On A Serious Note

Two years ago about this time of year my baby brother had a stroke.

                

When I say baby, I mean baby, because at the time he was only 47. Very young.

Before March 15th 2010, whenever I heard about a stroke I just heard about older people having them. I knew young people had them, but no one really talked much about it.  Mini-strokes or TIA's, but not massive strokes.   

I was working in the garden as per my spring break tradition and had just gone up to change when another brother called to tell me that Dave had had the stroke and was being air lifted to Waco from his small town. I knew immediately that this had to be more than a TIA if he was being air lifted. I frantically called my husband and daughter to see where they were so we could head down to Waco a little less than a two hour drive away. 

It was one of those I can't get my fingers to dial a number kind of moments. 

Turns out my husband was sitting in the driveway talking on the phone. 

I changed out of my gardening overalls and we hopped into the car. If I had taken a moment to think about it, I would have realized that I should have taken a change of clothes and some toiletries, but I really wasn't thinking.

My brothers and I lost both of our parents by the time I was 17 years old. So we are really close. Dave was a teacher (he can no longer teach), like me and an avid DIYer and Junker. We talked all the time. He was my go to person for venting or laughing about school stuff and thrifty finds.

Things were very serious when we got to the hospital. He had a major stroke affecting the left side of his brain. It affects movement on the right side, but it also can damage speech. We wouldn't know about cognition, memory and other things for a while. 

He was not out of the woods, so to speak, for about 4 days and it would be a while before we would know about any long term disabilities. 

A wonderful hotel in Waco supplied us all with toiletries when we got there at two in the morning. I remember how kind they were to us. I tear up thinking about it. That kindness at a moment when we really needed it, 
still ministers to me. 

I don't remember much about the next 4 days, but a couple of things stand out. 

I remember being thankful that this happened 30 minutes after Dave parked the school bus after his route.

I was also thankful for the outpouring of the small town they had moved to.

Mr. Bill had to go back to work, but Miss Bek, came to stay with me. She was unable to find a job at the time, a blessing because I needed her strength and support. One of the joys in having adult children is seeing them rise up to the occasion when roles are reversed.  

I kept waiting for a miraculous awaking like you see on the T.V. but that did not happen. He woke up, but his recovery seemed very slow. It was a least a week before we knew that he even knew who we were. 
Miraculously he was able to get up within a week. It was a slow getting around. 

We were all so thankful he was alive, but he was completely altered by this. Before he was quick witted, with the sarcastic family humor. Suddenly he was silent. 

It sent me into a very odd sort of grieving. Not really a depression, although it would have been understandable to be depressed. I shared what happened when I got back to my life, but I am not sure anybody outside of the family really understood. I wouldn't have before...

But what if someone you loved suddenly couldn't speak anymore? So much of dialog is two way. I am pretty good at chattering if the need arises but there are only so many stories I can prattle on about.

Another misconception I had about strokes was that the victim could at least write to communicate. (Thank you again, television.) But that was not the case here. There was really no way for Dave to communicate except by gestures. Can you imagine how frustrating that was for him? 

 Dave is probably one of the bravest people I know. It is very sad he had to give up his teaching career, because he was a great teacher, but as I have watched his recovery I am really in awe of his strength. He spent 6 weeks in rehab and another 8 months away from home in a brain rehab group home. He went daily to speech, occupational and physical therapy. People kept telling us that the brain is an amazing organ and that it has incredible powers to repair itself. Sometimes in midst of the long recovery process, I am not sure I believed them. 

But, it has been two years. 
There have been plateaus, but for the first time since the stroke Dave picked up the phone to call me a few weeks ago. We had a wonderful conversation, a dialog, something I will never take for granted with anyone again.

I can spot people now who have the same kind of gait and say a prayer for them, because they may have had a life altering, catastrophic brain event as well.    

The quiet person sitting in the chair may not have been quiet before. It is just easier to retreat to silence when communicating is so difficult. 

This is Dave and his amazing wife at the final Ranger game when they won the
ALCS Pennant in October of 2010. Dave has always been a huge baseball fan and a fan of the Rangers in all the years they lost. It kept him entertained during the long months he was away from home during rehab. I don't know, but we all felt that in God's big picture He was using this to help heal Dave and give him joy in the midst of sorrow. I'm sure he was not the only Ranger fan who found hope in their miraculous win. 
Read about it here: 

Sprinkled with gratitude, sadness and awe,

Katie 

Hello Spring!

So a couple of weeks ago I decided that it was time for a new spring look for my bed. 

I have a compulsion to change bedding for the season. I promise, I don't know why. 
I have different looks for different seasons.


When we got our new bed two years ago, I thought it too regal to go with my favorite Ralph Lauren, collected over time, layered look. 

I am sure you are wondering why I thought it regal. Because it really is a casual collection called Grand Junction from Lane Furniture. You have to understand this is the first brand new bed we bought as a couple.

The first one was a hand me down.

The second we got from our neighbor's garage sale.

