My Decorating Frenzy

I've been on a decorating frenzy for several months now but, truthfully, there is only so much decorating I can do to this house. It's our "forever/retirement" home and a smaller size so how much decorating can you do to 1800 s.f.? But I'll continue to do what I can as long as I can. I get tired of the same thing after 6 or 8 years and feel the need to update or, at least, move around some things. It will be less and less the older I get but it will be done.

But that brings me to blogs I see from time to time where the women are changing things every year or so. How do they do it? Are they that bored? Do they have unlimited funds? I don't see the need to do it every year or two. Seems wasteful to me. Also, are they never happy with what they have? I'm a happy person and love the things I do have. In our 52 years of marriage I have probably changed furniture maybe 8 times. That's with relocating to new places and homes. I don't think that's a lot. But to have the same house and change every couple of years just seems a waste to me. But I'm having to buy higher and higher sofas just to meet my butt at my age! I don't get up off the sofa as easily as I used to when I was 45. ;-)
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A darling spot on the side of a house for a relaxing nap.

More pots of pansies.

Love this idea of hanging stuff needed to hurry out the door very near.

Beautiful roses and hydrangeas.

A queenly bed. Love the bed linens.

Pretty evening purse.

Got any extra teacups? Here's how you can display them.

Clever way to put lights up.

Gorgeous French chair, luxurious sofa and a pail of roses.

A little wire basket to hold mail.

I just loved this photo when I saw it.

You can actually buy these shoes for kids. Look up Joy Folie and check out their cute designs.

Just a cozy corner in a bedroom.

Pretty handmade chenille pillows.

Yes, I love this lamp also!!

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Tidbit:

Our state is #1!
Continuing with the "N" states on what makes them #1 in the nation at. (Terrible grammar but I couldn't think of a better way to put it.)

Nebraska:
Livestock
Domestic violence

Nevada:
Gold mining
Home foreclosures

New Hampshire:
Lowest percentage of people living in poverty
Skin cancer rates for women

New Jersey:
Millionaires
Population density

New Mexico:
Lowest cancer rate
Children who drink alcohol

New York:
Charitable donations
Longest daily commute

North Carolina:
Most diverse population of salamanders
Lowest teacher salary

North Dakota:
Lowest rate of AIDS
Lowest rate of seat belt use


Sir Francis Bacon died of pneumonia. He was experimenting with freezing a chicken by stuffing it with snow.
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More Memories Of San Diego

Just in case you've missed my Pinterest page, you might want to go there and see over 8,100 photos posted there, just click here. And also, I'm only posting on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from now on unless something extraordinary comes up. I'm leaving weekends free.
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Our granddaughter, her hubby and their 2 girls have been here for eleven days and we have loved having them here. Do I even need to say how tired this ol' lady is having 2 great-granddaughters in the house? One is 3 1/2 months old, one is almost 3 years old. Caroline is a pistol and keeps us hopping.

She also loves perfume!

When she saw the perfume she had to smell every single bottle. Her favorite is Cabriole, which is close to her name so we call it Caroline. She runs around with bottles in her hands most of the time. Hubs was afraid it would spill but I've tightened the caps and tried to retrieve them when she was loosing interest in them and put them back.

Then the other day I caught her in there. She had moved the chair in our bedroom over to my dresser and got up. A few days later, we went in there and she wanted to see the perfumes—on a wicker tray—and I told her she'd seen them enough. Well, that little chick got the little pink ladder I had sitting in my bedroom over to the dresser and climbed up it herself. I cannot believe her problem-solving skills! This will serve her well later in life. She's really, really smart, but we all think that of our progeny. Right? This kid is something else though. You tell her something and she does NOT forget. We've had to hide things from her because of that.

Then there was the melt-down at Michaels. She loves craft stores. But she cheated herself out of some craft items by melting down so we had to leave the basket of items behind while we took her home to bed. Then she saw Target and told her mummy to go to Target. We asked her why and she replied, "Just trust me. Go to Target, mummy." We didn't! 

