Seeing Prospect in the Old

I am one who loves creative ideas inspired by the forgotten or as some would put it "trash." Here is one that is so fun and I would have never came up with. Thanks to Design Sponge. Which if you haven't checked out their website then you should. I adore Grace Bonney and her wonderful eye for the beautiful and rustic. The website is designsponge.com. They simple took the glass from the lamp and painted the back side blue then glued the pieces to a board and tiled the pieces together. The instructions can be found at http://www.designsponge.com/2012/10/before-after-recycled-lamp-mirror.html

The Door Desk

I am an individual who loves crafts and who is starting to sew my own clothes, as well as an online student, so needless to say I need a very LARGE DESK. For months now, I have been forced to transform my kitchen dining table to a work area. This has been frustrating since we eat at the same table. So my husband offered to help me. I took him up on it!

 We live in a very small apartment in VA Beach with an even smaller deck, which my husband turned into his wood shop for the day. Somewhat not a good idea for the deck is made out of wood and the wood chips and sawdust, from cutting the wood, seeped through the cracks to the deck below us. Our neighbors beneath us were very understanding and the circumstance created an acquaintance between us. This was quite an adventure but we had so much fun!

Here are the instructions we used for our door desk:

1. First, find a vintage door from a habitat for humanity store, antique shop or thrift store. My door I used was full of character and some of the paint was starting to peel, a characteristic I love.
2. Next, scavenge out a piece of glass about the same size as the door or smaller. Key element here is smaller, for it is far easier to cut wood than glass. We found a screen door that only had a white trim around it which was easy to take off.
3. Then, cut the door to fit the glass if need to.
4. Next, make saw horses for the legs. (You can even use small bookshelves for legs.) My husband used the template and instructions from the http://artofmanliness.com/2011/09/15/how-to-build-a-quick-and-easy-sawhorse/ (Later, we are thinking about adding shelves to the sawhorses for more storage area.)
5. If you want to paint the sawhorses then do so now, before assembling. We want to paint ours a matte black.
6. Finally, assemble the pieces together. Stand up the legs after completion and place the door on the legs and the glass on the door and now you have a door desk with plenty of work room. I love it!!!

Materials (instructions for sawhorses from http://artofmanliness.com)

Here are the materials Tim recommends for his sawhorses. It’s enough to make a pair.

• Six 32½-inch 2x4s (for the I-beams)
• Eight 30-inch 2x4s (for the legs)
• Twelve 3-inch wood screws
• Thirty-two 16D galvanized nails

How to Build a Sawhorse

Building a sawhorse is super easy. It makes for a great starter project for the man who has never really worked with tools, but wants to become handier around the home.

Note: This is one way to build a sawhorse. I know there are plenty of other ways to do it. This plan is great for everyday use in a typical suburban garage. If you plan on using your sawhorses for heavy work, you might try another design.

1. Measure and Cut Your Timber

The 2x4s I bought came in lengths of sixteen feet, so I had to cut them down to the needed sizes. Here I am measuring and cutting 32½-inch pieces for the I-beams and 30-inch pieces for the legs. Remember to measure twice and cut once!

Here I am using a portable compound miter saw to cut the timber. You can use a hand-held circular saw or even an old-school handsaw.

Ready to be turned into a sawhorse

2. Build I-Beams

Take three of your 32½-inch 2x4s and screw them together in an "I" formation. I found it helpful to drill a pilot hole before driving the screws in. Drive three wood screws right down the middle on top and bottom of the I-beam. Place two of the screws near each end and drive the other one right in the middle of the I-beam.

http://artofmanliness.com

3. Nail the Legs to I-Beam

Butt the end of the 30" 2x4s into the top of the I-beam like so. Hammer two nails at the top of the leg so that they go into the middle I-beam piece. Nail two more nails into your leg so that they go through the bottom I-beam piece.

If you've done things correctly, you should form a box pattern with your nails. Notice my hammer dings in the wood. I need to practice.

Repeat for each leg.

http://artofmanliness.com

http://artofmanliness.com

Completed Sawhorse

My finished sawhorse. Rinse, wash, and repeat to make your second sawhorse for a pair. To store these bad boys, just stack 'em.

http://artofmanliness.com

A Thank You to all the Grandmothers

My grandmother on her wedding day.

High school senior picture of my grandmother.

My beautiful grandmother caring for my father.

