Decorating question.

I know this is a terrible picture, I think something must be wrong with my camera.  We just painted our bedroom and I am trying to finish it up.  I am just having a hard time trying to deciding what to do with our window.  I have a valance that matches our quilt.  I take the quilt off in the Summer to lighten the room a little.  I moved the curtains from my office to try and decide if I should put long curtains at this window or put short ones.  Should I treat each window separately, or as one?  I originally had a valance and curtains to the sill.  The room is a steel blue/gray.  I have a white matelasse spread with a blue paisley summer quilt on the bottom of the bed.  I would appreciate any advice or ideas.

Remember the question I asked a while ago about the placement of the buffet in the dining room.  Well I moved the tea cart and buffet around and decided the buffet looked best on the wall when you can see it when you walk in.  Here it is all finished up.

                  I think it looks pretty good there.  The Tea cart was too small for this space I think.

Thanks so much for all your advice!

Susan

Clowning around.....

I have a story and it goes like this.  A long time ago, there was this young married woman who was helping out at church one day with some other women.  They were commenting on the new Christian Clowning that was going on in some churches.  They talked about it for a while and decided to take the course.  Gwynedd Mercy College was offering it at the time.  It was such an interesting course.  Did you know that once a Clown applies their make up they can't speak.  Everything must be done in mime.  The ladies learned all they could.  When they were done the class they spoke to their Pastor and asked if they could preform next Sunday's sermon in mime.  The Pastor was all for it, so they got down to the business of addressing how they would act out the sermon that the Pastor was going to present.  The Pastor decided to participate with them as well, since his wife was one of the women who took the course.  She explained  everything he had to know.  They all made their outfits, and they to had to have some kind of meaning for everything they added to their outfit. When Sunday came they were all a little nervous, but it went off without a hitch and it was very well accepted.  Everyone loved it and thought it was quite meaningful due to the fact that it was done in mime and the quietness of the church.  Here are some of the pictures.

It was amazing, that's all I can say.  Everyone left church with a full heart that day and will never forget that sermon. It was very spiritual.

Now it was around Halloween and the one young lady asked her family if they would be up for putting a skit together and perform it for a few family members where they were going to visit.  They were all up for it.  So the young lady made her husband and three children all Clown outfits.  The young husband had a beard at the time and the young woman wasn't sure if he would let her put his white face on top of the beard.  But the young man who loves his wife dearly said it was OK.  When they were all dressed and ready to go they practiced their skit in mime.  It was about how much God loves us.  The kids were awesome!

As they were performing their act, it brought tears to the young lady's eyes to think how lucky she was to have a family who trusted her with the help of God to make this happen.  The young family that I am talking about is our family.  I have one picture from this event, and it is one of my most prized possessions.  The glass was broken in our move and when I finally got around to fix it, the picture was stuck to the glass.  I took it to a camera shop to see if they could do anything about it.  They explained it would be very expensive, so I just had them scan the picture for me.

My Clown name is Susabelle, which was very meaningful to me.  My Aunt use to call me by that name. The Christian Clowning course was awesome!  We never wanted it to end.

Whishing you all a wonderful Sunday!

Susan

Give a way!

Please stop by   Art by Karena   She is having a wonderful giveaway from Novica.

 http://artbykarena.blogspot.com/



Fathers Day

Where do I begin?  I can say that I found a good man.  In the beginning I told him it was always a plain to marry him.  After all, we did have so much in common.  We were raised about 3 blocks from each other, we graduated the same year from the same high school, and my dad knew his uncle from school.  The only thing is I never knew him until after he graduated from college, and I met him in a bar!  Isn't that a good love story!  We did date and fall in love, and here we are 37 years later.

We have raised 4 wonderful children, believe me we were very lucky, we didn't know how to raise kids, we just did what we thought seemed right.  Now I am not saying we didn't run into a problem or two or three, but nothing too serious that we couldn't handle.  You know the things that WE did when we were young, only didn't get caught.  Honey, don't you remember that motorcycle you snuck up to State College?

This is 1991 in Disney World, FL,  We also have S's boyfriend at the time there as well.  Now he happens to be her husband.  From left we have son # 1 J, daughter S & Boyfriend, Son # 2 M  and the hubby.  Son # 3 K is standing in back of everyone. The hubby is a wonderful father and now a fun grand pop!  Loves babysitting!

