Hidden Magnolias

Have you ever had a bath in a big ol' cast iron bathtub? I can tell you that if, not, you are missing one of the most wonderful experiences of life. There is something about the iron that hold the hot water, so you can lay in the warmth longer than in a traditional tub. They tend to be deeper, so that in the summer time after a long day of hot yard work, a cool bath feels like a swimming pool. I found this old fashioned wire soap hanger in one of our outbuildings. I didn't do anything to it but clean it and hang it.  Unlike modern tubs that have an indent to place soap, this little puppy really keeps the soap dry with no slime on bottom. I put some of my favorite old pictures on wall so I can lay there and look at them. This tub is long. So long, I can stretch out, unlike most modern tubs. And, yes, it does have some discoloration. It has the original finish, so some discoloration is normal. It must be 100 years old. If you get the ...

When we moved in this house, I thought I had died and gone to heaven. We now have four fireplaces instead of one. Originally designed for burning coal, our fireplaces are small openings in a large hearth. This is the fireplace in our bedroom.  Late Victorian, Edwardian, and Arts and Crafts houses usually had tiled hearths The screens were often metal plaques with front grates that covered the entire space. Our bathroom has a fireplace as well. Yes, I know that can be unusual, but the previous owner sacrificed a downstairs bedroom to provide a large bath on the main level. Both fireplaces have the soft, muted pink tiles favored by the Edwardians. Very pretty and very simple. Towards the end of the 19th century, people began to tire of the excess ornamentation, and shifted away from the darkness of the Victorian interior. Edwardian colors were fresh and light, with an informal feel....

This past weekend, we did our soil prep for the coming growing season. You have to do this..... In order to have this.... First thing we do is till the soil to get rid of weeds that have moved in over the last few months.  Then mix in some compost made of this... We compost all our vegetable matter, egg shells, coffee grounds. We do not use a special composting machine or barrel -- instead we do it the old fashion way. We pile it into the dirt in the designated compost area and turn the soil.  And turn, and turn, and turn, and add more, and turn, and turn.   For months. Until we get this... Rich black dirt, chocked full of nutrients. Mix it in with the Georgia red clay. Then cover, and let marinate until planting time. Once planted, we use natural pest control methods -- no pesticides here. We favor marigolds. Just plant them randomly around the edges. Bugs and other garden nastys just ha...

One of my husband’s favorite sayings that “paint is cheap.” And for decorating updates and changes, I have to agree. I thought I would share with you our guest bath update. We live in a turn of the century Edwardian and the guest bathroom is located at the end of the hall on the second floor.  This is what you see when you get to the top of the steps and turn around. Ugly, isn’t it? Just plain white, with a nasty old shower door, a shelf over the counter that really didn't add anything. Something had to be done. Something bright and fun. My husband suggested red. Red? For this miniscule bath? Won’t it close it up and make it smaller? I chose Benjamin Moore’s Caliente. I wanted a bluish red instead of an orangey red.  After the first coat, I was almost giddy with the results. Once all the paint had dried and the mirror installed, the room was really coming together.  Clean and fresh. The result, a...