Waiting for Spring

Spring keeps threatening to appear, but it isn't quite here yet.  Every time the weather gets above sixty degrees (and sometimes even when it doesn't), we head outside to breathe deeply.

 

Those trips outside are such a tease.  I can't stop dreaming of freshly potted flowers, long walks in Crockett Park, and completed projects.  This is a tough time of year.  I found out two days ago that an old, long-time friend passed away unexpectedly.  It has been really hard to swallow.  I also had to register my oldest baby for kindergarten on that same day.  Tough in a different way.  I'm ready for spring and rebirth.

Here's something to make me smile so I can end on a happy note.  Back when I was choosing all of the decor for The Little Vacation House I found a perfect area rug from Ballard Design for the living room.  It was the right size, right price, and right composition (indoor / outdoor, washable, and easy care).  It was back ordered for a really long time, and it was really frustrating wondering if we would ever get it.  They did give us a little money back for our inconvenience, so that was good, but we still considered canceling the order and looking for something else.  I'm so glad we didn't!  Look at how perfect it looks in the room!

Before the rug:

And after...

Isn't it gorgeous!!???  Sometimes it pays to wait.

I believe that spring will be worth the wait, too.  Come on, spring.  We are soooo ready to visit with you again.

The Little Vacation House

Last summer, when Sharon and Jim visited for a month, they called the condo they stayed in "The Little Vacation House" because that was easy for Brennan to understand.  This year we told Brennan that Grandma and Grandpa had gotten a new little vacation house of their very own.  As we started decorating and filling the space, we decided it was appropriate to not only keep calling that, but to make it the actual name of the condo.

Allow me to welcome you to The Little Vacation House.

With a lot of blood, sweat, tears, and laughter, the space is ready to rent, only 42 days after closing.  Six weeks ago the condo was empty and dirty.  And today?  It looks like this:

Helping Jim and Sharon to fill and decorate this space has been deeply fulfilling and rewarding, not to mention fun!  I have always watched shows on HGTV and wondered, "Could I do that?"  Deep down, I always thought I could, but I wasn't sure.  This was sort of my opportunity to give it a try without the pressure.

Of course, I am a firm believer that spaces evolve and are never really done.  With that in mind, we decided to call the condo "done for now" (my decorating motto).  It is comfortable, beautiful, and functional, and everything now is just extra icing on the cake.  In time, we still want to paint the bedrooms and bathroom, install curtains, hang more art in the guest room and bathroom, cover the ugly control panel in the laundry room, fill the shelves with baskets... You get the idea.  But I do believe that anyone who stays in the Little Vacation House will be okay with those things being undone next month.  It is truly a beautiful home away from home.

Sharon and Jim will be renting The Little Vacation House for a month at a time, beginning December 1st.  If you or someone you know would be interested in renting it, visit their website and fill out the contact form so they can get in touch with you.  And let them know I sent you!  ;-)