Beginner's Blues

Oh, yeah. It's all happening. Big one has a piano exam in 2 weeks so you can't keep the little one off the piano. Reverse psychology? Go figure! Please excuse the really out of tune piano. It hasn't been tuned in 6 moves. I know. I'm a bogan. I don't tune my piano. Can't keep everyone happy. But because of this video, I am booking a tuner today.

Enjoy my little lad.

Disclaimer: no child was hurt, coerced, threatened or forced in any way in the making of this video. It went a bit like this: "hey Mum, can you video me and put me on your blog?". "Yeah, ok".

Thoughts On Father's Day

This post is sponsored by Nuffnang and Masters Home Improvement.

I jumped at the chance to do this Father's Day post for 'Masters Home Improvement'. It has given me a wonderful opportunity to publicly declare my love for someone very special in my life ......and get him some spectacular goodies, from Masters, for Father's Day too. Bonus! ... the post that has everything!

The wonderland that is 'Gran and PaPa's place'.

New husband aside (ha!)...this special person I refer to is my darling step-dad, Tom. He has been in my life since I was a troubled teenager and he's still here! That says a lot! He shed tears of happiness for me at my wedding 15 years ago and I still see him sneak a tear in, here and there, when something fills him with joy these days. Yep, my forthright, Scottish, Step-Dad is a softie with a heart of gold. He's also the best Grandad my adventurous boys could have ever wished for. 

It doesn't go unnoticed by me that he never seems to be around, when I drop the boys down to stay with him and my Mum...... as he is out at the shops stocking up on all their favourite treats!!!... stringy cheese for the little one, special yoghurts and chocolate for the big one .... and fruit juice!... which we don't have at home and apparently is the requested fuel for all the tree climbing that goes on, down by the dam. 

Playing outside 'PaPa's Shed'!

Tom helps my boys build the most wonderful tree houses and lets them rummage for anything they want in 'PaPa's shed'. The treehouse is an eyesore but he doesn't touch it when my boys aren't there. He lovingly keeps it in 'shrine status' until the boys turn up for their next visit! 

My boys love how naughty PaPa is behind Gran's back too. They head to the movies, with strict dietary instructions from Gran, and then delight in the bags and bags of lollies that appear from PaPa's 'special esky'! The lollies are consumed, unbeknownst to Gran, with no consumption limits whatsoever! 

"Mum, when I sit in his chair, he pulls my ears and bangs my head with a plate". "And he cheats in all our games". "He tries to trip me when I walk past", giggles the little one.... "and he knows I hate spiders so he teases me with them". PaPa finds the best computer game bargains on eBay too and is always surprising my boys with the latest up to date version of whatever is cool and current in my boys' lives. He takes them for walks with dangerous long walking sticks, accompanied by his ever faithful companion, 'Tess The Dog', and rummages through all the cheap toys at the markets with my boys every weekend they happen to be staying with him. Oh, and PaPa makes the BEST pizzas in the world' apparently.

I told my boys I was doing this post, dedicated to PaPa, and I asked them what they got up to with PaPa when I am not around. They said, after spilling the beans, "make sure you mention how much we love him too". My heart burst. 

So Father's Day is going to be a biggie this year for me, as I am ever so grateful for the father figure in my life.... and my boys adored Grandad. It is very timely that Masters Home Improvement have declared this Father's Day a 'Sock, Jock and Tie FREE Zone'. Masters Home Improvement really is the 'Ultimate Dad's Shed' where you can now find more than 13,000 products online from the comfort of your, 'never knowingly undercushioned', lounge. (in joke, ref: FF, 2010). 

Tom/PaPa loves any sort of outdoor entertaining, as long as it involves a BBQ with sizzling steaks, family around, noisy little grandchildren on noisy motorised cars..... with handstanding granddaughters and soccer ball kicking grandsons. 

Mum and Tom have an archaic outdoor dining table which wobbles when you sit at it but you just have to pretend you don't notice the wobble or Gran gets all defensive and sentimental about her beloved table and argues with PaPa about getting a new one.

I would love get PaPa this new season setting, from Masters. No more wobbly table arguments!

New Season Stock, Coming Soon, HERE

Look Mum, you can even add your beloved benches to it!

Totally digressing, I seriously need these for me!
They are due in soon. New season stock.
LOVE! 

Table, New Season Stock, Coming Soon,  HERE.

Reminds me of the beautiful English garden I sat in recently, in Southampton, NY, to eat my breakfast.

Seriously digressing!

Grandhall Pizza Oven, Coming Soon! -  HERE. 

Oh, how PaPa would be in his element with a pizza oven! I reckon he could even better his pizzas in this! Family days would take on a new meaning!

