Home {On Purpose}

I follow these bloggers that are just incredible.  I mean they blog, they homeschool their kids, they have fabulous homes, their projects are beautifully photographed, they write e-books and they teach e-courses.  I mean really incredible what these ladies get done in a single day.  Me, with children who are grown and a husband who is away periodically, I have trouble with simple things, like pulling together a spring table or dying Easter eggs.  But, I keep trying.  So, when Edie at Life in Grace Blog announced that she was hosting a life on purpose (home edition) link up, I thought I’d look back and see what I had done at home this past month, on purpose.

Color was big for me this past month.  Especially green.  I loved these flowers that were on special at my local grocery.

I had big plans for this spring table arrangement.  I completed it to a point, but never got around to using the blingy jewelry on the place settings like I envisioned.  Left them displayed in the pink vintage wicker basket with the linens and twine that I was going to pair them with.
Anyway, moving on.

Staying with the green theme, I’ve been doing a lot of vintage shopping.  I’m gradually changing up my accessories.  Gradually because I know how fast things change, and I don’t want to spend money for something that will be very silly looking to me in a couple of years.  I’ve got my eye out for the perfect kicked to the curb dresser to paint and place in the foyer.

I currently have a table in the foyer where I arranged an assortment of spring accessories.

In my living room, I dressed my sofas in their white slip covers and added a few new pillows.  The embroidered pillow is a kitchen towel that I recently purchased at a gift shop.  I folded it in half and sewed it.  I love the bright teal and yellow stripes especially.  The other fabric was a remnant at Joanne’s made into an envelope pillow cover.

More remnants and the back side of the kitchen towel pillow.

A peek into the room, bright and sunny for spring and summer.

Now I realize there is not a lot to see here.  No, beautiful designer eye candy.  But, what I did, on purpose, was to eliminate stuff.  I pared down the bedding to a minimum and added crisp, soothing linens.  I’ll still tweak the combination, but plan to keep it restful. Even the walls have been stripped while I carefully consider what to put in those spots.  I’m thinking about silhouettes of my boys.  I would really like to paint the bed, it is too formal for my taste right now, but I don’t know, it’s pretty wood, and painting over it is a big commitment.

I spent a few days early in the month, freshening up the porch with spring pots of flowers.  My rockers have weathered nicely, don’t you think?  One thing about the new trend in vintage patina pieces, less work.  I’ll paint the chairs when the trend shifts to perfect.  I hope that’s a few years down the road.

Dinner on the lanai is a nice end to the day, even if I’m alone.  I have added some geraniums and herbs in pots in this space.

The art studio went from clean and organized to chaos, but I created a few pieces that I’m happy with.  She is on the cover of an art journal that I learned techniques for in Jeanne Oliver’s e-course, “The journey of letting go”.

I spent some time out at the barn every morning and afternoon.  Some mornings I would take the book, “The Artist’s Way”, by Julia Cameron and read while the horses ate their breakfast before their turn out for the day.

Finally, I purchased this garden bench that I plan to take to Tennessee, but is now pretty cute on my side porch. 

This is a photo of my deck that it will sit on.  I was inspired to use green furnishings from the pinterest photo below.  That’s not my deck in the pinterest photo, but it looks so much like it. 

Via Pinterest

That’s pretty much what I did last month.  Some successes, some not, some work in progress, and lot’s of living in my home, on purpose.  I’m linking this post to Life In Grace blog, and if you want to see what others have done in their Life on Purpose {Home Edition}, click on the following link.

Swamp of Sadness

Yesterday I awoke and found myself in the swamp of sadness. I was hopeless, miserable, and sad. Dullness clouded my morning.  My frame of mind on this terrible gloomy morning was despair, I planned to just go back to bed.  My dreams are useless, they will never be, I should just do myself a favor, settle in, and wait to die.  It was a blue funk morning.

Faltering and floundering around, trying to "snap out of it", but bankrupt, absent, and destitute, I received a call from my niece, asking me what I was doing.  "Umm, nothing", I said trying to sound like her cheerful aunt.  She wanted to know if I could help her with a paper that was due today.  "Sure, I said".  I needed her to come by.  Before long she and I were laughing and talking about what junk we were going to eat for lunch.  On the way back, we trespassed on some property down by the railroad tracks, me pretending shock and outrage, but saying "hey, what's over there?"  She had rescued me from the swamp.

