Evolution Of The Gallery Wall

A month ago I asked chatGPT to recommend a design update for this wall in my living room. 

Because I am using the free version, I am limited to how many pictures I can download and questions I can ask in a 24 hour period.  There was a lot to work through so it took some time.  Plus, every time I asked for it to mock up an image, it would change a major unchangeable item. 

These were the pictures I started with. 

I spent a lot of time working on different layouts. 

I streamlined the room and started with a blank slate on the wall. 

After asking real life people, I changed the layout again. 

There was lots of measuring and contemplating.  And maybe a few extra holes in the wall. 

But I finally finished it. I asked chatGPT to evaluate it. 

It wants me to raise it up 4 more inches (even though it recommended earlier to start it 6-8 inches lower),remove the horse brasses (lower right) and somehow tighten it up even more.

Joe said he liked it. I will take his opinion over chatGPT any day.   Now I get to look for an interesting mid century bench to replace the chest. 

Five Unfinished Projects

I have been working on a bunch of things but haven’t finished any of them yet. So I will just share my unfinished projects today. 

I decided to extend my back patio. In order to do that, I needed to move this spirea bush. 

But after I finally got it out of the ground I realized I didn’t really have a good spot to move it to.  I asked Virginia if she wanted it.  She did, but Mike hasn’t been over to get it yet. 

I took advantage of the warm spell to prune the grape vine. 

Every year I say I will prune it harder. I think I finally accomplished it this year. 

Now I need to take the vines and reinforce my vine globes.  

I also have been planning a gallery wall for the living room. I have asked chatGPT for help, taped up paper on the wall in the size of the pictures, laid the pictures out on the floor and most recently, cut out 1/4 scale patterns to make it easier to come up it an arrangement. I am sort of liking this setup.  But I need to frame so of the art first. 

I got this at a thrift store. I have taken it apart, added a strip of wood to the back to make it deeper, attached some fabric to a board and made spacers for between the mat and the fabric. Now I just need to attach the objects that I am framing to the fabric. 

And anyone that owns a horse knows it is a never ending project. 

 

Walkabout

The weather has taken a turn for the better.  It has been much nicer than the sub freezing temperatures around Christmas.  And what is better to do during nice winter weather than a bit of a walkabout.  

The evening sun highlights everything. 

And just a quick update, our cattle made it to the feedlot in good shape. 

Walking around in the fresh air is a nice break from de-decorating.  I have taken down all the decorations and have them packed away in the closet for next Christmas.  Any guesses on how many ornaments were on the tree this year? 

If you had guessed 1115, you would be correct!  That is a new record for me.  I feel like I cheated a little bit though.  I did use several boxes of shatterproof ornaments. (mostly on the back side)  The glass ones are getting pretty expensive.  

 

Happy Birthday, Almost

With lots of love and family we celebrated Sadie's 5th birthday (2 days early).  After a meal at Cracker Barrel, her choice, we reconvened at my house for cake and presents.  

Sadie and Allie have had colds recently and no one wanted her blowing on the cake.  So she got 5 candles on a cupcake. 

She may have gotten more presents than Christmas.  A big hit was the special jewelry from Gigi. 

She did not get bongo drums.  Those are Joe's from Christmas.  

I think Allie knows that she will get to play with everything too.  Plus, her other grandmother brought her a big bag of gifts.  

Mike tried out the "wall walker" trying to get a spider web off of the ceiling for me.  

Linda and Ann helped Sadie was her "rescue" pet, a stuffy wrapped in a net that dissolved in water to reveal what kind of animal.  Then there was a lot of towel drying, blow drying and combing.  

But the most time was taken up pickle hunting.  I hid it really well this year.  

Virginia had set up a family survey and presented the results in a very professional and humorous format. 

Joe won, "who would last the longest without their phone".  Now that he has a new iPhone 16e, we will see if that holds true.  

More blow drying of the stuffy.  

And Matt was the pickle champ.  His persistence paid off and he was rewarded with a cereal box Spiderman watch. 

 

25 Days Of Christmas, Day 24

I have spent all month getting everything ready. I think it’s time.  

Looks like we are ready for Santa. 

Or, maybe he has already been here. 

 

25 Days Of Christmas, Day 23

Christmas decorating inspiration can come from just about anywhere.  But one of my most common spots for ideas is the thrift store. 

I have a photo shelf in the hallway to my bedroom where I display records.  Sometimes record covers with horses and sometimes records from my childhood. 

But at Christmas I change it out to Santas, angels or nativities. 

I have collected them from thrift stores over the years. Sometimes I just like the cover sometimes I like the music.  Some Santa’s are creepy. 

Some are fake. 

And some look, well, drunk. 

Then there is Classic Christmas. 

And finally, unexpected. Who would think of Colonel Sanders as Santa. Well, it is cheap artwork anyway. 
 

25 Days Of Christmas, Day 17

Santa’s Mail!  Everyone in my family knows this one. 

Mama made this one from this Bucilla kit 60ish years ago. As children, it was always special to write our letters to Santa then put them in the Santa’s Mail. They would magically disappear overnight. I’m sure flying  straight to the North Pole.

Then in 1997 I decided to continue the tradition with my girls. Not surprisingly, Mama still had the original instructions. But since it had been a kit, I needed to round up all of the supplies. 

Now my Santa’s Mail is one of the first things I put up every Christmas and the last thing I take down.  But I did not stop there.  

I made one for Linda, 

Ann, 

Mitchell, who is always a little extra, 

and Carol.                                                                                                                                                        

Then, when Virginia got married, I made one for her. 

And last year, after Emily got married, I made one for her. 

The cutest one however, Carol made for Mama's stocking.  I am in love with the miniature proportions.  I also think it would make a fantastic Christmas tree ornament.  Just for fun, before writing this post, I ran the Santa's Mail picture past Google Lens. 

This odd thing appeared.  I don't know what is going on with that mustache and eyebrows.  But when I clicked, the link is said it wasn't safe and to go back.  So I don't know the story on that one.   

But I found this one on Ebay.  You can see with the original Santa has a pompom on his hat.  I substituted a bell and left the bells off the bottom.  The original also used trim to write Santa's Mail.  I did a shortcut and used glitter glue.  

The one on Ebay is selling for $35.61.  I found where one sold for $44.99.  

 Mine however, is priceless.