My grandmother and me on my wedding day.

Today, I find myself missing my lovely grandmother so very much. I have not been home to see her for awhile now because of the military lifestyle and I fear it still might be some time before I can see her  beautiful face, a little worn from years but ever so much charming and graceful, still at age 74. Her past was not a laid-back one, being raised on a farm. She would often be the one to raise her other siblings and take care of her mother, after graduating high school while working long hours, when times were hard in America and jobs few. Growing up in poverty, others did not treat her so kind and she found herself the blunt of everyone’s jokes far too much, that is…. till my charming grandfather showed up in his pink convertible just to appease her and lure her in. My grandmother was not at all interested in men at the time and it was quite a challenge to catch her eye. Although she was born in poverty, she did not stay there. She took as many classes as she could find the time for, through out the years, while looking after her mother and working. Her struggles paid off and now she is working as a home health care nurse and has been for some time. She has influenced me more than any other woman on this planet for her strength and grace through the rough life that was bestowed on her. 

 At age 2, my parents unfortunately divorced. As the saying goes life does not always go as planned. We all believe it was for the best, although, I do not agree with divorce but do feel in some rare cases it is better then physical or emotional abuse. Divorce is far too easily accessible and mistaken for a way out of dealing with life’s changes and challenges that occur in everyone’s life. Saying we both have changed is not an excuse to end a promise or attachment for life. Please figure out if he/she is the one before you marry them, nothing should be rushed into or not given considerable amount of time to think over one’s thoughts and decisions. Divorce is emotionally scarring for everyone, including the children. The constant changing and adjusting from one environment to another is very difficult for children who come from a divorce family, especially, when they are young and blame themselves for the family’s problems. I did not have a wonderful mother and I felt a lot of times that I was not wanted or loved; these issues still haunt me today and are wounds that are hard to heal. My grandmother, having had to raise her own set of children, a boy and a girl, decided against all odds that she would fill the heavy shoes of being my sister and mines mother, and I will treasure her for all time for that decision.

 We have had our moments of frustration and anxiety, but is not that the case with every mother and daughter relationship? I truly can say I do not view her as a grandmother but a mother, for she was the one to wipe away my tears after falling out of a tree (as was often the case for being raised by a father and grandmother I could not help but to be a tom boy who was always getting into mischief), there to give comfort when I was alone and scared, and the one to teach me to stand up for myself and to never let anyone say I cannot. Life is blunt and unforgiving at times but when you look back you will find those, yes, who were unkind to you but dig a little deeper and there you will find always a kindred spirit, who saw you for whom you were, your possibilities and potential, and believed in you when it seemed that all hope had vanished.

 I just wanted so say thank you to all the grandmothers and to my own for being the light in your grandchildren’s lives when it seemed darkness was creeping behind us waiting for any possible sign to attack and smother us.  

The Man In Between

What do I say to the one who is but mortified with self defeat, struggling in torment from lack of confidence in a bleak and barren terrain? A man so confused that the hand he once knew is foreign and strange. Do I stand and watch him fall to his knees then sink sink sink, or do I challenge him, even when he does not recognize his own voice? What are words at the moment? Are they but meaningless hot air with sounds so useless? “Silence will do the trick,” one says. Others with voices frigid and callous say “leave him, he is but nothing.”

Do we but do nothing and stand in silence watching him plummet to the unforgiving ground. “No,” I say, “no, we do not.” I must step up and help him with a heart full of hope, but will he learn to believe in himself, if I but do? I will embarrass him; bring even more dishonor to him. No, he must do this alone but not alone, with the comfort of tomorrow. That will be his companion. A promise none can brake. What that day may bring only he can foretell.

 As the audience of once believers question, doubt his capabilities, there is but one, one who still believes. Will my faith help him move forward or will it be in vain? Do I but view him through the judgmental lenses of those who are quitting him? Look to his heart, is what I must do, look deep deeper deeper, there I will find motive, purity, and valor. I must cling to the possibilities and hope in the unseen while looking into his eyes, eyes that are blood shot, tired, and dreary and stare back with confidence, overwhelming confidence in his potential and what I have seen him be in my dreams. Then, will I find him rising ever so slowly slowly slowly, with all but me left to see him ascend, clinching his fists as the tear drop sweat drips drips drips into his eyes, then watch bewildered as he stumbles to take ever such a step forward, with a thud only one close enough can hear, then take another and another, hastening his pace till fearlessly running towards the impossible  and watch my hope come true, as this man I love, fights the good fight and finishes the race, none but he can finish.

