Sharing Shadymont, My Mountain Cottage

We've been in our home since December of 2000, and it is time for a new roof. Over the years a few shingles have blown off or just come loose.  We've had several repairmen tell us that our shingles were not put on correctly when the house was built.  They are architectural shingles, and were laid wrong, looking like a ladder type pattern rather than how they should have looked.  We were also told that the roofing nails used, were too short!   So the roofers are here today to replace the shingles.  We had been discussing that we would have to do this sooner rather than later, but what got us on the move was a leak that had come through on my dining room ceiling, leaving a large yellow circle, probably 5"x12".  Just happened to look up one morning, and there it was.  Now that made me sick!! Water was getting in around one of the dormers.  The roofer came while I was in the hospital and clear  caulked around all the dormers so we wouldn't have more leaks, and that

I'm not one to entertain a lot.  I never have been, but decided to invite a group of friends over for a small luncheon.  Here are a few time-saving tips I used that can make your luncheon easy, and can be done prior to the party. 1.  Decide on your menu. I decided on cold foods, pasta salad with grilled chicken on the side, potato salad, fresh veggie tray, fruit tray, fixings for a garden salad, and turkey or ham sandwich on wraps or wheat bread with pretzel crisps as a cracker. 2.  Decide if you will use china, casual, or even paper or acrylic type plates, cloth napkins, etc. For a small group of friends, I prefer casual, using a variety of items. 3.  Gather your dishware and serving pieces together.   4.  I pulled out old china that belonged to my MIL, but chose to use a pretty paper napkin found at the Dollar Tree for convenience. You can mix and match, no need to be formal unless that is your choice. 5.  I used Dollar Tree glassware, as well, and a tureen from

I've been home  a week now and am feeling much better.  I have been doing a few very easy things because y'all know I have to switch things around a little to survive!! You might remember some time back when I found the hutch top at Good Will and placed it on my old Hoosier cabinet that the top was missing from.  I loved it all done up in red, so for a change it seemed simple enough and not to tiring to shop the house and go with some blue and white, since I replaced the rug in the mud room for this bright blue one. I had already found kitchen type tiers at GW with blue and white, so now the colors flow well in the mud and laundry rooms.   Rug:  Lowe's I painted the lamp shade blue,  I decided I don't like the items on the hoosier top, so that will get changed. Made a couple of changes to the accessories, so we'll enjoy blue and white for a while in the mud room. Update on health issues: I know lots of

Tomorrow will be a month since I've been at home at Shadymont.  I don't think I've ever stayed away this long.  Illnesses that pop up when you are away, don't get you back home in a hurry.  I go back for follow up at Dothan (50 miles) on the 16th, and hope I will be allowed to go back to my beloved mountains after that.  I am still swollen from all I've been through, retaining fluid in my feet and ankles, but am very hopeful.  My husband and I made a trip to Wal Mart for some groceries, yesterday, me sporting one of the electric carts.  It came in very handy and the outing did me a world of good.  Staying inside for close to a month doesn't keep my spirits up.  So that helped pass the day, and we have plenty of fresh veggies and fruits now. I thought since I've been so depressed, and missing my home there, I would just share a few photos that you may or may not have seen, but will give me  a feeling of getting back there. My daughter has kept a close che