DAY 6 — Wrapping up the week

Harleigh came home today and I'm not sure who was happiest to see her, me or Gideon.
Category 4: Baking and Cooking
Failed miserably this week on achieving anything in the kitchen.

Category 6: Harleigh
Spent a good part of the day cleaning her room and bathroom. The shower curtain liner needed replacing badly and the tub drain was backed up with hair. So that's all taken care of. I know when I come home from being away, the last thing I want to face is dirty surroundings.

Category 1: Craft
Went into the woods today and cut two branches of dogwood that I'll use for the shower tomorrow. The project that uses these also includes a bamboo bird cage that I painted pink today. Pix to come tomorrow after the shower!

I'm rather pooped from the week. I plan on going to bed early tonite. Tomorrow morning it's up early to go get flowers and to make chicken salad.

DAY 5 — The Panic Sets In

So much to do with the couple of days I have left of this Break. I always seem to make a TO DO list that far exceeds the number of hours in a day.

Category 1: Craft
Today was all about the shower. Here's a sneak peek at one of the projects I finished up today. I love making events special for people, especially for the guest of honor (and her twin girls we've yet to meet). What I've done cost very little money; it was more time spent than cash. And that's what I love about creative crafting.
Category 6: Harleigh
Thanks to Manuela of The Feathered Nest, I now know about discounted flowers at my neighborhood Kroger. So I went out today and bought these dozen roses in a peachy pink for Harleigh's room, to welcome her home.
Category 7: Me
My girlfriend Ali called this evening, and let me just tell you . . . every woman should have an Ali in her life. She is sweet, funny, confident, creative, articulate and cute to boot. We chatted and laughed. She told me that I needed to slow down a bit during this Break and do something that didn't involve my hands and thinking or concentrating. Ali, our call was just that. A break from all that I'm doing to talk with reckless abandon like only two women can do. Thank you. Her blog is every bit as inspiring as she is.

DAY 4 — Melancholy

Category 7: Me
Mammogram today. It's 2008 and I can't believe medical science has not come up with a better way to xray a boob. Don't get me wrong, mammograms are a life saver. I've been having them since I was in my early thirties. Having had two benign masses removed, one from each breast, I'm religious about having this preventive procedure done on a yearly basis.

So, today was truly about me . . . and my girls.

Category 1: Craft
Worked most of the day on Georganne's shower. Wish I could show you everything . . . but it will have to wait lest I spoil it for her.

Category 2: Home and Garden
Planted more perennials. This monkey grass is killin' me. Trying to dig it up is like wrestling with the devil. Also planted lots of bulbs, a first for me. If they do come up, I'll have lots of cuttings.

Category 3: Gideon
Can I just say that he has been the highlight of this week for me. Harleigh, like any child, grew up wanting a puppy. And me, like any parent, knows the reality of taking on a pet. At the design firm where I work, pets come to the office. This made my decision somewhat easier, knowing that I wouldn't have to leave a dog home all day. But wouldn't ya know that we get ourselves a dog who gets carsick. I brought him into work with me for the first 8 months, but it was brutal on him. I drive quite a distance to and from work, and he was miserable. So now he stays home, which given the option of being nauseous or lounging around Chateau Gahan all day, he's much happier.

He came on board to be "Harleigh's" dog. We all know that means nothing. He became my responsibility . . . and my bestest buddy.

I can't tell you how much I have enjoyed being with him all week.
And the melancholy part . . . I'm missing Harleigh really badly. I'm ready for her to come home! College is gonna kill me.

DAY 3 — DIRTy hands = HAPPY hands

Category 1: Craft
Worked on some fun things for Georganne's shower. Can't wait. Pix to come after Saturday!

Category 2: Home and Garden
The sun didn't really pop out until about 2:00 today, so gardening from 9-2 was perfect. No sun and mild temperatures.

Here's the gate basket which I decided not to paint; I like the color of it against the fence. And it sorta mimics the teak color of the benches out front.
My wrought iron wall garden. I tucked a shell into the arrangement, filled with a hen-and-chick.
And my kitchen window box.
I added some color to the front of the house with some of the planters from the "before" scenario.
And then, as only a hell-bent female can do, I moved, by myself, the glider to the back of the house. It involved putting it onto a luggage dolly, maneuvering it slowly through the house (my fence gates don't open wide enough for me to have taken it around the house), and then inching it to its new home. There was a point where I didn't think I'd get it through the patio door; my neighbor Clif even popped his head out to ask if he could help. But nooooooo, I HAD to accomplish it myself. And did, thank you very much!

