A few weeks ago, I started messing around with my mantle, and I put a vase up there with sticks. It was so sad. Here it is…
My cousin and forever friend Terri McCroskey came to the rescue. Very tactfully, she offered me some of her willow branches. I very gratefully accepted and went up to her house this week and picked them up. If you like this type of thing, you’re going to be jealous….here they are…I would almost call them “majestic” especially when comparing them to my sticks!!
I enjoy them every time I walk by…and I think of her sweetness in giving them to me.
I went shopping around the house and added a few other things. Mostly gourds and some blocks I already had. I think they look pretty good. Gourds from the garden…I didn’t have too many this year, but I did have a few.
I have an ivy topiary in my RiverCliff Cottage header. It’s dried up, died down and come back. It doesn’t look like a topiary any more but I think it’s still pretty. It was outside most of the summer recovering. I love a live plant on the mantle.
The blocks are kind of shabby….
Also on the mantle is one of last year’s pumpkins that cost me nothing. It’s full of Walmart bags and pinto beans!!
I also made a little vignette for the foyer with blocks and gourds. I made these upstairs in the loft when I swore to Mike I was cleaning. I really like them.
And here they are again…
Hope you have a wonderful fall weekend. I’m off to finish cleaning the house!!
When we did our Little Bathroom Project (see here if you haven’t read this), I wanted an updated look to the builder grade mirror that was glued to the wall without going to the trouble of removing the existing mirror. We decided to “frame out” the mirror using molding. If you’ve been reading about this project, you may be tired of it; but if you’re going to try a project like this, you should read on. It could save you some trouble.
We searched on the internet and found several success stories, but we also found some failures. My favorite blogger, because she is entertaining, resourceful, talented and funny is Rhoda of Southern Hospitality. One of Rhoda’s most popular posts is on the subject of placing molding on a mirror. She was successful. Here it is if you haven’t seen it.
The most difficult part of this project was getting that molding to stay in place long enough to dry and adhere to the slick mirror. We tried several things including Liquid Nails for Glass and for Mirrors. Gravity was working against us, and I did not want to spend the entire night in the bathroom holding up molding! The picture below was our first try. We mitered the ends on this try. Look at the top…it was sagging…and this was after all the work when we thought it was done!!! I said the crap word, and I won’t tell you what Mike said, other than it started with an “S”.
It actually fell down right after this picture was made and the ends got banged up, so we changed gears and used four blocks and four pieces of molding. More cutting and more painting. However, it was easier than doing the miter thing again, and we felt the blocks might add stability. Here it is again…with the blocks. I called these “ladies breast blocks” for obvious reasons.
And now, here’s Mike’s solution to ensure that the molding that you’ve so carefully painted and cut will stay attached to the mirror! This can save you some heartache. He said no one should have to watch their pretty, mitered wood fall into the sink!
Mike came to the conclusion that there is not just ONE solution for effectively installing molding over a mirror. It is actually a two-fold solution — using TWO types of adhesive. One adhesive is for quick trying (hot glue) and the second for the strength to hold that mirror up for a long time. Both of these glues must dry clear because of the reflective quality of the mirror. Mike used about 80% Loctite GO2 Glue and about 20% glue from my cheap craft glue gun. This works!!
We were afraid to use only hot glue because it becomes brittle over a period of time. Have you ever used hot glue on something and it works fine for a few days and then things start falling off? With two types of adhesive, our molding was easy to place on the mirror (didn’t have to hold it up there forever) and should last. Here’s the pretty frame…
If you are not mitering your corners and use corner blocks like we did, put them on first. We also added a little tape until they were good and dry just as insurance. I did not want the block to come tumbling down and getting glue everywhere. These blocks offer support for those long, vertical and horizontal pieces that just want to fall down and make you cuss.
Last, and Rhoda mentions this…paint both sides of your molding when framing a mirror. We started this and only painted one side. When the molding was held into place on the mirror (simply holding by hand to see how it fit…not when we were gluing thank goodness!), the unpainted side actually reflected in the mirror.
Thank you for reading RiverCliff Cottage. If you read this and have questions, just email me!
In my “Before” picture of the bathroom, you’ll see the old Hollywood light strip. We removed it and updated it with something I like much better.
