One Shabby Old House

White Wednesday at Ivy's Porch

2009-11-04T19:14:00.000-08:00

This is Ivy's Porch in Scott's Valley CA. It was a nice little surprise that my hubby darling love of my life treated me to. When I flew out to join him in CA for a business trip that he was on, I knew that our little mini vacation would have us visiting San Francisco and then on to Yosemite but I never dreamed that he would take the magazine that I brought to read on the plane ride, Romantic Homes, and map out a day of visiting as many Romantic shops that our days would allow.
Now they say, whoever they are, that the perfect vacation a couple can have is when you allow each person to do what they really want. I knew that he wanted to go to Yosemite and I wanted to see the Painted Ladies in San Francisco so this side trip was a beautiful gift to me.

So do you want to see Romantic Shop # 1?

And as you can see even the table says we are in for some "White." Perfect for a White Wednesday posting, don't you think?

White eye candy here and

White eye candy there.

How about a little slice of White?

And if you can't get enough White inside then lets go outside,

around White fountains and through white arbors until a little White cherub blesses you.

with an exlposion of beautiful pink roses climbing up White trellises.

Leaving you with one perfectly, White, beautiful quote.

I do thank God for this wonderful trip and most importantly for a wonderful hubby that shows me he loves me in so many colorful ways.

Longing for more? Then go on over to Kathleen's blog, www.fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com and visit all the other lover's of White.

I am in Awe...

2009-10-20T03:36:00.000-07:00

I am in awe
that the God

who made all this....

made me.

Why me?

Have you ever considered this?

He wanted you here!

And every day you get,

Is a gift just waiting to be unwrapped.So enjoy it. Live it to it's fullest.

And share a little of it's precious moments with those you meet along the way.

(These pictures were taken from our trip to CA.)

My Brother's Table for Tablescape Thursday

2009-10-15T08:02:00.001-07:00

Stepping inside of Ivy's Porch in Scotts Valley CA I found some darling ideas for a Halloween Table. I like cute things for Halloween myself. I don't need Scary! Having a big brother who terrorized me as a child, I grew up with arms coming from under my bed almost on a weekly basis. He thrilled in telling us to get something from the basement and then would lock the door and turn out the lights and growl. I remember one Halloween as we walked next door to our neighbors house to Trick or Treat he screamed and yelled and told us to run quickly home. My poor little sister who was dressed as a ghost started to run and scream and cry and her eye holes slipped and she ran right in to a telephone pole and knocked herself out. . So I like safe and cute! I grew up on SCARY! He had a name and a face! But my guess is, that if my Brother had a tablescape he would have it decorated just like this one.

And as I settled down to sleep in his guest room, that arm would come up from under the bed!!

Oh great....I hope I don't have nightmares now!

And if you are reading this Brother dear, don't get any ideas. I learned to sleep with one eye open!

For more ideas on fall tablescapes join in today with Susan our host, from http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

The White Mission

2009-10-14T08:32:00.001-07:00

We are on a mission. With fall offerings of cooler weather it is the perfect time to paint our Shabby Old House. We are in a rush to submit our paint chips to the Historical Society for their stamp of approval and get moving on this big task at hand. You can only imagine how excited I was to learn that I could go along with hubby on a business trip to California and that we were going to San Francisco, known for her beautiful Painted Ladies.

Now don't get me wrong, especially since it is White Wednesday here in blogland. I love white houses. Crisp, clean, freshly painted they glow from the street with pride but our old lady is anything but fresh and clean. She looks like she is in need of a good bleaching and keeping her white on a busy street with the road dust that is tossed on her daily makes it impossible.

So off we went on our little vacation with a mission to find just the right color and what we would find for color choices caused my poor camera to smoke. I was snapping pictures right and left in every town that we drove through. I have never seen so many beautiful old houses.

I went through 2 packs of batteries and will never make the mistake again by leaving my battery charger at home.

Hubby was blessed with wonderful Grandparents that took him on a great vacation as a boy and he wanted to take me to one of the places that he had been. We went to Petaluma California and what a treat that was. So many beautiful homes and so many color choices.

