Thanks For The New Roofs Dad & Hon

Our biggest project this past summer was our house & garage roof...phew what a job that was.

But it feels so good to get it done because we were having some water problems last Spring and

we are so grateful to my Dad who worked tirelessly with my honey in the blaring sun, rain & cold. 

My Dad & honey work super well together so that's awesome & there were some pretty epic skies.

I hauled shingles to the trailer but I did do some shingle stripping on the garage (during a migraine!) and I am glad I did because it really really made me appreciate how much work it all was, yikes.

Flower Spoiled

I am flower spoiled without a doubt. I appreciate it and I love love love it! I have a very sweet honey.

And almost every single flower that my honey gifts to me, I press in my homemade flower presses.

So Cozy

Routines are shifting.  This time of year we bring flowers from outside in to survive our cold nights...

We picked the last of the garden veg & we're spending more time inside with the buns...it's so cozy!

The Covered Bridge

So when we first bought our first little home together,

we made this covered bridge, just the two of us,

it was quite the feat, making it just us two but we did for two reasons...

because my honey is a sweetheart and knows that I've always loved covered bridges

and because we needed a strategically placed structure to give us privacy when on our back deck.

 

 

 

Well this past season it needed quite a bit of TLC and we wanted to take care of it

because we both just love it still all these 14 some years later...

not just because of it's functionality but because it's a constant,
solid reminder to us of what we can achieve together.

It needed new footings, new braces, a good sanding, a brand new roof and
a brand new coat of paint and with all that done, it's looking wonderful again...

We'll be taking care of it together again in another 14 years if we're lucky.

Honey & Home Honor

Owning a house is exhausting...there is always soooo much to do...

none of it feels easy lately, especially with both of us having lots of head pain & with my back pain.

 

 

but as I lay back after a busy day inside and outside of the house under a tree turning golden...

 

as I watch the autumn sun sets from the comfort of a warm blanket in my beloved hammock...

 

as we wait for the last leaves to fall so we can get our one final rake & city compost run done...

 

 

I can't complain about any of it because to do it all, every bit, alongside this guy of mine is an honor.

Cute Girl & Sneak Peeks

How can I not draw rabbits all the time

when I am surrounded by such cuties like my girlie here!

 

 

I really do wonder if I'll ever get tired of drawing rabbits?

I just don't see it ever happening!

 

Anyways, as you can see I decided on another rabbit theme for this months coloring page

(Want it?  Sign Up to get it and future pages right here).



Fireplace Makeover

Last Sunday we decided to attack our old fireplace mantel

& get rid of our old fireplace screen...

We installed awesome new fire doors & put in lovely glossy white tile on the top and bottom.

 

 

 

It took over 8 hours

& made an awful mess because we had to grind & cut out stone which required lots of deep breaths!

but it was worth it cause we love it and we've done yet another lovely thing together for our home.

Really Sweet Ribbon Swags

I finished up this sweet and pretty little project a couple weeks ago.

I am so so pleased with how it turned out.

 

This pile of seven carefully selected fabrics and some white cording...

 

 

became this...

 

the prettiest ribbon swags...I made four.

 

 

I was looking for the perfect thing to decorate our new 'Pagoda' (more on the rebuild later)...

 

I think they were the perfect answer to fill the space...

 especially when the sun and wind plays through them...ahhhh...



 

Pretty fabric (all on sale) + creativity = a happy heart & delighted eyes.

 

 

What's the next project?

well Henrie suggested we refresh the 'pond' area so that's what we're on to now, ha ha!

 



Table ReMake

We've been up to our eyeballs with house renos...most of it hasn't been fun!

But some of it has been, like the re-make of our living room coffee table.

 

It used to look like this...after I picked it up for $10 and gave it a coat of water blue paint...

 

 

But now it looks like this...

 

 

The design is my own of course.  All hand-painted. I had such fun coming up with the pattern.

 

We're going on 2 months now with this chaotic house stuff which all started with the need to install

new floors and rabbit-chew-proof ceramic baseboards and which lead into a 100 other projects!

 

Atleast I can gaze upon my newly finished table happily and check it off the mile long list!

Today

Well, I went 10 whole days with no headaches & no migraines...it felt so amazing.
Then the last two days I've had to slow it right down again for a bad migraine has set in again.
I am always so disappointed when a new bout of pain starts
because I know just how far behind it'll make me & how much it'll slow me down
& I never know how long it'll last, sometimes it's 2 weeks straight, sigh!

But there is a key to living well and happily as a chronic migraine sufferer.
What in the world could it be are you wondering???

Well it's  Gratitude for everything good,
a heart ready to bask in the days small lovelies
& a keen eye to spot simple beauty.

So that's what I am doing today, appreciating and enjoying the day
despite the pounding and persistent pain hounding the right side & entire back of my head.

So, I am enjoying some quiet time curled up with a favorite soft blanket and my favorite magazines.
  

 

I am listening to my energetic Jaks rip apart his box like a little mad man, ha ha.

 

 

I am sitting down at my beloved new desk in my upstairs studio

(that I share with Jaks and Jin)

to colour whenever the pounding feels not quite so sharp...

sometimes I can work for 5 minutes, sometimes for 10, sometimes for 30 minutes at a time.

 

 

I am stretching out on the floor and keeping a napping Jinny company.

She doesn't mind, as long as I don't pet her too much, ha ha.

 

 

I am enjoying warm cups of sweet almond milk...topped with cinnamon, yum.

 

And lots of other loveliness is still to come for as I write this post, it's only noon.

So see...
despite a raging storm in my head that would have most people buckle and scream!
I am up and about & making the most of this day.
(with just a short lay-down with heat every couple of hours to soothe my body)

I am realizing more and more that it's all about attitude...it really is.

I am enjoying my day despite the negative...
and it's indeed feeling
very sweet & beautifully cozy.
Ahhh.

Drop in with a comment & tell me how YOUR day is going?
Are you facing a negative?? & how are you choosing to deal with it???



My Back Deck

So onto lighter things...

Want to see where I spend alot of time on spring, summer & fall days? 

Well one of the places anyways!

This is our back deck.

It's where Mister Roo-Boo tends to hang out during the days,

where Ella Luna and I spent oodles and oodles of time together,

and where the squirrels and chickadees come to converse with me.

It's also where I have my morning coffee,

my mid-afternoon reading breaks

and where my easel is set up for painting or pastels.

It's also where I stretch out and gaze up at the stars in the evening times.

Ahhhh.

I LOVE it.

I've shown you this space before,

but it does change from season to season,

I am sure it'll be completely rearranged next year again.

And, I still have to paint that one rocking chair a bright red...maybe this coming weekend.

Thanks for hopping in.

XO Mandy & The Buns