Blog (OLD)

I’ve got 3 things to say to you tonight.
The first thing is—apparently, it’s hard to get internet service in paradise. Hence, no day 6.
The second thing is—-the only thing better than a brand new beautiful house is a brand new beautiful house filled with the smell of bacon.
The third thing is—–it’s a crying shame that there was no video of Kimmie, Grannie, Sister and I wrestling my king size mattress up the stairs because the movers got it mixed up with the guest room mattress. We heaved and laughed and cried and laughed some more and then when we got to the top of the stairs, Stevie was sitting on the screen porch smoking his pipe with a big cheesy grin on his face. I’m not sure if that was the highlight of my day or when the mover accidentally gave me a shiner on the left eye or when we disconnected and reconnected the ice maker under full water pressure.

Every move of everyone I’ve ever known starts out organized and serious and intentional and then long about 4p, it all disintegrates into Sanford and Son.
The only thing different about this move was that it was Sanford and Son from the beginning.

The icing on the cake was when I made my sister stop at the thrift store on the way to the lake so I could buy two chairs for a lil’ reupholstery project.
Some things never change. She thought it needed to be documented.

I’ll be back with pics and tips soon!
xoxoxo,
edie

p.s. thanks so much for all your sweet emails and messages. you make a girl feel so loved 🙂

{I’m bringing it in on two wheels tonight by the hair of my chinny chin chin}

For someone who doesn’t like change, I sure have moved my crap stuff around a lot lately.
Actually, truth be told, my mother, my sister and I have moved my crap stuff around a lot lately.
We’re all tired of moving me.
If there’s one good thing about a house fire, it surely does reduce the amount of stuff you have to pack and unpack and put away.
So, with all this vast experience in moving—-four times in 18 months to be exact—-I thought I would wax eloquent about all my moving secrets.
My tips for moving can be reduced to this: hire movers.
The end.

In just a few short hours, we will begin our new life in our new home and we are on cloud nine!
As a matter of fact, we’re moving in party style. I’ve ordered cake and champagne. Because, really, I couldn’t think of a reason not to?!!
Wish you could be here.
I can hardly wait.

You thought I wouldn’t post today, didn’t you?

That I’d give up and pack or something?   Didn’t you know that Grannie’s coming AND my sister  will be here with all her stellar moving/packing/power tool operating skills?

We got this.  No worries!

My participating in the 31 Days during house rebuilding and moving are so typical of my shenanigans.

I remember well, that during my second year of med school, during finals,  I took up scrapbooking.  Yes, I did my friend.

Apparently, I work best under pressure.

And since we’re still on the topic of finding inspiration, I thought I’d show you a video of some of the spaces in my house that were inspired by my favorite internet design friends.

I’m so thankful for them all.

I remember well when I first found The Nester’s blog.  It was my first baptism into the wonderful world of blogging.   I stayed up nearly all night reading her every post and carefully studying all the pictures of her house.   She’s had such an influence on me and I’m so thankful for her.   I thought I was the only person who made window MIStreatments.   She’s the best.  And her recent ‘book page’ party.  OH MY HEAVENS, at the creativity!

And then I found Jenny at Little Green Notebook , Erika from Urban Grace Interiors ,  Emily from Jones Design Company,  and my own sweet designer Darlene from Fieldstone Hill Design.   I’m also grateful to my two friends, Polly who blogs at Bliss and Bumps and  Julie for their real life homes that were so inspirational to me.

I owe them all, and all of you, who’ve inspired me with your DIY projects and your beautiful homes, a debt of gratitude, for sharing your creative life and ventures with us.

THANK YOU so much 🙂

My house is a melting pot of all you wonderful people and I’ll think of you while I learn to live life here in this wonderful space that I now get to call home.

Please tell me it’s not all a dream!

Inspiration is everywhere and sometimes you’re lucky enough to find it right next door!

