Words of Wisdom From My Grandfather

"It's hotter than a well-diggers arse!"

Yep, my Grandfather could sling out some Southernisms 

quicker than most of us could even formulate a sentence.

He had a few other "it's hotter than..." expressions but the 

above was one of the "cleanest" ones.  ;-)

I am pretty sure that he would say that about today.

Here on the coast of NC, they are predicting

115 degrees with the heat index.

I heard the Devil called and wants his temperatures back.

:)

So its a stay inside and work on some projects you've been

putting off kinda day, because you've been in the yard enjoying

the past few months of perfect NC weather.

sigh

Days like this are good for only one thing...

Sun Tea.

A glass container, water and Luzianne tea bags.

No true Southerner would get caught with Lipton in their cupboards.  :)

It makes the BEST tea, hands down!

Tea, AC and maybe I'll download the new Linda Howard book

on my new Nook Color.

Sounds like the perfect day to me... even if it is baking outside.

Praying for the poor families and firefighters and all the

Heros fighting the fires in Colorado.

We have a lot of friends living there.  

"My Dream Home" Pinterest Party #1

Welcome to the 1st Edition of

"My Dream Home" Pinterest Party.

This is your chance to show off what your Dream Home

would look like if you could put one together overnight.

Well, you can - put it together overnight, that is.

Using Pinterest or Houzz, or any source

*(disclaimer - please give credit where credit is due)

- create a house that you would love to have.

For example, take a look at my

Seaside Cottage from last week.

This week, I am going to let you tour my

English Garden Cottage.

(I am seeing a pattern of Cottages here)  :)

It is catered to the "girley-girley" side of my style.


Follow me down this pretty garden path and we'll go inside...

Source: bhg.com via Barbara on Pinterest

Don't you love the plethora of flowers?

Source: savearecipe.blogspot.ca via Barbara on Pinterest

I love the picket fence and roses and shake shingles.

But I know you want to see inside....

Source: bhg.com via Barbara on Pinterest

It's a small cottage - only one bedroom and one bath.

But it is filled with beautiful touches 

indicative of Cottage style.

Casual, Shabby Chic, Warm and Inviting.

Source: etsy.com via Barbara on Pinterest

Hang your purse here, and kick off your shoes so you can settle in.

Source: bhg.com via Barbara on Pinterest

I picked some fresh flowers right before you arrived.

Aren't they just beautiful?

Source: hgtv.com via Barbara on Pinterest

Don't you love this Summer mantel?

Let's go into my favorite part of my Cottage...

Source: tastytreatsathome.com via Barbara on Pinterest

I love the vintage farmhouse sink and painted blue cabinets.

Source: alfordsenglishgardens.com via Barbara on Pinterest

By the way, this is the view outside my kitchen window.

It's a great place to take a glass of lemonade and a good book.

Speaking of lemonade... look what I made us?

Source: belvoirfruitfarms.co.uk via Barbara on Pinterest

Wanna see my bedroom?  Sure you do. 


Come right this way...

Source: bhg.com via Barbara on Pinterest

I love the how light and bright it is. I added patchwork quilts and rugs to soften the painted wood floor.  Right across from the bedroom is the bath -

Sunny and yellow with touches of vintage and modern conveniences.  Perfect!

Source: myhomeideas.com via Barbara on Pinterest

I love the claw-foot tub for long soaks after a day in the garden.

Let me show you another favorite room right off the kitchen.

Its a large enclosed porch...

On one side I have a cozy dining area set up.

Source: 155dreamlane.blogspot.com via Barbara on Pinterest

I love to se up intimate dinner parties with friends and family.

Source: hwtm.com via Barbara on Pinterest

And just on the other side of the porch is this area...

Source: hgtv.com via Barbara on Pinterest

Its my potting station, but it also doubles as a buffet area and a 

bar when I am entertaining.

Let's take a quick walk around the small backyard

 garden before we have lunch.

Source: gardenista.com via Barbara on Pinterest

I love this bent willow trellis.

Source: bhg.com via Barbara on Pinterest

My favorite part of my garden is the little secret area

behind the roses.

Its a great place for a nap.  :)

Source: love-isallthereis.tumblr.com via Barbara on Pinterest

I love using natural or vintage elements throughout.

Source: secretgardenlandscaping.com via Barbara on Pinterest

Here are some sweet, furry friends to greet you.

So that is my English Garden Cottage.

I hope you enjoyed your tour.

Now it's your turn.  I can't wait to see all of your great

Dream Homes.

Please link back to The Everyday Home so others can enjoy

seeing your Dream Homes, too.

Here is a small logo you are welcome to use.

New Weekly Blog Party....You're Gonna LOVE it!

(I am posting this again because I had two posts on top
of each other and don't think this one got a lot of exposure.
I hope ya'll can join me!)  :)


Did everyone get a chance to visit my Seaside Cottage?

Well, it's not exactly "my" cottage, but it's one that I would

love to own - if I could own one.

If you're like me - you need at least 3-4 homes to

indulge all the different styles you love.

So here is your chance to own as many homes as you like.

Virtual Homes, that is.

Every week, post your favorite "Pinterest Home."

Be it Cottage,  a Mountain Home, or a Home in Tuscany.

You can even name your home.  :)

"My Dream Home" Pinterest Party starts 

THIS THURSDAY!


Please feel free to place this logo on your sidebar.

Linky will be up and running Wednesday night by 9pm.

Please mark your Bloggy calendars so you can join or come 
and see everyone's Dream Homes.

I can't wait to see all of your homes.