Category 3: Gideon
I must say that spending time with Little Man this week has been a highlight. I really like him . . . a lot.

Category 4: Baking and Cooking
Let's save this category for after Spring Break. It just ain't happenin' this week.

Category 5: Shopping
It's about time I relegated our threadbare bath and hand towels to the rag basket. Many of them used to belong to my dear Nana. When she passed away it was some of the most ordinary items from her house that we held on to. Funny how a bath towel can conjure up such a storybook of good memories. So, I won't throw them away. One will wipe Gideon's wet paws on a rainy day, another will be used as a dropcloth for a craft project, and there will be many more spills and mishaps at Chateau Gahan that will need one of Nana's towels and live to tell more stories.I replaced them all with white Egyptian cotton towels I found on sale.

Category 6: Harleigh
Sweet Pea, you've called a bunch to talk. I miss my girl. And you're having so much fun. Two girls having fun: we have so much to catch up on when you get back.

Category 7: Me
Tonite I went out to dinner. I'm one of those few people who relish going out to dinner alone. It was relaxing, great food, and it always feels liberating to sit near booths of people as groups and show that it's OK to eat alone. Perhaps I'll be an example to some teenage girl who ten years from now says to herself "I remember seeing this woman sitting in a restaurant alone and seeming so content."

DAY 2 — Oh My Aching Back

Today was all about Category 2: Home and Garden
I made a trip to Lowe's, one to Home Depot and one to KMart. Was looking for benches and knew that teak would be out of my price range, but Home Depot just happened to have two from last year's inventory that were half price. Snagged 'em both (will love the way they get grey and worn) and put them together (one of those times when I wish I had a man around the house). I'll sell the rocking chair at a yard sale — someone will certainly find use for it as a garden ornament — and move the glider to the back patio. The planters will find homes out back. I've achieved the cleaner look I was going for. Here's the before and after:Lots of plantings to do, but first I have to dig up that darned monkey grass in my beds. I don't know what ever came over me to plant that crap as filler. It's a bear to dig up and you never get it all. So whatever I do wind up planting will no doubt have stray monkey grass bunches coming up. Tomorrow I garden 'til I I'm frozen in planter's stoop.

Category 3: Gideon
Old English Sheepdogs are notorious (at least all the ones I know) for having to be right next to you. With me down on my knees all day constructing and planting, he was right there at my side, and usually in the way. But it's like doing anything with a child: you know whatever you're doing will take twice as long. But be twice as sweet in the process.


Category 4: Baking and Cooking
I was lucky to have time to eat the piece of cheese I had today for lunch. Can a day's meals consist of iced tea?

OFFICIAL DAY 1 of Nesting

Got Harleigh all packed and off to Florida this morning with her family-for-the-week. Came into the bathroom and found this note scrawled on the mirror in lipstick. I think I'll keep it up all week 'cause it makes me happy.

Category 2: Home and Garden
I have three slipcovered pieces in my living room that I've owned for over 10 years. The slipcovers are a godsend, especially now with a Sheepie, whose throne is the ottoman, lounge is the sofa and snuggle-spot the chair. The sofa is in decent shape, but the chair and ottoman are on their last leg. You can see in the picture that the floral pattern is hardly visible any more, and the doily on the arm is masking a huge hole, worn through from years of a little girl leaning and watching TV.

I made the dreaded drive into Buckhead today (oops, forgot it was the Dogwood Festival . . . more traffic than there should have been on a lazy Sunday afternoon) and got my fabric samples to bring home. Any opinions? (I got the bright white linen just to pretend I could actually get away with those white, beachy interiors I adore.)

Categories 3 and 7 (combined): Gideon and Me
Took a 2 1/2 hour hike with Gideon. Yes, me. With a fenced-in backyard, most of our exercise time is me throwing a ball to Little Man. I've been meaning to take more walks with him; not sure why I haven't other than I'm sorta not into physical exertion unless it's stuff around the house. Any-who, off we went, down to the Chattahoochee, through the woods, got stuck walking across a stream and laughed a lot (at least I imagined him laughing). Both of us had our tongues hanging out of our mouths on the walk home, exhausted and happy. Next walk I'll take my camera.

