EMBELLISHED LAVENDER GOAT MILK SOAP

I purchased some homemade Lavender goat milk soap from a local goat farmer and embellished them with antique/vintage crocheted and lace pieces.  These will be going to the Over the Moon Vintage Market Show......they smell delightful and are very pretty!

                                           Have a wonderful and blessed week!~~~~~Roxie

AROUND THE COTTAGE- NEW ROOF

                                            Here is your first pic of the new roof!
The choice was Certainteed Landmark dimensional shingle in the color Driftwood.  It has a very earthy blend of grays and a little brown.  I love it!!
This was a major step for the cottage.  I am glad we made the decision to put a roof on first before winter hit.  How do you like it?

                                                           ..... from another angle
Believe it or not, we have "cleaned" up a lot outside if weather was permitting. There is still much to do outside which you will be able to see in the next photo.  I have never shown a pic of the back of the cottage......so here goes....

This back part with the big window was added 15 years ago.  This will be the family room.  As you can see to your left, there is another deck off of that room.  I feel it is very quaint on this side of the cottage, and I am looking forward to adding beautiful gardens there.
Taking this picture, I am standing halfway back.  We have began some clean-up back here.  We have a lot to get rid of.

This is the side/back view. I am standing on the driveway which goes all the way back to the 30 x 30 garage-man cave.  We have taken down all the vinyl white lattice around the deck (we plan on landscaping) and you can see all the "stuff" left on the deck that will be thrown out.
There is a walk-out area under the house (actually a small garage) with beautiful original stone.  I plan on using this in the Spring/Summer for my potting/work area.  It's perfect and shaded!

If you noticed....the old antenna is gone that was attached to the brick chimney!  Yeah...such an eyesore!  Plus we removed a section of privacy fence on the side too.....easier to get past that to work!  Hubby will be working on the cedar shakes the rest of the week, weather permitting.
I know it doesn't seem much to show but we are happy so far!   This is going to be a long process and I hope everyone doesn't get tired of it!  Thank you my blogging friends for the inspiration and encouragement ........it really means so much!   Blessings~~~from one sweetie to another~~~Roxie

AROUND THE COTTAGE........

Here is a FIRST picture of the work we have started on the cottage.  I have decided to show you outside front  pictures because "time is of the essence".  This is the first week of November, and the weather will be changing very soon!
To the far left of the picture is a sample board of cedar shakes hubby made so we could temporarily put up and see roof colors.  It helped!
The original shakes (because of too much damage) were removed. (right side of door).  A new treated piece of wood on the bottom replaced an original one that had damage.  There is an extra piece of wood under the front door, but that is only temporary.   The black paper that you see was under the original cedar shakes.
The roofer is suppose to start this week on the NEW ROOF and the NEW CEDAR SHAKES should be finished to the right of the front door.....then on to the left side.
Of course, this is JUST THE BEGINNING to the outside!  The slab of concrete under the left picture window will be removed.  The glass screen door will be removed and the original wood castle-like door will be fixed and re-stained.

We may go for the natural cedar look with an oil coating.  We first were going to stain a color but now we are re-thinking that.  We also are doing a gray tone dimensional roof.

                         These pictures look pretty rough and we have a long way to go!

Most of the tyvek homewrap is in place on this area.  We are hoping for some good weather in the weeks to come.  This way, we can get much work done on the outside of the house.  This DOESN'T include ANY yardwork, landscaping etc.!  That won't happen until next Spring!

So it's OFFICIAL!  The first week of November starts the RENOVATION project.  I am going to try to post at least 1-2 times monthly on the cottage...maybe more!  I am calling it....AROUND THE COTTAGE.

I am not a professional renovator, designer or decorator but I do LOVE homes!  My great-grandfather was an Architech and Builder of cottages in Tenn.  I guess it's in my blood!

