Happy Memorial Day & Metamorphosis Monday!

In keeping with the Memorial Day holiday, I wanted to write a post that both honors the memory of my family members who served in the military and shows a transformation in my home.  The above picture is the tableau I put together yesterday.  The small picture in front of the Americana angels is my grandfather, James F. Pierce.

My grandpa served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War.  This picture was taken during his tenure as a high school construction trades teacher.  I have so many fond memories of my grandpa.  My dad is an only child, so my brother and I were his only grandchildren.  Everyone should be loved the way that my grandpa loved us.

Let me show you how this tableau began:

This little Ikea desk came from my son, Jacob's room.  Jacob no longer wants it, so I decided to repurpose it.  I began by covering it with a goldenrod tablecloth that I got several years ago at Bed, Bath, & Beyond.  It matches the wall color in my dining room.

The tablecloth has a hole in it, and a stain.  However, folding it in half effectively covers both.  I tucked the desk into the corner and set about deciding what to do with it next. 

I got the tin rooster tray at Fred's in Perrin, TX, near where my parents live.  It's a discount store.  The mosaic candleholder was purchased at Ross.  I decided that I didn't like the candleholder/vase in that spot, so I moved it here:

I tried a couple of baskets before I settled on the one that I liked best.  I added the angels and the picture of Grandpa, and I have the arrangement that is most pleasing to me, and that is seen in the beginning of this post.  Here is how it looks as you come in my front door:

 

As a bonus, I can also store seasonal items under the desk. I can also serve from this table when using this room.  We usually eat in the kitchen. :)



Here are some pictures of my family members in uniform:

My papaw is second from left in the picture on the left.  To the right of him is my uncle Ben.  I don't know who the other gentlemen are.  The soldier in the picture on the right is my mamaw's brother.  The inscription says : "To Sis from Brother  Jan. 1, 1944, England".

Last, but not least, my dad:

(Daddy looking fierce, getting ready to shoot skeet.  Perrin, TX, March, 2011.)

My dad, Jonathan David Pierce, served in the U.S. Navy after high school.  He enlisted during the Vietnam War, and served as a corpsman.  He and my mother were stationed on Guam, and he worked in the Naval Hospital, helping the wounded.  I'm so grateful for his service to our country, especially at such a difficult time. 

I don't have a recent picture of Brian's brother, Bradley Keith Cottle.  He served in the U.S. Army, and parachuted into Granada.  He made that jump unarmed, as I'm told.  That takes a lot of guts.  I want to also mention my uncle, L.G. Crum (retired from U.S. Army); my cousin, Barry Crum (Lt. Col, U.S. Army (retired)), and my cousin, Kevin Crum.  Kevin is currently serving in the U.S. Navy.

God bless America, and God bless our brothers and sisters in service to our country!

Many blessings,

Jennifer

P.S. I'm participating in Metamorphosis Monday at http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/.