Hey y'all,

So, some of you may or may not be aware of an "ongoing" room makeover that I've been doing since last October.

For reasons why this project is being undertaken, see THIS POST.

To see the barest beginnings, see THIS POST.


Oh....you're back? I'm guessing now is when I'm supposed to tell you what is going on, huh? 


So, in terms of actual progress...I'm still at the cleaning stage. It's about 70% of the way to being completely done, which is an improvement over what it was in October. I'm to the point where there is just random junk in my room that needs a home and I don't know where that home is. *sigh* I hate this part of cleaning. 

However, there has been progress made in other areas!

So, before this project was even proposed, I was promised to inherit an old mahogany bedroom set that belonged to my great-grandparents. The bedroom set was in my maternal grandparent's shed, being stored there until I move into my own place.

Fast forward to a couple of months ago.

We find out that my maternal grandparents have decided to sell their current house and move down South for my grandmother's health.

Now, the maternal side of my family tends to be...hem...packrats. They literally save just about anything if it has any sort of useful life left in it. Pain to pack up, but it worked to my advantage this time!

Because, in addition to the bedroom set, I got:

Pictures - some embroidery pieces of my grandmothers, and vintage-y hoop pieces
Bookshelves - which I've needed for some time.
2 more small tables
and, the best prize of all....
My grandmother's big sewing cabinet!!!!   

Why I didn't think to grab pictures before we put them in the storage bin, I will never know. Probably so I don't ruin the reveal later.

The next step (besides finishing the cleaning....) is to research carpet options and pricing. Since I'm working, I'm expected to foot the bill - which kind of annoys me, but...that carpet has got to go. 15+ years of ugly peach carpet is just too much.

*shudders*

Maybe by the end of the summer, I'll have more news regarding this makeover - and pictures!!


Old-fashionably yours,

Catherine 

Hey y'all!!

I'm so sorry for my unexpected hiatus these past few weeks! Things have been CRAZY here...really, they have.

As of three weeks ago, I've been employed full time at a conventional dairy farm about 30 minutes from my house. It's a far cry from the living history career that I've been pursuing for the last three years, make no mistake. But, it's money in the bank and not a moment too soon, for the federal government is now demanding it's money back...

I'll be totally honest in that I definitely jumped off the deep end when taking this job. I'm working about 50-55 hours a week, 5 1/2 "days" (I get three half-days, and they are staggered), and 6 hours of sleep is now a good night for me.

And let me tell you guys, being sleep deprived and running around the house prepping for a trip is a bad combination.

This past weekend, I was getting ready to go out to Ohio for my dear friends Lia and MK's graduation at the same time my family is prepping to go on a trip in the opposite direction. My brothers were changing the water from our fish tank and they were taking a lot out.

So in my big sister admonishing voice, I told them....


"Don't take too much water out, you'll drown the fish!!"


You can imagine the response THAT got from my family.

About 9 hours later, I told Lia about that...and she laughed a lot. Little did I know the repercussions that little decision would cause.....

So day of the graduation arrives with the usual craziness of creating food trays, fighting corset strings (a friend's dress, not mine!), doing each other's makeup and hair, and enthusiastically greeting old friends. It literally felt like I had never left a year ago....

The exercises start - and so do the tears. In my defense, the drops started when one of the speakers' broke and he winked at his graduate daughter...and then continued during the presentation of gifts to moms ("I Hope You Dance" didn't help matters)....and what finished them was when the last graduate hugged his mother (who had barely survived 2 form of leukemia) after the ceremony. *still crying*

Afterwards, we had a nice brunch and hours of dancing, which included a free lesson! I leaned how to rumba and waltz a little (and want more....). 

My favorite memory from that day...will probably be Lia's graduation speech.

Her speech was sentimental and sarcastic. And you know what she ended the speech with?

"The biggest lesson that I learned is "Don't take too much water out of the fish tank or the fish will drown.""

Wise words, Lia.

Old-fashionably yours,

Catherine

Hey y'all!!

Forgive me for my long absence! If anyone has that pause button on LIFE ready, will someone let me know??? I could sure use it!

Anyways....

So, back in November (or was it February? I don't remember...), I picked up some blouses from a thrift store while I was on vacation down South.

One of which was this little beauty....

The original blouse. I apologize for the horrid wrinkliness.

It is a nice simple fitted blouse, in a really pretty shade of lavender purple. I LOVE the color lavender and always wanted a nice lavender blouse to go with some pretty spring colored skirts I have. 

There was some nice top-stitching on the front placard and on the collar

That, my dears, is a finished notch. *sigh*