Hello Friends
Here we are, heading into the “Ber” months! Today, it certainly feels like September is coming because it is in the 60s here. I can feel the seasonal change—shorter days, cooler temperatures, and gardens that are starting to need some deadheading. Even nature’s choir has changed, with the chirping crickets taking center stage! It looks like our patio is already adorned with fallen leaves, which is a bit early for this season. It may be a reminder that autumn is arriving sooner than we might expect! And look what I saw just yesterday. Our Japanese Maple had a few of these to say, Fall is coming!
Babysitting
I babysat this past weekend. I’m whipped! Someone has become very active. And he is chatting up a storm. He’s counting to ten and a tad more. I also heard him repeat the sounds of many letters! He is a bundle of joy! A two-year-old bundle of joy! I sure do love him.❤️
A Photo Prompt
I recently took the photo above of the dining room while sitting in the sunroom. That photo prompted a conversation with Sweet Man over coffee about the story of our sunroom.
I told him that the dining room was once a carport. That’s the original ceiling from the carport.
Our place was once a cottage where my parents and siblings came on weekends from Pittsburgh. Dad eventually enclosed the carport, and a dining room was born. He later added a small deck off the dining room, which was eventually screened in and carpeted with that green fake turf. Oh goodness! 😂
I don’t have any pictures of that back porch but it was well loved!
My parents spent many hours sitting on that back porch drinking their coffee. Mom tended to her plants while Dad read the newspaper.
The only problem was that they couldn’t use it in the winter.
So, they hired a construction company that tore it all down, doubled the size of the back porch, and turned it into a greenhouse off the dining room. Now they had a four-season room!
We celebrated many Christmases and Easters in that room, surrounded by Mom’s plants. And thankfully, that fake green turf carpeting was gone and replaced with light carpeting!
That greenhouse served our family well for several years.
Then We Came Along
When we purchased the house from my siblings, the greenhouse was leaking. So Sweet Man tore it down—one curved window at a time.
We hired an Amish crew, and they built the sunroom we have today. We stained all of the interior wood in the evenings so the Amish builders could put it up the following day.
We also had them put up our fence in the backyard. We went out into the country to purchase hemlock from the Amish lumberyards.
Back to the Sunroom
Fast forward, and we have put our own mark on this special place while keeping many pieces from long ago.
We still have the scale that my Dad used when he was a metallurgist in Pittsburgh for US Steel. Dad’s little bulldog statue still sits on the floor. The skis in the corner belonged to my brother, who painted them to make them his own. And hanging on the wall is a watercolor of a vase of flowers, painted by my other brother for my Mom more than 40 years ago.
Then we came along and turned this room into The Edinboro Room.
We decorated it in red, white, and tartan plaid—a little nod to the Scottish history of Edinboro. Sweet Man added his own history and personality with the dental cabinet, the thread cabinet, and that live-edge coffee table he made.
I, of course, added my own touches.
The White Corner cupboard came from a barn sale. I painted it white and added my red-and-white transferware. My sister gifted me the teacups. Then I added all the ruby-red glass I collected as a young girl when I went to garage sales with my Dad. That red glass has a lot of sweet memories.
We are not minimalists as you can tell. We both love to collect, and we display our collections. This corner shows how much I love silver, displayed in a pheasant egg basket purchased from an old pheasant farm. Flowers, even if they are faux! Strawberries! Tartan plaid! Old Trucks! Oh, and that bucket with a cheerleader and a football player represents sweet man and me. In our younger years, of course!
Here We Are Today
And finally, here we are today.
Morning coffee. Family gatherings with lots of conversations. A room that is open to the dining room and becomes the heart of the house when our family gathers. The rooms may have changed, but the memories stay, even as we make new ones.
It amazes me to think about all the changes this little spot has seen over the years. From a small deck, to a screened porch, to Mom and Dad’s beloved greenhouse, and finally to the sunroom we enjoy today.
But through all of those changes, one thing has remained the same.
This space has always been about people sitting together and enjoying life.
And today, our sunroom continues doing exactly what that little screened porch did years ago—bringing people together.
One coffee cup at a time. ☕️❤️
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Thank you for sharing the story of that precious part of your home and memories. I love that thread box and all the ruby glass. The floral accents tie everything together for me. 😀
Thank you so much sweet friend. This was a fun post to put together. Take good care now.
“We are not minimalists.” Definitely true and I love that you are not minimalists! (I am not either!!). Your things tell stories and hold dear memories and add beauty- they are right where they belong :). I enjoyed reading about the history of your house both what your parents did and then what you and your husband did. Your family is so talented! The painting that your brother did and your husband making that beautiful coffee table- impressive. Also impressive is the Amish’ work ethic and final products that they produce. I enjoyed seeing pictures of your beautiful sunroom and dining room :).
Thank you Maria. This was a fun post to put together. We definitely have stories to tell. Lol! Thanks for all the love. Have a wonderful week!
Loved reading your family history of the home, and of your collections, Nancy!
Thank you Rita. This was a fun post to put together. Enjoy your week, sweet friend.
Wonderful family history that surrounds you and I’m guessing keeps you smiling with warm memories. My daughter has several thread boxes and loves each one for its uniqueness. Applause to your brother for that wonderful watercolor. It truly is beautiful.
I can only imagine the laughter surrounding your babysitting with that bubbly little guy. Fun days.
Fun days indeed! He is such a sweetheart!
And yes, our home is full of love and stories.
I am glad your daughter enjoys thread boxes too.
Thanks for all the love! Have a wonderful week!
