MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

Heidy-Ho, Blogging Buddies!!

Well, against all odds and with a LOT of assistance from the spousal-unit (I am neither a sanding nor a hardware kinda' gal!), the nightstand project has been completed.  Did it turn out exactly as it looked in my mind?  Not quite.  But I learned a couple of things, figured out what I would need to do to get closer to the final look I was wanting, and I have a finished product that is certainly acceptable to me.  I call that all good.  :)

I love that my mentor, Shirley, and her sister, Kathi, the proud proprietors of Haven Home Furnishings, actually had faith that my fully left-brain self could eke out enough right-brain stuff to make this happen.  Thank you, ladies, for your confidence and support.

Without further ado, let's take a look at the transformation of my nightstand.

A reminder of where we started.

The process (one coat each of three different colors).

Start with a coat of "Chalk"

Add a coat of "Victorian Purple"

Finish with a coat of "Patina"

NOW LET THE "DISTRESSING" PIGEONS LOOSE!!!!

One side

Don't forget inside the drawer

The cabinet area

Front view

So... hope you have enjoyed my first endeavor in the world of "shabby chic!"  I will say it was fun to see the piece transformed.  Since it will return to the guest room, it doesn't have to be my personal style to have a place in my home.

If you are more right-brain than I and if you enjoy transforming furniture pieces, you should really consider one of the painting classes at Haven.  Heck, the spousal-unit has already offered up a wooden barstool of his for my next transformation project!  I just have to figure out what to do with it.  I'm thinking even further ahead... to the painting and stenciling of some larger pieces!

Lord help me.  I have become a paintaholic.  Sigh.  Shirley... I blame you for all of this.

Until next post!

PAINTAHOLIC? DO I NEED A PROGRAM?

Heidy-Ho, Blogging Pals!

Okay.  I have told you about two furniture painting classes I have taken at Haven Home Furnishings in Lake Charles.  The first (basic) was in June.  The second (advanced) was in August.  I guess it is time for me to try out what I have learned.  But first, let me show you what I accomplished in class (with a lot of help from Shirley!).

The basic class was really learning about the Van Gogh paint product and the basic technique of painting and distressing.  We worked on practice boards and tried out the clear wax and the dark wax on each.  My results:

The second class introduced the use of stencils, embossing, and the new "metallic" paints available.  It was a frenetic class but definitely worthwhile.  Again, the practice boards were put to good use.  My results:

Emboss using a stencil then paint the embossed area again using the stencil. My error here was using a "furniture makeup" glaze that I don't care for.

LOVE the metallic paints!  Making a fun board to hang items on using the copper colored metallic paint for the knobs.

Using a stencil to add a design with multiple colors.

Lots of fun and really enjoyed learning these new techniques!

So... it's time to put up or shut up.  I'm starting with a very small project that will only involve painting and distressing.  This is a nightstand that matches two chests-of-drawers that my parents owned.  I now possess the set.  The nightstand has been used in the guest room for years now but has been in poor shape since I obtained it.  I'm excited about bringing it back to life in a new form... rather like the phoenix rising from the ashes.  We'll see.

Here are the before shots.  The outdoor shots were taken of the item as it was before the sanding began.  (MANY thanks to the spousal-unit for all his help during the sanding process!)  The indoor shots are after the sanding of the item.

Alright then.  Now you know what I will be working on for the next couple of days.  The beauty of the chalk paint is how easily and quickly it applies and dries.  I am hopeful to have the "after" shots for you in less than a week.  Whether or not I will get them posted is another matter entirely!!!

At any rate, we'll see how this goes.  Wish me luck!

Until next post...

9/11/2014 - PLEASE RENEW YOUR ACQUAINTANCE WITH SGT. MAJ. LARRY STRICKLAND!

Greetings to my Blogging Pals. Those who have been with me a while know about my participation in Project 2996. I began my participation in 2009 and plan to continue this as long as I am able to do so. I ask each of you to take a moment to remember what happened on 9/11/2001. Even if you read my tributes previously, please read them again. It's important that we see this as an individual, personal event... not just something that happened in New York, D.C., and Pennsylvania over a decade ago. It affects us all and will continue to do so. I do not see the 12th Anniversary as any different from the 2nd, the 19th, or the 100th. The pain for the families is the same. But this is a tribute to their loved one!! Please read about this wonderful gentleman.
*** This was posted in 2009 as my tribute to Sgt. Maj. Larry Strickland. I repeat it here as I will continue doing so on each anniversary of 9/11 as long as I am able. There are a couple of notes and updates from 2010 in italic.

