Our Homes Tell Our Story. What Does Mine Say?

Hello and come on in Through My Back Door and have a cup of coffee. We can have a cup of hot tea with fresh honey too, because Ken, who I call my "honey man" sent me a small jar of honey. I am going to have some with a hot biscuit today. Ken's honey is so good and he is so sweet to remember me when he robs his bees. Thank You Ken. He is such a fine young Christian man.(I love his wife too)
As you know I belong to a couple of FB decorating pages.(I know you know because I have been complaining about the lack of kindness shown) any way, the most popular answer to any question is to paint it black. Not only among younger decorators.If we all did the same thing, how boring it would be. Everyone has their own ideas and what works for one may not work for another. Our homes are unique, they are us, but I had never thought of the fact they "Tell our Story". Jane Bruce, who is a member, and I don't know her, came up with this comment on one of the pages yesterday. Our homes tell our story. Five simple words, but yes they do. OUR STORY. Not someone else's. Someone else may like bright colors but you like muted, so which do you use? The one you like of course. It made me stop and wonder what story does my home tell.You all have been coming Through My Back Door for almost four years. You know what you see when you pull in the driveway.

Run down, decrepit, shabby, should be torn down old smoke house. Doug says it is a blacksmith shop. Anyway this tells a bit of my story right away. I like old and I like red. When I see the tobacco basket, I think of a friend and her sister who gave it to me. Part of my story, generous friends. Thank you Dottie.

When you walk Through My Back Door you learn more of my story. You see I truly do have a back door house. No one ever uses my front door. (Except for the people who broke into my house 3 years ago)lol. No one. When you walk in, the first thing you see is.

This is the view from the back door. I get different responses, one being, it looks bigger inside than out. My favorite response is , it feels so homey. Come on in and you can sit down and decide your response.

This may be on if I am not expecting you, but  I will turn it off. (I think I am one of the few people left on the planet, that likes drop in company)If I am expecting you it won't be on. I think when we have guests, we need to pay attention to them and not TV. What story are you reading as you come in? I hope you see someone who loves old things and treasures the past. I use the word treasure loosely, as I know what the real meaning of treasure is and it isn't things. We all have to have a place to live and I think we need to make it as pleasant and peaceful as possible.If it is hot outside I will offer you this.

Sweet tea. Actually my family calls this Betty's Heavenly Tea. Sweet tea is a staple in the south. You saw my sign.
If it is fall or winter you get coffee served in this. I love drinking from these red ware mugs. I have to admit I always think of the song, "You are the  potter, I am the clay". You can feel where the Pied Potters hands molded this cup. It traveled from Ma to East Tn to become part of my story.

Or you might get hot mulled cider served in this.

So what has my story said so far? Hopefully, that I love company, am hospitable and put thought into how my friends are treated. I hope that is how it reads.
When you came in the back door and looked into the living room you saw a red chair and sofa. I think the story says, Betty loves red. You also saw a blanket chest beside the chair. That blanket chest tells a story, along with most pieces of furniture in my house. It was found in a garage next door to where Curtis grew up. It was painted white. What do you think would have happened today, if I posted a picture of it as it was on one of my FB groups? I promise 95% would respond paint it black. Curtis saw the beauty under it and stripped it 23 years ago. It has a gorgeous patina on it. It is mixed woods, walnut and tiger maple.  I hope my story says respect for old hand made pieces. It is about mid 1800's and is southern. There is controversy whether it is Tenn or Va. Doesn't matter. Loving hands built it and loving hands restored it to it's original beauty and that too is part of my story.

This is a close up. Curtis used to say wood spoke to him. Know what I think? I believe it did.
If you look to your left, you will see more of my story. An electric fireplace. I can hear you now, why on earth is an electric fire place part of my story? It is like this. I always wanted a mantle to decorate and there was no place to put a chimney,  I didn't want a "fake" one so no fireplace. Well one day a truck pulled in my front yard.

