Just Rockin’

December 4, 2012December 4, 2012 / www.spilledcookies.com / 2 Comments

One of the reasons I love going to Cracker Barrel restaurant is because of the big porch with all the rocking chairs. Somehow just walking by that porch reminds me of a small town, a slower lifestyle and a more relaxed atmosphere.

I would love to have a house with a porch with several rocking chairs. My grandmother had a screened in front porch that had a couple of rockers and a porch swing on it. I remember taking naps on that front porch swing when the weather was nice and spending hours playing on the floor of the porch.

There’s just something about sitting in a rocking chair, sipping on iced tea or lemonade, listening to the birds and crickets, and enjoying the view outside. I now miss the slower pace of Arkansas, though when I was younger I didn’t appreciate it as much.

It’s nice now and then to remember the days gone by, I am thankful for the memories.

Cherry Coley (c)

Front Porch Rockin’ (sarahbarksdaledesign.com)
The Front Porch (aprilhawk.wordpress.com)

Sweet Dreams!

November 25, 2012November 25, 2012 / www.spilledcookies.com / 6 Comments

sleeping kitties

Today I am thankful for sleep. Sleep is something we all need and crave more of at times. There’s nothing that can take the place of a soft pillow and a warm blanket after a long day.

I love the luxury of a pillow top mattress and that there are so many types of mattresses to choose from. We really are spoiled with all the choices of pillows, comforters, and sheets available. We take our rest and sleep very seriously.

I am thankful to be able to rest and recharge, to close my eyes and drift away to another place where possibilities are endless and flying is possible without an airplane. I am thankful to have a place to sleep safely at night.

Sleep is truly a gift so our bodies have a chance to rest, recuperate and make a fresh start. We do the majority of our growing and healing in our sleep.

I have often envied the cat and his ability to sleep most the day and night. Then again, even though I enjoy sleeping I wouldn’t want to spend all my time dreaming, there’s a lot of living still to do.

Cherry Coley ©

Designs and Being Creative

May 13, 2012May 13, 2012 / www.spilledcookies.com / 1 Comment

I love watching shows like House Crashers, Room Crashers, Yard Crashers, on and on, all kinds of shows about designing, both using new and fancy items to decorate, and using everyday things creatively.

I used to like the show, House Swap or Room Swap, but they got to where they were a bit ridiculous (for my tastes) when they started gluing grass and cd’s to the wall. Really? Grass? My luck a ton of bugs would move in and eat the entire wall before I could figure out what to do about it, not to mention my allergies would pretty much kick me out of that room.

I saw a show last night that used a stack of logs, bundled together, cut even, and fixed with a glass top to make a large and unique coffee table. It was an interesting and rustic looking coffee table and I liked it, but was distracted at how much it had to weigh. While I love the look, I wouldn’t want a table I could never move.

I have wound up with a lot of mismatched furniture from my parents house that needs help. I have become somewhat stuck trying to decide whether to fix it, paint it, stain it, keep it, or sell the furniture. The truth is I just don’t know yet. I think I might wind up doing a little of each, but right now it just bring back memories.

These last few weeks proved to be really trying because mom’s birthday was in April, mine plus Mother’s Day is in May which seemed to create an emotional roller coaster that I really didn’t expect for some reason. I wound up having to just clear the house of the unpacked boxes and extra furniture by putting it all in the garage.

This isn’t an answer and I will work on pulling some of it out to go through each day, but I couldn’t stand having it all over the house anymore, it’s easier to have it all in one location and to shut the door and walk away when it starts getting me down at times.

As for me, feeling rather dark and gloomy for weeks seems to have brought out a need to be artistic. Interesting since usually I tend to write more when I get down and this time the words seem to want to hide from me and the need to photograph, paint and draw has grown stronger.

So, I’ve decided to pull out the art supplies and draw up some room designs, jot down some ideas, and also begin a daily doodle just to see where the creativity leads. Why not? You never know what will happen until you open the creative doors.

I will follow the lead and see where it winds up. Life is a journey that continually changes and leads down different paths and this is no different.

