SNOW.SNOW.SNOW.


    Have I mentioned how much I do NOT love the snow?

    I apologize for this past weekends party running unmanned...
    and for being missing for the past few days.

    I am playing catch up as we speak
    and I will get by to visit all of you over the next couple of days.

    On Thursday evening- the power went out and we woke up on Friday to
    nearly 2 feet of heavy, wet snow.
    We have been without power
    (and without internet) for several days.

    The storm brought a record amount of snow for our area of Northern California.
    It did A LOT of damage in our county
    -one of our neighbors even had a tree fall into their house.
    Thankfully, no one was hurt.

    Remember these pictures from the summer?

    ahhh....

    Well, this was how it looked on Friday.

    I know this is probably usual for a lot of you-
    but not for our area.

    There were 3 big trees down in our driveway
    and also 3 big old trees in our back yard that will need to be cut down due to splits.

    and more snow fell on Friday

    The morning was consumed with removing the downed trees from the road,
    shoring up the broken trees so they didn't fall and hit the house
    & raking the mounds of snow off the roof

    Unfortunately, we didn't get that load of snow off the pergola...


    We were standing in the living room when there was a big crack and then a crash.


    :-{


    The pergola fell to the side from the heavy weight of the snow and crashed into the house
    through one of our french doors.


    Thankfully
    no one was bringing wood in -
    the path went right underneath the pergola
    and no one was standing near the door when it fell.

    My husband chainsawed the pieces he could to be able to
    patch the door temporarily but, the door is damaged beyond repair.
    We are hoping to be able to save much of the wood
    and the pillars from the pergola for rebuilding it-

    This pergola has been here for several years..
    been snowed on many times and it has alway been fine.
    Not a creak. Not a bow.
    Nothing...

    We get snow in the winter but not like this usually-
    we don't have to put away our patio sets, can put fabric or cushions up high, leave the lights up, etc.
    But this amount of snow was insane for our area
    and fell in such a short amount of time. We lucked out that there was not much damage and thank God no one was hurt.

    (2 weeks ago)
    (yes, that is my little patio set from my Valentines post was under it-
    the glass was broken but the set survived)


    Ugggghhhhhh....

    Did I mention before that I DO NOT LOVE snow?

    :-/


    So on Saturday-we decided to head out of town early.
    Out of the snow, out of power outages, etc.
    and we retreated to my mothers house.


    My oldest son's band was playing a show in Walnut Creek that we were planning
    on going to that evening so we just left a bit earlier that originally planned
    and packed our laundry!
    It was so good to just get out of cold snowy dodge for awhile!

    (The 'band' goofing off while waiting to play a show last summer.)

    I always get excited about the band playing- even though it's not my kind of music- both my boys play metal music
    and I don't quite 'get' it sometimes-
    but I always enjoy seeing them play
    (I have never spent so much time in bars! Lol!)
    It was a great show with lots of moshing and energy.

    ( No, in case you are wondering, I do not 'mosh'-
    I was tucked safely around a wall and was manning the video camera)



    Hope everyone had a great weekend
    without snow!
    My husband told me to get redesigning the pergola and to think of how many blog posts
    will be coming in the re build.
    He's hilarious...

    I will get by to say hello soon!
    :)


OLD FRAMES & CHINA ~ FEATHERED NEST FRIDAY


    There's just something about old antique frames...
    Love them in all shapes and sizes...
    they really just seem to talk to me when I find them.


    I don't usually care if they are worn or missing pieces
    or shabby and forgotten...


    I think it just adds to their character.


    I love all the delicate, old, crumbly gesso...


    the shabby darkened paint,
    deep detailed carvings and delightful curves...
    Love them.
    So when I find them,
    they seem to find their way home with me.


    I have been shopping the thrifts recently and
    I bumped into a couple of really great old frames at fantastic prices
    and at first thought I would just maybe make them into chalkboards
    but am kind of loving them unfinished just leaning against each other.


    On the mantle they work well with an old etched frameless mirror,
    a little curvy shelf on it's side,
    and the faded gray cast iron frenchy clock I found at the flea market last summer.



    I also found an incredible set of old delicate china.

    I found a large platter and bowl that match this set about a month ago
    at the same thrift store- but no other pieces were out at that time.


    My daughter and I were wandering through, and found a stack of 17 matching pieces!
    They were marked $8.50 for the set-
    - some of the pieces have crazing & stains, and not in perfect condition,
    but I just adore the colors and
    rose swag pattern.