Pickled blond. I was always afraid to paint it. But it clearly has wonderful potential.

This was the comforter set we had when we got the bed.
(Miss Bek photoshopped the stock image with our comforter set at the time.) 
This comforter was so heavy and hot. It is by Waterford from Tuesday Morning.) Fabulous quality but not practical for Texas. 

I made an assortment of fun pillows to go with it.
Next I bought an  off-white collection seen in the photos.

I had to layer in more than just a solid. This is how I had it a few weeks ago. I thought the brown and gold was fun for winter.

Here it was at Christmas. I love the vintage wool blanket with Christmas trees stitched on.  

Well, of course over the course of the past two years I have layered in my favorite R.L. type elements each befitting the season. Because that is what I love and feel most comfortable with. Most of the time I have a Matlesse quilt or the off white comforter.  I usually throw a quilt (or two) on the end of the bed. 
The off white collection is two years old and it's getting a little pilly. I spent about $80.00 on the whole thing, so I am pleased it lasted this long. I may even get another season out of it. 

When I went to Tuesday Morning,

(two blocks down from my school)

I had intended to go for a complete white look similar to these that I pinned on pinterest.

Have you seen this one?

Oh my gravy, is that hideaway dreamy or what?

You know what happened? I could not veer from the path that I love when I saw the Garden Floral collection from Ralph Lauren's Chaps line. 
It was even on sale. Since it came with 4 pieces I spent  less than if I had bought it all separately.
It was $94.00

I have been working on my master bedroom reveal for a few weeks. 

You have seen my bringing the outside in:

and my screen project already.

Now you can see it all put together.

I love the shade of green in this bedding. 
I used a Matlesse quilt we already had for summer.

Find similar here.

I folded the comforter on the end of the bed.

 

The secret to this stiff pillow look is a massive number of pillows. It drives Mr. Bill nuts. 
He says that if anything ever happens to me he will not put the pillows on the bed like this. I totally get his point but...
There are 14 pillows on this bed. icks! I love to layer 
store bought or homemade pillowcases with 
antique lace edged ones. 
The green ones here came from Walmart. I pulled them over some lacey wonderful cases that I inherited or got at estate sales.

I bought the pink gingham also at Walmart. 
It was a bargain at $1.50 a yard.
The white sham I've had forever. I've moved it around from room to room. 

I have collected needlepoint pillows for decades. I switch them out for the seasons. These two were made by either family aunts or grannies.


 I am totally feeling green for this space. I was excited to pull out this old green depression glass. 

 My side of the bed gets my Royal Doulton Figurine and mini boxes.  

 It took me years and years to finally find a secretary. I am so glad I waited because this one was a steal at $135.00. I love the leaded glass on it. 

Isn't there something charming about a drop front desk?


The other wall holds the armoir where I store the other linens. (Our linen closet is tiny.)

It was an auction find. They said it was Argentinean. ?.

It was $200.00 or so.

I am smitten by the carving.

The chaise lounge. I think every southern lady had a chaise lounge. 

One of the best things I ever did 15 years ago was 
slipcover this piece. It has gotten a lot of life and has had many looks. 
So there you have it. 
I hope some of you out there will understand my decorating through the seasons mentality. It give me a chance to rotate things that I have tired of so that it feels like a fresh space.

Sprinkled with gingham,

Katie

Linking with Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

&Tuesday's Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
&Show Off Your Cottage Monday @ House in Roses &
Time Travel Thursday @ The Brambleberry Cottage &
Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Liebster Blog Award

Thank you to Mel @Crafty Mel Designs for visiting my blog and giving me the Liebster Blog award.

It is an award given to up and coming new blogs. I am tickled pink to receive this award and I am excited to pass it along to 5 new blogs.  Liebster is a word that means dearest or beloved. I love that.

 I am passing the award on to. 

Traci @ All Things Luci Rae

She does a fabulous job giving new life to other's castoffs. A charming site with glimpses into her daily life. 

Diane @ giraffe-legs.blogspot.com

Diane is a new blogger. She has followed a lot of blogs and decided to turn her love of frugal decorating into a blog to inspire others to decorate their spaces. 

Stephanie @ Gilded Junque

She is a very creative blogger who creates art out of just about anything. Very fun.

Kari @ Details by Kari

Kari is another blogger great at repurposing old junk and creating cute displays out of it.  

Candy @ Pickin and Paintin

 A cute blog from shop owner, mom and grandmom. She has a talent for transformation! 

Thanks to these talented new bloggers. 

Now pass the award on. 

Here are the rules.

1. Choose FIVE UP AND COMING blogs to pass the award onto.

2. Show a BIG THANKS to the blogger who gave the award to you by linking back to them.

3. Post the AWARD on your blog. List the bloggers you are giving the award to with links to their site.

Spring Break Wrap Up

 Well Spring Break is over. Sniff, sniff. 

I had a list of things I had pinned on Pinterest that I wanted to get finished.

I got all the door knobs painted but I also spray painted a ton of other stuff too.
Here:

I painted the faucet in the powder bath. 

