Bidding Farewell ~ Our First Home ~ Part 1 {Front Porch}



For those of you who follow along you may know it is time for us to bid farewell to our first home.

Saying goodbye can be bitter sweet.

We have had many firsts in this home of ours.

This was our first home we bought together.

It was the first & last home that my Dad got to see of ours.

It was the first home we came home to as Mr. & Mrs. Corson.

It was the first home that we updated together.

It was the first home and last that we refinished hardwood floors in.

It was the first home that we shared many family dinners & holidays in.

And now it is the first home we have SOLD together.

This home will forever be in our hearts & memories as Our First Home.

Well, this week is moving week!

Agh! 

 I can't believe it's finally here!

On Saturday we will be packing up the moving truck & heading back to our hometown LeClaire, Iowa.  Returning to the small rivertown in the country on the Mighty Mississippi River where we grew up.

We have been looking forward to this day for a while now.

It's funny how you begin to really "find" yourselves & figure out who you will be together as

a couple in the first few years of marriage.  This is who we are.

We are small town couple who enjoy and appreciate the simple things in life.

We enjoy the community of small town living.

We happen to like knowing most of the people in town.

We like that we can walk down main street of our historic downtown and shop locally.

We can go to a nice restaurant with beautiful river views for dinner.

We love that we can drive on the outskirts of town and take a drive through the old country roads.

Anyway........ I could go on about how excited we are to be heading back to LeClaire.

But, I will save that for another post.

I promised we would be doing a recap of our first house this week.

So, come on in!

Here is what our front porch looked like just a few weeks ago.

Summer 2011

Summer 2011

Summer 2011

Stop back! 

We have more on the tour to say Goodbye to.

Carrie

linking up to
The Shabby Creek Cottage
Savvy Southern Style
Funky Junk Interiors

Simply Sunday ~ Mini Green Hydrangea

Welcome to Simply Sunday at The Corson Cottage!

I thought I may never get to this post today....

Better late than never:)

Simply Sunday is a new series where we will be showing our appreciation for the simple things.

It's so important to note the small things in life that just make you happy.

Whether it be some part of nature, a gesture, entertaining family & friends, anything really.

Just take time out to make sure you stop & smell the roses so to speak.

What makes you stop & take a moment to appreciate life?

This week my Simply Special item is

 {Mini Green Hydrangeas}

If you follow along on my blog you may already know I have a sweet spot for any Hydrangea.

I just simply love them all!

Such a lovely natural subtle pop of Spring these minis would be the

 perfect addition to a table setting or vignette.

You also really don't have to break the bank to add a little natural touch to your spring decor.

I picked up three small stems for just $10.

{Tip}

Here's a tip.

 If you simply cut your stems to the size of your container, then gently scrape about

an inch from the bottom of the stem almost like you were pealing off the

 outer layer it will help them last longer. 

 Also remember to pull off some of the large green leaves before

placing your Hydrangeas in a container. 

(I like to leave on a few for looks too even though you can't really see them in this container.)

This will help the nutrients and water go directly to the ball of the flower.

Hope you all have had a Simply wonderful Sunday!

Check back this week...it's moving week at The Corson's!!!

We will be doing a Farewell Tour of Our First Home!

Carrie

linking up to
Between Naps on the Porch
Home Stories A to Z
It's Overflowing
A Bowl Full of Lemons
The Shabby Creek Cottage
Savvy Southern Style
Funky Junk Interiors

~ Hint of Spring ~

It is that time of year again...

I can not wait for Spring to really get here.

I love when the trees start to bud. When you see the peaks of green start to

sprout from the ground and life begins to bloom again in the outdoors.

I added a few simple Spring touches to our house a couple weeks ago.

I just couldn't wait for it this year.

I snapped this shot from one of our shelves.

Be sure to check back next week too.

I think I will do a farewell tour of our first little cottage home.

I hope you will join us as we say our goodbyes.

Have a great day!

Carrie

linking up to
It's Overflowing
The Shabby Creek Cottage
Funky Junk Interiors

Photographing Fresh Flowers ~ Tip

Yesterday, in honor of the first of our new series Simply Sunday,

my post was about the sweet simplicity of fresh tulips.

Simply Sunday is a new series where we will show our appreciation for the simple things in life.

If you missed our first post, I would love for you to check it out here.

