Sisters

Today Anna sat next to her seventh grade, thirteen year old sister who has been having such a tough time focusing with Distance Learning. Abigail learns socially, talking and listening to peers, her teacher. She learns by doing and so certainly learning on her computer is just not the best for her.

We've tried system after system. Wipe boards, huge charts, sticky notes, so so many things that a principal daddy and school teacher mama can come up with.

And then Anna stepped in. I watch from a far as she helped Abigail with her science lesson today.

And I was so grateful. Not just for the help.

But grateful to God that He made these two sister.

And that they would help each other through life.

I just ran across this post from back here.

And I couldn't believe my eyes. Was then. Is now. Still the best big sister in the world.

End of May Weekending

Home



Decorating



Sunrise swinging





Planting



7 AM Sunday Morning





Togethering



Enjoying



Smelling



From the dining room window viewing





While they are still in their spring blooming - loving



Tending





Can't get enough - ing



We started a few of our summer traditions early this year (summer is not for a long while here) - right after lunch - reading



An old childhood reread for fun - loving



Something new - trying



And for me another reread - smiling



Sunset in the backyard - observing





Right after live Mass from our church - brunching



I set the table on Saturday night late and decided on a vintage yellow and cherry tablecloth - vintage plates and bone china mugs that make me happy.











In preparation for our brunch Sunday morning, now on Saturday night there is always baking.





And I think we'll end with ummmmm - ing!

Moving In Day - A New Family Room

Goodness - this was all started back in Mid-March when we were first home all day. And we finished up right around Easter. And here I am just taking some pictures. I'm not quite sure where this week went. It sure did fly by!

I wish I was one of those good before/after photographers. I'm not. I never remember to take a good 'before' picture. So here's one from sometime before we painted!

Before (around Christmas)



And honestly, I don't have a lot of pictures of our family room lately (the whole room) because I guess I was not feeling joy bells in my heart when I was in there. Most of my home pictures were of the screened in porch or our kitchen.

Before (you can see the dark cream-ish color of the bookcases Scott built in this picture - those are all changed now)



Before (you can see how in the past few years I kept trying to add touches that I liked but it just really wanted a lighter, brighter room)



Before (this was our family room a few summers ago)



I guess I did have a bunch of 'before' pictures. Time to jump into the 'after'. (Well I guess these are really 'during')





We took the built in bookcases off the walls and painted them - that took a long time!



So the ceiling got a new coat of white and the walls were painted the same color as the 'base' color of our house which is called Beach White. It's hard to tell in this photo but it's simply white. Just enough of 'not bright white' so that the bright white molding pops out a bit.



We did a chalk-like finish on the bookcases.









And so after all of that painting (and all that mess) we got the room all cleaned up and I moved in!

Here is (too many) after pictures:



All bright and all white!



We decided to paint the frames too!



It's really hard to get a picture of this wall with the skylights streaming sunshine in!



I am quite certain that my classical books like the blank whiteness of the bookcases so they can stand out!



















I splurged on some new pillows since I want that room to be white with blue. (and dreaming of light blue couches)











I think that having an all white room will be fun for Christmas decorating. A blank palette.







Christmas is never all the way packed away in this house. Not the books at least! I adore Christmas too much for it to all be in bins.



















Blurry but my all time favorite on planet books so I just had to include a picture of them.



Framed birth and adoption announcements make me happy!









I love these antique letter I have put together in the phrase "Home At Last" because that's how we feel when we are all together in that room... except that now we laugh at 'Home At Last'. Maybe it should be 'Home, Still?' Anyway, I do love that painted white mirror!







And that's it! A new happy place for our family to be!