Sunday, November 20, 2011

Shopping ~ Craiglist Style


My tuscan inspired dining room is now a thing of the past. It was ornate and fancy, but was it really my style? The answer is no. It had an extreme amount of carvings and moldings and was forever in need of dusting. Plus I think the wood grain was called burl, which reminds me of Spanish, which is my least favorite style. When our new orphan kitten was welcomed "into" the house, he thought the gigantic floral arrangment was a jungle to be jumped in. He would literally pounce right smack dab into the middle of it. Now the floral arrangment is on top of the armoir in the living room.



I decided, what the heck, I am going to sell it on Craig's List. It sold within two weeks. The family that purchased it drove all the way from Kansas City, KS. She laughed and said they thought they would never get here. Definitely way out in the boon docks! Could not get over how "out in the country" we are. I thought they were just going to look it at, so I hadn't unloaded the full china cabinet and the base. Ye Gads....I had dishes all over my kitchen counter for two days! I just didn't have time to figure out where to put everything. So now most of the work is over. Ginormous furniture is gone, I'm relieved. Now I am hunting for something new. Been on Craig's List but just not found exactly what I am looking for. I think I need inspiration...



Design of House.com


I think is very cute. I like the buffet. I have been learning all about painting furniture with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. The question is, where to find the time. I do like the mix of cottage plus a little fancy with tassle and the lamps.



Whitechair.org



I like the oak stained table top and the painted chairs. I also like the cabinet, that looks like it should be in a country house. I thought I wanted French Provincial, but now I think that might be too Froo Froo.


decorators catalogs.com.au

~*~
Days Later....
Blogging continues....

I've been shopping on Craiglist and have found "perfect" furniture for the dining room! Let me tell you, the story about the china cabinet deserves a post of it's own. If any of you know a bit about Kansas City, you know that there are murders every night in a certain section, say Prospect and Troost. Well guess what? Yep, two streets over is where I picked up my darling, precious little china cabinet...or as I prefer to say, "rescued" my darling, precious little china cabinet. I'm afraid she was in the hands of two questionable men, who appeared to be very rough around the edges, drugs, maybe? Well, that story later. Do you want a sneak peek of the dining room furniture? I am going to pick it up this afternoon, when I should be readying the house for Thanksgiving! But! At least we will now have something to eat dinner on.
"Aren't these nice sentences for a reading/writing teacher to use!" Hmmm where are the subjects and predicates?
Yes, artistic license!

What do you think?
I think, really cute! The chairs are upholstered in a charcoal grey, and have a small pattern with a check, in each little square is a dot of white or beige. I am also thinking about getting the rug. It may match the wall color in the dining room which is a bittersweet red, and doesn't go well with red toile, sigh, which is a little more cooler in shade. How do you like the fleur di lis? There is a total of 6 chairs and the table has a leaf.
~*~
Okay want to know what kinda shopper I am?
When it was first listed on Craig's List it was $750. I saw it listed today for $475.00. I offered him $375.00 and he took it! Yippee! Only drawback, dear husband isn't home yet for me to tell him the wonderful news of a trip up to the city this afternoon. Hmm...tad bit nervous about this part. Generally he is a good sport, but two trips to the city (takes about and hour) in less than 24 hrs. that might be asking a little much. Although I AM cooking big tomorrow!
~*~
And friends...
THANK YOU for not taking me off your blogroll!
I feel like I am seeing my old friends again. Gosh how I've missed you and your sweet comments! Okay I know I haven't visited you back, but I will...I am just a wee bit sidetracked with the furniture right now.
AND
Have a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving!
~Jill~

Saturday, November 12, 2011

The Friendly Village

I do I ever LOVE dishes. I actually have way too many dishes. I saw this little set of dishes in our local thrift store over a year ago. I just kept passing them by. Then one day, while I was at work, I decided... I must have those dishes! They would be perfect for Thanksgiving. So I had my mom call the thrift store to see if they still had them. Now, I get in an utter panic when I decide, you know months later, that I simply must have something. I am crossing fingers and toes hoping that they are still there. So mom called, they were closed for remodeling but, yes they still had my dishes for a whopping $4.00. A new collection has begun!

I am going with new a decorating scheme at Hickory Hollow. I have always loved the mismatched cottage look. I tried really hard this time for a more formal look, but I just kept feeling that I wasn't quite home. I have been keeping an eye out for interesting pieces that have a more country house/cottage feel. One day as we were pulling into school, I saw a
table and chair set by the road. It was literally smack dab in front of the school. You know the feeling.... heart starts beating rapidly, panic sets in, I have GOT to have that! Especially when I saw the $30 price tag. I could hardly wait for Doug to stop the truck (he teaches high school math, at the same school) so I could run across the street. Banging on the door I finally get a young gal to answer. So happy when she would hold it for me to after school!

Whew... I really like it in my breakfast room. It is not so large and makes the area seem larger and I love how the black and oak look together and the pedestal base. It is a bit distressed, I actually need to sand down some areas more. But it was just what I was looking for!

Tomorrow we are going to go to the city to pick up a sofa, chair and ottoman set I found on Craig's List. I will give you a hint for next week's post... The name of the furniture set is called
Grandma's Attic!
~*Jill*~

Friday, November 11, 2011

Change at Hickory Hollow



It's Me!
Can you believe it!
Gone from blogging for almost 2 years.



But, I ran across a blog and saw that Hickory Hollow was still on their sidebar.
I realized that I have really missed blogging.

~*~
With time, comes many changes...
New Cottage Herb & Flower Garden
New Victorian Back Porch
New Pets
New furniture
New job!
~*~
My fondest wish is to blog once a week.
You see, I work full time now.
I have for almost a year and a half.
Not just any ole job.
I teach.
Wonderful 4th graders!
~*~
Was it hard for this stay-at-home mom to go back to work full-time?
Oh my goodness yes!
Do I miss staying at home?
Oh my goodness yes!
~*~
But...
I feel God's hand guiding me to the classroom.
I know this is where He wants me to be.
So I pray to accept my new circumstances.
~*~
I still have to live in my own little world, though
the world of Hickory Hollow.
Where I capture moments
that make my heart sing.
~*~
I see much more sorrow & struggle.
So I feel the need, now more than ever,
to find kindness, beauty and goodness.
~*~
So I hope you will join me on my new journey,
Hickory Hollow



I'm coming back home!
~Jill~
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