CHRISTMAS DECOR UPDATE ...

WEATHER SLOWS UP PROGRESS......

It is raining.... and.... that means......NO TREE PICK-UP....today!

Pikes Nursery is about a 45 minute drive. It was highly recommended that we pick up the tree on a sunny day. Any moisture could break down the "flocking" !!!!

We are now scheduled for Thursday, December 2nd !!! The forecast is for a sunny day in the 60's...
Perfect! Russ has graciously volunteered his truck and personal help to MC. I now will be indebted to him and his unmerciful teasing for months!!!! Seriously, he's a GREAT guy and I thoroughly enjoy his teasing....just don't let him know!

Any guesses on what the SECRET accent color is going to be????? Oh I hope I can pull this one off!

Check back on Thursday.........

THE BEST "BUY" OF THE YEAR!!!

"INDECISION CAN BE A GOOD THING".......

That's what I said when I decided to have all the knobs on the kitchen cabinets different. It all started in Norfolk. I was looking for new hardware, went to a kitchen custom cabinet store and found a table with odd knobs. They were discontinued items and were 25 cents each. I picked about 20 and headed home..... happy as a lark!

I have continued the "Tradition" ...... ONLY BETTER

This time was even more fun....

Remember ??

During the summer, I visited "Bubba" at his custom cabinet shop. I needed many more than the orginal 20 for our new kitchen. I asked him if he had "odd" kitchen hardware. He sent me into the back of his shop where there was a large cardboard box. Inside the box were knobs left over from his jobs. I choose about 30 and went to pay him........He said: "Oh they're .... FREE..... I was about to toss them.....are you sure that's all you want?"

Sane people would think this very unconventional......but I have never claimed to be SANE!!!!








I hope I never stop thinking......it's fun being A LITTLE ODD!!!!!!

THINGS ARE POPPING

VINTAGE SOFA AND CHRISTMAS TREE....

All in one weekend!

Patti and Mark arrived yesterday afternoon!!! There is my "baby".....the Henredon sofa from 1968!!!

The upholsterer came with her truck a few hours later and whisked it away to her workshop. The next time we see it it will be absolutely drop dead,.....GORGEOUS!!!!





This morning, Patti and I headed out for, Yes....... you guessed it Senoia and Peachtree City!! Patti did a lot of Christmas shopping in Senoia......that should keep a few of my readers interested and excited!

It was early, no reason to head home, so off to Peachtree City! I wanted to check the large nursery, Pikes, to see when they were opening their Christmas shop and when they would have the flocked trees ready for sale................

SURPRISE......................they started selling flocked trees last week!!!! Apparently once the tree has been "flocked" it is preserved for at least one year..... or longer. They have customers who use them for two or three seasons!!! A much improved process from the 60's! So, not to let the perfect tree slip me buy......I bought one!!! They are holding it until we can get it home.....I am one happy camper.

Of course the "bringing home THE tree" will be a great photo opportunity and hopefully I can show it. I can't believe I bought a Live Christmas Tree on Nov. 20th!!!

"Stay Tuned" ..... a LOT is going on.....

"OH WHAT FUN IT IS TO....."

DESIGN---CREATE---BUILD

Here we go....

STEP ONE:

First Bucket List House Project

Master Carpenter started last week, with the help of our dear friend, Russ. They traveled (via Russ' truck) to Lowes....one of Master Carpenter's favorite places.....and picked up two, unfinished cabinets. He will use one on each side of the fireplace as the base for the built-ins.... A new design...!!! Shelves will be built, above, in various sizes, to accommodate all our treasures.

MC (Master Carpenter) has been in the work shop (garage) sanding and painting all week and the first one was carried in this afternoon with Carlon's help (great neighbor!)

We are so, so, fortunate to have friends that are so gracious to help!!!!!! Thank you so much.







Stay tuned for

STEP TWO

PERFECT LITTLE GIRL

MY CHILDHOOD IMAGE.........

As I was looking at the pictures we took over the weekend this one caught my eye!!!

When I was a young girl .....(the "period" now known as "Mid-Century"!)......I had the idea that I would have a little girl who sat in a chair and looked perfect! She would never get dirty and always act like a young lady...

Well here she is.........

