Evidence of Life

 

*Last summer, while I was learning how to make a blog post, this was the very first "practice post" I put together (hence the bad blurry photos). I never shared it with anyone.  Today my house looks like a train wreck, so I thought I'd post this "publicly" as a reminder to myself about dealing with the messes of life and motherhood. Just maybe someone else with a mess today could use this gentle reminder, too : )


There was a time when the messes of family life used to really get on my nerves. On a regular basis. Let me stop and apologize (sorry Tess) to my oldest daughter who undoubtedly took the brunt of my crankiness in this area. I am a mother of four children ranging in age from 21 to 5, and I would just like to say, regardless of the “that’s not fair!” factor, in my experience we will NOT be the same mother with our later children that we were with our first. Life experience changes us, education informs our views and, hopefully, yielding to the Holy Spirit softens and molds us and sometimes gives us new eyes. Things that used to irritate suddenly give us a quiet pleasure. 

 I had one of those moments today, when I walked into my bedroom to find my bed all rumpled and full of stuffed animals. My 8 year old wasn’t feeling well and she had climbed into my bed with her “friends” to get comfy and rest while listening to an audio book.
There was a time when things like this might have bugged me. After all, I did just make my bed a short time before! But today I can smile at this little scene knowing that the simple comfort of my bed and her friends and a good story helped her feel better. My “older mom” perspective (most of the time-sometimes I can still get cranky!) tells me that these displays of seeming disarray are the evidence of life in a home.

 

 My daughter's perpetual “spread” of artwork, the half-finished game awaiting the next round at the table, the seemingly endless dirty dishes and the sticky mess after making and eating lots of those homemade donuts. These are the things that represent life in a home! I am not at all suggesting that clean-up isn’t important at some point. I am suggesting, though, that the next time we walk in to a mess that our little darlings have created that we could perhaps pause the tendency to immediately feel grouchy. To try and see it through different eyes-for what it really is. Evidence of learning, evidence of creating and imagination, evidence of the blessing of good food and comfort and fun. The evidence of LIFE! I wouldn’t want it any other way.  

Old, New, Borrowed and Blue {Spring Dining Room}

An interesting thing is happening as I look at Pinterest and other blogs. I'm noticing a definite theme emerging in the rooms I'm most attracted to.  
I do enjoy many different design styles and color combinations from very pale to very colorful. But the combination I seem to be most drawn to (regardless of style) usually involves these elements:  

Whites and neutrals paired with warm wood tones or some black. A hint of something green and fresh looking (a live or faux plant, faux boxwood, moss, etc). Add an interesting mix of vintage and new and a little pop of happy color and you have my ideal combination. 

I really didn't plan that combination when I was sprucing up the dining area for Spring. But as I worked on the space, there it was! I guess it's just "me". 

Old, New, Borrowed and Blue

I can't begin to tell you how this describes my life, but we'll just stick with the application to my space for now....

 

Some blue...

You can see a little of how this old window used to look over here. 
Over Valentine's Day it was a rustic white with old sheet music love songs behind the glass.
I decided to paint this side of it a pretty Spring blue. The other side of it is still the natural wood color that I prefer for Fall and Winter.

Some new...

 I picked up these darling Pottery Barn white cups recently and I love the way they look with the old ironstone pitchers against the blue window!

 My sweet little cast iron chick is beginning to get some rust spots, but it only makes me like her more.

Some old...

 This was my grandmother's silverware caddy, and the basket has a little story as well.












I always love the look of putting together something new with pieces that have a history. 

About ten years ago I was at a church rummage sale. There was a sweet old man sitting on the lawn with his items for sale. I immediately approached him about the basket and he told me that he and his wife used it for picnics for many years until she passed away! Well, how could I not take it? (I think he let me have it for about $2.00).

I have used it for many different things (including the occasional picnic) but now it mostly gets used to hold table linens and just look cute. It's sweet to think of how it has someone's happy memories attached to it. 

I don't have many gold frames in my house, but I love the way this aged frame suits the print of a sheep farm next to a lake. I bought this at a local antique shop some years ago because it reminds me so much of a lovely real sheep farm close to our home. It is even next to a lake. Who knows, maybe it is actually a picture of that farm!

Old and blue...love that.

You can see what the chippy blue board was in a different life over here


It's funny how the camera can make a space look more expansive. I've mentioned before that my kitchen/dining area/living room is one open space, and it is not a large space at all. 


In fact, the refrigerator is just to the left of the white dresser.

The little chest of drawers used to look like this. I hope it's not too upsetting that I painted it! I only paid $12.00 for it and it's not in good shape. I kept it the original finish for a long time, but finally decided to go ahead and paint it last year.

Someday I might decide to work on some of it's structural issues, but for now I think it's perfectly cute and very handy for storing the kids' art supplies, games etc.

Another yard sale vintage picnic hamper that has served so many useful purposes over the years.

Okay, now tell the truth. How many of you are mentally writing "N" words and embellishments all around the initial? I keep doing that!

{An "I'm a dork" side note on the chalkboard with the large initial: The chalkboard is old and we really use it despite the surface being very rough and worn. A couple of months ago I found the large wooden "N" (my initial) at the thrift store for .20cents. I brought it home (duh) added the little wood overlay I already had and painted it white. Kinda cute for .20cents, right? While puttering around trying to decide what to do with it one day, I thought, "Hey, I wonder what it would look like on the blackboard?!" Bad idea. I put a few pieces of scotch tape on the back of it to just stick it temporarily so I could get a look at it. When I went to remove it, it tore off the blackboard surface! Ugh! Lots of kicking myself...
So there the "N" stays until I get motivated to re-surface the chalkboard. }  

And there's my little pop of happy color! A bright pink Geranium my daughter gave me, in my grandmother's red-trimmed enamelware "chamber pot" {I think it was only used for plants and such. If anyone in my family knows otherwise, please keep it to yourself :) }

I guess the "borrowed" part of the equation is the history that comes along with many of the things I love. There are stories of loves and lifetimes long ago represented here. The history and the memories are just on loan, and I will gratefully tend them. 

Thank you so much for stopping by! I do so appreciate you taking the time to visit me and my dining room : ) 
I'm loving all the beautiful Spring inspiration everyone is sharing!

Blessings-
    Jeanette 


Sharing over at:

Power of Pinterest at Debbiedoo's 
and Fox Hollow Cottage
SNS at Funky Junk Interiors
Creative Bloggers Party at Homemaker on a Dime
The 6 Days of Springsperation Link Party
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm 
Pretty Things at twelveOeight 
Make it Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House 
Budget Decorating at Creative Cain Cabin
Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch 
Knick of Time Tuesday 
The Scoop! (formerly Cowgirl Up) 
Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House 
Welcome Home Wednesday at Vintage on a Dime
Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style 
Blissful Whites Wednesday at Timewashed 
Share Your Cup Thursday at Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson
Tutorials Tips and Tidbits at StoneGable 
Treasure Hunt Thursday at From My Front Porch to Yours 
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage 
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home 
Be Inspired at Common Ground