Master Bath at Six Little Acres

Our home is small but we have a nice master bath. It’s on the same layout as the previous one, but we rebuilt everything, from the walls to the floor and ceiling. We also added a big vanity, put in a soaker tub and a huge shower.

The decor went like this:

During my grandLittle’s chemo, I was in quite a state- driving from Savannah to Atlanta, staying in hotels, Ronald McDonald House and my daughter’s guest room. There were many times I’d wake up and not know where I was.

We rented out our house in Savannah and moved into the RV, about an hour closer to Atlanta. This was our launching pad for a solid year, all of our things in storage, him driving to Savannah to work every day, me driving to Atlanta for a week at a time.

Well, retail therapy was one way I was able to cope. I was frugal enough to wait for sales, use coupons and check out the clearance items as I began to gather things for my someday home.

There were times I could just go to a store and be lost among other shoppers. I liked that and it was somewhat cathartic.

So that’s how the bathroom decor (as well as most of the other decor in the house) came to be. I’ll tell y’all, I’m not a fan of the wall color. We were given a huge quantity of paint and it is all the same color. I’ll change it at some time but it’s not a priority just yet.

And here’s the master bath:

The sinks: IKEA

The vanity: an old painted dresser I found in an antiques store. It was just perfect.

Decor: TJ Max, Hobby Lobby and Michaels. I’m planning to do something pretty fabulous to the tub area. That will be a blog feature later on.

Thanks for stopping by, and God bless.

Kathy Bo

Today, three years ago.

The story below showed up in my Facebook memories today. I am SO thankful we are past that season. As I write this blog post, I am using my phone, in the car, with Ninja Man driving and little Wren in the back seat. We are taking her to the Children’s Hospital for a checkup. She is on trial meds for the neuroblastoma that was found in her neck when she was just 16 months old. She’s a MAJOR joy and such a trooper. I wish we were going somewhere fun, but this is our new normal, this time with hope. And best of all, this precious Little will celebrate her 5th birthday in September. She says hi to all of you! (THAT DIMPLE, YALL!)

On to the memory:

There’s a story here. We shall title it “A Pane in my Glass”.

A) It’s moving month. Yeah, it’s not moving “day” any freakin more. It’s moving freakin month. Apparently that’s the way we do things.

B) I have a nice IKEA setup in my studio. Among its attributes are two glass topped desks. You will note I’m sweeping up one of those two desk tops with an itty bitty broom. More on that in a minute.

C) it was a freak accident- at least that’s Ninja Man’s story and he is sticking to it. I only “heard” the crash because I was about 100 feet away in my new natural habitat: a freakin storage unit.

D) thankfully it was tempered glass. That meant it broke in a gazillion chunks. I know. I counted.

E) I called the storage people to ask for a broom. The guy was kind enough to direct me to Dollar General to buy a broom. Honestly, in my storage-induced stupor, I hadn’t thought of that.

F) There were no “real” brooms at the dollar store. There were only whisk brooms with mini dustpans. I succumbed to the lack of choices and grabbed a tiny set. I should have bought two because Ninja Man made the impulse decision to suggest that I missed a piece – right over there. Words cannot even describe.

G) Did I mention the pups were in the car the ENTIRE time? Oh yes they were. I have a neat little remote thingie and can start my car over and over. It runs for 10 min and I start it up again. The pups were in air conditioned bliss while the humans were sweating like the servants we are. Oh, and that remote starter thing? It’s not for keeping pups in the car for 3.5 hours while I mini-sweep the parking lot at the freakin storage unit in freakin August, but there’s nothing in the directions that says I can’t so I did. And let me just say they watched me the whole time.

H) while I was sweeping the parking lot with my mini broom, a storm was on the horizon. I decided right then and there that I was gonna sit and sweep up every teeny piece until lightening struck me det. The lightening didn’t strike me det so I decided to sit in the pre-storm breeze, sweep the freakin parking lot with my freakin mini broom and dustpan, enjoy the mist on my face and pretend it was a real bath.

That’s the story from my point of view.

Now for Ninja Man’s prospective:

A) Some glass broke but it’s ok. It’s tempered.

Bedtime. I’ve earned it.

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

Kathy Bo

Sometimes.

Sometimes I wake up at Six Little Acres and just go about my busy day.

Other times I run across pictures of where we were, and I absolutely marvel at the absolute grace of God.

