Perspective.

I'll be honest here, I've had a pretty awful few months. 

And it won't be getting better any time soon.

Inside my heart has been a strange, intense brew of 

excitement, fear, joy, rage, and anxiety.

For many reasons that I won't go into here.

But isn't it funny how right in the middle of it all, 

right when you think you just can't take another moment 

of the unrelenting emotional burden,

you find yourself awestruck by the sublime, stark nakedness of a cold winter day. 

And it takes your breath away.

It makes you stand back from your life a bit, and take in the largeness of the 

regal simplicity that surrounds us.

The history of things that have seen tremendous tragedy 

cozied up to unspeakable joy.  

And yet, still they stand. 

Etched with stories lived and the promise of stories yet untold.

It helps you understand that our lives are small in comparison.

That as time passes, things and circumstances begin to fade with a worn grace, 

a statement of tenacity and endurance thru the storms,

a tapestry of the unique way life weaves itself into us and our surroundings. 

That the cyclical nature of the seasons are just the way of all things, 

and even in the passing on of the old, 

there is immeasurable beauty and elegance.

And hope for the new yet to come.

There is the acceptance that in all things, this too shall pass

....and will come 'round again.

That new perspectives are always just around the next corner.

That an expanded view can bring fresh understanding,

 more appreciation for the simple contrasts that exist 

within the same frame of our lives.

How things that are past being 'perfect' are much more worthy of adulation and a soft glowy focus of remembrance and appreciation just because they continue to BE.

These things remind us that life goes on.  

And on.  

And three weeks, three months, three years from now...

...the landscape of my life right now will gently fade 

to pixelated, grainy snapshots, like old newpaper clippings.

A stark testament to an incredible, messy, difficult, glorious season of my life.

Lived.

These images were captured quickly, 

with the intent of simply documenting the grounds of my daughter's upcoming wedding venue. 

Instead, I was later astonished to find imprinted upon my memory card some rather inspiring shots,

and felt compelled to share how they shaped my heart and breathed on my spirit 

this dark December day, 2011.

cindy

Linked to Laurie Anna's Farmhouse Friday
Katharyn's White Wednesday
Debra's Vintage Inspiration

Festifying the Front Porch.

PSSSST...I'm no longer blogging here!

You can now find me at

www.acottagegirl.com

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Well the weather outside is frightful.  Literally.  

My Gracie was 'sposed to take her drivers test today, but had to reschedule because the roads were so bad this morning.  I braved the cold and snow while the boys played outside worked on their schoolwork, finishing up my holiday decorating on the front porch. 

Looking down one way.....

Looking down the t'other...

I wish I could find my old ice skates to stick somewhere.  But I *did* find this old-falling-apart-tobogan behind some crap in the garage.  Added some jute, plastic flowers and bling.  Works for me.

I got these hypocrite greens from Hobby Blobby.  I'd pick up a couple stems whenever they were 50% off starting back in the fall.  Ornaments are from the Target Dollar Spot.

These greens are the real McCoy, cut from the bottom our live tree in the house.  

The red ones are plastic imposters from Hob Blob.

But they play so nicely with everyone I gave them a front row seat.  Just need to get one of those 'Merry Christmas' glitterfied signs from Wally's place to hang on the jute webbing....

Here's the back of the bench and rocker.

The planters are usually filled with whatever plant I'm currently killing in the summer.  

Thankfully everything in them now is already dead. 

See?  Have you ever seen such pretty dead things?

Speaking of which....fake tree #1 with plastic balls tied on with twine...

Ditto #2.  Picked up these bucketed trees at JoAnn's for $2.50 each.  

Used another matching bucket I had and froufified it too....

So that's what I did today.  Well, I also primed a couple pieces of furniture inside the house.....

...and I built a cake for my favorite sophomore...my friend's son who I homeschool:

I believe I am almost done with decorating for the holidays.  Maybe.  

How 'bout you?  Done?  Just starting?  Skipping it altogether?

Hey!  I popped back in to tell you Beth from The Stories of A to Z is hosting a Front Porch Linky!  Go.

