It's the little things . . .

. . .  that make me happy.

Like thrifting and finding more afghans for my collection. This striped multi-color one is a keeper. The other is cream, chocolate brown and baby blue, one of my favorite color combinations. It even has fringe.

And can a plastic watering can get any cuter than this?

My desk lamp with my shoji screen behind it. Lots of pretty and happy patterns, from the florals on the lamp, the Delft tin, the embroidered scarf, to the hodgepodge of scrapbook paper that I used to turn the screen from blah to boing.

And then there's my dear Gideon. I suppose he isn't a "little thing" that makes me happy. This big thing is joyful to me by simply licking my hand or resting his head on my knee. Here he is at the front door, sporting a summer haircut just starting to grow out.

MIA

Been gone for awhile but for good reasons. Last weekend was Jesse's wedding. I drove to Augusta on Wednesday to drop off a ton of stuff and help the bride, came home that evening, took Thursday to do all the final crafting and packing, then left Friday morning, back to Augusta for the rehearsal dinner. The wedding was Saturday. Back home Sunday to sleep, sleep and sleep. It was a whirlwind of a long weekend, all of it bathed in happiness and DIY heartfelt decor. Ali shot mostly film so it will be a bit before we have images to share, but I promise, you won't be disappointed!

In the meantime, busy preparing for Devon's wedding this weekend. I'm day-of-coordinator for her big day. I drive to Athens this Friday for the rehearsal, the wedding is on Saturday evening. The Foundry, where both the ceremony and wedding are taking place, is so quaint. Here is a picture of the hotel portion of the complex. It feels like it's straight out of New England.

And on the Chateau Gahan homefront, Harleigh is looking at transferring from Georgia Southern to UGA. We have an appointment next week to visit with a UGA advisor. She wants a more expansive education department so that she can broaden her early childhood course load with things like nutrition science. At first I was a bit overwhelmed at the thought of the transfer logistics, but the bottom line is that I want her to be happy in her studies. I've always liked the size of Georgia Southern, but now that I've seen Harleigh integrate into college life so seamlessly, I think she'll do fine on a huge campus like UGA. The girl knows how to find her place with the right group of kids. And she knows tons of kids there from Providence Christian Academy where she went to high school and from her summer camp counselor work at Perimeter's Camp All American. I'll make sure I take my camera next week so that I can share our trip!

Eat Pink Cake

A great birthday yesterday, complete with this pink strawberry cake slice, a freebie from my favorite Saturday lunch spot, My Friend's Place. Brought it home and topped it with a candle and a plastic sentiment! Dinner and drinks at Altobelli's, the family's favorite piano bar ('cause we love us some piano bar!). And the weather, warm and breezy with a touch of autumn in the air, was certainly a gift.

Clean Fridge

I like keeping the clear shelving in my refrigerator/freezer clean, and there are certain culprits that always seem to leave evidence of living within its doors. Culprits: milk cartons, jelly jars, syrups. And so I've put to use a lovely tray gifted to me by Gretchen over at Bird Nest Cottage. It now holds all those jars and cartons. If they happen to leave behind a ring or drip, 1) you can't see it, and 2) clean up is easy once a week, simply pulling out the tray and giving it a good swipe with a damp cloth. It looks nice. Home decor in your home appliances. We nesting gals know how to take decorating to a whole new level! (And, yes, I have lost the lid to the Reddi-Whip.)

And at the end of the day . . .

. . .  there are dog toys and stuffed animals to be put away. 

I find these as endearing as a house full of kids' toys.

Contentment

The planets have all aligned. And that doesn't imply, by any stretch of the imagination, that things are going perfectly. Sometimes, for the planets to align, it simply means that I am feeling good about life . . . where I am, how I'm dealing with and reacting to the bumps in the road, and that I'm finding happiness in being . . . content. It's what I strive for each and every day. Sometimes I'm able to snatch it like an Olympic sprinter crossing the finish line. And sometimes it's achieved with the slow deliberation of a baby bird learning to fly. In either case, it's work well worth it. It's called faith. It makes the good great and the not-so-good easier to swallow. And I find the older I get, the more of a prize it is to fight for.

A few pix, just 'cause I haven't posted in a while. Have been busy at work, spending evening hours at the gym and then home to craft and work on wedding preparations. The balance has suited me well.

Here's my trusty sidekick; without him by my side, things at home wouldn't be nearly as fun. I've just got to kiss that big black nose to be reminded that I'm lucky to be loved by an Old English Sheepdog like no other.

The crucifix hanging in my foyer, a wedding gift to my late grandparents. Such a treasure. And so beautiful.

The wedding coming up September 17 is outside at this lovely spot on the Savannah River.

And one of my many welcome-home chairs. Either filled with my busy self or a sleeping Gideon. The chairs at Chateau Gahan are cushy and homey, and usually with a warm body in their arms.

4 days of this . . . who's complaining?

I'm certainly not. I've got four whole days of crafting, working on Jesse's wedding. The table is in shambles . . . lovely, crafty, paint and Mod Podge, fabric and ribbon shambles.

Carl Bray is gone, but his touch will never leave me

Those of you who have read my blog for quite some time remember my postings about Carl Bray, a California plein air painter whose work I fell in love with when my then-husband and I lived in southern California and traveled to Palm Desert for business and relaxation. If you've not read the posts, they're worth reading. It's quite a story. It begins with this one and then leads to this one. God at work, no doubt, touching people in the most unexpected ways. (The picture above shows my beloved Carl Bray painting hanging above my fireplace — the image is small so I apologize for the lack of clarity.)

Well, every once in awhile I google Carl Bray, just to see what he's up to. A few weeks ago, I was saddened to chance upon his obituary. I emailed Kim, a friend of his and the one who had passed my blog post onto him, passing on my condolences. She sent me this link, a lovely tribute to a man I've never known but who is a part of who I am. And he left the world knowing he had made a difference in my little life.