Blogging in the Jungle Room

   I'm so happy ya'll came  to visit.. I dont get much company during the day , so this is a real treat for me.

I'm joining in on Kate's Blog Party.. You all are going to love seeing where everyone blogs, so do click her link please and go visit those folks...

                             http://www.centsationalgirl.com/2010/08/where-do-you-blog-party/


 The jungle room is my hubby's name for the Family Room.  He says I have enough plants out here to start a shop.. His tendency to exaggerate knows no bounds :)
 The fact is, this room is where both my plants and I grow and thrive best. Them in their way and Me in mine.

 I started to take the fan out of the window but then I thought, no, let them see it as it really is, so I am..
 I love sitting at this window where I can out or looking directly across out the patio door I showed you a few days ago and on the far left wall is where that new humongous TV the hubs won in a raffle is located.  Its a 60incher so I can clearly SEE the picture even without my glasses lol.

 I work on my babies and blog here during the day and then in the evening its where we relax together. Its pretty much a multi function room and works well for us.

 I'm happy to have you in my home and in the space I spend so much time.. Do stop by the kitchen where theres fresh brewed sweet tea and cookies waiting for you.. Then come on back in here and we'll choose a movie to watch...

 Hugs and Happy Monday

Family Room-Part 2 ::Giveaway reminder..

 In case ya'll are wondering why I am showing you my family room-" in parts"- its because I am so slow going with it that its possible I could be putting up Christmas decor before I get all the way around it, lol..

 2 weeks ago I posted about the new cornice I built and the new light plaid draperies I choose..
 Thank you all again for such kind comments about that-- I really appreciate it.
Just in case you didn't see it-- here's the before and after of the patio door:: which is 2 inches off the opposite wall lol.. oui

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I'm linking up to Chari;s SUNDAY FAVORITES-- please go visit her and all her lovely posters here::
http://happytodesign.blogspot.com/

AND

Linking to Between Naps on the Porch  with Susan for Metamorphosis Monday **********************************
 I wanted to give you some background information about this room- which technically was never really meant to be one, that folks could function in.  It was framed and had a roof on it but there was no insulation in the walls- whoever built it stuck "storm windows" in and didnt even bother to caulk them and there was the cheapest thinnest faux wood  paneling they could find on the walls.  Suffice it to say, it was a real mess and none of this was obvious just by looking at it on a dry sunshiny day.. When it rained-- just a few days after I moved in- the window sills sat in water and the rest of it poured onto the floor, which was carpeted with that thin--no pad-- indoor outdoor stuff...   I used to have before photos but they are long gone.. Just try to visualize a room that completely flooded everytime it rained and had it not been for the glass patio door that led into the house- the water would have been in there too..     Lots of crying and wringing of the hands happened as well as some major cursing, ranting, raving - followed by more crying.   I had spent all my money buying the home for myself , my 2 children and 2 pets, as getting us into a safe, secure home in a decent neighborhood was my priority,,  so funds were extremely limited right at that time..  It took a few months of working 16 hour days and saving ever extra penny to get enough together to try to fix the room and make it livable and even then I only had enough for the materials and knew I'd have to do the labor myself-- with a little help from my teens.. I ripped out the windows - pulled up the carpet and had to throw all the furniture I'd stored out there away, as it was now molded..
  I reframed according to code,  insulated and put in a couple of triple pane windows-- a new entry and storm door and called it a weekend well done.  Each night after work I'd put up a few 4x8 pieces of sheet rock and by the next weekend it was ready to tape and bed..  Let dry a couple days and do it again, then the sanding and cleaning began. It took 3 weeks to complete this task and paint it from ceiling to new baseboards:)  The only thing I DIDNT do was lay the new pad and carpet myself.. I was tired and cranky but happy and proud at the same time...
  I think I forgot to mention that it was during this time that I came to realize just what a wonderful neighborhood I had moved into because these folks brought food-- took my kids to the movies-- came with their trucks and helped me get all the mess up and too the dump..  They offered to come in and help but I didn't accept as this was a project I wanted to do myself.  I knew I would be staying here and each time I looked at this room, I wanted to KNOW I'd done it myself.   Hard to explain to people but I just HAD to do it MYSELF.. and I did..
As most of you know each home has its own issues..  The way this room had been originally built had 1 issue I couldn't  overcome-- a large pipe running up the wall and through the attic AND the fact that this window HAD to be put 1 1/2 inches off the brick wall.. It would take too much to explain all the whys but it had to be done this way and has presented a visual problem for me ever since..
I decided to tackle this window before moving on to the easier ones and the entry door.. Is it perfect,, maybe not but trust me here, its the best solution to my problem.:)  The drapery panel you see hanging on the left side covers up that pipe and the fact that the window sits right on the wall made 2 panels too much . I love the light and seeing out so this is how it HAD to be.. It might not suit everyone but I love it..

