Welcome to my blog!

Thanks so much for stopping by! I believe that everyone can have a beautiful home without spending a fortune! One of my favorite things to do is find creative ways to re-purpose things I already have on hand, or have picked up at yard sales and thrift stores. Join me as I share with you some of my favorite ideas for crafting and decorating, as well as travel adventures, and fun things that I pick up on my treasure hunts! Much of my work is influenced by my love all things French, nature, and of course shabby chic! I have gotten so many creative ideas from you very talented bloggers out there, and I hope that I can be an inspiration to you as well!

Sunday, May 20, 2012

A Bit of a Bright Spot

Hello, hope you all had a nice weekend.  It's been a roller coaster week since hubby and I moved home to find our home totally trashed by our renter.  Amid all of the craziness, there's a little bright spot in the form of two adorable baby mourning doves, right outside our back door!  I first noticed mama dove sitting in the wall planter by our door when we got home.  The next morning, what a surprise to find this!
 Well, this is what they look like now, anyway, after one week!  Aren't they the sweetest?  We try not to disturb them any more than we have to.  I'm sure that mama regrets putting her nest so close to the door, now what we are home (and in the nasty cigarette butts that the renter put in my planter!).
 This is what they looked like on Monday.  Mama even cleaned up the egg shell:)

 They even have their very own guardian angel looking after them!  It has been such a thrill to watch them grow, I imagine before too long they will be ready to leave the nest.

 And here is just a small sampling of what hubby and I have been dealing with.  The renter had the nerve to say that we gave her permission to paint!  We were up past midnight the other night covering this mess up.  It took 4 coats of Kilz primer, and 3-4 coats of Valspar paint with built in primer, to cover it.  Some of the grafitti it still bleeding thru in a few areas.  I honestly don't know how people can abuse other's homes like this.  She eve tore down the beautiful floral Ralph Lauren wall paper border in my craft room, that I loved so much.  And she damaged the walls in the process.  So, that room will have to be repainted, and I need to find some new border as a replacement.
 I tried to get a good picture of some of the grafitti, but it's not showing up very well.  I think she used magic markers!

 This is what much of our yard now looks like, thanks to the renter who blew piles of leaves all over the yard, killing our once beautiful grass. Still trying to figure out how to get the nasty cigarette smell our of our master bedroom (yuck!).
 Stains on rugs and carpets from her dog.  We had new carpet put in most of the house on Thursday, and it feels sooooo much better already!  No more nasty dog pee smell or stains.  We are supposed to get our furniture delivered in the next day or so, can't wait for that.  Thankfully we've had our motor home to live in (parked in our driveway), thru all of this.  In all honesty, I am drained physically, emotionally, and mentally.  I am so ready for life to return to normal (whatever normal is, anyway!).
We did get our high speed internet, phone, and tv connected today, so that feels good.  I know that "this too shall pass", but walking thru it has not been a piece of cake, to put it mildly.
On a lighter note, I can't wait to show you how I've been decorating our pontoon boat, that we had launched a few days ago!  (hint:  I've used lots of pink, and it has a tiki hut feel to it!).  Thanks so much for all of your support and kind words during this difficult time.
Hope you have a great week!

12 comments:

Renee said...

Wow. I am so sorry you have to go through all of this!! I can't figure out how people like that can live with themselves...knowing what they've done! Seriously!! I hope you got a large security deposit and kept it. I hope you have an easier time in the next coming week.

Rosemary@villabarnes said...

Oh, Donna. I haven't been by in a while. I'm so sorry you have to deal with this. Glad you've found some bright spots through it all.

Musings from Kim K. said...

I'm glad you are finding some happiness with your baby doves and pontoon project. You certainly have been on my mind since you came back to Michigan. Hugs.

NanaDiana said...

Oh- You know how bad I feel for being put through all this mess. Life is just so hard sometimes and we end up getting hit with things we never thought we would have to deal with.

What an awful black and white checked wall...and it's not even well done! I can't imagine...and SMOKING in the house after you said NO smoking. You just never know about people!

Take care, Donna, and take heart...soon the worst of it will be behind you- xo Diana

Kathy@ Gone North said...

Oh my word!! What were they thinking?
Seriously??? Sorry you had to deal with all of that...
Just plain selfishness.....
Chin up.....it is awful, but you will get thru it, stronger

The Bear's Blog said...

Hi,

ServiceMaster can come and get the odor of the smoke out of your bedroom.

On a happy ♫ (that was Prudence's idea) we can't wait to see your new "redo" in your craft room.

Hugs from both of us.

Sissie's Shabby Cottage said...

Hi Donna,
Pretty soon traces of that pig renter will be gone from your home and your thoughts.
You are going to have your home back before you know it.

Keep Calm and Carry On!

hugs
Sissie

Pamela said...

Welcome home Donna but what the heck was with that renter??? OMG who found her? Sorry to hear what she did to your home.
On a happy note I love the doves...my favourite and they don't live here on the island :(
Thanks for the photos of them!
I hope you find a beautiful border to replace what she tore down!

Ann@A Sentimental Life said...

The Doves know what your renters did not....it is a HOME and not just a HOUSE. Sure have been thinking of you. Hoping things get better soon.

Debbie said...

I just don't understand how people can do the things they do to other people's things????
I'm really sorry to hear about your renter, Donna.
Hopefully you will be able to get your home back to the way it was without too much more work, or expense.
xxoo

Anonymous said...

Sorry about your troubles...

Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces said...

OH wow, Donna...this must have been disappointing! I don't know why some people act the way they do. I hope it is starting to feel a little more like home again! A BIG XO...