AUGUST.....

So where have I been...not really anywhere since my trip to Nantucket in May but I have been busy working!

I do have to say that August is not a fun time for me because some crappy things happened in that month.  In 2019 my husband of 27 years walked out on me and 2 years later my youngest sister passed away after a 5 month battle with lung cancer.

I know....both kind of sucky things to go through....

I have realized that literally.....my design work has saved my life.  It keeps me busy so that when I want to crawl into bed and not get up....I really can't.

The thing about life is that it goes on and tomorrow is a new day...and the next day and so on!

So back to August and what has been happening!

I have been helping a client near Hilton Head so that gave my sister [the bunny] and I a chance for a girls trip!  I have to tear her away from her grand daughter...

My brother lives there so we stayed with him and I love walking around his community!

I went to an amazing stone place called Savannah Surfaces!  They had samples of every tile that you have ever heard of....wish we had a place like that in Atlanta!

I started a basement for some good friends of mine and we found a great color!  SW Slate Tile

And....we did a cool plaid sofa!  Think....70's style!

But....for the first time in my career I ordered some chairs with the wrong fabric on them!

I wish someone had a camera on my face when they arrived.  Not a good moment. Cue: shock...and nervous laughter.

They are now getting recovered. 

We worked on my nieces house and got her laundry room and the powder room wallpapered....

She loved the gray check I did on my last project so we used it for her!  Its Anna French.

My nieces fun backsplash in her kitchen....

Cami turned 10 and I am not happy about it.  I mean I am glad she is here to turn 10 but every day I think it's her last.  My sense of dread is over-exaggerated these days.....

Started my long times clients living room...and I think it will be a stunner....

OK....we have kind of caught up.  It has been a very busy summer and I have a few other things to share but we will leave that one for September:)

It is not quite "sweater weather" here yet but hopefully soon....

Y'all be good.....

Shaygettingbackinthegroove

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THIS AND THAT

Well.....hello!  2 post back to back and then nada....

I am anything if NOT dependable right:)

Last weekend we went to Nashville to bury my sister.  My Mom's family is from there and we have a mausoleum that has been in out family since 1865.

 Kind of weird posting this picture but she is safe and sound with my Mom and Dad. #reallife

Anyway we stayed downtown and Lord.....it was like Las Vegas....In fact I was calling it Nashvegas!  It's like every bride in the country goes there for their bachelorette party.  For real!

We had a nice family dinner at The River House on Saturday night and a small service on Sunday before we left to go back to Atlanta....

Love the way it was decorated!

My outfit....everything is very old or I would share details.

We were all missing her so much....It will be a year in August and it's hard to wrap my head around it.

 

When I got back I headed down to Lake Keowee for a small install.  All installs are in pieces these days which I hate.  I love to do the whole thing and then see people come in and get excited.....at least that is the goal:)

This Schumacher fabric below is amazing!

I had a bed made so she would not have to wait 9 months to get it.

Her pillowcases were still in the dryer if you are wondering...haha

Let's get down to business.....

Have y'all watched these shows?

Lincoln Lawyer [not as good as Bosch but decent]

The Offer....I really liked it!

Jeff Lewis new show?  He has mellowed....

Hacks....the one liners are hilarious!

Finished Ozarks #sadface

Keep Sweet Pray and Obey....documentary WHOA...

Any of course I love all reality shows because it's mindless...haha

Are you thinking that I watch too much TV....probably but it's cheaper than going out.

It is hot as the dickens here in Atlanta....and will be for the next 2 weeks.  Ugh.  I know.  I should shut up cause this is summer right....

I picked up some of these prints for that bedroom and I can't wait to have them framed!

I took a small acrylic frame and put a little piece of art in it....

And here is my haul from Scott's last week.....

So that is all that is new around my house...

What are y'all up to?  Some good vacations?

Happy to catch up with everyone:)

Sherika

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DEAR SISTER NANCY......

Dear Sister Nancy......

So many things I forgot to tell you because I thought I had so much time.