This was our situation during demo.

And this is us now. I’m so very thankful for our humble home. It’s all ours, and that’s enough for me.

Thanks for stopping by. For anyone going through renovations, remember that we go THROUGH things- we don’t just stay there.

I hope this offers encouragement.

God bless,

Kathy Bo

Harvest time

Ninja Man proclaimed the figs were ready.

This is always a welcome proclamation at Six Little Acres. The fig “bushes” are actually trees at this point, and they are very mature and healthy.

We also have a pear tree or two. The pears are often deer food, so we have yet to gather many. I think ours are Kieffer pears, which are best for preserves. I keep saying next year, next year, but I keep missing out on gathering them. The deer, however, don’t miss a beat.

The blueberry bushes must have been started years ago along with the fig bushes because they too, are huge producers.

Our daughter used to keep up with these things but since she and her family moved it’s up to us.

Here’s how I keep up:

Me: “How about the blueberries? Think they are ready?”

NM: “Probably.” (That’s Ninja Man’s answer for lots of things I ask.)

Too lazy to put on my snake boots, I admit I forgot to follow up with the blueberries in question.

I came home from knit group this afternoon and found he had gone out and picked some of the blueberries AND figs. They are DELISH, y’all!

There is an estimated gazillion more, so as soon as it cools off I’ll go out there in snake boots and pick ALL THE THINGS!

Enjoy the pix, we will be making stuff and freezing the rest. If we are successful, I’ll share that too.

Thanks for stopping by and God bless!

Kathy Bo

Here. Have a chikkin.

Just a quick share of Cherry and Wynonna. They are two of many chucks here at Six Little Acres.

And here’s Wren with Cherry. She and sister hatched her themselves! Thanks for your ongoing prayers for our Wren. She is still in need of them but doing well. Thanks for stopping by and God bless!

Kathy Bo

So happy even the trees are smiling!

We love Six Little Acres. We really do.

It’s not “much” to look at yet but there are so many things to love about it, especially the trees.

We have a Japanese maple here that is just stunning in the fall. You can see a bit of it here. Sorry it’s a selfie but the magnificent tree isn’t quite dressed for fall yet, so last year’s selfie will have to do. Anyway, THAT’S not the actual tree that makes today’s blog so special. It’s this one.

Ninja Man was cutting wood and he found this! How cool is that?

I named him Otis. I love his crew cut and that little “I’m so happy to be here” smile.

I’m keeping him although it’s been suggested making coasters out of his wee fairy self. Right now he is still a log and he is smiling up at us from a corner in the dining area.

I would love for some of you to comment if you know what (besides of course, LOVE Of Six Little Acres) would cause a tree to do this. It’s pretty awesome, regardless, but if it’s a “thing” it would be great to know.

Thanks for stopping by and God bless!

Kathy Bo

An Inside Tour Of Six Little Acres!

Hello friends!

Have I ever been waiting to share the “inside” story of our sweet little home on Six Little Acres. Y’all know it’s been a struggle, an overwhelming project at times, but at the same time, a huge blessing.

If you’re new to my blog, welcome. Please go back to my early posts to see why and how we’ve come to this very moment.

And here we are.

Welcome to our home.

Here’s the living room. The rug, sofa and loveseat are second hand, and just perfect for a home with kids and dogs. Here’s the dining area, as the living room, dining and kitchen are all open in the floor plan. The wall decor is from Hobby Lobby, for the exception of the small cross. That was a gift from our daughter in law. She served in missions in Mexico and brought it back to us. The English pub table was already an antique when I bought it in 1985. The kitchen. I love it so much. The sink and faucet are IKEA, cabinets from Home Depot. They close on their own- I love that. The backsplash is vinyl wallpaper from JoAnn. It was expensive so I bought a few rolls at a time. I’m not finished with it and we will be changing the lighting over the sink at some point. The under cabinet lights are wonderful! They just give a warmth to the whole kitchen. That flooring- also vinyl. Y’all. THIS STUFF IS AMAZING! It has held up perfectly for a year now with kids, dogs, chairs scraping, paint spilling and other daily life beatings. It’s throughout the house.

And now for that special place, my Prayer Corner. I have managed to have a designated space for prayer in my home for the past 20 years.

I am shopping for a rug to go in front of my rockers.

Six Little Acres is bathed in prayer.

