"Let's start at the very beginning

A very good place to start.

When you read you begin with A B C.

When you sing, you begin with Do Re Mi."

(from Sound of Music)

When you Blog you begin with, oh dear me!

Couldn't I see?

I don't know about you, but when I first started blogging back in July, I was not the most....ahem...gifted in the photography department. I'm not really much better now but at least I finally know how to edit my pictures!
So, my retrospect of projects from this last year will be selective in order to spare you.

We moved into our home 2 1/2 years ago and most of our larger projects were done in that first year. Wallpaper removal, painting, patching holes in doors and walls, tree removal that lifted up the entire yard. You get the idea!

This year was more about the fun stuff. Faucets and light fixtures and all of the little details that start making a house feel more like a home. Let's look back...

My first project I photographed for my blog was transforming our deck into a more inviting space for enjoying those lazy days of summer.

Our other outdoor projects included adding pavers to this little area in the front

and a raised bed garden in the back. That little lattice fencing you see in the rear of the photo is covering our air conditioning unit. It just didn't "Go" with my design plans, you know?

Turning inside, I finally managed to get this beautiful painting, done by my father-in-law, framed with molding and hung with 2 shutters on either side to create a "faux window" in my daughter's room.

I also discovered that spray paint is my new best friend and I sprayed my old brass bars on my fireplaces this lovely shade of copper.

I made new pillows for the family room sofa.

And in a "miracle of miracles" moment, actually painted our front door. In that post I said that the "Welcome" mat was actually a big fat liar because the door used to be so hideous it made people want to turn back around and head home!

We did some updating in our master bathroom

Including replacing faucets and,

Putting in new window treatments.

One of the most fun things to me about this blogging experience has been working up the courage to try new things.
Playing with centerpieces was just not something I felt confident in doing B.B. (Before Blogging)!

And if you had told me a few months ago that I would be participating in "Cloche Parties" I would have said,

"What's a Cloche?"

"Ohhhhh....they're those little cake stand looking things with the dome on top!"

There were many other projects, both little and small, but I think that the biggest blessing to me has been connecting with all of you. You have truly been a huge blessing and encouragement to me!
Someone said that "bloggy friends" are the best kind of friends because they only ever compliment you and say nice things.
I don't think that is entirely true but it has been nice to be on the receiving end of such support! But with many of you, the friendship has gone so far beyond DIY projects and Tablescapes. You have shared your hearts and your life experiences and that has been the biggest surprise to me this year!
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for coming along on this journey with me and I look forward to what 2011 holds for all of us.
I'm pretty sure Spray Paint will be involved!

Linking to
Miss Kim's Boring to Better Party
Miss Rhoda's Top Projects of 2010
Whassup Wednesday
Feathered Nest Friday