A little Paradise "Knee Deep"

I get by with a little help from my friends

Where have I been?  Columbia, SC.  I have had to take time away from my Goodwill projects and gardening to fix up my home in Columbia.  We had people renting it and they moved out the end of June.  Unfortunately, it was left in a terrible state, and we have been working hard to get it back up to its former glory in order to put it on the market.  This is not an easy task and it has been inhibited by various other issues.  I could go on and on about the problems and issues, but instead I think I would just like to thank all those who have helped us out these last two weeks.  Here it is:

Josh: Thanks for coming hundreds of miles and using your vacation to cut through the jungle to find our house. I love spending time with you even if it's just to work. You definitely have your "act" together. I love you!

Alli: You cleaned the kitchen, the nasty chairs, and all the molding and trim I couldn't reach, the bedrooms, and took pictures when my camera died. You are the best daughter in law I ever had. I love you!

Mr. Robbie: You took time from your busy schedule to mow the yard, clean out the garage, and take paint and chemicals to the dump. You were definitely the hands and feet of God this week.

Lee: You took time from your free day to help a stranger take down racks in the garage, hammer wood to my broken fence, and moved stuff for me. What I lacked in height and strength you made up for. I hope you experiment with square foot gardening!

Steve, Sheri, Stephanie: You provided a lovely home, bed, kitchen, and shower. Thanks for the salad and letting me shower and do laundry. You provided refreshment for my weary soul.

Cindy: Thanks for watching over my house, providing Ben the power washer, giving suggestions and encouragement.

Emily: You took time off of work to help me clean, and for taking care of the homefront and Isabear when I couldn't. Your sweet spirit always encourages me. You also always make me laugh. I love you!

Ruben: You were an answer to prayer by mowing our yard when we are away and keeping our place from looking vacant.

Mom M: Thanks for praying for me when you didn't even know why. I love you.

Mom S: Thanks for helping us out once again. I love you.

Tracey: Thanks for the prayers that always go out before me.

Mike: Thanks for driving 6 hours to vacuum the pool, spray the garage floor several times, loading up the car, saving me from loneliness, and helping me make choices. I love you!

You have all been answers to prayer and I will be forever grateful!

We still have a long way to go but it is getting there!

Renter's leftovers

Broken front door

Pond or Pool?

Pelican Point

Pelican Pow Wow

Up close and personal

On the first day at Mitchelville Beach, Em and I saw all the Pelicans gathered together at the end of a sandbar way out in the ocean.  We tried to make our way out there, but we were a bit concerned that with so many of them, they might attack us.  So we made it halfway and turned back.  Fortified with my big, strong husband, the fear dissipated and we trekked our way out to the point.  As soon as we got to close, they all flew to the other sandbar.  I guess they were more afraid of us then we were of them.  Anyway,  I was fascinated by them and took way to many pelican pictures, but here are a few I wanted to share.  It was another glorious day at the beach!

Mucking

I have left the state of Georgia for a brief time in order to enjoy some fun in the sun at the beach in Hilton Head Island, SC.  I have been blessed with the opportunity for a free place to stay and spent the weekend with Emily at my favorite beach in Hilton Head.  It is Mitchellville Beach and probably not known to many people.  I have never used the word "crowded" to describe this beach.  It is not your typical tourist beach.  It is more natural and wild and when the tide is out you have opportunity to walk way out into the ocean.  It is one of my most favorite places to spend time and I have found many interesting things there.  Yesterday, while walking close to the rocks and grass, it appeared as if the whole earth was moving.  What  was moving was a massive amount of crabs moving away from us as we got closer.  It was an amazing sight and sound.  While going out into the ocean when they tide goes out, we do tend to get a little dirty.  Thus the term, "mucking".  You can get your feet stuck in something that appears to be a mixture of mud and sand.  While it is not the most pleasant sensation, it does wash off and I always look at it like a free mud treatment for my feet!  I always feel at peace and rested at the beach.  I love to look at the ocean, feel the warm sand, take a nap, or just read a good book while catching a few rays.  Here are a few pics from our trip yesterday.  Thanks Em, for the fun time!

Muck!

TaDa!

Crab Hideout

Em and I

                                                                                                                

The Evolution of a Footstool

 

The project I just completed involved supplies from two of my favorite places.  The footstool was courtesy of Craigslist; a $15.00 splurge.  The cover for it was a Goodwill purchase. I can't remember the price but it had to have been under $5.00.  It was an evolution because I started out making a slipcover with a skirt.  When I finished, I really didn't care for the skirt part, so I proceeded to rip off the skirt.  I really liked it better with just the top covered and being able to see the wood work.  Sooo, while the project was much more complicated then it needed to be, I liked it better
with just the cushion covered.  As I always say, "less is more".  I should have followed my own rule to begin with!                                

Purchased footstool from Craigslist

Footstool with cushion cover

                                                      

                                                                    Footstool with skirt

Point of Grace

Table Talk

I have two alcoves in my guest bedroom.  I had a round table that Grandpa Schreck had made that had a grey cover with it.  I love the round table.  It's a great size but the cover didn't match the "red room".  So, went to Goodwill and bought a white queen sheet for 2 or 3 dollars.  I used the original cover to make the new white one.  Also purchased a lovely bright red table cover that Em picked out at the Goodwill to go over top of it.  That only needed a hem on two sides of it.  It fit perfectly in the alcove.  I have also purchased two chairs that I want to put in the alcove with the table, but they will have to be recovered.  I haven't found fabric for them yet, so that will be a later project.  Here's the finished product:

The lamp came from Grandma Schreck, the picture frame, white plant bowl, and the books all came from Goodwill.