Time To Think

As we walk along the beach on our 2-3 hour walks,

I have lots of time to think.

We play with Lulu,

look for heart shaped rocks,

enjoy our surroundings

and marvel at the gorgeous houses sitting right on the beach.

Neither Steve or I talk much

unless I am pointing out a house on the beach

or he is pointing out the waves.

The other day, seeing perfectly manicured yards made me think about the disarray our garden is in and I began making plans.

I have been wanting to make new covers for our chaise lounges - I made these covers last summer, but they faded within a week of making them.

I remembered seeing some simple covers on Junk Chic Cottage and decided that I wanted copy Kris's look.

I also recalled a table runner made by Vickie of Ranger 911 and thought it would be fun to make covers like Kris's, but paint on stripes.

Yesterday, my impatient nature got in the way of my original plans.

I haven't had time to get to the hardware store to buy a drop cloth for the covers, but I had enough on hand to make a table runner.

After our walk, I got busy copying Vickie's table runner.

It took about two hours to paint the fabric and sew the runner.

Today, I need to get to the hardware store to buy a drop cloth,

but at least I had a bit of creativity yesterday - and that felt good.

What I love about retirement . . .

One of the things I love the very most about retirement is having time each day to set a table worthy of Steve's wonderful meals.

I love the feel and look of this table runner, a $10 TJ Maxx find last Saturday.

Originally my plan was to use a favorite yellow dish for the center piece, 

but in the hunt through cupboards for things to fill the yellow dish, I came across wooden dice and a tic tac toe board.

The dice and board led to a completely different table setting.

Linen napkins I stenciled last summer almost match the table runner.

Favorite red square plates have a black edge which pairs nicely with my new black flatware.

I had planned to use my mercury glass candlesticks, but the color of the starfish candlesticks works better with the table runner.

When I worked full time, I always used cloth napkins and candlesticks, but unless we were having guests for dinner, I didn't usually take the time for a centerpiece.

Now I have the leisure to try different table settings every night.

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Coastal Charm - Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

A Stroll Thru Life - Inspire Me Tuesday

Cozy Little House - Tweak It Tuesday

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia - Tuesday's Treasures

Kathe With An E - You're Gonna Love It

Passing It On

Life has been a little crazy here with Little Lulu controlling my time.

Thankfully, her new routine is to sit on the window seat with me in the early morning which gives me time to look at blogs and catch up on magazines before her wild antics begin.

I finally had a chance to read the magazines I received in a package from Kris of Junk Chic Cottage

Artful Blogging ran a feature on Kris's wonderful home and decorating style.

I was one of several winners on Kris's  Giveaway - a copy of Artful Blogging

with a copy of Somerset Home thrown in.

Receiving such a sweet gift from Kris made me want to pass on the gesture.

I decided to combine my crochet skills with the time on my hands (housebound with a 10 week old puppy) to create my own Giveaway.

I sewed 4  napkins out of 100% organic cotton and crocheted the edges - each piece has a different edging.

With the left over fabric, I made a little table runner.

The beautiful decor of Junk Chic Cottage and White Lace Cottage were at the back of my mind while I was making the napkins and imagining the napery in a crisp white vignette.

To embellish the table setting, I made simple tags and attached tarnished "Love" hearts.

I also like the look of crisp white napkins in a colorful table setting.

If you would like to win the set of napkins, table runner and 4 simple tags, please leave a comment.

I will throw some other little trinkets into the box -  it will be fun to match the trinkets to the personality and style of the winner.

The Giveaway will end on September 1 - can you believe it is nearly September?

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I am joining these lovely ladies

The Dedicated House - Make It Pretty Monday

Twigg Studio - Sunday Showoff Party

The Tablescaper - Seasonal Sundays

Creative Home Expressions - The Creative Home and Garden Hop

Shabby Art Boutique - Shabbilicious Friday

My Romantic Home - Show and Tell Friday

Silver Pennies - Sunday Link Party

Boogieboard Cottage - Masterpiece Monday

French Country Cottage - Feathered Nest Friday

Dwellings - The Heart of Your Home - Amaze Me Monday

Alderberry Hill - Make the Scene Monday

Rain on a Tin Roof - Give Me The Goods

Etsy Cottage Style - An Entertaining Party

Jennifer Rizzo - Fabulously Creative Friday

From the Farm Blog Hop

Work . . . Work . . . Work

After the first 30 days of retirement spent being creative, I spent the last several days cleaning and organizing.

It all needs to be done, but creating is much more fun.

This morning I opted for a little creativity before I got to work.

Yesterday I found this white fabric with red stripes when I was at Jo Ann's looking for white eyelet - didn't find the eyelet fabric.

And, on Monday the red and white polka dot flatware arrived.

One of the things I love most about blogging is the wonderful people you meet.

Manuela of A Cultivated Nest and Vicky of Life on Willie Mae Lane both sent me links to flatware when I mentioned I was looking for something with a fun pattern.

It literally took about 5 minutes to hem the ends of the table runner (the edges were already finished) and put it on the table.

I didn't want too much red so I chose blue and white dishes.

I added white napkins with ruffles that I made last summer and daisies from the garden.

The table is all ready for whatever beautiful and tasty concoction Steve serves up tonight.

I love the polka dots and want to see them out so I put all of my colorful flatware into pitchers.

They are in the entryway cabinet- which I still have not decided what color to paint - and make me smile.

Now, I have to get to work.

Steve is hanging an art show tomorrow morning and I need to make labels for 15 paintings.

I can't really complain because the main space I have been cleaning and organizing is my creative space and it is almost ready for the Where Bloggers Create party tomorrow at My Desert Cottage.

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I should be working, but you can find me at these fun parties

Lavender Garden Cottage - Cottage Style Party

The Charm of Home - Home Sweet Home

Green Willow Pond - What We Accomplished Wednesday

Made in a Day - Made U Look Linky

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson - Share Your Cup Thursday

Nine to Five

I started with #9 and went on to #5.

I began my 10 day project with #9 - the easiest to complete.

I couldn't find a screw for the clock knob so I used the OPEN knob instead.

 Free - easy - quick.

I used the dish towel I bought last weekend in Santa Barbara as a table runner.

That done, I move on to # 5 - the black bench.

 I love Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.

One coat of paint, drying while I worked in the garden, sanding to scuff it up and the bench was back in the living room by the end of lunch.

On a roll, I grabbed #10 and some blue paint I found in the garage.

It was not Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and it was not as easy to work with.

I had to do several coats of paint and I don't like the texture.

But, it is just sitting in the garden so it is fine.

Steve was not back from physical therapy so I moved on to #4.

The table cloth proved to be a bit challenging because the fabric is really not wide enough.

But, I was using the "mistake" fabric from my pillow project so I made do.

#4 turned out to be one of those "domino" projects.

I definitely need to make a long white table cloth to go beneath the print and I need to make blue or red pillows for the chairs.

I even did some work in the garden in between paint jobs.

It will be slow going, but I will work every day.

Victor, my neighbor's gardener, has agree to come next Saturday to help me tackle the jungle.

Started at nine - done by five.

At this rate, I might actually complete my list.

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You can find me partying at

Common Ground

My Romantic Home

French Country Cottage

Rooted in Thyme

Cottage Wishes

No Minimalist Here