Prior Lives Party 5!!!

Yes'am, I know it is a day early, but I am going on my girl cousin trip to a B&B for relaxing, talking, swimming, game playing, and shopping, of course, sillies...
I know I could do post when I tell it to, but I like doing it the old fashioned way, lol. Anyhow, here is what I've got for the party...baby food jars and a cupcake holder in their prior lives, but now they hold my crafting supplies, along with some Mason Jars...This is in my room with birdcage turned light, another prior life redo.

Remember my post about the apothecary knobs? Well, these are the drawer fronts, no telling what kind of stories they could tell, way, way old and housed in a drug store, boy, if they could only talk! Add some cool porcelain knobs, and just some junk wood for the drawers~ Cost~ Zero dollars, for a unique in and out box for a desk, priceless, lol, well, not really priceless, but cool enough !!!

The Prior Lives Party will be open until the end of the month...only one guideline...A prior life!




Now, what you got, ladies?!?  I can't wait to see, but could be Monday, before I get back to you, so hookem' up! (That's Texan for: link them up!)

Lezlee

Prior Lives Party Coming Soon!

Since we only have Prior Lives Party once a month, thought I'd send out a reminder.  It starts on the 16th and last until the end of the month!  At least two weeks to post and look at everyone's cool priors.  Anyone who has never joined before, it is a party about items that once were used differently, in their Prior Lives, but have been repurposed, or they are old and hold the history of Prior Lives, in the stories they have to share.  It is a lot of fun and really different type posts, than most parties.  It isn't a huge party, so everyone can hop around and see what others have to share, the best part of any party, I think.  Thank you so much, to my regular partiers, I know I don't have fancy thumbnails, buttons, whistles, bells and hardly ever prizes...So, I really appreciate you showing up!


Now, for some before and afters...The afters aren't quite finished, but those  biting 'skitters were fierce and won the battle way before dusk, so I'll be back at dawn!

Now, I know this photo looks like I just painted them a pretty black, but they are really that dark brown antique varnish that I don't like...depressing and drab.

Now, this very sturdy,teeny, tiny, ivory table and chair will go in my closet, as my dressing table...I may look like the clown in the circus car, sitting there, but I do fit, lol!  


I've tried several things in my closet, none fit just right, 
but this little Goodwill purchase fit just right! 
Hopefully, I won't sit the bottom out!
The End

Lezlee

The bathroom Trio-tour, Main Bath

The main bathroom is 2nd, on my Trio-tour of bathrooms...This is in the remodel category, technically, because we didn't totally tear all the outside walls down, however, that was about all that didn't go. This is where the original and really only bathroom was.We did enlarge it.

I wanted my main bathroom to be cheery; 

an old house is sometimes merely so dreary... 

So, with the inspiration of a little green trash can, along with  my love of red, 

this bathroom color pallet is clearly not weary...

This vintage locker basket came from the old school athletic locker room, that all of my sisters' and I once used!  The girl's locker room was down in the basement, under the bleachers, and was dubbed, "The Den". We were the Panthers; we still are Panthers, us sisters, always will be.

I found my FIL's stool out in the shed, all oily and grimy, but a little bath and some paint, soon fixed it up!



I love this shelf, William built for me, along with the bead board.  At first, he wanted to make the bead board come up only 4 foot, because ...you know it comes in 8 foot sheets and if you half it...but, I wanted it taller, which of course isn't the most cost effective, but he did it, anyway.  I asked him to make the holes, in the shelf, so the vases would be secure, above the tub, but mainly I just love this style.  Some of you may have noticed, that I use it a lot around my place.

Wild flowers again...I don't think you can beat them, for the price, lol, or beauty, either.  I wrote the verse, "The grass withereth the flower fadeth, but the word of our God shall stand forever", on this framed glass.  I love that verse...

We did this bathroom about five years ago, so I'm almost ready to redo it, although I have too many parts of this house that have never gotten its first chance at a makeover.  I will restrain myself!
The Hot Baths sign was one of my first garage sale buys, as a newly married lady, around 33 years ago! Remember when signs, like these, were all the rage in the 70's?  I've held on to it sooo long, it is almost retro cool!  Little did poor William know the junk collecting road I had started down!

