I in no way consider my decorating style contemporary or modern, but lately I've come across many contemporary things in the world of decorating that I really like. Light fixtures top the list. Today I'm sharing a few.
Friday, June 24, 2016
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
A SNAKE TALE
I do not like snakes, and, if I had to guess, you feel the exact same way. Snakes, however, are part of my life--we live in the woods. Generally, the woods come with all types of creepy-crawly, leggy, biting, flying, stinging, scary creatures. But on the top of the list of scary around here are the snakes. I've encountered the evil, squirmy little devils on my son's window seal, the driveway, once even in our carport by the back door. Oh, and let's not forget the Saturday morning I was on my hands and knees pulling weeds from the flower bed and a shinny green one stuck his head out of an azalea bush six inches from my face. Then, there was an encounter just last week with not one, but two snakes as my husband and I were taking an evening walk.
But thankfully, I've never had the terrible, life-threatening experience my grandmother had with a deadly copperhead snake.
(I talked briefly about her here when I shared her beauty secret.)
She was working in her flower bed on a typical sunny, summer afternoon pulling weeds without gloves. She felt a prick and assumed it was a thorn or stick or just something in the bed. Without thinking too much of it, she continued her chore. Unfortunately for her, this time when she reached down for the weeds and felt a second prick, she also saw what delivered it--a snake. Blood was flowing from the two holes, so there was no doubt what had happened.
She made her way into the kitchen and called 911. I remember her saying that in that moment, waiting on the ambulance, she felt like she was probably going to die. When my mom phoned to let me know what was going on, I remember thinking, "Surely she has not lived to celebrate her 90th birthday only to be taken down by a snake?"
You can see the bite marks in the center of her red, swelling hand. I didn't have any experience with snake bites, so my first question was, "What's up with all those black lines?"
The lines mark the spread of the poison. 9:45, 10:08, and so on. It's hard to see in the photo, but her arm turned red as the poison traveled. Before it was all said and done, the lines went all the way to her shoulder.
She spent two days in the ICU and three more days in the hospital. Poison Control worked closely with her care takers, and following their instructions, she was administered seven bags of antivenom at an average cost of $12,000 a bag. (Can you believe that?).
It took some months for her arm and hand to completely recover, but they did. I talked to her this afternoon to double check a few facts. She had been working in her yard... :-)
This summer she will celebrate another birthday. This time she'll be 92.
What about you? Do you have a snake tale to tell?
Kathryn
But thankfully, I've never had the terrible, life-threatening experience my grandmother had with a deadly copperhead snake.
(I talked briefly about her here when I shared her beauty secret.)
She was working in her flower bed on a typical sunny, summer afternoon pulling weeds without gloves. She felt a prick and assumed it was a thorn or stick or just something in the bed. Without thinking too much of it, she continued her chore. Unfortunately for her, this time when she reached down for the weeds and felt a second prick, she also saw what delivered it--a snake. Blood was flowing from the two holes, so there was no doubt what had happened.
She made her way into the kitchen and called 911. I remember her saying that in that moment, waiting on the ambulance, she felt like she was probably going to die. When my mom phoned to let me know what was going on, I remember thinking, "Surely she has not lived to celebrate her 90th birthday only to be taken down by a snake?"
You can see the bite marks in the center of her red, swelling hand. I didn't have any experience with snake bites, so my first question was, "What's up with all those black lines?"
The lines mark the spread of the poison. 9:45, 10:08, and so on. It's hard to see in the photo, but her arm turned red as the poison traveled. Before it was all said and done, the lines went all the way to her shoulder.
She spent two days in the ICU and three more days in the hospital. Poison Control worked closely with her care takers, and following their instructions, she was administered seven bags of antivenom at an average cost of $12,000 a bag. (Can you believe that?).
It took some months for her arm and hand to completely recover, but they did. I talked to her this afternoon to double check a few facts. She had been working in her yard... :-)
 |
| Celebrating her 90th birthday. |
This summer she will celebrate another birthday. This time she'll be 92.
What about you? Do you have a snake tale to tell?
Kathryn
Saturday, June 18, 2016
A new job for an old dresser...