Now for my studio.

This was the two-bedroom, two-closet, one-bath end of the house. It is now my crafting studio, a place to create and just get away.

And I will share this even though it’s a hot mess- y’all know I’m real, and I’m not one who is Pinterest worthy. This is a creative zone for my daughter and myself. She’s a trained artist and I’m a lifelong crafter. I would be hard pressed to get this area photo-perfect!

So here we go: the desk and pillars are IKEA. That tall black thing on my desk is where I do my YouTube videos. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaFLpNZ_qewwo1x8FUPd21Q

I’ll check that link to be sure it works- but if not, it’s Kathy Bohannon Creatively Blessed on YouTube.

There’s a full bath in the studio, here’s the sliding door. Y’all know I love a sliding door.

IKEA sink and faucet along with an old dresser makes this bath special. Still to come: the master bedroom, master bath, front porch and the EBR. What’s an EBR? Emotional Baggage Room. It’s featured in a previous post!

So this is our 1983 double wide that is no longer mobile, has all LED lights, sheet rock walls and so much insulation the power bills are at a minimum. We plan to go solar eventually.

Update on Baby Wren: she will turn four in just three weeks! What a journey she has already traveled. She is still fighting neuroblastoma but the meds are working and she’s having a great childhood, just like any other kid. SUCH A BLESSING! Please continue praying for her.

Thanks for stopping by, hope you enjoyed the tour!

God bless,

Kathy Bo

Shut the front door!

We have doors, y’all.

Well, actually, we’ve had doors for a while now but Ninja Man just installed SCREEN doors!

I’m so excited.

Because each door has a separate screen door, I can have a cross breeze like nobody’s business!

That, and the pups can roam free in and out to their little fuzzy heart’s desires.

Here they come! In case you’re wondering, that’s Monty the Italian Greyhound at top followed by Winston the Boston Terrier. Winston has to consider all the things before he makes a commitment. Miele, at bottom, flies through like her fanny is on fire. That’s the Jack Russell in her. We wish we could wash it out but no. It’s IN and she channels her inner Jack like it’s her sworn duty.

Hoover (our elderly Boston) was napping during this photo shoot.

Where do they go? Ah, that.

Well, Ninja Man and daughter built a HUGE pen for the pups. It only took them a week and they really enjoyed working on it together. Those big gates are necessary so we can move a camper in and out. They have to travel through the fenced in area to get to the hookups.

Now that the pups are happy, we can get back to doors.

So the pup door got installed first. This eliminates the need for us to jump up from time to time so the herd can answer the call of nature.

Next, Ninja Man installed the front porch door but it’s my favorite so I’m saving it for last.

He’s working on this one right now:This goes out to the side of the house where there is a fire pit and chickens.

Let’s talk about that fire pit.

It really isn’t one at all. What it is is a burn barrel and Ninja uses it all the time. There is a small dish type thing we use for roasting marshmallows and stuff like that, but so far it’s just a place in the yard near enough to the garden hose in case of, well, fire.

Side note: Ninja Man asked me what I want for Mother’s Day. I felt a little dizzy for a moment, having never heard the question in at least 37 years of mothering his offspring. In his defense, he is retired now and clearly trying to get into Heaven. But before I could come to my senses, I blurted out “a fire pit!”

Y’all.

So many missed opportunities. But like I said, I was dizzy, taken aback even. AND we happened to be at Home Depot when he asked.

Why couldn’t this question be asked at Jared’s jewelry store for goodness sake? Could be cause we never go there.

Anyway, here’s the front screen door!

(Drumroll please….)

It’s wooden. Ninja painted it gray, to match perfectly with the siding. It slaps shut. The grandLittles have already slapped it shut so I know it works, just like a grandma’s door should!

It’s messy around it because Ninja is still tweaking it here and there, but it’s installed and I’m so stinkin’ happy.

And you know, getting a fire pit for Mother’s Day just feels right. It’s not how brightly the gift shines; it’s how it warms you inside and out.

Thanks for stopping by and God bless!

Kathy Bo

Will they last?

Y’all. I have NO idea what I’m doing when it comes to plants. But still, with help from Ninja Man and a grandLittle, I accomplished this sweet little setting today.

Do I “want” beautiful flowers like in a “real” garden at Six Little Acres? Oh, I do.

