OUR DREAM VACATION!!!

GOTCHA!

MC and I will never take that DREAM VACATION.....It' just not in our cards!

BUT

We will do a little renovation around the BLH.  This way our "Dream Vacation" will live on.

We choose to have our "Dream Vacation" continue day to day, year to year.
We hope to convert our Master Bathroom into a space we can fully use.  The soaking tub takes up a lot of "real estate" in that room.  It's never been used!  I am now at the point where it has become a huge effort to keep clean!  One of these days I figure I will fall head first into it!

Our contractor is booked up for almost two months.  Hopefully work will begin in mid August!  I have no idea what I can come up with for Posts until the work begins.  I might be on a long hiatus!

Here is what we have today....Our  BEFORE pictures.

All of the above will be REMOVED!!!!

In it's place will be a walk-in shower!  Wall to Wall!   11 feet!  Tiled to the ceiling with a built in bench.  We will continue the tile that's on the floor into the "shower".  It will encase the window which will be replaced with  one that allows the light to enter, but you won't be able to see in.  Good thing!!! It has a Rain design, simple,  so it doesn't get too busy with the tile.

The glass will be  "frame less"  and clear,  running  8 feet leaving  a 3 foot opening at the end--- to walk in.......no door!

Between now and then, maybe Epiphanies will come,  (no cost ones!)---- but if not, I haven't gone anywhere......
We have our tickets!  Just waiting for our vacation to begin!!!

Patty

ISAAC CONNER, JR.

I AM A BAD BLOGGER!

I LEFT THE HOUSE WITHOUT MY CAMERA AND MY CELL PHONE'S CAMERA FEATURE DOESN'T WORK!

so I continue

Isaac Conner, Jr.

One never knows what's in store when we "hop" out of bed in the mornings!!

( It's been a long time since I actually hopped anywhere, especially out of bed!)

MC and I planned on a day in Sandy Springs around Perimeter Mall.  Wanted to hit two or three spots and end the evening at Nordstrom's Cafe for dinner. If we timed it right we would miss all the traffic coming home.

  Everything was going by plan...including wrong turns, etc.  This is expected when traveling with MC!  We had just had a light dinner in Nordstrom's  Cafe, which by the way is a hidden treasure!  Learned years ago that the Cafes in Nordstroms are fantastic!  The newer Nordstroms have a different concept,  called The Bistro.  They're OK, but the old format, the Cafes,  are so much better.

The At Home department is directly next to the Cafes.  We were checking out the Westin Beds.   We bought one about 10 years ago.  Never, ever have we had a better bed!  We were curious,  and sure  enough they still sell them and they will go on sale during their Anniversary Sale!  Interesting!!!

The Sales Associate, Isaac, was oozing with enthusiasm!  What a personality!!!!  We learned he has lived ALL over the globe!  Originally from Alabama with stops living  for over 10+ years  in Germany,  Turkey,  and New York City.   What does he do?  He  taught Aerobics, Dance, Acting and does Singing!  He self taught himself German so he could teach in the small city he was working in. This man is truly unique and talented!

Best bit of interest!   He is in the process of writing a Trilogy of his life experiences!!!  Has a publisher he's talking to and is about ready to hopefully get the first one published!!!  I told him about our little Reading Group and how we thought it would be  great  to have an author come to one of our meetings and discuss their book. 

 GUESS WHAT "GALS"???
If he can work it out , he would love to come and have us preview and critique his first book! ...even before it's published!!!   He's also thinking about writing a book  in a different format. One with vignettes about  all the people, friends and ''characters",  he has met in his travels! 

....No camera, no picture of Isaac!

  I MUST remember to always have it with me.  This Post would be so, so much better with Isaac's picture.  Would have loved for all of  you to see the energy, talent and personality that came from him.  Unbelievable!

It was  a very unique, fun day!  We got lost, MC's GPS had us going all over the place and my stupid, smart phone's, "navigation" feature hasn't worked in months!

Dinner was great!

We bought tons of wine!

And Best of All

We Met

ISAAC!


 Let's hope Isaac can find his way to visit us, and  his book gets published!
I will not forget my camera when that happens!

Patty

 

A DAY WITH MAGZ!

Maggie, Magz, is our daughter Patti's youngest !!!!   She's the brains of our family!  Of course we all know she  inherited this from her Maternal Grandmother!


Presently,  Magz is HALF WAY through her Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Tech. That's Georgia Tech ------ in Atlanta!

