The Sunday Edition

This is the kind of Sunday I love.  I haven't left the Point, yet I've gotten so much accomplished.  Nothing was really planned out or scheduled and that is just how we liked it.  After sleeping in a little bit we started our day by dividing up some household chores. While Bubba took a run to the dump I got busy washing the front of our house.  Last night we missed the old screen that was around our porch for about 3.5 seconds when we realized that the porch was covered in bugs and gnats trying to maneuver their way in the house.  Since Bubba attacked them with Raid, there was a little bit of a dead bug-mess to clean up, along with the coat of pollen yellowing our white paint.

Bubba came home and started staining the floor of the porch and I decided to make my way out to the pier for a little sunshine.  I grabbed my new edition of Garden and Gun and made sure the Zac Brown Band station was streaming on Pandora and I was set.  I tried to limit myself since I know the first time out I always burn.  Once Bubba finished staining the porch we headed in for lunch and a few more chores.  And we also like to throw some relaxing in there every now and then too.  I'm getting my blog time in and Bubs getting his nap time in!

I'm going to try and start doing a weekly Sunday post with a few cell phone pictures from the week.  So here it is:

[The yard sale items weren't the only cool things I found this weekend.  I was looking for some light bulbs and found my way to a cabinet above the refrigerator that I don't normally look in.  Well apparently our landlord didn't want this adorable little basket that was being used to hold plastic utensils for a picnic or party.  I thought it was so cute, and it actually matches the new look of our guess room too, so that is where it will reside now.]

[Even though it's a little blurry, I wore the new scarf my mom bought me this week to work.  It's not name brand, and it's not super fancy, but it is very soft and very pretty.  And the perfect length!  I hate wearing a scarf that is just a little bit too short. My mom accompanied me to a doctors appointment last week and wanted to pick me up something at Tyson's Corner Center since my new Doctor was right across the street.  So this is what I wanted, and I love it!]

[Finally, here is an evening shot of the shoreline from our pier this past week.  I had just gotten back from taking a walk and wanted to soak in the moonlight on the water.  You really can't see it that good in a cell phone picture, but you'll have to trust me on this one, there isn't much prettier than the moonlight cascading across the River.]

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday and good luck tomorrow, I know how tough Monday's can be!

Yard Sale Success

It's 5:00am on a Saturday morning and I'm getting dressed and ready to start my day.  I typically like to catch up on all of the sleep I miss during the week days over the weekend, but today is different.  Today we yard sale.

Searching for that special bargain must be family trait.  My mother, grandmother, aunt and sister all trekked around the county to different yard sales looking for those few discounted diamonds in the rough.  And diamonds we found! 

"One mans trash is another mans treasure." I actually believe this old quote some of the time.  Nothing is more exciting than find an old piece or furniture that another individual no longer has a use for, is outdated, or just not tickling their fancy anymore and making it your own. Today was a great day for our crew, everyone of us walked away with at least one major item that we plan on refinishing, customizing to make it our own and putting it in our houses.  Check out some of my awesome finds!

[Let's start with my smaller ticket items.  First we have this lovely copy of Van Gogh's Night Stars.  I'm not too crazy over the gold frame, but I do really love the artwork.  And it just so happens that I recently re-did our "guest room" and the colors will match perfectly.

Stay tuned, once I either paint the frame or find a new one I'll be sure to post the before and afters.]

[And what do we have here? A cute little lamp shade.  After a sudden realization that almost every room in my house is accessorizeded in blue, I made the executive decision to add some red into the mix.  The living room is the next portion of the house that needs to be Hill-ified and since I already have a few small red accents I thought this would be a great addition.]

[I swear this looks an awful lot like a vanity chair I had when I was about 6 years old.  Regardless, I had to have it.  We're almost finished with our bedroom re-do and this is one of the last pieces I needed.  I'm going to look for the perfect fabric to cover it and a fresh coat of spray paint and she'll be good to go.  I can't wait to finish this room and show the world our results!]

[My second favorite find of the day?  Right here.  It may not look like much now, but just picture it with some fresh red and white fabric, a coat of white paint (maybe, still not 100% on the color), and the perfect positioning in my living room.]

[Please feast your eyes on the deal of the century.  At a yard sale benefiting Little Flower School, I walked in to find the most appropriate and perfect couch for our front porch.  I was sold without even looking at the price tag, but when I did I couldn't believe my eyes. 

Slashed down from $150 to $75 and hardly a scratch on it.  It's reinforced slipcovers are flawless and the kind man who sold it to me even helped load it into the truck.  At another stop I was asked if I bought it from the Vintage Source.  Funny, I told her, our plan was to hit the Vintage Source on the way home as our last stop, but who needs them when there were incredible deals like these out there? Don't get me wrong, I love the Vintage Source, but since we'd already found so much we had no reason to go.]

Unbelievable

Dear Colton's Point,

You are truly making it difficult for me to make it to work on time in the mornings.  Why do you have to be so beautiful and peaceful?  Everyday, rain or shine, you inspire me with your breathtaking land and river-scapes.

I miss you and will see you when I get home from work...maybe one day I'll be able to work from home and enjoy your company all day long!

Love,
Mindy


Ok, I swear I'm not crazy.  I was sitting on the porch trying to hurry down a bowl of cereal this morning and couldn't get over the sun trying to reach through the clouds.  A nice change of pace compared to the crashing waves, wind and rain we've been having lately.  See for yourself:

A Point Breeze Review

I have always thought there was something strangely beautiful about a circus tent. The bright colors, shining lights and glamorous costumes it’s quite the show. A show that I can honestly say I’ve never seen. A few weeks ago my mom and I were actually talking about wanting to go to a real circus. And I don’t mean the rinky-dink circus or carnival that rolls through the county every year; I want to see a real circus!


