Old Furniture, New To Me

I'm so excited about this that I wanted to post a pic first!

Sorry it's been so long, but I have a very good excuse. We have been moving my grandmother into an assisted living facility this week. Yes, the entire process has taken about a whole week- and we're still not completely finished. We did a little bit of everything each night last week. Shopping, washing/packing clothes & linens, cleaning, and then the whole moving-the-furniture thing.

But, it has ended up being a very positive event-
for all of us.

Which brings me to my post topic... I am so excited about this new piece of furniture that has found its way into our home. This is a buffet that actually goes with the dining room table & china cabinet that I already have. This was my grandmother's (Dad's mom), and I am so honored & thrilled to have it in my home now. When I first moved into the house right after Zach & I married, we were working our way towards buying all the pieces of furniture you "have" to have. We did have a few pieces that were given to us by family, and we also proudly bought several pieces on our own.

But, there was still a wide expanse of space right smack dab in the middle of our open-plan living room/dining room area. We needed a dining room table. We have a small table in our kitchen that we used, but it's just not the same. (Man, I sound really spoiled here, but I know you know what I mean.)

So, my grandmother just mentions one day that we could have any piece of furniture of hers. She had thought maybe we would want a bedroom set, but we were so blessed to have already had the two sets we needed. So, I asked about the dining room table. She was so sweet about it. At her house, we only used it once a year- Christmas- and that was it.

Here is a quick picture of the dining room table & the matching china cabinet that also came with it on the move to our house years ago...

I wanted the matching buffet so stinkin' badly at the time we moved the table & china cabinet, but there really wasn't any room for it with the original plan I had. Then came the time (a few weeks ago) when we planned, with my grandmother's approval, to move her to an assisted living facility. Now, we have most of her furniture that will be sitting there, not being used. Nice furniture- lots of antiques. Makes me sad. So, I started thinking. (If I want something bad enough, I have to think up a way to make it work. Right now.)

And, make it work I did. :)

I even put the runner that matches the fabric of our dining room chairs that my sweet Aunt Gail made for us on the buffet. I love how it ties in the buffet with the dining set.

It's only missing one handle, but I'm going to make that work. I'm thinking about removing the two handles on the two small drawers & replacing them with knobs. I'll then use one of those handles to replace the mising one. We'll see how it turns out.

I had to move our little table that I purchased from Kirkland's
(I want to take that entire store home with me, if I haven't mentioned that before), but it has no sentimental value to me- nothing like this antique buffet does. I think we're going to use that table in Mamaw's room anyway, so I love that!

The extra storage the buffet has is also an awesome added bonus. I was able to move my un-used china from a closet to the buffet drawers & cabinets, so now I have extra closet space.

The buffet is at home now, right behind our couch. I love to
pass by it & think of Mamaw, then of Dad.

This is the only picture we have of my full family. This is actually the last picture that Dad had taken. Ah, I love it.

It was very bittersweet to move some of Mamaw's things out of the house. There are so many memories within those walls. It was the house where my dad grew up. But, I hope my grandmother feels a little more at home each day at her new place. This whole week has been an absolute whirlwind, but I'm sure she's had time to think about the transition.

I also have to thank the many sweet people that helped to move her in & out, and move some furniture to Mom's house & the buffet & a chest to my house. This chest was used as a changing table in both my & my brother's nurseries. I hope to refinish it and use it in our nursery one day. It is missing just two knobs, so I'm going to make it more fun & get all new ones for the entire chest at Hob Lob!

We all had a good time working on Saturday. It was a very long, busy day, but we got a lot done. I couldn't believe how many people showed up that morning to help. Every day, there are more & more things to be added to our ever-growing list of blessings that we'll reflect on always, but even more this Thanksgiving week.

Christmas project posts coming soon! I didn't work on anything last week, well, except for carpet shampooing (not fun, but totally worth it) and making room around the house for my new furniture. But, I have started on some Christmas projects already- I am just making myself wait until after Thanksgiving to post about them. And I will NOT put up any decorations around the house until Thanksgiving is over... like the day after, but still.
I always want to enjoy that holiday first!

We will be having my family over to our house for lunch. I wanted to take on a little more this year, just to take some off of Mom & Mamaw Helen. I love hosting & cooking anyway! Then, we'll head to Chattanooga to Zach's mom's for dinner. I can't wait!!

Hope you all have a wonderful, blessed Thanksgiving!