What beautiful collections you have Nancy and the wonderful memories you have each time you sip your coffee in the sunroom. I love all the plaid thermos’s and lunch pails…I collect some but am envious of your nice collection. I had to enlarge the photos and drool. I am sure living in your parent’s home has given you and Sweet Man much joy as you keep some of the old and add a little new. One of my favorite family homes was my grandmother’s house, which I miss to this day. Sadly, that home was torn down (as others in their neighborhood) for an “Urban Renewal” project that somehow never materialized. 🥲. It broke my grandparents heart to leave their lifelong home but in the early 70’s the name of the game was progress as city-commissioned housing and neighborhood studies from that period targeted designated residential clearance zones, making way for ‘revitalization’ plans. No property owner had a choice and supposedly was given a fair price for their homes. When we go back home and visit the vacant fields that stand empty, I have bittersweet memories. So now I live vicariously through sweet friends such as you. 🥰 Hugs and blessings 🤗💕🌻
Oh, I’m so sorry about your grandparents’ home. That made my heart so sad.
I am glad that I can help in a small way.
We do enjoy living here. It took a lot to get to this point. This old house needed a lot of updating! But we are finally there.
Thanks for all the love. It’s always so good to hear from you. Have a beautiful day, sweet Kari!
Nancy, I loved reading your memories and how your sunroom evolved over the years. It is a space that is beautiful. You and I are alike in the fact that we are not minimalists, love color, and are collectors that also enjoy telling the history of our collections. Your sunroom is warm and inviting.
I know you enjoyed every minute with your darling grandson. Yes, it is tiring as I well know. I loved the photos of your parents. I did not know your dad was a metallurgist for US Steel. My RM, his father, and grandfather worked at Gulf State Steel right here in our city. RM and his grandfather were in management. The steel mill closed in 2000. RM changed careers and the rest is history.
Thank you, my friend for this sweet post!
Wow! I didn’t know Butch was once in the steel business. My Dad loved working for US Steel. He worked for over 40 years before he retired.
We are finally at the point where we’re enjoying this house. It took a lot of hard work; each summer we came to update this place and the yard. I think I can now sit down and write about it. Lol!
Thanks for reading. This was a fun one to put together!
Happy Tuesday!
Nancy, US Steel called him to come for an interview and actually promised him a management position when our steel mill closed. Seth was about to be a sophomore in high school. We were not interested in moving and God provided an opportunity of a lifetime 30 miles from home and he was starting his new career within 2 weeks of when the steel mill closed. God is so good and sovereign over all. He retired from there with 22 years and he had 25 in the steel business!
God is Good. God works in mysterious ways. Not much Steel is being made in the Iron City anymore.
Yes, the season is turning quickly!
It sure is.
What an amazing journey this house has been on, Nancy! You’re lucky and blessed to have the home and first hand memories of it. The sunroof is glorious and I love all your personal decor touches and mementos! Enjoy autumn as it arrives!
Thank you, Terri! This was a fun post for me. Thank you, always, for all the love!
It’s amazing how you kept the historic pieces while making the house look modern and fresh. I can just feel the love and history in this home it must feel very special to you two!
It really is special. Thanks for the love, dear Mary! Enjoy your week.
Such a sweet post Nancy! The darling photos of your mom and dad were so lovely to see, and all the sweet memories you have kept and fun stories you have to share! I love a home of 4 generations of continued love flowing through every nook and cranny…sigh…
Wishes for continued blessings…
Thank you so much dear Sue. This was a fun post for me to put together.
Have a wonderful week!
Aw, I loved reading about the history of your room; and I’m sure you have many more memories that you couldn’t put into words! That’s so great, and yes, the days are becoming cooler. Best wishes for your ‘ber’ months to be happy ones. Take care, Nancy!
Thank you, Lenore. This was a fun post to put together. And I wish you wonderful “ber” months as well.
Thank you for the trip down memory lane with your beautifully decorated home. How wonderful that it is special to you and your sweet man and also a great place for family and friends to gather–creating even more memories.
Yes, indeed! Thank you for enjoying the past and the present. This was a fun post to put together.
Enjoy the rest of the week, my friend.
“Character and color…”
Your home oozes both, Nancy Lou. I love every photo and your knack for layering, adding depth to every room, creating vignettes, is amazing. Best of all, you do it with items beloved!
Thank you for sharing — especially the sweet photos of your folks.
xo! 💝😊💝
We definitely ooze with color. Lol!
Thank you for your sweetness Vicki Lou!
😘♥️❣️♥️😘
Hello Nancy,
I loved all the photos today and the story of your special room. I love all your collections. 🙂
Golly, you are right, the ‘ber’ months are just around the corner. YIKES!
That is correct. We will be saying “Ber” in no time. 😄
Thank you for enjoying the little bit of history on our Sunroom. And thank you also for all your visits to Two Trails One Road! I appreciate you!
Enjoy your weekend!
I so enjoyed your memories and your tour of your beautiful sunroom and also the dining room that was converted from the carport. It was fun to see the photos and see all your beautiful collections that you and Sweet Man have. I love all the red! ❤️
May you have a wonderful week!
Thank you sweet Kitty. We so appreciate you!
This was a fun post to put together.
Enjoy the rest of your week!
A lovely, precious history of y’all’s happy home. Thank you for sharing, Nancy.❤️
I am glad you enjoyed it, Mitzy!
Have a blessed weekend!
Lovely memories in your beautiful house.
Thank you so much, Maria! Have a beautiful weekend!