Upstairs, Downstairs

The goal was to line the walls of the stairway with antique mirrors.  I have approximately two of those, so something else had to fill in and it needed to be something I already had (read: free).  When I saw this and this, I realized I could add to the wall grouping AND solve a storage issue!  Mama sent some of her silver serving pieces home with me a few years ago and we'd received some for wedding gifts (so it's all vintage!).  

Adding to the mix are three barrel rings from a half barrel my parents gave us about thirty years ago.  That barrel was a great place to contain ivy, until a few years ago when the wood was just about gone from rot (although Kate and I did salvage some of it for projects!).  I couldn't bear to throw those rings out so they've been 'weathering' outside.  I brought them in, cleaned them up, and love their patina.  

heading up the stairs

love this grouping of oval pieces within a barrel ring

heading back down the stairs

Also?  Mirrors and silver are impossible to photograph.

get on the bus, gus

Not every day you see a DIY party bus; this one was parked about a block away from the pier at St. Simons. Look closely. There are sofas lined up on each side!  Shockingly, it was not on the Tour of Homes.

   

He's a Classic

The Blue Devil Classic has a new name!  Thanks to Coach Willis and his co-conspirators, E.W. had no idea until this afternoon.  

the plaque

The icing on the cake?  Our 'faux grandchild' shot a 69 and earned Low Medalist honors! We are TOO proud!

The E.W. Bowers Blue Devil Classic Low Medalist!
photo credit: clc

Oh, and just for fun...here they are ten years ago...we were faux grandparenting at C.'s preschool!

E.W. and C. in 2002

Sunday Funday

The girls spent some time with me this afternoon; it was such a gorgeous day! Emma is steady on her feet now so we went for a walk. For a ten-month-old, she can hike!

Come on, Emma!

Not so fast, Ellie!

I do it myself.

If you say so...

Of course we ended up at the Womack's 'playground'...and Ellie was very happy that KM and C were at home this time.  

Ellie also had fun with E.W.'s glasses.  She kept saying the floor was moving!

Mmm....

salad topped with crab cakes from Barbara Jean's

adding a bit of fabric

Almost two years ago, the dining room walls took on a new color. Not long after that, I covered the side chairs in a neutral.   Both projects were a move toward the great fabric on a pair of arm chairs E.W. purchased. 

love this fabric on the armchairs 

Last week I decided to make small lumbar pillows for the side chairs.  Who knew the perfect stripe was already in my stash?      

six of these, all free!

sneak peak under the table

We've lived here for over twenty years and have always loved the clean lines of the shutters on the windows.  Not sure why I got in the mood to add some window treatments but it happened.  I wanted to spend as little as possible, so I was good to go with a 9x12 drop cloth.  The texture is wonderful and it's so easy to wash, iron, and sew.

window treatments half done

A lot of people don't even use their dining rooms.  Maybe it's because we went so many years without one (and then when we got one, it was forever before we had furniture) that I appreciate it now.  This room holds a lot of great memories of sitting around the table with family and friends... and we're ready to make more!

as I left it today

Weekend Rewind: Jersey Boys and More

Some friends and I headed to SSI Thursday night for a girls' weekend. We spent Friday afternoon shopping at Jacksonville's Town Center, making sure to allow enough time for happy hour and dinner at the Cheesecake Factory.  We arrived at the Times Union Center well before showtime, pumped to see Jersey Boys. It did not disappoint!

before the show

Saturday morning we had a great day touring gorgeous homes on St. Simons and Sea Island...so busy we didn't have time for lunch (and that is NOT like us).  That omission called for an early supper at Blackwater Grille, which worked out great because we had time for a walk after (which made us feel better about the massive quantities of food we consumed throughout the weekend!).

on the tour

One more great meal later, we were making our way back home (after a short stop at a T.J.Maxx, ha).  Thanks, girls, for a great weekend.  Love the way we talk and figure life out!

Oh, and if you think E.W. was sad and alone...he wasn't!  He and Worth played in the member/guest AND he got to spend a little time with Emma and Ellie.  Here's a bit of a video evidence, via Worth:

Lunch and Laugh

It seemed like most of the women in our town (and many from miles away) attended a luncheon today...if you're a Mary Kay Andrews fan, I am sorry you weren't there.  So much fun!

our table

our guest of honor

Weighing In

I come by my affection for vintage honestly; this scale was one of my dad's finds.  He rescued it decades ago from an Augusta warehouse slated for demolition.

This is the only information I could find that referenced a similar scale.

Someone repaired the broken pan.

Google was not very helpful.

Agate, made by Southwark Scale Co., Camden, NJ

I couldn't find anything about this scale, other than the company published a catalog in 1902.

Cleaned and oiled - gorgeous!

The weights for 2 and 6 ounces and the 1 pound weight are accurate according to my kitchen scale.  The 4 ounce weight is a little off at 3.8 ounces.

weights 

Maybe someone out there knows something?  If you do, weigh in!

Wordless Wednesday: Outside

Wrestlemania

For those who'd like to see a slice of Saturday's action:

The girls have also spent a good bit of time lately doing this.

Saturday Recap

stormy weather

smiles for Auntie Kate

Uncle Jay was on Emma's good side, too.

E.W. sneaks in for some giggles.

Who does Ellie fly into the minute she gets home
from her tea party?  Uncle Jay, of course.

gorgeous daughter-in-law and her lucky husband

Ellie saved some hugs for E.W.

Come on, Emma.  Let's play! 

I love it, I hate it, I love it.

Hey, it was her idea.

(You should have heard the giggles.)

Emma plays to the fans.