We decided to spend more "Family Quality Time" together while she's in the "neighborhood"!  Saturday MC and I headed up to her place and off we went.

Decided to try lunch at Copeland's Cheesecake Bistro in Atlantic Station.  We had a delicious meal!   The reviews were so-so, but we were seated immediately, service  and our meal were great!  Overall a very  good lunch!!

The plan was to Experience Underground Atlanta!  I can say that none of us were very "impressed".  They have a guided tour at 9:00am.  We knew that was never going to happen ......sure glad we didn't plan on it!

The tour consisted of  markers at various spots,  telling the "story".  The three of us figured we could do it easily on our own!!! 

Many pictures of MC and Magz at each!
I won't post them all!!! :)


It didn't take too long!  I don't think we were there an hour!  Another landmark "checked off"!

 We headed up Peachtree to Lenox for the remainder of the afternoon.  :)

We thoroughly enjoyed the day!  Great Quality Family Time was had by all

I HAD TO TAKE THIS PICTURE

THE ENTIRE IDEA
OF THIS SIGN

MADE ME

LAUGH!

 Next month Magz comes here.  Haven't a clue what we will do on Isolation Island????

Patty

TABLE TALK

I have a few favorite shops in Senoia. My "First--- To Go To" place.

Table Talk

53 Main Street

Senoia, Georgia 30276

 email
tabletalkofwd@yahoo.com

VISIT ON LINE
tabletalksenoia.com

Co-owners
Jim Preece
Tony Hinshaw

Before I realized that the shop had a very catchy name ....I referred to it as the shop  "Two Guys  that have really fun door mats!!!"

 NATURALLY

WE  BOUGHT ONE

FOR

OUR 

DWTS

PARTY

(Drinking With The Snobs)

There is always something that catches your eye!  I never leave without some purchase!!!  I can always find the perfect gift items....and stuff for the BLH!

For months I watched this chair (below).....It eventually sold, but I was ready to haul it in the rear of our car!
Really, wouldn't that be perfect for the BLH?   I would have found a place to plot it.   it would have been dynamite!

At Christmas  this little shop is bursting with goodies...Their trees are to die for!

 About a month ago I was in Senoia, which is trouble!!  Of course I wandered into Table Talk!
Everyone was blogging about monograms and they had one that caught my eye!  Naturally, I couldn't resist and ordered it.  Had no idea where it would go, but figured I'd  find a place....somewhere.....

It can be custom finished and I did opt for that,  in a bronze with a patina finish!


The shop arranged to have it  hand painted by Seay Earehart !  I didn't realize I was getting a piece finished by such a talented artist in the entertainment business.

Seay has a very impressive resume'.  He has been a Set Designer, Master Scenic and Prop Person for Film, TV and Theater.  He has recently done work with The Walking Dead  in Senoia!  At the present, he is working on a film in the Atlanta area.  He knows the owners of Table Talk, actually rents a room in their home, while doing work in the area.  They commissioned him to finish our "Letter D"!  I am a very fortunate girl!!!!  Thank you guys!!

For the time being this is where it is hanging.  Knowing "me", it will move soon.  Agree?
I wanted to hang it somewhere, quickly, so I could get a good picture of it, and a "feel" for a perfect location.

It will fit in the BLH perfectly!   I am sure it will be all over!

Thank you Guys!
You are the BEST

Patty

BLACK ..ADDED AND SUBTRACTED

It's amazing!  I never know what will "hit" me from day to day, actually minute to minute!

Did anyone notice a black rug in the Great Room on the previous Post?  I never did explain it.....

PLEASE ALLOW ME TO DO A LITTLE VENTING...

Last Friday we had our new 12 x 14 black "plush" rug delivered.  I was able to remove all the furniture from the room easily  while MC was at "Work"!   I have that down!  I can move everything, save our king size bed!

 When the rug was delivered, a day later than expected, a middle aged man, I believe the owner of the business, delivered it in his panel truck.  He was not too happy about having to deliver it!  He thought we were going to pick it up!!!  Ha ...the day had been one with torrential rain, MC was working and we don't own a truck, let alone one that is enclosed! No where in the transaction did our picking up a 12' x 14' rug ever come up!  Previous purchases from them had always been delivered.


The man said they were charging us $15 for the delivery and he usually charges $25.   That was OK and a fair amount.   But,  I do feel it should have been mentioned up front.   

 Regardless.....