They're leaving tomorrow so we're going out to Jack in the Box tonight for salads or whatever they want. I love those kids!
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We lived in a house on West Mountain View Drive in San Diego during the mid-1960s and loved it there. The family across the street was also a Marine family we knew. I introduced them to baked beans and they introduced me to...well, let me explain.

We were going to have a BBQ one weekend and I said I'd bring the baked beans. This family was Hawaiian so she said they'd bring teriyaki chicken. It was absolutely fantastic and that's how I make it to this day. Chicken marinated for hours in soy sauce, ginger and garlic. Then put it on the grill. That's it. Better than any bottled sauce ever.

She said her kids didn't like baked beans. I made them anyway thinking they can at least try them if they want. They did and loved them. I had to give her my recipe for baked beans then.

Then one day while my kids were playing with hers I sat and talked with her in the kitchen while she was making something for their dinner. As she prepared it, she gave me a piece to eat. It was fishy tuna fish with some vegetables and rice wrapped in seaweed. I gagged. Luckily, I had a napkin to wipe my face and surreptitiously wiped my mouth and discarded the food into the napkin. I thought it was horrible but I'd never say that to someone. I then excused myself to go home and throw it out. Quite embarrassing actually. I love fish but this was very fishy-tasting tuna. I can't stand it if it has a strong fish taste. That's why I'm not eager to taste something from someone's kitchen anymore. I just say no, thanks, I'm not hungry and let it go at that.

This couple had 4 kids and she became pregnant with her 5th. When I asked her what she was naming it, she said, "Zelda, because it's our last one." I thought she was kidding; she wasn't. ;-) Lovely family.
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Love this little living room. Just cozy enough for me.

One of the most darling wreaths I've ever seen created! Oh my.

One of my ideal patios to have.

Who makes these gorgeous cookies? Stunning bows, roses and flowers.

Sigh...

These can't be real cupcakes. How did they make the pearl centers?!

I'd consider this one of my favorite kitchen tables.

A darling handbag.

Frilly pink gloves.

Gypsy, BoHo or Magnolia Pearl? Beautiful!

Another adorable kitchen...for people who like to cook. Not me!

I've done a similar thing to my entry into the family room, but I'm thinking of doing it to the living room into the dining area now. It just needs something more.

Another gorgeous living room I love.

Just too cute for words.

I thought you'd like to see this picture frame. Isn't it cute and unique?

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It would take a jumbo jet about 120 million years to fly across the Milky Way galaxy.
~*~ 
Linking up with NMH Open House Party.

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Tribute To A Loving Hubby

Without details, just let me say this medical situation I'm going through with this ol' body is getting me down some days. In the past 2 months I've had 2 "meltdowns." It is not a life threatening problem, just a frustrating condition that I had no clue could happen to a body. A very frustrating problem.

And my hubby is the best in the world, bar none.

One night I was sitting in the family room while he was in his office/computer room. I just silently began to weep out of control. He came in, saw me, and tried to console me, stroking my arm and trying soothing words. I told him I just couldn't talk at the moment. He kept trying to find out what the problem was. I just couldn't and didn't want to talk. (Trust me, I am not pretty when I cry. Some women are darling. Me? I'm pretty darn pathetic looking!) Now, we women know that sometimes we just need to cry/meltdown and let it go. That was one of those nights. But he kept stroking my arms, putting his arms around me and trying his best to figure out what was going on. I just couldn't talk about it. Really. I just needed to cry and get the emotions/frustrations out. I was inconsolable.

Then one night I was sitting in my chair and had my hand over my eyes while reading. I'm an avid reader and do that more than anything right now, just want to be taken out of my world into the world of spies, espionage and thrillers. ;-) He came in and started stroking my arm and asked if I was okay. I believe he thought I was melting down again, but I wasn't. Just had my hand on my forehead while reading. He was very solicitous that night.

Then yesterday I told him I was going to grocery shop alone and would be back. On the way to the store I felt like sobbing and almost started but held back because—heaven forbid—I didn't want my mascara running down my cheeks! I actually held it together better with just a tiny breakdown last night while he was busy doing something else.