Later I received the call from Jeff asking me if I had been watching the news.  "There appears to have been a terrorist attack at the Boston Marathon", he said.  No, is all I could think.  I was heartbroken, not wanting to know the details.  Please, no more.  no more.  Where has our love and compassion for the innocent gone?  How can someone have so much hate in their heart that an unoffending person could be targeted?  An earnest runner going for a goal, a dream, then mangled, marred, or killed by a bombers attack.  It's not right! How sad and senseless!

I don't know about you, but I can't watch the news.  Some may call it burying your head in the sand.  Maybe so. But I have heard about the heroes from yesterday.  I heard that there were people running toward the bombs to see, to help, no matter the cost.  Some of them weren't runners, they were cheerleaders.  The supporters that were there to say "You did it, I'm proud of you".  "I told you, you could do it, and you did."  Instead they were saying "Oh my God!"

Pardon me a moment while I cry.

My prayers go out for the injured and killed, the families, the city of Boston, and our country.  Only God can change our hearts and our intentions.  I pray that prayer.

Later, as I was battling the sadness again, I read a blog written by my friend Jeanne of Jeanne Oliver Designs about the cheerleaders in her life.  The supporters that have been there for her saying "I told you, you're talented, go do it".  It made me think about all the people that are so encouraging of me and my gifts. It made me want to write about being sad and being pulled out by my friends.

My friends are my lifeline.  Topping that list of cheerleaders would have to be my precious husband Jeff.  He is always the first one to support my dreams.  I do remember him recently saying "That sounds pretty goofy to me, but you've done goofier, so go for it".  Does that count as support?  I think so.

I dreamed a dream of sons, and my dream came true.  Todd and Scott love their mother and think great things are in store for me.  Back at ya guys! You're talented, creative, and you have blessed my life immeasurably.

And then there's my circle of family of women Bonnie, Cyndi, Amanda, Luba, Erin, Chelsea, Kim, Pam, Mama, Dorene, Jennifer, Kristin, and Aunt Joanne.  You all have been so supportive and complimentary of everything I do.  You all are the talented gifted ones, so your encouragement is essential to me.  Your smiles light my world, I want to be that for you too.

I am blown away when Mindy, Robin, Edith, Anne, or Julie comes up to me and says how they read my blog and they love my photography, that it speaks to them.  All I can offer them in return is a hug and a sincere Thank you.  I love, love, love you all.

Every time I write a blog, I can be sure that my dear childhood friend Merita will have a comment.  She inspired me to write more a couple of years ago.  Her journey and mine are very similar at this time of our lives and I treasure her connection and wish I could see her more.  There are also other childhood friends Patti, Karen, Mary Jo, and Michelle that are encouraging me with their "likes" and "comments".  Thank you! May I always be to you, what you have been for me.  I haven't listed many, many names.  But I know you, cherish you, and see you when you show me love.  May your love be returned by me.

Finally, I am thankful for the encouragement and connection with people I have met through the blog world, and my new friends Ana, Candace, Susan, Cindy, Cassie, Amber and Lynne who I met at Serena's recent art retreat.  You can be inspired by some of the people I follow at their links Christy, Mindy, Alissa, Junelle and Lisa, genuinely creative individuals and artists.  I love following their work and it gives me a push and a pull when I hear encouragement from them.

My children and I watched "The Never Ending Story" so many times while they were boys. The scene of Artax and Atreyu is so moving and sad and it speaks to me. I don't know what my future is, but I know who holds the future.  Heard that before?  It's a rock I lean on and I feel no shame for the days when the sadness takes hold.  It happens to everyone, and we need each other to pull, and pull, and pull, and say "I love you", you're my friend".  Who is your encourager? Who pulls you out with their love?

DUH Pensacola

In the last two weeks I have taken four Florida road trips.  Twice I have traveled to Pensacola…or I should say Pensacol-AHHH.  Amazingly nice, seemingly slow paced town on Florida’s Gulf Coast, with incredible white sand beaches.  Unfortunately, the two days I was in town weren’t beach days.  My visits were for family and the weather was cold and rainy, but lucky for me, we did have the opportunity to check out a local antique and design showroom.  DUH Pensacola left me speechless, which may be why they named it DUH.  I never asked the origin of the name, but I did ask the associate if I could photograph their shop. 

If you are like me and love smart, classic, and a little trendy, you’re going to love this shop.  I was in inspiration heaven.  Lucky you Pensacolans to have this gem in your town.  The furniture and accessory selections available in the store appear to be found items.  Some of them are, but many are new pieces by the best names in the industry.  Check out their website for a complete list of the lines they carry.

