Sore back and half finished project November 15, 2009

Since our kitchen table had dinner smeared all over it and a pile of books occupying the middle, I decided to work on my couch slipcover project on the floor in my bedroom. I could barely stand up after being crouched over the sewing machine for so long. But I did manage to get some of this project going! I’m not surfing for compliments here, but, I have surprised myself on this one. I thought it was going to look like some kind of Island of Misfit Toys screw-up, but it is actually looking pretty darn good. Several people have wondered why I didn’t just buy a slipcover. Well, I didn’t want one that looked like a fratboy tossed an old sheet over the living room beast. I wanted something pretty and tailored and CHEAP. I still have work to do, but at least I know what is involved now. Basically, I need to encase enough cotton piping to circle the earth three times, then I can finish sewing the rest of the cushions.

Back cushions are not sewed. I just wrapped some fabric around them to give you the idea. Obviously, no skirt either.

 

Close up of the arm

 

The room it's going in.

 

Walk the Plank November 15, 2009

We will be walking the plank for the next few days as we work on the floors in the foyer. Right now, as I type, I hear the pounding of the hammer building the plank taht will go from the bottom stair into the dining room. Believe me, I know that in reality, there are still going to be footprints on the new finish. Anyway, the simple project has been turned into a Cubscout activity for #1. He likes sawing and measuring. Good thing, too. Because apparently, that is what we are all about.

 

 

 

I also realized that I never posted any pictures of our fall season! It is gorgeous here in the fall. About half of the leaves have already fallen, but it is still a beautiful display of God’s amazing art.

 

Selfishness November 12, 2009

I stumbled across a blog about a month ago that has literally turned me upside down in terms of looking at myself from the inside. The blog is about a girl’s daily adventures and lessons in life as she serves the Lord in Africa. I don’t want to try to reword her blog; you will have to go there yourself and read. Prepare for a changed heart. I will just say this much…

When I think back to what I was doing at age 21- I was selfish and self-seeking in EVERY way. If I could find self-glory in the activity, I was there and doing it. Of course, I know that is not much different from most 21yr olds, but when you read about Katie you will be refreshed that someone this young  ”gets” it. Praise God that there are young people making themselves available to His call!!

www.kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com

Oh, and get your tissues ready, because no matter what, you’re gonna cry when you read it.

I know, I know November 12, 2009

Not much blogging going on. I guess we have been swamped with fall activities. Everything is coming along fine with the floors. We are at a stopping point in the foyer though. We have to build a plank to get from the stairs to the dining room so that the foyer floor finish won’t have little footprints on it. That is on the aganda for this weekend and will most likely become a cubscout project. Speaking of cubscouts, Husband and the boys went on a camping trip this past weekend and thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

They made these catapults and launched raw eggs at the older boyscouts.

Technically, #2 is too young to be in cubscouts, but they let him participate anyway.

 

#1 makes careful aim. This will come in handy when we start shooting at squirrels together. Ah, good times.

 

While they were sleeping out in a tent, I was finishing up the last coats of tung oil in the dining room.

R.I.P. October 31, 2009

Well, we have spent so many mornings together, I almost gave her a name. She saw me through rainy days and sunny, cold mornings. So faithful to me. As I waft through the now smoky bathroom, I know that she has blown her last warm breath. So long, Revlon hairdryer. It has been a great 9 years. I guess I will just let my hair air-dry today- even though it is 100% humidity…    RIP

Strip and stain October 28, 2009

Sounds like a fun drinking game huh? Unfortunately, it is a long tedious and tiring chore. But oh, so worth the effort! You decide!

 

 

 

And the almost finished product? (still needs two more coats of tung oil, but it will pretty much look the same as this)

Ahhhhh! Next on the agenda will be the dining room. I am also working on the stairs in my spare time. Calligraphy has slowed down, so hopefully  Ican devote more time to the house to get these projects going. Update on the couch slipcover. Ok. Update over. Nothing since I cut out most of the material. I need to purchase the piping so I can start sewing the twill material over it.

