Operation: "Privacy"

pri·va·cy

/ˈprīvəsē/

Noun

The state or condition of being free from being observed or disturbed by other people.

The state of being free from public attention.



What to do with a neighbor that insists on violating your personal privacy or even "sense" of privacy. You know what I mean? When your in your backyard (if you live close to your neighbors, have 6ft. fences & different topography so at times, you see their face), and you can see your neighbors in the yard. But...you don't make eye contact, you may wave, but you return your eyes to your yard and let them feel like they have privacy. Well, not my over the fence neighbor, that I will call "Gladys Kravits" & her husband. If you are young enough & don't know who Gladys Kravitz is? Look it up...that's her... but worse & more mean!

Unfortunately, my next door neighbor & I share our back fence line with "Gladys". Gladys decided to remove the fence between us without telling us & asked us, (me & and my next door neighbor), to pay half. The kicker was, neither of us knew about her deciding to take down the fence and my next door neighbor was out of the country when they did it. "Gladys", even thought we were gone too...nice! We had to leave 2 days after it came down and the fence was still not back up. We came back to a shorter fence than either of us,(me & my next door neighbor), wanted, which was 8 feet. We had already given them , ("Mr. & Mrs. Kravits) our quotes from another fence company & then never heard back from them. Well, thank goodness we weren't obligated to pay half! I would have gladly paid half for what 2 of us out of 3 had asked for...8ft. privacy fence. But I was left once again with no privacy!!

Now what? She can still see us, she & her husband make a point to hang out in their garage and stare into my home. The last straw was them building an illegal brick flower bed along the fence line at the same time, that blocks the drainage easement, redirected the water flow to my property & installed a french drain under their flower bed that drains to my property. this I discovered at the bottom of our fence. Ugh! So, complaining to the city revealed they had no permission & no permit.

They decided I was evil. The husband was flipping me off in their driveway & pointing at me all while I was INSIDE my home! I had no escape from them. They even turned their chairs on their patio to stare at us in our home. They even climbed the fences to my yard & my next door neighbors to hang over and look at our yards. They even did this to my next door neighbor during a pool party...the nerve!!! We were fed up!

So, my husband and I had a tall screen built. A huge privacy screen!! I love it!! I have my yard, patio & inside of my home back! We built in benches too. I was sooo inspired, I even built a pallet sofa & pallet coffee table. I went nuts! I put in stepping stones, a split rail fence & arbor to my very own herb & veggie garden. I have had a blast. Freedom is an exciting & inspiring thing. I couldn't sell my house & move to the country to escape them, so I brought the country to our home.

 

 

The one layer of lattice was not enough, they still made a point to stare and gawk! So an extra layer it is...

In the next post I will show you before and after of my vegetable raised garden beds. I added a split rail fence and arbor to my back garden and behind the fireplace, I had another raised bed made and planting room on each side, which is now growing pumpkins...they said I should have them before the first frost here in Texas...sure would be fun!

 

I am also lucky enough to have a friend trading my interior design service for her sewing service. As you probably coud see, my cushions on the main sofa are covered by a sheet. Mrs. Squirrel has for two years decided my sofa was a place for her to get nesting supplies. So they are in desperate need of recovering. She is also sewing covers for my new cushions for the new benches & my pallet sofa. YAY!! I will post pictures of the final cushions later. Hopefully now that homeschooling is in a routine, I can post more regular updates! Thanks for the patience. But the evolution of our home never stops. I sure am glad, I love decorating and making our home cozy.

Happy Fall & Happy Decorating!

 

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Our One Room Schoolhouse ~

Sometimes things happen in life, (and at school), that none of us plan for, nor do we ever wish for. So after 3 years of too many incidents, that weren't minor, but odd and extreme, we jumped the public school ship. I know we are probably jinxed, and it's not the norm, but for us...it was too much! I found myself relaying the joke about the kid that said to his Dr., " it hurts when I do this", the Dr. replies, "then don't do that!" So, I stopped doing it...

So now we have a One Room Schoolhouse in our home. The boys love it! And as the Teacher, I can say...The students are smart, willing and adorable ;-) So I'm one Happy Teacher!

Here are some pictures of our classroom. It was already a Western themed Game Room, so we moved a few pieces of furniture around, added a table, bench and also some maps and "school room" wall art. I actually like the western feel of the room. It makes me excited about getting back to basics and helping my boys learn to love learning again.

The inspiration for this room, I pinned in Pinterest. I loved the feel of the table and benches. Still on the hunt for the benches, but for now what we have works well and it is comfortable. I'm still wishing for wood floors...someday!

I turned the coffee table/ottoman into another area to rest and read, by our world map & Texas flag.

Note the photo above the fireplace: Albert Einstein. I don't know why, but it makes me giggle. This is their reading nook inside the "Mercantile". The other side of the "Mercantile" has shelves with more books and games. I painted that fireplace 10 years ago and our little Westie Bridgette, 6 years ago. We are hopefully getting another little Westie this Winter and it will again be relative.