I haven't done much of anything in my daughter's room since we moved her out last August. I shared her room before it was dismantled in a blog series called "Inspiration for the Girls." You can see all three of those rooms here, here, and here. Sadly, her cute room has become kind of a catch-all. She took her bed, but the majority of the furniture she grew up with stayed here. I decided to use her dresser as a television stand in our room.
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Summer recipes...
Today's Recipe Round Up is brought to you by summer. These are the recipes I've shared that just seem to taste better in the hot, humid months and work perfectly for get-togethers of all kinds. Whether you're pool-side, beach-side, inside, or outside--there will be something you'll like and want to try!
EASY MEALS
EASY SIDES
EASY SWEETS
Friday, June 10, 2016
What's for supper?
Need an idea for supper tonight? I always do. I really don't mind hanging out in the kitchen to feed my people, but the agony of figuring out what to cook keeps me perplexed! I'm hoping I'm not alone, and maybe this will be a fresh idea to some of you. If frozen shrimp doesn't offend you, maybe this will be an easy meal to add to your work week menu. Grab the ingredients on your way home, have it ready in less than 30 minutes, and pretend you are eating at the Shrimp Basket--that's what I do. Of course, you may be one of those super women who can plan, shop, and prepare for the entire month. #goals
Ingredients:
Frozen Shrimp
New Potatoes (or French Fries)
Coleslaw
(16 oz bag of prepared coleslaw mix, seasoning, 3/4 cup of mayonnaise)
Other ingredients:
Ketchup
Horseradish (or prepared cocktail sauce)
French bread
Sweet tea :-)
Meal prep:
Prepare coleslaw, refrigerate. Wash, dice, and boil the potatoes with salt, pepper, and butter to taste. Bake shrimp according the directions as potatoes cook. Add horseradish to the desired amount of ketchup. Bake your bread and pour your tea!
Dinner is served!
Kathryn
Kathryn
Sunday, June 05, 2016
A Sunday thought...Big Plans
Last week my husband and I were talking about that fantastic feeling of euphoria students have on the last day of school after the last exam, the last bell, and the last 3:15 ride home. Do you remember that feeling? Well, when you're a teacher, you get to relive it over, and over, and over again. I must confess: it's just as wonderful as an adult!
Every year I make BIG plans for the summer, which these days amounts to about eight weeks. This year the big plans on my list include things like...
Every year I make BIG plans for the summer, which these days amounts to about eight weeks. This year the big plans on my list include things like...
...clean out one drawer a day.
Make the flower bed look like this...
...because right now, it looks like a tiny jungle.
(I can't believe I'm showing you this.)
Clean out and organize the catch-all shelf in the laundry room.
(Just keeping it real. Come on now, no judging.)
Then there will be tons of projects to work on, plus arranging and rearranging every table top.
As I was making MY plans for the few weeks I have off, I was reminded that plans can change--and often do--especially when the plans we make for our lives are not in line with His plans. Even our best thought out, laid out, designed plans are no match for God's master plan. How much better off we would be to seek His plan before we tried to come up with one of our own. Trust in his plan.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declared the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Kathryn
Wednesday, June 01, 2016
A fashion trend for summer...
I have a new favorite top, and luckily, I'm seeing it in every store I've popped into lately--the tunic. Some are plain, some are fancy, but none of the them are too pricey. The tunics I've seen, tried on, bought, seem to fit in the right places and hang a little looser where they should. :-) They can be dressed up for your night life (if you have one!), and they look great with jeans, pants, and my favorite shoe--the wedge--any time.
I've gathered up some summery styles and colors in case you're loving the tunic trend as well. Most of these come in several other colors. When you click on the link below the picture, you will be able to see the other options.
The first one I found is from Stein Mart. The ruffles are a cute detail, giving this one a dash of movement.
I especially like the look of this one from J. Jill. Added length to cover stuff is always a plus. (You know, stuff...)
My friends know I had to include one from T J Maxx. Many of the styles I've seen have pretty embroidery, and I've also seen several that have ties with tassels.
Last, but not least, the perfect tunic for summer...no sleeves and a little swing!! Tons of colors from Amazon and it's only $20.
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