DOLLING UP THE COTTAGE

As I was thinning out papers, I came across this one I had torn out of a old magazine that caught my eye for how to crown the top of a window.  I liked this idea and think this is what we will do to DOLL UP the plain trim in our FOLK VICTORIAN 1900 COTTAGE.

TYPING LATE AT NIGHT...I am kind of tired.  I spent the majority of the day over at the COTTAGE going through boxes and boxes.  Again HUBBY spent the day outside plowing up the ground for future flowerbeds.  The day wasn't too terribly HOT.  Much needed break from the heat.  We are getting a little break in the temps until Saturday when it will get HOT again. 

I had it made in the shade as the inside of the COTTAGE wasn't hot.  Once again I was BLESSED to make headway.  If I can put in more hours this week, the little Master Bedroom will be cleared of BOXES!!!!  That makes my heart sing.  Then I will thoroughly clean the bedroom windows including the storm windows.  That will take some muscle as they are filthy.  Will use a tooth brush to help scrub the dirt and grime from the storm window's metal frame.  They have been neglected for I don't know how long.  A good scrub will BLESS the COTTAGE.  

From there I'll move to the next bedroom clearing out the entire room.  There's a French Provincial chest of drawers and a dresser that I will move into the Master Bedroom as it is closer to the front of the house to get the furniture completely out of the house.  

The Master Bedroom will become the staging place to gather and group the furniture that will need to be turned loose of in this COTTAGE that has been used as a warehouse the last couple of years.  We turned loose of a queen size mattress and box springs a couple of weeks ago and the GE Electric range that we put by the curb last Thursday was picked up.  I was glad to see these go away.   

Besides clearing the COTTAGE out and making flowerbeds, our first big project is gutting the bathroom.  I have most of the decorating done in my head.  After Hubby gets the flowerbeds plowed up and the Irises planted then he will return to gutting the bathroom.  I will help when I can by being his sidekick and GO-pher.  

Lord willing by the end of August, all the boxes in the COTTAGE will be gone through, the new flowerbeds will be full of Irises and completed in time for Fall.  The bathroom fully gutted.  

On Tuesday, as I was going through the boxes, I discovered a lot of books.  ugh.  Now what do I do with them?  I think Goodwill, or God's Storehouse will receive a donation from me by the end of the week in addition to a couple of full boxes that will go on Wednesday.  I'll keep perhaps a third of the books.  I get a little weak in the knees thinking about saying good-bye to my books.  

I-LOVE-ME- BOOKS.  

Tomorrow as I go through these books, I will make a keep pile and a turn loose pile.  The turn loose pile had better be huge compared to the other pile.  I wish it were already done.  

I try to imagine us living in the COTTAGE and we have to do a MAJOR DOWNSIZING to be able to fit.  There will be a floor to ceiling book shelf built in the Master Bedroom for family photos, a few dolls and books.  BUT FIRST, the bathroom has to be up and going.  Then we will move onto the front porch.  In between what I can do to help my Hubby and what I can do inside of the COTTAGE, I will be painting some of the rooms and gathering more ideas to DOLL UP the COTTAGE. 

Like this one with Ball and Stick flower boxes.  I want to do this in the Utility room that has two windows.  These will hold some plants that will get some much needed sunshine. 

Adding charm to the Utility Room.  

Something has gone haywire on turning my images or I'd show you a better picture.  I cannot get it to turn the correct direction.  Not sure why.  Oh well.

I have a LAB APPOINTMENT THIS WEEK.  I'll be glad to get this out of the way.  Knowing where my A1c is will ease my mind some.  Then I have to get right back to dieting and add some walking into the agenda.

OKAY.  When I took an Interior Design Course way back in the day when I was working toward my Associate of Arts Degree, our instructor encouraged us to collect pictures to help us get some ideas of what we wanted to do in the rooms we were going to decorate.  So I am doing that.  With all that needs done on the COTTAGE, I see a year passing by before we are where we need to be to live comfortably in it.  The weight I need to lose will take a solid year to get off of me.  I have to stay driven to get these things done.

When I read how other women took weight off and how they did it, I get inspired to do this thing. I have to cut way back on the carbs, avoid sweets and drink plenty of spring water.  I will be returning to eating a larger variety of vegetables and fruits.  Cut back on the meat, add nuts and legumes.  

This Grapefruit Diet has caused me to get...how do I politely say in hushed tones constipated.  I think my body is missing the fiber I was getting from eating popcorn.

Sooooooo I will tweak this diet.  OKAY, I tried.  I put 10 days into this Grapefruit Diet/Mayo Clinic Diet and what happened...I got constipated.   I think I will take a break from bacon and eggs for Breakfast and drink V8 again.  Stick with lunch time salads and a supper of a meat selection and steamed veggies.  Stay away from snacks except evening popcorn.  

THERE I DID IT!!!!  Turned the image.  

Onward my dears,

d👵