This should be a nice quiet weekend!

I do not have anything planned for this weekend but relaxing, reading, making jewelry, working a little on my plants in the courtyard (deadheading, fertilizing, etc.). We have been go, go, go for the last few weekends and weekdays so it will be a nice time to just chill out. John will be working tonight, Saturday and Sunday but we'll be able to spend a little time together. I have also been thinking about painting a picture again. I don't know what, but I'm leaning towards flowers this time I think. We'll see. I hope each and everyone of you have a wonderful weekend!

Mamma Mia the Play!

Megan's husband, Ken decided he wanted to do something really nice for the 3 of us. He bought 3 tickets for Megan, Jenny and I to see Mamma Mia last night. He also included dinner! We met at Cafe Sienna uptown, had a nice dinner and a glass of wine then off to the musical. The seats were pretty good for a last minute purchase and the performances were wonderful! I have always loved Dancing Queen and they sung it to perfection! I blared Dancing Queen on my ipod all the way home! Of course today I'm dragging my behind around the office trying to closeout a project. That's ok I've been humming Dancing Queen while I work on these mountains of closeout documents! I hope everyone has a wonderful day!

Peach Sangria Recipe

If you are looking for a really wonderful summer drink that looks pretty too here it is! Megan made this recipe out of my Coastal Living July/August 2009 magazine on Saturday night and it was yummy!

Peach Sangria

1 (750 milliliter) bottle white wine
1 Cup of Peach Schnapps
1/2 Cup Frozen Lemonade concentrated, thawed
2 Nectarines, sliced
1 Cup green or red grapes, whole or sliced

Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher. Cover and chill atleast 2 hours or overnight. Stir before serving. Makes 8 cups

You can freeze some extra grapes too instead of using ice cubes, which will dilute the sangria. Enjoy!

Just a nice relaxing time with John.

Last night John didn't have to work. We went to a mexican restaurant for dinner, then stopped at the grocery store for a few things and a birthday cake for one of the guys from work. When we got home we chatted for a bit and then my friend from Raleigh called. We talked for quite awhile and then my Mom called. Her really close high school friend had a stroke and was in the hospital. Her friend lives in Kansas and my Mom lives in northwestern NJ. She feels bad she can't see her, but her friends husband assures Mom she is doing better and will survive. With that all out of the way, John and I started chatting again while I was looking at a Southern Living magazine I bought at the grocery store. We had tons of great conversation. We dreamed a little, made goals, talked about our kids, our lives, etc. It was just a really nice evening! I love those times. This is what life is really made of! Make sure you make time to be with the ones you love! Hugs everyone!

Dancing Willow on my Sunday Stroll and other odds and ends.

Today I was making my bed when I looked out the window and became mesmerized by the willow tree dancing in the breeze in the middle of our neighborhood. I have always loved these trees-they are gracefully, majestic and downright mesmerizing. They sway, dance, ripple and hum to you when a breeze or wind glides through them. Here are a few pictures of the willow tree outside our window.








I don't know if you remember but I brought this black wrought iron trellis over from the old house and I also dug up the antique red climber rose and brought it over too. Yesterday John and I potted the rose up (cut it way back first), then we put the trellis up against the garage wall in the courtyard (figured the black trellis and the red rose would show off really well). I'm sure the rosebush will start growing its whips again soon and cover the trellis again. It is a very agressive climber and looks just beautiful. I couldn't bear to leave it at the old house with no water, fertilizer or care.


I can't believe how big these Lamb's Ears have gotten in this container. I love their gray-green foliage!


I was taking the new wrought iron trellis with the climbing rose in the courtyard and I happened to look back and saw this beautiful picture of the picnic table, market umbrella, the fountain, etc. I love the way this turned out.



Last but not least here is the paint chips that John and I must make our final choice from for the Dining Room walls and 2 platforms of the tray ceiling. Kittery Point Green is a favorite of mine. But then again so is Wythe Blue, Harbor Haze and Yarmouth Blue! Then there is Van Alen Green and Hancock Green! Too many choices and not enough walls!! No seriously John and I will be working on our choices and finally picking one this week.

Picking a new paint color for the Dining Room.