GIADA

ERICA'S EPIPHANY

A CHANDELIER BECOMES GLASS "ART"

This all began with THE unique light fixture!!! It's "life" started at the shop where Erica works. She and the owner, Connie, never felt it "fit" the shop's image. So, when they found a replacement last summer, I commented that I could find a place for it. They were more than happy to hand it over........

I was sure it would look great over our kitchen table .....and it did! But..... we had an electrical problem! As the electrician explained....the frequencies it threw off were so "loud" that it caused the circuit boxes in the garage to "pop"!!! The fixture was unusable!!

......Oh Boy.. I could buy another chandelier!!!! By now you all know how I love that!! It took hardly a day to find it's replacement.

I was determined to use the chandelier from the shop somewhere. A chandelier not finding a "home" is too hard for me to accept!!

Bobby, Carla, Giada, Erica and Adam were here this weekend. When I had a quiet moment (rare this weekend!) I asked Erica where we could "hang" it?? It didn't have to "work".....just hang!

Erica looked at me with those sparkling eyes of hers and said: "Grandma, I think I have it"!

Enter Master Carpenter.....we had to figure out how to hang it and not have it look like a chandelier! He remembered the "arms" were movable and placed them in a half circle. He then figured out how to hang it ...

Presto .......


I can't promise how long the "vase" will remain, but for today's photo shot it will do. The plant stand came from England on the ship Grandma's father traveled to the States in the 1800's.

The "Girls" did find time this weekend to do a little shopping. Saturday we ventured to Senoia. Erica found a hat! Just happens that Master Carpenter has one just like it !!

Giada looks better !!!!

(if you look closely, you can see the new chandelier over the table)

Master Carpenter is at work in his "shop" ......he started the Wall Units!!!!! Can't rush him, but I hope we have some progress soon to show........

YOU'VE GOT TO BE JOKING !!

MACYS PUT THEIR TREE UP.....on November 5th!

Now, that is too much!

But......when I got my Birthday present from our Son, Steve and his family, I started to "Think Christmas"!!!

Steve thought he was sending "Live" greenery and fruit for Fall. But, in reality, the wreath and garland are silks. He was so upset. I have reassured him that it got my mind churning and it is a FABULOUS gift!!

I didn't have enough ornaments to "decorate" our new home and a large tree. All the fabulous silk magnolias, greenery, and fruits I now have ......... well.........I can't wait to get to work!

I have no idea what I will do, but I'll have a lot of fun. I'm thinking of all the different ways I can adorn the live, flocked, white, tree we will buy. We haven't had a live tree since the Tacoma Christmases!!

This is going to be Great.......

Will start after Thanksgiving. With a live tree, I can't do it too early.

Stay tuned....I have a lot of work ahead of me.

WHAT TIME IS IT ?????

WE CAN READ THIS ONE......

We needed a clock......
We went shopping......
We found a clock.....
......and......
We can read it!!

Eventually the famous "Family Clocks" will be hung. That needs to wait until Master Carpenter constructs the valances. I have to actually "see" the valances to know the desired "height" of the clocks.

I will say one thing......we will know what time it is when we are in the kitchen......

SEPTEMBER 3, 2008........SEPTEMBER 3, 2010

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

Today is Anniversary EVE!!!!!

Two years ago tomorrow Patty's Epiphanies began!!!!!
I have been know to love the Holiday Eves as much, if not more, than the Holidays themselves. So....I choose today to make my Celebration Post.

This is the First Post of Patty's Epiphanies. I thought it was worth repeating.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Welcome to my World of Design

As an introduction to this blog, I first want to thank my Granddaughter, Erica, for the suggestion that I start this adventure. Most of my family and friends know that my passion in life is Interior Design. Even as a small child, I remember picturing rooms in different colors and forms. It has only been in my later years that I have been able to express this passion. I have had the benefit of being associated with two designers, one a very talented unknown and the other a very well known celebrity in the Design World. Both have encouraged me to pursue my passion. Through this blog I hope to share all my thoughts (epiphanies). I have been known to change rooms at 3 AM ---just about whenever an idea comes to mind. I am not sure what format this blog will take on. I might let it just fall into place and evolve like design does.