I love knowing that over these next several months, my blogging sisters and friends are with me on this adventure!  Please keep us in your prayers because we know this ain't gonna be easy!!
Blessings~~~Roxie

HOUSE TOUR......VICKIE from TWO CHICKS and a TRUCK

                                     No.......this isn't my cottage kitchen renovation!
This is a picture of my dear cousin Vickies kitchen (two chicks and a truck).  I had taken several pics back earlier this year.  There was a wonderful response to this posting so I am showing  some new pics and a few I have posted before.  Enjoy....  Her home is B*E*A*U*T*I*F*U*L!     She is also a vendor at OVER THE MOON Vintage Market Show!

                                                               living room

                                                       a quaint eating nook

I hope you enjoyed the tour of Vickies home.  She is ALWAYS changing things around!  Tell me what is your favorite room or item?
Blessings to you and a wonderful week~~~Roxie

OPEN SHELVING and getting ANTSY!

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I thought I would give my blogger friends an update on the cottage.  We still have not taken possession of it because the couple living there needed an extra month to move.  So hubby and I agreed.
In the meantime, we have been looking at new roofing and having estimates......and I have been looking at pics for ideas on the cottages very small kitchen.  Can I tell you....I AM ANTSY!  Very ANTSY!
I came across this picture that I liked.  I like the glass cabinets and the island.  But see the rocking chair?  Lovely and all but this is how I feel......WAITING......and more WAITING.......I'm rocking and waiting!!
Regardless.....here are a few pics that have caught my eye for shelving.  Enjoy!

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I love the French look of this small kitchen.  The simple open shelving is nice.  Of course, the Island and sink are gorgeous!

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                   Same kitchen.....different view

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         I thought his old cupboard on the wall would be a great idea for an open shelf look

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      LOVE this!  Especially the galvanized top of the counter/furniture piece.  Very simple elegance

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I actually have one of these coops!  I was looking to sell it but now I'm not so sure.......... this may be something to consider!

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This is darling too!  More shelving....which I could do, but this may be too much for me.  Again, the sink and farm table is so nice!

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                 This grabs me....LOVE the table and the single shelf in the background.

Hopefully, around two weeks, I can start showing you "before" pics of the cottage.  I still have "ants in my pants" but will be patient and take care of other things while I am waiting.
Blessings~~~Roxie

OVER THE MOON VINTAGE MARKET SHOW AD

                                                        (pic from my friend Laura...thanks!)

It's here!  The new winter copy of ROMANTIC COUNTRY!  The "Over the Moon" committee was happy to see our published ad for the winter/holiday show.

                                        Mr. Moon is very happy too!

Show dates~~~Fri. November 22~~~4p.m. to 9p.m.  Opening of the show
                         Sat. November 23~~9a.m. to 4p.m.

At the Lawrenceburg Fairgrounds, Lawrenceburg, IND    inside Agner Hall
Across the street from Hollywood Casino

Please visit Over the Moon Vintage Market FB page and LIKE!!      Thanks and Blessings~~~Roxie

FABULOUS FINDS

I went JUNKING a few days ago and found some great items....so I thought I would share them with my blogging friends!
I couldn't pass up this "RUSTY-GOLD" find.......A Vintage Firestone bicycle!  Great bones for the yard/garden!!  This will look fabulous PAINTED as well!!!
This will be at the Over the Moon Vintage Market........Nov. 22, 23

Who can't pass up a great set of galvanized wash tubs on wheels!  Chippy white paint, solid, and so many uses!  Hold your favorite ice and drinks, a wonderful planter in the garden, or a Christmas tree in one side with the wrapped gifts in the other!!  I always do my happy dance when I can find one of these!

Just plain SWEET!!  A childs bench with storage.  Probably made by a Grandpa because it's dated on the back for his little princess.  The vintage decals of the dutch children are adorable.  I haven't cleaned it yet...

I found these two pieces separate.......and put them together!  One can use their imagination on this.  Very primitive/farmhouse.  Lots of uses!  I'm looking for something to put in it for the show........