The neutral color palette in this room is brilliant. I sourced a pair of chairs like these leathers for a customer in NJ in a suede fabric, but aren’t they divine in leather.  I also love the turnings on the wooden side chair.  I have a few pieces of English oak antiques in my Tennessee home with similar turnings; it’s called barley twist.  I don’t know if this is a reproduction, but isn’t he handsome?

We walked through each room and everywhere you turned there was something that caught my eye. 

The muted colors in this vintage butterfly print are my favorite. 

All I need Is love and those metal corbels.  WOW! 

Man, oh man!!!  That pedestal table needs a lanai.

Vignette to the Max. 

Here’s a close up of that lamp.  Who knew that chicken wire would ever be this elegant?  Lamp…sold,   print….sold, of course!

These chairs were also purchased for a client in NJ but in a white duck cloth.  We put it in her husband’s ZEN MAN CAVE.  There is not a single thing in this room that I wouldn’t love to have in my home.

Look at the textures in that wall hanging or rug.

The bed linens were delicious and varied.  Mix it up!

I don’t even know what to say, except that I love it all!!!

duh…, just duh….

A textile room?  Stop it!!!

I wish I could say the ladder was there because they were assisting me.  I’ll take that mustard striped rug on the right, please.  Yes ma’am, we’ll get that down for you.  OK love, I’ll be in the next room giving the assistant my pretend cash.  And grab those long striped pillows too while you’re up there. 
There was also a gardening area, and a fashion accessory room.  I know!!!

Wall hanging gallery…

Want to know what I bought? 


A sketchbook…$4.99.  Yup, didn’t go away empty handed.  What kind of décor is your favorite?  See anything in here that you would love to add to your home?

Roasted Sweet Potato Hash

A couple of weeks ago I was in Pensacola for a reception for my niece Chelsea and her new husband Brad.  The next day I had lunch at Dolce and was served this delicious savory sweet potato dish.  Dolce uses all fresh ingredients and they cater to the whole foods consumer.  All their gelatos are homemade and they also have a nice selection of dairy free flavors.  I asked the owner if she would share the recipe for the hash and was so pleased when she said yes.  It is so good and I hope you will try it.  You could change it up so many ways, but I’m sharing the recipe exactly as it was served at Dolce.  And if you are ever in Pensacola, go there.  Tell them I sent you, Chelsea is the barista.  They also have a chai latte made with almond milk.  Oh I could go on and on but here’s a peek at their cute restaurant and then the recipe. 


Sweet Potato Hash
2 Medium Sweet Potato (cubed)
2” wedge of purple onion
2-3 slices of cooked bacon
1.5 tablespoons olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
Makes four 1/2 cup servings

Are you cooking your bacon in the oven now?  If you're not, you should try it.  So easy!

Place the bacon on a foil lined sheet and place it in the cold oven.  Turn the temperature to 375 degrees and cook for 15-20 minutes.  That’s it.  Take it out and place it on paper towels to cool.

Dice up the sweet potatoes into one inch size cubes.

Place the cubed potatoes on a foil lined pan and drizzle with the olive oil.  I was trying to get a fancy shot of the oil drizzling, but instead I got a shot of a puddle of oil.  Well if you came here for food photography, you have made a wrong turn.  Move on, nothing to see here.

I also didn’t realize that white salt wouldn’t show up in a white dish.  What’s up with that?

If you were following closely, you have a puddle of oil so you will need to toss the potatoes to coat.  Then, sprinkle with coarse salt and pepper to taste.

Dice about a 2 inch wedge of purple onion.  You could also leave it in strips which would look pretty in the hash.  I didn’t do that, but I might the next time.  Purple onions are something I eat almost every day.  I don’t know if it was Dr. Oz or Daphne that told me that very colorful food is really good for you.  Love color!!!

Roast the potatoes in the same 375 degree oven for about 15 minutes or until fork tender.

In a bowl mix together the potatoes, onion, and bacon bits.  So good!  Let me know what you think or how you would change it up.  I’m thinking some bits of herbs for more color!

Quiet and Alone, With Him

“Be alone”, He said.  “Be ready”, He said.  “Be you”, He said. “Be with me”, He said.

“Come sit with me in the morning, I have some things to tell you”, He said

“Close your eyes, I want you to see”, He said.  “Find your heart, I want you to feel”, He said.  “Let go, I want you to love”, He said. “Walk with me, and I’ll show you the path”, He said.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths (Pro 3:5)