Before…
And After…
And that left us with one old Hollywood light strip that no one wanted. I thought it would eventually end up in the landfill, but Mike saw it differently.
After his very low score on moving the bathroom along (see that post here), I believe he has redeemed himself. I’d give him a definite +1 for this idea.
Here’s the base looking more “mirror like” than “candle-base like”. He put pads on to keep it from scratching the table.
Here it is with a quick pass of spray paint…waiting on tea candles. Those chairs in the yard are what I’m currently working on…cleaning the porch and working in the shrubbery. There is always something to do at this place.
I thought this was one “Smokin’ Hot” idea!
As mentioned above, we’re starting to get the house ready for fall and winter. I worked in the yard yesterday for several hours, and next I’ll be cleaning windows. I searched on the internet for the easiest way to clean my outside windows. I’ll let you know how this works out in a day or two!
If you read my last post, you know that our Little Bathroom Project had turned into an evil, twisted ordeal! Everything went awry! I sat on the couch laughing while I was writing it, and Mike went into a deep sulk. If you didn’t read it, here it is. We’ve turned this all around. It’s not done, but progress has been made.
Here’s the bathroom when we started…this was when I was taking the mirror down and had it all taped. We decided not to take the mirror down so I later removed the tape. Yes.No.Yes.No…finally it really was no. This room was like a little dark cave.
The Benjamin Moore “Eternity” paint really opened the room up, and the paint covers so well. The gallon of paint was $62 and I only used one quart. Expensive, and now I have this pretty paint that I do not know what to do with. The room is small so it’s hard to get a “whole” picture, but in this picture which has the black wood surround on the mirror gives you some idea..
We swapped out the dated “Hollywood” lights that I liked about 20 years ago. I like these so much better..
We’re changing out the plumbing fixtures in this room. Those that you can see in this picture are now gone, but we haven’t installed the new ones. Everything will be a brushed stainless steel. Very clean and subtle. Here’s Mike on the floor working tonight on the swap.
We’re close to having this complete.
While Mike was working on this, I was cleaning the den which has a pantry in it. It’s a pantry that I organized last year that I still enjoy. If things are organized, it’s easier to put things away. Here it is this year…and it’s perfect for me to store our onions. We’ve eaten most of the onions, so I need to remember to put out lots more next year. These used to hang on the back porch but we have to move them before winter, so when Mike washed the porch recently, I went ahead and put them in the pantry. I like the way they look hanging up like this.
We have had the best day. Mike felt better because he made progress on the bathroom. I felt good because I “deep cleaned” our den, completed treating the bees for “nosema apis”, and washed a few windows. This was all followed by an amazing BLT at the Rally Mart in Hiltons and a long nap this afternoon. A perfect day.
Happy Labor Day Weekend! It’s Friday night, and I’ve managed to turn cleaning the house into an all-day affair that will not get finished until tomorrow.
And now, I’m blogging and listening to Gate City on the road at Richlands by streaming the broadcast. Technology rocks. I’m also tuned into John Battle at Abingdon. And I’n pulling for the North Stafford Wolverines where my nephew coaches!
First, here’s a bathroom update. I’m going to tape some tonight to paint the trim and Mike will eventually get the lights, plumbing, etc. installed. We’re not very fast. Mike’s son, Marc, and his family as well as Mike’s other son, Aaron, will be in for Rhythm & Roots so that’s our goal to have this done. Meanwhile, I’ve got to clean in there. Either the cat has peed in that little room or something is just stinking. I thought it might be the commode which remains wrapped in Saran Wrap, so I gave it a flush. Didn’t seem to help, so I’ll be visiting with vinegar and/or bleach in a few minutes. Yuck.
I’ll wear gloves so it doesn’t mess my manicure. Did you see the post last night with Anjelah Johnson? A hoot. If you did not see it, go here! She’s a great comedian. Must.see.
Here’s the sad state of the bathroom..there’s no light in there so it’s not very good. I’ll have to hang a light on the ladder when I start working on that in a few minutes, hours, maybe tomorrow…oh who cares… in a bit
I’m sidetracked on the bathroom today, because I started fooling around with plates. I love dishes. On the wall, on the table, in the closet…it doesn’t matter to me. Here’s some marjolica plates I bought in Middlesburg, Virginia about a gazillion years ago…nice…but where’s the creativity?