John and I have been living with the red color in the Dining Room for over a month now and we really feel it need to go. We really miss our lovely blue color in the dining room in the old house. We think though in this house we are going with a similar blue color but we want to try something different. We are looking maybe at a Robin Egg Blue, something soothing and relaxing. The red is definitely not relaxing and it is making the room feel closed in. I also think our pictures would show up better on a lighter blue wall. I'll let everyone know what we decide! Everyone have a lovely Friday and a great weekend!

I am 50 years old today!

Well I have just turned half a century old today! My Dad called and just said, "you're half way there". Then he said Happy Birthday of course. He is too funny! I asked him how he knew I was going to be atleast 100 years old some day and he said he just knows. I've heard from everyone in my family already and it is only 10:40 a.m. Megan called first, then my Mom and Dad, then my younger sister, then Jenny and last but not least my middle sister! My nieces all yelled Happy Birthday to me when my younger sister called-they are a scream!! Tonight Megan, Ken, John and I are going to an Italian Restaurant called Mama's for dinner. I can't wait to order the Chicken Francaise-it is so yummy! Their steamed veggies are awesome too! Should be a fun time. Jenny and Kevin couldn't make it-they will be missed. I told all the guys at work to give me a nice, quiet day and they have so far. In a little while we'll be going to lunch. It is so nice to be pampered! Oh I forgot John made me breakfast too this morning-he's a sweetie! I hope everyone has a wonderful day!

Woke up in the night to hear lovely rain.

We have not had much rain (even though I know the North has been slammed with rain). Last night I was woke up at 2:30 to the sound of it pouring down rain. It sounded so lovely I fell back to sleep after only a few minutes. My plants in the courtyard should be loving it, especially the banana tree and the impatient plant. This morning everything was glistening in the sun while I walked to my car-it was just beautiful! Hope everyone has a lovely day!

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Valentine's Day Photo Cards

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John got called back to second interview!

When John came home from work last night he was all excited. He had interviewed about 1 1/2 months ago for a management job in his field here in Charlotte. They wined and dined him for about 4 hours and the "get to know you" interview went really well. Then they called him about 2 weeks later and said things for the new office were moving slower than expected so they wouldn't be calling him until the middle of the end of July. Well the call came yesterday and in 2 weeks (the owner will be on vacation)they will have him in for a 2nd interview. Keep your fingers crossed everyone! This would be the greatest news on earth if this happened. They are also considering buying his title agency to boot! We are praying really hard and long for this to take place. I'll keep everyone posted.

The weekend went way too fast!

I couldn't believe it was Monday already! Where did the weekend go? I feel anymore like the weekends are just flying by faster and faster. Yes, it was very busy this weekend but still. I really think there should be a 3-day weekend and a 4-day work week! I hope everyone is having a wonderful day!

The girls threw me a 50th Birthday Party!!

Yesterday I thought John and I were going to our son-in-law, Ken's birthday party. Megan told us to come over at 5:30 and everyone would be there to celebrate Ken's birthday (which is 2 days after mine). I bought Ken a Best Buy gift card, because he loves computer games, computer items and anything computer! We got to their house on time and I walked in and everyone yelled surprise! I really was surprised! My friends from Church were there and a few other friends. Alot of my friends are away on vacation so they weren't able to come. They were missed but we did have a grand old time! John and I didn't get home until 11:30. The girls, the son-in-laws and John gave me a picture for our Dining Room wall. I have always loved Dan and Pauline Campanelli's pictures. They lived in NJ and we actually met them when we lived there. Pauline has since died, which is a sad thing for the artist world. She had polio when she was younger and was confined to a wheelchair. Dan, her husband used to set up still life settings for her and she would sketch and then painting them. My grandmother had polio and was also confined to a wheelchair, so I feel I had a connection with Pauline, especially after I met her. They also had a farm in Warren County, NJ and raised sheep. We had a farm in Sussex County (one county over) and we raised sheep, she loved to garden, I love to garden, she loved to bake and I love to bake, etc., etc. We have many paintings of Dan's but only 1 of Pauline's. Below is a picture of the painting they gave me for my 50th birthday yesterday! It will always be treasured by me not just because I love Pauline's art but because my family gave it to me out of their love! Happy Birthday to me! (Well really not until Thursday).

Nothing Much Happening in Charlotte

Today was just one of those days I would have just loved to sleep in, laze about all day reading, painting and just plain relaxing. There is cooler weather coming to Charlotte after tomorrow and it will be really nice to just sit at the picnic table in the courtyard and just chill out with a glass of cold iced tea!