When he delivered it ....he handed me the "bill" and wanted a check.  I told him we had arranged with the "office" (a small desk) for it to be charged.  He was OK with that.  He dropped the rug in our foyer.  I hadn't planned on his "installing" it.  So I didn't object.  It  would be a breeze when MC came home for us to roll it out and put all the furniture back.

 A few minutes after he left, I looked  closely at the "Bill".  The costs broken down.  The amount of the rug, delivery and tax were listed, nothing else.  I looked and it appeared to be somewhat more than I had expected!  I got out my trusty calculator and played with numbers trying to get the numbers to add up. 

Granted 

This was a very inexpensive (cheap) carpet.....$10 a sq.yd!!!  The rug was 12' x 14' which to me came to 18.6666 sq. yd's.  At $10 a square yard I figured $186.6666....Right?  There was a binding fee of $120, tax and the $15 Delivery.  The Bill was for $404!  Something didn't add up right!!! 
No matter what I did, I couldn't figure out where the $404 came from.  I figured it must have been more than $10 a sq. yd!  MC hadn't returned and I was trying to figure out how to explain all this to him.....so I called the establishment.  The salesperson who had been working with us answered the phone.

....I very politely explained I was having a "time" trying to understand the total amount!  I asked,  "Was the carpet $10  a sq.yd?"  She said, "Yes!"   I couldn't help myself any longer and said,  " OK, how do you figure  a total of $404??"  She said,  "Oh, there was a $65 "freight" Charge due to the small amount of the order!!" 

I really couldn't believe what I heard!  I was stunned!  I figured I would just explain the cost to MC and hope for the BEST....You see he wasn't that crazy about spending even the $10 a sq. yd.....do I need to say more?

When MC came home he was OK with the entire experience and didn't want to push the matter, so we ate the $65 Freight Charge!   I think he was TIRED!   If I had known of this charge up front I would have used that $65 on a better quality rug and at least received something for our money!!!

The rug is fine and looks great......But, we learned our lesson!  That will be our last dealings with Heritage Carpet in Griffin Georgia.  This was our fourth purchase  with them over the 4 years we have lived here and we have referred them to neighbors!  Not any more.

END OF MY VENTING!

Now for the good stuff!  I will share how GREAT the rug looks in the room!

Of course, as always, this all created some other changes.  .......

I don't know WHY but now the Christening Dress didn't look "right" between the windows in the Dining Room.  So down it came.

BUT........WHAT TO DO WITH THE CHRISTENING DRESS?????

I hung it in the hall leading to our Master Bedroom.

 

Now the BLACK Frame looked too harsh!  It was OK when the piece was surrounded by the black trim, drapery rods, etc in the Dining Room.

SO WE CHANGED THE COLOR!!!

WHAT ELSE?

Before MC went to Lowe's, I suggested we experiment with some of the gold paints we had from previous projects.  We had two very good golds .  We played with both!  We think it turned out very "CUSTOM"......

I know Erica will be happy.  She never did like the Dress with the  black frame!!!!

.....stay tuned ...I never know what will change next at the BLH!

Patty

REQUEST....... FOR A "RE-RUN"

THE FOLLOWING WAS FIRST PUBLISHED, TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 2010!!

 

My Dear friend, Carol, thought it might be "fun" for me to republish this post!!!   A reveal of  The True me so as to speak!   I guess it's time everyone gets to know the real, crazy Patty!

 

There are quite a number of readers that never read this post!  It was published over three years ago....

 

So here goes.....ENJOY! 

 HOPEFULLY IT WILL BRING A GIGGLE.  

IT'S ENTIRELY TRUE AND I DO IT EVERY DAY!!! 

 

 

 Tuesday, April 6, 2010

WHAT.....NO PAPER TOWELS !!!!!

Gotcha!!!

What is she writing about now???

What I am writing about is an idea from Erica. She asked me over the weekend to let everyone "out there" know the REAL ME !!! She was referring to the "cleaning freak"!!! But, in the same breath said that everyone would love to know my cleaning secrets....What wonderful magic solutions do I use? What methods? So on and so on...

I have to say now that.. I don't consider myself a cleaning freak! You that know me, don't laugh! I consider myself SMART!! I call my house keeping style PREVENTIVE CLEANING !!!

Just think about it.....I use a system that allows me the freedom of never having to really have to clean in the sense of CLEAN ... Why??...because it is ALWAYS clean! It never gets DIRTY... Now, do you Get It????

