Inspiration after Christmas

We had an amazing Christmas and New Years. Just getting back to normal, Christmas decorations are all down and put away. What a job that is, always vowed never to put up so many next year when I’m taking them down.

After Christmas, hubby and I went over to Liz and Dave’s for a few days. The boys played golf while Liz and I made the flea market/antique/interior design store circuit between Ft Walton Beach and Destin. Liz was in search a a buffet for her dinning room and I was hunting for anything! Especially inspiration. After 2 days of searching Liz found her dream piece at Lovelace Interiors in Destin. It’s the Addison cabinet from Aidan Gray. It’s a weathered wood, grayish lovely piece. Just perfect for their taste. And stores lots of china:

I’m making them a Lamp Tramp special…. a huge oyster shell mirror to go over this baby. Liz is searching for new lamps. And old wood planks to re-plank her table.

My favortie store that we went to, twice, is Antiques on Holiday. So many heavenly pieces and vignettes to feast one’s eyes upon. Enjoy all this great inspiration:

There are 2 huge floors of all this goodness, too much to photograph and digest all at once.

My Master Bath redo is still going on, cute Brazilian guy just left. I’ll get some pictures when everything is cleaned up and back together. On Thursday morning a new plumber is coming to spray foam under master bath whirlpool tub. Tub has been floating on air instead of a base of concrete underneath it to support weight of many gallons of water plus a body. Plumber is also installing new handles, faucets, shower nozzles, and hand held nozzles in two other baths. But the down side is, has has two cut huge holes out the walls behind these 2 tubs to change out faucets, etc. Lots more dust, coughing, choking, and cleaning. But we are getting things done and that is always a good thing.

Happy New Year to all!

ALIVE DAY MAY 11 2010

Tomorrow we are celebrating David’s 1st ALIVE Day! Let me tell you,  we are the happiest families on earth….David’s and ours.  We thank God and count our blessings on a daily basis that our David survived his EOD explosion in Afghanistan.  It has been a long and difficult year for David and Liz. They have made us all proud with their stoic perseverance,  David’s maybe 30- surgeries,  their daily struggles (which make most of our struggles look like a dream), their founding of the amazing Wii’s for Warriors, and their commitment to each other in their first year of marriage. The wonderful welcome home.  Their special Christmas Eve.  And, on occasion, I do believe, my Liz has kicked a butt or two.  Go Liz! You are an inspiration to all us girls, wives, and Moms!

Most of the world had no idea what EOD was until the Hurt Locker won awards.

Last weekend was the Memorial EOD Weekend in Fort Walton, FL.  Liz and David flew down to participate in this solemn ceremony. David is ALIVE. 16 other EODs are not.

Please watch this amazing video that was just made to memorialize all the fallen EODs this past year. The song: “In the Middle of the Night” was written for this tribute. It shows what our amazing EODs do, when the music changes, half way through, you will see pictures of the fallen EODs and their families. All of these brave men were added to the EOD Memorial Wall on the first of May.   The Wounded EOD Warrior Foundation is another great place to visit. There is even a picture of our David receiving his Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

 

Thank you to all our EODs, who “In the middle of the night, while the others are in bed, they go out and do the job where the angels fear to tread”.

 

Love you, David and Liz! Happy Alive Day!

Absence makes the heart grow fonder….

Yes, I have been absent when it comes to blogging. A MONTH of absence! And I have missed ya’ll! This past month has been a whirlwind of cleaning up the yard and having repair work & painting done to outside of my home. We experienced the longest coldest winter temps ever. Everything in my yard that was subtropical was dead! So sad and so much clean up work to do. And I’m so glad it’s finally over.

I have not even attempted to work on any of my never ending slipcovers and other indoor projects. As soon as I get back from vacation in two weeks, I promise I’ll be a sewing DIVA! For me, stepping away from projects and then returning to them is therapeutic. When I’m on vacation this coming week, I’ll be dreaming of white slipcovers. Yes, absence makes the heart grow fonder.

And of course being absent from my children makes me miss them so much! So we will be spend next week with Liz and Dave at the fabulous National Harbor.

We have rented a condo at ONE HABOR PLACE.

On Wednesday night, my birthday, Liz and Dave are treating us to the Lexus Presidents seats at Nationals Park for the game against the Colorado Rockies. We will take the water taxi from National Harbor, up the Potomac, directly to the stadium.

While the boys will be playing golf most days, Liz and I will be mostly shopping and planning for their new home that just bought in the DC/MD area. Yes, joy of all joys, they will be moving out of their tiny hotel type room in the Mologne House at Walter Reed. Their first home to be:

When I reminisce back this past year since Dave’s accident in Afghanistan, I overwhelmed by all that they have gone through. I’m amazed and so proud of all that they have accomplished. They have a wonderful future ahead of them. I miss them every day and can’t to spend a wonderful week with them having fun!

One other fun thing I want to do in DC is go to the 2010 DC Design House. I’m ready for some fabulous inspiration and want to come home with dozens of creative ideas floating in my head.

I missed you. And I hope my absence made your heart grow fonder… for me!

THE WELCOME HOME on Monday

The time has flown by since Liz & David landed last Monday. We have been so busy and this is my first chance to get on my laptop.

It was all amazing…at least 100 people at the airport…..

Liz shedding a tear or two while David and his Mom hug

Local television crew and newspaper reporters

Liz’s Grandmother & David

The Patriot Guard Riders blessing

Think this is one of David’s teachers from his high school

David and his Granny and his sister Jamie

We had Gulfport police escort and the Patriot Guard Riders

Then we got to Diamondhead where there were at least a different 100 people lining the streets, waving flags, and cheering

Sea Coast Echo article

SEARCH RESULTS
Last Updated: Dec 24th, 2009 - 10:59:46

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News
Hero’s Welcome
Solider returns home to hero's welcome

Staff Sgt. David Flowers waves to crowd as his vehicle enters the Diamondhead community Monday.

Banner at my home

The lunch following …

Checking out David’s leg and Halo Fixator. Uncle George flew in from California to be here for the homecoming through Christmas.

These Patriot Guard Riders were so wonderful! There were 12 bikes and 3 trucks carrying an additional 6 Riders.

Some of them drove all the way from New Orleans early that morning in cold, foggy weather

These are some of the greatest guys ever, all survivors and heroes of the Vietnam War. All of them gave us their cards, and said if we ever need anything, they would be there for us!

Granny and one of the 2 LADY Patriot Guard Riders

Bikes parked outside my home

and down the street.

This played on the local news, I hope the link still works. It was such a wonderful homecoming!

http://www.wlox.com/global/story.asp?s=11713203#

Home for Christmas

One more day till Liz and David fly home. That is, if the snow goes away in DC and Reagan National opens back up!

We are so excited and have a big group of family & friends ready to greet them Monday at the airport. The local Patriot Guard Riders will be there to officially welcome David home and escort us all safely to our house. We are having a lunch for everyone here immediately upon our arrival home.

This article came out yesterday in our local newspaper:
Injured soldier will return home - Local - SunHerald.com

For my Lizzie…

Almost a Caprese salad…..my homegrown winter lettuce, heirloom baby tomatoes…purple, yellow, orange, and red babies, fresh moist pearl mozzarella, and a little red onion…

But I had to add some chick peas and toasted pine nuts…

a little drizzle of my best olive oil and balsamic vinegar….

I’m in heaven! Can’t wait to fix you some yummy things!