And Now For Something Exactly Like You Would Expect From Me

Once again a video in my bucolic fantasy vein:




On the home front: we are doing the template for the bathroom vanity tomorrow, the kitchen counter template (again) on Tuesday. This should put us at least a week away from installing those counters, which will leave only flooring thresholds, paint in the bathroom, and window treatments for the guest room, bathroom, and kitchen.

I had my heart set on simple Roman shades, but it turns out they are pretty much a custom item which would cost me close to $300 for the guest room alone.  It is going to be me and my little sewing machine for this job, because I know I  can make them for a lot less.

I'm down to three boxes of kitchen to unpack - no hurry because until the kitchen counters are in I can't get the kitchen settled. I hope the beaters for my hand mixer are in one of those boxes because they were not with the mixer! I did put up a shelving unit in the basement for the things I know will not fit into our little cupboards in the kitchen. I think this will work perfectly - we don't use all of our kitchen equipment every day, after all. I promised someone at work I would bring her brownies as soon as I unpacked my pans, so I'd better start looking for recipes.

This is the Day

Here's a video I ran across today that I thought was worth sharing:


Kind of timely for me. I have been struggling with anger and depression mainly having to do with the trials and aggravations which have accompanied our remodeling job. This week I have made a conscious effort to remember to start my day on a positive note. The one I have chosen is to say every day (out loud, because I know that I am not a liar and will believe what I say!) "This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.".

Our job is not finished (and as far as I can tell will never be finished), but we moved the last of our things in today except for two bicycles and will be living here full time. The bicycles are waiting for shed or basement space which is waiting until the kitchen counter is done so we can unpack the boxes that are clogging up those areas. More before and after will follow as we complete projects. Our guest room will likely be the next exhibit as that room lacks only shades and art. The living room will come next - we'll finish that up when our sofa comes around October 10. There is a big print to hang which we can't do until the sofa is in place. I thought maybe our bedroom would be ready to post this weekend (waiting only for art and chandelier), but we may have a little longer to wait for our light to be hung. We've owned it for months but it may be the last thing added because we will have a local handyman hang that one in his free time. The bathroom and kitchen have been the trouble spots all along and I don't have any idea when they will be done.

Random picture again - but my favorite picture of Jennifer and Logan! Click on it to get a better look.

Before and After Number 1

Several weeks ago I made my pilgrimage to IKEA for bookcases.  They've been sitting stacked up in the basement ever since, waiting for me finish painting and get ready to put them up. Yesterday I set aside a day when I had someone available to help with the assembly, so I put together five bookcases and set up my lair. I started with a very plain white basement room with no windows, and now I have a cozy yellow room full of STUFF! I had originally thought some variety of beige or taupe might look good with all the shelves and books, but after living with the cards pinned to the wall for a few days I decided it needed something a lot warmer. Then again, the ugly beige color in the living room may have soured me on all things beige. Shana and I have agreed that because our home is quite small we did not want to overwhelm the main living areas with too many accessories, but in my own private domain I believe more is more. As I acquire additional books I may have to trim down the accessories, but for now it's fun to have everything out where I can enjoy it. On the other side of the room that you can't see is my desk and a stand with my TV and printer.

And lest you forget that it is Labor Day and that I come from a long line of union supporters, I leave you with an old song:




Don't let the right wing opposition make you forget that it was the American Union Movement that brought you the 40 hour work week, freedom from child labor, and OSHA.

As Hurricane Season Begins

The beloved Eric Cantor lets us know that FEMA will be there for us if the budget can be cut enough in other areas.



Really? I don't know whether to laugh or cry. We'll see how that plays with the damage from the recent East Coast earthquake, followed by Irene heading for the Carolinas right now.

Stop in the Name of Health

I could not resist sharing this video - am amusing treatment of a serious issue:




I picked it up over at Granny Peace Brigade Where you can find all kinds of info for us old liberals!

Before Summer is Over

Summer is slipping away faster than I could have imagined. I saw a flock of robins yesterday - always my first inkling of fall's arrival. I know the summer weather is not over, but the nights are getting steadily cooler and it can't be long until the days are cooler too. It's been an odd summer  - I have only been on my bicycle once, and although I have gone to the beach quite often I have yet to find any swimsuits or even look for them among the boxes. My "Florida" summer clothes are still in their special bag packed in with my other summer clothes.  I'm in a folding pattern, waiting to settle into my new home.

I have GOT to stop using my ice cream maker still in it's packing box as an end table and make some ice cream! There are a lot of really good ice cream places on the Cape, but they are really expensive, and many of them are only open in the summer. I could make a half gallon of delicious gourmet ice cream for the price of one of their cones. I ran across this recipe this morning and not only does it sound super tasty but it also looks festive and beautiful: Butterscotch Pecan Ice Cream Tartufi | thelittleloaf The first day I spend in our new house knowing I won't be leaving at the end of the weekend I will be making ice cream, and quite possibly from this very recipe!

Last night I met my Stitch 'N Bitch buddies for knitting at sunset on South Cape Beach, which includes Mashpee Town Beach. I had not seen my knitting friends for a few weeks and it was just so encouraging and restoring. I have not known them long but missed meeting up so much. Some people were not able to come (I'm looking at YOU, Pat!) but no matter who comes it's always just who I needed to see. I've cast on for the first of the Super Secret Christmas Projects, so let the wild rumpus begin!

Creating Beauty All Around

Today Steve the painter came back to begin on the trim. To my great pleasure he started on the living room trim, where it had painted with flat band aid colored paint. It was the ugliest color combination ever, and looked even worse against the beautiful new floors. Today the trim is mostly white. It will definitely need another coat, but it already looks better and the room looks mysteriously bigger, even though the wall color has not changed at all.  We are going to use existing furniture and art, so all we'll need here once the walls are painted is a rod and drapes. It's close to being livable.


Roxy had a beauty treatment today too, although she was not looking forward to it and almost certainly did not enjoy it. I took her and Mitzi to Petco to have their nails trimmed. Mitzi has been to the groomer a couple of times this year, and i would have thought they would trim her nails as part of the service, but she still needed a trim. I can't remember the last time I had Roxy's nails trimmed. In Oklahoma City she has a daily walk on pavement and that kept her nails filed down. Dirt roads and the beach do not provide that service. Her nails were getting long enough to be uncomfortable to her.