo Laurie

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  26. Love this everything about it. I miss you Laurie!

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  27. Hi Laurie can I get your bleaching instructions on how to bleach an oatmeal linen white thank you

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  28. I hope you are doing great! I got sidetracked with health issues for about 5 years. Just checking today and see you also have not been posting. I've missed all this and plan to be back again. Hope to see posts from you also.

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Bless you and thank you for visiting! I read each of your comments and treasure them all. So, please make sure your settings will accept emails, or leave your email address so that I can reply! ♥ Laurie