Since I'm going to be away for over a week, I thought I would "pre-post" a few entries that would come up while I am away.
As much as I love travel and look forward to meeting up with good friends and having adventures, I'm basically a homebody. I'm homesick already just thinking about being away. So I thought I'd show some pictures of my house. Probably more for me than for you, I'll be able to turn on the computer any time and take a peek at my sweet home and not feel as lonely for it.
Here are the front steps, that I mosaic-ed in a vining pattern. I wanted something organic looking, in honor of my Dad, who was an avid gardener. I was working on these steps while we waited for the test results that diagnosed his cancer.
My favorite place in the house, though, is Sugarwing's room. I'll never forget when she was old enough to talk and she told me, "Grammy has pretty things". I told her, "No, baby, this is YOUR room, these are YOUR pretty things". The look on her face was one of the most special things I have ever seen. I will always treasure that moment with her. Its a joy to me to know that she loves her room as much as I do.
My kitchen is extra special to me, because my son, Sugarwing's Daddy, custom built these cabinets for me.
He is a talented carpenter, but no longer does that work. He has to take good care of his hands now, since he is a massage therapist. Which is also a handy skill to have in a son! Especially when my back goes out like it did last week.
I can still get him to do a special project for me here and there, though. He and I ripped out the old stair way and rebuilt it last year.
It will be hard to be away from my little Dorkies for 8 days too.
But those 8 days will fly by fast, and soon, I'll be walking through my front door again to a house full of barking dogs jumping up and trying to sniff out where I've been all week. And honestly, I have a GREAT week planned, with my best friends and so much fun to look forward to, so I have nothing to complain about. But like I said, I'm a homebody and will miss my house and my gardens, and my fairy grand baby, and all the dorkies.
In the meantime, Andrea will be having a "Show me your Crown" party and there is no way I could miss that. I might have a few around.... So, please join in on Wed. the 10th for that, and please link up and show your royal head gear too.
I've been very lax all week in returning comments and emails. Since I hurt my back, my time in a computer chair has been limited. I've read and enjoyed each and every one of them, sorry if I didn't get back to you. Also, with this trip, I will be even further behind. Please keep in contact, I do read them all, and each is entered into the monthly drawing. This month's prize is a vintage wallpaper covered journal that I made.
Karla, every time I see photos of your home, I swoon! Those cabinets your son made are wonderful! Thanks for sharing these with us.
Posted by: Claudia | June 08, 2009 at 11:48 AM
The creativity is so apparent in your home.
Posted by: Embellish | June 08, 2009 at 11:55 AM
Hi Karla, I loved the tour of your beautiful home. You have a great trip full of fun and adventure.
Hugs karen
Posted by: Karen Young | June 08, 2009 at 12:07 PM
I know exactly what you mean Karla! I'm a homebody too!
I cannot get enough of photos of your gorgeous house. Have a great time!
Posted by: LiLi M. | June 08, 2009 at 01:01 PM
So beautiful and cozy:)
Have a fun trip.
Posted by: Donna Layton | June 08, 2009 at 01:27 PM
Karla, I love your house with all the special details you are so good at, but you are right sugarwings room is a dream room for any little girl. I know you will have a great trip. Take care of your back and takes lots of Pictures..
Jean in Virginia
Posted by: Jean Eakin | June 08, 2009 at 01:41 PM
I am the exact same way and we were just gone three days and I am so glad to be home. Your home is surrounded in things you love and wraps it's arms around you and makes you feel secure... That is the things we love the very most above all the luxury in the world... we are home bodys and I think we have the best of the best built in cause alot of people never find that.... Enjoy but hurry home where you are the happiest.
Posted by: Marietta Hoschak | June 08, 2009 at 02:01 PM
Thanks for the tour!
Hope you have a wonderful time on your trip - take lots of pictures!
Posted by: TinaTx | June 08, 2009 at 02:16 PM
I'm a homebody too and don't like leaving my house much. However, I would NEVER leave my house if it was as beautiful as yours!
Blessings,
Christine
Posted by: chrisitne | June 08, 2009 at 02:59 PM
Have fun on your trip Karla. Your house is beautiful and you son did an amazing job with your kitchen. I love it!!!!
Hugs!!
