The New-To-Me Bookcase, Finally! at Heart and Home

Hey all! Did you think I had fallen of the face of the earth?

 Well, no. It's just been very busy around here the past few days.

Got the youngest through her middle school celebrations

and off on her East Coast class trip,

and despite migraines the past four days  

 I finally finished something I've been working on for a long time.

Inspired by this at Ikea:

I purchased this at Goodwill:

Because I couldn't handle these stacked under the hall table in the entry anymore:

or loaded up in this basket:

Or smooshed in the wicker etagere in the living room:

Things had gotten out of hand in this book loving household!

Way out of hand.

I did a little rearranging, and moved the Dr Seuss plant out.

and moved the palm and the vintage wash-stand over here:

from here, where the new-to-me book case moved in.

On this lovely, blank wall in the living room.

But first I had to gather all the books:

and straighten out what was staying put:

and bring this baby in to the house (easier said than done, I can tell you that.)

Thanks to my strong and determined husband, the shelves are in place,

with only minor damage to the paint and no pulled muscles.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

I've got an improved reading spot.

And a much improved living room!

With room to expand, because there are four shelves just waiting for books!

I think the room looks very grown up now, don't you agree?

Now, it's on to the office, which is overflowing with more books, books, books.

But that's a project for another day.

Today I'm going to enjoy the grown-up living room, and have a little sit-down in my reading chair, with a new book and a cup of tea.

It's the grown-up thing to do!

If you like what you see here, why don't you follow along, or subscribe for e-mail updates. Heart and Home will be there for you, instantly, at every new post. EASY!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time,

XO

Heidi

I'm linking to  Trash to Treasure Tuesday, Three or More Day, Transformation Thursday,
Thrifty Thursday And Show and Tell Friday. Thanks ladies for all these great parties!

Wednesday Gratitude #17 at Heart and Home: Lemons and Another Step Forward

Greetings one and all!
Hi to you new readers, and a big welcome back to followers of Heart and Home.


                        

Today is Wednesday Gratitude, if you're here to join, the link will be up by 5:30 PM PST. Add the direct link for your Wednesday Gratitude post, and please link back to Heart and Home in that post. Remember to leave a comment, and visit the other participants, too!

Thanks to all of you who have become regular participants. I'm always inspired after reading your posts!

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is

 not to utter words, but to live by them." - John F. Kennedy

You might be wondering what these lemons have to do with anything today.

Wondering if I'm going to be waxing poetic about my gratitude for lemons.

Well, yes, I do love a nice looking lemon!

And these are especially lemony looking, piled in a bowl on my dining room table.

But no, that's not what this post is about! However, they do figure in, in a way.

Daughter #2 is completing middle school today.

It looks like she's on her way! Next year she'll start high school, and after that, who knows?!!

Knowing this girl the way I do, I'd say the sky's the limit.

I'm feeling particularly sentimental about all of this, because #2 is the last one, my baby. She's growing up, and fast.

She's proven herself to be a pretty terrific kid.

I'm  grateful for my daughter, and for her unceasing hard work over the past three years.

She's devoted herself to doing her absolute best at every opportunity.

She's rarely let us, or herself, down in any way. And even then, they've been only small infractions of the parental expectations.

I'm grateful that, for the most part, she's made it easy for me and her dad.

Given the opportunity, she makes the right choices.

Which is a good thing, because she doesn't like being told what to do!

Spirited and strong-willed are two ways to describe her.

Plus a million other characteristics I'm grateful for.  If I wrote them all down, this would be a very long post indeed.

But, I can tell you this much:

She's been a shining star since the day she was born, and from here her future looks really bright.

Along the way she's had some help.

I'm grateful for my daughter's teachers, for their skills, their patience and kindness, and for their devotion to their chosen profession.

I'm grateful for their encouragement and support, for their eagerness, and for their abilities and talents.

I'm grateful for way they can reach young people, and inspire them to try their hardest, to work without giving up, to persevere and achieve their goals, and to be the best they can be.

Which is what we, as parents, are trying to do every day, too.