Del Terra Outdoor Wheeled Kitchen, New Season Stock, Coming Soon - HERE

I betcha PaPa would love this rustic outdoor kitchen too. It would suit the farm/country aesthetic they have going on down there to a T!... and keep all the cooking paraphernalia organised. It's a production, alright!

Ok, so maybe I'm going a bit overboard, redesigning my parents' whole outdoor entertaining space! With smaller gifts in mind, Masters also have an online gift guide and have sorted potential gifts for your Dad into: Gifts Under $25, Gifts Under $50, Gifts Under $100 and Gifts Over $100. As I know PaPa has been known to peruse my blog from time to time, we have already selected our gifts from these guides and we are not announcing them here!

Masters also have a Pinterest page full of ideas of great things you can do with Dad to keep him happy on the big day! I am so impressed. Everyone is embracing Pinterest! I'm a follower. DIY is going to feature big time in my life this year... so Masters is going to be my inspiration. They have DIY tips and even interior design tips popping up on their Pinterest page all the time, HERE.

And to top it all off, if you think your Dad needs a shed full of stuff to keep him occupied, then enter the Masters Father's Day Competition, on their Facebook page HERE, by posting a picture of your Dad (or Grandad!) and in 25 words or less tell them why you love him to bits! I'm entering! Or maybe I should just cut and paste this post!?!

You never know, your Dad could end up with a shed full of great products from Masters ... isn't that what all Dads want? ... a shed full of 'great stuff'?!

And lastly, I have to mention the fact that my boys have their wonderful Dad back in their daily lives now too. Extra special Father's Day celebrations for us this year!

Thank you Masters, for the opportunity to participate in your Father's Day celebrations! Seriously perfect timing!

Do you have a special father figure in your life who you want to spoil on Father's Day? Would love to hear your Dad/Grandad stories. When you post a pic and story, over on the Masters Facebook page HERE, let me know too!

Moving On

Dear Readers,

After months of contemplation, I’ve decided to say goodbye to my blog.  *sniff, sniff*  I’m finding that blogging about design has settled further down on my priority list…if that’s not been obvious by my lack of posts.  My time is taken up more than ever before…three teens now in the house (delightful so far, but time consuming…lots of eye-to-eye conversations involved that I wouldn’t miss for the world),  ramping up homeschooling of our special needs daughter, and of course, I can’t leave out the two middle girls who need their Mommy’s attention as well. 

I’ll still be decorating obviously, and will forever be rearranging, tweaking, and will continue to be inspired by your projects and pictures.  You can still keep up with what’s going on over here at our fixer farmhouse via Pinterest and Houzz.  I still want to share, but just in a way that works better with my life.  Hopefully I’ll see you over there!  This blog led me into a fun, surprising journey, and I’m so glad you were all a part of it with me.  Thank you!

Love to all,
Rie

Puddle Park Splash

The country kid’s version of Slip ‘n Slide.  :)

Home…

The girls and I are home now.  The construction project isn’t done, however.  We even had many extra helping hands from loving friends, but unfortunately it was an even bigger job than we anticipated (hmm, that’s becoming a theme ;).  But it doesn’t matter.  I’m happy to be home with my whole family again. 

As I sit here with sweet Bailey in my lap (he missed me), there is not one ounce of pretty around me.  To be more specific, there are metal ladders hovering over me, the furniture is displaced, construction dust covers every conceivable surface, and the yard is littered with debris from last week’s demolition.  But I’m at peace. 

There truly is no place like home.  I’ve said it before, and I’m saying it again… a peaceful home is not how it’s decorated.  Aesthetics merely add to what’s already there. That’s why I named my blog “Home & Harmony”… there is so much more that goes into creating a happy space besides the pretties you put into it. 

It’s about the people that inhabit it, and the way they interact… the way those individuals are secure because they know that everyone around them loves them deeply and has their best interest at heart.  It’s about Who they serve, and understanding that life isn’t about serving oneself, but about serving God, and thus each other. 

The fact of the matter is, this world is passing, and our eternal home awaits.  I’m thankful for the beautiful home that God has given me on this earth, and I’m not talking about the physical structure…but about the seven other people He has placed in my life, and for Him being the center of it all.  That is home.  Amen.

Chalk Paint Birthday

You probably know all about Annie Sloan’s chalk paint by now… it’s been reviewed and pictured through tutorials galore all over the decorating blogosphere.  I’m late to the party again, but I finally got a chance to try it out.

Because my three older girls and I share many of the same interests and passions, we are able to enjoy working and creating together.  So when I found out there was a chalk paint class nearby, I thought it would be the perfect birthday outing with my second daughter Haley.  The class was taught by Barbara at the Melville Trading Company… a terrific antique store in the quaint town of Mebane, NC.