 It was Debbie and Michael with an I love you gift. Yes an I love you gift. Part of my story is my family. I have the best family and I love them so much. Everyone of them. See I have a story that goes beyond decorating and home. So do you. I will continue my story on another post. What does my home say to you? Does it make you want to come in and visit? I hope so, because I love it when you come Through My Back Door where life is good.
betty
PS: Look around your  home today and think of your story. If you wish to share with me you can
PSS:I will continue "My story" on another post as there is more to share
PSSS: I hate to ask, but I know you are prayers. There is so much going on "in my story" right now and so many friends who need prayer desperately. Kenny, Marianne, a little boy Levi who has had a 2nd transplant, and many, many others. This is one thing we can do for one another. Thanks so much

Looking at the Real Life

Good morning and welcome Through My Back Door. Of course you can have coffee and a cinnamon role if you like. I had to have something sweet. Do you ever just feel the NEED for something sweet? Well I admit I do. As you know I have been complaining of being sick, and I finally went to the doctor and I have bronchitis. I have felt so bad and have coughed my head off. Literally. I have  never coughed so much. Hopefully I will be on the mend quickly, so I am not going to complain. Since I have been in the house, I was catching up on my blog reads. Stephanie over at the Cozy Old Farmhouse, did the most wonderful post I think I have read in, well I have ever read. You can find her on my sidebar. She is a young Mother and she is very wise. I do not know her, but I am impressed with her. Wish I had looked at things that way when my children were small. Maybe I did and I don't remember. I never was a wonderful house keeper like my Mother and Grandmother. I have shared how they did certain chores or certain days, but not me. I was involved with school and church activities and liked days out with my friends.lol I am still that way. House work will get done, but if there is a go on had, let me get my purse. Last week, the domino chicks, as we call ourselves were planning a day out to a small town, about 45 minutes away. In the end only 3 of us went but what fun we had. A great lunch at small Bistro. Then visiting with shop owners at the little shops

We had such a good time and enjoyed the food here so much we are going back soon.
That is Dottie, me, and Janie.
I was just beginning to get sick but thank goodness they didn't get it. I would have felt awful.
You know it is Monday morning and I am  not doing laundry. I don't feel like it, nor am I going to sweep the floor or dust the furniture. I am just going to be. 
Summer is winding down and I have enjoyed it so much. I like looking out and seeing a freshly mowed yard. Especially since I don't have to mow it.lol

I love sitting here and having my morning coffee or my lunch.

I like to sit out here of an evening and read.

 I am okay with fall fast approaching I have had a wonderful summer, that began with a trip to Niagra Falls. I have another beach trip coming and that always makes me happy. So I won't cry when summer ends and fall begins, but I will try to enjoy every day I have. Life is real and and it isn't a beautifully kept home, decorated to the nines, it isn't about being competitive with collections nor trying to out do someone else. It is about living and loving and just enjoying. Thanks to Stephanie's blog post, that is exactly what I intend to do.In fact this the High school girls and I are going to visit a local historian and see some of his mementos on our community. Of  course there is lunch involved!
If you want to do me a favor, you do it too, have fun and enjoy. Let's enjoy these last few weeks of summer and live like we are supposed too. Being kind, helping others and doing our best to make the environment we are in better, because we are there. My environment is always better when you come Through My Back Door where life is good.
betty
PS: Would you all please continue to pray for Marianne and Kenny
PSS: I am expecting a brand new great grand daughter any day and can't be around them
PSSS: Do a kindness for someone today.

May There Be More Kindness

Good morning and welcome Through My Back Door. Get some coffee and a cookie, so sorry there is nothing else sweet, but remember those 6 pounds I gained last winter? Well they have  now become 7. So I am serious as I can be, exercise, is in my future. Walking is to become a daily thing, like tooth brushing. There I have gone public, so maybe I will follow through. Dodd and Renda are always encouraging me and pushing me, and though I hate to admit it, I think they are right. I HAVE to exercise and that for me will be walking. I did wake up in the night with the crud, (as my family calls it) but am going to do my best to will it away. I am glad to see you this morning and would like to hear your input on the lack of kindness in the world. There is so much sadness, why on earth would we choose not to be kind? I see it on FB a lot. Especially on the decorating pages I belong to. I have actually, many times, started to remove myself from these groups. I love to get new ideas and enjoy looking at others decor. But a lot of the people are downright rude. Have you seen it? If a young person starts a collection, don't put her down because  she can't spend the money, you can. What happened to kindness and encouragement? Anyway this has bothered me and I wonder how you all feel about it. Maybe if each of us on these sites would vow to be kind and encourage, then others would follow.  Wonder what would happen if we called their unkindness to their attention. I don't think they mean to be unkind, I think they want to show how much better theirs is. What do you think?Will you join me in trying? Am I out of line here? If so tell me.
Enough of my rant. I went on the Longest Yard Sale with Deb, Michael, and Michael's Aunt Sis. We had such a good time and laughed a lot. We had good snack,s and a good dinner at my place, Cracker Barrel. My son teases me because CB is my place of choice. I know you are wondering if I bought anything. Well, yes, I did. Had no plans too, but I couldn't pass up this little North Carolina bucket bench. It really looks like a dry sink, but it is a bucket bench.

