Retro Sunroom Makeover and Reveal

My daughter decided that since her husband was going to be out of town for a week that she and I should get together to remodel their sunroom as a surprise for him.  She gets that from her mother!  I've been known to move a waterbed by myself when my husband was out of town, rip out carpet, or redo an entire room because Rick really doesn't like the idea of change until he sees it finished and he's always been happy with the results.

First things first, she removed the blinds before I arrived.  We headed for Ikea to purchase curtains and a few other things.

Amber was so excited to try out her skills with power tools!

We also went to the hardware store to purchase 1/2" electrical conduit and some other items to make the rods and curtain brackets.  She had so many windows that we had to keep it within her budget and this was the best and least expensive method.  We she cut the conduit with a hack saw to length.  My girl is a beach body coach and has the muscles for such activities.

At Ikea we found sheers for $4 a pair and each panel is 103" wide.  Yes, I said $4 a pair!  If Amber's cat who looks like a complete angel in this photo, tears up the shears, she can afford to replace them at that price.  They were 98" long and we had to cut off several inches.  We put up several pairs to cover the entire area.  The curtains in the corner were on sale for $15.95 and she bought 3 pairs.  

This old metal table belonged to my mom and dad when we were kids, but the chairs didn't survive, so she purchased two clear lucite chairs to put on each end, also from Ikea.  They are hardly noticeable.

The comforter and pillows for the daybed were purchased at Target.  The comforter was on sale for around $16.  The black and white polka dot rug came from Ikea for $20.  That black desk chair was replaced by an aqua chair shown in the prior image from Target. We couldn't use another lucite chair because it wouldn't have slid in all the way and it's a narrow room.

The pictures are a little dark because we were in a hurry to get everything finished before Scott returned home and had to use Amber's cell phone to take pictures.  I love the soft glow from lamp light!

We kitty proofed these two curtains because her cat, Birdie, loves to sit on the little stove and kept going behind the sheers to get to the glass table.  

It was a pretty productive weekend and her husband was very happy with the results!  I love helping out my kids!

A Final Salute to a Veteran

I've been away from blogging for a while because we spent a few weeks at the Veteran's Home where my father in law, Jim, was struggling with kidney failure.  The family was at his side continually sharing our love and goodbyes with him.  He entered his heavenly home on July 31st a few days after his birthday, July 24th.  

This picture of my husband, Rick, holding his father's hand during those difficult days reminds me that our parents take our hands when we are children to guide us through life and we then grasp their hand as they leave our lives.  

Jim had a stroke 5 years ago and went to live at the Veteran's Home in Cameron, MO where he was surrounded by the most loving family of care givers I have ever met.  We hear so many horror stories about Veteran's hospitals and the wait time, but I'm happy to report that this beautiful Veteran's Home is a haven to our military veterans.  They are treated with dignity and respect from the cooks to the nurses.  

One of our favorite memories was when a veteran motorcycle group came to visit at the VA home.  Rick decided to ride his Dad's Harley knowing the group would be visiting with their motorcycles that day.  He wheeled his dad's wheelchair out to see all the cycles and Jim immediately began tapping his chest and pointing at his bike which meant he knew it was his.  Rick asked his dad if he'd like to go for a ride and one of the guys loaned him his helmet.  

Rick forgot to sign his father out, but the nurses were standing there cheering them on when he returned.

The VA home would take the guys fishing at a local lake.  Jim lived his retirement years in Rockaway Beach, MO and was an avid fisherman.

A couple times Jim signed up to go to the Royal's game and the veteran's were treated like royalty.  They were given a suite, a tour, and tons of food.  

Jim wanted to sit outside the suite.

At the Cameron Missouri Veteran's Home when a veteran passes a bell rings with the announcement and then the staff and saluting veterans line the halls as the deceased, draped with a flag, is wheeled out of the building while taps is being played.  I'll never foget that final salute to my father in law.  

We will return to the Veteran's Home to visit with the guys because we love the staff and our wonderful veterans.  Rick spent four years traveling 40 minutes to Cameron and back each night after work and most weekends.  He was very dedicated to his dad and made a lot of friends there.  I couldn't be more proud of him.  

We love you Jim and will be with you again someday.