Chippy WHITE Project Finally Completed!

You know those projects that start out as one thing and then along the way they
morph into something else? Yep, that is how this project came about.

Do you remember this starting out as a bench/ potting bench. {If not I have added pics
at the bottom of this post} 

It was a potting bench that hubby and I created this past summer while he was laid off and
now it is a vanity on our back porch/ laundry/mud room. The vanity we had out here was

NASTY!

I didn't realize how nasty it was until we took it out. ugh. NO, I didn't take before pics.
I didn't even think about it. ha!

I was laying in bed one night with my mind racing a million miles an hour {couldn't sleep
AGAIN} Does that ever happen to you?

Well, I was thinking about the brand new porcelain sink that I had picked up at the Route 127
 garage sales in August for $15 and inspiration hit! Why not make the potting bench into
a vanity. We can always make another bench right??!! yep...it was on.

So, I timidly boldly broached the subject to my hubby.

He was INSTANTLY on board!! Can you believe it??  He is always indulging my whims,
but I know he secretly thinks knows I am crazy!!

So we got started and we both
LOVE 
how it turned out!

I had fun filling the little pockets/shelves with lotions , Christmas decor etc. Think of the
decorating possibilities. Unlimited! 

I thought my little white twig tree was perfect for this spot.

This mirror is old with some patina and a little cloudy, but I love it.

Do you see the Merry Christmas HUGE burlap piece?

It is a huge lavender sachet that I won a few years ago. In fact I won two of them along
with a burlap bag. These exact pieces were featured in a magazine and I forgot
what magazine! HA! Romantic Homes or Country Living or something. There
was a giveaway on a blog and I won. They still smell wonderful!

We picked out the perfect faucet for the sink. Whoever sees this almost always says,

"Does the sink really work"...ha! YES, it does! 

I used an old feed-sack to hang in front of the shelves at the bottom.
{After all I had to hide the plumbing. :) }

This is another corner of my porch where the vanity is.

I would show you all of it, but there is a bag of cat food, a can of kerosene and other
 "lovlies" sitting around that doesn't really make for pretty pics.
 Keeping it real here folks.

The long tin coat hanger is made from old tin ceiling panels from a store that I remember
 going to as a child. Loudens was the name and it was in Montpelier , Ohio. Loved that store!

Okay, here is how the vanity started out. I picked this up at a garage sale this past summer for $2.00!
It was a yucky bluish gray color and had a lot of grease on the top as it was used for a work bench.
I cleaned and cleaned and cleaned and got it painted white.

Then it morphed into this potting bench above and now into my vanity.

Somehow I see a new potting bench in the works next summer. SMILE.
I will have to hit those garage sales again and see what I can find to start our project!

Yep...loving my new/old vanity!

Some of these photos are out of order , but oh well.

My dear friends... always remember that

LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL...

no matter what is happening in our lives
that is one thing we can be sure of...Life is a beautiful thing!

Blessings~

Our Independence Day!

I rarely do color in my house, but it just seemed appropriate for the upcoming
holiday. This is a vignette that I put together for our back porch entrance
into the house. I had another one made before this one with buttons strewn
about etc. but it looked too "busy" to me so I started over and am pleased
 how this turned out.

{just noticed the banner is a little wonky off to the left. It was "hung up"
on the string , but it is okay now. YOU just can't tell it! HA!}

{ I printed out my free USA banner here }

I added this vintage American Singer book that I picked up at a thrift store a year or two ago.

Don't you just love this print? I found it online also.

{ I printed it here }

Loving my white fabric with white stars...you know ME and white!

One nation UNDER GOD indivisible with liberty and justice for all!

{ I set the time to 4 o'clock in honor of the "4th" }

I have also had these vintage red, white and blue buttons for quite some time.
Very appropriate here don't you agree?

It would be nice if this candle had a "4" on it, but it didn't. And so it goes...:)

I pray that you all have a wonderful time celebrating our Independence Day
this year. What a great moment in history!

I love AMERICA and I am
 PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!

Christmas Day

Come along with me to the Dickens Festival in Holly, Michigan

Over Thanksgiving weekend while we were visiting our daughter and her family, I was thrilled to
 attend the Dickens Festival in Holly, Michigan. We didn't take the time to go to any of the plays,
but I was happy just to be there and walk the streets for the atmosphere if nothing else.

Holly is a beautiful little town, especially when it is all decked out for the holidays.

Carolers serenading us with beautiful music. 

You could take a ride in a horse and carriage if you so desired. With hubby just losing his job,
we opted not to , but it was fun watching.

There was even a free wine tasting for all who wanted to partake.

I LOVED this storefront, but somehow I never made it into this store!!
I can't believe it.
I told hubby I must have walked past it three times. Next year...

We did go into this beautiful antique store. I just love old buildings, don't you?

The famous and historic Holly Hotel. My daughter took her daughter and me here a few years ago
in the summer for a proper tea. It was very nice, but they served liver pate which neither one of us
could eat! ha! 

St. Dominic's choir was found strolling around town singing and it was beautiful! It was so nice to leave
the hustle and bustle of the season behind us and just relax in this beautiful atmosphere.

I found a link online that tells about this choir. If you are interested
you can click here.  They are trained and directed by the Dominican sisters of
the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

We even happened to see a wedding party that was strolling down the street! What a perfect place
for a Holiday Wedding!

This Santa greeted us right inside the antique store doorway.

Our oldest granddaughter Allysha...she was sick by the time we left to go home.  I felt
so bad for her. She had a terrible headache and quite a fever by the time we got back
and it came on fast.

This was actually a photo of  the rest of our family just entering the festival , but we will
pretend that we are leaving since I am at the end of the post. lol.

I highly recommend this wonderful town if you are ever in the area.

There is a store there called Pigeon in the Parlour that I love!!

I will add those pictures soon.

Happy holidays and God bless us everyone!!

{P.S. my daughter decided that this really wasn't the place for three little boys so she left before
we did and our oldest granddaughter stayed behind and rode back with us}

Just a note: I am having an online garage sale a couple posts previous to this one and I just added
two Jeanne D Arc scarves. They are gorgeous!!