Home Improvement-Part II

I think the dining room and foyer improvements are complete with Rosy hanging the chandelier just a few minutes ago. The "before" shots are posted on an earlier post. Here's the "new" dining room at Gillenwater Manor. It feels REAL good in there. Come join me...

Only East Tennessee

Yesterday, Maggie and I had a little roadtrip to Kyle's Ford and Sneedville, TN. (How's that for a vacation?!?!)

We planned to dine at the River Place Market and Cafe in downtown Kyle's Ford. After we placed our order at the counter and paid, we then took the ticket to the kitchen and placed it in the designated bowl for the orders. We settled in to wait for our lunch on the back deck, complete with comfy chairs and ceiling fans. The table beside us was being used by three men who had decided on the special of the day--steaks, baked potato, salad and butterscotch pie.

When we got to our table the men were gone and the cooks were looking for them. They went ahead and brought out their food and asked me to tell the man that ordered his steak cooked 'well-done' that his was the one on the right. At the same time one of the cooks brought our order, the men came around the corner of the deck and headed to their meal. The lady directed the man to the well-done steak and they settled in. The steaks did smell very delicious. I teasingly told them that we almost took their steaks. We chatted back and forth during our lunch. I could tell that they were enjoying those steaks and a little part of me wished I had ordered the special ($7.95). (BTW-The one who was chatting with me was probably in his 30's and cute as a bug! ) I asked them if the steaks were good and they all agreed that they were delicious. My 'new friend' looked at me and as sincere as he could be, he said, "Would you like to have some of mine? I've got some cut up here that I haven't even touched! You're welcome to have some..." It was as if he and I had been friends forever sitting at my dining room table breaking bread together as we had done many times before. I graciously declined his generous offer. A few minutes later, the older man with the well-done steak, looked over and us said, "Would ya'll like to have my butterscotch pie? It's homemade and delicious. I'm too full and can't eat it." I told him, "No thank you", and suggested that he could put it in his pocket for later in the day.

Maggie and I finished our lunch before our new friends finished. We said our farewells and went to the car for the last leg of our roadtrip. When we got in, started the car and put it in reverse, out of the kitchen came the man who prepared the steaks to help me get out of the parking space because big trucks had parked on both sides of me obstructing my vision as I had to back right onto the main highway. He directed us safely on our way.

As we headed on to Sneedville, I looked over at Maggie and said, "Only in our part of the world would that have happened." She grinned and agreed with me. We both feel blessed to live in these here parts!

Home Improvement

Home Improvement is in full swing @ Gillenwater Manor. You know how the cobbler's wife and children are without shoes and the mechanic's wife drives a lemon? Well, the carpenter's wife is in the same category.

Painting has needed to be done for quite a while now. I threatened to do it myself but I inherited my painted skills from my dad. Mom said that he was a "three-coater": a coat on what he was painting, a coat on himself, and a coat on whatever else was around him. No matter how hard I try, I always end up making a mess. Enough said.

I also have a friend who is a whiz-bang painter. Jan and Rosy have worked together on several new and remodel jobs. He knows what an expert she is with the brush, roller and paint and she gets the quality job done in less time than it would take me to get on my painting clothes, pour the paint in the tray and dip the roller. I told him that I was going to get her on couple different occasions to come and paint, but NO, he said he would do it. I bought the paint 3 or so months ago. It's been in the garage.

Summer is quickly passing and I wanted to get some stuff done before school started. Soooo, I contacted Jan. We had a verbal agreement as to when she would come-last Thursday. I was not going to tell him of the plan, but later decided it would be best if I did. Well, he vetoed the idea once again and I called her and we laughed again wondering what year he would get to it. Bless his heart, he started in the foyer Friday evening, filling nail holes cracks in plaster, etc. Second coat on foyer yesterday and filling nail holes, cracked plaster, etc. in dining room. As of this writing, we have a very naked, ugly 'canvas' in the dining room. I didn't realize how badly in need of painting it was. Everything is out except the table and rug.

Good heavens, it looks so bad. But hopefully, after the master of the house has completed his work, I can get started on my part and it will once again feel like home.

Blessings in all shapes and sizes

The older I get, I realize that blessings can come in all forms. Almost 2 years ago, I was blessed by finding the exact kind of dining room chairs (5 of them) I had been wanting (but couldn't afford my own taste and quality) for a little more than one would have cost. Also, while waiting to close the deal on the chairs, I noticed a very pretty love seat that had a price tag of $150 on it. After questioning the salespeople, I discovered that not only was the love seat $150 but the price included the huge overstuffed matching couch with a gazillon accent pillows. The final bill was less than $350!

Today, I'm heading to the dining room to clean out my clutter so that my dear husband, Rosy, can paint tomorrow.

The blessings in dining room:
1. I am now the proud owner of my mom and dad's round oak 'kitchen' table (found in a junk store and was painted with black lacquer) which was the anchor in our home for as long as I can remember. Many delicious meals were served and shared at that table along with holidays celebrated, homework prepared, vacations mapped, checks written for bills, laundry folded, coffee and tea sipped, and important family decisions made around that very table. It has seen spills, tears and heard laughter.

2.I'll be moving the tea cart from the front porch to the dining room after the painting is completed. The tea cart is a rescue job from Colonel Smith's garbage (circa 1960's). We were on a Sunday afternoon ride and as we passed his house, Dad spotted some things of interest poking out of his garbage can. He pulled the car over, gathered the pitched out pieces, took them home, expertly put them together and surprise.....a lovely tea cart that had wheels that actually rolled!

3. I will be adding several other 'things' that I have inherited from my mom and dad's home before the dining room is 'finished'.

Some folks may call it trash, junk and wouldn't have it near their fancy homes. Only the new- smelling-fresh- from -the- factory furniture is right for them. But for me, the patina, scratches and memories of these pieces of plunder are the perfect items for our humble abode. I just hope that Maggie will one day understand and realize the beauty that lies within them and pass them on to her children so they will be blessed in a small way.

Happy 4th of July!

Here are some fireworks from our celebration.
How fortunate we are to live in the land of the free and the home of the brave...
Thank you, Lord!

Bees and Spiders

It seems if we leave well enough alone, nature will take care of us. Just yesterday I noticed two "dirt dobber" nests on the carport. They were not there the day before..."busy bees", I must say. I was at the sink last night and even heard them buzzing/working. This morning I went out to look and Spider had taken one of the dirt dobbers captive and was going to have him for breakfast, lunch and supper. (I did help out and spray up in one of the nests to take care of the inhabitants...I don't want anybody to get stung.)