Love It or List It...

We've been having our own version of HGTV's Love It or List It.  If you've been around for any length of time, you know I had no lost love for this house, The Big Bah-Nilla. It is in a very small community... meaning that... there are few listings available at any one point in time.  Our old home was due to close... and, well, you get the picture.  Decisions had to be made. 

I'm, generally speaking, good at blooming where I am planted.  I love houses... and I love making them into a HOME... OUR home.  But, I've struggled this time.  We've done lots of work... and, it looks pretty good... still, it just doesn't FEEL like home.

(This is almost that same shot BEFORE.  All the old carpet came out... wood went down... board and batten was added... and I couldn't WAIT to change that light fixture!!) 

A couple of weeks ago, we looked at a house that had just come on the market... it had a huge front porch... and a few other things that reminded me of our old home.  A FRENZY ensued getting this one ready to list...

And, then we came to our senses... the other house was just WAY bigger than we need.  We are still keeping an eye out... because I do believe you should LOVE coming home... every. single. time. you walk in the door.  I'm not sure I ever will again... but, I'm not willing to give up on that quite yet.

(Note the new steps and risers... Versus the old carpeted ones.)

For today, we are taking a deep breath and going into a bit of limbo... It would sure be easier if I'd just learn to LOVE IT... or not care if I don't.  Either way, it does make me happy to know we will have left The Big Bah-Nilla a bit better than we found it. 

Making things better than we find them... it's a good thing.  Living in limbo... not so much.  ;)

blessings ~ tanna
PS note the Maidenhair Fern is still alive... for now.  =)

Schultertuch / Dreieckstuch: The Behemoth Shawl

Here's the scoop:
Free Pattern: Schultertuch / Dreieckstuch

There is a link on the pattern's Ravelry page for an authorized English translation with chart.

I used almost all of three skeins of Noro Tayio Sport in colorway 11.  Size H hook.

There was a border I did not do.  It had points... and they just didn't look right with my scallops, so I just did a row of single crochet for my last row.

This is a very fast project and easy to memorize the four row repeat.

Of course, I'm smitten with the colors of Noro. 

And, I love the feel of this mostly cotton yarn. 
My Ravelry page:  here.

Because there can never be too many beautiful colors in the world...

blessings ~ tanna

Maidenhair Fern, Sleepy Girl and Giant Shawl...

So, yesterday in the grocery store I couldn't resist this maidenhair fern.  I admire them EVERY time I see them... well, I succumbed.  Then, this morning I read Betsy's post (because she got one, too) about how persnickety they are.... and, I remember... having one before that didn't last any time at all!  Cross your fingers it hangs in here with me.  I welcome any words of wisdom.  {smile}

Our sleepy Little Miss B... Taking her time waking up.  Pure sweetness! 

I finished this behemoth shawl and I LOVE it!  I'll share the pattern details soon. 

Hope you are all having a wonderful week.  Lots of yard work been going on around here... cleaning... THAT kind of stuff! 

"There are no shortcuts to any place worth going."
~ Beverly Sills

blessings ~ tanna

Glimpses of Sea Island, GA

I'm not sure I've ever been to a more beautiful place than Sea Island...

Developed in 1926... it still has an OLD feel even though the original buildings have long been replaced at the hotel...

There was beach walking... and relaxing...

Sight seeing...

And, a wonderful bicycle tour... The marsh on the west side of the island looked like something straight out of a Nicolas Sparks novel.

The beautiful old homes with giant moss laden oaks were a delight to see...

AND, there was cooking school at The Georgian Room, Georgia's only Five Star restaurant.  I've always wanted to cook in a BIG kitchen!  Ha!

Yep, we made these, with lots of help of course.  {smile}

Rest and relaxation at its finest...

Now, back to the real world... {sigh...}

"I have found that sitting in a place where you have never been before can be inspiring."
~ Dodie Smith

blessings ~ tanna

R & R

My Beloved and I are off today for a couple of days of grown-up rest and relaxation... A mini-vacation in the midst of a busy summer...

With all of our recent company, my knitting and crochet production has been almost nil!  However, I did manage to continue adding to the stack of wash/dish cloths.  Such fun little quickies!  And, a shawl I'll share later.

I am not usually much on photo editing... but, I enjoyed playing with PicMonkey a little.  The trouble for me is that if a little is good... more is better.  Not.  Ha!  I tend to get carried away with any new toy.  Have you tried PicMonkey?  What do you think?