Today, I thought it was a great opportunity to share a little photography tip with you all.

Do you photograph fresh flowers?

~Tip~

Well, a great idea is to make sure you have a small spray water bottle handy.

If you just spray a little water on the petals and the leaves

 it will freshen up the look of the flowers instantly. 

Can you see the beads of water on the petals and stems above?

What do you think, does it add to the photo?

I definitely think so.

~Another Tip~

If you are having your wedding photographed it is a great idea to have someone

spray your floral bouquets with a few drops of water just before the ceremony.

It will freshen up the bouquets before the big shots.

Follow the same strategy for the reception or any event using floral decor.

Have someone go through and freshen up your center pieces before they are photographed.

Be careful not to go crazy!!!

For goodness sakes you do not want to have a sopping wet bouquet.

Just a little spritz will do ya:)

Hope you all have a great week.

Carrie

Linking up to
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It's Overflowing
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Simply Sunday ~ Tulips



Welcome to Simply Sunday!

We are introducing our fresh new blog look today!

I hope you all like it.  I was going for a very simple look that reflects my style.

It's a still a bit of a work in progress, as I have been DIYing the new blog look myself.

Who knew, I would attempt such a crazy thing?!

& Along with that...

On Sunday each week we will be celebrating the simple things in life here at The Corson Cottage.

Today is the first Simply Sunday here at the cottage.

I think it is so important to remember to take time to appreciate the simple treasures in life.

Each week we will have a different simple sweet treasure to share with you all.

With eveyone so busy living life and letting things pass us by in the blink of eye,

each of us must remember to always make time each day to appreciate the little things.

So, whether you are literally living the simple life on a farm somewhere in the Midwest.

Or enjoying the hustle and bustle of big city life in a major metropolitan area.

Or perhaps you have a great beach house on the coast.

Or maybe you just live on a ordinary block, on an ordinary street lined with cute bungalows.

Whether you are a woman or man.

Whether you are young & single.

Whether you are married, widowed or divorced.

Whether you are a busy Mom with three kids.

Whether you are still hoping to be that Mom.

Whether you are a Grandmother of 8.
If you are at a good place of happiness & content with life
or struggling through some up hill battle (it too will pass.)

We can all benefit from a simple moment filled with

the sweetest irresistible treasure life thows our way!

Just remember when this happens....STOP.

&

Take the time to enjoy that moment or treasure!

For life is short & you never know when you may be making a memory that lasts a lifetime.

It just may be the single best moment of your day or even your week....take it in.

This weeks simple treasure.

~Tulips~

This week I was at the market and came across these simple tulip bouquets.

I just had to treat myself & bring one home.

This simply sweet bouquet brightened up our home for a few days this week.

I don't buy fresh flowers often enough.  I LOVE them.

Do you buy fresh flowers for your home?

Do you plant tulips in your yard?

What simple treasure did you come across this week???

Don't have one this week...

Make sure to come back next week after you soak in some of life's specialities please.

I hope you find something Simple & Special to enjoy on this Sunday!

Carrie

linking up to
Between Naps on the Porch
Savvy Southern Style
A Bowl Full of Lemons
It's Overflowing
The Shabby Creek Cottage

My Vintage Grain Sack ~ Collection

Over the last 2 years I have grown to have a bit of a thing for vintage grain sacks.

I'm not exactly sure what started it all.

There is just something about them that I really love.

Here in the heart of Iowa farmland,

 I come across them from time to time at my junking stops.

I can never seem to resist when I see them.

Normally I don't find several at once.

It's just the occasional 1 or 2 here & there, but they always seem to come home with me.

It seems kind of silly sometimes.

Because, to be totally honest, I don't even hardly use them in my decor.

I have never really been one to collect anything.

I realized my little grain sack obsession stash has become a little collection.

I've made some pillows with them in the past to sell at Dwellings.

I even peddled my wares on the street corners once for LeClaire's Market Days.
You can see them here.

Lately, I have been thinking of making more pillows.

What do you think?

I am even considering starting an Etsy shop.

(The only thing for now is, our home renovation has to come first.)

It may not be perfect timing for an Etsy shop just yet.

They would also be a great addition to the booth at Junk Asylum

 that I am sharing with my friend Cathy.

This option would be a little more flexible with my hectic schedule, for now.

Do any of you have an Etsy shop?

How demanding is it?