Do I “want” to do all the things it takes to help them thrive, like the Master Gardener class I took said I should?

Um. Two things about that:

1) I have raised two kids. Lovingly raised them. Dedicated to the task, I fed, watered and educated them. You know the drill. I did pretty well at all that but probably because you can’t actually ignore kids. They let you know when they need feeding and watering.

Plants? Not so much. They will be strong and healthy one day and flat out dead as a doornail the next. Seeing them thriving makes me happy. Seeing them gasping for breath under my care is a whole ‘nother thing. My family knows not to give me flowers. They would fare much better if we just run over them in the driveway than to put them in a vase on my table.

Nothing says “sucky plant mom” better than wilting flowers. I can’t take it y’all. It’s just too much pressure.

2) Yes, I took a Master Gardener class. It was MONTHS long. Maybe it was years long. All i know is it made my head hurt. It was college level study. My brain got so full I dreamed root systems and pollination.

Did I retain what I learned?

Y’all should know that among my many talents, the only thing I retain is water.

I did use the knowledge (quickly, before I forgot everything) to make a really nice garden and sitting area at one of our former homes.

And then I blinked, and it was all forgotten.

So the mystery here is will these little innocent plants stand a chance. I don’t know for sure but for now they are happy. Full sun, partial shade, who can blame me what with all such demands, right?

Of course, I forgot to water them. But not to worry I’ll get right on that- just like a proper Master Gardener.

And tomorrow, these cute little strawberry plants will join the ranks of mystery survivors at the hands of one former Master Gardener. Just in case, I’ve frozen a bunch from the grocery store. Not the plants, the actual strawberries.

Thanks for stopping by Six Little Acres. Y’all be blessed.

Kathy Bo

Some crafting at Six Little Acres

While Ninja Man has been checking off the never ending “honey do” list, I’ve been decorating this little home.

It’s something I’ve waited so long to do.

As part of the care team for Wren, I drove back and forth many times from Savannah Ga to Atlanta and back again. This lasted over a year, from early 2016 to mid 2017.

More than half of that drive is wasteland, an endless strip of highway that starts in Savannah and winds its way back to civilization somewhere around Macon.

It’s a terribly long drive when you’re alone. Not so terrible when my three pups were along for the ride, but they would snuggle up in the first five miles and not wake until the trip was about over.

So it was these long and lonely trips that I had tons of time to think. I often tried to imagine life at Six Little Acres, where our belongings would be out of storage and unpacked, everything in its proper place.

I knew I’d use the same decor. The budget wouldn’t allow for an overhaul, and that was fine since I still enjoy our old stuff.

Now that we are settling in, (yes, still) I’ve been making a few things that have been on my wish list since those endless highway days. Right now I’m putting vinyl on our walls.

Y’all. There’s something called a Silhouette electronic die cutting machine.

Oh how I love it.

It cuts lots of different media, but today we’re talking vinyl. Wall vinyl.

Here’s what: that’s the Silhouette on the left. The laptop has the design, the scripture is all cut out in a special vinyl that is made just for walls.

Once it’s cut, you just transfer it to the wall, and BAM! You’ve got something wonderful to see every day. Ok, it’s quite a bit more complicated than that, but this is the short version. Once I finished this project, I moved on to the coffee area of our kitchen. That just makes me happy. Both of those designs are in the Silhouette store. I don’t have an affiliation with Silhouette, I just love it and figured someone may ask where I got the designs.

This next one is a whole ‘nother story.

I found an image online and recreated it in the Silhouette software. There were many, many steps involved- but it’s pretty much what I envisioned on those trips back and forth.

If you read or speak French, you’ll know that it says it’s a bakery- however, that is the studio bathroom door. I like to pretend the door came from Paris. It didn’t, but who cares, right?

Anyway, here’s the door, designed like I planned so long ago:There’s a curtain behind the door. It can be pulled closed (as in the picture) when someone needs a bit more privacy than the faux glass offers.

So that’s the latest. It’s been a while, I know, and though we are getting cozy in our little home, some days are really hard. Little Wren is doing well but we are never far from the reality that she is still in treatment.

Still, we have seen an incredible amount of blessings. God is real. He walks before us and beside us. Ask anyone in this family and they will agree, there’s no denying Him and His goodness.

Spring is in full bloom at Six Little Acres, and we have hope.

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

Kathy Bo