We had friends over for dinner on Saturday for the first time and I wanted to make a good impression.
I started cleaning and organizing the house on Wednesday - a good thing because I ran out of time on Saturday.
But, as I worked, I seemed to focus only on what is wrong with our house.
The bathroom needs major renovation - tricky when you live in a one bathroom house.
The entry and dining room look so fresh and crisp in new white paint, but the rest of the house needs an update too.
Our floors need refinishing, but JP is getting married in July so wedding costs take precedence over any work on the house.
I decided to take a break from my negative thoughts by responding to emails - reading this sweet comment from Anne of Design Dreams by Anne made me switch gears.
But, as I worked, I seemed to focus only on what is wrong with our house.
The bathroom needs major renovation - tricky when you live in a one bathroom house.
The entry and dining room look so fresh and crisp in new white paint, but the rest of the house needs an update too.
Our floors need refinishing, but JP is getting married in July so wedding costs take precedence over any work on the house.
I decided to take a break from my negative thoughts by responding to emails - reading this sweet comment from Anne of Design Dreams by Anne made me switch gears.
I grabbed the camera and walked around looking for beauty instead of problems in our 87 year old house.
It was a bright winter day and the sun lit up the garden.
The painting of the little garden house is finished
and now the fun part begins!
and now the fun part begins!
A neighbor gifted us this old bench - we need to decide where to put it, but for now it sits in the front yard.
I found this old typewriter JP left in the attic - it now sits on a dresser in the living room and I am having fun typing quotes (I use American typewriter font) to display each day.
So far, this is Steve's favorite.
Our evening was fun on Saturday night and our guests did not seem to notice that the bathroom is run down, the walls need painting or the floor needs refinishing - they did enjoy the dinner enough that they asked for a doggie bag to take home the leftovers of Steve's paella!
The difference between seeing problems or beauty in my home is attitude and thanks to Anne, I am focused on the beauty!
The difference between seeing problems or beauty in my home is attitude and thanks to Anne, I am focused on the beauty!
Great post, just what I needed this morning to get me going.
ReplyDeletePeople don't see what we see, all the negatives about our places, all they see is the beauty, color, uniqueness, etc. The friendship and food was what is important and you had a great time.
I think your place is really happy and filled with love.
FlowerLady
Morning Carol,
ReplyDeleteYou are so right attitude is everything..........and sometimes we are our own worst enemies, at least I know I can be.........
Focusing on the negative is never a good thing.
And I agree with Ann your house is Beautiful, charming, interesting and fun.......
Blessings, nice to finally get by to see you, it has been awhile. Hope you had a nice Christmas and the New Year is being
good to you. Also Congrats on your daughter's upcoming marriage.
Nellie
AMEN. And that is our survival mode, but a good one because it cultivates other good and beautiful attitudes. I must remember this every morning when I prepare to go into work where there is an individual who obviously doesn't care for me. She is condescending and her overt facial expressions when she listens to me speak show she doubts every word I say. So then, what to do? Think of all the things I do RIGHT and learn. That is how we battle it. Oh Carol, your home is stunning. Do what you can when you can. Before you know it, it's done. We've done it for 18 years now, and it's fun to see how far we've come. ENJOY my friend! OH! I LOVE THE GARDEN HOUSE! Anita
ReplyDeleteI, too, love your home! It always seems so cheerful to me. I live in an old home also & sometimes we do tend to focus on the negative aspects of it and the work that needs to be done. You've got the right attitude now. Focus on the charm of the older home & all the beauty within it.