This was one of my favorites and quite possibly the color we will use for our Shabby old house.

I was charmed by the white picket fence and the white roses that welcomed you at first glance.

But the color, wow, I fell in love with all of the color that made every detail of this home pop.

I do believe we have a color!

I can't wait to see just what this color will do for the stain glass that is above our door.

It is a good thing that I love to paint. I hope that I will be saying this when it is all finished.

And as far as this being a White Wednesday post, I think that you will find enough white in these pictures with the roses and the fence and the posts to satisfy, but in case you don't I will be posting more whites on my Lace and Lures blog later in the day and if that still isn't enough then take your day and cruise around all the other White Wednesday participants with our wonderful host Kathleen of www.Fadedcharm.blogspot.com

Enjoy your day!

A Little Metamorphosis Going On Around Here

2009-09-21T16:13:00.000-07:00

I promise that I didn't stay parked by the pool all of this time. I have been a busy girl.
I am in a great shop in South Tampa called Summer House and so my days are filled with at least one metamorphosis or two. This headboard is just an example of what I have been doing. I realize that not everybody is going to be thrilled that I painted this Antique East Lake Bed but as you can see that didn't stop me. And with hubby out of town I was feeling just a bit blue and this was the result.

Then hubby came home and he is my sanding expert. He doesn't like to leave anything looking new and Pottery Barn looking. Give it some character, he says. And being the character that he is, here you have it.
Oops....I wasn't going to show you how we made that pier mirror yet.
I will save that for next Met. Monday.

Have a great week.
Hugs
Becky

I'm Parking it Here Today

2009-08-30T11:50:00.000-07:00

This is where I am spending the day. Seems like a good place to park it for a few hours and enjoy this beautiful day of rest.
I've got my tea, my sunscreen, and towel and a great book.
Have you read it?
It is called Crazy Love.

So I am just going to park it hear and meditate on this.
And if my sunscreen doesn't work well then you will see me on the next Pink Saturday posting.

Want to hear some juicy gossip????

2009-08-22T19:22:00.001-07:00

I just found out from Kelly who found out from ....who found out from........

who found out from.......who found out from Jennifer that there is going to be a party in blogland and we should share it and get the word out about this big Reveal of Cottage 8. Don't you just love a juicy little bit of information. Well girls get ready for this. On Monday, Jennifer of The Old Painted Cottage will be revealing to all of blogland her cottage. She has been teasing us for months now and we have all eagerly awaited this day. Congratulations Jennifer. I know it is going to be wonderful.

See you all there girlfriends.

I Want to Lead You Down the Right Path

2009-08-11T20:49:00.000-07:00

Would you like to come along with me to the beach today? Follow this path to Anna Marie Island.

Do you have your Sunscreen on?

I have to tell you it is pretty hot here in Florida today so let's go get something to drink. Where should we go? Do you ever find yourself asking questions like that when you are on vacation? Do you ever find yourself asking the question and then learning too late of several places that you should have gone to. Well, I have and that is why I love to tell people about the places that I have discovered, like this one, Ginny's and Jane's at the old IGA in Anna Marie Island.

I knew when I stepped in the door and saw this that I was in for a treat. It wasn't just a great gift shop it was a funky fun shop and I would have loved to have purchased several things there. There were great Coastal furnishings and decor, artwork,cool gifts a bakery and an internet cafe. Nicely packaged don't ya think?

Hubby wants me to get a bathing suit like this one. I will have to say that her hair looks better than mine after I come out of the water.

Weathered, vintage, coastal and colorful furnishings are all around the shop.

We ate the best quiche and shared an incredible dessert.

This is Marcia, the store manager. When I asked her to stand by her favorite thing in the shop she ran over and stood up on the couch by this great picture.

Mona Lisa gone Coastal!

How great is that.

For more Waterside Wednesday fun go to Barbara Jacksier's blog

www.barbarajacksier.blogspot.com

Have Fun

Met Monday and a Thrifty Treasure And a Garage Dream

2009-08-10T11:47:00.001-07:00

A Thrifty Treasure just might make this old girl a charmer!

I have always been fond of buildings made from old thing like windows, porch columns and doors and such but this week's thrifty find has really started me dreaming.

