An old closet into something wonderful....

After seeing how I built my master closet,  (Click here to see how I made my closet)  my daughter asked me to help her turn her old, long, ugly, dark closet into a space that was modern and functional. She moved into her new home just 4 months ago and wanted to update a few areas,  So I drove the 4 hours to her home in Jupiter with the intentions of working on her closet for about 4 or 5 days... well we started measuring the day I arrived, went to the HD and had a wonderful man cut the wood within the hour we arrived in his lumber department.  Most ask us to come back tomorrow to pick up the cuts.

I wanted you all to see the "before and the after"... somehow Cyndi and I had the energy and got right to it and in 2 days had the last coat of paint on.  

Cyndi's garage turned into our workshop and we primed, painted and put on the L brackets needed to install each cut of wood.  I just love seeing a woman with power tools! The best part Cyndi learned how to use the tools and how to create such a space.  I see her tackling other projects in the future with confidence.

During the process of getting each piece of wood needed we used Liquid Nails to hold them into place and as most of you know, Liquid Nails is a yucky brown color and poor Cyndi was getting nervous thinking the project was not going well and it was always going to look this bad. I tried to calm her and told her it was just in the stages of being built and not to worry. A good coat of paint will take care of all the problems.

We both worked a steady 5 hours at one point and had the need for a sugar rush.. what better than mini cupcakes.  Lets see, each would be 1/4 of a full size cupcake so we can eat two now and two later....Or all now and nothing later.. building will burn all those calories, Right?

My girl is a single homeowner now and is learning so many new ways to spruce up her home.  It's work all by yourself but she is loving the new adventure in her life.  It warms my heart to watch her work so hard these past few years to get to this point.

A full night to let the final coat of paint cure then Cyndi can have the pleasure of putting all her clothing into the new space... but she is still debating weather or not to put the doors back on.. she likes how open it all is?  Notice we put some molding around the closet outside wall.. it was the added touch!

We did it!

After three days my daughter started putting her clothing back into her new space and I'll tell you, she is so happy with the results.

This will be my third closet remodel and I'm getting pretty good at it.  If I was younger and a bit healthier I just might go into business building closet spaces.  

My job here is done and I'll be going home in a few days. Now I'm planning my next remodel, my own downstairs powder room.

This photo came off Pinterest and it's perfect for my space.

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 I think I first need to measure and buy the ready made doors then work around them to create the look... that remains to be seen.

Today is my girls birthday and this day makes for a perfect week with her...

"Happy Birthday Sweetie" 

Flaunt it Friday 

Happy Hour Friday 

Thrifty Things Friday 

Inspiration Friday 

Tickled Pink 

Overflowing with Creativity 

Make it Pretty Monday 

Junk That Matters 

POWW Link Party 

Blistfull Whites Wednesday 

  Savvy Southern Style

 Ivy and Elephants

Create and Share 

Whoa Horsey,,,,Saddle in the Attic... ?

 It's amazing the things and belongings some people forget about?

As I said in a previous post my daughter bought a new house (new to her) and yesterday we went up in the attic to see how big the space was and when I beamed the flash light.. Whoa,  there was a really nice Saddle just laying in the dust.

Once I got up the ladder and tried to bring it down all I could do was drop it from the opening in the garage ceiling.  Splat it went to the floor. It was heavy!

This morning I took out some oil and gave it a good rub down and amazingly enough it's in perfect condition.

The saddle has a number and every part of the leather is smooth and the construction is intact.. but then what do we know about saddles?

  It's not strange to find a saddle because this area of Jupiter, Fl is full of horse ranches and many people ride the trails and woods around here.

Whoa, I think I might need a horse to keep such a saddle!

Since neither of us ride this might just be an Ebay item.. 

If anyone out there in blogland knows anything about horses or saddles please leave a comment. We would love to hear from you and it will give us a starting point as to what we might do with it?

I'm linking this post up to

Cowgirl Link Up Party 

Primp your Stuff 

Alphabet Thursday 

Little man is now a proper "Robin"

 Just in time for Halloween! 

I told the story in a previous post how my little grandson and his brothers played costume and while the older boys had proper Batman and Spiderman costumes little Alex had the left over costume parts and would dress up and tell me "I'm Robin".  I felt so bad for the little guy and after I returned from my visit to their home in OKC I went on a "Robin" costume search. 

