Breathing in the New Year...

I took the day off today to breathe.

Breathe in being a wife and exhale the stress that has entwined itself around my mind.

Unwind.

Regroup.

Relax.

My body and mind needed it desperately.

If you follow me on Facebook, you know I've been driving two hours a day to spend the day with my mom who is now in a rehab center recovering from a recent stroke.

 It's taking a toll not only on my poor old SUV 

(which is having hiccup issues)

but on me, too.

I feel like I'm in the "Groundhog Day" movie;

getting up and doing the same thing over and over and over again, 

day after day after day.

I'm not complaining.

Really, I'm not.

The hours spent with Mom are treasured and cherished.

I need to be there to relieve my Dad and support him.

But I'm feeling frustrated with the lack of improvement I see in my Mom.

I expected her to be walking again

and feeding herself

and in the least able to hold a partial conversation with me.

So, I wait.

I hold her hand and rub her back.

I talk to her and tell her I love her.

I comb her hair and put on her lipstick.

I pray constantly.

I beg.

I cajole.

I pray again.

And I wait for God to answer our prayers.

~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  

I was anxious to get my house back in order after Christmas.

So I spent the day decluttering, putting away Christmas decor,

cleaning, and refloofing ~

And just breathing in being a housewife for the day.

I love doing housework.

It relaxes me and I don't stress out over it.

I found some time to hang another little chandy, too.

This one's just for looks right now,

and doesn't work quite yet.

But at least it's out of the box it was sitting in on the floor in my office.

It did my heart good to dip into my bucket of inspiration 

and create some new vignettes.

This darling little crown ring box filled with a couple tiny treasures

is one of many beautiful shabby chic Christmas gifts sent to me from my good friend and sister-in-Christ, 

Stephanie at The Spanish Dahlia.

♥

This old fruit drying crate was pulled from the abyss in my basement.

I've been wanting to use it in someway

but it continually stumped me

and I would find myself wandering blankly around the house with it.

Not quite sure it "feels" right yet, though.

This vignette may need a little reworking.

I moved to the kitchen and freshened up the table vignette.

Blush pink roses drying on the pie safe,

will soon join the dried ones

on the other side of the kitchen.

I'm breathing easier now.

A little creativity does do the heart and mind good.

I'm ready to tackle another week, too.

Ready to spend it in grateful prayer at my mom's side.

♥

To those of you who have been praying for my family,

I deeply thank you.

For those of you dealing with the same thing,

know that I am praying for you...

And may the new year bring you all an abundance of 

peace, 

joy, 

and 

answered prayer.

~ Blessings ~

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

Blingy Little Chandy & Brass Knuckles

Thank you all so much for your encouraging, supportive, and heartwarming comments concerning my new running regime.
You made me smile with each one and I wanted to reach out and hug each and every one of you! 
Many of you mentioned that you were inspired to get back in an exercise routine
or keep going with the one you already had. That was so wonderful to hear!
I'm so glad to be a part of a community of gals who are incredibly open, honest, 
and willing to share their faith and encouragement 
- not only with me but with all those who read the comments.
You touched us all, you know.  :)
 I will be praying for all of you as I run each day.
You are an inspiration and a true blessing! 
We CAN do this...together!


♥

 
I received a Facebook message from my fellow junkin' sister, Pam, last week Saturday.

"Found new shop we MUST check out.

Want 2 go?"

She didn't have to ask me twice.

So, the next morning, under a cold, dark and stormy sky promising thunder,

we made our way to the small town of Allegan -

the same place where the summer monthly antique market is held.

We were headed out of town a few miles,

off the beaten path to a place called 

From My Hand to Yours.

Located at 3791 - 122nd Avenue in Allegan, MI

 This impressive 6,000 square foot shop boasted repurposed and redesigned goods and furniture created by passionate artists who meet the green generation by creating artwork out of the past. It is a place of one of a kind, eclectic custom creations.

