Goodbye Walter Reed and fun decorating repurposing

Liz and Dave have moved from Washington DC to Eglin Air Force Base in Ft Walton Beach. This happy change has been in the works for about 2 months now. After we all returned from our Cape Cod trip, Liz flew here to my home and we went over to Ft Walton to look at different housing options. She fell in love with the older home on base overlooking the Choctawhatchee Bay with amazing views of Destin. And she knew, unequivocally that Dave would love it too!

When they finally arrived here at my home 2 weeks ago, the U Haul truck was quickly packed up with all their belongings from their apartment in Shreveport, LA. Back in June 09, we moved everything here and put it all in storage for easy access.

I made the trip from here to Eglin driving Dave’s new vehicle, Dave driving the 26 FT U haul and Liz driving her vehicle. It was a busy exhausting week of unpacking, sorting and weeding out things they hadn’t seen in some 18 months. Too many boxes to unpack, lots of temporarily forgotten memories and seeing all their wedding gifts again was at times overwhelming. Then the next day, a moving van arrived with another maybe 30 (seemed like 50) boxes of all their belongings that they acquired while living Walter Reed.

I did manage to do lots of sewing for them. I brought my sewing machine, glue gun, and electric stapler for lots of projects. Here’s a look at some of the rooms, not yet all complete. I’m still sewing here at home for them.

Guest bedroom #1. We decided to use a red, white, and blue nautical theme, reusing everything from their apartment. The navy swag was 2 long panels that I redid to better fit the long window. If you look close on the window sill, you’ll see the nautical candles from their wedding. And their white oars that all the wedding guests signed. This window looks out at the Bay. Liz decided to put bed on the wall so guests can fall asleep to the beautiful lights of Destin at night and wake up to the gorgeous sunrise in the morning. Just amazing!

This is their queen sleigh bed and…

matching armoire that used to live in my bedroom. I miss it but now can find something fun to replace it. This armoire was the only thing that got damaged in the move. One door broke off when my hubby drove it in the virtually empty U Haul from our house, 1 mile to the storage unit. HA HA! We made him fix it when he arrived here at Eglin AFB later in the week. And Dave drove it 206 miles without any issues. Yea Jim!

The Ralph Lauren nautical pillows used to be in their old guest room with twin beds.

Wedding votives made with white nautical rope and navy grosgrain look perfect on this long window sill.

Guest bath….I had this Amy Butler Nigella Wood Fern Olive, it made a perfect valance for this window. It looks great with the Walter Anderson painting and other touches of aqua in the bath that I didn’t get in the picture.

2nd guest bedroom/office. Again we repurposed everything Liz and Dave had from their old apartment. These 2 swags were 3 times 2 long panels in their old master bedroom. I simply sewed them together, and pinched/gathered them.

For now Liz has her 2 twin beds in here (some how, we lost the bed frames for these beds.) She plans to get a trundle bed and store the box springs so the room is not so crowded but still can accommodate guests. This room has a soft beachy theme with the sea shell sconces, the beach and sailing signs, and the new sea shell fabric Liz picked out below.

I used it, as well as some oatmeal linen to make a skirt/cover/hide things under a folding table. The skirt has 2 ties in the front to open it up and have easy access to what’s hidden underneath.

The table is big enough for their large printer, laptop, and some writing or work space. We put a long shelf above with a memo board.

The little sea shell lamp I made

Painted the round mirror a soft aqua over green.

On to the living room, Liz and Dave got some awesome new furniture, my pictures don’t do them justice.

Miller quickly found his snuggle spot on the new leather sofa….great view advantage looking out the front windows at all the neighbors passing by.

The Mississippi picture by Pam Marshall

The ALLIGATOR by Walter Anderson that I painted, hubby had yet to arrive to hang it. Don’t you just love Liz’s blue and white collection sans the box of tissues? And there’s Dave’s prized signed baseball from Uncle George … I think a winning Yankees team with Babe Ruth’s signature! And the Hitchcock rocking chair from hubby’s family.

Making a new slipcover for this chair in oatmeal linen, I had this chair in my home and made this slipcover for it here. POST SCRIPT wow, I just looked at this old post from 09 and I correctly predicted that I would recover this chair in linen for you, Liz and Dave, and that you might/would live at the beach. How's that for a Mother's intuition?

Miller, blending in, one of his exhausted moments after lots of barking, exploring, and too much company. See Jude’s beautiful hand thrown bowl sitting on the Lilly Pulitzer book on the coffee table? Dear friends of Dave and Liz’s from Walter Reed that helped them through many difficult days.

Ahhhh….my view while sewing….looking out at the Bay and beach towards Destin. Wonder how I got anything done? Yes, Liz and Dave’s home is about 50 feet from the water. Also, you can see their huge screened in porch where they will spend most of their time. It is awesome.

