Moonlight Hollow's 101st post was reserved just for me! The computerless, sleep deprived, blog virgin has arrived to validate Malisa's claims to having a partner in this adventure. Moonlight Hollow was born on a March night one year ago when the full moon lit the hills and hollows of Eureka Springs, that magical place in the heart of the Ozarks. The face of Christ of the Ozarks was illuminated with his arms opened wide, and Malisa and I both embraced the idea that life could be more for us. For years, we had both given tirelessly to amazing, inspiring children that we were given the responsibility to guide in our public school careers. On that firefly-filled night last Spring Break, we knew we were ready to live life differently. We both retired last May, as you faithful followers know, and I have struggled with my identity since then. I don't think I will ever feel as loved and needed and complete as I did in my classroom, but I am determined to find my way.
Our fascination with vintage photos led us to amass quite a collection in a little over a year, and we are constantly searching for interesting ways to use them. I can still sit for hours looking at what we've found...wonderful German Christmas pageants, vintage Santas, Halloween pictures, beautiful and well-loved dog photos, and funky World War II nudie pics taken for the war effort... all images we hope to share in the future of Moonlight Hollow. I am a total junkaholic, and was hooked at ten years old when I was given two dollars to spend at Canton. After all these years of loving cast offs with history, I am now in a selective phase where I hold out for the really unusual, odd find. This past Christmas, a giant, bedraggled nativity camel was my fave find at City Wide in Austin...
I was told to write about something that inspired me - like the abundance of black, and the deep, soulful attitude of the shop, yaya chique, in Houston. I recently purchased the sofa I have wanted for as long as I can remember-that $399 white slipcovered Ikea icon-and bought a black slipcover as well. I am still marveling that you can have a whole "new" sofa for $150 dollars. This is a perfect choice for me, because I am totally unable to commit to color for long. I love a white or black room with just one single jolt of color-a white container with deep red full blown roses, or a tall, hay-filled, faded red velvet Mexican altar piece loaded with silver milagros! Anyway, Debbie's yaya world, surrounded by warm, dark colors inspired me to go for the black sofa. Imagine the possibilities! So what if I will have to buy stock in lint rollers to combat the wads of white "Charlie hair" that will be deposited on it (the same shaggy Charlie that ate my jar of Estee Lauder wrinkle cream)! I can always go back to the white slipcover when i need brightness. I love to decorate, and re-decorate, and finally have time to do it. What sets my mind reeling may be discovering a black top hat with a straw-stuffed "magic rabbit" and directions for magic tricks at Warrenton, or the amazing grass green quilt I saw at Target!
I was told that blogging is personal, and there's no right or wrong way to go about it. I just planned to do a restrained introduction of myself, but my writing has veered off on a junk lover's decorating tangent. Guess you can see where my passions lie. I hope you know now that I don't just live in Malisa's head! I'm looking forward to visiting your blogging world sometime in the near future. Thank you for being a source of joy for Malisa, and for being so supportive of her during Larry's (Lurch's) surgery. Can't wait to share Moonlight Hollow's photo archives with you!
Karen
Add one more prize to the treasure chest!
Hat box sized vintage candy store tin-wonderful Spring colors!
