The Lenora Aura

Weekend Warriors

11/14/2019

You know what I dig? Well yes, flowers... but beside that? I love design, aesthetics, color palettes, furniture shopping, fabric swatches, the feel of the paint brush in my hand. I love creating vignettes and cozy corners. I love pulling a room together, telling a compelling story, and planning a garden in the middle of winter. There is nothing more exciting to me than a blank wall, page or plot of land. I love creating and the satisfaction of seeing a vision come to life. I also love sunsets... and lobster... and date nights. Oh my!

Bermuda Grass Behr Paint

I also love Central Illinois where we recently relocated. I'm not a full time resident at The Regal Beagle yet, however. {That material is for another blog post.} And because of my transitional position, I have had to step up my game as champion weekend warrior. I'm not new to this kind of temporary lifestyle, but that doesn't make it any less challenging. But I digress. The Mighty Oak and I have been busy bees working on the new house every chance we get, with the intent of getting most of the main floor of the Beagle painted and furnished by Christmas. Our authentic farmhouse furnishings aren't blending in too well with suburbia, contrary to what current trends might dictate. Which is fine with me, because I love starting fresh... it's that whole blank canvas thing.

Remodeling Family Room

We have a big family with seven adult kids between us, plus grands. We were happy to host our Christmas Weekend Extravaganza at the farm in Southern Illinois the past three years. This year however, no one has to travel three hours away to see us. We are a short car ride away. This year we are hosting at The Beagle! So we are hustling, and whistling while we work, or at least putting on smooth seventies jams to keep us motivated. {I'm stuck on Wings and Bob Welch right now.}

Green Walls Fireplace

I know it's not all going to get done by Christmas, but that's okay. We are on track to knock out most of it and that's good enough for me. I've already painted the living and dining room in October. I'll share those pix another time. This past weekend I tackled the family room and kitchen combo, taping and knocking out two coats of paint in less than 24 hours. {Don't worry about that hole in the cabinetry. The former owners took their trash compactor and we've already ordered a new door!}

Green Kitchen

Friday, TMO, Jack and Ethan palled around, while I painted. Saturday, while I continued my coffee/paint/coffee/paint marathon, The Mighty Oak got back outside into his natural habitat. We are both withdrawing from the labors of farm work. So I know he was happy to finally be back outside working in the yard, firing up the chainsaw and sizing up our little neck of the cul-de-sac.

And the second coat was complete. Early Saturday afternoon, we then cleaned up and hit the town for some furniture shopping. Between stops we decided to reward our hard work with a stop Alexander's Steakhouse. Oddly, after being a Blo-No resident/visitor for seven years, I had never been to this restaurant. And we eat out a lot! Alexander's is a Blo-No staple, and it was one of the best meals I've had in a long time. Beyond the pleasing food, the conversation was top notch. Do you date your spouse? If not, you should start... stat. It's a game changer. Though, I think I need to work on my food photography.

Steak and Lobster

Back to furniture. I had my heart set on a rustic brown leather sofa and we were looking and sitting and contemplating, and then we thought... Poppycat! Doh! Y'all, when it comes to style, I'm not overly adaptable, but I conceded. We then found a crescent shape conversational couch, which TMO had been fancying. It grew on me. And then {and then} we found the perfect mid-century set of our dreams. Ahhh... throw in the lamps too please. It's gorgeous and perfect, and I can't wait to see it in our family room. We are also on the hunt for a mid-century record player console. {We love vinyl.} I have a gorgeous rug in mind too. However we are disagreeing on the curtains. We'll figure it out. We always do.

Bloomington-Normal Sunset

The day seemed to fly by, it always does when you are having fun. Did I mention the sunset? That sunset! Here I thought that because we had left our paradise at the farm and our beautiful views that I was going to be deprived of natural beauty. Not a chance. It's there. It's what God has created with His blank canvas.

Gather Kitchen Green

I'm going to have a lot of upcoming before and after posts. You can watch the poetry in motion on my Instagram stories. In any case... watch for updates of The Regal Beagle. It's going to be fabulous.

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Winter Is Coming

11/5/2019

We had snow on Halloween. I believe that is a first for me. I've experienced blazing hot Halloweens, cold and rainy Halloweens, but I don't ever remember experiencing a snowy Halloween. Gotta tell ya... it wasn't disappointing.

Snow Pumpkin Halloween

The snow looked absolutely stunning against the vibrant fall leaves, and although I'm in no rush to rid of the fall colors, it did put me in the winter holiday spirit. I'm excited about Christmas this year, because by then I will finally be able to have this new view everyday. No that's not the farm... Wait what? I know... I know... let me back up to July when this adventure all began.

Fall Leaves and Snow

We loved the farm in Southern Illinois, and were honored to be the stewards of those ten acres for three years. We babied the property, bringing it back to life with proper maintenance and an array of beautiful flowers and vegetables. It was a joy to get to experience what we did, and we feel we've done our part for conservation. We savored every minute of wildlife and wildflowers, but this past year was a rough one, and we started getting antsy. So much was changing for us, and we felt a tide turning, but it was going to involve focus and determination. We were torn because we loved the farm, and my new church, but we were being called away... again. We've never turned down adventure.

Rivian Reveal Jim and Lenora

Professionally, we never felt settled in Southern Illinois. So it came as no surprise that our hearts were calling us back to Normal... Illinois that is. Bloomington-Normal to be exact, which is The Mighty Oak's hometown... and my adopted hometown. It's in Central Illinois and considered one of the best towns in the state.

The Lord works in mysterious ways, you know. And in July, TMO was offered a position at the innovative Rivian Motors, who bought and was now housed in the old Mitsubishi factory. The same Mitsubishi factory that TMO worked at for twelve years, the same place that closed down sending us to Southern Illinois in the first place. We were being brought full circle! Rivian is building the world's first electric adventure vehicles.

Jim at Rivian Reveal

So, TMO left for Bloomington-Normal at the end of July, while Sophia started her senior year and I took care of the farm. With a heavy heart, but a knowing that we were doing the right thing, we put the farm up for sale in September, both in agreement that we were okay whether it sold quick or we were to keep it for another year or two. It sold in four days! Which was wonderful, but we were suddenly scrambling to find a new house to buy in Blo-No. Thankfully, our daughter-in-law Sarah is a Realtor, and after a marathon weekend of house hunting we decided on one and closed in 30 days, the same day we closed on the farm. Y'all... we don't mess around. It was bittersweet to say goodbye to the farm, and of course the last thing to be gathered up was Poppycat. He didn't make it easy for us, but he is at the new house, back in the town where he came from and acclimating quite nicely.

Sold ReMax Rising

So now we are happily snuggling into what we have coined The Regal Beagle. It's on half an acre and in one of the most beautiful subdivisions in Bloomington. We are so blessed and grateful! We are busy planning renovations of the exterior and interior, as well as deciding what to do with our cozy backyard come spring... y'all know there will be flowers and plenty of them!

The Regal Beagle

Suffice it to say it is going to be a joyous holiday season, and although the journey to get to this point was not an easy one, it was so worth it. And now you know. Also... it's typically a ten degree difference between the farm in Southern Illinois and Central Illinois. So maybe snow on Halloween isn't so strange after all.

Poppycat and Snow

I'm looking forward to exploring Central Illinois and blogging about it. This website and my biz is undergoing some renovation too, as I find my place in the world and get my life back to Normal. Follow my IG for our everyday adventures.

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