You’re in for a treat today because I convinced my friend Julie, who has the most wonderful cottage I’ve ever seen, to let me photograph her house.   It’s a magical place and full of inspiration everywhere you turn.   It was a God-send that we moved next door to her after the fire.   She is an amazing mom and person.   She is unbelievably kind and such a servant of others, she reads Chesterton, Lewis, and Tozer and has raised bright, inquisitive and well mannered children.   She bakes and loves design and had nearly every single copy of Cottage Living.   Instant friends, I tell you!

She has created such a cozy haven for her family and I don’t exaggerate when I say that it’s one of those spaces that changes you and how you look at homemaking.   I’d give anything if Lucille Maud Montgomery (author of Green Gables) could describe it for you.   I can tell you that nothing I say and none of my pictures will do it justice.

When I walked in today with my camera, it was the essence of fall—-maple candles burning, the lingering scent of pipe tobacco and crackling wood—-all drawing you into it’s enchantment.

Thank you Julie for letting us peak!

the other side of the red door……..

the dining room and the inspiration for my round dining table purchase…..

the other side of the dining room….(i’m dying for the antique floral oil paintings–she found them on ebay after very a long period of research and looking)

the master bedroom….

and the very quaint master bath—note the details in the shower curtain, the cabinetry and the carrera marble countertop!  i love it all!

i’m completely smitten with the kitchen—all open upper shelves—-i swoon!

her daughter’s bathroom…….(are you wondering how there can be so much eye candy in one spot?! i know, i know—it’s incredible)

and the most adorable vanity EVER!

her daughter’s room…..

in all its lovely pink goodness……

and last but not least, my favorite room, and perhaps the smallest and coziest in the house—-the library.   i could live in there.  forever.    and read and read and read and read.

the wall opposite the bookshelves….

more bookshelf goodness……

and just one more because I really couldn’t stop taking pictures….

and that my friends is one of the most inspiring spaces I’ve ever been lucky enough to visit.

She should be in magazines.  Maybe I could convince her to start a blog!

As we near the end of this rebuilding project, I can hardly contain the flood of emotions.
Lately, I find myself looking back at all the old pictures of the fire.
I find that despite the overwhelming gratitude I feel for the house, there is,  deep down, a grieving that is still making its way to the surface.
What do you do when your life is turned upside down? When your children are wayward or your body has given way to cancer or your money has run out?
Where do you turn when it all falls apart?
I know of only one place—-to the tender heart of Christ, who has, in His dying and rising, set the world upside down.
He has given meaning to suffering. He has made sense of cancer. His love for us burns like an eternal flame.
We can beat our chests and scream at heaven and make our mental lists of offenses that might have caused this tragedy.
Or we can lay down our weapons and surrender.
And when He finds us in the ditch, beaten half to death and dying, our Good Samaritan does for us what noone else can do—-He takes us to the Father.
He heals our wounds and pays our debts and gives us life abundant.
********
It’s of no use to curse the ditch because whatever it is that has brought us to this place of helplessness has been good for us.
At least now we know how desperate we are for rescue.

Lord Jesus, I believe.  Help my unbelief!  Strengthen my weak and flickering faith.  I know that You are my wisdom, my righteousness, my sanctification, and my redemption.  Lord, strengthen this faith in me, that I may never fear nor faint in any trial or temptation.  You alone are the Author and Finisher or my faith.  Though my faith be tried by fire, may I ever be found strong and unmovable to the glory of Your holy name.  Let me firmly trust in Your blood, which cleanses me from all sin, that though my sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.  When I am enticed by sin and the world beckons and my own passions want to yield, help my unbelief, and give me the strength and will to resist.  WHen trials, sorrow, and affliction want to rob me of this trust, O Lord, help me to remain steadfast and true.  Strengthen my faith in Your promises that all things work together for good to them that love God, to those who are called according to Your purpose to be Your own in time and in eternity.  You alone, O almighty Lord, can help;  You, O gracious Lord, will help my unbelief;  You, O merciful God, will strengthen my faith.   Lord, I believe!  Amen.

(from the Lutheran prayer book)

Excellent podcast by Pastors Bill Cwirla and Todd Wilken on the Good Samaritan