ReplyDeleteI always have to set aside a little extra time to read your posts. I'm catching up (yet again!), but I really enjoy your rambling around your cozy little cottage. All the details are great. There's nothing wrong with a worn, lived-in look ... that house has stories to tell. The people and pets that live in them can't help but soften the edges. Like a piece of furniture that has worn parts. We have a set of three chairs handmade by my husband's grandfather (long deceased now). The chairs have scratch marks on the left side of all the seats because that's where his grandfather's tools in his tool belt scraped across the wood each time he sat down for lunch. He was a carpenter. We could never refinish those chairs ;) This is not to say that a bathroom may need updating however, and I hope you're in good with the neighbours to use their's during a reno! Love your garden house ... I keep looking at my garden "shed" and wondering how I can convert it. Wendy x
ReplyDeleteCarol, when I think of your home, I think JOY, COLORFUL, CHEERY, LOVE,ORGANIZED LIVING, ENTERTAINING, FRIENDS, LAUGHTER, and above all HAPPINESS. I NEVER see a flaw. We always critique ourselves. It's instinct. Know that from this coast, it all looks perfect. :)
ReplyDeletewhat great pictures !!! love greetings from angie from Germany
ReplyDeleteAwww I'm so glad that something I said gave you a lift! I smiled when I read all the things you want done around the house. I am so in love with the old and ancient that I embrace my beat up wood floors and things that are chipped and worn. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder as they say! I love your quotes, too. I intend for 2015 and the years beyond to be all about enjoying the moment and all the things in that moment for what they are and what they bring to me. (and I still think everything about you and your home is beautiful) xoxox
ReplyDeleteOur house was a bit neglected while raising kids...putting them through college...and one wedding...The yard was kept nice and there was always fresh paint, but the carpet aged and there only a were few practical upgrades that occurred within the budget.
ReplyDeleteIt's a simple little middle class home in a middle class neighborhood once packed with young families. Our neighborhood is now compromised of about 30% Section 8 housing. It's sad to see how renters do not care for their yards and leave their garbage cans out for days after pick up. I must admit at times, I am embarrassed about our surroundings.
My blog is about the "dreams" that happened and still happen in our simple little home. The kids always say..."Mom and Dad, you should sell"...but, when they visit, I feel their comfort and re-connection with this old place. So many times I have dismissed this house...but when it comes time to leave it will be very difficult for me. Lot's of love and life happened here.
You home is lovely, Carol.
It's a wonderful piece of California coastal history. I am surprised that it is not on a historical registry.
The comfort and love felt when one enters a home erases any flaw.
Have a wonderful week!
~Lynne
w/L.
Great attitude, Carol. I love your home and I love that you use fresh flowers as part of your decor. I just wish I could bottle you up and turn you loose to work your magic at my house.
ReplyDeleteGood for you:) I love all your beautiful things and the pic with the surfboards should be in print, I love it!
ReplyDeleteYour house is GORGEOUS and I the quotes in the typewriter is a great; I'm stealing it, lol!
ReplyDeleteCarol, I think we can all get bogged down in the negatives of our homes or other things in our life. Then we get a peek at our own lives through someone else's eyes and it helps us see the positive. We are blessed, yes we are! Love the typewriter and the quotes!
ReplyDeletehugs,
Linda
i have not been to your blog since last year ... i am not blogging as much any more so i have not been commenting either. so Happy Happy New Year to you!! hope you are enjoying every moment. i love your house. you know that. i love stopping by and seeing how cheerful your rooms look like. love the daffodils. so pretty. thanks for sharing. if you ever seen a roommate please let me know. ( :
ReplyDeleteWhat an inspiring post, Carol. I showed my husband your cottage tour at Anne's over the weekend, and he was bowled over, as I always am, by your home's charm and beauty (and your gorgeous photography.) It's hard to imagine finding anything wanting there. But you're so right, we all have things in our homes we'd like to tweak but must wait for one reason or another. Concentrating on what we love and have now is a key to happiness with our homes! I love your attitude! (and your new garden house!)
ReplyDeleteCarol your home always looks beautiful!! I love your table setting!
ReplyDeleteCarol, you are speaking to my soul! I get bogged down in the no no list - many of the same as yours, weddings, one bathroom, repairs instead of replacements. . . .but your home is SO LOVELY. I would have never guessed you felt there were negatives to your home. I need to take a new look at mine!
