Tag: the irish lady

I Believe…Even When

Posted on by TheIrishLady in Inspiring
Photo by Skitterphoto on Pexels.com

When we were home schooling I came by an accidental education beyond anything that was taught to me in public education. It was during some research for material about the Holocaust that I read about these words that were scratched into the concrete wall of a concentration camp. I could only imagine the intensity of what it must have meant to this prisoner to be able to reach inside oneself and find strength through the realization of these words. Through the years I will reach for this verse for comfort and strength because I believe…even when:

“I believe in the sun
even when it is not shining
And I believe in love,
even when there’s no one there.
And I believe in God,
even when He is silent.“

 

 

 

 

The Cottage At Chappell Hill – Bed and Breakfast Design

Posted on by TheIrishLady in Designing

Where I live and work is always a fusion of new and old.   Somehow it just happens that way.  Perhaps, it is because the majority of the properties are antique houses  with so much darn character you just fall in love instantly.  I had the privilege of decorating this quaint bed and breakfast beauty.  It is open to the public by reservation only – year round.  You can visit the website here:  http://www.thecottageatchappellhill.com/

 

The following photo is the sitting area of the master of The Cottage at Chappell Hill.

 

 

Here is a peek in the kitchen area where a buffet and plate rack serve as the coffee and breakfast center.

An up close of the sink area.   My client has a fantastic eye for good bargains and would find a lot of things on her own.   She would ask, “Can you use this?”   Of course I can, what great taste she has…

There was an old fireplace mantel that I had used many times for store displays.  It received a coat of chalk paint and serves as the headboard.

A view of the modern living area or front parlor as they would say in the “olden days”.   Some of the oil paintings are from local artists depicting everyday life from that era.

A view of the bath with the buffet turned sink vanity.   An old crate mounted to the wall serves double duty as a towel holder.

A bit of a bounce around, but I wanted to share the view of the kitchen with the clock because the owner’s hubby picked it out and thought it wouldn’t be used.   Here it is in a place of prominence…I loved it.

The plate rack in this photo belonged to another client who was ready to let it go.  Instead of placing it in my antique shop, I suggested it for this client.   It serves multi purposes keeping the coffee bar free of plates, for storage and it is just so pretty.  The dishes are a hodge podge of good deals found by the client.

One final shout out –   The photography was done by Scott Hill, of Brenham Portrait Gallery,  who has been shooting (no pun intended) Brenham and Chappell Hill families for years.   You can find the website here:  http://brenhamportraitgallery.com/photography/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Porches

Posted on by TheIrishLady in Designing

When you live in a rural area a porch becomes a thing of necessity and the fifth room of the house.   It can express the personality of the home and exist as a functioning extension of the home.  My own home has three porches: the breezeway where mostly shoes wind up by the mudroom door, projects sit to dry and it serves as the gateway to the garden, pasture and garage; and,

the front where guests enter and we sit in the mornings to avoid the hot summer sun that rises in the back of the house;

the back porch serves as a sitting area, dining area, grilling area, roasting area in the fireplace and downright hangout for everyone in the house.

This settee was a fabulous find from an antique dealer who let me rummage through her storage units.   She had this beauty tucked under some other things and it looked nothing like this.   With new cushions and an updated paint job, I thought it turned out really well.

The next photos are of a screened porch that belongs to a client.  We chose plush seating, outdoor lighting a minimal of accessories.  My favorite are the old swinging doors used to accentuate the space for the small dining area you will see in the next photo and to break up the screened area while still providing that country view we all love.

A smaller table makes for a more intimate outdoor dining space.

All of these porch pictures are making me long for a crisp fall day so I can sit out on my porch with a good book and a warm cup of tea.  Instead,  I will have to settle for my secret place where the sun can’t reach and there is still just the slightest breeze catching the leaves to make for a comfortable spot out of the heat with a cool glass of iced tea…relaxing.  (This was at dusk when the low lights are emerging before dark.)