 

I like to turn my milk glass over to use for candle holders.  

My DIL used some of them, done this way, at their wedding.

Another button bouquet, in a salt shaker,a wind up clock,

and more white glassware

I adore this heavy, beveled  mirror, with the newsprint showing through, 

It was my MIL's...

                                                                                                                       

These scales were my brother's at one time~ 
                                                               Josh refreshed the paint...
Do you notice a trend with me, I do a lot of scrounging "finding", such as, those glass knobs on the vanity.

 The curtain is made from a Christmas runner...I buy candles, tablecloths, and other home decor during the after Christmas sales, since I use so much red around the house.  Notice the old print on the wall, an inspcription on back says it was given as a wedding gift, during the 40's.

Both the chippy white frame and the dish are turned to their backsides,

which were too lovely to hide!

In the corner you can see the little green trash can, that started it all.  I bought the stool at The Lindy Mall, in Malakoff.  If you live around here, it is a really great place to shop.

 Old wine decanters and a powder dish hold bathing supplies...

William redid our basic unfinished vanity, changing out the fixtures and hinges, adding antique glass knobs, and giving it a furniture like look, by encasing it in bead board and trim.  I use my milk glass collection to hold items...

William, with some help from family, did the rebuilding, I did the design, a bunch of the painting, and decorating...Josh and his friend, Robert did the tile work, and we sent the tub out for its re-do.  I had first bought all the supplies to do it, but got nervous reading the directions...Among other worries, it needed to be done in a dust free environment, which at the time, the entire house was full of sawdust...I got a refund!                                                                    Anyway, I love it, now!

Of course, you've seen my red tub, on my header...
                                              I am  thinking of writing, "Splish, Splash" on the green mirrors?
The grand-babies can go swimming! Yippee!

Well, that completes the tour of my Main Bathroom...now, we only have the upstairs, "Jack and Jill" bathroom to do...Are you with me still?   I know that was looooong! 

Don't forget the Prior Lives Party!!!

July 16th until the end of the month!

Love to have you party with me!

If you haven't seen my master bath, I'd welcome your visit . Let me know what you think, and really, anytime you have ideas to share, about something you think would work great at my house, by all means let me know, I relish new inspiration. Working with this old house while neat, can be discouraging, sometimes.



Lezlee

Do you know where your magazines are???

Daisy Toad  was asking the question over  at junkrevolution, "How do you store your magazines?"...I know that is a problem with many of us, because we love our mags! 


For along time, Moma kept her magazines in a chicken coop, running along the wall of her den.  Now, that was a great spot!
Moma always justified buying and saving them, because it got her imagination going, which in turn would inspire her to create, then sell.  I would agree, furthermore, a few of my magazines are old, timeless friends, that I go back to, for comfort and advice, really, lol, I do. 

I can't part with my ME Home Companions..., my Cottage Living, and many of my Country Home.  I, especially, keep my Christmas months, of all publications.  A new magazine, I won't part with, is Flea Market Style, plus any by Matthew Mead.  I love the DIY ones, for doable projects, too; along with organization ones, and Romantic Homes, Better Homes and Gardens... the list grows...

Being a military family, with weight limits... I would go through my magazines, before each move... but now, I'm not moving.  I need to get a handle on my clutter...now that I'm not doing the purge to move bit.


Here are my magazines....I have to make myself get rid of some, and with the internet, I probably don't buy as many, but there is nothing better, as for as decorating, than opening your mailbox and seeing your new magazine, waiting, like a gift!  And there is just something so wonderful about curling up and examining every picture, reading each word!  Moma said, she felt as if she knew the contributors to Country Living and Country Home.  She subscribed to each of those publications, since their beginnings.  I still remember her excitement over Country Living, finally a magazine, that got her style! She drove over 60 miles round trip to purchase it, at first.   She doesn't do the computer, writing her weekly newspaper article, on a yellow legal tablet, but she would love this bloggy community... I sometimes print off blogs for her.

I keep most of magazines, in this newspaper rack, the kind where real estate sales or free newspapers are stacked, and it holds a bunch, when no more will fit, I MAKE myself get rid of One, only after going through and taking out anything I want to save. But, the newer ones, or the ones showing a holiday or season going on right now,  are around the house...

