Hail Mary!

I'm back from vacation.

Reluctantly.   

But sometimes life gets in the way when you'd rather just ride the waves.

We had to come home a day early so my oldest son, a freshman,  could try out for his high school football team.

I'm a nervous wreck about it.

I'm not worried that he'll get hurt.

I come from a football family so the game itself doesn't worry me.   

No, my stomach is in knots because he wants it so badly and this mamma bear doesn't want her cub to be disappointed.

So, I've been praying to any of the football Gods I can think of:  

Knute Rockne

(Did you know he perfected the forward pass while working as a lifeguard at Cedar Point?  But that's another story!)

Woody Hayes

The legendary Ohio State coach!

Go Bucks!

Paul Brown

Famous Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals coach

If you know any others I can pray to please let me know!

My baby wants to make the team and I want him to have all the help he can get!

Surf, Sun and Sand

I've never been much of a sun worshipper because:

 a.  I don't tan 
and
b.  bathing suits hurt my ego!  

But once a year I head to the beach with my family for a little fun in the sun.


And I'm always amazed how much I actually enjoy it.


This week has been no exception and I've quickly realized that one week is definitely not enough.


I'm wishing for two!  


But alas, our real life is waiting for us at home.


There's high school football tryouts on Saturday.


Last minute summer school work to finish and my monthly barn sale at Chartreuse and Co., to get ready for.


So, I'll just have to savor my last two days.


Sink my toes in the sand.


Pour another glass of wine and slather on another round of SPF 50!


As for the bathing suit?


Who cares?


I'm having fun!

(In Topsail, North Carolina)

Industrial Girl

I'm much more of an industrial chic girl than a shabby chic one!   

Molly and I are loading our space at Chartreuse and Co., with my favorite style in mind this month.  


We're stocked with vintage carpenter tool boxes, old laboratory stools, galvanized containers, Molly's custom painted signs on reclaimed lumber, factory inspired lighting, and a Belgian work table.  

Do you think we're off to a good start?

Silk & Burlap

Have you ever watched someone's dreams come true and feel so much joy for them you just want to burst?   

That's exactly how I felt visiting my friends' new shop,

Silk & Burlap

In Frederick, Maryland

Angelique and Saule are Chartreuse and Co., girls who have been creating magic at the barn for the past year and a half.   

They took the next step and opened their own store last month, and to say it is fabulous would be an understatement!  

It's amazing!   

I went to a happy hour to celebrate their grand opening and was so happy for them it made me weep!   

(Yes, I've been doing a lot of that lately, but when you see your friends absolutely glowing with happiness, it's hard not to get emotional!) 

It was so inspiring to see their dream come true because it's also one of mine.  

They're two amazing women! 

Talented

Gracious

Discerning

Savvy

Beautiful

and 

Silk & Burlap is:

Original

Light filled

Fresh

Stylish

and

Incredible

Check it out:    

Silk & Burlap

112 E. Patrick Street

Frederick, MD  

Tell them I sent you!   

Loving Life

My oldest son has been at the National Boy Scout Jamboree all week.

I spoke to him yesterday and he's having the time of his life.

My youngest son spent the week with my sister and brother-in-law in Ohio.   

I drove to Youngstown Friday to pick him up and spend the weekend with my family.  

As we were driving back to Maryland today my son told me he loved being with his aunt and uncle and that his
 "heart is so happy".

It doesn't get any better than that.   

In fact, it made me cry.

How blessed I am to have happy children and loving relatives! 

Life is beautiful!  

The One That Got Away

I got to the auction late today 
(thanks to my husband - the dawdler) 
and this is what I missed:  

I'm in mourning because it was love at first sight.


You can't tell in the photo but the paint was the most perfect shade of vintage faded blue you've ever seen.
The color of the sky on a summer day! 

It had 32 drawers!   

(The two missing drawers didn't phase me.   I would have moved two of the top drawers to the empty spaces and replaced them with cool baskets.)

I will never find another one exactly like it!
It was fabulous!