Decided to turn a dresser into a buffet and some other miscellaneous things.

I haven't been able to post any pictures for quite some time, so I hope I don't overwhelmed y'all! I hope you like what I did with the antique dresser in the breakfast eating area. John and I feel like that area is finished just right now! There will also be a little detour to the laundry room walls! Just love that saying in there! Everyone always chuckles when they see it! Then to the guest bedroom to share a few pics in there! Finally we end up in the courtyard. Just a few snapshots of what's happening out there! Hope you enjoy!


I felt the breakfast eating area needed some finishing touches. So I remembered we had an antique dresser with a harp mirror on it in the garage. I told John to take the harp and mirror off (this was just screwed to the dresser top). I told him I wanted to make a buffet out of it. He couldn't quite picture it (he should know by now to just trust me). This is how it came out! I love it and so does he!!

All of this China was John's Great Grandmothers. His Mom had it and when she passed away it was willed to him. It is a beautiful set. Shown here on the right is a hot chocolate set, in the middle is the sugar bowl and creamer and on the left is a covered vegetable dish. They are absolutely beautiful pieces of Limoge! We have plates, tea cups, saucers, 3 platters, salt dishes, berry dish and cereal dishes. We are so lucky to have such a beautiful set!






All of these silver spoons and forks were John and mine. His Mom had saved these for him too. I have to find his silver baby napkin ring too that his Aunt had given him. It is here some where!


Guess whose silver Gerber Baby spoon this was? Did you guess right-it was mine! My Mom saved this for me. It is one of my treasured possessions!


I brought this banana tree over from the other house. It is sure loving it here! It has doubled in size. I found out they sell planters with heaters in them for wintering over your banana trees. I think I will have to check into this!


This antique dresser is one of my favorites. There is a door that you open up and ladies used to store their bonnets in there! John bought this dresser for me one Valentine's Day when we lived in NJ.


Here are my little "friends" waiting for me to pluck them off the bookshelf and read them! I have only read 4 of the books on these shelves. Almost all of them are from Paperbackswap.com!


I just love these red poppies with the blue agate stone, the books by Dorothea Benton Frank and the stick lamp. These are all on the night stand in the guest room.


I love this painting-so Secret Gardenesque! I have always been fascinated by that story and when I saw this I knew I just had to have it. I put this little lovely in the guest room over the antique dresser.


This is my favorite sign that I have hung up in my laundry room. Do you think John gets the message that I don't like socks left inside out before I wash them-tee hee hee!


This is a collection of my garden/bird type prints and my little picket fence shelf. I hung them on the long wall in the laundry room. I just love to look at them while I'm folding clothes.



The New Guinea Impatient Plant I bought about 2 weeks ago really loves it here!


I love these purple/blue Wave petunias that I have in a basket on the fence in the courtyard! They just make you happy looking at them!


This is the last of the pansies in the courtyard. I am really surprised they haven't perished in this heat. They usually don't like heat at all!

We received the second offer now! We also have computers at the townhouse!!

LIFE IS GOOD!! John and I are totally exhausted with all the negotiating going back and forth. At the end of close today both offers will be given to the Bank for their approval. Now the waiting game begins. I feel we are much better off than we were on Friday with no offers at all! Tonight John has to work and I'm going to enjoy being able to go on the computer at home now that Time Warner got their act together! John said the phones, computers and fax machine are all working at the new office-YAY!! What a long time in coming. It will be so nice to keep in more constant touch with all of you! Everyone have a lovely afternoon and evening!

WE HAVE AN OFFER ON THE HOUSE AND ANOTHER ON THE WAY!

I have been doing the happy dance ever since our realtor called us on Saturday! John and I are so excited and we are keeping our fingers crossed that everything goes through and gets approved quickly! Our realtor said another offer is coming in and it is going to be a good one. Maybe there will be a bidding war-wouldn't that be wonderful! We are both so ready for this chapter in our life to be closed! Thanks for all the prayers and listening to me through this really trying time in our lives!

TGIF!!!!

SMILE EVERYONE IT IS FRIDAY!!! YAY, Friday is finally here! After 2 short weeks, this week seemed to be 2 weeks long! I saw this picture of these 2 little monkeys, aren't they cute, you just can't help but smile! Hope everyone has a great Friday and weekend.