What are your thoughts?

I would love to hear your words of wisdom!

Do you like vintage grain sacks?

Do you have any collections you are a bit obsessed with?

I would love to hear about them.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Carrie

Linking up to
Funky Junk Interiors
Between Naps on the Porch
The Shabby Creek Cottage
Savvy Southern Style
A Bowl Full of Lemons

Thrifty Find ~ Vintage Chair

So, I have a new confession to make....

I have become a wee bit of a junker.

Yep, I said it.

I really never pictured myself as a full fledged junk kinda girl.

Don't get me wrong.  I love a great junk store as much as the next!

But me go searching for it?  Now, that is another story.

Well....uh...I AM NOW!

Imagine my surprise last week when the hubby & were on a casual Sunday drive along

the Mississippi River heading down the Illinois side of the river to meet up with his family for lunch.

I just love the drive. We were on tree lined road with old homes with lots of character and

driving past the occasional farm then looking up the bluffs at the huge estates on the hilltops.

It really is simple Midwest living at its best.

And then....

Me:  Uhh what the heck was that???

Hubby: What?  Where?  Why are you yelling?

You scared the heck outta me?

Me: Stop the CAR!!!

Hubby: WHY?  Is something wrong?

Me: Did you see that?

Hubby: NO!  What the HECK ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

Me: OMG!  Go BACK!

Someone left these REALLY COOL chairs on the bottom of that lane!

Hubby: Are you serious....you want me to go back???

Me:  HECK YES!

TURN AROUND NOW!

Hubby: Ughhhhh.....okay.........

Ha!!! Haa!!! 

It was a trainreck trip!

So...yes we turned that car around and did a curbside junk & dash!

We hurried and grabbed these great vintage chairs!

Not just 1, not 2, but oh yeah...3 right there on the ol curb ripe for the picking.

What do you think???

Worth the embarrassment?

I say yes!

So, they are all definitely worn.

They will have to be recovered for sure like.



It really was the strangest thing to see these 3 chairs just sitting there all lonely

in need of someone to appreciate there inner beauty and bring them back to life.

Absolutely perfect timing too!

I actually had just taken a few of my older pieces to one of my favorite junk

shops Junk Asylum in Eldridge, Iowa to sell in my friend Cathy's booth just the day before.

She has been trying to get me to do it FOREVER!

This is the my year to follow through and do the things I always think about doing and never do.

Well, maybe someday.....NO MORE!

So, look for more to come on the ol junkin' booth stories!

 So these great vintage freebie chairs were a total SCORE!

Hope you all are having a great week!

Carrie

Linking up to
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BIG NEWS!!!

GOOD NEWS!!!

After 6 long months....

WE FINALLY SOLD OUR HOME!!!

Today we accepted an offer on our home.

We still have a few steps to get through before it is all finalized.

{Home Inspection & Appraisal}

Crossing our fingers.....that all goes well!!!

It has been a while since I last posted.

Sorry for my absence.

We have just been really busy!

Lots of showings on our house (thank goodness).

For those of you who have been reading our story, you may recall

several months ago when we started the whole process of putting our home on the market.
Read about the week that started it all here.

Lots of updates, tons of DIY, paint, paint & more paint, curb appeal & staging.

You can read about some of our best projects below.

1. Bathroom Before & After
2. Back Porch Before & After
3. How to White Wash Wood Floors
4. Home Staging Tips
5. Living Room Before & After
6. Front Porch Before & After

Travis & I can not wait to start the next chapter of our lives!

If you are new here, my husband & I are moving back to

the charming small town where we both grew up in LeClaire, Iowa.

We have a great deal in store for the coming year!

Here is a peak at the next chapter of our lives!

We will be taking this little diamond in the rough from drab to fab!

This little beauty will be completely gutted from the inside out.

It will no doubt be one of the biggest challenges we have ever done!

But we are sooo up for the challenge.

Travis is a contractor so this is right up his alley

 & I get to live out one of my biggest dreams to help design my own home!

WIN!  WIN!

We will not be living in the home during the remodel.

My Mother has graciously offered up her home to be our crash pad.

Thanks Mom!

So, I hope you will join us on our journey!

We are so excited to share it with you!

Carrie

linking up to
Thrifty Decor Chick
It's Overflowing
Savvy Southern Style
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Remodelaholic
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Between Naps on the Porch