Hello, dear friends!!!!! It's been umm... a while. I just wanted to pop in and say hi! Life has been busy this year, and it's hard to believe we are in mid-March. A lot is going on at my grandmother's house. My stepdad, brother, and I have been busy with repairs, cleaning out - lots of cleaning out, and getting the house ready to go on the market in the next few weeks. Overseeing Charlotte's homeschooling - which is going well. I've also picked up a few freelance design jobs for a friend's daughter whose husband owns several corporate rentals, and they also just bought a new house, so that's kept me busy off and on since late November. It's nice since I can do it mostly remotely and just go in at the end to decorate and pull it all together. It's so much fun, and I enjoy it. For those of you who don't know, my degree is in Interior Design, and I've worked off and on in design since I graduated many years ago! I haven't so much since Charlotte was born, but now that she is getting a bit older (she's turning SIXTEEN on Wednesday!), it's been fun picking it up again.
On New Year's Day, we left for Charleston, SC for a few days. The holidays weren't easy for me last year and I knew I wanted to get out of town after they were over. It was the perfect way to start the new year. Charleston is a beautiful city and we had a great time. It was so nice to see sunshine, flowers blooming, and palm trees in January
It was the first anniversary of losing my beautiful dear mom last Tuesday. It hasn't been easy at times and I miss her every day. Not only was she my mom, but also my best friend. Life isn't the same without her.
I'm planning to make a Guinness Beef and Barley Soup for St. Patrick's Day tomorrow and we'll be celebrating my sweet daughter on Wednesday!
I hope you have a wonderful week ahead. Happy Spring!! I'm loving the longer, brighter evenings.
You take the most charming pictures of things when you're out and about. That "stairs" photo is so quaint. I hope your grandmother's house does well when it's time to sell it. It was interesting to read that you have a degree in Interior Design. My Jess also has a degree in Interior Design, and worked for a big company for a couple years until she decided to switch professions and became an elementary school teacher. But it is really something that you both will always have that degree. Happy sweet 16th Birthday to Charlotte. I hope she has a special day. It was so good to see a post from you again, Julia. Thinking of you as you're missing your dear mom. Happy Spring!
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I sure enjoyed this post and seeing the gorgeous pictures of the area. I did not know that you had a degree in interior design.....something I would have loved to have done. Sometimes we don't really develop our talents until later in life..I do hope that you will show us pictures of the home when you all get finished. Happy 16th birthday to Charlotte. Enjoy this lovely day and keep the green on..
ReplyDeleteHow fun to go south during the dull days of January!
ReplyDeleteMy mom dabbled in Interior Design after taking some classes at a community college. My oldest daughter has graphic design as one of her BA degrees (the other is in Math..she double majored "for fun") and she's also got a talent for interior design. I've been told I do but i honestly just like doing my own home :) I think it's neat that you're going back to work! Happy Birthday to your girl!! Is she having a huge sweet 16 party?? Both my girls did and it was loads of fun.
SO good to see a new post up from you, my friend! I've missed you being in your spot here in blogland, but I certainly understand that you have other commitments as well.
ReplyDeleteI've been praying for you, dear one. xx
Hi Julia! So sad about your mom...Time heals but it is early on for you. I was trying to decide what city that was (beautiful photos) as I scrolled down. I have heard it's very nice. Good luck with your interior design jobs. It's great you can pick up and have something like that. I never did work after I got my teaching degree in the 1970's. (I'm making Shepard's pie today). andrea
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you lost your mom. I still miss mine too. Glad kiddo is doing well with her schooling. Nice to see you pop in with a post. Keep well.
ReplyDeleteHello dear Friend. Biggest hugs to you and so sorry about your Mom. Mine is in the winter of her life and I treasure her daily. I try to imagine how hard it's going to be when she's not here one day, and it makes me want to hug her tighter (& you!). How cool about your interior design degree. I have a social work degree....but design has always fascinated me. Your trip sounds like it was wonderful and just what you needed. Blessings to you. xoxo
ReplyDeleteWonderful photographs, I’d love to visit! I am sending you hugs, losing your mum is hard. Good to keep busy, and busy you sure are. I am glad homeschooling is going well, and that you are able to complete some freelance work, it sounds all nice. I think Interior Design is super cool, very glamorous. Lovely to get back to a job you love after some time away from it xx
ReplyDeleteAs I was scrolling through looking at your lovely photos, I realized you were in Charlestown! After my mother died, a sweet woman in my church said to me,"You will always miss your mother." It is true.
ReplyDeleteAnd continue to enjoy Charlotte...Sixteen already, huh?
Hi Julia! It's so nice to see you back here! I've been thinking about you! Happy 16th to Charlotte! It goes by so fast, doesn't it?! Glad you are well and have been busy. Happy Spring! Let's hope for good days ahead : )
ReplyDeleteHi Julia, it's good to catch up with you again. Lovely photos. It sounds like you've been very busy. Sending a hug as you navigate your loss, I'm very sorry. Happy birthday to your daughter, the years go by too quickly x
ReplyDeleteHello Julia. Lovely to read a new post from you. Happy birthday to Charlotte and wishing her health and happiness for her sixteenth year.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know you were an Interior designer but I'm glad to hear you are being kept busy with new projects.
The first year is always incredibly hard after losing someone you loved dearly. I hope your trip away helped and you enjoyed the sunshine. Have a lovely week.
I hope Charlotte had a lovely birthday. Charleston looks beautiful, the perfect place for a getaway. It's very sad when these difficult anniversaries come around, especially the firsts. Losing a parent is very hard, especially when you were so close. Sending hugs.
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