Over the past two years, you all have gotten to know me and my family....especially ...MASTER CARPENTER....
Without Master Carpenter this blog would not exist. He calms me down when the computer goes hay wire, does ALL the technical "stuff" and most of all ......HAS BEEN THE SOURCE OF FABULOUS IDEAS....AS HE DID YESTERDAY WITH THE REPOSITIONING OF THE DINING TABLE ......NOT TO MENTION THE PROJECTS I HAVE ASKED HIM TO DO.....and............HE HAS DONE THEM ALL AGREEABLY!!!!

I have also had my Granddaughter, Erica, at my side (by computer) to give design aid ....AND.....CREATE ALL THE FABULOUS PIECES OF ART AND BEDDING!!!!

Without these two wonderful people Patty's Epiphanies would not exist.

You have learned that I am not quite "Normal"!!!!! Certainly not the typical Grandma as my Granddaughters relate to their friends. I am impatient and I admit to that to everyone......This trait has gotten me into many messes, but in the end they work out.

This blog has been read all over the world. Can you believe that people in Odessa, Ukraine; Penang, Malaysia; Hyderabad, India; Canakkale, Turkey; Casablanca, Morocco; Groningen, Netherlands; and even Telkon, South Africa .


Thank you one and all..........for all your support over the past two years. It has been a ball for me and I hope you have enjoyed reading about my "crazy" ideas, life and antics!!!!!!!!!ON TO BIGGER AND BETTER POSTS.

SENOIA........AGAIN!!!

JUST CAN'T STAY AWAY....

Friday afternoon, Master Carpenter and I decided to revisit one of our favorite places, Senoia.

The town fascinates us .......just three years ago it consisted of rotting old buildings! Today, Main Street is a thriving street with fun, shops and restaurants. With new camera, in hand, Master Carpenter shot these images .....








In addition to the rebuilding of Main Street, the town has a history of being one of Hollywood's favorite places to shoot movies, Fried Green Tomatoes, Driving Miss Daisy, Sweet Home Alabama, Broken Bridges and about 15 more..plus the Drop Dead Diva show.

RECOGNIZE THESE FROM "FRIED GREEN TOMATOES"?

"DROP DEAD DIVA" USES THIS HOME FOR INTERIOR SHOTS
STUDIO PUTS FAMILY UP IN NEIGHBORING TOWN,
TEARS DOWN WALLS, COVERS WINDOWS.
HOLLYWOOD TRAVELS 3000 MILES TO DO INTERIOR SHOTS HERE.
WHY???

THIS CHURCH IS USED FOR MANY FILMS.

While finding these "famous", fun locations we happened upon some gorgeous homes.

CIRCA 1900

SITE OF SOUTHERN LIVING IDEA HOUSE 2010

This one is for SALE!!!!! Hmmmm
What I could do with this.....



http://www.owners.com/GA/Senoia/258-PylantSt/GTM6571/?sch=z+30259%3Br+20

Now everyone hold your hats (especially Janet and Linda!)....it's a "little" out of the budget!!! Just "playing" with you!!!!

NOTHING will change our Bucket List House....... and it is coming along fast and furious.
Today they put up the drywall. We have real walls and rooms!!! It was too muddy from afternoon showers to walk through, but will tomorrow. Will share pictures soon....

LAST LEG OF JOURNEY

ALL GOOD THINGS COME TO AN END.....

Master Carpenter and I were so happy to catch up with Tess and Steve this evening. They drove back into Atlanta to start their long, long trip home. We met them at their hotel and enjoyed a lovely farewell dinner.

It was so great to have had the opportunity this week to do a little bonding with Tess and to catch up with Steve. He has so much going on in his life, we can't figure out how he knows where he is or what day and month it is.

SAD TO SEE THE WEEK COME TO AN END

A DAY OF BEAUTY ...WHAT FUN

YES, A SMILE.....HOW SWEET!!!

A SIGHTING......

SPOTTED IN HIGH POINT MONDAY NIGHT!

WHIPPING UP SOME YUMMY BROWNIES!
GUESS WHO LICKED THE BOWL?

I have been told, by a reliable source, that this was a fun time at Aunti Patti's! Some serious Back to School shopping was accomplished also......