The system or routine is very easy. I lightly, and I repeat, lightly wipe down counters, tables ..just about all the surfaces daily. This includes the windows as I pull up the "wiped" shades. It takes no more time to pull up a shade wiping it as it would without. I always hated the blind and window job and now I don't have it. It also includes a little "wipe" in the refrigerator as I prepare breakfast. Again no more time to do it as you are removing food ....Tonight I was asked about the appliances. And yes, I do them also. The biggest job is the range top after Master Carpenter (Master Chief also) has cooked a meal. But again, I use the vinegar solution and it removes all the cooking grease and mess. Doing it daily keeps it from building up.... and...the best invention in years has been the self cleaning oven. Use It!!!

The only secret I have is what I DON'T use. PAPER TOWELS !!

I buy washcloths from a discount store in a package of 24 for $9.99. They last forever. I never buy or use paper towels. I save a fortune and for those "green" followers....look at all the paper I don't throw away.

I lightly dampen the wash cloth with a solution of white vinegar and water (one third vinegar to two thirds of water) I keep it in a spray bottle and just spray and wipe! Actually I just have to spray once or twice and the cloth is damp enough to go over most of the house, except for the baths. This solution works on everything......counters to windows to mirrors to tile floors!! It's fabulous. I do have a cleaning product for the wood floors that I use with a cloth mop. 
Note new formula that I now use for glass, mirrors and granite.  The vinegar is still great for tile and tiled floors!

I was having a problem with the stainless steel appliances. Janet, a loyal reader and our Sales Associate, shared with me a great idea. Wipe them with olive oil!!! It works!!! I bought some in a spray can and found I could spray a dab on a cloth. I wipe it over the appliance and then wipe it off with a clean cloth. I only have to do this every once in a while. The vinegar solution works on a regular basis.
(about 6 months ago, I did find a fabulous stainless steel cleaner....I have it pictured below.  But in a pinch, the olive oil works!)

I do vacuum and go over the wood floors daily, but it takes 15 minutes at the most. If I miss a spot you can bet I'll hit it the next day!

So there you have it.

Patty's Preventive Cleaning.

The benefits are great! The house is always clean. If I can't do it one day for some reason, it doesn't really matter...it's not going to get that dirty in two days!!!!! No big long dreaded days of scrubbing, etc.

Another benefit is the physical exercise it gives me. Think about it. I am up and down a step stool many, many times, on the floor wiping the tiles and pushing the mop and vacuum around.

The best benefit is the cost............supplies are cheap and the labor is free!!!

There is a product I do use for the shower tiles and glass. This product also removes most spots off painted walls. It's Arm & Hammer's Scrub Free with OXY.

After I have all these little chores done I am ready to meet the day!!!!!
(over all I would say the time involved is less then one and a half hours)

Erica, I have opened my secrets to the world and now everyone knows how crazy everyone will think I am.......but I have a clean house!!!

VINEGAR AND WATER FOR TILE


A NEW FORMULA FOR
GRANITE
TILE
GLASS
MIRRORS 
HAS BEEN 
ADDED TO THE END OF THIS POST 

MOP AND CLEANER FOR WOOD FLOORS

MY FAITHFUL BUDDY (CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT HIM)

NEW ADDITION
THE ORIGINAL BEE'S WAX
PERFECT 
FOR 
ALL
STAINLESS STEEL

 TWO WEEKS AGO A NEIGHBOR GAVE ME THE FORMULA FOR A  CLEANER FOR GRANITE, MIRRORS AND WINDOWS.  I HAVE BEEN USING IT AND IT WORKS BETTER ON THESE SURFACES THAN THE VINEGAR.  I NOW USE THE VINEGAR FOR  SURFACES THAT ARE TILED.

THIS IS THE NEW MIRACLE FORMULA:

I CUP OF WATER
1/4 CUP OF ALCOHOL

IT'S GREAT!    

So now you know more than you ever wanted to know about "Patty"!!!!

Patty

UPDATE ON CIRCLE RUG

Didn't take long......
MC and I put the black, large circle rug back in the Dining Room this morning...Took all of 10 minutes!
With MC's help the top was a breeze to take off, the furniture a cinch to push aside and not all that much tugging to get the rug back in the Dining Room.

We now will venture out with a new project.  Finding a broadloom carpet that can be cut to size and bound.  Thinking of 12 x 12 to 12 x 14.  Haven't decided yet.  (depends on the cost!)
Will look for something that is a  patterned, textured black.  See what's out there!
Keep you all up to date.....
It feels so good to have a new project to work on!!!
Patty

THIS ONE IS FOR DAN!