I even tracked down the dealer who bought it thinking I'd buy it from him because I fell for it hard!   
Sadly, he had already sold it to another dealer who had no interest in re-selling it.


All I could do was walk away.
But not without turning around to glimpse it one more time....


Sigh.....

I'm in Love - Again

I've been wondering how a psychiatrist would analyze one of my obsessions.  

It's my latest love and I can't get enough!  

I'm drawn to apothecary chests, antique tool boxes and vintage cubbies.

You may remember it all started last fall when I first fell in love (here).
 But, sadly, like always, eventually my heart was broken.   
(Just seeing my love again makes my heart ache!)  

My new love is a clever combination of 20 antique boxes and a vintage dresser.  A truly unique, one of kind piece.   

Don't you just love it?   


What does my obsession say about me?   


A need to be contained?


Out of control life?


Craving order?   


All I know is when it's love, it's love, there's not much you can do about it!

(To any psychiatrists:   feel free to analyze me!)  


(To anyone interested in this fabulous piece:   e-mail me!)


It may also be available at my next Chartreuse and Co. show in August!

Ballerina Girl

When I was a child we didn't have birthday parties like kids do now.

No one had ponies, clowns, laser tag or moon bounces.

At least in my family, birthdays were typically much more low key and were usually spent quietly at home.    

And as the youngest of four I remember having exactly one party.

It was at our favorite park in Columbiana, a small Ohio town, and all of my relatives on my mom's side were there.

Grandma Ginny, Aunt Evelyn, Uncle Norman, my parents, siblings and assorted cousins.  

It was probably the best birthday I ever had because for just one great summer day it was all about me!

My cake was adorned with ballerinas, I got to drink my own bottle of Pepsi and my single present, a Barbie dream house was truly a dream come true!   

(Yes, I was still playing with Barbies at 9!)


It's one day from my childhood that when I close my eyes I can still see and feel all of the details of that special day.


It was one of those beautiful blue sky cloudless days!


The pavilion was all ours and we spent the day swimming, playing horseshoes and pushing each other on the swings.   

And most shocking of all, my siblings were actually nice to me!  

(Although my memory is probably fuzzy on that detail!)

It was my birthday and for one day I truly felt special.   

That day was 40 years ago today.   

Today's birthday has a decidedly different feel.  

I spent much of it at the DMV renewing my driver's license in the company of my children and 200 complete strangers.

After surviving that we ventured to Chipotle for my birthday lunch.  

At which I paid.   

Followed up by ice cream through the drive through of McDonald's.

Where I paid again.  

But you know what?

I may not have ballerinas, Barbies or my family's undivided attention today, but I wouldn't trade today's celebration for anything.

My priorities have changed since I was 9.

It doesn't have to be about me anymore.

The truth is, I'm happy to be alive!   


And every day is a gift!   

Happy birthday to me!

Photo of my oldest brother, Brian and I on my birthday.  
Circa 1970!

Obsessed!

Have I told you about my current obsessions?

Numbers

Cubbies

and

Galvanized

If you have the same love stop by Chartreuse this weekend!  

I have it all!

Today at the Auction

I woke up this morning to gray skies and sprinkles and debated whether to go to the auction.  

It's an outdoor event and you never know if it's worth the drive when the weather is iffy.  

It was definitely worth the trip.   

Check out today's finds:  

I love this little table because it's made from salvage materials - old porch posts and barn wood.

I loved this federal style mirror but will definitely be updating it a bit.   I'll paint it creamy white and distress it.   I might even pop the mirror out and turn it into a chalkboard.  

The gilded mirror will definitely get turned into a fabulous chalkboard.  

And my favorite find of the day is this cottage style sideboard!    

In fact, I love so much it's temporarily residing in my family room until I can get it up to the barn.

Or not!  

Don't you just love the chipped paint and trimwork?

Now, this one I actually found last week in one of my travels.

it's a fabulous 9 foot bakery table with butcher block top and galvanized legs that I found at an old Baltimore bakery that closed its door. 
It would be a really cool kitchen island!   

