~ It Won't Be Long Now! ~

Yesterday the wood was delivered that is to be our floors in the living/family room, dining room, study, and foyer...and this is just one of the stacks!
...here's a closer pic of the wood...it's solid red oak, lightly hand scraped, 5" planks...I think it's going to be pretty!...they are supposed to get started bright and early Monday morning so I guess I will be a morning person for a few days next week, ha!

Earlier this week, I took an hour and half drive to go and pick up a piece of furniture I bought online...I have been looking for an antique pie safe for ages but every time I'd see one that I liked, either it was too expensive, or the tins had a design I didn't particularly care for, or it would be painted, or something!...but when I saw this primitive gem, it was love at first sight!
It needs a good cleaning before I bring it into the house plus I want to put some lemon oil on it to perty it up but I just think it's charming!...there is some tin loss on the sides and it has a few apologies, but it's believed to be from 1850!

When it's time to put the furniture back in place, I'm going to omit several pieces and try to simplify, I've never been good at that so we'll see how that goes...but I am so anxious to decorate for Autumn!...I'm enjoying seeing all of your lovely pictures and I want to do it too!...Even though it's supposed to be 98° here today...WHAT??!!...yep you read that right...I certainly hope this is the last of the heat because I am tired of it!!

Well that's all for now, have a joyous weekend everyone!

~ Braided Rug Question / Help ~

Quick question here!...I am trying to decide on which type of braided rug I want to have underneath my coffee table...having always had carpet, I have no experience whatsoever in buying rugs so I would love to hear what is the preferred material for a braided rug to be made out of?...cloth or yarn?...I'm looking at cotton cloth rugs by the Homespice Decor Co. and nylon yarn rugs from the Colonial Braided Rug Co....any and all help / suggestions would be greatly appreciated!...Thank you in advance!

~ Painting ~

This weekend's goal is to get the foyer and living/family room ceilings painted...not an easy task because of the vaulting but it hadn't been painted since the house was built 8 years ago and there is no better time to paint since all of the furniture had to be moved out anyway for the new floor that will be installed later this month.
I've worked all week on getting decor items packed away as well as moving furniture into our bedroom, kitchen, and breakfast nook. Here's what the family room usually looks like...
...alot of stuff!
And here's what it looks like today...empty!The only thing that isn't getting moved just yet is the big black entertainment cabinet because it is unbelieveably heavy!...that thing is next to impossible to move, it's insane!...so we covered it with a drop cloth, that and the fireplace mantel and hearth...the plan is to move the entertainment cabinet just around the corner into the kitchen/nook area just before we paint the walls in 2 weeks...need to give the ceiling paint time to cure so we can tape it off safely in order to paint the walls. I was thinking that I may have wanted to change the wall color to a creamy neutral but I'm just not ready to give up my sage green!...the name of it is Weeping Willow for cryin' out loud! LOL...so we will just give it a fresh 2 coats of the same.

Here is hubs painting the highest part...normally when we paint walls, he cuts in and I roll...but he spared me from the neck straining task of the ceiling.The wood floor install has been scheduled to begin on the 27th...they are going to deliver the wood on the 23rd to give it time to acclimate and at that time they will also lay my little bit of natural slate that I want in front of the front door here where the blue tape is on the carpet.
Still have the dining room and study to empty of furniture but at least the bulk of it is out of the way...we'll put the sofa and a few basics back until we paint the walls but having the room so empty is giving me a fresh perspective on where to place things when the time comes to put everything back...I want to simplify!

Well the 1st coat is now on the ceiling and the 2nd coat will go on Sunday...have a fantastic Labor Day weekend!

~ A Big Change ~

Major chaos is about to occur in our home within the next month or so...we are having hardwood floors installed in the foyer, dining room, study, and living/family room...below is the wood I've chosen...it is solid red oak, hand scraped 5" plank...now where to put all of this furniture, hmmm

~ The Lazy Days of Summer ~

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer thus far. Here in the East, we are finally getting a break from the triple digit temps and while it's still too warm for me, I am thankful especially for my oldest son who has to work outdoors. I've been staying indoors and am so very thankful for electricity and A/C!!! I've been working on making these little pinkeeps/cupboard pillows and I am pleased with how they've turned out because I think they look like they're actually old! The designs on these two are by Jenny of Country Rustic Primitives and I have them posted on my web site in a new catagory called, "By My Hand".
...and here's one fresh off the hoop that I've just finished stitching:These are elements from Stacy Nash's Goode Tidings pattern booklet. I am enjoying cross stitch...it's like painting a picture even though I can't draw or paint! LOL

Another thing I've been working on is giving my crock bench a makeover. Hubs made it several years ago and it has been hunter green up until recently. Here's the before and afters:

BEFORE:

AFTER:
I had made a mess of it trying to apply the stain over the paint but hubs helped me out and made it better...it's still not perfect but the stuff I have on it covers up alot of the mess, LOL....I just wanted it to have a new look and I'm happy with it for now.
Then lastly, I purchased this adorable little stool from a friend of a friend on ebay in the UK...I just think it's so cute...
...I initially had it in mind for a chair that I want and don't yet have but doesn't it look cute with the make-do chair?

Well I think that's about it for now...I am looking forward to the turning of the Autumn leaves because hubs has agreed to take a short trip up to New England with me, maybe just spending one night away, but it's been since the summer of 2000 that we've done anything resembling a vacation and I am anxious for a little getaway!

Thank you for stopping by and have a great week!