Here: 

Once I was off on an orb kick, I added a new toilet paper holder.

 (spray painting the old one didn't work.) 

I spray painted the antique brass hooks in the hall.

I also did two light fixtures and two candelabras. 

I will reveal those later.

I was in the mood for strawberry cupcakes.

That turned out to be an epic fail. Strawberry cupcake or cake recipes with using a cake mix are rare. This one had tons of good reviews and only a few bad ones. Of course mine ended up just like the negative reviews. I ended up throwing the cupcakes away and managed to salvage a small cake out of it by adding baking soda to the batter.

All the recipes I looked at had fresh strawberries on top. They seeped all over the cake and got moldy after two days. I should have put it in the fridge. 

The cake was also an unappealing brown color and had the texture of banana bread. Odd in a cake. 

I also wanted to build this little tool tote to set on the breakfast room table for spring. 

I thought I saw something like this hanging about the garage, but couldn't find it.  

I just happened to notice something on the work bench behind some tools. I totally commandeered it for the kitchen. Turns out my son made one for his dad for Father's Day back in 1999, when he was 9. How sweet is that?

 

Here it is decorated as close as I could get to the picture with what would fit. My opening is not as big as the one in my pin.

 I love my cute cricket. 

I was going to work in the yard, but I didn't. I will do that over the course of the next few weeks and have a yard reveal.

I did restyle the mantle which lead to smearing black paint in the crevices of almost all my oak, which lead to new knobs and pulls in the kitchen. 
Here is the mantle.

So I should be going back to work tomorrow feeling great about all I accomplished. 

I would, if it not for one minor problem.

A tiny pin hole in the water line going to our bathroom.
Yikes. The leak was found and fixed this morning. The ceiling will be a slower fix. 
At least I will get the popcorn removed in the kitchen. 
Bright side. Glass half full. :)

Sprinkled with accomplishments,

Katie 

Here is a shot of one of my other helpers. 

He was helping me decide what Easter things to put out. 

Have a wonderful week! 
Linking with these fun parties:
Sunday's Best Par.tay!!! @ 1929 Charmer 
&Debbiedoos Newbie Party

Spray Painted Faucets

 I told you about my door knob project. 
Here:

Well I got so excited about how they turned out I went for another project I saw on a blog and decided to try that too. 

I live in a 90's home that is totally bling-tastic. I hate the bling and have since we bought the house in 1993. My answer at the time was to go with nicer higher quality antique brass not the 80's stuff. Real brass that had naturally aged which was a bargain because everybody else wanted polished brass. I thought aged brass  would make a come back Ha, ha, ha! I guess I was wrong. Although I did see this in Target yesterday.

Here:

  Are you kidding me? I just spent 3 day spray painting everything that wasn't breathing. Rachel Ashwell could of at least waited until I was able to get the last of the paint out from under my nails. While all the other girls are off getting mani/pedi's for Spring Break I am destroying my manicure.  :) 

Here is the project link:

Now it would have been very helpful if I had taken the time to actually read this post instead of just look at the picture. But I didn't so I hope mine hold up as well as hers. 

Here is the faucet I had in the powder room. This picture is from my master, but it's the same faucet. 

I didn't remove the faucet because Mr. Bill would have to put it back and he hates plumbing stuff. 

I covered everything with wax paper. 

It worked pretty well. I wished I read more, because one blogger said to use painter's tape around the faucet. I would rather clean and scrub a little after instead of tape, because I will clean like crazy anyway. I get too excited to see results. 

I sprayed the light fixture too because it was a coppery gold that went with all the other brass.

I bought a new toilet paper holder.

Updated a few accents. 

Here she is all new looking!

Love, love this little antique clock. I had it somewhere else. I love that the face is crooked. It doesn't work, but I don't care.  

I don't even hate the counter so much anymore. 

Now I wish I could say this bathroom was perfect. Sadly she has another dark secret behind the shower curtain. (No, it's not mildew.)

90's blue tile. 

Oh she had bling too. Home Depot hooked me up with these. 

Sadly they don't make them in ORB, at least not yet!

The shower head was $14.32 here:

The shower arm was $12.84 here.

The tub spout was $8.00 here: (I see they have gone up.)

The Knob was $7.00 here. 

(I think that it must be cheaper in the store than on-line)

The only thing that was not available was the pipe that comes out of the wall at the knob. It was blingy and can't be changed. When I took off the old stuff, I sprayed the pipe with oven cleaner like I did to my shower door. Read about it here. Then I covered it with a baggie and let it sit overnight. In the morning all the bling was gone. 

I have tried to blend the old tile with the new by having brown and blue towels and shower curtain. 

Someday I may be able to talk Mr. Bill into taking a crow bar to the tile. I think we could do it, he is not so sure. I hope you like the powder bath.

Sprinkled with modern amenities,

Katie 

Linking with: French Country Cottage/ Feathered Nest Friday 

&Funky Junk Interiors: Sat Nite Special