I have been trying my hand at painting and re-purposing furniture...some for my own use and some to sell. I just finished a cute little vintage bench I found at Club GW. I t was a dark walnut with a mauve striped cushion. I used Annie Sloan paints. If you haven't tried her paint yet, you MUST. It is so easy to use and so versatile. You don't need to sand or prime! First, I painted several coats of "Emperor Silk" (red)...then followed it with one coat of "Graphite"...waxed and lightly sanded. I recovered the cushion with some leftover "rooster" fabric I hand around the house. I think it looks pretty good and am taking up to my shop today.

Here is another example of a table I also found At Club GW. I painted this one using Annie Sloan "Old Ochre." I sanded it when done. I took it to the shop and it has sold.

Welcome, Baby!

Thad is here! What a sweet little boy! I pulled out an old photo of Jennifer at the same age and he looks just like her! I kept saying that he did...I don't think anyone believed me, but when we all looked at the photo, there was no denying it. There is nothing like rocking a brand new baby. I could just sit and rock him all day!
I spent 2 weeks up in Nashville helping out and had a wonderful,

tho exhausting, time. We had a couple of chances to sneak in a few fun activities...tea with Jen and Kate, Farmer's Market and The Factory with Nathan and Kate, Franklin with Jen and Pen, Library storytime with the girls...Nathan cooked us a special Valentine's Dinner and brought home designer cupcakes and roses for Jen...we all made handmade Valentines for each other which I will always treasure...it snowed twice...and the day we left for home it was in the 70's! I was able to help Jennifer take down the Christmas decorations, unpack some boxes, organize, clean house, do laundry and help with the girls...

We had our share of sickness - the girls got URI and ear infections, Thad's circumcision got infected, I got bronchitis and Nathan got sick. Only Jennifer remained germ-free! So, we had several doctor's visits.

Watercoloring, coloring, playdoughing after breakfast. Then make-up and nails. How Kate does LOVE her lipstick! She's a girly girl! I watched Jen's old home videos with Kate and then later with Jen and Nathan. It shed so much light on Kate's personality! Kate and I watched the Wizard of Oz. What a special time - I will always keep that memory close to my heart!

I got to see where Kate takes ballet...her school...and we also had a fun afternoon at the BEST TJ Maxx/Homegoods I have ever been in!

N, J and I had some very good conversations...and I will always treasure those two weeks. I learned a lot about each one of them as well as myself...it was a good visit and I look forward to many, many more.

We drove back to Jax...all 6 of us in the Volvo...it took 14 hours - what a ride!! While here Thad slept in a drawer from Jennifer's childhood dresser. Did she ever imagine, as a teen, that one day her baby would sleep in her pajama drawer?!

They were here 2 days...and when they rolled out of the drive for Tampa, I cried all afternoon. I miss them desperately. I love them so much. Can't wait to visit again...

White Christmas!

I have been dreaming of a white Christmas for 59 years. This year in Nashville, my dream finally came true! It was perfect.

It started snowing Christmas Eve and continued into the next couple of days. It was enough for Kate to make a snow angel...and a tiny snowman...for me to feel it hit my face...to hear it crunch under my feet...to see it flurrying all around me.

At first it came down wet, later it came fast and sideways, then swirling all around...sometimes, tiny flakes...other times, big, fat plops of it...It coated the trees and the roofs of the houses, the streets. It made
everything look clean and pure.

I was reminded of one of my favorite songs written by one of my favorites, Stephanie Boosahda...

"Somewhere It's Snowing:"

I once read in a poem
That when snow covers the earth
That it hides the world’s scars
And gives nature new birth

And they say when a
Man turns from sin to the Lord
That forgiveness like snow
Cover him evermore

And somewhere it’s snowing
See the soft drifting down
As snowflakes surrender
To the hardening ground

Like the good grace of Jesus
That now covers our sin
In the kingdom of heaven
It’s snowing again

And its told that the angels
Lift their hearts and rejoice
When one traveler turns homeward
On his way to the Lord

If somewhere someone’s turning
And he’s giving his all
Then God’s grace
Like the snow
Is beginning to fall

Hope and a future

What a wonderful day I had today with my dear husband. We ran errands, shopped, exchanged, tried out exercise equipment (looking to purchase an elliptical), went to church downtown, had a wonderful lunch at the European Street Grill...spent all day together and had such a sweet time.

Now he's outside grilling porkchops while the sweet potatoes bake in here.

Tom is a wonderful husband and a wonderful man. I love him so much!

Thank you God for your promise to me years ago: "I know the plans I have for you...plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." You kept your promise. When I thought my life was in ashes...you had a plan. The future you had planned for me was filled with hope and Your goodness. I love You so much, too, dear God.