-Written by me, for the one I hold dear to my heart and love compassionately 

Kelly 1935

Maxi Skirts are Back



 

I love that the high waist maxi skirt is back in town and oh so many bright fun colors. You will see orange, hot pink, blue, tan, black, and even green. It is almost a welcome committee to spring and a transition to warm weather. I feel so graceful in a long breezy skirt, well for one, I have big calves and love to be feminine wearing a skirt but not showing everything I own off, so the skirt is perfect for us not so confidant about our legs girls.

There is so many ways to wear the maxi skirt but my favorite right now is simply just wearing a plain t-shirt under it with flats in another fun color or high heels. Just add laying bracelets and your set.

• Blue skirt: Ruche, $38.99, atlantic blues chiffon maxi skirt
• White skirt: American Eagle, $29.99, AE printed chiffon maxi skirt
• Black skirt: Express, $29.99, crinkle maxi skirt
• Floral pattern skirt: Nordstrom, $58.00, caslon woven maxi skirt
• Green skirt: J.Crew, $148.00, shirved maxi skirt

 

Banana Pancakes

This Sunday was not so sunny and blue sky’s as I would have hoped it would have been. I began this particular Sunday with slothfulness.

Yes…… slothfulness.

I did not want to get out of the warm turquoise sheets into the frigid house that surrounded me, so I delayed as much as possible till there was no point anymore. Nevertheless….I arose. Today needed something delicious to help the gloominess so I decided to make Banana Pancakes just like the Jack Johnson song. The pancakes ended up being de-------licious. I traded out the all-purpose flour with gluten free all-purpose flour and did coconut milk instead of regular milk, which made the pancakes a little bit more healthy and surprisingly moist for being gluten free. Just add hot syrup and you have a meal that will kick your taste buds to heaven. So enjoy the recipe from allrecipes.com.

Banana Pancakes
By: ADDEAN1


"Crowd pleasing banana pancakes made from scratch. A fun twist on ordinary pancakes."
(This lured me in)


Prep Time: 5 min    Cook Time: 10 min    Ready In: 15 min
Original Recipe Yield12 pancakes
Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 ripe bananas, mashed

Directions
1.  Combine flour, white sugar, baking powder and salt. In a separate bowl, mix together egg, milk, vegetable oil and bananas.
2.  Stir flour mixture into banana mixture; batter will be slightly lumpy.
3.  Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Cook until pancakes are golden brown on both sides; serve hot.

Nutritional Information
Amount Per Serving Calories: 193 | Total Fat: 6.6g | Cholesterol: 39mgPowered by ESHA Nutrient Database

A Military Wife

I am alone.

So here I go just a rambling on my blog as if a friend is right in front of me.

Thoughts today as a military wife

Oh how I can say, "I miss that small town." Never would I admit this… lets say….about 3 years ago when I was waiting anxiously for my high school sweetheart and best friend of 5 years, mail me a letter saying “yes, we can get married this weekend.” That letter did come and my butt was off on a hot Fourth of July weekend, to Chicago, just after my love graduated from Boot Camp. I was in my first year of college at a small community school where I received a full ride. School was important to me but I had bigger priorities at the time. I wanted to exit that little ol’ Pendleton, SC. My heart was ready to ride a subway, watching the sun flicker between buildings racing from museum to museum. Oh yes, I love my nature and country but I wanted to see something new besides those cattle pastures I grew up looking at. Sometimes, I believe I felt the town that I grew up in was my cage, keeping me from bigger possibilities. So set, I was to get married at age 20. Now at about 23, I miss that small town where everyone knows your name. No one knows who I am now. Sometimes I feel invisible as I move from base to base.

In a small town, where you grew from a shoe size 2 to 8, you can depend on your friends and family. I miss dependable friends. In the military life, friends are few and Christians even fewer, but look at me complaining. It is easy to do when I am away from Cody. I need to start counting my blessings. I have a good hard working husband who is protecting my country and who loves me unconditionally and who I miss so tenderly when he is away. I never thought I would get such a man (boy, did I pray for him though, even at a young age). I think that is why I believe in the power of prayer so much.

Well, I shall end with pictures that will cheer me up.