Oh…maybe it’s here…or is this just a diversion to keep from mopping the floor? Hmmm…
But I do like it. It’s more cheerful, and that’s my decorating style.
But…in looking at the picture, I realize I need to shift my yellow and green plates so that the green plate is on the opposite side. I’ll do that tomorrow and take a really, really good picture!
Meanwhile…Gate City is behind. I have to go lean into the iPad and give my support. I heard the word “Gardner got hit.” That’s Neth. He’s the one that helps us so much here at RiverCliff Cottage. We’re crazy about him. I’m totally distracted!
I got the new Pottery Barn catalog. I love to look at their accessories. Here’s my favorite thing in this month’s catalog:
I looked around for what I had and found a small vase, and I added…well…sticks! They are all I had. It needs some other things in it to make it look fuller, but it’s a start.
Here it is again…okay…it looks a little skeletal. When I’m at Hobby Lobby, I’ll get something to fill it out.
And then from a distance. It’s on the mantle. I wish it were bigger. Maybe it’ll grow!! Or grow on me!
Here’s another vase on the sofa table…
And some late summer flowers in the kitchen….
I actually cleaned the house today…just so my vases and sticks will look their best.
When my cousin called from South Carolina and said they were coming up…I thought “what are they going to do? It’s raining nonstop here, and it could be so boring.” “Boring is good,” Alisa said. And then, they arrived, and to keep everyone on their toes, I called Alisa (correct name) “Alisha” (incorrect name) and mixed up Caroline and Rebecca all weekend long. They were so gracious not to say anything. Oh…and I never bothered to clean the house and didn’t get groceries this week, but it all worked out!! Hey…they’re family!! Here they are…oh…and that is Andy. My grandmother, Eva Sproles, is his great grandmother–that is how we are all related. We are “first cousins, once removed.”
I should not have worried about being bored. Andy was easy to entertain. He likes to hunt and fish, and we live on the river. Plus — we gave him and Oth (my sweet nephew in-a-way) an assignment — rid us of the skunks that are entering the bee enclosures. Twenty-four hours later we are down four skunks. You are looking at the Skunk Dynasty. “Stinky, Stinky,Stinky.”
And what did the girls and I do? We payed our tribute to A. P. Carter and the Carter Family by taking pictures of the store (now a museum) and the Carter cabin. Here’s a couple of the pictures..
And since these three are serious quilters, we visited Tennessee Quilts in Jonesboro and Short Sheets in Bristol. I’m inserting about ten pictures that are a feast for your eyes. These ladies and these pictures have made me zealous in my desire not just to learn to quilt but to have one done by Christmas. Think I can do it? Yes!
Are you loving it? Who cares about the upcoming Bristol Race? It’s not “Gentlemen…start your engines.” It’s “Ladies…grab your scissors (actually rotary cutters). Here’s my “Fat Quarters.”
Learning all kinds of new quilt slang…these are “jellyrolls”!!
And the Carter Family tribute that we started on Saturday morning as we took pictures? Serendipity stepped in and we continued on Sunday morning at Mt. Vernon Church. Oscar Harris, Dale Jett, Laura Cash and Daryl Jayne gave us great music — Carter Family style! We shovedpushedjumped stepped in and had our picture taken…Daryl is missing as he’s behind the camera!!
PS! Alisa and I have something in common! She is a blogger, too! I would appreciate it you’d visit her site some day and say hello. She’s a teacher, and she’s the kind that everyone wants their third grader to have as their teacher. Here’s the link:
http://alisalamb.blogspot.com/
Hope you have a great week. Please be sure and visit again during the week. Hometalk has been nice enough to feature one of my “Clipboards.”
I mentioned in a post a few weeks ago that I was reading “Flight Behavior” by Barbara Kingsolver. The author enjoys pulling readers into the relationships in the book…to allow us (the readers) to see things from other folks’ perspectives. However, the final pages are the ones that have lingered with me. In this book, which I hope I don’t spoil for anyone, the monarch butterflies…the King Billies...are wintering in East Tennessee vs. Mexico. There are many factors as to why…the changing climate, availability of milkweed, etc., but it’s not a good thing. It seems to be an impossible situation.