ReplyDeleteYou know I adore your charming cottage, Carol!! Your visitors sure don't see the tired looking bathroom, walls, or floors. Your creativity and Steve's talent as a painter sets your cottage apart!! Always fun to visit!
ReplyDeleteMary Alice
It is hard to renovate a one bathroom home. We did ours in stages and when we had to we used my sister's who actually lives a minute away though it takes six or seven to get into the complex! What you see is not necessarily what others see. For example, I'll get tired of my concrete floors and then someone will say how much they love them and then I'm reminded why I left them that way. In my case it's old and it will never look new, and I do to much it won't look right to the house. I think your home is beautiful and charming. I love your typewrite idea. My daughter has one that was mine. I helped her clean up the rest of the room this weekend and I found she was writing things about nature specimens in the yard. It was so sweet, but she didn't want me to save the papers. I will have to show her this. She has a ribbon, and I paid a lot for it, because she wants the clicking sound. Of course she didn't grow up with them. Hugs and have a wonderful week.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. And there is beauty even in things you think need fixing up. I love an old worn wood floor. It's very forgiving for one thing. Your table looks so pretty! It means so much to someone to be invited to a friend's home --- that was their focus I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteCarol I truly enjoy your attitude. And this post as usual is one I can relate to. I've pretty much dropped off the face of the blog world after the bathroom pipe broke. It's felt like every room I've started is pretty much incomplete and it has taken the wind out of my sails. As you put it, not enough focus on the good stuff. Which is actually happening in small baby steps around the house. I think you've inspired a post. :)
ReplyDeleteps your home always looks so cozy....and fresh. I love your style.
You're so right Carol. How we choose to see the world around us, and our own homes and lives, is all about attitude. It's so easy to get brought down by negative thoughts that can rob us of the simple pleasures of every day life. Your home is so lovely and charming, and looks quite perfect to me just the way it is.
ReplyDeleteGreat advice!! Your newly painted garden shed looks great and I love the bright colours you chose for the door and trim. I was doing the same thing as you this morning noticing all the scratches, dings, dust and such and thinking about friends who just moved into a new house and what they would think of our 43 year old home. Yikes. I need to focus on the beautiful but also on the little things that need to be fixed, painted, cleaned! Focus on the beauty. Yes. :)
ReplyDeleteOh Carol your home is gorgeous. You can always change up decor but you cannot change the beauty of the location of your sweet cottage. The walls need painting and bathroom reno's and floors refinished but that is all because you live in your cottage and love your cottage. It is like the wrinkles around my eyes I most want to get rid of them I want mine and I wear them with pride that I earned every one of them in life. So please know your how is gorgeous and well loved and well lived in that is what is important.
ReplyDeleteKris
ok sorry take the I out before the most want. Hate typo's sorry.
ReplyDeleteKris
All I notice when I see your pretty pictures is your marvelous use of color and accessories. I think that it what most people see! :)
ReplyDeleteSuch a charming cottage - I love it too, Carol! I know I'll always be treated to color when I visit, and many personal touches. I love Steve's favorite quote too!
ReplyDeleteOh, how I totally needed this post today! I did a lot of work in my house this weekend and the negative thoughts started creeping in about my house, too...how it needs this and that and "if only we could afford to do ________". I need to look at the positive aspects too - don't like when that negativeness rears its ugly head! Love the Bob Dylan quote. :-)
ReplyDeleteCarol, you home always looks fresh and inviting when you show photos. I think we all tend to focus on what we want to improve, while others never take notice of that. Your vintage Smith Corona brings back sweet memories of my own. It was turquoise. Oh, how I wish I'd saved it all these years. Your idea of typing quotes is very clever. A message a day? Better than a calendar or bulletin board.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful gift you got from Anne!! A reminder that the heart of a home is it's people and comfort ~ not a wall color or a scratchy floor...
