I asked my mom to join me in writing for my blog! It just turns out that she sent me this in perfect timing to post for Mother’s Day! Much of who I am comes from this amazing woman. I hope you enjoy her point of view and I learned so much from her!

From My Mom

I have been retired for exactly one week.  This has given me plenty of time to stare at the things I want to change in my home.  As the weeks of sheltering in place go by, those things are in my face all day.  So I have needed to adjust my attitude because now that I have the time, I need to be extra careful with my budget.  I can imagine I am not the only one in this situation.  So here are a few words of encouragement from an old do-it-yourselfer.

If you love a certain color, you can always find a way to use it in your home.  In 1972 I purchased a teal blue pottery piece at a student art fair.  That piece is still with me today.  I have always loved shades of blue green.  The pottery fit in fine with my hippie décor of the 70’s, my pastel décor of the 80’s, etc.    Today, with Micah’s encouragement and wisdom, I have a lot of black and white in my home, and although it was a little scary at first, I LOVE it. But there is still a touch of teal in almost every room.  There is even some teal in our travel trailer.  It’s great, because you can switch pieces out and move them from room to room, helping you change your décor without spending a dime.  I still love shades of blue and green.

Shortly after we were married (in 1982) we purchased a white iron bed with brass knobs from Montgomery Ward.  It was cheap - discounted due to some minor damage and it screamed the 80’s.  About 20 years ago I had it powder coated black and we still use it today.   I have seen black iron beds in Pottery Barn that are very similar to ours.  Although the original color is out of fashion, we updated what we had and made it work.  

Paint is an inexpensive way to make a big change in a room.  You could paint the walls, or even a piece of furniture.  By the way, I am aware that most men don’t think wood anything should be painted.  If the wood is beautiful then leave it alone.  If you have dark wood paneling, if the wood is ugly, then for crying out loud, paint it!  Bring some fun and light into your space.

Recover your dining chair seats.  If the seats pop off, all you need is fabric and upholstery staples.  Chairs can get a little wobbly, so while you are at it, be sure to check the screws holding everything together and tighten them.  You can also sew your own curtains or pillows.  In the past I have used drop cloths, old linens, even clothes for fabric.      

The walls in our den are covered with pictures of our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents.  They are all old black and white pictures, framed in black with white mats.  (Note that not everyone is a fan.  My grandchildren call them the “dead people” walls.)  Frames are easy to paint to get a uniform look.  Or go for an eclectic, mix and match look.  A couple of years ago, I did silhouettes of Micah’s three children.  It is a great way to make a statement in your master bedroom, or in a hallway.  Look on line for instructions.  It was easy!

The longer you live, the more family furniture, pictures and décor you accumulate.  Find ways to display the items that belonged to those family members you loved.  Give them place of pride.  

I love to be organized, and since I have been home these past six weeks, I have organized closets, my pantry, my spices, etc.  It always makes me feel in control to have a clean house with everything in place.  So with the world a little out of control, my last suggestion is to de-clutter and organize.  It will make you feel better too and it costs NOTHING!     

Pam Eckroat (aka Micah’s mom)