Wednesdays With My Mom , PLUS...some fun furniture makeover ideas

This pic was taken in 1963, I believe. Notice my dad's flip-flops. He used to buy us brand spanking new ones at the beginning of every Summer. One of my favorite memories!!!
June was able to join Sara and me at the end of our visit last week. : )
Then over the weekend, Emily and the two little Princesses came with me to visit "G.G.". What a treat!!!


A long time ago, my mom taught all of us how to get our hair to grow fuller...all you do is "brush" your fingernails back and forth for a bit each day (Emily is reminding her grandmother of this, below). I have a lot of memories of my dad watching TV while he did this and he always had a beautiful head of hair. : )
Below, my mom hugging the little black puppy that the girls brought to G.G. while she was in the hospital.
Mom reading my Mother's Day card, below.

And Princess G. putting "Nathan's" hat back on. : )
I've always loved just about everything Better Homes and Gardens has published. This (below) is one of my favorites. It's published quarterly.
Here's a couple of GREAT ideas for furniture makeovers. You can click on the pics to make them bigger and actually read the instructions.

Attention Tami and Holly: I once described this piece of furniture (below) to both of you in comments I left. Now, here's the photo to go with. : )
See these two white Nightstands, below? Look what they did with them for someone's Workspace! Genius!!!

Here's the "AFTER" (below) in blue. Great idea!!!
Happy Wednesday,
Mary Lou

Lots of Fun Things to Share

You know how "expecting Company" helps to kick-start a cleaning frenzy??? Well, it's also great motivation to complete projects you've been meaning to conquer for awhile.

Like so:

I can't remember what ugly thing I yanked out of there last Fall when I got this for half-off, but I really liked the miniature urn.
Me and my Gesso. It's SO fun to play with!!!

Below, is a collection of Boxwood Topiaries from the 'Ballard Designs' catalog. I think they're all beautiful!!!! But, boy......VERY expensive!
So I thought I'd try my hand at one...

Like so:

These two adorable people (below) are my In-Laws. Now you know why my house is clean this week. : )
So tonight, my cute FIL asked me if I had some kind of plastic bag that we could rig up as a holder (w/ handle) for his water bottle.
YEA!!! A challenge and an opportunity to try and pay him back for all his kindnesses that never quit.

Okay, my last "fun thing" to share. Many of you will remember how we flew up north for a "girls trip" last Fall. While there, we got to visit with my big brother, Andrew, one afternoon.
Well, this past week he flew to New York to be on Glen Beck's Show about our Founding Fathers, which aired today 5/7/10.
One of the reasons he was invited, was because of this book (below) which he co-authored, The Real George Washington.
My brother's friend, Earl Taylor, was also a guest. Mr. Taylor travels all over the Country speaking on the Constitution.
Sara was taking pictures of the television screen, because she was SO proud of her "Uncle Andy". : )
You did a wonderful job, Brother. You made us all very proud. And you're SO dang handsome, too!!! : )
Happy Mother's Day to all!
Mary Lou

Wednesdays With My Mom AND...Something New Learned

I'm sorry if I worried anyone last week by not updating. So much has happened and I just felt like life was spinning out of control. Thank heavens for siblings (and in-law siblings) who can share in the emotional and physical challenge of caring for an elderly parent.
Thank you, one and all, who made everything that happened last week, possible!
First of all, these first few pics are from last week. My mom had a little visitor come see her at the Rehabilitation/Nursing Care facility. My wonderful friend, Margie, brought 'Little Bit' down to cheer her up.

My mom was initially very happy to see Little Bit but quickly became exhausted and wasn't able to enjoy her as much as we'd hoped. But thank you so much for your good heart, Margie...always trying to do good in this world. : )
Thank you to family, friends and great grand children who sent their love to my mom!!!
Okay, so it quickly became evident that my mom wasn't going to make much, if any progress, even in the new place. It was SO disheartening. If you remember, this is Sam (below) that has been caring for my Mom since last Summer in her residential Home Care. Sam and her husband visited my mom in the hospital and in the facilities. When Sam observed the same thing we did, she said, "Why don't you just bring your mom back to me and I will bring people in who can help me with physical therapy and such and we will watch over her 'round the clock."
So from there my local brother and sister (Steve and June) got on the phone and went into hyper-drive, making it all happen in a matter of hours instead of several days. They, along with their spouses, made a miracle happen. I still can't believe it all worked out. As they say, "Tender mercies of the Lord". And thank you, sweet, sweet Sam!!!
Above...the beautiful roses Steve and his wife, Cindy, bought as a 'Welcome Home' gift for my mom. They traveled down from up North to oversee the physical move, as my household was in the middle of holding a two- day Garage Sale. BTW...I just remembered why I haven't had one in about seven years...we were 100% exhausted and every bone in our bodies hurt by the end!!
Onto the "Something New Learned"...
Margie has a "Long Arm" in her garage and let me try it one night (about a month ago). We used some fabric I've had lying around since 1991???? and decided to practice on this little quilt that would end up going to a Foundation that gives them to the needy.
She helped me get it set up and away I went...
Oops...just learning! Look at those crooked stars.
Then we came in the house for a break and a snack and to visit with 'Little Bit' and 'Sarge'. Hi Cuties!!!
On the other half (a second small quilt), I tried a different pattern and had much better success. It's SO FUN to do swirls, as opposed to trying to get those lines and points straight on the stars.

Ahhh....much better!!! : )

Thanks, sweet Margie!!!
Okay, I'm going to try to catch up...AGAIN...out there! However, I'm expecting out-of-town Company either Thursday night or Friday morning and you ALL know what that means...
Panic mode!!! But it's always worth it in the end! : )