Lady Love

      So I have been busy in my new favorite place: The Garage. While we "patiently" wait for all the moving to begin I have been collecting (hoarding) so many fun projects. Some I have access to, and some are piled high in a sectioned off room at the new house. (I will see you soon, you beautiful pieces of furniture!!)
      I figured I would update you guys on the buffet!! She is not quite done yet.. but She will be soon! You might be wondering why in the world I am calling an inanimate object a she?
     My buffet, she is gorgeous (without any help from me, mind you!!) her bones were hearty, but delicate. She is like the workhorse that will silently carry all of my goodies for years to come! She is my right hand lady and I have loved working with her! Could it be the stain and paint fumes going to my head?? Perhaps, but today... she is a she.
     I love love love hosting parties. It might be a sickness. I love feeding people, I love visiting with people, I love making pretty drinks garnished with lemons and berries. I above all, love the memories made over finger foods and deli trays. In our current home, we host a lot during the summer months because we have a ginormous deck, but I cannot WAIT to host some dinner parties in the new house!!
     Alright.... here we go... The buffet. I saw her on a website for sale and contacted the lady over in Wilmington, Ohio about possibly making a trip out to pick her up. The lady was kind and said it was already spoken for, but would let me know if the interested party passed. Well, of course it sold. I was sad, but knew there was a reason I didn't end up with it... and Wilmington was awfully far. But no kidding, I took a screen shot of the sold picture because I wanted to find one JUST. LIKE. IT.

     Fast forward about 2-3 weeks and I see the buffet, but this time on a local site! NO WAY! I immediately message the woman selling her, and she said "Stop on by!".... NO WAY! I could hardly get the money out of my wallet fast enough when I saw this behemoth of a buffet screaming my name! I swear I heard her say," There you are!!! Where have you been?? Come get me!!" Like my little lost puppy.

      I also fell in love with the husband and wife that sold her to me. They are much wiser than I when it comes to refinishing these items, but they went out of their way to tell me I can do it! My naivety must have been painted across my face as I bounced around their house with excitement, but they cheered me on.
      I sent my wonderful, fabulous, dashingly handsome husband and father to pick it up. I waited like a kid on Christmas for them to pull in to the drive. "What do you think??" I asked on my tip toes. "Its gorgeous right?"
      Okay so looking back, maybe it wasn't super crazy gorgeous but I could see where we were going to take her. What did I see that stood out as being special? The small beaded woodwork on the doors has to be my favorite part... like pearls on a lady. The two fleur de lis-esque pieces on the doors... like perfect button earrings. I also love the legs and intricate wood structure underneath.
      So, now you know WHY I LOVE HER... the next blog...."How did the magic (elbow grease) happen?!!"

   

Ninety West Central Avenue

Eek! I can hardly believe this picture happened! One of my wonderfully talented friends, Tara Lewis of Tara Lewis Photography was kind enough to squeeze us in! My sister Jen currently lives in Destin, Florida (poor girl) but was in town for a quick weekend. I never say long weekend because they always pass by way too quickly when we have her home! Well, I had an idea to have Tara present to capture some pictures of all of the Kleather family eating one final meal under the roof together before my parents move out to the lake!

Needless to say, Tara Lewis is ridiculously talented and had a vision for these photos!! I will forever treasure the memories around the kitchen table, and now I have photographic evidence :) 

I have become a Tasmanian devil flying around corners and trying my best to get this house in some kind of order before the big move. Luckily the new house is literally right down the street or I might be in more trouble. I have so many big big dreams and goals for this house, I can hardly stand it. I am so thrilled to have the opportunity to raise my babies in this gem that I grew up in myself! I remember many dates with Patrick that ended outside the front door, and even leaving to go on our honeymoon from the backdoor. So many memories we have had nestled within the walls and so many that lie ahead in the future. Here we go!! 

Daily Dose of Dust

I love all things dusty, vintage, and forgotten. Okay, well maybe not all things, but lots of things. Lots and lots of things. I remember dreading trailing behind my parents while they toured countless antique malls through Kentucky and Tennessee. I was always holding out for the end of the day when we were promised an evening of horseplay in the hotel pool. But somewhere between the continental breakfasts and chlorine saturated evenings, something happened! The dust must have gotten to me... because my house is filling with artifacts of yesteryear!

I have my favorite places..I have my favorite people...and like the famous Cheers song.. they know my name. Flea markets and antique stores...for some reason these have become "posh" or the "it" places to be shopping. Some people assume flea markets are full of knock off handbags and sunglasses. Which I totally agree, you will have those... but you will also have SO. MUCH. MORE. Especially if you aren't afraid to get your hands a little dirty!

About a year ago I was at a local market where I saw a regular vendor. He always has odd, cheap little goodies and that day was no different! He had a brown cardboard box filled with ancient bingo balls. I felt like they had called my winning cover-all number: B6!