I love this vintage block wagon.  It will hold quite  a few mags...

And some of you, the ones blogging with me awhile, will remember my sweet, tiny wash tub, bought from Mindy, at Winnie and Talula's.  It holds mags just great, but at Christmas time it holds my tree.

Well, do you have your magazines under control, with a great system?  I'd loved to know!

Lezlee

This Litttle Light of Mine

I made a light out of treasures around my house...a bird cage, old mounted wall lamp, crystals from a trashed light, vintage clothes hanger, and distressed song sheets.


I love the contrast of the crystals on the rust, do you?

I'm fixing up "my spot"...so thought I'd share it,
a few pics at a time, since I have sooo Many!...

I hung my light above the bed...It puts out a great light for reading...and there is my baby gate...with a collection of wild flower post cards and old photographs.
  

I brought some items in from "My Tree House". I will post, "My Newly Decorated Tree House", soon.

I made a chain from old song sheets, to hide the cord...

I hung it from a vintage clothes rack hanger...Which is pretty cool, because it will swing to either side, if you need to get it out of the way. Yikes, I need to put a little paint on those shiny screws!





I wanted this little nook to be usable for a guest...it is connected to a "Jack and Jill" bathroom, and of course, walks out to the balcony, "Tree House". 

The other side of the room holds all my crafts. This chair, by the window is a favorite spot...

I am planning to weave a roll or two of the song sheets along the bottom of the cage, and might get a better light bulb, to help diffuse the light...
I've already had my son's girl friend, as a guest... before the paint smell had gone away.

I've got paint, trim, flooring products to share...

I am bragging a little here...


 I am tickled pink about my room...           
              



To be continued...
Lezlee

My Trip Over

and the year was 1980...


This photo was taken to send their daddy, right before we went over...
 My Dorthy Hamil do, remember the wedge?

Jeremy and Joshua in Okinawa, Japan, sporting their Cowboy shirts!

I'm a retired Air Force wife, and with all the things going on in the world, I got to thinking about my first airplane ride which happened to be an overseas trip!


My Trip Over...