So what has brought on this sudden urge for the big top? I just finished reading Water for Elephants. I admit, I was spurred to read this book after seeing a preview for the recently released film version starring Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson. However, my brother read the book when it first came out and always talked about how good it was so I decided that before I see the movie I would read the book. That way I have something to compare it to and I didn’t want to spoil a good read by seeing the movie first.

A quick and easy read that just about anyone can relate to, the story follows Jacob Jankowski , a would be veterinarian, through the unexpected journey of his life working for a traveling circus. Comedy, tragedy and romance ensue, offering the reader a firsthand account of circus life in the 1920s or 30s.

Point Breeze Preview

The Hill household has been pretty busy, but we've still been making progress, even if it is baby steps.  For example, when I last updated you on the porch we were almost finished.  Now, unfortunately we are still waiting for a few more final touches, but I did want to share a little peek into our landscaping efforts.

We also have an abundance of baby bunnies hopping around our yard lately.  I was able to sneak up on this little fella and snap a few pictures :)

My First Italian Wedding

I’m not sure if Christina and I ever talked about our future weddings growing up, but we did talk about our “band” called Sugar, wanting a Mustang, the New York Yankees, and boys. Christina was my quiet sidekick throughout elementary and middle school and even though we parted ways in high school when she went to Ryken and I went to Chopticon, we still kept in touch. A school dance here and there, a summer trip to kings dominion or her family’s beach house, and even the occasional birthday party, we made the effort to stay friends. Though we weren’t as close as we had been, there was just a comfort between us that allowed us to pick right back up where we left off.

When I think of my childhood, a large part of it involves her family and the good times had with them. Our “band” may not have taken off or topped any charts, but we did both get Mustangs when we turned 16, we still cheer for the Yankees and we still love boys. This past weekend, I was lucky enough to witness the ultimate act of love between she and her boy, James, at their wedding.

Their beautiful, perfect, Italian wedding. I didn’t get too many pictures, but in the few I did get you can feel the passion and love between Christina and her sweetheart, James.

[Sharing a sweet moment during their first dance.  They had a live jazz/swing band as the entertainment who did a fantastic job.]

[Poor Bubba forgot his jacket, but that didn't stop him from enjoying the delicious Hor d'oeuvres.  I couldn't get over the ice sculpture of Cinderella's carriage...perfect!]

 

[Absolutely adorable cake topper that is the ultimate depiction of them.]

[James and Christina both taking part in a traditional Italian dance.  Very cool!]

[With the beautiful newlyweds - So happy for her!]

[Gorgeous.]

A Loving Anniversary

When it rains, it pours.

There couldn’t be a truer statement. If you remember from my last post, I was as sick as a dog this past week. I literally haven’t felt that bad since my appendix burst in 7th grade, and then Bubba caught it too. I finally came around by Thursday afternoon, and was thankfully able to take my sister to get a massage for her birthday Friday morning. She’s been more than busy lately too, buying a new house, getting a new puppy, taking final exams, oh and working full time too, so needless to say the massage was a big hit.

I also had another fun adventure planned for Friday. A very close friend of the family had asked me to take some pictures at her parent’s 50th wedding anniversary party that night. How could I say no? It was my first real shot at photography for someone else. It was pretty intimidating even though I knew the majority of the people there. Intimidating or not, I was determined to get some good pictures of this couple. Mary Anne was actually best friends with my grandmother, Sissie, who passed away last June. She was very sick in the months leading up to her death and there were always people coming to see her. But the one friend who sticks out in my mind is Mary Anne. You could see how much she truly loved Sissie and cared for her like a sister. One of the last times I went to visit her in the hospital, Mary Anne was there as Sissie began to tell me about some of the wild and crazy times she and my Pop-Pop had while they were dating, and that they had alongside Mary Anne and her husband Eddie.

There is no doubt in my mind that Mary Anne helped my grandmother through some of the scariest moments towards the end of her life, and for that I thank her. I just hope that some of the pictures I took of she and her big, beautiful family are enough to preserve the memory of their 50th Wedding Anniversary. Congratulations, Mary Anne & Eddie! Here are just a few shots of the Payne’s and their loving and laughing family:

[The lovely couple, 50 years and going strong!]

[With their 5 children]

[Their girls]

[Their boys]

[With their children, grandchildren and great-grandchild! Can you spot him?]

[Cutting into their beautiful and delicious cake]

The Jailhouse Diet

I have never had a stomach virus, bug, whatever you want to call it, knock me out of commission for so long.  One minute I was at a wedding, enjoying the festivities and a few hours later I'm literally being knocked to my knees with pain and other unappealing symptoms I won't disgust you with.  After a LONG night of waking up every hour, on the hour, I couldn't take it anymore.  I had Bubba take me to the hospital where they treated me for extreme dehydration and went back the next day with severe stomach pains.  Here it is Wednesday afternoon and I'm still not back to my normal self.  I've literally been eating bread and water since Sunday, so I like to consider myself on the jailhouse diet.  Even though I'm sure my taxpayer dollars provide inmates with much finer dining than that, I won't get off on that tangent.

On a happier note, here are a few pictures I've taken:

[Sunny afternoon at home]

[Grass needs to be cut, but makes for pretty pictures]

[Testing out the auto timer on my camera before Dennis and Jenny's wedding 4.30.11]

[My mom and grandfather, Pa, after my aunt Dawns wedding 4.30.11]

[Bubba and my mom, matching!]