The sign on the box read "Bingo Balls: $2" I approached him, ready and willing with my two dollars. But the best part of this open market, you are never fully expected to pay the full price, or so I thought! I proudly handed over the two dollars and expected to be given the box of bouncy balls. He laughed loudly and exclaimed he couldn't believe that I thought it was for the WHOLE BOX! It was $2 PER BALL! But because he got such a chuckle, he let me have the whole box for two dollars. Now, the lesson here is not to be so cheap that you cause a fit of laughter. The lesson is: make friends and be kind.

I have an obsession with visiting the markets when its warm. The sunny days bring out the winter hobbits like me chomping at the bit for a dusty bargain! But where to go when its cold?? Let me tell you... they are called thrift stores. I know. There is a stigma. But hear me out... okay?

I could quote Macklemore's "Thrift Shop" all day long... and no these are not my grandmas clothes. But this sure does look like my great grandmas buffet! And you know what? It is fabulous! I am still learning how to rehab all of my goodies but one project at a time, I can only improve!

Now back to thrift stores... stigmas are thrown out the window! Antiques and vintage finds are the items that are fueling HGTV right now! I am over filling my house with the over priced pressed wood    when well loved, quality pieces are available. Give me a shelf that has lasted 100 years over a shelf that will wilt when wet. Come on, say it with me, "I will no longer buy sawdust. I will no longer buy sawdust." Its really liberating when it becomes your mantra! Trust me!

I can almost sense your trepidation... I know, its not easy to sit down the Swedish meatballs and little pencils in those well-lit monstrous aisles. The best part is, you don't have to! My house has trinkets from the glorious "Red-Dot" store... I have frames from I-Kant-Escape-Anyway (so I must buy more).... I love their knick knack decor, but the truth is, I can find cheaper, more quality items if I keep my eyes peeled and my imagination open!

So my challenge to you, as we see 70 degree weekends on the horizon... If you dare, walk on the wild side. Browse the open air markets and see what you may find! You never know, a daily dose of dust might just be the cure to what ails you!

There's No Place Like Home...

Well, the impossible has happened! I am on the cusp of my thirtieth birthday! How does this happen? I assume it happened over minutes, hours, birthdays, graduations, late nights and early mornings. I remember when the thought of turning thirty was as absurd as thinking about home equity loans and durable wall primer. Oh how things change!

My days are filled with a car pool, laundry baskets and dishwasher loads. I love love love being a mother to my three, beautiful children. They show me valleys of love I never knew existed in my heart before. They also bring me to the brink of my sanity and with one slobbery kiss from my youngest, I remember how wonderful of a gift motherhood really is... remind me of this from time to time should I forget won't you? :)

I am pretty sure when we said our vows, Patrick and I thought our life would be predictably unpredictable. There would (hopefully) be children, a home, and we would live the American dream....very "after school special" esque. Who could want for more?!

I prayerfully and diligently sought after a full time teaching position for over two years. I just knew I would find happiness and fulfillment within the four walls of a public classroom. Although I did fall in love with each of those children in those seats when I finally had my own classroom, my heart cried for my two little ones at home. After two years in the class room I began to pray for guidance, and peace in wherever I was meant to be.

Patrick and I decided to give it over to God, and I took a leave of absence as an educator. Many peers praised me for my dedication to my family, but I was torn. Do I give up my four years at the university, and four years in the field to tend to my babies? My profession could wait, but those little people at home were growing by the day. If there was ever any question in my decision, about a week after I formally resigned, we found out there would be another St. J baby on the way! I see what you did there God...

Here I am now, two years later, with very full hands and a very full heart. We are busting at the seams in our three bedroom house, chasing a dog, toting three children and packing boxes! The St. J family is on to a brand new adventure!

I was born on a farm and was raised hand planting pumpkin seeds every summer. I grew up knowing the value of a dollar, the feel of the June sun shining on me behind the tractor, and the taste of icy well water after the seeds were sewn. I am overjoyed that my children have the opportunity to grow up in similar fashion. Patrick and I are beginning a brand new adventure; we are purchasing the pumpkin patch! With the help of Farmer Joe, who will still be the brains and braun of the pumpkin operation, and Mrs. Farmer Marsha, we will continue the wonderful tradition!

With the pumpkin patch comes many responsibilities and exciting opportunities for our little family. We will be packing up the Barbies, trucks and tiny shoes and moving into the gorgeous Victorian that anchors the barn in the center of town, where I grew up myself! My heart and imagination are soaring with excitement and ideas!

This blog will be my 'notebook' of sorts! I will be blogging about the move, the farm, the Victorian, becoming an entrepreneur, and motherhood! I am a child of Christ, a lover of antiques, a mother, a wife, and now, Lord willing, a business owner. Though there may not be a yellow brick road to follow on this adventure, I already know, there's no place like home :)