living in a historic home.

The home we bought was built in 1901 and is 110 years old. I am excited to own a historic home and walk through every room with increasing curiosity about the previous families who have lived inside these same walls.

Within hours of owning this home a generous neighbor gave us this post card from a previous owner to a friend in 1911. Our home is pictured on the front along with the original owner's Model T car. I feel so lucky to have this kind of treasure in our home already and we have it framed on the mantel of our new, historic home. I intend to learn everything I can about this place and look forward to adding to the history of this beautiful place.

fulton estate.

As of last Friday we have a new address. We are proud new home owners and head over heels for our new place. It fits our family well and has meant so much having our parents and siblings around to help with the big move and this exciting new chapter in our lives. Everything is finding its place and the decorating ideas are flying through my head at warp speed.

Many neighbors have stopped by and everyone is happy to see a young family occupying this beautiful home...we are happy to be here and looking forward to all this place has in store for us!

grandpa's surgery.

Tomorrow morning, my grandpa (see previous entry about he and my grandma's farm) is having a tumor removed from inside the vertebrae in his neck. He is such an incredibly important part of my life and my families' life. I pray for wisdom for the doctor performing this delicate surgery and strength for my grandpa as he recovers. He is the most amazing, loving and reliable grandpa and great grandpa ever and our family needs him so much! We love you.

my parents.

i love these two immensely and unconditionally...thank you for giving me life.

more great finds of the day.

I also found all this silver at the flea market today and my son picked me these beautiful flowers from my great grandparents farm. He is so good to his mumma.

Tiffany & Co. flea market candlesticks.

This you have to see to believe. Today is a summer Monday which means you can find a pretty decent flea market in the small midwest town of Marlette, MI (the heart of the thumb). I am confident I had The Best find of the day with these beautiful Tiffany & Co. candlesticks. They caught my eye from a few aisles away because they match that chandelier I love in the dining room of our new home (soon to be). The candlesticks have the stickers and etching of Tiffany & Co. on both pedestals and the kind woman who sold them to me said she couldn't take less than $25 for the set because she believed them to be worth $65. I took these beauties home and found them online for $75 each...I am in flea market heaven!

vintage fabrics.

During the Memorial Day sales I found this beautiful, powder pink, Dior brand slip at an Estate Sale at a cottage in Caseville, MI. The color of the slip and the beautiful lace caught my eye and after I saw the "Dior" embroidery I bought it for $3. I have already worn it once and display it in my bedroom on a delicate "hers" hook.

The antique handkerchief I purchased at one of my favorite stores in the thumb of Michigan-The Lemon Tree in Caseville, MI (more specifically their upstairs). This place is a treasure trove to me. The top of the building is full of redone, antique furniture, bed linens, old dishes, books, and has many great ideas.

$2 chalkboard.

I found this old frame (was brown and gold before) at Goodwill for $2. I then painted it white and used some chalkboard paint to paint the back of some old beadboard in the garage. My husband cut the beadboard to size and here you have it: an oversized chalkboard for our home. I would eventually like it in our kitchen as a menu board.

side table makeover.

BEFORE:

When we move into our new home we will have to "L" our couches which makes another small coffee table in that space necessary. Therefore, I had my eyes peeled at the Memorial Day garage sales for just such an item and here she is after a fresh coat of paint. The shape of the legs and the elegant color will look beautiful in the living room of our new (historic) home.

AFTER:

antique headboard makeover.

BEFORE:

My husband and I scored this antique headboard on the side of the road in Caseville, MI for Free! Why any person would reject this beautiful piece of cedar furniture is beyond me, but one man's trash is Katelyn's treasure and we scooped it up in a jiffy. The size of the headboard is somewhere between a twin and a double bed. We currently have a queen with no headboard...not a perfect fit, but we had a plan.

In order to widen the headboard we used the side rails that came with the headboard (intended to hold the mattress, but not needed for that purpose by us). I first sanded everything down and bought this beautiful and light, grey/blue paint color. My husband cut the side rails to fit and screwed them to the antique headboard. After a final coat of paint-tada! A beautiful antique headboard that matches our style, room and bedding for only the cost of the paint:)

AFTER:

god is great.

Yesterday before a summertime storm my husband pointed this out in the sky. I also learned of a miraculous story of a prematurely born baby girl a friend had and received an especially touching phone call from my cousin. My son told me "Mom, you're a good mumma." Not that there is ever any doubt, but sometimes it is so clear that God is so great!