Thinking since the Halloween costume stores were all open this time of year, I'd find Robin.  Was I wrong!
The clerks all told me "Robin is not popular anymore" and none had a Robin.  So I bought the supplies needed in the craft store and got to work making one of my own.

 The best part Robin simply wore a red shirt with black cape. It was easy enough to recreate.  Since I needed to make a large black circle I used a cooking pot to trace shape.

Used simple paper to cut a letter R Stencil  and used craft paint to create the letter and tool belt.

 As for the mask, well that was just as easy.  I bought a simple party mask and cut it to the rounded shape Robin is famous for. A Black marker to paint around the white styro showing and it was perfect.

 The costume arrived at Alex's house this week and now my little man can battle with the best of them.
He was so surprised and happy! That makes this  grandma smile.

I've been at my daughters house in Jupiter the past few days helping her build her bedroom closet into something special.  We took this large dis-functional space'

So far so good, it's working and looking good.

I love to see women with power tools!

 Another day of closet building and I'll be sure to show the reveal in a few days. Cyndi is so happy and excited to complete this special project.

More to come!

Metamorphosis Monday

Tuesday's To Do List 

Create and Share 

Wow Us Wednesday 

USUFRUCTUARY.. hugh? What did you say?

Jenny over at "Alphabet Thursday" wants us to use the letter "U"  Well,  I just don't want to use the usual words like, under, or upside down, I thought to find a word that most of us have never heard of. But, know what,  I'm sure we all do this from time to time but did we know it?

 USUFRUCTUARY

Right that allows the use of property that belongs to another. The owner of land that bounds or contains a natural water channel has a usufructuary right to use of the water. The water itself is considered to be held by the public with all adjacent property owners holding rights to its use. Restrictions on that use vary under state law.

 This term comes from Roman law. Usufruct is the right of temporary possession and enjoyment of something that belongs to somebody else, so far as that can be done without causing damage or changing its substance. For example, a slave in classical Rome could not own anything. Things he acquired as the result of his labour he merely held usus (et) fructus, under “use (and) enjoyment” — it was his master who actually owned them.

The term remains in use in modern US legal practice and elsewhere to mean somebody who “enjoys the fruits” of something, usually land. These days a usufructuary can be a trustee who enjoys the produce or income from property he holds in trust for somebody else. Many Native American groups hold land on a usufruct basis, with rights to enjoy the renewable natural resources of the land for hunting and fishing.

 Well, I know I enjoy the fruits of another persons property.. a few of my neighbors have grapefruit trees and they told me "Take all you want"  

You know I do!!

I'll be joining Jenny Matlock over at 

Alphabet Thursday 

Going to my daughters for the week to build her master closet... my kind of week!

I'll be going to my daughters home in Jupiter for the next week. She and I are going to take her large long closet and turn it into something wonderful.  Were going to measure then have the HD guy cut the wood wood and then build selves and cubbys to hold the large amount of clothing  she has scattered in several closets through out her house.

Some of you may remember I took my own closet and turned it into my very own Better Homes and Gardens creation.  

You can see how I did it here. 

Well my daughter called last week and pleaded with me to come help her build something similar in her useless closet.  I'm the kind of person that loves to do such projects and when someone I love says to me come help me build,, well I gather my tools and I'm off.

Cyndi spent last evening taking off the doors, ripping up the carpet and tearing out all the wire shelving, then  gave her closet a fresh coat of white paint.  I'm sure having all her clothing scattered around might make her nervous but once we get it going she will be fine.  

I'll be sure to take photos to show the before and after.

In the mean time I wanted to tell you about a shelf I found on Pinterest. Look at all the extra storage space for the kitchen. Although I do have a great pantry this shelf will hold so many small things.  This will be a project for me after I get home from Cyndi's. Looks easy enough.  It is on rollers and just pulls in and out.

Then there is my downstairs bathroom that I've been wanting to do for the past 6 years. It's tiny and I always knew there was a way to  make it both functional and good looking. Well again I found a photo on Pinterest (don't you just love that site!) that is perfect for my space.

 via pinterest

Look at all the built in storage.  My bath is tiny and has useless walls.  Not for long because I'm going to build it exact sometime during the winter months.

