Looking back to Karen's Last Christmas with us, 2007

I took a picture of a picture in Old Town Spring.  How I wish I had purchased this.  Artist unknown

The last Christmas Karen was with us, the Collins girls took a shopping trip to Old Town Spring.  We planned this every year, however something always came up.  We decided that day, this trip would be an annual thing.  Little did we know that Karen would spend all future Christmas with The Lord. This is actually a wonderful thing for Karen, although not so much for those she left behind.

This is a happy post, however.

Karen love beads around everything...candles, chandeliers, pillows, drapes, lamps....you name it!!  She went to a particular shop in OTS (Old Town Spring) for a lot of her beads.

I took a lot of pictures in this store...until the owner told me to stop.

Karen was so excited that the Collins girls could finally see where she purchased her beads.  I fell in loved with this store, as well.

Why I didn't take more pictures of other stores and the beautiful streets of OTS and the Collins Girls, I will never know.

However, the one picture I took of us, I will cherish forever.

The Collins Girls:  Karen, Susan, me (Jan) and Mom

 What a wonderful day that was.  I thank God that he gave us this one trip to Old Town Spring.

Have an awesome day, stay dry and warm.

                                                                                              


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Living Room furniture selections

Back in September, 2011, Larry and I compromised on the living room/family room furniture.  I didn't want a formal living room in my cottage.  I don't like rooms I don't use.  I want a family room that everyone can enjoy.

Also, as I have mentioned before, I have AnnaBelle.  She belonged to my beloved sister, Karen.  AnnaBelle is as important in this home as the humans.  She sheds, she cleans her feet on the sofa and gets it wet.  Yuck!!!

Then, there is Larry.  He has recliners in his media room and a recliner in his study.  He loves recliners and has ALWAYS had one in the family room.  I don't want him upstairs in his media room all of the time.  I want him with me!!

So, instead of my dream of a white, slip-covered sofa, we ordered a leather sofa in the style and color I wanted....ok, not the color, however white leather is a little too much for me.

I really didn't get a good picture of the sofa and ottoman, however this should give you an idea.  You can see the swatch in the lower left corner.   

Next came the decision of Larry's recliner.  Since my dream has been a sofa AND 4 chairs in the family room, I decided on TWO recliners!!!  Would this make matters worse?  So, what color should I choose?  

Our last house has this huge brown leather sectional AND love seat AND recliner.  I was really tired of brown.  

In my first cottage, I had navy blue leather.  It was plushy and soft.  I was really able to get a warm, coziness with pillows and throws on navy blue leather.  

So, navy blue it was.

I was so excited on that day in September, that I didn't look at the estimated delivery date....

Between 12 and 16 weeks!!!

I called Town and Country Leather the week before Thanksgiving and begged for my furniture.  I explained that I didn't even see the delivery date on the order I signed until I was in the car.

I was told that I ordered all Natuzzi leather and my furniture was coming either from Italy or China or some other overseas country.

I don't care.  They have had time to raise the cow, make my furniture and get it to me.

Well, it just doesn't work like that :(

I explained that I was hosting Thanksgiving.  That really does NOT get your furniture any quicker.

So, I have learned a valuable lesson before having any special ordered furniture made.

On with the story.........

My style passion is a mix between industrial, shabby chic, cottage and French country.  My colors are white, cream, turquoise and blue.

So, Restoration Hardware was having a sale a week ago.  I have had my eye on something from them for a while.

I ordered two of the Lyon chairs AND an ottoman.  These SHOULD be delivered next week!

There are so many more decisions for the family room...drapes, tables, paint color, etc.


I wanted to wait on the main furniture before doing anything else.


We have beautiful living room table set...coffee table, 2 end tables and sofa table.  Yet, I just don't know that I will like these with my new furniture.


Until next time......