Where are the Traveling Duo now???????

TESS AND STEVE ....WORLD TRAVELERS

THE TRAVELING DUO.......


Friday night, Steve and Tess drove into town on their first stop of a fun filled week of touring Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia.

Yesterday we spent the day in Atlanta. Toured The World of Coke . Great afternoon. The place is fantastic! I was especially impressed with a 3D movie feature that was up to par with a Disney "ride"!

Of course we did a little Mall stuff at Lenox. Had to check out what Santa might be bringing Tess from the computer world. So many choices...

Then, before returning to the apartment we checked out the Bucket List House. The siding is up and the pillars!!!!!! The siding has yet to be painted white and when the door and shutters are up and painted black, it will really look like what I have imagined all these weeks! I'm pretty sure we will be having our pre-dry wall walk through this week.

Over the last years, Steve has prepared Tess a special pasta dish during their visits. Last night Master Carpenter and I were able to share in their Tradition!! The meal was excellent, has a secret ingredient .....Do think Master Carpenter picked up on what it is and can add it to one of his special dishes. It's amazing.....all the men in the family love to cook. Who would have ever guessed that?

Sadly this morning ....they left. We met them at their hotel for breakfast and off they went......
Tonight they should be at Patti's.....

I am hoping that we don't have to wait another year before we see them again. It's so hard having family so many miles away...........

A NOURISHING BREAKFAST TO START THEIR DAY !

OFF THEY GO.................

IT'S REALLY LOOKING GOOD.................

NEW TALENT...ACROBATICS

Sunday's challenge!

I have more time on my hands in this limbo stage than you can imagine. Sunday morning I was imagining where I would put my trio nest of zinc tables. But......I needed to measure the depth of the largest one.....

No problem, so I thought!!!! I would just find it in the warehouse and measure it. To my dismay, it was against the back wall of this fabulous 11'6" x 12'10" room. This space has saved our move! There is no camera shot I can get that shows the extent of the space. Plus..........there is a large walk-in closet filled with stuff I can't even remember!

I was determined......I could get to that back wall....

I started by removing the wing back chair and two stools. Then I started the "climb". One leg over another stool, a few feet down to a slipper chair, over the back of that to the French chair....I was almost there! I had a few boxes to reach over and the glass console, but .....the zinc table was in sight! Finally I could reach it..........

Not so fast! I had my tape measure (thanks to the wonderful Christmas gift from Kenneth) but....my eye glasses were GONE!!!!!! I could measure, but I couldn't see the numbers!!!

So what does a person do in this situation? Go back.........The voyage back was a little more of a challenge, but I was successful and returned to the starting place. I looked all over the rest of the apartment for my glasses, NOWHERE.

You guessed it.........I figured it had to be back in the warehouse! So, I repeated the course. Again..........as much as I searched no glasses! How in the world can a pair of glasses, especially mine .....disappear? The trip back was easier this time. Getting used to the obstacles!

Back in the living/dining/kitchen I tried with all my effort to find these disappearing glasses!! I couldn't find them! Where in the world were they?????

Now, I know I am a little "crazy", but I figured I had to go back, yes back, through the maze.....and find them! You have to realize that for some silly inane reason, each time I return, I put back the wing back chair and the two stools!!! Don't ask...I don't know WHY??? So each time I returned, I had to move them back out!

Again I repeated the process. Again no luck.

I am getting a little smart and this time I didn't put the wing back chair or the stools back. I had an EPIPHANY!!!! Maybe, just maybe......... they dropped on the FLOOR!!!!

Now, if you can imagine this, I got on my hands and knees and looked through the maze of legs and boxes .......AND GUESS WHAT.....I could see them!!!! They were under the French chair!

The PROBLEM.......being able to contort on the floor between boxes, art and chairs to reach under the French chair and retrieve them. The only way........remove more stools which allowed me room to move the slipper chair a few inches. This gave me just enough space to reach under the French chair.........

AND.................

SUCCESS.........I GOT THEM.............AND I AM NOT STUPID.....I REMEMBERED TO HAVE THE TAPE MEASURE WITH ME!!!!!

FINALLY I MEASURED THE TABLE........................