I had a fabulous junking day and enjoyed every minute of it!  Tell me, which one of these captures your heart and why?  I love hearing where/what something can be used for.....Upcycle or Recycle-LOVE it!!
Blessings~~~from one sweetie to another~~~Roxie

RENOVATION PORTFOLIO

I'm starting to put our "Renovation Portfolio" together for the yellow cottage.  The three major improvements will be..1) Replacing cedar shakes and any other improvements that is necessary on the body of  cottage.  2) Deciding on a new color stain, once the cedar shakes are finished.  3) A new roof                                        
                         

Hubby and I have narrowed it down to 2 paint/stain colors......I would like my blogger friends to give me some of their thoughts!
Here are some things to consider..............

                                     The cottage was built in 1929-1930
                                     It is on an acre lot with lots of older trees
                                     There is NO lake,pond near or on the property
                                     You can't see it from the pic, but the front door is original.  Heavy and dark but
                                      unique with old door knocker.  It looks like something out of a castle or a Hansel
                                      and Gretel cottage
                                      It had original diamond grids in the front windows, but the owner replaced the
                                      windows and did keep the diamond grids

Now considering the surroundings, here are the 2 colors we are thinking about. ( I know these houses do not look like this cottage....but I'm looking at the color.

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                                  A deep brown stain/paint with the white accents

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                        This cottage has the gray roof.......and the brown shingle

          Here is a better look at a gray/brown roof with the dark brown cedar and white trim

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                           This cottage is smaller like ours.  This has a light gray roof

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Now here is a GRAY stain we are considering.  This cottage has the diamond grids also.  For some reason, I feel a gray cottage belongs near water....more light and airy.  But I do LIKE the color GRAY the best...but I don't know about it on a treed lot........My hubby likes the earthy tone of brown with the treed lot and that does make sense to me!

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And also, we will be putting up a PERGOLA in the front of the house.  It will be to the right of the front door......and go across past the corner of the house approx. 3-4 ft.  It will be painted white.
This pic gives you an idea of what we are wanting.......
                           

So this is just the start............the flag pole will be removed and placed elsewhere.  The white fence will come down once the pergola is put in (that probably won't happen until next spring).  We are thinking about  "boosting" up the area above the door....maybe making it more prominent.  Can you vision the white pergola?  I plan on making that a quaint area to sit with a beautiful flowering vine and gardens around it curving to the right side of the house.  I could go on and on...........
Anyway, I hope to get more "before" pics soon...........and plan on reporting at least twice a month on our progress once we can get started.
In the meantime, I will post a few other pics of my kitchen and bath ideas too!  Be Blessed~~~Roxie

A PETTICOAT JUNCTION TOWN........GLENDALE, KY

About a month ago, Hubby and I took a little venture to Glendale, Ky.  It's such a quaint little town.  Very small with a train running through it's downtown.  I think it has a "Petticoat Junction" appeal to it.

Look at this precious farmhouse.............I LOVE it!!

                                 Look at the old bicycle..........Oh, what a lovely porch!
I will miss a porch when we move to "the cottage"......but I've got something in mind for that!

We ate at the famous "Whistle Stop".  Good Food!  It was adorable inside........the building sits next to the railroad tracks.......the tracks are to the right of the pole

                                  Neat old buildings with lovely shops inside

                                                  VINTAGE and ANTIQUES galore!

               So many pretty houses.........this one grabbed my heart too!  It's sooo SWEET!
                            Look at the log cabin to the left in the picture

A simple house..........but look at the beautiful fretwork/gingerbread detailing the house.  And who can't love that green metal roof!

This is one of the oldest buildings on the main drag. (Main st. on the right of building)  This front faces the railroad track.
There were many more pics I could have taken.......one was a Bed and Breakfast called Petticoat Junction!  It sat next to the RR tracks....just like the old t.v. show!

I hope you enjoyed your little tour......hubby and I enjoyed our day there!!  Blessings and a wonderful week~~~Roxie