My Paris Apartment, Reveal

So, maybe it's not quite a Paris apartment but I desperately wanted a change in our chateau and painting the dining room seemed like the obvious solution....that's a stretch but it's all I've got!

From Sherwin Williams Backdrop to Sherwin Williams Alabaster here is final product.

I love, love the change! Even though Alabaster is a cool shade I really like it as a palette for all of my warm colors.

If you missed my last blog about the dining room you can find it here!

(On a side note, some other whites I considered were Swiss Coffee, Steamed Milk, and White Dove.)

'Til next time!

Independence Day

 Our Quarters One on a sunny day!

Happy Independence Day! 

I wanted to come up on the net to say hello and wish you and your family a safe and happy day of celebration. I've said this before...I love today because it's a day when we are all on the same team...

America's team!

All of our kids are back on U.S. soil, thank goodness, and most of them are home with us. It's a rainy day in our part of the country but that won't stop us from celebrating.

Our fare today is...Carolina barbecue, baked beans, squash casserole, watermelon, chips, ice cream sandwiches, and assorted beverages.  

Too easy.

Since most of our day will probably be spent on the porch here are a few photos to share. Like last year, I've gone with the red, blue, and apple green color scheme. I tied the porch in with the patio with new lounge cushions. 

We added a cozy table to our porch this year,  I think we eat out here every night! This is just a fold out table from Target covered with a table cloth made with a drop cloth. 

   

I love this, my newest chandelier, that came from La Bella Luce before she closed up her shop.

 

We ended up rearranging the porch during this photo shoot, I think I like this new layout better.

A little time to relax before the festivities begin.

Hope you have a day you enjoy with people you love. 
Remember those who have sacrificed dearly so that we may celebrate, and continue to celebrate, these free United States.

'Til Next Time!
www.facebook.com/quartersone

Life on the Porch

The lazy days of summer are here to stay and so is living life on the porch! I love bringing the indoors outside and the 4th of July is the quintessential day of the year for outdoor living.
Our house is full this year.  Our kids are home and Bill's parents are here, too.  We are celebrating our first Independence Day in Washington DC.  And who knows, in the Army, it could also be our last so we are going to enjoy it whole heartedly.
Our menu is simple...burgers (beef and veggie), grilled potato salad, baked beans, chips, watermelon, apple pie, and fireworks!

I'm super thankful we have a screened porch... it makes the easy livin' outside so much easier. A patio makes it even better. 
Here's what we did to our outdoor space...

I'm big into green and navy this year with just a touch of red...

View from our kitchen window... this Biergarten sign is from Germany, the Eidelweiss to be exact!

 A few wrought iron window boxes from Italy found perfect spots on the edge of the porch.

This L-shaped porch is old and very worn but I love it none the less. The rocking chairs are great for drinking coffee in the morning and the lounge chairs are a comfy reading spot on a sunny afternoon.

 The view down our street is always patriotic...

Happy Independence Day! 

'Til next time...

I Wish I Didn't Know

I wish I hadn't gotten one of those phone calls yesterday. 

It was far too familiar and I knew what he was going to say before he said it. 

The way he caught his breath before he told me.  

The tired, sad whisper on the other end of the phone...one of my sons telling me that another friend had been killed in Afghanistan.

I wish I didn't know.

 Choking back emotion with disbelief as he began, 

"Ma, I've got some bad news, it's very bad."

 I wish I didn't know.

 I wish I didn't know him, my son's friend.

I wish I didn't know how proud he was of his beautiful wife.

 I wish I didn't know he had a dog named Molly and a life far away from the battlefield.

 I wish I didn't know he loved to fish and laugh with his friends.

I wish I didn't know he had parents who adored him and a sister who will miss him for the rest of her life.

I wish I had been able to compose myself. 

I wish I had been able to tell my son it would all be ok but we've walked this road before and we know that it will not be ok. 

Another precious life lost.

I wish I didn't know.

But, I do know. 

I want you to know, too.

CPT Jason Benjamin Jones

Care Package Ideas

 My daughter's boyfriend, an Air Force pilot, is on the verge of a deployment so I am headed back into hyper worry mode. I know Margie will come up with some great ideas for care packages for him.  When my son, Andrew, was deployed his very creative and friend sent care packages each with their own theme. She used the free APO boxes from the post office. 

Here are the photos she shared…. thank you!

Valentine Theme

Easter Theme

St. Patrick's Day Theme

Fourth of July Theme 

Birthday Theme

Just a reminder of how much you're loved theme!

Fishing Theme (He's a fisherman!)

Last care package…nearly over…Orange you glad?!

Home!

Even with the drawdown in Afghanistan we are still deploying our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines... military families understand this.  I fear that too many of the  99% of the population that don't serve don't understand that young men and women are fighting daily, being injured, and yes, people…we still have Americans dying in combat. 
 Please support your military anyway you can.  If you know a service member I'm sure there are many things you do to show your support in their lives. If you don't know any service members personally, there are many great organizations that would welcome your help. I've linked a few…

USO.org

Operation Homefront

Homes for our Troops

Fisher House Foundation

Warrior Canine Connection

TAPS

I thank you, I know they will too!