How much I loved you.

How much I loved decorating your home.  You were always so excited about it and let me do whatever I wanted....nobody loved her home more than you did.  I am so sorry I wasn't able to finish the kitchen.

How proud I was of you when you opened a restaurant.....during the recession I might add.  You were a waitress and was passed over for a promotion after working for another company for many years.  They gave it to a younger guy who had only been there a short time. You were fearless Nancy and you never let go of the dream.  While so many others wouldn't have made it or given up....you did not take one day off for 4 years.  16 years later you are still standing.

I loved your community spirit.  You knew everyone who came into Nancy G's/Southern Bistro.....they were "your people".  You went to birthday parties, weddings, bar mitzvah's, funerals and school functions....always giving.

How much I loved you.

What an amazing sister you were......so supportive and thoughtful.  You never let a birthday go by without putting a card in my mailbox.  

How much you loved your big sisters....Maggie and I.  Nobody had more fun when we were all together than you.  A simple shopping trip to the mall brought you joy.  Whatever we bought you would buy.

How much I loved you.

You did not get the attention you deserved when we were young because you were the 3rd girl but boy you made up for it.  While you were sick there were so many flowers and 100's of cards and letters.  The Sandy Spring community has wrapped you in their hearts.  I loved reading them all to you in the afternoons.....it brought you just a little joy.

I miss you so much.....my heart is broken.  Watching you die was gut wrenching and I could not stop crying.  You kept saying it was OK to cry....that you cried also but I only saw it once.  You were so brave.

You would say everyday that you weren't ready to die....that you did not want to leave us and Nancy that broke me.  Trying to stay positive for you broke me.

Spending the last 22 days with you was a gift to Maggie and I but we were not ready to lose you.....

How much I loved you.

Diagnosed mid April. 

Nancy Kathryn Jackson Goodrich

September 17th 1956

8:00 pm August 13, 2021

  

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A LOVE STORY

I have shared my personal life with you guys for 10 years now.....good times and bad.  Recently I wrote about my own struggles....but that will seem small compared with what I am sharing today.  This is something many of you have had to face.


Let me start from the beginning with a love story.


I think you all remember the One Room Challenges that I have done for my sisters.  The very first one was for "the Bunny" who is 2 years younger than me.  

Maggie is married to Brad.  They met over 30 years ago when they were both Flight Attendants and it was a whirlwind romance!  Bradley Virgil a confirmed bachelor met Patricia Jackson and that was it!  He nicknamed her Magnolia [he was a California boy] and she has been "Maggie" ever since!

Look at that smile.

They got married on Valentines Day....no hoopla...just them.

He just adored her from the beginning.  Brad always said that she made him laugh.....really laugh.

They had Taylor right away and I know everyone says this but Brad was 100% in with having kids.  He made the snacks.....did the homework....a very hands on Dad.

I am not going to say there weren't hard times.  As everyone knows marriage is not easy....add kids to the mix and you just try to navigate through the rough patches relying on your love.  It worked for them.  They came out the other side still passionate about each other.

Caitlin came along 2 years later....

I was always envious of the love they had for each other and their kids.  It was so strong.....

Taylor got married first and gave our family the first grandchild [Lucas]  2 years ago.  Brad and Maggie could not have been more in love.

Caitlin got married last summer....

Brad and Maggie celebrating that wonderful day!

The kids are grown and gone....
They fly together....

A year ago Brad retired to enjoy life.  He lived to take care of Maggie....did the grocery shopping, work in the yard, cooking and play golf.  That's what you do when you have worked hard all your life.  Time to relax.

It started with heartburn 6 or so months ago.  The kind that a whole bottle of Tums provides no relief. And everyday you think I need to get to the doctor to see what this is all about.

PSA.  Do it.

The appointment 3 weeks ago was for a scope and the diagnosis was supposed to be anything but what came next.

It was a Tuesday morning....I was home when Maggie called me.  I heard her say the words Cancer.....we both sobbed.  No this could not be.  Not Brad.  