Category 5: ShoppingHelping to give a shower for Georganne at work who is having twin girls. It is this coming Saturday and I plan on doing a lot of crafting this week in preparation. Stopped at Goodwill to pick up some children's books for one of the projects (can't say what it is just yet). While I was there I found this metal woven basket and tole cachepot. I actually had on this week's list to find a basket to use as a planter on my fence gate. Was thinking of wicker, but this will work just fine. I'll paint it and line it with coco moss. Picture to come of the finished project.

Category 1: Craft
I've been working for the past 5 hours cleaning my craft areas. I had 2 dressers filled with craft paraphernalia, and my work table in the study was overflowing and not very work-friendly. I downsized all my stuff to one dresser and organized a portion of the shelves in my study strictly for craft items. I'd take a picture, but it's dark outside and I'm pooped.

Category 6: Harleigh
Is it wrong that I sent my little one off and totally made today about me? I'll do something sweet tomorrow. Promise.

Teary-Eyed Kick-Off

Driving home from work last night, daughter's doing movie night with girlfriends, mom's got the house to herself, stopped at the grocery store to pick up some things . . . I'll rent myself a movie! Now Harleigh and I often watch movies together, but to watch one by myself feels almost indulgent, an event to be savored. My friend Tim had told me about Into the Wild so that's what I picked up. It stars that hunky, brooding skateboarder dude from Lords of Dogtown.

Hunkered down in the rumpus room, all the lights off, sound of rain outside, all smiley and full of myself at the week that lays ahead. What was I thinking when I rented this one?!?!?!?!? Oh------ my------gosh. It was beautifully sad, poignantly intelligent, a true story, chock-full of memorable but subtle performances by big stars, and just the most depressing movie I think I've ever seen. I cried — not in that hard, the-tears-keep-coming way like when you watch Beaches — but a cry that you just sorta feel coming from deep inside, that's fueled not just by what you're watching but by other personal stuff that manages to seep in.

Glad I can say that I've seen this flick, but, needless to say, for a grand kick-off night to the fun and homey adventures that brand this break, I should have grabbed Hairspray.

NESTING, HERE I COME!

So, today is my last day of work before 9 glorious days of being at home. As I sat knitting yesterday evening (yes, I'm hooked, Miss Laura!), I decided that for each day — beginning on Sunday since Harleigh is still home tomorrow and we're getting her packed up for Florida — I will achieve one thing in each of 7 categories and post those achievements:

1. Craft

2. Home/Garden

3. Gideon

4. Baking/Cooking

5. Shopping (could even be grocery shopping)

6. Harleigh (not sure what this would entail, but I want to try to do some sweet things for her return from Florida)

7. Me (pampering, perhaps?)

Pix, of course, will be included in my daily postings!

Holly Hobbie

In the previous post you'll see a hand-embroidered, framed Holly Hobbie that I found at a yard sale. Holly Hobbie was (along with Joan Walsh Anglund characters) one of my favorites as a little girl. Click here for a wonderful website all about the real Holly Hobbie; she's as wholesome and rosy cheeked as her characters.

Great Way to Hide Cords

A computer desk is notorious for its unsightly cords and plugs. Such was the case with ours until my dad gave me this painting. He painted this pastoral scene years ago and gave it to me unframed. Now it serves as a pretty "curtain" hiding all the ugly.

I'm a knitter!

Since starting my blog, I've come to know so many women who knit, and do so with such passion. I'm lucky to work with a gal, Laura (visit her blog for all her knitting — and other — ventures!), who said she would teach me. So armed with a pair of found needles from home (Harleigh's attempt from years ago) and a ball of pink yarn, we sat down at lunchtime yesterday and she got me going! We started with Continental-style which proved to be a bit awkward for me, although Laura's preference for speediness. I felt like a half wit; since when can't I figure out how to coordinate two hands, two sticks and a line of yarn?

When I sat down last night, Harleigh showed me English-style which simplified things. But I still want to master Continental; it just feels like a more masterful way to knit. What I've accomplished so far is mediocre at best, but instead of tearing it all out, I'm keeping all my stitches so that I can see my improvement. It was really relaxing despite my novice struggles. You can see in the picture above what my first day of knitting netted. Thank you thank you thank you, Laura!