Cherry Coley ©

Maybe the MOST versatile Furniture Piece? (confettistyle.wordpress.com)
Before and After. (thehousewhisperereu.com)

Bleary Eyed and Droopy Tailed

March 24, 2012March 24, 2012 / www.spilledcookies.com / Leave a comment

Some perky person told me I should be bright eyed and bushy-tailed today. Thursday night I stayed up until 1 a.m. again getting furniture ready to move Friday, taking apart beds and putting everything in one room so it will go fairly quickly. I don’t feel bright eyed today. Friday, like today I am a bit bleary eyed and droopy tailed because some of that furniture is heavy. Heck, even the dog is tired!

The move is actually, sort of, kind of, going smooth. We don’t actually have to be out of the house we were in until the 31^st of March, but I wanted to get out a few days early so we could go back and mop, steam the floors and carpet. I like to leave things as neat as when we moved in at least, though the paint job is better than when we moved in. That house was an experience in painting. One bedroom was half pink and half blue. One bathroom was swirly turquoise, and the kitchen was half turquoise and half green. It was a paint nightmare and we had to get lots of primer to cover the blue and pink room because that paint just did not want to be covered up. We worked with it and finally got it to look okay. We didn’t paint that whole house like we are the one we are moving in to now. We knew going in there that we might have to move after just a year so we left the hall way and living room white.

I can’t wait to be in the new neighborhood, the square block has a big incline, loop then comes back down to our street. I will be doing laps every day as soon as I get home. I can’t wait to get back into running! I love exercising, but I am an outdoor person. I love walking and running, but don’t care for it on a treadmill. In fact, I gave my treadmill to my brother years ago because I just didn’t use it.

I might wear little Comet out trotting up and down the blocks, maybe I should get a doggy backpack for when he gets tired. He’s a little trooper, but he is short and those little legs can only go so fast. He is a funny little tyke and I know he will make new friends in the neighborhood, but he’s going to miss his squirrel friend that likes to taunt him in the backyard now, leaping from tree to tree while Comet runs around in circles on the ground barking up into the air. One thing about dogs, they are always happy to see you, even if you just left seconds ago, they forgive easily and love freely. Cats are another matter completely, a cat can hold a grudge and give you a look that needs no wordy explanation if they are mad at you; with a cat forgiveness is earned.

Cherry Coley ©

A Candle in the Dark

February 11, 2012March 5, 2012 / www.spilledcookies.com / Leave a comment

photo by Cherry Coley

Have you ever had to ride out a storm, you know the real one’s? Have you ever found yourself huddled down and somewhat fearful in the wake of an impending hurricane, flood or tornado? I have ridden out several Texas twisters and even had them touch down just a block or so from where we were twice. It can be a nerve wrecking experience, very frightening at times since we really don’t know what will happen next, but hope that we are safe where we are.

Life has many storms that we must pass through, some are physical storms while others are emotional earthquakes and hurricanes designed to bring even the strongest person to their knees. Yet just like the physical storms that rock our world in any number of ways, there are also silent one’s. What about the silent snow storm that comes in the night and dumps an enormous amount of snow? You might not hear it, but you can still feel the approach. If you don’t take some precautions then you could be caught unprepared and in some cases the cost could be a terrible thing.

I remember so many times the lightning and thunder storms outside. Thunder so loud it vibrated the walls and windows, and rain so hard you wondered if the roof would hold up to it all. Invariably the lights would go out and then the storm its self becomes the sole focus. My parents always kept hurricane candles ready for those storms. We were never completely in the dark, because when we knew it was coming, out would come the flashlights and candles ready should we need them. It’s a practice I still follow. I love fragrant smells and even have some of the appliances that heat scented wax, but I really have a great love for candles, not just for the scent, but the light and warmth they offer as well. I remember being scared, huddled in the dark with the storm raging outside, but the simple act of turning on the light made a huge difference.

It doesn’t really matter how dark it is, or how much the storm howls, the act of lighting that candle made it all seem better. Why? Because suddenly the storm wasn’t the sole focus anymore, now we could focus on the light, watch the candles, be entertained by the flickering flame and the shadows cast on the wall. Suddenly the darkness was broken and we could see again.

I can’t think of a better symbol of hope than a candle, darkness cannot stand against even the smallest flame. It’s a simple reminder that even the smallest light makes a difference.

There are many storms on the journey that is this life and no one really wants to go through a storm alone. Remember that though we cannot always see and feel the storms around us, everyone is going through something and what may seem like a small or insignificant act of kindness that you didn’t think twice about doing, may be just the “candle” that the other person needs to ride out the storm.

Cherry Keal (c)