Sonia
Posted by: Sonia | June 08, 2009 at 03:14 PM
Your home is beautiful but, it's not just pretty it truly looks like a loved in home. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who gets homesick. Have fun.
Posted by: luckygirlgifts | June 08, 2009 at 03:26 PM
Wow! Grammy does have pretty things! Grammy has INCREDIBLE things! No wonder you want to stay at home! Those stairs!!!!! Please do a post on those alone! Here's my wee attempt at painting flowers....
http://mable-rose.blogspot.com/2009/04/my-gifts-to-my-daughters.html
...but I would die for stairs like those!!!
Fleur
xx
Posted by: fleur | June 08, 2009 at 03:41 PM
Oh Miss Karla, your talent just shines in every room of your beautiful home! My heart about exploded when I read the part about sugarwings and Grammy's pretty things! Such a precious, precious moment! You are blessed beyond belief to have that precious little one in your life!!! I am a homebody too, there's no place like home! I'm sure you will have a great time on your trip though, especially spending time with your friends! Enjoy your trip!
Milli (sashagirl on flickr)
Posted by: sashagirl | June 08, 2009 at 03:48 PM
I so understand that feeling! Just took a break from cleaning (yuck) and rearranging (hmmmm) to sneak a peek at blogs - your place is so inspiring! Have fun on your trip.
Posted by: barbara | June 08, 2009 at 04:51 PM
I always get that same feeling the night before I leave on a trip. We are blessed that we have homes we love that much!
I enjoy seeing your lovely home, and still cannot believe I actually saw it in person ~ I really felt like I had stepped into the pages of a magazine!
It's so sweet how special you make things for your little Sugarwings ~ I hope to be that kind of a grandma someday!
:)
~Becca~
Posted by: Becca | June 08, 2009 at 04:59 PM
Oh your home is ever so lovely ... it speaks of YOU. Your son is very talented indeed and I may like to borrow him one day soon. Hee hee! May your travel be smooth and the adventures be grand ... and I'll be waiting to read all about it when you post again.
Posted by: DeniseLynn | June 08, 2009 at 05:05 PM
Hi Karla,
OK, now I can really see how creative and talented you are. Thanks for showing us in blog land.
Your house is soooo pretty with all the hand painted pieces, unbelievable.
Have a fun time away.
Hugs,
Anna
Posted by: Anna Rosa | June 08, 2009 at 05:16 PM
Karla, your home is so pretty...and what makes it extra special are all of the pretty details and work done by you and your son...Miss Sugarwings is lucky to have such a sweet little room in her grammy's house...see you soon:)
Posted by: Lori | June 08, 2009 at 05:40 PM
have a great time Karla. Im a home body too. going away though, is part of what makes home.. home sweet home!
hugs
vivian
Posted by: vivian | June 08, 2009 at 05:58 PM
You are a whiner, but you're so good at it that I never realize you're whining. I feel sorry for you and then I sympathize with you and then you always say "I'm just whining, its no big deal...and I end up being the one that's all bummed out.
Just kidding.
Posted by: Beth Leintz | June 08, 2009 at 06:50 PM
Home Sweet Home...I know exactly how you feel. You and I must be thinking alike regarding journals, yours is lovely!
Posted by: Cathie | June 08, 2009 at 08:41 PM
What a lovely, warm home. I suspect those adjectives would also describe you perfectly.
Don't feel you need to respond to this comment; I just wanted you to know I enjoy your blog and wish you a very fun, relaxing trip and a wonderful homecoming!
Posted by: leilani | June 08, 2009 at 09:00 PM
OOOOooooo! I would be so happy to win one of your journals. I have admired them for a while but couldn't justify the purchase!!! I have to win! hugs! karen...
Posted by: karen | June 08, 2009 at 09:17 PM
Your house is so yummy. Thanks for sharing so I can drool. Please continue with your tour. Ellie
Posted by: Ellie | June 08, 2009 at 09:56 PM
OMG, I wouldn't want to leave that beautiful house either! What a wonderful place you have created. Have a great time on your trip.
Tracy M.
Posted by: Tracy M. | June 08, 2009 at 10:31 PM
I would miss that beautiful home to if I was away from it for a few days. Enjoy your time and have fun.
