Beauty

Remember how I recently rattled on and on about my new beloved treasure, the one I discovered at my favorite thrift store? The one that inspired me to revamp the guest room? (By the way, if you live in or ever visit the Dallas area, please check out Curiosities.  It's such a wonderful little jewel.  You could get lost in there for hours discovering all kinds of treasures.)

Well ladies and gents, today she makes her first appearance!  (Though she's a little shy...give her a second to warm up and she'll do more than just peek around the corner...)

Isn't she lovely?!  I adore her.  Let's give her a few more seconds while I introduce you to a few other new elements of the still-not-finished-but-definitely-close guest room.  I was going for a Shabby Chic/Anthropology/cozy B&B inspired look and feel.  And it had to be done on a crazy cheap budget, like, FREE would be ideal.  

Most of these elements were, in fact, free.  Or almost.  I moved the bed to the corner, intending for the room to double as a sort of lounge and/or reading room as well, and just above it papered the area with sheets of antique opera music.  (Bought a book of it for a dollar at the annual library sale several months ago--I've used it for all sorts of projects since.  It's so romantic...beautiful lyrics, music notes...) The frame was a buck at another little junk store down the street.

On the adjacent wall I took a cue from Pottery Barn and strung a piece of twine across it, then used mini-clothes pins to simply clip up random odds and ends: prints from different countries we've visited, travel photos, more music sheets, favorite quotes, etc.  Fun, and virtually free.

The lamp was free from my Grandad (who for some strange reason has an entire building full of random old lamps...so odd.)  The tea pot and cups were a gift from my beloved step-mom-in-law, Deb, once belonging to her mother.  The basket of cinnamon sticks were given to me by an adorable thrift shop manager in Oak Cliff who always tosses in freebies to inspire me to come back, (not that it's ever necessary to inspire me to return-it's practically my second home).  The bedding and linens are also from her shop, all brand new originally from Bed Bath and Beyond: down comforter, silky white sheets, bedskirt, etc.  I got it ALL for a grand total of $40. Shocker! The comforter alone should have cost $400.  Everything else was either thrifted, picked up at a garage sale, on a curb while junkin' with my mom, or bought for little to nothing at Ross or TJ Maxx.  (throw pillows, large baskets for extra blankets, etc.)

So now that you have a feel for the ambiance, let me give you a full introduction to my little beauty...

The most beautiful, perfect, battered with age and unknown memories writing desk!!  Isn't she gorgeous??  I love her.  She makes my heart sing.  I can't stop staring at her.  (I think that's why she's shy...I keep staring lovingly and it's freaking her out.)

She's perfection sitting before the windows, flanked with ethereal white curtains.  And I know she'll bring comfort and inspiration to any and all who come to stay a bit in the guest room.  *sigh*  

Though not pictured, the Golden Chair was also relocated to a quiet corner in this room, stationed next to the little wrought iron table my Great Grandaddy gave me years ago, atop it a tray of organic tea selections and a small mason jar of flowers.  I still have a few small projects to complete before the room is entirely finished.  I have a couple of old maps who's frames need to be refinished to look more aged, same goes for a large modern looking mirror who needs a face-lift, those kinds of things.  But for now, we're quite content with how the revamp has turned out.

Don't you just love it when a room is inviting?  When it beckons you to come inside and hang out awhile?  Do you have a room that calls to you?

Giveaway!

I was at Nordstrom a few days ago browsing about--well, to be honest Josh was browsing and I was attempting to stay out of trouble by avoiding the ladies department--so I wandered over to the homewares section assuming it safe.  Then I saw her, the most beautiful french press I've ever laid eyes on.  

Because I already have 47 french presses in the cabinet I knew Josh wouldn't let me keep her, but she was the last one, and she's SO pretty!  I couldn't stand it.  I had to save her from a lifetime of being used by someone who might not appreciate her beautifulness.  

Who would appreciate her beautifulness?  You, of course!  And because a good french press makes every hot beverage taste a thousand times better, even if you don't love her at first sight, you will at first taste.  I trust her to woo you.

To enter simply answer this question in the comments section below:

What is your absolute favorite hot beverage?

Whether it's chai tea, italian espresso, cappuccino with chocolate shavings on top, or plain ole black coffee, simply enter your preference and you're automatically entered to win.  FYI-comments on Facebook don't count.  You must respond in the actual comment section of the blog.

One entry per person, no entries after midnight Friday, winners will be selected at random and announced first thing Monday.  Good luck!

(Medina Lacafetiere, 8 cup, retails for $38.00, adorable puppies not included ;-)

Fight

We fought.

On Valentines Day, rather than dinner and dessert and cuddles under a blanket, we fought. 

I said things like, “I feel like I just bared my soul, and you spit in my face.”

He said things like, “This is exactly why I don’t try to communicate.”

And we sat.  For three hours.  In the floor.  Not touching, not even looking at each other, both licking our own wounds, both to proud to concede.

I went from vulnerable, to confused, to frustrated, to infuriated, and back again.  Several times over.

This is marriage. 

It’s loving and serving someone else, considering what they need in this moment to be more important than what you need.  It seems unfair sometimes.  A lot of times.  It’s an exhausting, endless routine of dying to yourself.  And being that we’re human…broken, tainted, messed-up human…it goes against our nature. 

Survival of the fittest doesn’t work within the context of marriage.  It destroys it.

What I wanted was to be heard.  What he wanted was to be understood.  We both wanted to be seen, acknowledged, validated.  But we were so self-absorbed, both so obsessed with being heard rather than listening, that we stood toe-to-toe in fury instead.