However, there is an inkling of hope as a few of the monarchs survive the winter in spite of all of the perils. We don’t know their final outcome, but we are given hope that they may be evolving and adapting to the new “now.”
And even though it’s not “time” to put out fall decor if you’re a person who follows that type of thing (I am), these guys are tired of lying around on the ground. They are “done” and I’m adapting.
Not just one…but a bunch! A “gang” or a “gaggle”!
If you follow Pinterest, Southern Living and all the other places that feature pretty autumn pictures NEXT month, you know that I’m early in placing these pretty gourds in my foyer. What else is there to do???
This continues to be a year of change for us…our family is changing, my transition to not working is occurring, and our “dear girls” Gracie and Luckie are getting so old that they will not be with us much longer. Not all these changes are welcome or wanted, but we’re like the King Billies, we’ll adapt.
Thank you for reading RiverCliff Cottage. I hope all your changes are good ones!!
What are you doing tomorrow? I am going to spend tomorrow and Saturday in Mike’s shop baking and selling stuff for our yardsale. You know what they say…“one man’s junk…another man’s treasure.” Please come carry this treasure off.
It’s not all junk…it was actually fun digging around in boxes. You see, about 12 years ago we combined two houses into one. We got rid of a lot of things, but for lack of time or desire, we kept too much. And then we added to it.
Sometimes during this yard sale journey, I opened a box and was JOLTED back in time. I bought this in Key West, Florida, when I thought I’d have a baby of my own. That baby never happened, but when I look at this scary mogul I was buying for a crib…well, yikes.
I must have had a complete clown fancy because here’s another one. I bought it in Cary.
And then there is this lamp. This lamp is nice, but it is not me. What was I thinking?
And then there is this doll pictured below. Mother and I were out one day, and she thought this was cute/funny. I bought it, and we laughed all the way home about how funny this doll was. Mother died in 2005, and this poor dear has been staring at a corner in my attic since that time.
The yard sale will be over in two days. It seems like August is a transition month for me so getting rid of this stuff so close to August is a good thing. I’m transitioning again. Like a caterpillar/butterfly/caterpillar thing. Always changing.
Last year, I left AGC in August and began working with a friend. I’ve had such a nice experience, but now I’m going to not work for a while…maybe forever! I’m looking forward to cleaning the attic, going back to work on making my house exactly the way I want it, and maybe even traveling with Mike a bit.
One day, I don’t know when…I will have the much-talked about Yard Sale. I’m still finding the things that will go in this sale. There were a few things above the refrigerator that I never use, so I got up on a chair and peeked in. Here’s what I saw…YIKES!!!
Since this cabinet is taller than me, I have been..tossing the wax, plastic and foil wraps up there.Shame. I decided to fix this mess following the basic principle of my home organization process…”what do I already have that will make this better?” I explained what I needed to Mike…”a way to keep the wraps so that I know where they are and they are all kept together.” He said “well, what would Sam’s Club do?” Sam’s Club makes sure their boxes work for both neat display and easy identification. Me and Sam’s Club! We have the same goals!! From now on, when it comes to organization, it’s WWSCD!!
So off to Sam’s Club, and we found the perfect box. We casually walked the aisles with a cart picking out the best box. We even used a tape measure. So bold! (There were a lot of boxes that we brought home for other projects..more about that later.) Here she is…a beauty! She has a front for me to label and nice sloping sides to keep my wraps neatly arranged.
We celebrated our successful hunt with a fine meal…Sam’s Club pizza and a soda!
Back home at the real RiverCliff Cottage, the box had to have a little of the chalkboard spray paint on it…
I made labels so I’d know exactly where my wraps can be found…
Put them on the box….
And then I slipped the wax paper, plastic wrap and foil into the box. It’s ready to go back in the cabinet which will now be organized! I’m so happy with this!
And Chrissy had some other recommendations for the wonderful Sam’s Club boxes.
I have a whole stack of boxes out in the garage. The possibilities! What would Sam’s Club do?