I'm packing one crochet project and one knitting project... =)  Much easier choices than my clothes! 

blessings ~ tanna

The Vacuum After The Whirlwind

The months of May and June were wild and wonderful whirlwinds of family time... You know if I have been missing for long periods there is SOMETHING going on.  =)

My brother and his wife extended their stay to cross over with the Little Men & Co.'s visit in June... and, oh, the fun we all had!!

This photo quality is pitiful... but, it was one of my favorite moments... all piled up in Noni and Pop Pop's bed at the end of a long day... they look angelic, don't they?  ;)

Yes, we had so. much. fun... Now, it is so. very. quiet. 

Almost two weeks have passed since everyone left for home... I'll admit to being exhausted and enjoying a bit of the quiet time... but, that soon wears off and I find myself sitting in "the sousins (cousins) room" amidst the books and toys... remembering the laughter and sweet hugs... and the hearing "Noni" a million times a day... And, I miss my small herd. 

It takes me awhile to get my wind back and ready to move on with life as it comes... I'm ready.

"Hold up to him (or her) his better self, his real self that can dare and do and win out... People radiate what is in their minds and in their hearts."
~ Eleanor H. Porter

blessings ~ tanna

Simple Pleasures...

Time spent with family is always a pleasure... My brother, Jeff, and his wife, Brenda, have been in East Texas the past couple of weeks.  We spent one whole day in Gladewater, the self-proclaimed Antique Capital of East Texas, gathering supplies for this simple project.

We searched high and low for the "perfect" little soap dishes... and scented soaps...

I was excited to find this Hoenig of California Pottery apple from the 1950s for one of my dishes.

Brenda and I made simple crochet wash cloths from cotton yarns...  pattern here.  I tried several and this one was the one I liked best (for my tension and the way I crochet) ... so far.  I didn't do the edging (put it in and took it out... I just like the VERY simple look of this cloth).

These soaps were particular favorites because of their packaging as well as their scents... Green Leaf Market.

Each one has a scripture printed on the side...

These soap dish sets were such fun projects to gather and make with Brenda.  Simple pleasures...

We have so enjoyed their visit!!!

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." 
Matthew 11:28

LOVE these Rolling Retirees!!

Until you come again.... love and hugs dear brother and sis-in-law!!  Thank you so much for rolling through with us!! 

blessings ~ tanna

Quotes... Happy Colors... and Good Food

We all know how I love a good quote!  Consider me absolutely SMITTEN with the wall hanging I found last week at Laurie Anna's Vintage Home at the Canton Trades Days (you can order from her shop online, too).  I'm easing closer to being satisfied with the dining room... just taking my time.

And, oh, how I can lose myself in color... love. love. love. playing with it!  Color. Texture. Design.  Good stuff!

This big bag is a combination of three patterns... details and links here on Ravelry.

If I did it again, I'd work the base in an oval shape.  But, it is going to hold lots of yarn and projects just as it is.... until it gets to go to the beach one day!

I can't say I've lost a single pound recently... but, we are enjoying good food and the exercise is making me feel WONDERFUL!  (after I'm done!  hehee)

I hope each of you get lost in something you love this week... and find yourself there, too.

blessings ~ tanna

Busy-ness and The Bracelet Bandwagon

 

Things have been busy around here.  Good busy, but busy.  Sometimes a simple, quick project is just the thing to soothe.  I actually finished these a few weeks ago and never got around to sharing them.

 

These were made with the same pattern I used before:  Rustic I-Cord Wrap Bracelet by Elizabeth Murphy.  Or on Ravelry here.

This one was made of worsted weight cotton scraps versus the sock weight for the other two (too fat for beads).

AND, I made a smaller version of the free pattern for Wrap Around Bracelet by Yuli Handmade.  Really like the smaller beads and yarn much better.   I had to go back and take away all but one wrap of the bigger beaded one!  Too much for this ole gal.  ;) 

They make good Fitbit Camo.  Heehee.

I hope if your days are crazy busy, too, it's the good kind of busy.  And, if you need a quick, easy soothe... hop on the bracelet bandwagon with me.

"The really idle man gets nowhere.  The perpetually busy man does not get much further."
~ Sir Heneage Ogilivie

Keep on keeping on...

blessings ~ tanna