ReplyDelete:)
That was perfect timing for a great comment! Refocusing our eyes and attitudes can make worlds of difference in our lives! I love your home as well! Blessings, Cindy xoxo
ReplyDeleteLove your new shed. It needs a better word as it's really cute. Just love seeing your home; I am trying so hard to get in the mood to get our house back on the market. Oh the dread of doing this again. Thanks for brightening up my world.
ReplyDeleteCarol,
ReplyDeleteYou are so right it's all about altitude, accepting the love that flows through your home and the comfort and joy it brings. Not the things that need to be refinished. We too have one bathroom and we got through a complete gut and 3 years ago an update and remodel. Difficult, but where there's a will there is a way. Our house was built in 1934 and always needs attention, we will be doing some changes in our kitchen late winter into Spring. I am looking forward to a little enchantment and thankful we can do it. Love your Red, White and blue garden house and adore your sweet cheery cottage filled with art and love. Heck Carol I only notice the cuteness and colors you creativity add to your cottage and never what needs attention.
xoxo,
Vera
I would agree with you on this one friend! I sometimes get down on our small space for what it doesn't have instead of focusing on the good as well. Your garden house out back looks so pretty all painted Carol!!! And those daffodils are a sight for sore eyes!!! And I am glad you had a nice time with your friends.....your home is always stunning to me!!! Have a great week! Nicole xoxo
ReplyDeleteCarol, Your home is beautiful. I absolutely love looking out the open window in your living room. OMG, that garden house is adorable. I love it with the surf boards next to it. Your home is welcoming. Blessings, xoxo,Susie
ReplyDeleteYour house is beautiful, and I am glad that you are appreciating that beauty again. I know how easy it is to see the work that has yet to be done, but we all need to take time to look at what has already been accomplished. Thank you for the reminder!
ReplyDeleteYou really do live in such a beautiful part of the country in a charming home! But this is a good reminder for all of us....we can always find things that need improved...many times things no one else even notices. Enjoy your week sweet friend and thanks for the words of wisdom! Hugs, Diane
ReplyDeleteVery clever! And you're so right, whether or not life is an ordeal or an adventure does depend on your attitude. Bravo to you! PS - I too am one of the ones who thinks your house is lovely! xoxo
ReplyDeleteLove this post Carol! A few years ago, all I could focus on was what was wrong with my house or what I didn't have. I try hard not to do that now....although occasionally thoughts pop in my head. Your sweet and cozy home is absolutely one of my favorites in blog land. It is a real home with your personal and loving touches throughout! Love how the garden cottage turned out...it is perfection! Enjoy....:)
ReplyDeleteDear Sweet Carol, Martha Stewart would be green with envy of your cottage if she saw it. All homes have a little wear and tear from time to time . . . that is because a home is a place to enjoy life, family and friends, not a sterile show place. Your darling home has so much charm that it literally drips from the rafters :) Everyone should be so blessed. I would not change a thing, and yet you are always making chances and they are all so enchanting. Oh, that is the word I’ve been trying to think of . . . Enchanting . . . that is the perfect word to describe your cottage.
ReplyDeleteThe fact is we all see things about your homes that no one else sees. I see the scratches, the scuffs, the worn out and the tarnished, but others see all the loveliness and if they don’t, well, they can just go home, LOL.
Oh, love your garden house, too :)
Gorgeous post.
Connie :)
Carol...your home is beautiful and charming!! I think we see our homes differently than our guest do, because we live with the things that need to be fixed or painted, etc... I' thinking that all your friends saw was the beauty of your old home and just enjoying visiting with you.
ReplyDelete~Cindy
Carol, your home is very lovely - I just love it! It has charm and warmth. I think she looks great for her age. Your friends saw all the beauty you have done to you home. Everything always looks terrific. They were there to see you.and not to judge what you have done to the house. I think we all feel that way at different times.
ReplyDeleteLove the garden shed - it looks wonderful and your courtyard WOW.
Love the rain we are having.