At Chartreuse - This Weekend

Chartreuse - June - 2010 - slideshows

This Month's Tag Sale

I'm heading up to Chartreuse this morning to get our space ready for next weekend's tag sale and I'll post some photos when I get back.

In the meantime, this is what's going on:

Stunning French chairs, settees, and ottomons.  

Cool industrial cubbies and accessories.

Soft, comfy cottage furnishings.   

Fabulous architectural salvage.

(I'm obsessed with stained glass windows this month and have several for sale!)

It's all there!   

Plan to stop by:

Chartreuse and Co.  

Buckeystown, Maryland

Where's He Going?

This is my life:

My husband and two sons are riveted to the television

Waiting.....

Waiting......

With bated breath......

Wondering where Lebron James is going?

Will he stay in Cleveland?

Will he go to Miami?

The Bulls?

Good God!

Who cares?

My boys do........

This just in....


He's going to Miami


"It's his best chance to win a championship."


Loser.


Seriously.


So he abandoned his home state, he grew up 30 miles from Cleveland just so he can possibly win a championship.


Why is the message always about winning?


What about loyalty, integrity, commitment?


I hope he loses every game.


Not very nice, I know.


But it's how I feel.


Now, back to American Pickers.

Vintage Vavoom!

You know I love auctions, right?

I love them because you just never know what you're going to find!
 I've picked up all kinds of really great things for my home and my barn shows.

I've been to dozens of auctions up and down the east coast.

But not once have I had a chance to bid on something like this that I found on Auction Zip today:

Tue Jul 6 - 10:00AM   Washington , DC    R. L. Rasmus Auctioneers, Inc. Nude Dancing License Washington DC    [ View Full Listing ]

Yes, you read that right!  


A nude dancing license in Washington, D.C.! 


And since I don't live too far from D.C.  
it has me thinking of the possibilities!

I could hire my suburban housewife, seasonal sweater wearing, book club, and bunco playing friends and we could totally reinvent the whole nude dancing world!   


You know, real women! 
Some slightly chubby.
A little older than the typical stripper girl.  
Maybe even a little saggy.
But still fabulous in their own right!
It would bring a new "maturity" to the world of nude dancing.   


I've already thought up the decor!
Antique charm furnishings to reflect a more, ahem, vintage performer!   

Hmm....
on second thought, maybe, not!
Even I'm having trouble with the visual......!  


But if you're interested, it's up for grabs tomorrow morning at the auction!

The Home Stretch

My oldest son called from camp last night.

When I heard his voice I started to tear up.

I've missed him so much!   

I was emotional not because he's been gone too long, but because he sounded so amazingly happy!  

He's having a great time!

He's challenging himself.  

(It's a Boy Scout program run by the Navy Seals!)

He's absolutely loving it.  

The excitement in his voice made me cry!

And that brings me joy!

But, my heart is anxious about my younger son.   

We haven't heard from him.

His camp has a strict no calls home rule.

It's designed to reduce the chance of homesickness.

His troop does have a blog though and the leaders post snippets and photos every night.

He's been in several and I've studied them intently.

Looking at his facial expression captured at the moment trying to read how he's doing.

And I can't tell.

There's a slight smile, but is it a smirk, or a brave face he's putting on?

You'd think I'd know.

He's my baby!

Then there's the letter home I got in the mail yesterday.

I saw it in the mailbox and my heart leapt!

My youngest is a writer and has a way with words beyond his years.

He pens stories and creates jokes that are downright funny!  

So when I pulled the letter out of the envelope I just knew it would be a detailed chronicle of his time spent at camp, an interesting tale woven with adventure, achievements and silly stories.

But it wasn't.  

The pages were blank.

As in nothing.

Not a single. stinking. word!   

What does that mean?   

Does the blankness summarize his thoughts on the camp?

There's nothing to say?

Or is it the jokester in him having some fun with me?  

So, I go back to the blog.  

And search his face again.

Comforted in the thought that we're in the homestretch.

The kids will be home tomorrow....

Hmm, what do you think?

Does this sweet boy look happy?