House price drop.

Well John and I lowered the price of the house again yesterday. I hope it helps, we've already got 2 showings this afternoon! After waiting to hear from Wells Fargo since February they finally said today that they really think we can pay the full mortgage. John tried to explain that we couldn't and they won't hear of it. I'm really glad we moved out last month! That bank is just plain crazy!!

Organizing our garage tonight!

Last night John had to work so I thought I would start organizing the garage. I started out by putting all the Christmas stuff in a pile, garage stuff in another pile and little by little I had 9 piles of stuff surrounding me! Tonight John will take some of the heavier boxes out. I'm going to go through all the Christmas stuff and if we don't use it I'll either toss it or I'll give it to one of the DD's or Goodwill. I hope we can get our acts together as far as the garage is concerned. I would atleast like to put my car in there. I'm thinking if we are really organized we could get both cars in there! Wouldn't that be great!!

Sunday Stroll around the townhouse and outside.

I hadn't done a Sunday Stroll in quite some time. I thought today would be a great day to do that. Welcome to Meeting Street at Indigo Row. John and I have lived here for 1 month now and we love it! Teddy also loves it because he has all his little canine friends to visit with everyday on his walks. I have posted some new pictures of the courtyard behind our house. I think I finally have it set up the way I want it and the best way for all the plants. The picnic table finally has been levelled and can be sat at now. I had promised when the Dining Room was all together I would post pictures of that and I've done that in the post too. I hope you enjoy your stroll through our new abode and surroundings! Have a great day!


Entrance to our townhouse community.


This little bench has become Teddy and my little resting place when we take our long walk at night. I love the willow tree behind and all the grasses too.


Here is a porch over porch model. This one is for sale by the builder. We really like this style and we might be able to purchase a resale after our lease is up in 2 years. We really love our style too but the porch over porch has wonderful appeal. The upstairs porch comes right out of the master bedroom suite. That is really our style!


Here are some of the other townhomes in our little community.


This is the whole community from the entrance. As you can see this isn't a huge community, which suits John, Teddy and I just fine. It is done in the Charleston style, which we love.


This is a shot from the entrance to the townhouses. It is so lush and green now. I love the willow trees.


This is the center courtyard at the townhouse. Sometimes John and I will take a walk and then we take Teddy into the courtyard and sit on the benches for a bit. It's a great way to meet new neighbors too.


I thought this was a beautiful shrub at the townhouse, but I don't know what it is.


These cattails are growing in the middle area of the townhouse. They look so lovely just swaying in the breeze.


I originally had a large basket in the hall but I thought we needed some more color. One of my palm trees was getting way too much sun in the courtyard. I brought it in and put it in the entryway hall yesterday-much better!


My Mom painted this little group of bluebirds. She uses watercolors. I hung this in our entryway hall. We've gotten many compliments on it.


This is the dining room from the entry hall. It finally looks all put together.


We finally put the conservatory on the stand in the dining room yesterday. I really love it there!


My treasure table in the dining room is done now. I have the girls pictures (I really have to print out one with Kevin in the picture with Jenny), little houses from Ireland, shells collected while in Ireland, the little stained glass lamp I made and a little bluebird votive holder from Maine.


Yesterday John and I were finally able to get the picnic table in the courtyard level enough. It was so nice outside yesterday evening we sat out there for about an hour before the fireworks.


This is the backdoor and grilling area. I was able to put the 2 Pottery Barn lanterns out in the courtyard now!


I rearranged the grilling area and fence area of our courtyard yesterday. Now I know exactly when the sun is in what area and what plants can really tolerate that much sun.


This is the garage wall of our courtyard.


Here is the blue hydrangea and 3 rosebushes I dug up at the old house. I have to get some larger containers this week and replant them. I have places for them in the courtyard behind our house. They will look lovely there.


I had a lovely surprise yesterday when I went to the old house to dig up some plants. I walked into the backyard and I smelled this lovely lily smell. I had total forgot about the Casablanca Lily that I had planted. It was blooming in all its glory.


Closeup picture of the lily.


This is one of my favorite antique china plates. There is a bowl that matches this too but unfortunately it didn't survive the move from NJ to NC 5 yrs. ago. I have this hanging by the breakfast bar in the kitchen area.