So, this morning at breakfast, I explained to him I'm fine and that sometimes I just need to cry to get the frustrations and emotions out. My guy of 52 years is truly my soul mate. He knows me better than any other person on earth. He treats me like a queen. I love him beyond reason and am so glad he's my husband.

Ooooh, I'll get through this and will be fine...I hope. But without him I'd be a wreck most of the time. ;-)
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Love froufrou!

This room just grabbed me with those outdoor type chairs mixed with that lovely flowered sofa.

Another lovely vignette.

Can you imagine stationery this gorgeous?!

Don't know where it is but looks Bavarian. What beautiful architecture and rowing boats.

Sweetly decorated little hearts to hang anywhere you want.

A miniature pink coat.

These chairs remind me of Coco Chanel suits.

You wouldn't catch me standing outside a lighthouse with all those waves. I'd be cowering—and screaming—inside! WOW!!!

The prettiest cookies I've ever seen.

A sweet dining area with a fantastic view.

A small sachet.

A red, white and blue living room.

Isn't this adorable?

Another "tent" for an intimate occasion, which you could easily do.

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Tidbit:
Azaleas and rhododendrons contain a toxin that can be fatal to humans. So be careful having them around children.
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Linking to SOS WOW 
and
Favorite things 

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Caroline Speaks

 I really recommend you go to my Pinterest and view almost 7,000 photos I've put on there. I think you'll enjoy viewing the ones I've come up with. Truly!
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Also, this is my 1300th post. Yippee! I'm nothing if not tenacious. ;-)
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I wish all of you a very Happy and Prosperous New Year. I never make resolutions or set goals. Never have and don't see that changing in the coming years. I do, however, vow to immerse myself in Scriptures this year. I was most lax this past year. I try to lead a spiritual and Christ-centered life but I am far lacking. I vow to be better.
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It's 3 AM and I can't sleep, I so came in here to the computer room to blog. Isn't it pathetic when we can't sleep that we turn to blogging?

Anyway, got an email from granddaughter saying that Caroline is hurt because Santa forgot to bring her the Talking Mushroom. Well, that got everyone on her Facebook page looking for a "taking mushroom"! We think it's a book. Even her Poppop, my hubby, googled it to see what it could be. We think now it's a book that perhaps was read to her in her daycare class. This kid doesn't forget a thing!

Caroline was "sweeping" the kitchen with her tiny broom the other day saying, "forward" and "backward." She looked at her mother and said, "I can speak English and Spanish, mummy."  We don't know if forward or backward is the English or the Spanish! ;-)

Then a few days later she told her mummy that she could speak English, Spanish and Magic. I'd like to learn that Magic language myself. :-) Her daddy does speak Spanish, as do her other grandparents, even though he's losing the ability since he's lived in this country before he was a teenager but I don't think she knows much of it. (He is now a citizen and lost his diplomatic immunity when he had to give up his Guatemalan passport. So now he has to watch his speeding. Before, he'd just show them his diplomat passport from his mother working at the embassy. Now, he suffers like the rest of us! LOL) I think she just speaks the language of love to them and they understand because her paternal grandmother can't speak English. But it's so cute to watch them together.
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I love making these mosaics for blogs. I don't do real mosaics, however, but eye candy is always on my posts.

An unusual combination of colors done beautifully.

I love this upholstery.

Pretty pillows serving as a vignette are always welcome around this house.

You can see yourself here, right?! ;-)

I remember when those chairs were NEW; now they're vintage.

Bathrooms that don't require a door or curtain on the shower always intrigue me.

Now, these are some cowgirl boots!

And pretty little petit point purses? Uh-huh!

Gorgeous place to be.

Edible eye candy. :-)

Absolutely stunning colors in bedding from Horchow.

Another quaint street.

Tropical leisure.

And lovely dishes.

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Tidbit:
Legendary Notre Dame football coach Knute Rockne had his team's locker room painted an angry red and the visitors' locker room a soothing blue.
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Linking up with NMH Open House and Katherine's Corner.

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