A view of their kitchen

looking into living area from their kitchen, lots of blue and white

Still a work in progress since I was sewing and had all my stuff in the way.

Now the master bedroom….Liz and Dave got a new king size bed so they started all over here. We decided to continue the use of the oatmeal linen, since it is so neutral, easy to get more yardage, goes with everything, and can be re-purposed later on. I had 5 yards of Amy Butler Nigella Primrose olive material that Liz liked so we decided to use that as the accent material that would bring a little spark to the room. While I was still there I sewed a king sized dust ruffle from the oatmeal linen. We plan to make headboard with nail trim using the same linen. Now, back at home, I working on pillow shams, curtains, round table cover, etc.

Here’s the oatmeal linen, the Amy Butler and the oatmeal ticking strip that Liz found that looks AMAZING with everything.

The oatmeal linen and ticking stripe are so neutral that they can be reused anywhere if Liz and Dave tire if the Amy Butler Primrose.

Here’s the oatmeal linen table skirt and Amy Butler table topper I made since I’ve been back home. It drags on the floor since Liz’s new table is taller. I ordered this awesome table from Tables ready to cover …great storage with those two shelves.

I’ve got lots of projects going on here, I need to sew some slips for me! Going back to Liz and Dave’s for Thanksgiving, hope I get all their projects done plus mine!

New Seabury on Cape Cod

 

I have not blogged in so long that I forgot my log in password. Shameful, I know.  Since my last post I/we have been in DC with daughter and SIL for 5 days, then daughter flew home for a week, she and I made a trip to Destin FL to find the perfect place for them to live, and now we are in New Seabury, arrived last Thursday.  Got a sweet email from Preppy 101 this morning, making me realize that I missed the blogging world.

Liz and Dave, hubby and myself spending 10 says here at Tidewatch, overlooking Nantucket Sound. Tidewatch is a condo complex nestled within New Seabury.  I am in love with New Seabury and all it’s little villages, the Popponesset Marketplace, and our favorite of all  Mashpee Commons (it’s got an In the Pink and they were having a 40% off sale!)

Our condo at Tidewatch, view from living room and deck looking onto Nantucket Sound.

Living room

Liz and Dave’s bedroom

Our bedroom

Outside at the Popponnesset Marketplace

We have had a few great days so far including touring around Woods Hole with  Tim and Lynne, The Capt Kidd for lunch, a Woods Hole classic, attending the last RED SOX vs Yankees games with a private tour of Fenway Park prior to the game, too much shopping and golf.  Some of us are enjoying lots of clam chowder, the most amazing  lobster rolls, stuffed quahogs, fried clams, and Ben and Bill’s Chocolate Emporium.   Me?….I’m being so good and sticking to salads. Well, I did taste a few clam strips and  a little lobster and calamari. Does that count?

It’s been rainy, so we are a little laid back. Tomorrow going out to Longmeadow, MA, a very long trip from here, to visit some family. Thursday as the rain moves out we plan to ferry over to Martha’s Vineyard.   Will post our amasing time at Fenway park shortly.

Back to redoing son’s old room

Last June I posted that I was tearing apart son’s room. Little did I know back then that he would move home in December 2009. So the redecorating was but on hold till now.

You can just barely see the hutch and matching desk below. Had these for 33 + years, Pennsylvania House furniture. Rock solid and survived Katrina. Below is after Katrina when I stained them dark.

Here they are when son was in high school, kind of bleachy and pickled.

Well I gave these pieces to son as well as the red and gold Pakistan rug, and all the Ralph Lauren “Charleston” bedding and drapes for his new home in Charleston, SC.

Here’s the chest that replaced the hutch and desk that son took. It’s 66 inches long and 44 inches high and has an abundance of storage. I’m planning to store material and other sewing supplies in it.

It’s unfinished and I have some embellishments that I plan to add. Bun feet, rope molding, etc….

Here’s my inspiration piece from Restoration Hardware:

This is a new mirror that I’m working on. My mirror just starting out:

My dream mirror, the Sauvignon by Susan Kasler:

Got my inspiration now I’ve got to get working.

Becoming Raw or where I have been for so long

Over a month ago, I stumbled upon a RAW blog, Raw on $10 a day. Her recipes and pictures fascinated me and I began reading all the raw blogs listed on her site. I spent hours, days, and weeks devouring all the great information and reasons for going raw. And there are so many amazing before and after stories of people reversing health problems and weight loss just from living a raw lifestyle. When I found this picture on Rawmazing’s blog, along with all her other fabulous recipes, I was hooked.

Rawmazing’s Basil Zucchini wrap with spinach cream dressing:

I decided to try going raw, figured all the fresh organic veggies, fruits, and nuts couldn’t hurt. Certainly saying goodbye to red meat, poultry that has been processed, preservatives, and all those other nasty additives that are put into our food would be a good thing for me. I’ve said goodbye to SAD (Standard American Diet) and have embraced RAW!