Please meet Sgt. Maj. Larry Strickland. He was 52 years old, born in Washington State, and had a Bachelor of Science degree. He had served our country in a lot of places including Germany, Washington State, Washington DC, Texas, and Virginia. He had many awards and decorations. Most devastating for me to learn was his plan to retire upon completion of 30 years of service... at the end of September 2001. After all of his service, he was close to spending more time on his hobbies (fishing, hiking, gourmet cooking, and needlepoint) and especially looking forward to spending more time with his family. SGM Strickland left behind a wife, Debra, who was the Garrison Command Sergeant Major of Fort Belvoir, VA. at the time, three adult children, and one grandson who will never know his grandfather as he was only a year old when SGM Strickland was taken. His parents also were left to deal with the untimely loss of their child.

NOTE: I posted a note to the family at Legacy.com and received two emails.

One was from SGM Strickland's son-in-law and read, in part:

"I came across your blog today while searching for SM Larry Strickland. I am lucky enough to be married to his daughter Julia and I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for caring enough to research this remarkable man. Everything you read about him and his character is true. He left behind an amazingly strong wife, a beautiful daughter, his two sons, and his grandson. His grandson was 4, not 1 as many newspaper articles claim, so he does remember his grandfather, and fondly."(I was SO happy to read that his grandson did remember his grandfather and wanted to share that with you all! MNC)

The other email was from SGM Strickland's daughter and read, in part:

"Mary, thank you very much for your kind words. I am Larry's daughter, and it is wonderful to know that though it's been 8 years, remembering him and this tragic event is still as important now as it was the day it happened. He was truly a wonderful man, and the best father anyone could ask for."

SGM Strickland headed out to work that day at the Pentagon as there were some meetings he deemed important enough to attend even though he could have skipped them. He had annual leave built up that needed to be used or lost. He chose to go to work. If you knew nothing more about him than that, you would know the character of the man. It was that character that had him in his office on the second floor when the wing he was in was struck by American Airlines Flight 77.

But this is a tribute to SGM Strickland's life. And I've got to tell you the things said about him and written about him are absolutely glowing!! What a wonderful thing... to have those left behind remember you so well and so lovingly. It's not just family. These were friends, co-workers, people who knew him on a "business" level where, many times, the feelings are not so great. I would suggest you take a few moments today to review three different web sites where there are tributes (and from where I gathered much of the information I am sharing with you). It really won't take that long and, thankfully, most of us did not actually know anyone who was lost that day. Perhaps it would be good to learn about at least one of them. I know it gave me a very new perspective.

Pentagon Memorial Fund - Names of the souls lost at the Pentagon are alphabetical by last name. Scroll down and click on SGM Strickland's name to read about his service career.

Columns - The University of Washington Alumni Magazine- Read a really great article here about SGM Strickland's personal life. Sounds like someone we would all like to have known.

The Washington Post - This project is a database of all of the souls lost that day and has a very nice tribute to SGM Strickland.

Legacy.com - This is where folks can leave notes for the family. Many folks were positively impacted by SGM Strickland. Some commented here about their appreciation of the man. I invite you to take just a moment to leave a note here to let the family know the loss of their loved one is something we all remember.

9-11 Heroes - This is another site where a note can be left. Again... take a moment to leave a note on at least one of the sites. You have no idea how much this can mean to family members.

Thank you, SGM Strickland, for your service, for your honor, and for your character. I'm glad I got to know you.

We should never forget.

09/11/2014 - PLEASE RENEW YOUR ACQUAINTANCE WITH MAJOR RONALD D. MILAM!

Greetings to my Blogging Pals. Those who have been with me a while know about my participation in Project 2996. I began my participation in 2009 and plan to continue this as long as I am able to do so. I ask each of you to take a moment to remember what happened on 9/11/2001. Even if you read my tributes previously, please read them again. It's important that we see this as an individual, personal event... not just something that happened in New York, D.C., and Pennsylvania over a decade ago. It affects us all and will continue to do so. I do not see the 12th Anniversary as any different from the 2nd, the 19th, or the 100th. The pain for the families is the same. But this is a tribute to their loved one!! Please read about this wonderful gentleman.

