Weekend and Today's Declutter Session

We made our annual trek to Pensacola on Saturday for the home show of the Blue Angels. It is truly one of my favorite things we do all year. I love watching the Blues, and I think watching them from the bay is the best ever. If you are on the beach side, the main focal point is at the Pensacola Beach ball. Just beyond the ball is where they consider their focal point. However, they fly all up and down the beach and over the bay. They fly right over you in the bay.

Just beyond the beach ball is the Gulf of Mexico.

As you can see we had a great location. We got there later than we normally do, so we were not able to get up to the shallow water, but floating in the water works fine. Mom, Jeff, Paul Allen and Katie went on our boat this year. Lindsay and Tyler took their boat, since Tyler's cousins (brother and sister) were visiting. It was their first time seeing the Blue Angels.

The negative this year was the weather. I realized they flew about 10 minutes ahead of schedule. We knew why soon. A thunderstorm popped up, so we didn't get to hang around leisurely at all after they were done. We were packing and moving out at the same time. That little storm cloud was relentless. It was traveling in the same direction and same speed as home returning home. It was a rough ride and we were all drenched. I never felt we were in danger because we would have stopped and gotten out along the way, but we were like the Minnow in Gilligan's Island. Mom is 82 and I was sure this would be her last year to go, but she was saying today something about next year. Oh my!

I always feel like the weather is crazy about once every 5 years.

In other news, I was lazy after church yesterday, but a busy bee today.

I deep cleaned my bedroom and bathroom along with washing clothes and a few other chores. I have been on a decluttering kick for some time. I am very slow with it, but determined especially after having to move Mom here.

Two things I have worked on in my home decor this year (really starting back in December) is trying not to buy anything new and really liking what I keep.

I am over having a bunch of stuff that is trendy. By this I mean, I want what I have out to really stand the test of time for me. I know we all get the notion to change things out every now and then, but I don't want to find myself wanting to change things every time the latest thing comes along.

I have really stopped and talked myself through anything I see as to whether I really need it and what I am getting rid of to get it. Mostly I have talked myself out of purchases.

Today, I tackled a few things in the bathroom. I don't really like the bathroom, because it is my opinion well over the top, but I can't change the big ticket items. Shoot- if I wait long enough some of will be back in style. Maybe?!

I am also trying to make things simpler and easier to clean which is hard because I don't get rid of things easily, but I am getting much better.

Here are a few things I changed today.

I got rid of the palm tree candle sticks that once sat on the bathroom counter. I truly have no clue why I ever bought them in the first place. I have never really liked them. I have moved them to clean for far too long. I moved them out of the room while I was cleaning and it was like amazing how relieved I felt that they were gone. That led to moving some palm tree towels and thinking ---yep, glad they are gone too. I replaced them with some others I had.  Palm tree overload gone.

This was the only picture I could even find of the palm tree candles and yes, I have a door back on my cabinet now:)

Having less in the middle was so good, because there is a certain amount of real life that just has to be handy in the bathroom. I have a tray for both of us on the sides. I even took the palm tree plate out that housed my makeup and replaced it with a plate that belonged to my grandmother. I love it and will be using it instead of it sitting in a drawer.

Moving on - there is so so so much gold in the bathroom area that I took down the gold vases and greenery. Not only is there too much gold, but too much green also. I shopped the house and did another vignette, and while I like it I still may move it and leave nothing there. Easier to clean. I am going to mull that one over for a few days.

New more toned down look.

That led to moving these bird pictures with the gold and green. I swapped them out with some dog prints that I had in the bedroom.  I love them. There are two more palm trees in there that I think I will move eventually. I think something I have cross stitched would look better there😉

I realized this picture doesn't do the dogs justice..they really did look better.

I had moved the dog prints out of the bedroom which led to me moving something I hadn't found the right spot for up until today. The old dog print location now holds my Books of the Bible stitched piece.

That is a few changes for today, but I am gradually working on decluttering and making it look a little lighter in each room. Easier to clean as well.

Today's declutter session netted a set of bird prints, a trio of palm tree candle sticks, two gold vases and greenery, a coral candle, and a palm tree plate. No new purchases and a set of palm tree towels for just real use, not to look at anymore.

Week of the Fourth

It seems that about all I have in me these days is a weekly post. I am in a bit of a creativity slump, which probably means I need to quit pushing and do something different.

Anyway, we spent a family fourth here at the house. Jeff grilled hamburgers, hotdogs, and most of the veggies. Lindsay made a salad and salsa. I made brownies, homemade hot fudge sauce, and homemade ice cream.

To say that I ate too much would be an understatement. I think we all did. The ice cream was so good and that is the only time of the year I make it, so we all pigged out a bit. Jeff's sister says that is her favorite thing.

I think this may have been the first year in a very long time we didn't go see fireworks out on the island, but we just decided to call it an evening. The neighbors two doors down are from Alabama and only come to their home a few times a year. It is one of the few places left on the bay and bayous with a cottage and a lot that if they ever sell will hold two houses instead of one. They brought Alabama fireworks. The kind that are sold just across the state line are very different than the ones we can buy here. When the kids were young we always got some to bring home from visits to Mama's house. They put on quite a show. I actually enjoyed watching them have so much fun. They were through by 10:00...just family fun.

On Monday, Jeff took off from work and we went up to the farm to just check on things. I have noticed that the pecan trees have nuts on them this year. I had finally researched how to fertilize them, but missed the deadline to do so. The difference maker I think this year has been the June rains. It rained almost everyday in June. I hope they actually produce some good ones. Of course, I will have to enlist all my family and friends to pick them up if they do.

I am off to go get my haircut today. I have been letting it grow out. You know how you see stuff on the computer and so forth and think, "I should try that." Well, I hate it. I looked up last Friday in the mirror and realized it looks awful. Being the week of the fourth I had to wait until this morning before my girl had an opening. I am going back to my little shoulder length bob which is the Goldilocks cut for me.

Then it is off to Destin before the weekend to take my computer to the Geek Squad for its yearly checkup. I am trying to keep my mac running forever.

I have several things I need to do a finish on of my cross stitching, but like I said, my creativity is just nonexistent.
I am going to let it go for awhile and see if it comes back.