It isn’t an instant thing, going raw, but more a process. I still was cooking for son, now that he has left it’s a little easier. Husband agreed to go maybe 50 % raw, he still needs bread, cheese, cereals, shrimp, and occasional meats. Finally most of the SAD foods that were in freezer, refrigerator and pantry are gone. No way would I throw it all out. Now my pantry is stocked with organic young coconut water, organic cold pressed young coconut oil, wheat grass, nutrional yeast flakes, organic Himalayan Goji berries, Agave nectar, raw organic Maca, flax seeds and of course, lots of fruit and veggies. The first 2 weeks were very difficult giving up cheese and bread. A couple of times I just had to have a slice of Ezekiel bread with a veggie spread on it. I was still using some cheese on my salads, and using all the store bought salad dressings. I did not miss meat or chicken at all, even when I still had to prepare it for son and husband. I really had the afternoon headaches, which they say is part of the withdrawal/detox process of going raw.

So it’s been a month now and I am really enjoying this new lifestyle. I have spent a lot of time experimenting with new recipes. I did not want to get bored with just eating raw veggies and salads. That would surely set me on a path to failure. I already had the blender, a juicer, and the food processer, the three must haves. I bought a spiralizer to make zucchini spaghetti. Then the big splurge was the dehydrator. I bought the TSM 5 tray, pretty pricey but again, I knew I needed this to give me lots of crunchy options. I’ve had this for a week and having a ball experimenting with recipes.

Here’s a few of my dishes that I’ve made in the last few days.

Zucchini wrap (dehydrated) with spinach, tomatoes, carrots and Cilantro cream sauce. This sauce was made from soaked cashews, lemon, garlic, and Cilantro. OMG! this was so amazing and delicious. My wrap was thick unlike Rawmazing’s in the first picture above. I don’t have access to young coconuts, so I improvised. The wrap was chewy, moist, yet still held together perfectly. Before rolling:

All rolled up and sliced. Just looking at this picture makes me want one! This is so filling and satisfying, kept me going all day and didn’t need any dinner.

This a dehydrated walnut mushroom burger with red pepper, onions, flax seed. All fresh, all natural. Yesterday I made 15 of these babies, had 1 for dinner, the rest are in the freezer. The good thing about a larger dehydrator is you can make lots, then freeze. On top of the burger is a avocado cream wihch is not a cream at all but 1 avocado, fresh lemon, garlic , and coconut water, all blended to a lovely smooth sauce. This cream keeps for a couple days. I use it instead of mayo on sandwiches for my husband. He loves it. The salad is massaged kale with olive oil and lemon, tomatoes, and walnuts. Never had kale before, I love it. Even made kale chips in the dehydrator for a crunchy snack, they are great and no calories.

Zucchini fettuccini with tomatoes, kale, and marinated mushrooms

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Raw version of the famous broccoli salad that I’ve made for years. No bacon, no mayo, no sugar. Made a “cream sauce” with agave nectar, cashew paste, organic cider vinegar. Husband and son couldn't tell the difference

So this past month is just the very beginning of this raw journey. I must say that in one short month, I feel amazing. I have more energy, my skin looks and feels so different, softer and healthy. I’ve lost 7 lbs without even trying. And I always feel satisfied, tummy wise.

I think I’ve finally cleaned up Bailey hair enough that I can get out all my sewing again. Time to get back to all the unfinished projects.

Saying Goodbye

 

 

To this beautiful girl:

 

 

and my wonderful son. After living here with us since last December, they are now moving to Charleston, SC. It’s bitter sweet.  Bailey, the Lab, was my constant companion while son worked or traveled. Labs are well known to have wonderful personalities, as well as shedding.  Bailey is amazing and so teachable.  James is all packed, got all his furniture and belongings out of storage unit.

 

They left at 6:30 am, husband made they drive with them. He’ll fly home Saturday. They made the trip in about 10 hrs, even pulling a trailer, which they thought would slow them down. Bailey wanting to ride shotgun. Son drove entire trip.

 

Unloading the trailer took no time at all, as opposed to packing it.  I think they repacked it a couple times to get everything in there. Son’s new house has a swimming pool, so Bailey was enjoying taking a refreshing dip while the boys enjoyed a refreshing adult beverage poolside.

I cleaned all day. The bittersweet of them moving? It’s sweet that I can clean Bailey hair up once and for all and get back to sewing white linen. The bitter is that I’ll miss them both. I put away all my sewing when Liz and Dave came home for a week 4rh of July. Decided to just enjoy Bailey, knowing they were moving. 

Hoping to get going on all my stalled projects.