Mary
That is such a good thing to remember. It's easy to get caught up in the negatives around us. You have something special where you live. Not everyone has an older home with so much character and not everyone lives at the beach. So, be grateful for that!
ReplyDeleteWhen I see pictures of your home all I see are good things. I love all the little things you make, rearrange and then rearrange again. Your posts have inspired me to do more in my house :)
ReplyDeleteThat was the perfect post for me to read this morning! Thanks to you, I'll remember to focus on the good things in Cottage and not on things that still need to be done (I have the same problem as you with the bathroom and Cottage also has only one bathroom). I love the bench you were given. It says "come here, read in the sun rather than doing any housework!"
ReplyDeleteAttitude does make the difference in everything Carol! I am so glad that you were able to see the beauty in your home that all the rest of us see. We all have things we need to do to improve our home, but the love we put into it shows and yours truly does! Love the typewriter and the quotes are wonderful!
ReplyDeletehugs,
Jann
Hi Carol once again a very wonderful lesson filled post. years ago I did medical trips to third world countries and saw what abject poverty truly is. I love fine things and want everything to be nice and perfect. What I learned and often go back to.....is I am so blessed with all I have earned and been given. But, the most important thing in life is the sharing of what you have no matter what condition. I love how you share your home and your love for it in your posts. I also love the attitude you always carry.
ReplyDeleteYour house is so cute that I'm surprised you'd be worried. But, I know how you feel. I focus so much on what needs to be done in my house that I not only avoid showing pics of it on my blog but I don't invite anyone over (except family). But, when people do come over they rave about how much they like it. I need to do like you and focus on what's good and not what needs to be done. Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteI love the idea you showed of putting inspirational quotes in an old typewriter. I have an old one sitting in my house and I think I'll do that to. :-)
Perspective ... We often need someone to help us regain ours! Your home is lovely. You have a wonderful eye ..and heart.. For hitting the perfect homey notes. The 2+ bathroom home is a product of the second half of the 20th century... We were happy to have one (indoors) among our family of 4 growing up in the 1950-60s era! ;-) Thanks for sharing a bit of your lovely home and lifestyle! Smiles...Susan
ReplyDeleteIt all starts with one's perspective, as in attitude, towards the world, towards oneself and others, doesn't it? Then, the perspective regarding space, and how one associates themselves in that space. From where I sit, my perspective is perfect, and I am zeroing in on those darling, little cobalt blue vases, filled with the daintiest of flowers, as my final destination. Remember: gratitude is the attitude!
ReplyDeletePoppy
Nice art, Beautifully decorated!
ReplyDeleteYour cottage by the sea is adorable~it has so much cheery character and looks well loved and relaxed! Love your typewriter spewing quotes to live by. I had a rough day yesterday and your insightful post is timely and has really helped me, thank you!
ReplyDeleteJenna
Good for you because your house is so delightful and filled with cheer! I am guilty of the same thing from time to time as I don't have the time and energy to keep things the way I want them anymore. We have the same challenge with a one bathroom house and I have learned to think of my worn hardwood floors as "rustic" - LOL!
ReplyDeleteYou house is just charming, and so are you.
ReplyDeleteLOVE the idea of typing quotes on the old typewriter each day! :)
You house is just charming, and so are you.
ReplyDeleteLOVE the idea of typing quotes on the old typewriter each day! :)
I love typing those quotes the typeface is so nice too. Love the garden house colours they are so you.. Sarah x
ReplyDeleteSo true about attitude! I'm getting better at it. A couple of weekends ago we had 2 couples over and I realized the next morning that I didn't apologize for a single thing in my house. I was proud of myself!!! I think your house has an amazing warmth that you put there and that is what people notice!
ReplyDeleteI think you really should concentrate on the beauty, your house always looks so beautiful to me, and so inviting. I'm sure there is many a blogger, me included, that would like to live in your house near the beach.
