Broken and Beautiful

The broken....
I had to think of a catchy title for this one.  So I stole a title from one of my favorite artists  and people Mark Schultz.  I apologize for my lack of blogging, it has been a crazy summer, one full of construction and doctor visits.  Between my mom and my son Dayton we kept the ER busy.  And then last week I did a doozie on my own leg.  My hubby and I were taking things down from the attic in the garage for my mil and he decided to use a step ladder instead of the pull down attic ladder.  I had just got the words out of my mouth "this is not a good idea...." and next thing I know hubby is hanging on for dear life to the rafters, 12 feet above me, the ladder twisted and came out from beneath him.   He fell on top of me and I broke my ankle/leg in 3 places, and ambulance ride and ER visit soon followed and I had surgery the next day to repair the breaks.  I have a plate and 9 screws in one side of my leg and a few screws in the other side.  Bummer.  The worst part is that I cannot put any pressure on it for 6-8 weeks, I am already going stir crazy. I am so thankful that I was there, it could have been so tragic for my husband.  My new best friends are, a walker, a wheelchair, crutches and now a roll a bout.  I had the stitches taken out this week and a boot put on my leg.  The Dr. seemed pleased with my progress so that was good but I am really struggling with the day to day life.  My hubs hurt his elbow in all of this and needs an MRI  next week.  I need his help for almost everything so we are quite the pair. It is amazing how a freak accident can change your life in an instant.  I am using the handicapped bathrooms and realizing how difficult it is to maneuver. Believe me this experience has not been lost on me, I will never use the handicapped bathroom again, I have had to wait several times for people to finish their business while the other stalls are empty, opening doors is just about impossible, I pray that someone is in the restroom to help me get out.  Hubs has had to join me in the ladies room a few times, a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do right!!!?  And I cannot wait to drive, having my 16 year old drive for me is nerve-wracking!!! Everyone has been so helpful though, from meals to visits, to sharing of equipment to make my life easier , I am so blessed and so thankful that I am living near our family and friends again.  I did this last year with Dayton by myself and it was not easy, so I appreciate all of the extra hands.  People keep calling me a hero and saying that I saved hubby's life, I don't know about all of that, what I do know is that he is worth it. 
The house is  coming along, we finally have the structures up for our addition and my mil's hopefully drywall will be next, I am itching to get it done, so much to do and I am laid up.  I am going to take this time to get do things I never take the time to do, like reading my books, getting caught up on my photos, get a website and logo made for my business  ( in the works), write thank you notes, watch Pioneer Woman on the Food Network, get caught up with  blogging again,  do some Christmas shopping online so that it is done early!, learn to knit, get organized, take care of myself, send out we have moved notes ( 7 months late!), play with my new camera and lenses, all the things that I never sit down and  accomplish.  I am so behind... in so many ways. 

The Beautiful.......

This is the view when you first walk in to Robin's beautiful home.  Love the warm woods, the beams, the color on her walls, and  the gorgeous woodwork. Loved it all!!!

 The kitchen was amazing, I loved every detail!!!

 The view from the kitchen into the family room.

 I loved the windows in the dining room!

  A screened in porch off the back.

The view of their pond.

So I decided today to give you a little treat. The Beautiful part of this post.  A few weeks ago I visited the gorgeous home of one of my adoption buddies Robin.  We traveled to China together 5 years ago to bring home our little girls.  Robin is the sweetest person I know, sugar sweet.  Robin and her husband Greg have recently purchased an older home on some acreage and spent the past year renovating it.  Robin has such a way of making a house a home,  I fell in love with it the moment I stepped inside. She so graciously allowed me to take some photos, I know you will love it as much as I did!!!  Enjoy the tour of Robin's Nest!

 She has inspired me to take on some trim projects!!

 She found an old dresser that she turned into a sink, I have always wanted to do this!

 I have totally stole this idea from her and hope to have a little office like this of my own soon!

She has a full lower level in her home

Another gorgeous window in the master bedroom.

Beautiful tile in her master bath!

Great idea!  She said most of her knobs came from Hobby Lobby!

Ellie has her own little play area underneath the staircase.

 Perfection!!!!

 Gorgeous subway tile!

 Oh my heart,  I love old windows!

 I was having some major laundry room envy!

The glorious kitchen, loved her choice of cabinets, dark granite, green island, industrial stools a mix with a spalsh of vintage here and there, perfect in my eyes!

 I loved this old laundry (?) cart filled with blossoms, what a cute idea!

 I never dreamed that by adopting a little girl that I would gain such wonderful friends at the same time!  Sheri and Robin are the dearest friends, as I was posting this, I received the sweetest package from them, filled with things they knew I would love! 

Our little China girls, Ellie, Myah and Sarah

41 Candles!!!

I am one year older today.  As I look back on the past year I am overwhelmed with all of the changes and events that took place.  I am praying that my 41st year will be full of happiness, stress-free( hey a girl can wish right!)  and healthy.  I am off to celebrate!!!

Seeing Red

Boy oh boy, I am a slacker blogger!  Sorry folks, just a lot of livin' goin' on these days!! We have been working very hard around here now that the weather is nice, a few days last week were near 100 degrees so we decided to spend those days on the water....just too hot to do anything else!  We are in the process of finishing up our bathroom remodel, we ended up having a leak and needed to gut it to find the problem.  I am happy with it though!  I will post photos when it is finished,  my hubby needs to finish the trim but is laid up again with his back.  Poor guy!!!

 This is the coolest bathroom in the cafe, not ours!!

 Love the white marble with the dark wood floors and contemporary light fixtures

 This super cool piece of art is three dimensional

 I love how they mix the antique pieces with the modern, I think, I am becoming more of a modern woman in my older years. ha ha! I love the simplicity of it.