 That black storage ottoman will be wearing a new dress made of beige and white toile the next time you see her .. I could have bought a beige one for 129.00 but NOOO- I got this one for 15.00 and I can make her dress myself for 10.00 and have her just as I wanted her..In the upper left corner of the photo you can see cornice no. 2:)  I had some extra wood out in the building so , why not make another....

Yep-- right behind that panel is where the garish pipe and blue internet cable is hiding but shhhhhhhhh, dont tell anybody , k?  lol

Wider shot to show how it looks with the new patio cornice..
deep sigh of relief and satisfaction:)
Now the rest should be pretty easy.. 2 window and 1 entry door treatment,, a couple of ottoman covers and some pillows and I can call her DONE...
  Thanks for looking and reading about what it took to get this to be a REAL ROOM.. I have to admit, I'm kinda proud of myself at this point...
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If you already became a Follower or left a Comment on the Original Post ~ no need to do so again as I will only count each person  1 time...
  Winner will be announced Sept 3rd..
http://155dreamlane.blogspot.com/2010/08/roosters-on-parade-rooster-giveaway.html
hugs and happy saturday..~!!
Sonny

Just a little Box

I dont know about ya'll but I have little stuff I need in the kitchen. twist ties- paper clips- rubber bands- tooth picks to poke a cake and check it.. That kinda of thing.. They'd get lost in the regular cabinet drawers so that was'nt working for me.  I went to goodwill and found this tiny chest of drawers and though-- YES, thats exactly what I need.. Its already a good color and it has little birds tole painted on the side and that scrolly stuff on the front- yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa , I got it..  Came home and put my tiny things in it and smiled:)  till I went around the bar ,,rut row  the back is plain.  I cant look at a plain box back every time I come in the side door.. no no that wont work....

 I'm linking up to Susan's  and Marty's Party.. please go there and see all the beautiful and creative things folks have posted. you'll have hours of enjoyment and you just might find something you'd like to try doing in your own home..   I want to say THANK YOU to all of those posters for the great ideas-- tutorials-- and beauty they freely share every week.. I may not have the extra time to stop and make a comment but I do come look and admire ....

Thanks you Susan for hosting....~~ Between Naps On The Porch

AND

Table Top Tuesday...hosted by Marty over at A Stroll Thru Life.
 

 heres the front- cute lil thang , aint she:)

so the wheels started turning.. Maybe I could put a plant behind it-- umm nah, got a plant on the other side..
 a plate maybe?? nah, already using lots of display plates... Its gonna have to be something thats not in the way..  and then the little bitty -  very low wattage light bulb in my brain came on.. trust me-- very low wattage lol... I had gotten a wallpaper and border book at GW a month or so before , not knowing what I was going to do with such small samples but I wanted it so for 1.00 I said heck, go ahead and get it- and I did..
 Looked through it and there was this adorable reed checked paper with a border to match.. and now this is what I see when I come in the entry door...  dontcha love it? I do:)

  Thanks for stopping in to visit me. I always love seeing your smiling faces.
Hugs and Happy Monday to ya's..
~ Sonny ~

Beginning of Family Room changes

 Let me say first that even I dont know how I tolerated being in this room for a almost a year while I tried to decide what I wanted to do out here.. I considered changing the furniture and then I thought, NO, its only 4 years old and this is where my pom girls come in the evening to spend time with the family.. So I had stanley steamer come and do a thorough cleanie and amazingly it looks like brand new.. Needless to say I was very happy about that...
  I'm not sure if I have ever mentioned in my blog how very much I like PLAID.. I had to learn that not all plaids belong in all rooms, which was a costly mistake in this case.. I bought wavery, lunchbox plaid and it was just too dark- to dull- not right for this room.  This is where I sit day and night, where I work and play, where I write, chat with pals and last but definately not least Blog  ...

  I lived with the wrong plaid almost a year.. I have tried thin, chunky, black, and white Rods.. None of them suited me.. I knew I had some wood and pieces of detail molding from other projects I'd done so out to the building I went and made myself a cornice.   I LOVE it.. Pretty detail molding for the crown and rope for the bottom, priming and 2 coats of paint later and she was ready to be hung... It looked so good I decided to go back and build another one for over the kitchen entry.. I see several more of these in my future in different sizes for different windows, but thats a project for later..
  I have enough of the new light happy plaid to make 3 toppers and a entry door panel and I just might be able to get a few pillow front out of it too.. I'm sure there's some fabric in my stash for pillow backs..
so here's the before and after to show you the direction I'm headed in and my beloved new window cornice.
 I did pretty dang good if I do say so myself...