ReplyDeleteWe have a saying in the UK that it's like 'painting the Forth Bridge'. The Forth Bridge takes years to paint, so when they get to the end, it's time to go back to the beginning and start again. A house is like that, it will always need work done, so enjoying what you have and not dwelling on the negatives is definitely the right attitude.
It's so hard to see the flaws in ourselves and in our homes, so I thank you for this post and the words of wisdom you displayed in the typewriter. I look at pictures of your sweet cottage and never see any faults. Thanks so much for sharing Carol.
ReplyDeleteExcellent outcome! Well done you!!!I love everything I see, your house is always filled with so much cheerfulness Carol...
ReplyDeleteOlympia
A lovely and inspiring post!
ReplyDeleteI must say the little I can see of your house looks very nice indeed :-)
Amalia
xo
Your home is beautiful and leave it to Anne to impart inspiration and attitude adjustment! I just love her! I'm still crushing on your cute little garden house!
ReplyDeleteGood for you, Carol! Our new/old house is 88 this year and it shows. Sometimes I have a hard time with that, but I will take a tip from you and think about my attitude!
ReplyDeleteEvery time I look at photos of your home, I think how beautiful it is. Your love of decorating comes out in all your table settings, pillows and special little touches. Just perfect exactly the way it is.
ReplyDeleteHi ~ I am visiting from Cozy Little House. Your home is a delight. It looks full of life! I love your use of color and white. The old typewriter is great. I had a similar experience last week as we prepared for first-time company. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and beauty with us! ~julie
ReplyDeleteYou really do have a darling home. I'm so glad Brenda featured you :)
ReplyDeleteI'd take your cottage in a heartbeat, Carol. I think you know that. It's adorable, and just like Anne mentioned I'd embrace all the imperfections. Every Monday I post a Joy List on my blog that helps me stay focused on all the beauty that surrounds me. Most of the list is made up of simple pleasures. Those are the best. Love the Bob Dylan quote. So, so true and it's pretty much how Dennis and I sum up our life. Getting to do what you love every day is an incredible blessing. Hugs, Nancy
ReplyDeleteWe always seem to focus on the negative, don't we? Seems to be human nature. Whether it's our homes, our bodies, whatever, being grateful for what we do have is key. And there is always something to be grateful for, and you Carol, have an abundance of wonderful things in your life.
ReplyDeleteThe house that we lived in for 26 years started out with 1.5 baths, and when we renovated the full bath you know what I did? I joined a gym nearby and took showers there! I ended up keeping my membership for over ten years too.
Hi Carol, great reminder to focus on the good parts of our lives and homes. Love the old typewriter quotes. The cobalt blue is beautiful with pops of red. Yes, Anne is so right. Your home is Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteHave a special Sunday.
xo
I found you through Cozy Little House and am so glad that I did! Your home is so beautiful and I love that you are near the sea. My dream is to someday live near the sea in a cozy little cottage........thank you for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteIt's funny how our view of our home is different from how other's see it. I only ever see a pretty house that is loved by the people that live there.
ReplyDeleteWell said! We live in a 100 year old house. I do know what you mean. We have one bathroom too. We had guests over on Tuesday...same thoughts went through my mind too. You are so right...Attitude...we are in charge of our Attitude. :-)) I enjoy our old house and all the charm it has. It is HOME. :-)
ReplyDeleteI also needed to hear this today. It's a blizzard here, bu the positive it is ever so beautiful. I don't know why but I didn't get this on my feed, so just seen it now. Love you home and love you decorating and love your heart!
ReplyDeleteWhy would you consider your house anything but fabulous!?! You get to live by the sea, child! Enough said.
ReplyDeleteConstance
Why would you consider your house anything but fabulous!?! You get to live by the sea, child! Enough said.
ReplyDeleteConstance
Blogging is the new poetry. I find it wonderful and amazing in many ways.
ReplyDeleteSounding like broken record but your home is adorable and you are very creative.
ReplyDeleteLove your little house and all your updates.
OOO I can't imagine living with 1 bathroom. LOL