Nesting...

So, Christmas is over and Missouri is being revolting--at least the weather is. Today for instance, it is freezing with an inch of freezing rain and 12 inches of snow coming on top of that within the next couple of days. This is on top of the several inches that have yet to melt off from the other million snows this year. Will we ever see the ground again????

With snow and ice covering the ground and cabin fever setting in in a big way, I have been anxious for a change of scenery. This happens most years about this time. Everything outside is cold and inside is just the same old thing.

For some time now, I have been trying to decide what I can do with my coffee cups. They currently reside on the lazy susan in the corner above the sink. It is a stretch for me to reach them each morning and besides, I have no decor on the backsplash above the cabinet.

While baking cookies with my friend Kathy, who owns the campground, I noticed her mug rack. You can see it in this picture to her left. (Just ignore her cute dogs trying to get her to share our baking with them!)

Her Mug Rack is made from a piece of fencing board painted black and fitted with mug hooks. Very simple and it works well for her.

This gave me the idea for a mug rack of my own. I thought a piece of ceiling tile with wood behind it would be a good choice for me. Just add hooks and Voila!

We headed out to some of the second hand shops around--and let me tell you there are a LOT for such a small town!

Kathy has an eagle eye and kept pointing out tin tiles. Each one was just a little off for my taste.

In one shop, I found a bunch of metal signs. They were not old and they were not expensive. There was the Wizard of Oz (appropriate for Kansas), Route 66 (why not since we are in a camper), various coca-cola signs etc.

Then, while shopping at the local Alco, I found a wooden folk art flag made of wooden strips. As soon as I saw it, I knew it was just what I needed.

I brought it home and screwed in cup hooks, hung it on the backsplash and I had a really cool mug rack that fit me perfectly!

I remembered that I had some of the metal barn stars that had hooks on them as well, so I hung those by the flag.

This made me smile every morning when I came out to make my coffee.

You can see the mug on the left from OCC (Orange County Choppers) and the two black and green mugs have 88 on them for Dale Jr. (we kind of follow him in NASCAR--hehe) and my white mugs trimmed in red that go with my set.

I am sure that as we travel, we will add more mugs.

Then, I started thinking about the rustic flag and stars and contrasting those with the traditional wall border. This border is in shades of hunter and seafoam green, burgundy and desert rose on an ivory background. While it doesn't make me go ick, it doesn't really endear itself to me either.

The other day, Kathy and I escaped to Columbia, MO and the Menard's store. She to find campground supplies and me to find a border that I thought I remembered seeing.

Sure enough, I found the border that just made it all complete.

Last night I had the pleasure of removing border that was adhered well. I don't know what Nu-Mar uses to adhere the border, but it is sure not meant to come back off!

Lacking a paper tiger, I tried scraping the paper off. I tried peeling, I tried adhesive remover, I tried hot water--it was really slow going!

I scratched the paper and recalling that vinegar takes off wallpaper, I sprayed it with Windex Vinegar glass cleaner to loosen the paper. It took 3 layers of scrubbing and scraping to get it all off, but it was finally off.

Now the new paper is up and I think it is really me. What do you think?