Winner! Winner! Ramsign Winner!

I am happy to announce the winner of the

Ramsign Giveaway!

Thank you to everyone who registered to win.

I am very happy for the lucky winner.

I will notify Ramsign and they will be in contact 

so you can receive your sign.

Congrats to....
Lucky #7  (wow that is a lucky number)

Ceekay of Thinking of Home

Congrats Ceekay!


I will be sending Ramsign your name and email.


Thanks again to everyone who registered and commented to win.


xxoo, Barb

Before and After Color Palette Journey

Before I start, I just wanted to say what a wonderful time I

had this past week at the Haven Conference.

It was two and a half days days filled with so much wisdom and insight it will take me weeks to assimilate it all and make 
heads or tails of everything that was offered.

Here are the wonderful ladies who spent the last year of their life organizing this event.

Rhoda from Southern Hospitality, who is just as beautiful 

and soft-spoken as she seems on her blog.

And Marion with Miss Mustard Seed, who gave some truly

inspiring insight on turning your log into a business,

as well as, some great paint demos.


ALL of the speakers and presenters were simply awe-inspiring - starting on the first morning with John and Sherry of
Young House Love.

One of my favorite speakers was Rashon Carraway, 
also known as

Mr. Goodwill Hunting.

I will post a few other pics this coming week, and I am sure
 you will see any number of posts about this event.
(*disclosure - if you see several pics of me imbibing in red wine
in more than one of these pics, let me just say I have
a weakness.)  :)


I met some of my fave bloggers such as Rhoda, and 
Kim at Savvy Southern Style, 
Julia with Hooked on Houses and Kari at Thistlewood Farms.
But, most of all I got to meet 
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch.


Yay me!

 I met so many other outstanding ladies whose blogs

 I love and follow, that I can't even fathom that I 

would ever get this opportunity.

Ok, but enough about Haven, right?  :)

I did walk away with something that I feel meant a great

 deal to me.  It was a personal revelation.

It was the reassurance about something that has been

concerning me for a few months now.

That is - my extreme change in the color palette of my home.

In fact, it came to me almost as an epiphany.

(yep, that's a big word for a big realization)

I have been secretly struggling with the decision to
 "de-red-ify" my home.

After years and years of having various hues of reds throughout my home, I began a design journey of

transitioning over to cooler and more 
soothing tones of Blues. 

And White.  

Because its almost illegal to not have White when one has Blue. In fact, I'm pretty sure they have laws against this in some states.  :)

So room by room, I garnered the courage to take away my treasured red accessories, paint over the red walls and basically - create a whole new design palette.

Would I regret it?  

Would I realize what I had done too late, and fall into a helpless, blithering heap on the floor wailing "What have I done?  What have I done?"

In some ways, I felt that I was having an affair with 

Summer Cottage Blue, and being cruelly unfaithful to Currant Red and Butternut Squash.  

In some ways, I felt like the fallen woman.  :)

But, it didn't take me long to realize that as I aged and my tastes changed, it was ok for my design preferences to change, as well.  

It wasn't that I was casting aside much-beloved 

colors who had seen me through years of style, but

 I was letting go of old friends and rejoicing in the 

fact that my new Blue and White friends were allowing

 me a new release on my design life. 

I secretly think red and yellow were ready to go.  I saw the signs.  Like little paint cans packed and ready by the door.

* I have since heard that they have found beautiful homes elsewhere and are happily ensconced with their new owners.  

But, for now - I am getting to know Blue and White.  I am figuring out their likes and dislikes. 

I am adding playmates such as elements of linen...

...and paisley.

A few wood pieces have been exchanged for some

beautifully painted ones...

-  along with sea grass and shells. 

So, while I appreciate where my style design has 

been - I look forward to where this new journey 

will take me and our home.  

And I realize - evolution takes place in every aspect of life.  From your hairstyle to your wardrobe to your design sense. 

Look at the changes that this small kitchen niche has experienced through the past few years.

(okay, okay - the niche didn't exactly have a choice since I kept painting my cabinets, too)

Here is how it all began about 8 years ago...

When we bought this home, it had solid wood 
cabinetry which the "DIY" Homeowner had
 "crackled" with this horrid application gone wrong.
Cabinetry Murder 101.


*( for the record, when attempting to make decisions about cabinetry color, do as I say and not as I do.
DO NOT apply color directly to cabs as your painter will
NOT be amused.)  :)

This is the beautiful green color they were painted.

The center cabinet doors were removed to create
a niche were I could display my lovelies.


Then I got a strong hankering for RED.


(hankering: noun - Southern slang,
a very strong desire for something that eats at your soul
until you get what you want.)

So I painted my cabs red, and thus also changed
 my niche - again.


(poor niche, it will need Niche Therapy to deal with all of its personality changes)


But, everything seems to have come full circle again and I am back to white cabinets.
(albeit not horribly done crackle finish)

Thus, a new look for my niche was born, as well.

Glass Canisters, a White Platter, my favorite White Rooster,
Blue and White Hydrangeas...
and a French wire basket.

Simple. Understated. Fresh.


Blue and White.

I think I will go write Red and Yellow a quick thank you note
for all their years of service and happiness they provided.

Appreciating the Details of Life…..xxoo, Barb










I am joining:
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for
Met Monday
Mary at Boogieboard Cottage for
Masterpiece Monday
Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for
Tablescape Tuesday
Linda at Coastal Charm for
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
and
my new Haven friend, Kim
at Savvy Southern Style for
Wow Us Wednesday.