But often, and anyone who has kids knows this, our little gems of wisdom aren't accepted the same way they are when they come from a respected and well-liked teacher.

As in, they aren't accepted!  At all.

But I have to say, for the most part it's been a breeze with our girl.

She's done really well, and made us proud.

She deserves some recognition, and a party, and treats to eat.

Which is what I will be doing tomorrow, preparing for a small party celebrating #2's achievements.

And baking lemon bars. Therefore, the lemons!
I told you they figured in!

Thanks for dropping by today! It might get a little crazy around here in the next day or two, but I'll try to visit every one of you as soon as I can.
If you are new to Heart and Home I hope you'll be back again soon! And if you like what you saw today, why not become a follower, or subscribe for e-mail updates? You'll be glad you did!

Until next time,
XO
Heidi

Heart and Home Gives a Light New Life

Monday, Monday, welcome back. It's been hot here the past few days. We went up north, and had a great time in San Francisco on Saturday. I love living close to such an exciting and interesting city.  There is always so much to do up there!
I hope you had a nice weekend, and that all is well with all of you!

 This was on the list, and I've been meaning to show it to you for awhile now.
Trying to get good pictures for all of you, my blogging buddies, has held me back from sharing this sooner.

I'm constantly reminded of my shortcomings as a photographer, especially when faced with a challenging situation.

But these next few pictures were easy to take:

During my shopping trip with Delores I found at Ikea:

A brushed nickel, three armed "faux crystal" chandelier.

Boxed up tight, and then wrapped and taped, and wrapped and taped again.

First all the plastic wrap and tape came off.

Which took forever, it seemed.

Then I masked off all the crystals, and the cord and chain.

This was a pain, and really did take a lot more time than I thought it would take.

Finally, I got it done, and started painting.

Out came the Krylon spray paint, in Ocean. Such a great color!

I sprayed, sprayed, and sprayed again.

Then I painted the chain, once, twice, three times. And then a few more times. And again.

There are many sides to a chain, I've discovered!

As soon as it was dry it was ready to hang.

Which was handled expertly by my husband, who installed it right in the spot where the old light fixture had hung.

Turns out we didn't need to use any of the chain - wouldn't you know it?!

All that chain painting for nothing!

 

At any rate, it's up and my daughter loves it.

She has been wanting one for a long time.

Going for that "hippie-bohemian" look in her very cool room.

Which I promised I wouldn't show you. Just the chandelier, nothing else!

She's a girl who appreciates her privacy.

Now you see what I mean about the pictures.

The new fixture gives the room a soft glow, which is very hard to capture with my inadequate photography skills, especially when I'm up close and personal, and trying NOT TO SHOW the room.

I'm sure there's a setting on my little digital camera for "soft glow, chandelier", but I don't know it.

You'll just have to take my word for it.

It looks great, my daughter is happy, and that's one more project, scratched off the list!

I love it when that happens!

Thanks for stopping by today! I'm linking to all these great places:

Blue Monday at Smiling Sally

Making the World Cuter Monday, at Making the World Cuter

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch.

Thrifty Treasures at Southern Hospitality

Until next time

XO

Heidi

Heart and Home and Lunch Outside For Two

Hey ladies! How's it going?

Here it's a beautiful day in the neighborhood. Feels like Summer has finally arrived, after a long wet Winter and Spring!

Today I went and got the little side deck table decked out for an alfresco lunch with a friend.

Maybe you'd like to join us, I'd be happy to squeeze you in!

It's so nice out here with the ocean breezes blowing through our valley, and the wind chime chiming!

All my work earlier this Spring has resulted in a bounty of pots spilling over with colorful blossoms

For a festive table, I gathered up some of my favorite things to serve as decorative accents.

The bird and topiary seemed like natural partners.

Although I don't think much is needed to improve on the ambiance!

Blue and white, (my favorite combo) accented with touches of green, reflect the natural surroundings.

The vintage tablecloth is printed with a wisteria pattern. The cushion covers are an Indian print fabric that I love for it's exuberance.