Life at Chateau Gahan Isn't Always a Bowl of Cherries

My sister commented to me the other day that my blog is making her sick. Sick, she says, because I sound all Pollyanna. "Your life sounds way too perfect", she whines. Now, you have to know my sister to know that she says this in a very loving way, albeit whiny. She adores me (as much, no, not as much, as I adore her). We pick on each other as only two best friends can. There are never any hurt feelings involved, for the simple reason that we know how far we can push it with each other. And, the bottom line is that all of our conversations end in us laughing hysterically. In the case of her protest about my blog, the ensuing laughfest was all about our dysfunctional lives, our regrets. Granted, I want my blog to be uplifting and reflect my, for the most part, content lifestyle. But perhaps a little dose of reality would make me more real. So here goes . . . a list of the things that make my life very real. Humbling to write, but like Pollyanna herself, I'm including a line that gives the ugly reality a somewhat positive slant.

10. I'm chunky. But children like to cuddle with me.
9. I've come out of a terribly failed marriage. But have come to find myself — whom I rather like, I might add.
8. My daughter and I have our rocky moments. But she sure is my favorite person to be around (when I like her, which is 99.9% of the time).
7. I have a horrible sense of personal style. My home and surroundings are lovely, and that's where my creative energies go. I don't go so far as to embarrass my daughter with my clothes choices, but suffice it to say that she and her friends have talked about getting me onto What Not to Wear. Pollyanna would commend me for all the money I save by buying big men's shirts and polyester pants at Goodwill.
6. I pick at the skin on my thumbs. A bad and ugly habit. But at least I'm not picking on people.
5. I regret the selfishness I displayed in my twenties. I know I hurt a lot of people, even alienated some. The silver lining is that I'm 47 now and wiser, and whenever I get the chance, I apologize to those people and ask forgiveness.
4. I wish I would have pursued my life's passions. I remember as a child digging in the yard and pretending to be an archaeologist. As a "world famous magazine editor," taking blank sheets of paper and creating kids' and lifestyle mags filled with my own articles and drawings. Laying out house plans, complete with furniture, on graph paper, dreaming of becoming an interior designer. The bright side: at least I took my art history degree and worked for two years at a museum of art AND I do have the other half of my life ahead of me.
3. As a mother, though, had I been financially able to, I would have been a stay-at-home mom. I could never understand why any woman would choose to have a career if financially she could be at home with her children; that's just my personal opinion. Nothing can get back the time I lost with my daughter; it would have been so fun to be more involved in her school and afterschool activities. But, I've been super lucky to have a well paying job with a certain degree of flexibility.
2. I suppose I'm probably odd-woman-out, but I have no desire to date or have a man in my life. Is this selfish of me considering that Harleigh would love nothing more than to have a loving father in her life? Just the thought of going on a date sucks the life out of me. I'm happy with things the way they are. Perhaps I'll have a change of heart when my girlie goes off to college. Or I will wind up what the neighborhood children call "the character," who lives alone in a house full of cats, pulls a wagon to the grocery store, and festoons her front porch with a giant plastic goose adorned in an ever-changing parade of holiday attire.
1. And finally, I sometimes battle with depression. I think it is very hormone-related, as it came upon me when pre-menopausal night sweats began and the period started ignoring the calendar. Before I experienced these bouts, had anyone come to me looking for a sympathetic ear about their depression, I would have told them to suck it up, think of happy things, and get on with their life. But now that I know depression on a fairly intimate basis, I have a whole new appreciation for what people go through in this state.

And so, there I am, exposed. And happy to be the me that I am.

One of my favorite beach purchases

On every summer beach trip we usually buy something to bring home that we can keep out as a reminder of the vacation. This is one of my favorites, a hanging hot air balloon that for years we hung in Harleigh's room. Then when her tastes changed, we moved it to the rumpus room. One of those things that I will have forever, that my grandchildren will look at and imagine The Borrowers piled in and waving, off on a trip to some faraway land.

Ready for Summer

I got this small (toddler-sized) handmade Adirondack chair at a tag sale held by a local private school. I love that it always reminds me of summer and the beach. Even at Christmas, it kept its place, but did share it with the Christmas tree.