 See the pop of red I was talking about!!

 Industrial mixed with modern, still lovin' the pop of red with all the white and dark floors.

 They have the best bread!!! I loves me some good bread, I actually have taken it home in a doggy bag!!

 (below) these are the PB pillows that I picked up at the outlet for my family room club chairs ( in red of course!)

Anyhow,we have been in this house for 6 months now and have kept my beachy theme going strong.  I have been craving a bit of color in the house but didn 't want to make a huge committment in case I get sick of it, (which happens).  I found my inspiration in the cutest little cafe in a local hotel.  We went there the first time on Valentine's Day and fell in love with the decor, a little bit vintage, a little bit French, a bit modern, clean and white, yet warm and inviting.  I think the punch of red that is carried throughout the cafe caught my eye.  After our new wood floors were in I realized that I could easily add some red too, not a ruby red but a tomatoey red, not really bright.  After a trip to the PB Outlet I snagged a couple of red pillows and a few bunches of red apples ( I am not usually a fan of fake fruit but I like these so I broke my own rule).  I don't have any photos of the room just yet but I thought you would like to see my inspiration.  I am hoping to go there this weekend for my birthday!  Hint hint!!! I did not take any of these photos, I found them on the web.

I'm A Little Bit Country!!

We have been country before country was cool.  I remember Mark listening to country music the first time I ever rode in the car with him when I was 15, he was singing along and I thought, "who listens to country?"  Since that day 25 years ago we have attended many country music concerts, Alabama was our first one together ( and provided many good make out songs hee hee!!) We have seen Reba the night before her band died in a plane crash, we have stayed in Shenandoah's hotel rooms ( we knew their nephew), saw the Statler Brothers, yes we are THAT  country, Clint Black, Martina McBride, Faith and Tim, Rascal Flatts, Diamond Rio, The Judds (I actually touched Wynonna's hand!), Kenny Rogers, Collin Raye, and some others that I just can't think of at this hour!  So when our Spring Break trip drove us through Nashville a trip of the Country Music Hall of Fame was on our agenda!  I grew up in a family who loves bluegrass, I remember my Great Grandpa and his children sitting around playing and pickin when I was little.  Music has always been around me.  I even had an Aunt who was known as Michigan Magel, one of the first female DJ's. 

 They were featuring Tammy Wynette while we were there. 

 I thought you might like to take a walk back in time with me.  Can you guess whose dress this was?? Why Minnie Pearl's of course!

 I loved Roy Rogers and Dale Evan's boots!

 A few of the many platinum and gold records from Tammy. 

 Nothin says country like some glitzy rhinstones!  This was Tammy's too!

I loved this crystal bowl full of cotton that Tammy kept to remind her of her roots. 

  

 Why Patsy Cline of course!!!

 I loved the display from Hee Haw, remember watching it on Saturday night!  Here are Junior and Lulu's costumes.

 And who could forget Grandpa??? I was having fun with my new lens can you tell???

 Of course I had to include the group that was such a part of our young love life! 

 Hank William Jr.'s boots, I did not know that Hank Sr. was only 29 when he died, did you know that??

 Reba's blue suede dress.

 The man in black Johnny Cash's suit

 I just had to take a profile shot of Dolly's dress!! Hee hee!!

 Hank Jr's sunglasses and belt buckle

 George Strait seems to be a skinny minnie!!

 Loved this dress that Carrie Underwood wore to the Award show!

 Who wouldn't love to be the young lady who wore this dress?? I am talking about Taylor Swift of course!

 Myah was getting into the swing of things!

 On music row... singers trying to make it big!

  Such a neat place to visit if you ever get the chance.  We will definitely return again someday! 

Cue the crickets!!! Kitchen update..finally

The project that just won't end... our kitchen.  After looking at these photos, I see so much more that needs to be finished! (frown!) But it am not a Debbie Downer so I am basking in delight from having the new hardwood floors put in yesterday!  What a nightmare getting these, but so worth it!!! We were on a roll, the cupboards went in fairly quickly, had to wait for the counter tops,  then the wait for flooring came, set us back a month and a half.  Oh and lets not forget the fact that we had to get all new appliances at the last minute, had to move the old ones back into the old house.  Fun times! 

So we chose stainless appliances and hopefully one day this upcoming weekend we can use them!  We are really getting sick of eating out!  Five months people!!! 

My sweet hubby did a wonderful job with the subway tile backsplash, love it!!!

 Love my stool found at Meijers for $17!  This is the area leading into my mom in law's wing of the house.  (past the doorway) We still need to paint after a few drywall repairs and new lighting was installed in the ceiling.  Toe kicks are on the agenda for the weekend!

 We also have lights to go inside the cabinets that need to be installed. 

 Trim around the dishwasher too!!

I am loving all of the changes taking place, no matter how long they take, I like to see progress!  Sorry for the lack of posting, we have been super busy around here!  I now have  a 16 and 6 year old, Dayton went to prom, is now going to be an 11th grader in the fall and has a sweet little girlfriend.  He also played baseball and no injuries to report for the first time!  Thankfully! Oh and is getting his license next week.  Myah is going to be a first grader, played tball with her cousins, is in the gardening club, and got her ears pierced and bangs!  Life is good for her!  We are all adjusting well to our new environment and love being near our family.  Mom has been struggling lately with her breathing and has been in and out of the hospital, which makes my moving here all the more validated.  It is so much easier to help when you don't have a 2 hr drive in between you!!! I will be back with more updates I promise, I just have been swamped lately.  Our addition starts soon and I can hardly wait to expand into our new spaces!  I am really wanting to fuss with the kitchen things aren't how I want them to be exactly but for now it is a functioning space and I can fuss later!