2000 Ready for US to FINISH the job !

Yes, we had the house built to this stage..and we took over ! Then the fun began..we had to clean up all the construction debris, original house color in grey blue. This is a Jim Walters home. But we wanted to finish it OUR way to OUR taste. So enjoy the 2x4 walls.. and then see what we did ! Yes.. we would drive from Colorado several times a year, 1,000 miles each way.. to do plumbing, electrical, sheet rock insulation. FUN TIMES.. and then drive 1,000 miles home..so Hubby could go back to his real job! Eight years of road trips later, retirement and the house is done... other than some small projects ! OK..truth... I will Never be done...I will change something at a drop of the hat..Hey, I repainted the kitchen 5 times before we ever moved in..re- did the laundry room, the wall texture, washer/dryer and cabinets.. and the master bath was re- done before we ever used the shower...yes.it was tore out and re -done before it ever got wet. I just decided I wanted a big Jacuzzi tub,and plan b happened...that's what happens when you leave for months at a time...and have time to think..hmm maybe we should... what if we... OH , that would be nice...Uhhh I have an idea.. YES hubby went along for the ride..and did the sweat equity. NOT to mention he had some awesome ideas that I sooo loved.

The lake veiw from our porch

The best part of a day... is anytime you can sit on the porch and enjoy the view. The waters edge is about 200 feet away from our porch. The green of spring and summer, the breeze off the lake. watching birds in the nearby trees, and "toasting" a sunset ! Life is good. Enjoy the little things, and unwind from the day. Peaceful as we sit with a iced "sweet tea" it is the house wine of the south...Steele Magnolias is right ! Linger a little longer and watch the fireflies come out. It's all good! Here, you want some lemon in your tea??? How about another slice of lemon glazed pound cake? You just sit still, I will fetch it for you ! Don't go away now.....

Beachy Details

We love all the pretty pastel beach houses in Gulf Shores and Pensacola. Our house needed a fresh coat of paint after 8 years, so we did pay someone to do that. And this time it was painted with a special ceramic paint that is suppose to last 24 plus years.They paint lighthouses with it,so it should hold up to the winds and rain we get right off the lake..We had no desire to paint a two story. I had painted our last ranch style before we moved..and I did most of it myself, except the tall ladder work, (too high) and under the eaves, (neck breaker)..Thanks Don for doing that part. I really like to paint tho. It's actually relaxing.. Since I took tole lessons in the 80's, I will paint about anything that doesn't move.. Kudos Dear Marj for having the patience to teach me and Michele.. You brought out my hidden "talent" and I get compliments all the time. I had no idea I could use the things you taught me so often. I feel blessed to have the ability to use all the gifts God gave me...You never know what you can do until you try. And Dons says..It's only paint...if you don't like it, you can paint over it ! He's a great cheerleader in all my endeavors

I wanted the house blue again..only a brighter, beachy blue. I got out my brushes and I painted all the shutter slats , the gingerbread trim, and even the porch rail slats and balusters, ceiling fan blades, etc. Men have asked me how I convinced Don to paint so much pastel on it.. well I tell them "he's secure in his manliness, he likes beach house colors, and I would have done it anyway !" All summer long we will see golf carts cruise up to our property line sneaking up from the waters edge, and stop and stare.. I will often step out on the front porch to say hi, and they will rave on about how "beachy" it looks.. I smile inside and out. We added a outside shower, to rinse off after playing in the lake.. or even to have a shower under the stars or anytime the coast is clear...It is tucked between the bay windows and the porch rail..so it is pretty private. The shower privacy "wall" is an old long surfboard... My friend Teresa had moved it all over the country..a bargain at $15. I got out my mosaic supplies..and did a scene on both sides. It's one of my favorite things...! You grab a towel, jump in the shower..plenty of HOT water. There's some Calgon liquid soap... let it take you away !!!

It's all in a Name

We thought and thought about a name for the house.. finally when we were at the beach last year, we drove by a place called "Happy Shack" It was so bright green and all sorts of stuff painted on it.. It made us smile. We smile when we drive up to our house and realize "We Made This". Still hard to believe. So Happy Shack" it is. I got out my mosaic supplies and got busy. Come on down to the lake.. be ready to smile!

Too many projects, to little time !

Even after I thought the new house was done... I think of more and more projects. I will head to bed ready for some serious sleep, and the visions start to dance thru my head. Then I can't sleep. I think creative minds are restless. But if this happens to you, YOU know no matter what you do, the ideas swarm like bees at their hive. Give in to it. Get up, write down the ideas. I even get up and work on stuff... I try to have something set out in my work room to work on quietly so poor hubby doesn't hear me. I don't think I need as much sleep as some people. I can stay up till 2 a.m and get up at 7 a.m and go all day. Sometimes I may only be sitting at the computer for a lot of the day, searching for great sites to browse. Or chatting with great friends online.. and we know how inspiring that can be ! So I have to force myself up and away from the online window shopping, and chit chat..and hit the housework. Today I have a full list to complete...but still I sit and ponder...someone tip me out of this chair please...the clock is ticking !

From So So to Soooo Fabulous

The master bath vanity was new, but very plain Jane natural maple. And No No No plain Jane for me. I used some deglosser to take off the top sheen,which I don't think works that well.. so a little fine sandpaper all over, wipe down and clean..time to paint. I used a colonial cream for the base and the cabinet doors, 2 coats. Then a watery blue for the trim. It was sky blue until I antiqued it, yup 2 coats, I sanded it off in spots for the worn look. I then antiqued it with a minwax cherry stain. I got out my trusty paint brushes to add some small floral and leaf pattern. I added some spattering to age it more. I was aiming for a French country hutch look, by adding more wood appliques, and trim the finished look is just the thing I wanted.

Chicken Pantry door

I needed a pantry door in the new house we built..and I had to do this chicken.. I was so intimidated to start it..so I hauled the plain door 7 hours to a friends house.. Dear Michele...she was here to guide me thru the hard parts..She is so talented...She did her chickens on some wood panels she would later use like a shutter set.. so we jumped in and painted for days. Took a shopping break or two, and looked back at the accomplishment and smiled. I then hauled the door 7 more hours back home. Then the next trip to the lake house, I hauled it 1,000 miles. I don't think I will ever part with this door.. I don't think I could paint it again! I know I never would have attempted it, without Michele to get me thru it. Thanks Girlfriend... I always think of you when I see this door..and I smile !

Headboard to Blackboard

I love my huge fridge.but hate that it stuck out in the room like a sore thumb. I took a pine headboard, added more dental trim, extra appliques, rope molding, grass green paint and Brazilian tan paint, then a quick antique and spatter... painted on some chalk board paint, turned the headboard sideways, and added to feet for looks, and hubby mounted it to the wall.. a great place to leave notes, make lists, and hide the bigger than life fridge. Think of it as a "wall". I try to find a new use for an old cast off item. My friend was going to toss this out ! NO WAY !