Before I go let me share a photo I received today of my beautiful 15 yr old grand daughter.  Eve lives up in Alaska and is modeling the sweater I knit for her... looks good on her, don't you think. I love how she added the belt for more decoration.

Ok, I'm off for the week but will be back. Hopefully with good news on our project.

I'm linking up to

Tuesdays To Do List 

Wow Us Wednesday 

Create and Share 

My front porch is ready for Fall...

It's that time of year, time for the  Chrysanthemums to be proudly displayed on the front porches all around America.  And of course, I had to get mine.

My porch has so many terracotta and red colors so I had to choose Yellow Mums to brighten up the space. These two were placed out there only two days ago and were full of tiny buds and this morning they are blooming bright and so colorful.

I love living in Florida. Where can you see Fall Mums growing right beside Lemon, Limes and Orchids.?

Ya know, where I live Fall is a state of mind and if you put as many touches, like the ones we had when I lived up North, it helps, really! I'm even thinking of buying a bag of Fall leaves and scattering them around the potted plants.. (hmm, wind?)

I'm ready, bring on the Fall.

 

"Have a wonderful week everyone" 

I'm linking this post to

Metamorphosis Monday 

Make It Pretty Monday 

Tears of Sadness and Joy, all at the same time...

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Over the course of our lives we start to collect things, stuff and items that bring "Tears" of both joy and sadness when we remember the time, person or place where we first got the item.

Of the literally thousands of items in my home the Embroidery sampler that hangs on my wall today is one of those.

The story is long but in my heart, very interesting.

When I first moved into my new home back in Illinois, with my then new husband, my mom hand stitched a sampler embroidery with her rendition of my home.  I loved it.  She put so much energy into each little stitch.

The date, 1976.

 What brought this long lost thought to my mind was my bloggy friend,  Pat, over at Corn in my Coffee Pot 

 She spotted the wall hanging that has graced my walls over the years, in the background of a photo I posted in a previous post.

The story behind this also has another twist, not only did my mom embroider this beautiful sampler but during a move many years ago, my family went from Illinois to San Antonio, Tx, and this sampler came along in a moving van. Since my moms death it has hung with such pride in every home I've lived since.

My brother Tom died in 1986 and during the sad time of his death I remember asking his wife if I could have a liothograph he bought on a trip to "Boys Town, Nebraska".  He was so proud of this treasure and I so wanted to hang it in my home.  Well she said no and with tears in my eyes, I let it go.

Time and the Mr's Job  had me moving every few years and when I got to Ft. Lauderdale my Tears came flowing when I saw the movers broke the entire frame and did a bit of damage to my moms embroidery. But low and behold, behind the embroidery was this beautiful wall art that my brother cherished.  "He gave it to me" was all I could think (16 years after his death) and then again the Tears began to flow.

It's time to pass this beautiful piece of art down to my daughter.  As most of you know she now has 3 sons of her own and these brothers are so close.  Uncle Tom loved Gina when she was young,  and totally doted on her.  I know he would be proud to know it will hang in her home as her boys grow.

"Tears of joy and sadness all rolled into one"

A special thank you to "Pat" for bringing back a fond memory and a Tear to my eye 

I'm linking this post up to

Jenny Matlock's Alphabet Thursday

Flaunt It Friday 

Inspiration Friday 

A Favorite Thing Saturday 

        

" Gold Star Mothers"

 Gold Star Mother’s Day is observed in the United States on the last Sunday of September each year. It is a day for people to recognize and honor those who have lost a son or daughter while serving the United States Armed Forces.

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The name the Gold Star Mothers was derived from the custom of military families who put a service flag near their front window. The flag featured a star for each family member serving in their country – living members were denoted in blue but gold stars honored family members who were killed while in duty. In 1918 President Woodrow Wilson approved the wearing of black arm bands bearing a gilt star by those who had a family member who died in the military service to the United States. This distinguished them from the blue stars, representing a family member presently serving in the armed forces.
American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. was incorporated in 1929, obtaining a federal charter from the US Congress. It began with 25 mothers living in the Washington DC area and soon expanded to include affiliated groups throughout the nation. On June 23, 1936, a joint congressional resolution designated the last Sunday in September as Gold Star Mother's Day, a holiday that has been observed each year by a presidential proclamation.

If you know a "Gold Star Mother" give her a hug or a phone call today, let her know your thinking of her and her sacrifice for us all.