    When the guy rang me up-
    the frame came up correctly-
    but the china rang up at a whopping...


    8 cents.

    Yeah.
    8 cents
    for all 17 pieces.
    Really?...
    It was buy 1 get one free day, but they said the red tagged boutique items were
    not included in the sale
    but I am thinking they must have been...
    I wasn't going to argue with the guys scanner gun.
    lol!


    ... loving them...

    Some of them are stained...does anyone have any tips on getting stains out of china?
    I have heard soaking the pieces in milk works- but I haven't tried it.
    If anyone has any ideas- I would appreciate them!
    :)

    Okay~
    Onto Feathered Nest Friday!

    French Country Cottage

    There were a few issues with the past couple parties-
    so I am trying a new link service this week to see if it is any better-
    Please let me know if you notice any issues or anything.
    (I am posting the party early this week too-
    just to make sure the other link works and have time to fix it if it doesn't)

    Here's a few highlights from last weeks party!

    Michelle at Emerald Cove shared her delightful faux fireplace in her master bedroom.

    Anita at Going A Little Coastal shared her gorgeous mantle redux for spring

    Biljana shared a sweet little treasure box makeover

    Saltbox in the Country shared her toile inspirations from around her home.


    Olde Tyme Marketplace shared these darling seed bag creations.
    If you were highlighted feel free to pick up a Featured Button on my sidebar.

    Thank you so much to everyone who joined in and shared or spent some time visiting all the guests!
    I also want to say a big thank you to all my followers/ friends
    and welcome to those of you who are new friends!
    :)

    Once again...
    snow is in the forecast for the weekend...actually, it is snowing already...
    arghhh....
    We seem to have issues with power when it snows and last week
    I was playing catch up due to power outages
    so if I don't get by to see you right away-
    I apologize- I will try to get by when I can.



    Share your decorating, flea finds, designs, etc.
    Anything related to feathering your nest!

    Link up an old post or a new post, doesn't matter-
    just share what you would like to share this week!

    I would LOVE for you to become
    a FRENCH COUNTRY COTTAGE Friend/Follower
    if you aren't already~
    Just click that little follow button on my sidebar under
    'Fabulous French Cottage Friends'

    Please, NO links to stores

    PLEASE BE A GRACIOUS FEATHERED NEST FRIDAY GUEST
    & make sure you post a button or a link back to the party.

    Go out and mingle!

    I try to get by and visit each of the participants,
    but would love help in spreading the love!
    So please visit the other party goers
    &
    Show them some love.
    Meet new friends and get some new inspiration for
    Feathering your Nest!!
    New Party over at Denise's blog- go check it out!!

    sharing with the lovely parties
    at
    Vintage Inspiration Friday




SUMMER COTTAGE

    I'm dreaming of...

    A sweet vintage beach cottage... with weathered gray shingles.
    white paned windows and a deep porch
    lined in creamy hydrangeas.


    Peeking just inside the front door,
    a large foyer with painted wood walls and grand old
    glistening crystal chandelier
    welcomes you.


    Worn, weathered statuary and treasures from sun filled days from long ago days
    fill the cottage with warmth
    and character.
    ~

    In the bathroom that we remodeled that I shared with you
    -here -
    there was an old grungy, crusty built in cupboard
    that we dismantled and stored so that it could be re-built into a freestanding piece.

    These doors came off that cupboard
    and have been patiently waiting for me to find a spot to use them until they
    back together as a cupboard.

    I have been thinking about using them on a wall behind a desk as a backdrop
    or behind a bed as a headboard.


    I decided on the sides of a large mirror for now
    to create a vignette that made me think of an
    old waterside cottage in the south.


    Chipping painted perfection


    Dried hydrangeas,
    with a faded stack of old books


    and a favorite old vintage statue that was my grandmothers


    sit atop a reading table in the corner.


    A large abandoned blue jays nest was found inside one of our
    patio umbrellas in the spring last year.


    It holds three dainty blue eggs.

    The old doors draped with sweet white berry wreaths
    bring a sense of old...


    A sense of romance
    and nostalgia...

    A sweet summers cottage


    Wistfully waiting
    in the warm sun for family to come and fill it's halls
    with laughter,
    with sand covered bare feet
    &
    with love.

    Lazy, warm summer days by the water, collecting seashells and
    relaxing to sounds of the ocean...
    I'm ready.

    (especially after 1.5' of snow and power outages over the weekend...)

    How about you?


    sharing with


    buttonwithstarfish

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