Climbed back, put everything back in place. I had my measurement and after looking at the floor plan, realized the table would not work in the space!!!!!

Just a typical day in the life of a CRAZY LADY!!!!!

AND.... MASTER CARPENTER.............WHERE IS HE???.........
HE'S STILL IN BED.....SLEEPING!!!!!!

LET'S PLAY A GAME

WAREHOUSE GAME.......


Let's see how many of you can find the "Spare Tire"........No prizes, just the satisfaction of finding it in the warehouse!!

The other day I came up with a great new location for that piece......Now we all have to wait and see where I put it. Any guesses on that?



Now......if you can't remember what the "Spare Tire" is .......you'll have to look back in the Archives.....

Have fun.....It's Summer!!!!!!

5+ STARS............(out of five)

CHARLIE ST. CLOUD
A MUST SEE!!

Master Carpenter and I saw Charlie St Cloud this afternoon. It is a fabulous movie....!!!! Don't miss this one!!!!!

Will not give away the plot, but it is a beautiful, romantic story. We loved it!

BUT.....the BEST PART......Claire's name is in BOLD PRINT half way down on the credits. The credits don't move fast so you can see it for a few seconds. It was such a thrill to see CLAIRE WIHNYK up on the big screen. And it was spelled correctly!

The young, female lead, Amanda Crew, is a dead ringer for Claire.....Looks just like her! She plays Tess, with the so, so adorable Zac Efron, who is Charlie St. Cloud. I see now why so many love this guy. He's what we used to call "A DOLL" !!! Kim Basinger plays Charlie's mom, Claire St. Cloud. Her role is a very small one and is only in the first few minutes of the film.

You must make it a point to see this movie. It surpassed our expectations. Breaking our record of not seeing a movie since 2007 was a very smart move. We remembered what that movie was......Very Ironic.... THE BUCKET LIST !!!!

WHAT ARE YOU DOING THIS WEEKEND..

Boy, do I have a suggestion ....

My Niece, Claire Wihnyk, works for the Producer of the new Zac Efron Movie, Charlie St. Cloud. The entire family is so proud and excited because her name is on the film's credits.

Assistant to Mr. LeBoff........Claire Wihnyk

Please one and all.....stay to the very end and look for Claire.....
See you at the movies.....

ANNIVERSARY BASH #51!!!!

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES.....

One year later.....different house....different "BASH".....

Thanks to my Brother Bobby's, Patch, suggestion... we enjoyed a toast in our new Dining Room to celebrate our 51st Anniversay... It was fun. Thanks Bobby for the idea. We had a ball!



This is a candid shot, Master Carpenter took of me without my knowledge. I am having my First conversation on the phone in our new home. The lucky caller was our daughter Patti.

Don't you love.... the dining room furnishings!!!

GREENSBORO GRASSHOPPER GAME

WHO WOULD HAVE EVER THOUGHT????

Master Carpenter and I had a wonderful visit with our daughter, Patti, our son in law, Mark and our granddaughter, Maggie. A six hour drive is so worth the rewards of the visit and being with them.

I can't believe this, but the HIGHLIGHT of our weekend was Friday night. Patti and Mark were not sure we would be interested, but they got tickets to the Greensboro Grasshoppers' baseball game on Friday night. They are in the Minor Leagues. The last baseball game I attended was in the summer of 1955, just months before I met Master Carpenter. It was Pee Wee Reese Night at Ebbets' Field, Dodger Stadium, in Brooklyn, New York.

I must admit this was more fun!!! I had never been to a Minor League Game, but they are fun...REAL FAMILY FUN!!!!



Look at the Bat Boy!! His name is Yogi Berra! Too funny and was the highlight of the evening!

Just for "Patch", I followed Grasshopper's #14 .... The final score was 10 to 4 ...Grasshoppers winning over the Asheville "Tourists"!!!



#14 was the only Grasshopper player that didn't get a "hit" ....was only on First for the shot I did get from a "Walk"!!!

At the end of the evening there was a 15 minute fireworks display that was on par with the ones that we saw during Norfolk's Harbor Fest......and they do this every Friday night!!! It was announced that 6000 were in attendance. Overall, it was so much fun!!!! Thank you, Patti and Mark for arranging this great evening.