Then I had to move the bench that was here, over to here.

This poor bench has had so many homes, but this is probably where it will stay.
This little candle table is the one my Mr Whitaker made for me many years ago and I love it. Of course the light came from The Hen. So many people have said they really miss the Hen. She has a booth in Lenoir City, at Kinfolks I believe, (behind Hardees) so visit her there.
I also bought a long handled gourd and that was it for me. Deb and Michael bought a beautiful lift top school desk and it was from Nashville. We had a good day and saw only 3 booths that had something I liked. I am talking about furniture. I always like going, even if it was so hot Thursday.
It won't be long until Fall decorating begins. My favorite season next to Christmas.

 I would like some of those really long handled gourds but never see them, See the bench is here then and my baby was lying near the door. He is in so many pictures, I just can't cut him out. Anyway I look forward to getting the fall out. Does anyone know where you can order those Japanese lanterns? You never see them here. Are they North  or a NE plant? Well I hope you will all practice kindness this week and I will start it Through My Back Door where life is good.
betty
PS: A friend of mine's daughter is gravely ill, will you send up prayers for Lisa Morris' daughter Marianne. A lot of you know Lisa
PSS: Also my friend Janet's son, Kenny is in the hospital awaiting test results. Will you pray that the results are good? I thank you my blogging friends in advance.
PSSS: yesterday was Deb and Michaels wedding anniversary, as well as Amanda and Clays. We had a fun Luau at Beth and Ryan's last night.

Reflection

Hello and welcome Through My Back Door. It is always good to have you, but we are back to DD coffee. Yes, the last of the good stuff is gone.lol  I may pay $10.00 for a pound but never $20.00.lol While we are talking about coffee, while we are enjoying our coffee, lets reflect a bit. I started this blog almost 4 years ago. My life was completely different. I had the keeper of the back door.

He was always standing guard. Yes, I still miss him. He was always where I was and in almost every picture.
Curtis was in a Nursing Home and I kept very quiet about that, as I wanted this blog to be a happy place to visit. He is no longer with us.

I have been blessed with four great grandchildren since then. I only had Andrew at the time.

Mollie.

My outdoorsman, Gabe. I don't think it can get any cuter than this!

 Amelia at Easter. She is growing so fast and you would never know she had such a rocky start.

This is Taylor. She is the youngest for now.
Beth and Ryan have moved back from Illinois, Ryan has joined an Orthopedic practice. Beth is pregnant again and isn't going to practice for a while. Seth is in Chicago. Curt got married and finished pharmacy school and has a job. He and Linz have moved back and are remodeling a house. Olivia went to England then came home and served an internship at the Capital. Dodd ran for county commissioner and won. Amanda survived a battle with cancer. Doug survived a heat attack. Yes, a lot has happened since I started blogging.  I read somewhere where life is what happens while you are planning what to do with it. I have been blessed. I have made so many friends through Blog Land. We have prayed for one another, cried with one another, laughed with one another, and rejoiced with one another. We care about one anothers families, pets, decorating and all the other stuff.  A lot of you have actually came Through My Back Door, and I through yours. We have lost some wonderful bloggers(who have stopped by choice) and I miss them. We have gained some new ones and I enjoy their blogs as well.
Reflecting makes you want more coffee. Coffee is a relaxer when you are visiting with friends and strangers, in my opinion. Maybe I am just looking for a reason to have a cup. Here are a few places I have enjoyed having a cup of coffee.

At Sandi's

 Carols

with friends

At Carla's (old house)

In the old black recliner with my feet up. Or in the red chair.

even at my own table.

with blogging friends at a first meeting

At the Hen, when it was there.

At Debs, Christmas and other times.
Yes nothing like sharing coffee with friends and nothing like sharing it with you Coming Through My Back Door where life is good.
betty
PS: The Longest Yard Sale is on! Yeah
PSS:Spend some time today having a second cup of coffee and reflecting. When you do I hope your memories are sweet ones
PSSS: Please continue to pray for our blogging friends. Pray especially for Lori, BlackCrow, and the decisions they are having to make right now.