Crystal "Shine" delier!

This is a project long time in the making.

After looking like this

 for, oh I don't know, probably 5 or so years,  (actually worse, because I washed it in dishwasher),


This wonderful old chandalier that my husband and I picked up at an antique store for $30.00, now looks like this:

Thanks to Lonnielove for doing this:



Yes, he put this thing that was in broken pieces together and now it looks like, well, not new, but shiny like new.  It can't look like new, because it probably came out of an old restaurant, and I really don't want it to look new.  So it really looks the way I wanted it to look, I guess.  I'm happy with having a light over the dining room table, can you tell?!

Oh and I helped: 

Who can find the clue in the above picture that I helped??????
I'm linking this to:
http://happytodesign.blogspot.com/

Why White????

Good Question!  As for the answer, I don't know if I can answer that or not, but I'm going to try in this post about the painting of the living room. 

Early January (20ll), I casually told my husband that we needed to paint.....soon.  Well, he took me seriously.  So seriously that at church the next service he asked a painter in our church to come and do some painting for us.  He told me after church that he was coming the next day!  Yikes!  Wait!  I'm not ready!  Yet I knew that here was my chance and that I better get ready!

Soooooo, after many hours, (I hate to admit that, but yes, hours) on line actually doing what I call a "crash course" on interior painting, (thanks to Maria  at http://mariakillam.com/home.htm)  and after many trips to Lowes and thousands,   several paint decks and samples,  I always came back to, yes, you guessed it, WHITE!

I really don't know why except that when I look at pictures of all white rooms, my heart just seems to kinda pitter patter!  Words like, peaceful, clean, restful, pure, relaxing come to mind!  I know it is not the look a lot of people are going after, and on most of the home decorating shows, they really look down on all white.  Oh well, I still like it!  Acutally, I remember when we first built the house 16 years ago that I really wanted to paint the walls white, and the woman at the paint store talked me out of it.  That goes to show it's always good to go with your first choice!

Another reason is because I like to change things up so much, and what "color" goes with everything any better than white?!!!!

I have loved painted white furniture for a loooong time and have much painted white furniture.  My kitchen is white as well.  It is just something that I never tire of, and as one avid white fan said, when you get started on white, you just want more white!

Sooooooooooooo, there are some of the reasons.  I guess there are others, and if  I think of them I will add them later.  For now, I guess the answer to my own question of "Why White?" is "Why Not?"

You can see the way the living room looked before here.   Also below are some close ups of the before wall color.   It was a creamy color which was OK, but I like the white much better.  The actual name of it is "Spare White". 

Before white and with the "touch up" mud.



As you can see here, it had a sort of brownish tint to it.



Before when compared to the white trim.



This is an after white paint shot taken by grandaughter,  Abby.  Without looking at the items which are not supposed to be in here,  (bench, black and white picture on fireplace, etc.), you can see how much brighther these walls are. 

I still have quite a bit to do in this room, but I really do like the way it turned out.



My Very First Give Away

Well, I've been at this blogging business  for over two years, and I only have 23 followers!  I think something might be a little  wrong with that.  Especially when I see those out there with 2000 plus followers.  How in the world do they do it? 

I think one of the ways is to give something a way.  I've never received anything from anyone....have actually only entered a couple, but I've seen a lot of give aways going on. 

So, without really knowing what I'm doing, and with no further adieu, I am going to give something away to my 25th follower!  I'm  only two away!  So, YOU could very easily be that one!  Can't wait to hear from you!

Up, Up and Away!

You know you have a tall house when then front window is so tall that it probably has only been washed twice in 16 years.  Not because I don't want it to be washed, or wouldn't wash it;  it's just that it is almost inpossible to get to.  Unless you have some kind of lift or high reaching ladder.  And it doesn't hurt to have some wonderful weather! 

We have actually had both of those this week;  gorgeous  weather nearly 70 degrees (I personally think we live in the south!)  and a big old lift of a thing rented to put new lights in at the church parking lot.  So, while we had it we took advantage of it and my "Lonnie Love" cleaned the window in front of the house. 

You know what else happened with it????   The grandkids got to go on a ride with Papaw in it...and you know what else????? so did I!!!!!!!!  Oh yeah, I decided, why not?!!!!!!!  Wow!  I could see all around in that thing; as our neighbor was seeing us.  I'm sure wondering what in the world we were doing!

It made me think of when we were young and riding the farris wheel at the county fair!  Fun times!  Olivia said we were going on a ride for Valentines Day!

MY SWEET HEART of THIRTY PLUS YEARS!

This time of year takes me back many years to  special Valentines Days.  I'm reminded of the times when my sweetheart would give me one of those huge boxes of chocolate candy.  I'll have to admit that sometimes that seems like another life!  I even kept one of the boxes and  just looking at it almost makes me taste the  succulent. sweety, chewy,carmely, nutty, chocolaty goodies. 

Wow!  I really didn't mean for this to be about candy!  You can tell where my mind is!

I did mean for it to be about the wonderful man in the picture above.  I am so thankful for him!  He is the best!  I do not have the words to describe what he means to me.  Actually, he is the one with a "way with words".  I wish I could share with you all the wonderful poems he has written me; maybe sometime!   I am so thankful, that even though I have only the memory of the delicious candy, I still have the blessing of  being married to the one who gave me the sweet gifts!

Who knows, with Valentines Day almost here, maybe there's some chocolate in my near future......dark chocolate is OK, isn't it? That's what I thought!