~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~
Every Thursday, here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!
{pretty}
{happy}
Why, you ask, does this little view make me happy?
Because it's of my living room not stacked and piled and overwhelmed with boxes of glassware, silverware, and gifts! That little pile of gifts that wouldn't fit in the newlywed car represents, first, Deirdre and John having taken away all the gifts — after Sukie and John had taken theirs — and second, me having dealt with just about everything else, and that's fine with me — I'm happy to share such an unimpressive bit of clutter with you!
Every week, only the violin teacher went in there with Bridget — we just don't use the living room in the summer — and every week I'd kick myself for not having returned all that stuff to my kind friend who let me use it for the wedding for much less than normal renting. I had washed and packed, but returning just slipped off my list in the interim.
Finally I figured Bridget's teacher would permanently judge me if I didn't do something! (Of course, she really wouldn't, because she's too nice, but gosh, how long can you just leave stuff piled so high that the lesson has to be behind a stack of boxes?)
Another little bit of happiness: Every few years, we have a supper of lobster rolls and fried onion rings. It's summer on a plate!
{funny}
Some of you intuited that I am making those Roman shades you have seen around Pinterest and DIY blogs. I thought I wanted something more dimensional, and wondered if I could do a more balloon-type shade. A lot of things went into this complicating idea of mine, including that I have really large windows and high ceilings.
I will go into this more in a separate post, because of course, it's all just so fascinating as well as fabulous, but my fears that the balloon shade would end up looking like I wadded up a drop cloth and threw it at my window proved… not unfounded.
{real}
So it's been “back to the drawing board,” and my four extra-large windows have made this a weeks'-long project, much to Bridget's chagrin (you will all recall that her MO is to disdain any activity that causes the den rug to be other than freshly vacuumed and generally spit-spot). The den has not fared as well as the living room!
Stephanie says
We lived in Cape Elizabeth ME for two years and that lobster roll pic brings back New England summer memories.
AHeartLikeMarys says
The flowers next to the sink are beautiful and the lobster rolls look delicious!
Kelly M. says
Making curtains always tasks me, but yet I can never bring myself to buy them. I always think I can make something better and save money at the same time. And I know I don't have half the sewing ability you do! I'm looking forward to seeing the non-wadded up dropcloth finished product.
Anne says
I think to make the balloon curtains not look like a wadded up drop cloth, they'd need to be installed over the window frame, not inside it, if that makes sense. I really love the ball fringe though; I hope it stays!
elisehooper says
Oh, I laughed aloud at “this complicating idea of mine”… that is so me! 🙂 I feel your pain. The new result is looking fabulous, though, I must say! And yay for a clean living room!
Lisa G. says
Yes, fabric shades are fascinating and fabulous – I agree. I can't give advice, though – I've never made any. I wish you well with them, but have to laugh at your complaint that it's a week long project; that's pretty darn fast to my mind!! 😀
I look forward to your reports when they're finished.
_Leila says
Lisa, I said weekS — 🙂
And all the DIY tutorials said SO SIMPLE. Hmph.
Lisa G. says
Oh! Surely there's just one more library book you can find which will have the best, most easy method – good luck!
jenletts says
I had my very first lobster roll ever last week in New London, CT. The lobster was fab but the bread was horrible. The waiter said it was the traditional bread, it looked like super thick cut Wonder Bread that was split half way down. I didn't eat it after that first bite of tastelessness and stuck to just the lobster – yum!
Kathryn says
Good luck with the shades! The close-up looks like the regular roman shade is coming out nicely. I really dislike making curtains. I'd much prefer to fuss over a little dress for my daughter than deal with all that heavy fabric and something being slightly off-square and then hanging funny.
sibyl says
Your pictures remind me that I have several windows covered by blankets. My curtain-making is so basic it consists of finding a blanket that looks somewhat OK, draping it across the empty curtain rod brackets, and pinning. I have actually sewn some curtains, but our cloth budget is $0 right now. Sigh.
Never had a lobster roll, as we live in the midwest and lobster isn't really a big option. But boy it looked delicious.
Mary says
That dinner is making my mouth water…and I don't even like lobster! Good luck with the shades 🙂
Becky says
Curtains are the bane of my existence. Have you checked out the Nester's window mistreatments? I have a sliding glass door in my kitchen and then windows in two wooden doors (my kitchen has 3 exterior and 2 interior entrances- nightmare!). I finally got buffalo check fabric from fabric.com (great deal) and stitch witcheried the hems for the slider. I made fake tie ups for the door windows using white muslin and extra strips from the buffalo check. The fakes don't actually extend the whole way but also aren't as bulky. Do your curtains actually need to come all the way down or could you make them short? Maybe you could install long roller shades underneath and pull them fully down when it gets really cold. It won't be as lovely for those few weeks of super cold weather but will look much better the rest of the time.
Teresa says
I laughed so hard over your description and accompanying photograph of the balloon shade that tears are running down my cheeks. Thanks for the funny today, Leila!
allthemasons says
Oh yummy lobster rolls and onion rings, that sounds like the perfect meal to me!
Terra says
Lobster roll grabbed my attention, that looks delicious. When we lived in the Caribbean a lobster once chased us around the kitchen, but that's a story for another day. Your living room looks fabulous.
Woman of the House says
So sorry the balloon shade didn't work out. Somehow, it's oddly comforting to know you have trouble with things sometimes . . . lol
Kate says
The balloon shade sounds like a good idea!