I had a great day out on Saturday. The thrill of the hunt was racing through my veins.

My new friend Carol and fellow vendor of Summer House invited me to go with her to some of her favorite shops. We left Tampa early a.m. and shopped all the way down to Anna Marie Island. She is a rep for Panama Jack and knows where some really neat shops are.

At one particular place along our way she spotted a great piece of iron and quickly purchased it.

I love old iron and as she was buying I jokingly asked the lady if she had anymore laying around.

She didn't so I teased and said you wouldn't want to sell that great gate around your door would you? With that she looked at her husband and said, "we will sell it." Happy Dance.... Happy Dance.... A great price was stuck, a fall down giggle on the ground kind of price and we unloaded and reloaded the back of Carol's Jeep, only able to bring two of the three pieces home.

The beauty of the filled vehicle was that I got to come back to Bradenton on Sunday for the pick up and so I took my hubby back to the great shop she took me too and then we went to the beach for the afternoon. I'll be posting about that great shop and the beach on Wednesday.

Here is my Fabulous Find. It would make a great headboard and footboard too, don't ya think?

I even see potential to use the smaller piece to make a potting bench.

But then I started to think of a great couple of old French doors that I have and a great piece of tin and 2 old porch columns.

So I drew this out as the vision sprang forth. Now the trick will be to get my DH to give up yet another garage and when and if he does you can be sure that I will be letting you all know about it on Met Monday. I can see a Chandelier hanging over a great old farm table....a pool to the side of the garage....our grill enclosed with a great potting bench like shelf using that other piece of iron.

A girl just has to dream don't you think?

So if you want to find others with passion for the hunt and creative energy a flowin'

you can check out, Between Naps on the Porch, hosted by Susan

and then check out Thrifty Treasures hosted by Rhonda at

Southern Hospitality

Have fun!

Becky

Happy Birthday Sweet Daughter

2009-07-30T18:03:00.001-07:00

Dear Child....Welcome to the World

In your adventures here...I wish for you...

An endless trail of stars for you to dance under.

Long teddy bear moments that make you feel warm and loved and safe.

I wish

Angels at night to whisper in your ears, telling you how special you are to God and to us

I wish your world a playground of happy times and dreams that come true. May your world be bright with balloon colors and the sound of laughter.

Dear Child ...I wish you always the celebration of the love that you are................... Mom

I wrote this in your baby book several years ago and I still wish it for you today.

Happy 28th Birthday

I am so proud of the beautiful young woman that you have become.

I love you

Mom

Where Bloggers Create

2009-07-24T04:56:00.000-07:00

There is a fabulous Party today.

Karen from http://www.mydesertcottage.blogspot.com/ is hosting it.

I decided to join in on my other blog.

http://www.laceandlures.blogspot.com/

Hope you will visit.

Hugs

Becky

Pink Saturday Featuring The Cat's Meow

2009-07-17T13:34:00.000-07:00

It has been awhile since I have joined in on Pink Saturday. I had run out of Pink inspiration, I hear you gasp, until I learned that one of my favorite shops had a new location.

This is where I go when I want Pink inspiration.

It's the Cat's Meow, a beautiful shop now in Ellenton FL, about a half hour trip from Tampa and owned by Mark and Susie Holt.

Does Pink get any better than this???

I don't think so.

This sofa is one of many of Susie's creations.

She uses some of the prettiest fabrics and knows just what to mix and match to create some of the most beautiful slipcovers.

How sweet is this room at the top of the stairs?

Don't you just want everything here?

Susie carries a beautiful line of bedding.

It makes me want to redo my bedroom every time I visit as she mixes and matches her beautiful magic often on some of wonderful Beds that she sells in her shop as well.

I love to zero in on all of the details of her decorating. Look at these lovely touches of pink.

Look at the clothing hanging in the background too.

She carries Magnolia Pearl clothing and some other romantic styles.

From beautiful painting by Christie Repasy to wonderful old chippy paint furniture, Susie has everthing you will need to fill your house with Pink wonderment...is that a word?

