Chillin' Out

Everyone at my place has found a spot to chill out. It's nice that they left me a spot to join them.

Herby, Sweet Pea, Baby and Rosie

 

 

FOCUS

 

 January 2 Capture Your 365 photo prompt is One Word. How perfect as that fits with the One Little Word class I'm taking. 

I used my Christmas Tree to create a Bokeh photo. I set my camera in Aperture Mode and set the aperture to the lowest setting I could. I held an item at arm's length and "forced" my camera to focus on it. I then took the picture so the lights and tree is blurry. To get my handwriting on the photo I used my Galaxy Samsung S5 note taking feature to write the word "focus" which I uploaded to my computer then cropped. I found a video on YouTube by Visual Broccoli called "Removing a Background in PhotoShop Elements" that taught how to remove a background in a photo and make it transparent. After I did that I placed my word on the Bakeh photo and saved. Took a little time to get the way I wanted the photo to look but I think turned out great. Makes the statement I wanted.

One Little Word 2016 - Focus

The first word I'd chosen was Relinquish because it also means to "Let go". The last year I've had some heartbreaking / shattering events happen and I've been stuck in yesterdays. Then Focus came to me. Focus on today. This moment in time. On what I'm currently doing. On school. On work. On my goals. On the projects I'm doing or wanting to do. And I realized that focusing will cause me to let go of yesterday. So FOCUS it is - "Focus on today and let go of yesterday." 

Buckle up for the ride. It's 2016.

                                        

I started 2015 heartbroken. I loved someone who didn't love me and I had to let go of the life I thought I would have.

But the Lord in His mercy and grace blessed me and replaced what I lost. And in His loving kindness added more.

The Lord answered a long time desire and provided me a position with VDOT. I love my job and enjoy the people I work with.

He gave me a house that has plenty of room  and land for Rosie, me and my family to enjoy. 

The Lord gave me the opportunity to spend time and bond with my newest granddaughter Emily who calls me "Nan". 

He gave me the ability to spend more time with Laura, Grayson, June and Lochlin and become closer to them. 

He provided me the opportunity to turn acquaintances into close friends. Gave me new good friends and I've become closer to my very best friends.

The Lord has given me the opportunity to enjoy having a horse in my life and the possibility and ability to own another in the future.

He is also slowly helping to heal and build a relationship between my mother and myself. 

I know there are more. The Lord blesses me in so many ways large and small but these are the biggest blessings that come to mind.

I'm starting 2016 in a much better place emotionally and physically and I look forward to all the New Year brings. 

Buckle up and Let the adventure begin. 

Happy New Year everyone!! May it be a great one for you.

Towel Hanger

I recently moved to a really great place. I am so excited. I found a 3 bedroom rambler on lot of land. Rosie & I are locing life. 

I finally got my towel hanger hung up. I think it looks great. 

So much done . . .

I've gotten much done, a lot not done and a lot planned to do. I get in these spurts of "get stuff done" and become wide open. Then I get lazy and get nothing done. Well, plan on what I want to do. But here what I've gotten completed since last post. 

I decided to create a single location to charge my electronics. So I created a charging station. Since I wanted it for my bedroom. And to match my decor I went with pink chalk paint and distressed with dark brown wax. I think looks great.

I got an idea from Pinterest for a farmhouse towel holder. I'm going to put in my downstairs bathroom. I also thinking of making another for my upstairs bathroom. I got the handle from Hobby Lobby and cut a weathered pallet to be the base for the handle.

I saw something similar in a flea market in Verona and decided to give making it a try using colors that would match my bathroom. I took a soup can and painted it Oil Brushed Bronze. Then found pip berries in the right colors and stuffed in can. The ribbon matches the shower curtain I'm making for my bathroom.

Here's my patchwork shower curtain I'm working on. I hung it up to get an idea of what it'll look like. I don't have much left to get complete. Just got to get my butt in my sewing room and get done. 

I've got a white storage cabinet in my bathroom I'm starting to chalk paint and distress. I've primed it and started painting but the color isn't right. It's too dark green. I need to go to Michael's and get another color. I want to do in a sage green and dry brush distress using a cream color. I want to redo the toilet tank shelf and the two regular shelves too. Just not sure what color I want to do. 

I also stared making a veggie bin for my kitchen. I got quite a bit done but the top was warped and couldn't get another cut yet. Weather too cold. But here's what I've got done And what the finished project to look like.  I'm going to finish in either black or dark red and distress it. 

I also started redecorating my house. I bought new furniture for my house. I got a new bed and table with benches. I'm planning on getting two chairs door the end so I can seat eight. 

I'm also planning on getting a hutch for my kitchen to replace the baking rack, two chairs for end of my table, wo end tables and a wardrobe for my bedroom. I'm thinking of trying to make the end tables myself but get the chairs, wardrobe and hutch from Simple Tymes.  I have a dresser in my bedroom that I'm thinking of chalk painting. The two end tables I think I'm going to chalk paint a white and distress with a dark wax. I'm not sure what color I'm going to do the dresser. 

Catch Up --

Lots of time has passed since my last post. Lots of things have changed since my last post. I got a new job and am moving into a new house. I have a job I love that's closer to home and I'm moving into a house that has lots of living area space and has eleven acres for Rosie & me to roam.The ugly tire has been removed so the yard is open.

No more nosy neighbor and no more creepy cop. I am so excited.
I've already started moving stuff into my new place. I have also started making the yard my own.

I'm planning on taking Thursday, Friday and Monday off from work to organize my new place. Thursday & Friday I'm going to start doing some unpacking and moving the "miscellaneous" stuff I have. Saturday I'll spend the day cleaning & fixing the townhouse up. Then Sunday is when the movers will be coming to get my furniture to my new place. Then I'll officially be in my new home. After than the fun part is to figure out where I'm going to put everything and decorate. I hate moving but this time I'm really excited to be doing it. I can't wait to have everyone over for a cookout.