Kris
Posted by: kris | June 08, 2009 at 11:19 PM
Thanks for the tour of your house Karla. I think Sugarwings room would be my favorite place to stop for a moment too.
Enjoy your 8 day break.
Hugs ~ Kerryanne
Posted by: Kerryanne English | June 08, 2009 at 11:24 PM
Sugarwings is righ, her Grammy does have the prettiest things! I love your style...your kitchen cabinets are beyound precious and I love your front door...did you paint the roses on the side panels?...ah, you inspire me to get back to finding my bliss!...that is if I ever really knew what my bliss was! I'm still working on creating my own "tag " journal, but finding the large tags is proving to be a challenge...I can find 1000 of them, but I think I would rather start with ten!...have a great holiday!
Posted by: Bev | June 09, 2009 at 12:16 AM
Oh Karla, I get almost as frustrated as I do inspired when I visit you here. Your home is my dream place. I don't know what room is my favorite. It's such a calming place. Thank you for being so kind as to share with us. I pray your back is feeling better
Posted by: debi | June 09, 2009 at 01:08 AM
I love the journal! Come home soon sweets! I miss you already! xo Andrea
Posted by: Andrea | June 09, 2009 at 01:29 AM
Hi Karla, enjoy your trip and your home
is so lovely. I can see why you will miss
it. Love! Love! Love! your kitchen cabinets
and sweet Sugarwings room. I have an
idea if you are missing home too much....
just click your pretty red shoes and you'll
be back to your sweet home, Sugarwings and
Dorkies instantly! :)
Hugs,
Janis
Posted by: Janis | June 09, 2009 at 03:46 AM
I really enjoyed seeing so much of your house in this post, Karla. It shows so well in these pics. Now-stop the winjing (as a dear English friend of mine calls it). Stiff upper lip, Bucko and have a MARVELOUS time!! We expect pictures and lots of stories when you come back. - Kathy in Chicago
Posted by: Kathy in Chicago | June 09, 2009 at 07:55 AM
Karla,
Your home is so pretty!
"Be it ever so humble there is no place like home!" ~John Howard Payne
Posted by: Cindy Is Crafty | June 09, 2009 at 08:32 AM
How inviting your home is I love vintage, had one of those homes years ago. Miss it.
I really enjoyed my visit.
Posted by: Bunny | June 09, 2009 at 11:11 AM
Have a great time away and know that everything (including weeds) will be at your home upon your arrival back! I too love being home, especially in the summer when my gardens need my tending....and watering....and weeding! :)
XOXO Rochelle
Posted by: Rochelle Gaukel | June 09, 2009 at 01:12 PM
Thanks for sharing photos of your beautiful home...it is pretty and inviting, just like you!! Hope you are having a wonderful time.
Posted by: kana conger | June 09, 2009 at 01:14 PM
I'm a homebody too, but sure wish I had a pretty home like you!
Posted by: Lorna | June 10, 2009 at 12:59 AM
Your kitchen is lovely. Beautiful mosaic work too!
Posted by: Debra | June 10, 2009 at 03:53 AM
The journal is lovely Karla! I am selfish and hope I win it. Hope you are having a great time with your friends.
Posted by: Susan M Hickam | June 10, 2009 at 07:58 AM
I hope you have a wonderful trip...and I too would miss that beautiful place you call home.
Posted by: Andrea | June 11, 2009 at 10:46 AM
OH, Karla, so very beautiful! I love the kitchen -- so bright and airy! And Ms. Sugarwings room is the best! I'll never forget when I first saw those steps, early on visiting your blog. I decided this woman was either totally crazy or the most creative human being I'd ever seen! (I still wonder, but I lean toward the latter!)
Have a fun time in Washington/VA!
Posted by: jeanie | June 11, 2009 at 03:02 PM
you have a fabulous house! We're building ours in Montana, and I'd like to know how you finished the staircase: are the flowers carpet, wallpaper, or painted wood? I cant see the elements in the corner of each step, they look so cool ... are they decorated wood dowels (I'm sure you think I'm crazy by now).
Would appreciate a few details, if you can find the time to write. I saved the photo in our house file (there are so many thi gs we have been collecting over the years that we are incorporating into this house).
Warm wishes and many thanks.
Posted by: Vianna | June 15, 2009 at 10:21 AM