Putty (mispelled and corrected for my mom) October 23, 2009

That is some weird stuff. It’s sorta like sawdust foam, sorta like sand, sorta like play-doh. And then it dries to the crunchy, crusty stuff that trails all over the house. The kids and I had the job of filling nail holes today(which I sunk into the wood). #2 and #3 (yeah, can you believe it?) moved all the leftover wood from the living room to the kitchen for the time-being.

 

And for those of you who are wondering what possessed me to allow #2 to touch a bucket of puddy- it was over before it started. He was fired after the first two handfuls of puddy.

 

Here's what #3 was doing. That thing on the floor is a little clay dinosaur that #1 made in 1st grade. She is absolutely TERRIFIED of that thing and will scream bloody murder if you even think about putting it near her. I set it one the floor and she actually walked up to it. She thinks it is real.

 

A close up of the clay dinosaur. Not too scary.

 

And Husband finished laying wood the foyer the other night. It looks so awesome, especially next to the french doors.

 

 

 

Thought I would add this other pic of Husband and #3. It is so cute of them!

 

And also, #1 decided that I needed a break after this week of work, so he made dinner- french toast and eggs.

I know what you're thinking- but there wasn't any Windex in the toast that I know of.

Step it up October 15, 2009

Some more demo happened this week. This time it was the stairs. Actually, it wasn’t too bad. I just ripped the carpet and tacks off of one step at a time and cut back the carpet with a utility knife. Each day the kids would come home from school to see another two or three steps exposed. Even with nail holes and tack marks- they already look a whole lot better than the dirty carpet.

It is totally acceptable to work in your pajamas. Any contracter would agree.

 

BEFORE

 

AFTER

 

On another note- this week is Red Ribbon week at the school. The kids “say no to drugs” and dress up with a different theme each day to support the cause. A couple of days ago they had to dress up in the career they wanted to follow. Well, #2 has wanted to be a chef for about 3 years now, but declined the dress-up day. #1 changes his mind every day, but that day he wanted to be a rockstar. So we gave him a mohawk and he cut out a posterboard rock guitar. What a ham.

Lots of hairspray

 

#3 was totally confused about the rockstar hair. She kept asking "wha' happened to his head??" Well, I guess we dropped him alot when he was little....

Backyard campers October 10, 2009

Last night was supposed to be a Cubscout campout in north GA, but due to work and weather and wiped-out parents, it became a backyard campout. I mean, it’s all the same, right?? The boys did all the work while husband mentored. I watched from the upstairs window (in the air conditioner). #1 pitched the tent in the spot they cleared together that afternoon. They started their own fire and made smores. They read folktales by the fire with Husband and then the two of them headed out to the tent where they stayed the night alone. Husband came back inside to sleep on a real mattress. I think a couple of rain showers passed over, but they stayed out there and came in this morning at about 7AM looking for food. Now I think #1 can check off some Cubscout requirements.

Making fire.

 

Still making fire. It had rained so everything was a little damp.

 

Brothers in the tent

 

]

Nighty night.

Lighten up October 10, 2009

Hi. Compulsive craigslister here. Since I am in the process of putting together a new dining room, I wanted to reconsider the light fixture. The one I have is o.   k.     But it leaves much to be desired. It used to be blind-you brass, but I spraypainted it silver last year and antiqued it. Then I bought some little light covers which helped it alot. But it is very “builder” looking and not very representative of us. So when the PERFECT light fixture came up for sale on craigslist and the seller was practically GIVING this $1500 (I looked online to see the value), I made a deal!

This is the current light. I guess I should have turned it off before I snapped the picture. Looks like UFO's flying over it...

 

New light. HEAVY as a 12 year old boy hanging from the ceiling! I am not sure how to hang it because of the weight, but I will figure it out.

 

Close up shot of the pale blue crystals. They are actually made of recycled Coke bottles. I just love that. The rest of the chandelier is a dark brown antiqued, braided metal.