Please read the pps at the end of this post!!!

Dan is one of our neighbors!  He loves to read my blog!!!   Surprisingly a few men enjoy reading it!  I had no idea how much Dan enjoyed it,  so much so that he has challenged others to a Patty's Epiphanies' Trivia!

Last night we were at a fun Thirsty Thursday at our Golf "Club" House and he mentioned that I hadn't put up anything new.  What was wrong with me????
I had to do something, and fast!

It just so happens that yesterday MC had a full day of "work" at his new position as MC  "Master Cart Boy" at Sams.  He was gone the entire day and I was home with no wheels.  I was in jail!

So what does Patty do when she's "stuck" in the house?  She goes wild.  I threatened MC when he left that things "might" change......he was prepared......

I decided that the table I was using for my "desk" in the kitchen was too large for the space.  I also didn't need an 80" x 30" desk.   Actually I don't need ANY desk!  I don't need an OFFICE!  All I do is manage a few social activities for our neighborhood and write this Blog!

 In the Great Room was another similar table, but much smaller....60" x 20"!  I measured,  and the large one would fit exactly in the Great Room Space.....so I switched them out.  I have ways to move things EASILY!!!  That was done in 10 minutes!  I also decided I wasn't crazy about the chairs we were using as kitchen chairs.  They were extremely uncomfortable and not the right look for this house.  They were purchased years ago for another house.....So I put them in the closet and just left my Wing Back chair.  We can use the Dining Room to DINE!

Both worked out great!

Large table now in the Great Room

 

 By the way, MC made BOTH tables!!

You might have picked up on the fact the large rug with the great circles is NOW in the Great Room..
I loved it in the Dining Room.  It's really a toss-up.  It's perfect for both rooms!

I got this brilliant Epiphany that I wanted the rug back in the Great Room.  I had given up with the flokati rug under the cocktail table.  I had no way to clean it!  The vacuum ate it up and to move the large cocktail table off and shake it was simply too much work!   So it's now in the closet with the kitchen chairs...they will show up somewhere someday....I promise!

So now I had to get the rug from the Dining Room back into the Great Room!  Easy! Hardly?
I could not move the table an inch.  The base is light, but the top is a 60" round glass beveled piece that is too much for me to handle, both in size and weight.....alone.....BUT.....MC is at WORK!    

I thought to myself I was not going to let this get me!!!

So YES I somehow got that glass top off the base.  I have no idea how?  So it's now on the floor ....still on the rug.  I slowly inched it in a circular motion until it finally was off the rug!  Then I was able to roll up the rug and pull and tug it into the Great Room.  Done!!     I was afraid MC might come home and walk on the glass table top before I could warn him.  I covered it with scatter rugs and the Dining Room Chairs to act as a barricade.

I had a time line.  I wanted to leave for Thirsty Thursday by 4:50 and I needed to shower, dress and all that good stuff.

So working at full speed and with a mission, I got the rug positioned in the Great Room and put back all the furniture that was pushed out of the way!

Some time a couple of days ago the wire on the Christening Dress broke and it needed to be fixed.  Again as long as it was down....why not try it somewhere else........

New place...this is a trial....but I like it.

And the Spare Tire Mirror?  It's back over the mirrored table in the Foyer...

SO HERE ARE THE RESULTS

I made it to Thirsty Thursday with time to spare.  MC met me there.  Thank goodness he didn't stop at the house first!!!  Although he expects anything to happen if he leaves me alone!!!

I wasn't going to make a Post with this...figure you all have seen me do this over and over.....

BUT AFTER DAN BEGGED FOR SOMETHING NEW..... I HAD TO....
Dan you are a Dear!  Love you Guy!

Patty  
ps Mentioned to MC that the next BLH purchase might be a 12 x 12  for the Great Room and put the "circles" back in the Dining Room....Could take months....  Sams doesn't have Executive Pay!!
pps......We put the rug back in the Dining Room.  With MC's help it was a breeze and took 10 minutes top to move everything off ....move rug back to Dining Room and put everything back.
We will be ordering a carpet to size from broadloom ....hope to find one with a "color on color pattern with texture....of course in Black to have all the white POP 
ALL THAT WORK ....AND IT'S BACK WHERE IT STARTED!!  GO FIGURE....
HAD TO "SEE" IT.
BUT THE TABLES ARE STILL SWITCHED AND WE LOVE THEM IN THEIR NEW PLACES.!