And when it was over…we both felt beat up.  Wounded.  And I said it out loud, that I felt wounded.

And then he said quietly, almost in a whisper, “Terrica, I never want to harm a single hair on your head, much less a piece of your heart.”  And something in me melted.

Not because of what he said, though his words were beautiful, but because suddenly I heard him.  I heard what he was trying to communicate.  His words reminded me of what I already knew, his heart.  And knowing that, being reminded of that, made the whole thing seem silly.

It was too late to cook, so we had yogurt and granola and went to bed.  There was no chocolate.  There were no flowers.  And though those things are nice, in a few days or weeks they would have been long gone, forgotten.  Any kind of token or gift would have been about a day.  Instead, our evening was about forever.  It was about our marriage.  It was about understanding, still trying after almost 9 years to understand rather than be understood.

When I crawled into bed I knew one thing, that he loved me. 

I know he loves me because he fights for me.  Rather than walking out of the room or zoning out in front of the television, he sits in the floor and lets me rant and cry and scream obscenities if necessary.  Instead of storming out he plants his feet, his heart, and stays until we’re better.  Instead of slamming doors he’ll sit in the car in the darkness as the minutes tick by for hours, in the cold, in the hot, and let me process until things make sense.

He loves me, because in fighting with me, he’s always fighting for me. 

That’s his heart.  Always, that’s his heart.  I don’t need a holiday to be reminded of it, because he offers it daily. 

This is marriage.

As I slid between the sheets assuming him fast asleep, he reached for me.  He grabbed me violently by the forearm and pulled me tightly to his chest, wrapping his arms around me, refusing to let go.  And I thought, I love him more than I did yesterday.  I love him more than I did this morning.  I love God more for knowing so well what I needed in a husband who will forever love me despite myself, despite my selfishness.

This… is marriage.

So!  How did YOUR Valentines Day turn out?? ;-)

Valentine

 Santorini, Greek Islands, 2009

Weekend

Saturday Josh and I packed up and headed out to Ben Franklin to visit the fam.  We had a few projects to attend to and the weather was perfect for a country drive, but most importantly there were many new introductions to be made...

 Meet Rosalina (Rosy), Pork Chop (Chops), and Carly.  Three friendly little red pigs who now call Ben Franklin home.  (on a side note, Josh was terribly disappointed that he didn't get to name one of them Bacon, but Tirzah has promised she'll give Josh naming dibs when the first litter of piglets arrives)  Mom talks to them, and for them, of course.  And Dad paralyzes them by scratching their bellies until they fall over in utter bliss.  It's hysterical. They're definitely part of the family now.  However, no one gets to live a delightful long life on the farm without responsibility.  The chickens lay eggs, the goats keep the pastures clean, the dogs protect the goats from predators, etc.  Everyone works.  So in accordance with the rules the pigs have been assigned garden-plowing duty.  Once they've completed the chore they'll be transferred to new assignments.  They seem cool with it.

We also met Stinker-goat's new baby.  It's sad to see her without Holman-the-goose, however mom did affectionately name the new baby 'Holman Jr.' in his honor.  I told her it was blasphemy.  He'd be livid if he knew...

 Eventually we made it out to the barn to meet Sassy's brand new litter of puppies.  Look how sweet they are.

We were quickly made aware, however, of grumblings regarding the new babies.  The goats and chickens were visibly upset that Sassy had chosen the hen house as a nursery.  The chickens can't get in to do their daily chore of egg-laying and the goats have been ousted from their choice napping spot. Speaker of the Barn, Patches-the-goat, was on a mission to make sure we were aware of the rumblings.

"Excuse me.  Um, excuse me, there's a matter that needs to be addressed today regarding the unapproved location of the nursery??  We would really appreciate a human representative at our meeting being that, well, being that you're the only ones who can actually do anything about it??"

"No photos at the meeting please--what, well, okay if you must this is definitely my best side..."

"The meeting will begin here at the spool in--um, excuse me??  Mrs. Human Representative with the camera? Are you listening?  This is a very seriously matter.  Miss Speckled Chicken is getting ready to begin in just a moment.  Please put the camera away..."

"Okay Miss Speckles, we're ready to begin..."

"Hey!!  I said NO cameras!"

Unfortunately to my knowledge no course of action has yet been agreed upon by all parties, however the official relocate-the-puppy-nursery-committee is still hard at work, determined to come to some sort of resolve.

(Hello my name is Terrica and I'm addicted to making animals 'talk'.  My mother does it, my grandmother does it, my great-grandmother did it...I'm afraid there's no help for it.)

So what did you do this weekend??  Did you get out and enjoy the beautiful weather??

Sabbath

I intentionally seek out Sabbath moments every single day, and this is one of them.  My favorite breakfast: sliced avocado, buttery millet bread, an egg fried simply in coconut oil, hot tea.  

The meal alone has a healing effect, but add intentionality into to the mix and we're talking soul repair.  

I believe fully that when we take time to stop, to taste, to savor...we give our souls time to come into focus. We give our spirits a sense of gratitude and space to actually connect with God.  After all, He's just waiting for us to slow down.   

You want to see God today?  Seek out a quiet place, a moment, and feel it completely.  Close your eyes and eat a handful of blueberries, stop and closely examine a flower, hold a child's hand, listen to the notes rather than words of a beautiful song, slowly sip a cup of steaming coffee or tea and be careful to notice how if actually feels as it warms you from the inside out.  

"If we could see the miracle of a single flower, our whole life would change." -Buddha

Pay attention.  Appreciate.  I promise, it makes all the difference in the world...

How do you create space for Sabbath moments in your every day?