I’ve blogged before about how we try to give “tools” instead of toys for gifts, and I’ve gotten many emails asking for more examples.  In a nutshell, we try to think of gifts or trips that will teach them something new, further develop a skill, or create a lasting memory of time spent together. 

Haley with her painted samples from class

This chalk paint class created both memories and new skills.  It turned out to be the gift that will keep on giving… since it has given Haley the motivation to start a little business for herself…refinishing some pieces and selling them.  Here’s her first piece listed on craigslist: 

Chalk paint is so simple to use, it’s actually quite ideal for a child.  There is no priming necessary, and no toxic fumes.  It also dries incredibly fast.  I really do think the finished result looks more professional and finished (in a distressed non-finished kind of way!). 

The stool was first painted with Annie Sloane’s Old White, the second coat painted with Paris Gray.  After some light distressing, we followed it with a clear wax.

Here is our table leg I originally painted with latex paint:

And here is a leg painted with chalk paint in Paris Gray:

I used the Annie Sloan clear wax after painting this leg, then used some Valspar antiquing glaze I had on hand to add some age.  I could have bought the Annie Sloan dark wax to give the same affect, but I had already blown my budget and couldn’t afford a second can of wax that day.  I think the antique glaze worked out pretty well. 

Above, on the left is chalk paint with clear wax, and on the right is chalk paint with clear wax and antique glaze.  It darkens it a bit and gives more dimension to the finish.  

A closer look of the latex painted leg:

And the chalk paint leg:

I’m so excited about this new medium, and I envision an abundance of projects in my future… and Haley’s future too.  :)

Girls’ Room Grown Up

Two years ago, I posted about our girls’ room for the first time.  Back then, they were all sharing, and still little:  

But now our oldest two are going on 11 and 13.  Too old for pink pom-poms and rag dolls, they say.  So we’ve been doing a little here and a little there to make their new bedroom grown up. 

It all started with these little Anthropologie frames I’ve had for several years.  I used to have the pair hanging in our old dining nook.  They are sweet, but sophisticated.  Grown up!

We painted the walls “Sea Salt”, a Valspar color.  I love the combination of gold and bluish-green.  I found the perfect gold fabric to drape the ends of their beds.  I simply hemmed a yard of fabric for each bed.  Easy.

I contemplated coordinating pillows at the head of the bed, but we chose to keep it simple.  Pillows would have detracted from the detail of the headboard, and taken the focus away from the little framed mirror.  The absence of throw pillows means their beds are quick to make each morning.

Their matching bed frames came from craigslist for $75 a pop.  I painted them a creamy white, and found some matelassé coverlets from Homegoods to match. 

Space is at a premium, so we use baskets under the bed for storage.

We found the bird cage picture hanger from World Market. 

The girls are infatuated with birds, so it was the perfect addition. 

We played musical pets during this photo shoot :)  Here’s Paris trying to get her lovebird to pose on the bed post (it was unsuccessful, as he didn’t want to leave her elbow)…

The curtains we kept simple but romantic with $13 patterned sheers from Target.

I used $2 strings of beads from the craft store to drape the curtains back. A bit of a bohemian vibe.

We used an old cubby to hang above the other bed…

but switched out the original hooks for these World Market knobs to hang their necklaces:

After telling my mother approximately 1000 times how much I liked this particular dresser, she finally gave it to me.  :) 

It’s here only temporarily though.  I’ve been picturing it in our downstairs bathroom.  Can’t you see a sink in it with a wall-mount faucet?  Yup, me too.

The lamp was a thrift store find, and I like the vintage flair it gives to the space:

I gave the girls my “watch dog”, along with the loan of my watches. 

Seems my whole wardrobe is on loan these days.  My oldest daughter is starting to outgrow my shoes.  Like I said, a lot can happen in two years!

I wonder what the next two years will bring.  :)

Magic At Home

These school holidays are just flying by.

We are packing in as much as we can before they end.

It's been a big week.

We've found frogs...

... and long legged, green things...

....which we searched high and low for...

... everywhere. 

Pretty much every day.

We've investigated the properties of bark......really close up...

...and bushwalked in the searing midday heat... in thongs.

All part of the search.

We've ridden our bikes everywhere....

... and cooled off with milkshakes in coffee shops.

We've lain on the grass by the pool and discussed the sky...

.. and watched the sunset over the river.

It's been a beautiful week. 

I'm off to Daryl's Footpath Sale with a friend this morning.... early! No run today... just chatter and coffee. The sun is coming up so I'd best get moving!

Happy Saturday!