Guest Post: Jim Collins, Graphic Designer / College Professor / Photographer and Soon To Be Author

Posted on by TheIrishLady in Inspiring

This is a guest post written by my newly found cousin, Jim C0llins, who happened to be writing a book about my great great grandfather, Pleasant Bohannon Collins.    Ironically, Jim found me via this blog from a post about Pleasant written for Veteran’s Day.  After a visit at my home Jim wrote a post and sent it to me and here it is…

 

Pleasant Bohannon Collins was a small man… but only in stature. He grew up in Drew County, Arkansas near Monticello, the son of an Irish farmer. Pleasant lived large with a knack for participating in historic, even legendary events. But by far his greatest accomplishments were his descendants, many of whom quietly carry on his legacy of love and faith and courage.

He married three widowed women, all with children. He accepted and loved and raised those children (8 of them). He loved adopted children… not unlike God himself… and considered them as his own. God also blessed him with 10 children of his own. His quiver was filled with arrows.

He was a Godly man… known during the war for reading his Bible by the light of many campfires and for his faith and courage… cause and effect.

Last week, Pleasant influenced my life again… or was it God through Pleasant?

I am his great grandson. The Irish Lady is his great great granddaughter. We met online through this blog. Readers know this is no ordinary blog. I appreciate the quality of information and her courageous stand for the truth which she often shares. She is one talented, caring and committed Lady.

A few weeks ago, TIL invited me to spend a weekend with her (sight unseen) and to experience Round Top.

I accepted. It was my son’s birthday, so he was to travel over from Fort Hood to join us. That would be the cherry on top for me.

Then as I travelled south on I-35 from Fort Worth, a million thoughts went through my mind, mostly centered on two themes: “Those Bluebonnets are amazing.” And “What am I doing? This is so not the shy country boy I’ve always been.” Yet, for some reason, I would not turn back home.

My decision to complete the trip was richly rewarded. After I arrived and got to know the lady and son Bret a bit, TIL decided the loaded gun could remain in its hiding place. We got to know each other, seated around the breakfast table… full, rich, honest discussions… just like old times. I felt I had known her for years.

I laughed a lot and learned much. Brenham is beautiful in April. It may not be heaven, but I’m sure you can see it from there. Round Top is a lot of fun… even for a man. The Irish Lady is even more impressive in person than in print and her family is close and gracious and talented and interested in helping others. Good people! A credit to the legacy of Pleasant Collins.

My trip home included a stop in Old Troy, where Pleasant met and married my Great Grandmother and where I enjoyed a wonderful meal of amazing ribs, outstanding slaw and savory beans… sent with me by TIL and her husband… 5 star dining, at least… near the bridge crossing Big Elm Creek… recipes from her blog. It was good.

I am sure Pleasant relished the weekend. I do. Thank you, TUB.

Interesting Art and Bookcase Arrangements

Posted on by TheIrishLady in Designing

There  is another living area in my home that contains built-ins or bookcases which I prefer to call them.  It’s in the room to the right of the foyer when entering and to the left of the study which does not have built-in bookcases, but furniture bookcases.  What was I thinking or not thinking when we designed the house?  I missed a lot on paper,  especially the big chase way next to the computer closet in the study that could have been a floor to ceiling  built-in bookcase.  Oh well, maybe the next owner will find it and tear out the sheet rock and put in a bookcase for the study.    Ahh, I have a rambling mind, I do, I know it.

 Back to interesting artwork.  I found this piece at a thrift shop for $5.  The ladies there raise money for a local hospital.  They seemed embarrassed that the painting  had some type of rust stain sprayed all over it, but art is truly in the eye of the beholder.  I never saw the stains.  I can only see the content and the countenance of the people in the photo.  Each face has something to say, but not to each other.  Do you see what I see?  They are traveling to a new land and they stop; they gather; they…

This painting is part of the built-in of the room I described above as well as few other collectible pieces with meaning.  Old oil lamps, a chalk buffalo and old man shaving mug given at carnivals way back when, paper money from the San Jacinto Monument museum bought on a field trip, a silver tray, photos of my sons,  a book about Abraham Lincoln signed and owned by a doctor that knew him with a newspaper clipping of his wife’s eightieth birthday and garden party, encyclopedias like the ones my husband had as a child, airplane books that my son treasures, cigar boxes with childish tokens inside, The Nina – Pinta – Santa Maria from a field trip to see the replicas, and a few hidden things behind books and boxes to discover later.  It’s all very personal and hopefully pleasing to the eye of others when arranged well.