Our Dr. Doolittle Did It!

Izzie at the beach last summer

Happy Weekend!

Izzie is home from her surgery.  Prayers answered!  Our Vet spent 2.5 hours tediously, carefully, skillfully removing our little girl's tumor
 
Success!  Our girl appears non-the-wiser about her ordeal. Izzie is begging for outdoor adventures and eager to play ball. 

Dr. Fisher say she needs to remain quiet and no jumping. A tall order for a dog who doesn't know she just had life-threatening surgery.

We are the happiest two dog parents on the planet. Our worry and concern on Thursday no doubt aged us a few years.  My lifeline was Facebook.  For the first time, I realized the wonder of having love and support pouring in from near and far.

Thanks to everyone for your prayers.

Do You Believe in MAGIC for Selling your house?

Right before Christmas I staged this house.  It has been on the market for a few months, has had lots of showings with no offers.

After staging, the activity picked up--but still no offers.

Then Tina, the seller, tried the unorthodoxed.  She planted a statue of St. Joseph in their yard. St. Joseph is the patron saint of the house. Joseph was a carpenter, and because of his role in raising Jesus and providing a stable, happy home for Jesus to grow up in, he is the go-to saint for selling your house.

Tina buried the statue last Thursday afternoon (in frozen ground,the day before our Winter Storm).  On Saturday, (2 days later, people!) the house received 2 offers. On Monday, a third offer was forthcoming.

I have never tried the St. Joseph tradition.  But, hey--if that is where your intention goes and it works--then give St. Joseph a try.

Izzie

We need some magic and some prayers.
Our beloved baby, Izzie, has a malignant tumor on her thyroid.  She is being operated on in the morning.  It is a very challenging operation because of the location. We would so appreciate any healing energy or loving prayers you end. She has been our love for 9 years.

The Winter Adventure

Maybe you have to be a Southerner to appreciate our love of snow days.  All rational reasoning is tossed aside. Snow Days are a revered event that only happen maybe once a year.  There are rituals to be followed:

SHOP: It is essential run to the grocery store just prior to the storm.  It is important to be in the fray of folks wired up for being house bound a few days. It is important to discuss what provisions you are stocking up on with neighbors in aisles or strangers in long lines. This is the only event that allows you to flaunt your junk food and be admired instead of judged.


COOK/BAKE: Everyone cooks during a Winter Storm. I made Chicken Noodle Soup the first day.  I'm working on Vegetable Beef Soup for tomorrow. Karen made Black Bean Soup and Beef Stew.  Next door neighbor, Dawn, is making chocolate chip cookies and delivering them to us!

IMBIBE: Need I say more?  Pick your poison.  Then post silly-selfies on Facebook.

EAT: Anything eaten during The Winter Adventure is fair game. Absolutely no New Year's Resolutions allowed during Winter Adventure. Calories don't count and it ain't my fault the gym is closed!

BE NEIGHBORLY:  We had the three neighbor boys (9,6 and 4) over to play. Their Mom and Dad needed a break. They were so much fun! Sled. Sled. Sled. OK, I don't sled. But I watched! And tonight there is a bonfire at the lake below our house tonight.

The fact that the storm hit on a Friday is double awesome!  Long weekend!  Woot! Woot!

...by Monday it will all be a distant memory.

Have an awesome rest of the weekend.

And remember, we are Panthers Proud!

THE TOP 5 COMPLAINTS OF SELLERS ABOUT THEIR REAL ESTATE AGENT

Louisvillegal

Hello! Hello! It looks like we are gonna get SNOW!

Riddle du jour:
What has as much uncertainty as the weather? REAL ESTATE
I work with both sellers and agents.  Today, I thought I would address the complaints I hear most frequently from sellers.

5. The realtor makes unfulfilled promises.  These Pretty Woman/Studdly Man Agents look sharp, professional, confident and in control. They woo the seller to get the listing.  They promise grand free services: the best stager, a professional photographer, a free appraisal or inspection, 24/7 availability, exquisite marketing publications and dedicated online sites,open houses, buyer's caravan's,etc. The seller figures the agent must have a network of equally beautiful and dedicated people to help with their lofty ambitions. After the Listing Papers are sign, the many of the promises can vanish.

4. The realtor turns the listing over to a subordinate. Big Listing agent signs the seller then hands it over to someone else in their office. These big shot agents love to transfer the messy follow-up details to another agent or a "Listing Coordinator"."Listing Coordinators" typically don't last long. When blame must be passed the lowly Listing Coordinator gets the ax, a cardboard box and is asked to clear her desk.

3. "I'll find out."  The agent does not have the education or experience to provide the right answers on important details. "I couldn't believe we had to wait for days for him/her to get back to us."

2. "We should lower the price."  ahhh...the mantra heard round the world.... The answer to every problem: lack of showings, no offers, home repairs, etc.is to"lower the price".  Sellers are outraged that agents think dropping the price by $5K-- $10K+ is no big deal.   

1.  THE AGENT GOES DARK. The agent does not return phone calls or emails. No contact drives sellers bonkers.  It is the cherry on top of the Bonker's Sundae.  And, agents please don't bother with the excuses. Even if they are legit--sellers don't want to hear them. (P.S. Agents:"On Vacation" is the biggest offense to sellers.They agree everyone needs a vacation--just not while they are selling their house.)

Have you more to add? Have you ever run into any of these problems when you sold a house?

Joanna Gaines Would Lust These Beauties

Awesome Hand Painted Antique Basket

Hello Lovelies! What a great week! Have you seen "Sisters" with Amy Pollard and Tina Fey? It is a silly, funny movie that Virginia and I laugh until we cried over. Tuesday, my buddy Karen had a BD and we celebrated over Thai Pad. Yum. (Diet, next week?) Tomorrow, I'll be hitting the road to have a little fun with some very special people. Great weekend ahead!

Here's more primitive (a la Joanna Gaines style) or as I call it, 'authentically' distressed furniture.
An old church pew. Talk about uncomfortable. A dozen parishioners could be crammed in this pew.

Here's a time-worn table and bread bowl. BTW, I can hear my mother (from heaven) saying, "I wouldn't put that piece of junk in my house is somebody gave it to me!"

How about this old stool the owner is using as a plant stand? 

The owner decidedly has a knack for displaying and incorporating these old treasures.
Have a great weekend.  Go Panthers!

Tips on How To Distress a Kitchen Table and Chairs

I am not a big fan of distressed furniture.  Let me clarify.  I am not a big fan of DIY distressed furniture. You know, the pieces that folks pick up at Flea Markets or off Craigslist and then paint, sand and seal. The distressing tends to be very balanced, matchy-matchy, and intentional.

Check out this authentically distressed kitchen table and chairs.

The table has variations of color. The nail holes are recessed and dark. There is a bit of white on the back sides of the leg turns. (What's it from? Sap, you think?).

Notice the left side of the tabletop.  Apparently, for years, people preferred this side of the table.  It  shows circles from hot plates and is more worn than the right side of the table. The wood is much darker on the back end of the table (where the there is a jug and 2 small lanterns). I wonder what was originally placed there to keep it from becoming worn and faded?

The carvings in the table top reminded me of the old wooden desks from my elementary school days. There is so much character and history to this table. Do you think these patterns be replicated?

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Obviously, the chairs weren't bought with the table.  I love how this chair is more distressed on the back.  Look at that wood grain. One post is more worn. I guess it was on the end and subject to the most abuse.

I admire folks that are talented enough to DIY.  I'm especially in awe of my friend Heather, of New House New Home.  Heather has mad skills and her furniture looks amazing.

I'll share more pieces from this house in my next post.