No photos were allowed to be taken in the store because of the uniqueness of each piece, but it was truly a feast for the eyes and a place to inspire!

As we wandered the aisles, amidst oohing and ahhing and pointing of fingers, 

my eyes landed on this sweet, little blingy chandy hanging over a vintage door.

I stared.

I oohed.

I ahhed.

I smiled at it.

It smiled back.

I asked if it worked.

It did.

I told it, "I must have you!"

and...sighed.

I plan on finally kicking the light on our second floor landing to the curb 

and replacing it with this charming little beauty.

So long, old boob light.

Hello, gorgeous!

Or

maybe it'll end up over the side table in the guest room...
OR maybe over my bedside table.
Decisions, decisions...

After a couple of hours nosing around, trying on some really cool what I call "mixed media" clothing

(mix of sweater/lace/denim in one piece),

we hugged our treasures to our chests and headed out to our next destination.

As the dark clouds rolled and boiled overhead, threatening more rain, 

we followed an old sign pointing the way down a dirt road...

 into a deserted parking lot...

overgrown with weeds.

"Pam...do you know where you're going? This just doesn't look right. There's nobody here, 

and it just looks spooky..." (I asked hesitantly)

"Don't worry!  I know where we're going!" (sounding way too confident for her own good)

"It's right up here!"

(This coming from a woman who weighs 98 pounds soaking wet.)

"Uhhhhhh......THIS place? This looks reeeeally creepy. Are you sure it's even open.....?"

(secretly hoping that it wasn't and we could turn around and escape back to civilization) 

"Yup!  See the sign?  It's open! Truuuuuust me!" (sounding even more confident than before)

Yeah.  Ok.  Sure....

While attempting to push any thoughts of being burglarized, abducted, 

or just plain never heard from again,

I cautiously got out of the car and followed overly-confident-Pam into the cavernous old building.

After an initial few minutes of being creeped out because there was just something weird about this place, 

the owner walked out of the back room.

My mind went into overdrive.

OK...what are you going to do if he tries to grab either of us...?

I'll hit him with this big lamp.

Is there a back door to this place....?

Yeah, behind HIM.

Is he following me.....???

How fast can you run in heeled boots, Shoemaker....?

[Sorry. But that's just the way my mind rolls, folks.

I was brought up to be overly cautious and very aware of my surroundings at all times.

I even carry my keys between my fingers like brass knuckles on the way from a store to my car in case I have to pop someone in the chin with my fist.]

Didn't expect that out of me, now did you?  :)

Anyway, the owner was gracious and welcoming.

He gave us both a great deal on the treasures we dug out of the mountains of junk in the warehouse-like building.

There was everything from old Christmas ornaments to retro vacuum cleaners,

piles of suitcases to vintage furniture.

One of which was a beautiful dresser with girlie legs and embellished corners that kept calling my name from a darkened corner.

I looked at her twice, squinted my eyes and imagined her with a lovely coat of creamy white (or even a heavily distressed pale turquoise!),

 and told her I'd come back for her.

There was no room in the car for her right now.  :(

But I did haul this little guy out from under a table.

I haven't a clue how old he is, but he was solid and cute,

and for $20, he was coming home with me.

I also unearthed a round basket that I will Frenchify

with the same technique I used here.

The pretty silver Italian vase will get a coat of turquoise
and a whisper of gilding wax on the raised rose embellishments.

I purchased the wonderful wax from Amy at Maison Decor.
Both of these treasures will be for sale in my booth at Doster Emporium very soon.

The little flowered porcelain vase for $3.00 was just too sweet to pass up, too.

As we left the empty parking lot under a torrent of rain,

I heard Pam say.....

"Next time will ya just truuuuust me....???  I TOLD you this was going to be the best place ever!"

Little did she know that my keys were between my knuckles all the time we were there.....

~  Blessings ~

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

Check out the October 20% Off Sale at Doster Emporium!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Historic-Doster-Elevator-and-Emporium/115089458505189