The Sounds of Home

Once I moved to Georgia in the early 90's, I had my sight set on buying a home. It took until 1999 to make it happen, but I knew going-in that it would be a long road to get there. There were two sounds I associated with the haven of home: the sound of a screened door squeaking open and then slamming shut, and the sound of a bell calling a playing child home for dinner.

And so with my house, I purchased the cheapest screened door I could. One with no springs: it slams shut. And as a housewarming gift, a girlfriend got me this bell which hangs outside of our garage. I would ring it to call Harleigh if she was up the street playing. And often the ringing would follow with a Dad yelling "Harleigh, your mom is calling you home!" And hearing the slam of the screened door would mean the next thing I would see would be a dirty, happy smiling face, jabbering a mile a minute about the tree fort all the kids made or the cool way a wagon tied to the back of a bike made for a neat ride. These simple things are the payoff of all the hard work it took to make this house happen. Everyone should be so lucky to have this music playing in their home.

Sweet Books and Flocked Ponies

I have a few books on my study shelves that are ones I read over and over again. Anything by David Sedaris is worth reading again for a good laugh out loud — his humor never gets stale. Peace Like a River and A Painted House are faithful repeats. And I'm a huge fan of Deborah Smith. Most of what she writes is in the romance genre — not my fave type of reading — but others she's written are beyond wonderful. Side story: A friend had lent me one of Deborah's books, A Place to Call Home. I couldn't read it quickly enough. Each page was better than the next. (I think I even highlighted lines I liked.) A few months after finishing the book, I was walking through a mall and passed a book store. In the window was a sign "Book signing today with Deborah Smith." I took a quick detour and walked up to the table and met her. I was so overcome with emotion that as soon as I was finished chatting with her, I grabbed my daughter, hid in the book stacks and cried. Embarrassing as all get out. Not sure what came over me, other than I had loved the book so much and got so much pleasure in telling the woman who wrote it just how much it meant to me. A chance I normally wouldn't get.

Anyway, there's no chance of meeting Truman Capote, but this little book of three of his short stories is also on my list of read-agains. I savor these little gems of stories. They're so simple and honest. And with so few words, Mr. Capote can paint such a vivid picture of his characters. And this book is all about the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays . . . making them that much more endearing. A must for your study shelves!

And here's a little jar I decorated with this super cute flocked pony. Found some at the craft store in all kinds of fun colors and couldn't resist.

Pix from our 2000 Train Trip to Baltimore

In Monday's post I talked about Harleigh dressing up for our train trip. I went through pictures last night and here she is. She was so into whatever character she had in her mind. Lots of dainty movements, and I'm sure there was a bit of a British accent at one point or another. At dinner that evening, wearing a different long dress altogether (complete with crinoline and bloomers), she graced her way through to the dining car and ate like a very civilized traveling lady.

My daughter was meant to live in another era . . .

My daughter is a big fan of old movies. Since she's been little, she's always loved musicals — Oklahoma, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, White Christmas, to name but a few. And the romance of days gone by has always fueled her imagination. I remember a time when she was about 8 years old and desperately wanted a vintage bathing cap. We bought her one, and off to the neighborhood pool we went. She wore a plush full-length terry bathrobe over her one-piece bathing suit and a big-brimmed straw hat and big sunglasses a la the gals in the 40's when they headed poolside. I think she might have even put on a pair of high-heeled mules to add to the aura.

Back in early 2000 we took a train trip up to Baltimore. Trains in old movies were always so cool. The porter, the dining car, the train station, even stepping out of a train is elegant. Harleigh dressed the part for our trip. She wore a long dress-up dress, lace-up Victorian boots, her hair up in a bun, and she carried a hat box. Once in the train, she changed into a fancier long dress for dinner in the dining car. And our private room was the neatest thing ever. Everything compact. What a trip. What a girl.

Here is a poster I got her for Christmas this year which I have to take to get framed. So Grace Kelly.

Recipe

I've had several requests for the recipe for the chocolates from Marie and Jacques. Here it is! (Click on it for legible version.)

Finished Table

Finished the table today. It's a light shade of pink and I've sanded some areas. Harleigh now has her nest (this chair and table) whole again.