The pictures are of my Grandfather , who has since passed, in his one room schoolhouse in the front row and to the right of him, the little girl with the bob, was his sister. This one room schoolhouse in Owatanna, Minnesota , much like Laura Ingalls in Walnut Grove, Minnesota. I had to make them a part of our room.

"The Teacher's Desk" ~ I love this spot for lesson planning and monthly activities.

Sorry it's blurry~ this holds all the teaching materials & supplies. The cork-board and chalkboard help keep me organized.

E=MC2 & Pi = 3.14..... Framed on the pub height table too.

Our Art Center~

A

I was a huge fan of Little House on the Prarie...{hellllooo, I had the lunch box, LOL! } I felt it was fitting to hang up my prize possession of Laura Ingalls Wilder's picture and handwriting on an envelope, in the room too.

 

The picture above is the first day of school. Thanks for stopping by. I hope to eventually take pictures with a real camera & not my phone, heehee! So to a Happier School year, Cooler weather...Soon, and more decorating deals & finds!




So as Always...Happy Decorating & Happy Back to School!

 

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Summer Update & Boys Room Makeover

Pheeew!!!! This was a big Summer with lots of changes to our family.

As I have told you in the LONG AGO past, { it feels like forever since I've blogged...Sorry!}, I have been battling a systemic infection...not fun. Good news is my hair is growing back and eyelashes too. Who knew how much I would miss those things and really appreciate them when they came back! The vacation we took to Santa Fe, helped the healing if nothing else less stress. It was a great cultural lesson and I LOVE art and lucky for me, so do my guys!

Then, my Miss Bridgette, our Westie dog suddenly passed away. Wow, was that tough. She was such a light in our family, she is dearly missed.

Then, after a 4th battle with our school district over the summer, and having a very regrettable encounter with a teacher that obviously believes in negative thinking, I made the VERY tough decision to jump the public school ship & homeschool both my boys.

I told you it was a Big Summer with lots of changes.....

So, now I have finished our first school day and can't believe how smoothly it went and how receptive they were to me teaching them. We shall see how long the honeymoon lasts. I just keep saying, "I'm cautiously optimistic!". I will post pictures of our "school room" soon. It was our game room, but with a few adjustments it's now a place of learning.

So, in between the drama and loss of our pet, I decided the boys needed a fresh start in their rooms for the new year. Ironically, this was before I decided to Homeschool.

Landen, my 10 year old, had a Colorado: camping, fishing theme. He is my collector of all things interesting. Nothing in particular, just "things". So I wanted to showcase his love of antiques & collectibles.

I had two dress Naval officer uniforms of my Grandfathers and hung one on an old lamp base with a hanger of which I removed the hook and replaced with a curtain rod finial to give it a finished look for display. I found old prints of bugs and used a chalkboard I made from a cabinet door to draw the Union Jack on for a European touch. The bed I got for $100 and Army blanket was from Aunt Heather. The wall color I luckily remembered after 10 years and a few coats later, the mural was gone and "Turtle Dove" was the perfect color for a collectors backdrop.

{A blurry photo, but I wanted to show the civil war gun my Grandpa gave me because he knew my love forhistory & the Civil War. It found a great home in this room.}

Excuse the burrrrrr.....

I found this old coke bottle carrier and picked it up for $5.00 and it turned out to be the perfect collection display case. He can change out or rotate the collection as he collects or changes his mind.

Preston, my 11 almost 12 year old (going on 50), had the "Cowboy Room", I have pictures of it in other posts. I luckily had the paint and painted over the train I painted almost 10 years ago, and the stage coach. I left the rest of the mural beacause it reminded me of a sepia toned map. The picture below is before I moved the uniform. But, I love the bell, globe and rolled up maps. The game of risk was a perfect prop too!

I added the history of the Navy posters I had of my Grandfather's and the military Westie General and a few other Naval touches including photos of his Grandfather in his Navy uniform and his Great Grandfather in his Navy uniform too. It turned out to be a perfect reflection of Preston's love of history and the Navy. I hung the other Navy colored, Naval uniform of his Great Grandfather's in here too and my husbands Daisy gun from when he was a kid.

 

 

I hope you like the pictures, even though it is extremely obvious I need to use an actual camera besides my phone! Ugh!

But, my boys loved the change and so did my budget. Preston's was only the cost of two frames, 50% off at Hobby Lobby and Landen's the bed and the bug science looking poster off of Etsy for around $30 and one gallon of paint.

Here's to a Happier School Year, Better Pictures, More Blogging & Cooler Weather in the Fall!! And as Always... Happy Decorating!

 

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Summer Project Ideas~

       

I love Freshening things up during the Summer. Sometimes little projects make the biggest impact!

