Hanging Out, Keeping Busy

Who said that January was the month

 to sit back and watch the snow fall?

As I browse over all your great posts...

I see productivity...

I see plans..

I see projects...

galore!

But here at our home...

I've taken on a part time job

which seems to take up

a large portion of my day!

So all my "projects" here at home are taking

back seat for a while.

Of course there are things on the burner!

I am currently helping a friend redesign her master bath.

Helping a friend redesign her kitchen.

and

Wayne and I are redesigning the youth room at church.

So projects to post are coming...

Until then...

Happy January!

You've Come a Long Way Baby

I was looking back over some photos 

of the house from the past two years.

This is what we started with in the Winter of 2011

right after we bought the house.

Heavy old drapery, dirty siding, over grown shrubs,

 and broken lighting

dressed the front like a soggy wet blanket.

Even from the side it was lacking some sparkle!

Early Spring 2011

 the house received new windows. 

We also upgraded the front door

and power washed the siding.

During the window installation,

our installer unknowingly

 gutted some of the front hedge!

Whoops!

The Fall of 2011 saw a few more changes with

the addition of new lighting, new siding on the upstairs peak,

and a painted front door!

Spring 2012

With the indoor renovations completed it came time

to address the front landscaping!

So out with the old....

... and in with the new!

In the next two years we expect it will fill in very nicely!

We were still lacking a little something...

so we built a window box for the upstairs window!

Winter 2012

All dressed up for Christmas!

Even from the side, she now sparkles!

From our house to yours

we hope and pray that this New Year

will bring you plenty of joy and sparkles!

Happy Belated New Year!

The Bernhardt's 

Joining up to Metamorphosis Monday over at

Between Naps on the Porch

C

And Christmas Came Late...

With my computer dead over Christmas Break

I did not have a  chance to share any of

my Christmas decorations.

Since this blog is also a personal journal

I wanted to post a few photos

to remember Christmas 2012!

The Fireplace

To make room for the tree

we moved the large farm table to the breakfast room

and in it's place went the small round table.

I left the tree lights on for 3 weeks straight,

notice that half the lights burned out by the end

of the time!

On the white table went my handmade feather tree...

and some vintage ornaments I bought last year!

My vintage Santa found a perch on the book shelf!

And our true JOY of Christmas

was in knowing

that God loves us so much

that sent his son, Jesus

as our Redeemer!

Belated Christmas Wishes from our house to Yours!

I am linking up to Feathered Nest Friday over at
French Country Cottage!

Balloon Launch

It has been forever since I updated the blog.

The day before Christmas my laptop

decided it had lived a nice life and was ready to retire!

It took till yesterday to secure a replacement.

I am so thankful that they were 

able to recover all my files and photos!

What a blessing!

The week after Thanksgiving our family suffered

the loss of our precious Grandma (Great Grandma), 

Nona.

Her wishes were not to have a traditional funeral here in town.

Instead we will be holding a memorial service during 

the annual family reunion in August.

But that left us feeling a little "empty".

So taking an idea from my dear blog friend Christine,

the family here decided to hold a balloon launch

in honor of our Nona.

We all wrote out messages and memories...

... on colorful balloons.

Letting her know just how loved

and remembered she was and is to us!

We all went outside and

sang her favorite Christmas carol

"Silent Night".

Then sent the Balloons towards Heaven!

We love you Nona!