And here they are now in 2010. Sitting from left: Son # 1J, Hubby, Son #2M, standing:  daughter S, and Son # 3K.  Check out that grey mustache!  He has had that since I have known him.  He just recently shaved it off.  I think he looks younger, but I am partial I guess.

            This pic was taken just a few weeks ago when Ryan was born.  See, no stash.  Doesn't the hubby look cute!

Jim, our lives have changed, and so have we, and through the changes that have come, and made us more mature, there also is serenity, a feeling we're secure in knowing that our love survived through everything we have been through.  With this great love we've shared for so long, it could never be replaced.  That is why I don't mind growing older, sharing a life and love with you.

Happy Fathers Day my love!

Susan

I wish all by blogger buddies a wonderful Fathers Day! 

Pillow Talk....

Pillow Talk: What Does Your Pillow Arranging Style Say About You?

Are you classic or casual? Romantic or relaxed? It turns out that how you arrange your pillows can reveal clues to your psyche. Read on to see what your bed could be saying about your behavior.  This is pretty interesting.  I took this from House Beautiful Magazine.

If Your Pillows Are Asymmetrical

Are your pillows tossed about in any which way? Do you arrange your pillows without a particular order? Your unfussy style says that you are a relaxed, bohemian type who's easygoing and open to new experiences.
Tip: Stick to the same color scheme when selecting pillows, but try using different prints and patterns to mix up the look.

If Your Pillows Are Balanced, but Have a Single Accent

Do you prop pillows the classical way, but throw the symmetry off with one extra bolster? Do you prefer when something doesn't look too perfect? If so, your style is traditional with a twist. You're never too prim and proper — but you aren't given to the latest trends either  These are how my pillows are in my guest room.
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If Your Pillows Are Precisely Stacked

Are your pillows tiered, trim, and level? Does clutter on the nightstands (or anywhere) drive you crazy? This systematic, monastic tower of pillows indicates you have a modernist style. If someone saw your bed, they would probably guess that you're artistic, creative, and intellectual.

If Your Pillows Are Delicate and Decorative

Are your pillows an exuberant array of Euro-square, cases, shams, boudoirs, and neck rolls? Do designs without embellishment feel cold and unwelcoming to you? If you're drawn to a dreamy, whimsical look, then you're a romantic. You prefer frilly and feminine to streamlined and rigid and are a firm believer that more is more.

If Your Pillows Are Perfectly Symmetrical

Do you consider yourself organized? Keeping all your ducks in a row — and your pillows too — means you have a tailored, classic style. This look is best for someone who is detail-orientated, organized, and orderly
This is how my bedroom pillows are.

Well, how do you fix your bed pillows? 

Susan

Bed & Breakfast or Hotel?

I was thinking about a vacation we took a little while ago and I thought it might be interesting to find out where people like to stay, Bed & Breakfast or Hotels.  We have been to a few Bed & Breakfast's and we enjoy them so much.  They are usually interesting and have stories behind them.  I have a brother in law that only will stay in Hotels, I think he should at least try a Bed & Breakfast first before he makes up his mind don't ya think.

Welcome to the Angel of the Sea, Victorian Cape May's most elegant bed & breakfast. Located one half block from the beach in the quiet East end of town, the Angel offers the discriminating traveler a chance to experience the charm of a bygone era while enjoying an array of modern amenities.


Each of their 27 guestrooms at the Angel, is uniquely furnished in Victorian style and each room has its own private bath. About a quarter of their rooms have ocean views, but all guests have access to common porches and balconies that wrap around the front of our twin houses. Every room at the Angel has cable television and wireless Internet access is offered to all of our guests. Books and magazines are available in our common areas, as well as a selection of board games.  We had a wonderful time!  I believe we went in the fall.  The food was delicious.  It was our first experience at a B & B.

Every day at between 3 & 4 there was cocktails and apps.  The lady who ran the Inn told stories of how this place was two different houses and they moved one to attach to the other house.

Our second B & B was on Cape Cod, Ma. This was a beautiful home as well. I do have pictures of that trip.



Front of the house.

Back of house.