Not Brad and Maggie. Not now.

Esophageal cancer...stage three.

So many doctors appointments....surgeons, oncologist, nutritionists.....it is overwhelming.

You hear words like staging, spreading, mapping, chemo, radiation.....ports....feeding tubes.....and HOPE.

Hope.....it seems like such a soft word when you put it like that.  I mean wish, goal, plan, dream is not what anyone wants to hear.  That is like saying we are offering rainbows and unicorns.

Suddenly sofas and curtain treatments don't feel that important.

Brad....we are with you.  How trite does that sound?  
You are the one who has to do the hard work. 

You were one of the first to show up when I came home 5 months ago to my husband being gone. 

I can't even begin to put in words how I feel....how mad I am at this.  This is the fight of your life my friend.

I love you.....I love both of you so damn much.  
I'm praying for more time with your special girl and.....Caitlin and Taylor.  To play golf.  To garden.  To take trips.  To live. 

PSA.  The doctor said that everyone talks about colonoscopies for preventing colon cancer but they never recommend scopes....another easy procedure.  Don't put it off.

LoveSherry

39

PROJECT BOULDER BEFORE AND AFTER PART 3

As promised I have some more Boulder before and afters to share.....let's get right to it!  

When you walk in from the garage you go through that incredible laundry room and then into this den.  It's very spacious with plenty of light!

Here is the before [real estate pic]  #browncity

It received new windows and that bulkhead was removed for a cleaner look....that is the thing about Greg....he and I both share the goal to open it up!

This is the listing pic....which shows how spacious this room is....The room is painted my fav.  Benjamin Moore White Dove.

Most of this staging furniture we used on the last project....but with a little rearranging it always seems to take on a new life and look fresh again.

Before

After

This is the only dark wall....

But I felt it would ground this space and give it some warmth.

Listing picture.

This was the original mantel which was sanded down and re-stained....

I supplemented a few of the vases with a few more from West Elm.....cause a grouping of #blackandwhitevases just works right?

Custom iron brackets.  After all this IS Boulder....iron is a must:)

If you were watching my stories... I searched everywhere for a black coffee table....until we went to Ikea and snagged this one.

Trying to find stuff out there was brutal as college had just started and dorm rooms were being decorated.  I had never seen a Target SO empty!

You've seen this shelving piece in at least 3 projects :)

Before

I staged it as a game area.....

Old Pier One table with West Elm chairs.

Well that about wraps it up.....I still have upstairs to share so stay tuned my friends.

In other news.....

I'm not sure how to begin.  I am shaking as I write these words.....

I have been eluding for a few post now that things might not be so hunky dory for me.  I guess when you have a blog...the whole point is transparency....I mean if you aren't authentic people can sniff that out right?

I have always had a tendency to overshare....all my life.  Vulnerability came easy to me....tears when I'm sad....laughter when I'm happy.....this is going to be a rough one to spill on these pages.

Wednesday night [September 4th] I came home from Boulder to find out that my husband had left me.  He moved out while I was gone....no note or any communication.  To say I was/am devastated is an understatement. 

One week later I was served [at the front door] divorce papers.   Your first question might be "did you see this coming"....I did not.  We just celebrated our 26th anniversary on July 27 with dinner out.  Hand holding and "I love you" followed.  

So.... I am trying to pick up the pieces of my life right now....not exactly my plan at 67 years old.  I'm struggling.....but oh so blessed with my 2 sisters who live close by.  They have not left my side.  

And.....so many friends who have hugged..... loved on me and propped me up [including my Boulder family].  All I can think of is have I been that kind of friend?  I hope so because the kindness has been almost overwhelming...the emails and phone calls I have received... with words of support....have been humbling.  

Like I said before I am not the first person to go through this.  Having lost both my parents at 63 and 73 which was in itself very hard.... I know that this is a "one day at a time" gig.  

Because as trite as it sounds....time is the true healer.

Please hang in there with me as this blog is an important part of my life so I am making every effort to hang on to it.  

Sherika

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