I needed my sofa to have a serious update! The back cushions were more than tired. By simply replacing them with the middle pillow for $6.00 from Ross, (Secret: it’s a dog bed), and the other two from Target for around $20.00 each,(unfortunately, not on sale), I got a whole new look for under $50.00! The other pillows I had laying around. I was surprised at what a difference it made in the room. It really made it feel so much more airy and bright.

 

        

This next idea, I may have already posted before, but I get a lot of comments on it. I thought I should post it too. So I apologize if this is a re-post.

This is a display for family heirloom letters or keepsakes. I like to think of it like a time capsule. You could add your grandmother’s hankies or gloves. Maybe opera glasses and tickets from the opera. It is a neat way to keep them preserved yet visible to all.

These are letters I saved form my Grandparents and Great-Grandmothers, that I was lucky to have in my life. I wanted to be able to look at them everyday and yet keep them safe. I had them previously displayed in the open and quickly realized that with our busy & sometimes chaotic lives, they needed to be in a safer container or place. This was the perfect solution. Now everyone can enjoy them, talk about them and it makes my family that has passed, feel closer to me.

I hope you take some of these quick tips and come up with your own ideas for something to freshen & brighten your homes this Summer.

I hope all of you are having a GREAT Summer! And as always…Happy Decorating and Happy Summer Projects!

Gentleman’s Tie Organization Tip~

 

My Husband had all the tie hanging organizer hangers; yet, he was still fumbling trying to find the perfect tie and not upset the lot of them. They were either slipping off or it was somewhat difficult for him to sift through them all, to find the perfect tie and color of tie.

So one day, I got a great idea! What If I rolled them into my flat plastic boxes. He could see them all easily and they would be dust free too. They also fit perfectly in the built-in shelves in our closet.

{In the picture below, the tie boxes are above the suit coats and above the shirts on the opposite side.}

          

  

           

I color coded them for easy/quick, early morning, picking and it makes it much easier to see what colors you have or are lacking in. This gives the sometimes boring suit, a color kick!

If your man or you wear ties with matching pockets scarves, you could also coordinate the scarves with the ties to make for a very easy dressing experience.

*This is great for the color challenged or coordinating challenged.

Have fun and trust me… it makes those crazy mornings, or last minute events, a breeze to get ready for!

Happy Organizing~

Old Books With A New Home~

{First I feel I should explain my absence.  I have had a bad bout with my asthma, that I have had since I was three.  This round has been interesting.  The new medication is not working well. Unfortunately, the countless medications in the past may have helped me breathe; but, the side effects were too extreme. So please bare with me as my weekly posts may not be as consistent.}

~ I picked up some great antique books in New Hampshire last summer. I think what made me love them, were their covers, illustrations and inscriptions. Not to mention, the bill for all three was $15.00! I loved that they seemed a little worn or as I like to see them…LOVED.

  

I have a LOVE of old books. I love the way the print in some are imperfect and even crooked. The illustrations are vintage and charming. I feel by surrounding myself in old books, it in many ways makes me feel relaxed and comfortable.  I guess that is probably why beautiful public and private/home libraries are something I never get tired of visiting or designing.

    

                 {“The Rollo Books” by Jacob Abbott, 1855 publication}

I also love using the old/vintage illustrations for art in a room. I usually copy them and then frame them in simple or ornate frames, depending on the design and mood of the room and then you can even add decorative/color coordinating matting too.  They are fantastic in nurseries, I have used them many times in the past. It is a way to bring in “hand-me-down” or family favorites into the home for all to enjoy even without opening up the book.

I also loved the inscriptions in these books. It made me almost sad they were in a store on a shelf and not in a home being cared for and appreciated.

   

         

{This was inside the “Mother Goose’s Nursery Rhyme Book”. Notice it says 1882. You just know that “Baby Paul” probably enjoyed this for a very long time. Now we are lucky enough to have it in our home.}    

{This was in “The Rollo Books”, (Illustration of  the Organ Grinder above, is from this book as well). I just loved the red cover and that some little girl probably read this over and over again.}

I felt this need to bring them home with me and give them a home again. They were chosen as gifts and the receiver's were loved. Now the books are welcomed into my home where they will be loved and cherished  again.  Books are something that outlast us all and can carry on treasured memories and ideals. It gives us an insight to a person’s interests and passions.

          

This 1800’s copy of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” was a must buy. I loved the cover and how it shimmered and how the color is still so vivid. They just don’t make books like these anymore. I love having them in my collection.

I am so glad that my boys get to see how books were made, loved and how they really are better than video games. Last weekend my son Preston (11), grabbed a copy of “The Swiss Family Robinson” at an antique store and just stared at it. Then he looked at me and said, “now I know why you love these so much. They make you want to read them”.

I hope you pick up some antique books and put them on your nightstand, desk or favorite reading spot and enjoy. Look at the illustrations and see if they would make that one room that needs a little something now feel welcoming. Antique books make a great gift to the one you love and for many years to come.

Happy Book Hunting and Happy Decorating!