But she is not just about pink. Here is a wonderful antique green bedroom set with beautiful pink roses. Yes girls, I found my pink fix here and you can too.

Whether to come visit her shop personally or shop online, you will not be disappointed.

Just tell her Becky sent you.

Please be sure to visit my other blog for more Pink.

http://www.laceandlures.blogspot.com/

and then click on over to visit our wonderful host Beverly and all the other gals who love pink.

http://www.howsweetthesound.typepad.com/.

Hugs

Becky

My White Wednesday

2009-07-16T04:54:00.000-07:00

There is a wonderful day going on in Blogland called White Wednesday.

I played a bit too much yesterday and was too late to post but I think that this is just too pretty to wait until next week. I surrounded myself with all the wonders of White and spent a good portion of my day with Susie and Mark Holt, owners of the Cat's Meow.

They have relocated their beautiful shop to Ellenton FL.
I will be sharing all the pictures I have taken over the next few days.
These pictures I have taken from the shop's wonderful website.

Here is just one of the magical rooms you will see.

The new location is 3711 US 301 North
Ellenton FL
and their website is
http://www.catsmeowinc.com/

Wait until you see my Pink Saturday Post.
It's going to be beautiful thanks to Susie and Mark.
Check out http://www.laceandlures.blogspot.com/
My other blog for more pictures of the Cat's Meow.

Thank You For Your Prayers

2009-07-10T21:02:00.000-07:00

I am so blessed and amazed by this caring community of blogging friends that I have.
Thank you so much for your prayers and comments concerning my daughter. Thankfully she is feeling so much better. Prayer works and God is good.
And your friendship means so much.
Hugs
Becky

Please keep my daughter in your prayers.

2009-07-07T20:28:00.000-07:00

Turning 28 doesn't mean that she is no longer my little girl. She will always

be and I will always want to see her smile.

My baby went into the hospital today. Please keep her in your prayers.

The Boy Likes to Fish

2009-07-07T15:28:00.000-07:00

I miss my boy! I wish he was fishing in the lake behind the house.

HERE WE ARE TODAY

2009-07-03T06:27:00.000-07:00

Alot of changes have been made to the Shabby Old House. Since there wasn't a laundry room we decided to take the area where the old back porch use to be and wall it up. As soon as we finish the laundry room I will show you that. But for today this is what the back room turned out to look like. I still have much to do but it is cozy for now.

This is the wall that was added.

The wall behind the old mirror is where the window use to be.

Now my guest have privacy.

And one day I hope to put a shelf running the distance of the window up and then decorate over the window. But that is going to be another post.

Hope your weekend is filled with rewarding projects.

Hugs

Becky

Renovating An Old Victorian is Messy

2009-07-02T11:44:00.000-07:00

Straight ahead is the little sun room that was added on to the Shabby Old House. It is bright and cheery although a humble frame. The main house is just before the left side of the railing. When they added the den to the house they covered the original window. The Roof slopes and although you can't see it in this picture they left about a foot of window sticking out above the sloping roof. So when you walked into the room from outside you saw 3/4 of a window. Nice realy nice. And get this, you could actually look through that window into the bedroom. Welcome to my bed and breakfast. Don't mind that window. We keep the shades pulled. lol

These brilliant hobblers did the same thing again. They made a nice L shaped room but the window to the 2nd bedroom in the hall was open to the room as well.

Somehow I just don't think that would ever fly with our guests. lol

And you can see that we have been trying out paint samples. My hubby even got on the ladder and did a two tones green to see if we liked it. How can you go wrong with green? Or can you?!

The whole room was painted this color and very very dirty.

See that window and door. This would have been the original back door and that window is one that goes to the Master Bedroom. There is another window on the other side as well and it looked into the kitchen.. Can't you see in your mind how cute this back porch could have been. Throw in some steps a landing and some gingerbread trim and oh honey that would have been all I needed.

The roof leaked and so in fixing that we fixed the ceiling with drywall. I really struggled spending any money to renovate any portion of this room. But we couldn't leave those issues the way they were.

What a pretty thing I am. lol

So you are in the house from the back. You see we covered the window. Isn't the floor lovely too. It slopes just like the roof. lol

But the windows are cute. Except there are bee bee holes in them.

