Karla's Cottage

Reuniting

Way back when, in Jr High, these two became my people for life.  They both moved to different coasts while I settled in the center of the country, but over the years, we have met up when we could and it always felt like it had been days not years in between.

They indulged my need to go to our high school reunion, even though they had many other suggestions for places we could have a mini reunion instead.  

It was a quick trip, but conversation never lagged, and it was fun to see our other classmates as well.

Sandy brought some old photos, here we are at a past reunion.  (I think I still have that dress, I should look for it.  In my opinion, if you love something, it doesn’t go out of style)

As a matter of fact, I’d wear this “vintage” dress from my senior picture again in a snap if I had it.  Looks like I have always had a thing for rose patterned fabrics, huh?

Thanks, Debbie and Sandy for such a perfect weekend and for being my lifelong friends!

And thanks to all the people who put the reunion together for the class of 76.  I sure enjoyed seeing everyone and loved having a reason to push me to come back home to Indiana.

 

 

A loopy and winding road trip

My trip to Indiana had many different loops woven into it, a craft day with buddies and a junkin trip across country, an afternoon at a rock and mineral show, sister sleepovers, family time, a night at a state park lodge, then a meet up with VERY old friends- my 45th high school reunion, ending with a day of sightseeing in downtown Indy.

Whew.  That is a lot in 7 days including the 8-1/2 hour drive each way.

A bit like this cool spiral in Sissy’s yard!

On the way to Brown Co. park, we had some junking time and stopped at a mega antique mall.

It had some oddities…

But it also had decently priced millinery.  Not so cheap that I bought it all, just reasonable enough to make me pick out a few faves.

I also snapped up a $10 rosey vase/pot, a $16 rosey tablecloth, and a vintage Hawaiian shirt to wear to the Hawaii themed reunion I was attending.

We had perfect weather everywhere we went, and so many laughs, I needed to start using my asthma inhaler again.

The state park had a contest to visit each scenic overlook and take a photo to win a sticker.  I agreed to do it with trepidation, thinking it was going to be miles of walking.

Turns out, you drive to the sites (sights?) so my sissies came too.  And everyone agreed to model some of my pretty purchases.

My nieces and I took off on a hiking adventure after our scenic quest to win stickers.

That was pretty dang scenic too.

The lodge has been newly redecorated, there is an indoor water park and a country style restaurant too.  We were the only ones using the water slide and lazy river.  Which is good because I screamed like a banshee all the way down the curly slide and the lazy river wasn’t so lazy.  It was a crazy river, and we knocked into each other as we bopped along like we were bumper boats at a carnival.

And yes, it was so much fun, the inhaler had to be used.

My hometown is a charmer.  A one block, yet vibrant downtown and an adorable park that I have always loved.

Since I moved away, lots of trails have been added, you can walk for miles out there.

This is from behind the lighthouse.  Don’t ask me why a small pond in central Indiana even has a lighthouse, but there it is, glorious as it was 60 years ago.

And I wonder if these ducks are from the same lineage of the ones I used to take my kiddos to go feed?

The trip went much too quickly.  But was as full as my heart was.

Tiny, Baby Ryan

My pal, Sandy, brought some old photos to our high school  reunion.  One was of little, baby Ryan (and little, baby me).

Not long ago, I had found something I wanted to add to the special album I had made with Ryan’s photos.  It was ideal to glue a picture to and hang from the book. I thought to myself that I’d add one later when I got another, because I’d used all the pics I had.

Then it hit me.

I would never have another new picture of my son.

Those are the moments that hit the hardest.  When I forget.  When I think to myself that I have to tell him something funny, or that a new season of one of our shows is starting, or show him the dog’s new haircut.  To simply share joys or jokes with him.  

That is when I tearfully write him a letter and fold it up with a kiss and tuck it safely into the urn.  And miss him all anew, with a fresh pain.  At first, it is pleasant to forget and to think of him like he is still here, but then, the ache that slams into my heart when I remember that he is not,  just about knocks me to my knees.

I was thrilled to get this new photo.  And to see how my baby was looking at me with love.  

I miss seeing that expression, he was a loving guy.

 

A Lovely Day with Friends

Last week, I drove to Indiana for my 45th reunion and some sister time.  On the way, I stopped for a birthday party craft day for a dear friend.

Not only was it a fun day with buddies, great food (and pink cake!), plus making a sweet project, it was also a pleasant way to break up the trip.

The drive is about nine hours with stops, but I split it into two days starting with this gala get together.

Crafting pretty pumpkins, laughing with gal pals, and having a fancy luncheon was a perfect start for my day of travel.  I drove to two of my favorite antique malls after saying goodbye to friends, then a few hours further til it was time to take myself out for a crunchy, fried chicken dinner and grab some sleep at a Holiday Inn Express.

Too bad all days on the road aren’t that much fun.

These are the little gifts I wrapped up for the party goers.

Thanks again for the festive start to my vacation, Birthday Girl!

And thanks for sharing your big day with us.

Into the Sunflower Fields

Sugarwings’ mama has graduated from her midwifery school!  After about 16 years of of working full time and continuing her education, (while getting excellent grades throughout), she has her degrees.

