Helicopters and Windows

I have been a bad blogger. Sorry. I have just been super busy the last week or two. And honestly I am not quiet sure what all I have gotten accomplished? Don't ya just hate that?!!? At least I know what I have accomplished today! Which actually has been a lot, including reorganizing my pantry (and drat! I forgot to take before & after pics! Sorry!).

My hubs, Cole, as most of my loyal readers know, is a military and commercial helicopter pilot. For the last six weeks, we have been in pseudo deployment mode while he was in Louisiana learning to fly these big boys....


That, my friends, is an Sikorsky S-92 helicopter. They are very fancy and VERY large. In fact, only some of the oil rig platforms that he flies to can even accommodate them. They hold 19 passengers and 2 pilots. That is a BIG helicopter! I am so proud of my husband! During the training, he was also able to obtain his helicopter ATP Certification (airline transport pilot). Most people know about private and commercial pilots licenses. An ATP is an add-on to a commercial pilots license. It means that you have gone through enough school and have enough real world experience (flight hours) to pass a written and oral exam & check-ride. Basically, Cole now knows all there is to know about flying a helicopter, according to the FAA. I already knew that... they should have just asked me! :)

He is finally home and we are getting back to our "normal" schedule. Which is not normal to anyone who doesn't work in the gulf. But it is our normal two week on, two week off schedule.

Back on the home front-literally!- I am struggling with what to do about window treatments in the living room. They are bare, and need...something. I just don't know what.

I thought about regular ole' curtains or valances, but I have a problem if I do that....

See that space? Right there between the window and the bookcase??? Well that space is only about 8" wide. Too narrow for a curtain or valance to hang and look normal. Especially considering the other side (above) has a much larger area. I just think it would be too close to the bookcase and close off those shelves.

What to do, what to do?!?!?! The only solution I have come up with is to do plantation shutters. These are usually so beautiful in and of themselves that they don't need any other type of dressing (in my opinion). But OH MY WORD have you priced them?!?! And can I even do them on the french doors? I guess I could do them on the windows and do curtains on the sides of the doors. But is that too much going on? Anyone have any advice or opinions??? HELP! I have been searching my new obsession (aka Pinterest) for idea, and so far nada!