We think that Old Mr Baker may have been shooting at the Bats...

And that is another story for another day.

I will show you where we are with the room tomorrow.

Sure hope you come back.

Hugs

Becky

A Look at the Backside

2009-07-01T14:48:00.001-07:00

I fell in love with the Shabby Old House because of all the gingerbread trim. I have always dreamed of owning a house with a porch like this one.

Ask me how I feel about it all when we start scrapping and painting it in the fall. I have a feeling it is going to be a project that I won't be able finish quick enough. Although I am certain the finished project will be such a reward.

If you live in the Historic district of Eufaula anything you do must be approved to strict guidelines. We will soon be submitting color choices and keeping our fingers crossed. I have heard from some that this board is a strict one. I think that this is good within reason. I only wished a strict board was around when they submitted a building permit for the additions that were added on.

Let's have a look at her backside. I can almost feel her blush with embarassment.

As you can see they tacked on two rooms and a horrible stoop. The room to the left is the sunroom which is off of the back bedroom bath. The room to the right with the steps leading up to it is what is suppose to be a den family room.
I was so hoping to win the lotto or inherit a fortune from a rich relative so that I could just knock these rooms off and properly add on to them, but since nothing like that has happened we have just had to make due.
I will take you in tomorrow.
I hope you will come back.

Looking for the perfect Shade

2009-06-22T19:15:00.001-07:00

I love to find a great vintage lamp and I especially love to find them with their lampshades.

When they don't have their shade then I play a loosing game of , "Will The Lampshade Fit?"

Can anyone tell me how to figure out the perfect size shade for a lamp?

I thought this was a great idea for a great old lampshade frame.

I love how this one swirls to the side.

I love the added embellishment.

And here is what you do with the ones that you buy that don't fit.

Have a party with your friends!

I'll be passing out the hats.

Garden Inspirations from Scott's Flea Market

2009-06-14T06:20:00.000-07:00

I have been daydreaming about the flowerbeds that I want to put in around the Shabby Old House. That must have been the reason that the garden inspired booths seemed to draw me in at Scotts. I loved this booth as well. Enjoy the pictures. .

More of Scott's Flea Market

2009-06-13T07:31:00.001-07:00

This birdcage ivy is just one more reason to go to Atlanta's Scott's Flea Market and back to Jill's booth. I wish I had paid closer attention to where the booths were. So Jill if you are reading this, e-mail me. I would be happy to direct people to you!!

There are two mega huge buildings full of antique dealers as well as outside vendors. You will find anything your little heart desires!

A Trip to Scott's Flea Market

2009-06-12T17:48:00.001-07:00

One of the best things about going to a flea market is meeting such talented people.

Meet Jill Clow. Jill has a darling booth. It just draws you in.

She specializes in what she terms Frenchy Garden.

Don't you just love it?

I'll post more later. Hubby's calling.

Proud as a Peacock

2009-06-11T04:16:00.000-07:00

Have you ever carefully looked at a peacock?

Because of work, my hubby is staying in our RV throughout the week in a park in the Everglades that is home to over 30 or more peacocks. I was amazed by them.

I totally got the phrase proud as a peacock after seeing these guys strut around the park.

What makes you proud as a peacock?

And if you would like to be the proud owner of a new patio rug,

http://www.oldwhitecottage.blogspot.com/ is giving one away.

Check it out!

Romans 6:20

For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities, his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made .....

A Pink Wedding

2009-05-30T05:40:00.000-07:00

Celebrating Pink Saturday and a Happy Couple!

If you have seen the movie Fireproof then you understand the salt shakers on top of the cake.

Isn't that cute?

Revealing Mr. and Mrs.
To capture the look of love on your child's face ....priceless
To know that it is towards the daughter-in-law you have been praying for.
beyond priceless!!

My husband the Rev. Capt. Dave married them.
This was awesome!

And there you have it.

A Pretty Pink Wedding

On Pink Saturday.
Now make sure that you go tell the creator of Pink Saturday congratulations on the anniversary of a wonderful pink thing.
www.howsweetthesound.typepad.com