She needed some photos in her cap and gown, and the sunflower fields were just hitting their peak.  

Perfect timing!

Not only do sunflowers make a beautiful backdrop for pictures, the huge expanse of yellow blooms that rolls off into the distance is magical.

When you first arrive and see the other cars parked, The number of people already there is deceptive.

I usually feel like I’ll have to go way out into the blooms to find a private area for photos.

But no.  Once you step inside, you are surrounded and it can feel like you are in your own private, yellow world.

All of the other families who are visiting just disappear.  Unless they brought a flying, super baby  with them, who can skim across the top of the flowers.

Some years, the weather doesn’t comply and the farmer isn’t as successful. Others, like now, the flowers are massive and the fields are full.

 It’s free to visit, but tips are appreciated, and if you pick  flowers, you should leave a dollar for each.  

I have only taken Sugarwings twice, and what a big difference seven years makes!

Why have I only been a handful of times, when I get so much joy out of going?  Well, weather, timing, many things get in the way, durn it.

This time, the weather was beyond perfect.  We headed out at about 6pm, on the Thursday before Labor Day.  The lighting was ideal, the mystical “golden hour” was adding a soft glow to the air, and best of all, there were no bugs or mud.  

Our timing was ideal.

And what a lovely place for a graduate from Kansas to have a photo shoot.  We are the “Sunflower State.”

Plus, it just plain, old makes me happy to be there.

 

My transition mantel decor

At the end of August, I was ready for a new mantel look, but not ready to embrace fall, pumpkins, or Halloween.

I kept it flowery like my garden outside. In the yard, the rose bushes are looking their best, and I am really enjoying those blooms. 

This look might be verging on too springlike, but I’m okay with it.

UPDATE:

After creating this landscape, I decided to add it to the mantel in place of the smaller, unframed one.  

 

 

 

Another handmade book

The paint pours I have been making over the summer are coming in handy for the book covers I’ve put together. This one is so pretty, I haven’t even added to it beyond the clasp.

The spine for this book is metal filigree and the pages are tied in with leather strings.

It is a bit different than my others, I needed something less girly for this one.

Actually, not girly at all, it is for a friend’s father.

I did not have photos to add, but have made it ready to pop some into.

There are envelopes for memorabilia.

And pockets too.

 

My favorite planter

Quite a few years back, we took out a couple of trees.  Being thrifty, we left the stumps, because if you’ve ever paid to have two trees removed, you’d understand why we were feeling the need for thrift.

At first, I used the stumps as platforms to set planters on, but after decaying over time, they started to sink inward. 

So I filled the hole that was developing with dirt and plants.

Over time, it kept sinking and rotting til it evolved into losing the entire front part of the stump.  I wasn’t ready to say goodbye, so I stacked rocks to build a wall and prolonged its use a while longer.

It was honestly much prettier this spring before the baby pups learned how to climb the rocks like a ladder to dig in the dirt.  I’m surprised that any of the begonias survived at all.  As fall approaches, I’m thinking about switching to mums in this, but I cannot kill the flowers that are still hanging on.  Maybe I can transplant them to a new pot.

Because this would look great filled up and blooming bigger.

And this might be my last year to enjoy this particular stump, there might not be much left of it after this winter.

 

 

A little bit of paint makes for big changes

Well, I forgot to get a before photo, but I’m sure you can picture this dresser in brown.  Add a scuffed up top to complete the picture and you’ve got it.

Nice lines, solid, and well made, but past its prime.

After using Goo Gone to clean off some mess left behind by stickers, I started with a coat of Michaels’ brand of chalk paint in gray. It dried streaky (one coat is never enough, is it?)

Next, I put white and gray chalk paints together on a plate and dipped a brush in both at once, then started pouncing it on.  When dry, I lightly sanded here and there for mild distressing, and topped coated it with Polycrylic satin.

While my paints were out, I covered the old wooden box in the gray, and the hand towel holder in white, and finished both off with the Polycrylic too.

With these pieces, I actually remembered the befores!

This shot is way before, back before I broke off one arm.  Dang it.  The old metal it is made of, was too pliable.  I hope the other arm lasts, this is being used as a mask holder by the door.  I feel like hanging up my mask to air it out is better than laying it down.

Well I guess this is a sorta before shot.  I caught myself as I started to paint it.  This is a perfect little cabinet to keep by the door, the deep drawer holds things that I don’t want cluttering up the top of the dresser.

The two, small containers of paint went a long way, neither is empty.  I’m typically not a fan of chalk paint, but it can go quickly for a project since there is no need for a primer and it dries so fast you can rapidly start on your second coat.  And if you don’t mess with wax, using a clear coat instead, it is a pretty easy way to go.

And talk about drawers!  Wow, this new (old) dresser holds so much, I still have an empty drawer to fill up yet.  So far I am using two for dog supplies, leashes, etc, one for clean masks, one for garden gloves, mittens, and winter hats.  

Oh, that’s right, I still have TWO to fill.

Yea, I know it isn’t meant to be a kitchen piece, it should be in a bedroom. But it works in this spot so well, that didn’t matter to me.  It is exactly what I needed for right here.