 I'm participating in Meta Monday over at


BEFORE-- ugg, yucko-- who's idea was this.....not sure why it always decides to rain when I start to make photos... its a conspiracy I tell ya...

Now, much better... This one project has spurred me forward to finish a room that has waited far too long for me to complete...I found the framed mirror at goodwill. It had a tropical tree in the top section which wasnt working for me at all and seemed like the perfect place for a G.. The next day I found a Large G at a yard sale.. ahhhhhhhhhhhh, it was meant to be.. A chunkier lamp and a few pillows tossed on the loveseat and I was happy.. The wt's are still being trained so hopefully in a few days, they'll hang straight and sweet.
 I wont show anymore till I actually have it done and finished. for this time anyway:)

oh yea, and dont forget the Giveaway.... link below-- please read::
I'm sorry to have to hold this to the USA only but the box will be heavy.. Thank you for your understanding..
  All you have to do is leave a comment and let me know you are a follower OR leave a comment and become a follower..   simple huh:)
4 plates~ 4 bowls and 4 mugs.. enough to have a rooster party of your own with some of your friends or family... UPDATE:: I also have the salt and peppers shakers.. woooohoooo
  If you already became a Follower or left a Comment on the Original Post ~ no need to do so again as I will only count each person  1 time...
  Winner will be announced Sept 3rd..
http://155dreamlane.blogspot.com/2010/08/roosters-on-parade-rooster-giveaway.html

Roosters On Parade ~ ROOSTER GIVEAWAY~!!

  Rooster Love is new for me but I'm catching up on my collecting.   It seems like everywhere I go , I find items with roosters on them.  Plates~ cups~ pictures and actual roosters... Just as I started to make pictures today , the sky darkened and it came up a gollywhopper of a storm.. The the power went off.. It was a conspiracy I tell ya to try to keep me from showing off my roosters.. However, I persevered and here they are....
 I cant wait to see all the displays at Barb's Party..  Her link is on my sidebar.. Please click on that and see all the folks who are also showing off their ROOSTERS~!!  I think I read she'd be posting the party tonight..
  as soon as she does I'll try to get back here and add the actual link for ya'll

http://barbsgoodlife.blogspot.com/

I thought this was a great time for a giveaway too....   I'm sorry to have to hold this to the USA only but the box will be heavy.. Thank you for your understanding..
  All you have to do is leave a comment and let me know you are a follower OR leave a comment and become a follower..   simple huh:)
4 plates~ 4 bowls and 4 mugs.. enough to have a rooster party of your own with some of your friends or family...
  Winner will be announced Sept 3rd..

Now on to my Rooster Displays.. Some new , some repeats.. You know how roosters are , they started crowing about wanting to be seen again:)
let the Roosters on Parade begin..

  My new mirror and plate display for my dining room.. Had to sneak this in here cause I love it~!!

I even have roosters on the floor... oh my , now thats obsession..

 These little guys are my WATCH ROOSTERS.. I see they havent been doing a very good job since the cookie jar is empty... lol

The big guy did alot better job keeping his eye on the veggies , I see... good boy~!

  Thats all for this time folks....
 While your here click on older posts where you will find some Freebies for Ya'll
Rooster tags--- Rooster Art--- and Labels for your canning or baskets..

Thanks so much for coming to visit.. It may table me a few days to come and visit all of the Rooster Posters but I'll get there, cause I dont want to miss a single one...

Hugs
Sonny

Food Labels for my Friends~ Come 'n get um:)

 I know many of you garden , cook and bake.. I'm sure you often give your items as gifts to friends and family so though I am not one of those folks, please allow me to Thank You on their behalf....I know they appreciate it more than they are able to express.. To make it a bit more enjoyable for you and the lucky recipiants here are some labels I made.. I hope you enjoy them and use them in happiness and good health...
 
 Thank you all so much for visiting my last post.. I truly appreciate it and never cease to be amazed at your kind comments and the fact that you've taken time out of you life to visit me...
If you know of any folks who share their homemade items- feel free to link to this post so they can come and get them too...  Thanks
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save as a jpg to whatever folder you keep your photos in...
Print and Enjoy..
I use a light coat of spray mount on mine , perhaps you have other glues you use to adhere your labels..

Happy Wednesday Folks~!!!! 
Love and Hugs and All Good Things
Sonny