(Visit my holiday mantel, back porch, advent jars,  chenille garland and tree)

This post is linked to:
Winter Holidays Link Party @ somewhat simple
All Things Merry and Bright @ All Things Heart and Home
Feathered Nest Holiday @ French Country Cottage
Vintage Christmas Inpsiration @ Common Ground

The (sorta) Reveal of the Cottage Back Porch.

PSSSST...I'm no longer blogging here!

You can now find me at

www.acottagegirl.com

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I was gonna wait till I had every little thing done on the back porch, but there's so many good parties goin' on that I figured I'd show you the psuedo-finished product.  If you want to see 'befores', click HERE.

Anyway, here's where I'm partying:


 Blue Cricket Designs Show and Tell
Maggie at The White Farmhouse Inspire Me
Domestically Speaking Power or Paint Party
Donna at Funky Junk Interiors Gitter Done!
Creative Itch Sew Cute Tuesday
My Backyard Eden Make it Yours Day

Fireflies and Jellybeans
Mustard Seed Creations Furniture Feature Friday
Fingerprints on the Fridge Feature Yourself Friday
A Few of My Favorite Things Favorite Things Friday

Show and Tell Fridays at My Romantic Home

In the Fun Lane Fresh Coat Fridays
The Inspired Room Inspired By 
Tatertots and Jello Weekend Wrapup 
Under the Table and Dreaming Sunday Showcase 
Imperfectly Perfect Style Feature Saturday
So ya ready?  Of course there's more pictures than strictly needed to get my point across, but hey, what can I say?  I'm pretty impressed with myself, even though it ain't done.

So, remember this gem I picked up for like $20 bucks last fall?

That I made over into this, using paint, drop cloths for the cushions and skirt, and some favorite fabric from my stash for the new pillows?

Well, now she's gotten her second makeover so she'll fit on my porch....repainted with new pillow slips:

Then there was this chair, which was pinched from craigslist last summer with a nasty paint job and no cushions....I had painted her glossy chocolate, then glossy olive green, finally settling on a satin army green, the same color as the extrerior of my house.  Then bought some clearanced outdoor cushions and sewed up a cover for them and added a fun pillow slipped in coordinating fabric:

 See how SAH-WEET this side of the porch looks now?  That side table was a 25 cent garage sale steal that I sprayed with Heirloom White and added the vintage pillowcase for another touch of cottagey-goodness:

Next is a vintage wrought iron table set I got also picked up on craigslist....she got a new coat of Heirloom White and I used the coordinating stripe fabric to make covers for the chairs (flowers courtesty of hubs...everyone say awwwwwww):

Loves her curliques!

Here's the pleating idea I got from Kelly....

Simple ties on the back allow them to be lifted up so my boys wet bums from the pool can sit on the vinyl seats underneath:

And I must show off the 15 cent embroidered runner and milkglass pieces I picked up last week at the Salvation Army thrift store.  Mmmm Mmmmm good:

Lastly is this reproduction dry sink I got from my mama.  It has been a myriad of colors before this warm white.  I added the skirt to hide pool chemicals, bug spray, grass-stained mowing shows and the like:

I like the slight pooling of the drop cloth edging, but for practicality I will prolly need to shorten it eventurally.  If you look close, you can see the 'frame' around the switch plate...that's the dark green/gray wall color pre-four coats of exterior semi-gloss....and obviously the new plate is smaller than the nasty yellowed one that was there previously.  Like I said, a few finishing touches are still needed!

The 'peace sign' is the one I made for this room  (Which is soon getting another makeover this fall):

I'm pretty pleased with how it's coming together.  I've picked out a deep turquoise for the cement floor, which will happen as soon as the weather turns.  I also have some pretties to fix up and hang, including the coolest lantern fixture to replace the weeny fixture now trying hard to pull it's weight on the ceiling.  I'm also sorely tempted to paint the jute rug in a harlequin pattern.  But other projects are in the throes already...I swear I'm as bad as the dog in 'Up'...SQUIRREL!  My attention is so easily swayed to the next thing.....

Thanks for taking the tour.....Looking at the pictures helps me see what other things need done, so this has been a great exercise for me.  So what say you?  Have I reached cottage porch nirvana?

PS...I am preparing my trip report for those awaiting news of The Coop Keeper and her most excellent digs.