Major Ronald Dutrell Milam was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and had a Bachelors degree from Eastern New Mexico University earned in 1991. He served his country in Germany, Korea, and Saudi Arabia. He had recently received his assignment as Military Assistant for the Secretary of the Army. He had also recently married Jacqueline on January 15, 2000. Things were definitely going well for Major Milam and his new family. His future was clearly a bright one and who knows what wonderful things he would have accomplished!

On 9/11/2001, Major Milam, who had just turned 33 the month before, was at work at the Pentagon. His wife, Jacqueline, five months pregnant with their second child and an Air Force officer, was also at her job at the Pentagon. Neither had an office in the area where Flight 77 struck that morning. Jacqueline was not terribly concerned immediately after the attack assuming they would connect in the parking lot. Major Milam had been attending a staff meeting that morning... right where the aircraft crashed into the Pentagon.

But this post is a tribute to a man who lived well, with honor and with dedication to his country. His college basketball coach had no doubt Major Milam was a leader and a role model during his years working with him. When Major Milam told his coach he had chosen the military as his career, the coach, who thought Milam should pursue a career in law, told the young man he supported him 100%. Major Milam clearly touched many lives during his own. What a great legacy to leave!! We should all be proud of this young man.

Take a few moments today to visit the sites below. If you can, leave a note for his family at either Legacy.com or at 9-11 Heroes. All of the sites below are links to get you there quickly.


Arlington Cemetery Site - If you read nothing else, read this tribute. Major Milam's wife recounts the events of that day and what has kept her going.

Pentagon Memorial Site - This site has a full obituary providing information on Major Milam's life.

The Washington Post - This site has a short remembrance from Major Milam's father about the Major's love of golf.

Legacy.Com - Take a moment and leave a note for the family here, if you wish.

9-11 Heroes - Or you can leave a note for the family here, if you wish.

Thank you, Major Milam, for your service, for your honor, and for your character. I'm glad I got to know you.

We should never forget.

A LITTLE EXCITEMENT TO END AUGUST!

Heidy-Ho, Blogging Buddies!

It has been a bit exciting around here the last week of August.  I will provide you with some detail... all weather-related!

On Monday, August 25th, we had a little storm roll through in the late afternoon.  That isn't really unusual for this area due to the proximity to the Gulf of Mexico (bringing in high moisture levels) and the time of year (plenty of heat!).  This little storm, however, was a bit more than usual.  Very heavy winds and lightning made it interesting.  It went through very quickly but what it left behind took a little longer to clear up!

Little limbs and branches down in the front yard.

Larger items (pine trees!) down on the golf course.

Oh yeah... and the electric company's worker the spousal-unit flagged down after the power pole & transformer in our back yard lit up and remained smoldering... with just a little flame for the excitement level.  Oh boy.

A little clean-up of small items down in the yard and things were pretty much okay again.  Nothing unusual and the rain we got was really appreciated... albeit an awful lot in a short time!

I had signed up for the "advanced" furniture painting class at Haven Home Furnishings.  It was scheduled for Saturday, August 30th.  No problem.  It rained overnight Friday night and continued into Saturday.  The class was in Lake Charles, LA, about 45 minutes south of where I am.  The problem with Lake Charles is it is very low and has a tendency to flood in a lot of areas when there are heavy rains.  Hmmmm.  It had been raining all night here and I figured it was raining there, too, but I struck out at 8:30 a.m. for my 10:00 a.m. class, hoping to make a quick Starbucks run before class.  Perhaps I was just a wee bit too optimistic?

After surveying the situation and noting the vehicles that were stranded, I struck out very slowly to the light where I made my turn and proceeded to class.  Skipped Starbucks for the morning (but made it there at the end of the day!) to avoid any further "swimming" through Lake Charles.  The interesting news?  Lake Charles hit a new record rainfall that day... 7.87 inches.  Uh-huh.  Go figure.

After the crazy weather, seems like the "critters" needed to get busy.  The spousal-unit spotted this little fella' so I caught a couple of pics.  I have found about 3-4 more just like him throughout the back yard.

This morning's walk found this critter out as busy as a... well, it's pretty obvious.  :)

So... August has ended and September begins.  I hope all of you had a fun-filled and safe Labor Day!  I'm plotting what project to tackle with my new-found painting skills.  I'll keep you posted on that.

Thanks, as always, for reading!  Until next post...