The attendant taking our boarding passes actually allowed Beverly to ENTER the plane with me and my two babies, to help get us settled. It was 1980, and things were different. I'd never flown before and was heading to Okinawa, Japan with a 10 month old son and another son that recently celebrated his 2nd birthday. I had just stopped being a teenager the week before the flight. We had a slight lay over in CA where we changed planes, a lay over in Hawaii, and then Tokyo where I would have to change planes, again. Most things went well. I was very tired. I had a huge carry on with me. It wasn't convenient to travel with babies. Jeremy had all these 8 oz. glass baby bottles with screw off lids, filled with formula, like the hospital supplies, plus glass baby food jars. He liked to eat. To give you a hint, the Japanese people on the plane nick-named him "Chubby-san", plus Joshua was pretty new to potty training, therefore, we had BAGGAGE. Anyway, the stewardess on the way out, really just the whole trip intimidated me... but on to Hawaii with no sleep, two babies, and mostly everything foreign to me. "Chubby-San" was riding free on my lap, except for the insurance charge, for going over the ocean, so when the stewardess offered a bassinet for him I’ve was overjoyed with the prospect of some sort of bed for my baby. What she brought was a shallow cardboard box; similar to what a flat of can goods comes in. Josh had his own seat with  foot room underneath, so I lodged the “bassinet” there, with some blankets, and it did at least give him a solid place to stretch out, that wasn’t my lap. Finally, they both are sleeping at the same time, for the first time, when the stewardess comes along and says we will be re-stocking/ re-fueling while in Hawaii and everyone must get off the plane for about an hour. That’s when some of my Texas girl spunk must have kicked in, because I stared up at her and said, “Mam, if you make me wake up these two sleeping babies and get off this plane for an hour you’re gonna’ have to get off this plane and come help me.” She looked down at my sweet, over-sized, sleeping boys and into my worn out, barely 20-year-old eyes and replied, “Stay right here.” In a moment I hear her voice over the intercom announcing that anyone with sleeping children may stay on the plane! At last, dozing off I am soon awakened by a person holding "Chubby-San" and inquiring  if this is my baby. He had crawled out of his “bassinet” and was heading to the cockpit. The horrifying part of this story is that he’d had to squeeze along the narrow aisle, just inches from the open plane door that dropped straight to the tarmac, many feet below! Needless to say, I barely shut my eyes the rest of the trip. Tokyo was so crowded and it is overpowering to hear so much language and not understand. This was where I went through customs. Well, after waiting for every last surfboard and any other cargo to be unloaded from the plane, it was decided my trunks were still in CA. Japanese paper work describing my trunks were then filled out, all the while I was terrified of missing my connecting flight in a whole ‘nother terminal. Since there wasn’t much time a lady working for the airlines helped me load my carry on and babies onto a pushcart and go outside to walk a ways to the next terminal where she gives me a little Japanese map showing where my gate would be. I don’t READ Japanese. Running into a candy store, I grab a young man working there and frantically ask him if he speaks English. “Sqoushee” (a little) And I say to him show me where this is. He tries to tell me. I don’t know anything he’s saying and I’m just about to panic. I don’t have much American money on me, and no yen. I was picturing being stranded in the Tokyo airport with no way to call William and tell him where I was. Even if I could have figured out how to use those little, neon green pay phones, resembling  slot machines, I had no yen and William had no phone. Taking that young boy by the arm, I demanded, “You take me here!” He indicated someway he couldn’t, he had to work, but I firmly reiterated, “NO, YOU TAKE ME HERE!” and he did. It was a long ways and Joshua let me know he needed to tee tee and I told him go ahead in your pants. I wasn’t about to let that young man out of my sight. Even after boarding for the last leg of our journey, I was still ill at ease, because the gate next to ours was going to a place that sounded just about like Okinawa, to my Texas ears, so I prayed I was on the right plane. I wanted to look so nice when I met William. We had been apart 8 months, but I didn’t even want to look in the mirror and the kids barely had dry clothes on. It was a few days of going back and forth to Naha, before our trunks arrived. All together I made that trip 8 times, each with its on adventures, but William was with me for all of those and I wasn’t scared.

Looking back, it seems like a prior life.

Happy 4th of July!

Lezlee 

tickled pink party 

Hodge Podge...

First of all thank you for all the prayers for my sister...She is doing great! 

Now, just some Hodge Podge things...How about a little more " tree house"  balcony, even a few photos in the night time...

It is hard to tell if I am inside looking out, or outside looking In!

Now, for some night shots...

A couple of more shots of the shoe tree, turned bottle tree, you all seem to adore...

My blog was showcased on GrannyJ's,  a neat lady's blog, that I've just recently began following and really enjoy. Also, my master bath was featured on Remodlelaholic, she is always doing cool things over on her blog.  Holiday Haven included my blog in a compiled list she made, of the "new" housewife",  for my repurposing. I love all her tips on making the holidays and everyday more fun.  All of these gals have great blogs, so naturally, I am over the moon, that they enjoy my blog enough to  give me a mention.


Thank you, for all that participated in the Prior Lives Party 4, plus a special thanks to anyone who checked out other sites!  We had the most ever partiers and all really cool posts, as usual.  If you haven't checked them out, hurry on over...There is even still time to link up, open until midnight last day of June!  Now, I've never picked a party feature, I just couldn't take the pressure, but I am making an exception, this time...Remember, I posted a "back in the day", photo of me, and encouraged everyone to do the same?  Well, no one did...and when I called my bloggy friend, Viki, on it, then she posted her picture, the next day, of her in character, at school. So, for being the only one to give me a pic of themselves, in a Prior Life, I think she deserves a feature!  Vicki is an art teacher and does some really cool things. Go check her out.




I've only been able to do a little of this, and some of that, this week, but I did get a whole room redone and if I ever  WHEN I get it put back together, I'll show you!  It is my little "spot", that walks out onto my "tree house" balcony.  Looking around, where everyone creates, inspired me to get  a spare room set up for me, Already I feel more creative, just knowing where my  glue and scissors are!





 Lezlee