Going down to the beach.

Living Room

Dining room where they served Breakfast.

The food was delicious!  We met another couple that was actually from King of Prussia, PA. only a few miles from where we lived.  It is a very small world. 

We took a day trip to Nantucket, which I just loved.  The streets in town are cobble stone.  It is such a quaint island.  It was delightful.

These little cottages were built on the water for the fisherman.  They would stay there between trips out.

Quaint streets of Nantucket

Then we went to Martha's Vineyard.  This island was larger and a little more commercial. 

The Center of town.  We did take a bus tour while we were there.  I asked the young man who was selling the tickets if he ever saw Carly Simon?  His reply was, "she is my neighbor".  I was only joking when I said it, but he was serious!

Black Dog Tavern

On our drive home from the Cape, we decided to stop for one night in Providence Rhode Island.

That was an amazing place.  We stayed in this beautiful mansion, which was first owned by bootleggers many many years ago.

The Stella Maris Inn

They even let me sail the boat!

All in all, it was a wonderful week!  It is so nice to get away just the two of us. 

Well, now tell me, where do you like to stay when you go away?

Susan

Select profile!.....

Ok, I am so tired of having to "Select Profile" on every comment that I try and leave.  What is going on?  Is everyone else finding that as well?  You have to select profile and then you have to leave your blog address, and if that isn't bad enough, for blogs that have that extra "type the silly letters in" it is driving me crazy! 
Is there any way that this can be fixed?  I can understand why people don't want to comment that often.  I like to leave comments, but this is getting annoying.

What's up???


Susan

Hodge Podge Wednesday......

FIRST is WEDNESDAY HODGE PODGE from Joyce at From This Side of the Pond. This one is a great way to get to know some wonderful new boggy friends and learn more about some old ones...not that I'm calling anyone OLD, mind you.

1. Do you and your family enjoy camping? What do you enjoy most/like the least when it comes to family camping? When was the last time you camped?

No, no, no, I don't enjoy camping now.  When I was younger we use to camp with our church friends a few times, it was so much fun back then!  My idea of camping is a room at the Hilton!  I can't ever remember taking the kids camping.  I do know they went with the boy scouts, and Indian Princesses.

2. Did you attend a summer camp when you were a kid? Is that a happy or not so happy memory?

I went with a youth group once for a weekend.  We did stay in cabins and that was fun too, but I was a kid and kids like doing things like that especially with friends.

3. Over the course of your life, what have you probably spent more time pondering than anything else?

I guess life, and how to live it to the best that I can along with being a better person.  You sometimes wonder, am I doing this right, am I being a good mother, wife, sister and daughter?  There is a lot to think about in this life here and now.  What is the way to be?  My husbands professor use to ask the class that, and that is something to think about!  Suffice it to say that is what I have been pondering lately.

4. Which of the seven natural wonders of the world would you most like to see? There are many lists of 'wonders' but this is the standard natural wonder list-Mount Everest, The Great Barrier Reef, The Grand Canyon, Victoria Falls, The Harbor of Rio de Janerio, Paricutan Volcano and The Northern Lights.

Well we have seen the Grand Canyon, I know it is beautiful, but it is really just a big hole to me.  I would love to see the Northern Lights.

5. What was your first real job?

Well, when I way younger 14 I guess, I use to work for my Dad.  He had a restaurant and I was a waitress.  I think everyone should be a waitress once in their life.  I think it teaches you how to deal with every kind of person that comes along.  It was an awesome experience and I wouldn't trade it for the world.  But, of course when I was old enough I went to the mall and got a job with Ladybug.  Now I know many of the older ladies know what that brand was!  Everyone want to wear it.  I probably spent more that I ever made, hence I was on my way to becoming a clothes horse!  I am trying to break that habit now.  I may be on a limited income soon.

6. Lemonade or Sweet tea...which do you prefer on a hot summer day?

Lemonade if it is home made.  Ice tea other wise.

7. What is something that always brings a smile to your face?

My grand kiddies, Connor, Ryan and Megan!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I think I am all thought out for today, other than I really have to get to work and finish these projects that I have started!

Hope you all have an awesome day! 

Susan 

 

Ryan Matthew

 

Nonna and Ryan4 days old