My fur boy Rudi loves to climb up on the couch. As he is a dachshund his long back needs all the extra help it can get. I’ve had this ottoman since the Tuscan look was in. The size is really perfect and the material is still in great shape, it was just…um…ugly. I went digging through my fabric stash and found a yummy old tablecloth that sadly was no longer acceptable for dining but would be a perfect fabric for a slipcover. I followed the directions that my friend Jill provided on her ... View the Post

Judging by the comments, emails, facebook messages and DTA viewings overall you guys really loved Wednesday’s post about having Less Laundry. Because you asked I will now address the guidelines I use for general household laundry. You might not agree. That’s ok. We’re all friends here. I change the bed sheets at DTA manor once a week. I heard the Queen of England gets fresh sheets everyday but um let’s face it, she has staff. The placemats and napkins also get traded out once a week. ... View the Post

Throughout my childhood I was parented by my mother Karen, my mother Nadine, my foster mom Janty, my Aunt Jan, and my grandmother’s. Even today a bevy of other beautiful women continue to lovingly influence me. Many of them are friends through blogging. I am thankful for every single soul. They have helped nurture and inspire a continual garden of beautiful blessings.  Their love and guidance has led me to now parent and nurture in a wide variety of ways. In the traditional sense I have ... View the Post

On the day of her birthday my grandmother proclaimed that the Queen of England had nothing on her. Stuffed into my suitcase along with all the other party paraphernalia was a spool of double faced satin ribbon, press on glitter letters and a crown that each received the full on birthday treatment. I had exactly one hour to decorate the entire space AND lay out the food. I should have packed my roller skates. Then it was just me and fifty people who wanted cake. So….. there weren’t ... View the Post

I returned home safely late last night, so thankful for beautiful memories made with my grandmother. Am too tired to download pictures as I had to be up with the chickens today for a school field trip with Sweet Boy. I think this is known as “hitting the ground running”.  :) I think all of us create lengthy “to do” lists before embarking on any sort of trip. One thing on my pre party to do list was “Do something with your ‘do.” As in hairdo. Or the lack of one I was sporting. It had been ... View the Post