There's nothing shy about that pattern!

Which suits me just fine.

I don't like wishy-washy prints, but rather prefer big bold designs that make a statement.

I picked up these little five-sided bowls for $1 apiece at the drug store!

They have polka-dots on them, just like the bird feeder that I made a few weeks ago.

I'm always on the lookout for fun additions to my dishware, even while I'm waiting in line at the RX counter!

Blue and green stoneware has mix and match patterns, from Pottery Barn 11 years ago.

It's layered on top of my trusty white, fruit-embossed plates.

The blue-handled flatware was part of a picnic basket outfitted with all the necessities.

I only have two place settings, but that's all I need today.

Two is just right for an intimate lunch on the deck, to celebrate the end of the school year with a fellow mom from my daughter's class.

One more week, and school is officially over for the year.

Then the activities of summer begin for real.

I'm not sure I'm ready for the art lessons, tennis lessons, sleepovers, girlfriend get-togethers, lunch-a-movie-and-shopping trips that my daughters are always planning when they're not focused on school work.

Although I am ready for some quality R&R with my girls.

What will you be doing during the next few months of Summer?

Besides BLOGGING, of course!

Don't tell me if it involves a trip to Tahiti or some other exotic locale.

I don't want you to see me get jealous, it's not one of my finer qualities.

Although, staying here at home for a few months, with the beach just around the corner and all these trees to stare at all day isn't too terrible, is it?

Actually, I feel rather lucky.

And besides, I get to visit with all of you whenever I want.

Remember to leave a comment and let me know you were here!

And, there's always room at the table for more of you, so feel free to follow along!

I'm linking up with Susan at Between Naps on the Porch, for Tablescape Thursday, and Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home. Thanks Cindy!

Until next time

XO

Heidi

Wednesday Gratitude #16: Heart and Home Parades, Pipes and Pretty Views.

                        

"Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul." - Henry Ward Beecher

Hi everyone. I'm glad you're here! I hope you had a wonderful, fun and restful weekend this Memorial Day.

If you're joining Wednesday Gratitude, be sure to give the address of your actual Gratitude post, and link back to Heart and Home in your post. And, remember, leave a comment, and try to visit other participants, too!

This was the scene in our small town this weekend.

Don't you just love a traditional, small-town parade?

I'm grateful to live in a place where patriotic holidays are celebrated with flair and exuberance.

We enjoyed the pageantry and the excitement of the participants as they marched by.

Some more than others.

There were a few spectators with fingers in their ears when these skirted marchers passed!

Most of the ear-shielders were under the age of five.

But I did notice some adults cringing when the pipes went by.

I'm always pleased and thankful when I have the chance to hear the bagpipes played in the parade.

I do love a good bagpipe!

Sadly, I realize it's not a love shared by all!

On the other hand, the fancy vintage cars were a hit with most everyone.

A funny sounding horn on a car is okay, I guess.

I'm thankful we have a right to our own opinions!

After the parade we spent a lot of time in the garden, working our fingers to the bone.

I'll show you what we did in a future post. I was inspired with a fabulous idea, but the ground around here is rock-hard in some places.

Especially the places I wanted my "art installation" to go. I needed help!

We (as in: my husband) worked very hard to make my vision (that sounds arty, right?) a reality.

I'm thankful for his support and encouragement.

And his ability to hammer things into rock-hard ground without complaining.

When we finished, we (as in: both of us, even though he worked much harder than I did) enjoyed our  reward:  lounging on the hammock.

I'm extremely thankful for the hammock, the opportunity to enjoy it, and the gorgeous view from our deck.

I love listening to the birds and the wind rustling through the tree tops.

The rhythm of the lawn sprinkler, the field being mowed next door, horses clip-clopping by on the street below, dogs barking and children laughing, are the sounds of summer around here.

I'm grateful for long summer days, spent outside with people I love, doing satisfying work.

And then reaping the benefits of a deserved break, swinging in the hammock.

I'm linking to Outdoor Wednesday, at A Southern Daydreamer. Thank you Susan!

Until next time

XO

Heidi