March 7, 2009

• Catching Up

  I’ll share lots of pictures and news to make up for lost time.  I’m not cleaning my house today – not even the smallest mess.  After you get to the end of this post, you’ll know why I’m not even trying!!!

  Thursday night my child class was interesting, as everyone shared experiences.  Someone asked me what child class I was attending.  A group from church is doing a study from a book called, “Raising Kids God’s Way” by Ezzo.  Anyway, that’s where I go on Thursday evenings, if the class isn’t canceled.

  Yesterday we had our short version of school. Luci had to read 5 words, Annamarie had to spell those same words plus two more, and Rissy had her spelling test.  Rissy got a 100% and that’s probably the first time that’s happened this year!  We got ready to leave the house, stopped at McDonald’s and ate while we drove to the girls’ therapy appointment.  The therapist had an hour free after our appointment, so we got 2 hours with her.  We then went to Wal-Mart to buy a few items that were on our short grocery list.  I took the time to check out throw rugs.  The rugs in the foyer and Sampson’s hallway have lost their rubber backing and slide easily (dangerous) and the kitchen red rugs show every speck of crumbs, etc.  I found the perfect rugs and bought all four.

  We got home and decided I would take us out to dinner.  Nothing fancy – Golden Corral.  That way everyone got what they were craving.  We left and went to Lowe’s for Jesse and the nuts and washers the painter, Don, said he needed to keep our kitchen table from rocking back and forth.  We came home, went to bed, and slept hard.

  I got up this morning and put on my bathrobe, turned the coffee maker on, came back to bed to chat with Jesse, who had Sushi up on the bed beside him, and WE BOTH FELL BACK ASLEEP!!!!  Maybe I should have said, all *3* of us fell back asleep.  The doorbell woke us up and (gasp!) it was Don (AND, 9:00am!!!!!) here to paint.  We apologized and shook our heads at each other because we couldn’t believe we had fallen back to sleep with Sushi between us!

  Don painted some more of our ceilings and I sat in the den finishing the last 3 chapters of my book.  Don said he’d be back Sunday afternoon to paint the garage ceiling and then he’d be done.  I didn’t even know people painted their garage ceilings or that ours *was* painted!  Not very observant, I am?  LOL

  I *AM* observant, just in a different area of life!  I noticed things like trees, grass, leaves, and buds sprouting out everywhere!

  This is most likely weeds and not *grass*!!!                          The rose bush has little green leaves.
    

  The neighbor’s trees have beautiful blossoms!
      This really doesn’t do the trees justice. 

  The blossoms look like popcorn.
  

  I have never planted bulbs, but this year we have one lone pink plant that has appeared from no where!
  

  Speaking of greenery, move inside and see my den – that now looks like a jungle!
   
  Don has put all of my greenery in one place!!!                     Luci has a sore throat and can’t play outside.

  Isn’t that a pathetic picture of Luci standing on a step stool at the open window talking to her sisters?  And her faithful dog stands by her side!!!  Actually, Sushi had been OUTSIDE and only had come in for a quick drink.  She wanted right back out!

  And this is what she does to the den’s outside door when she wants in!
   
  Jesse swears she didn’t do this and the dog the people before us owned did the damage.  I disagree.  Since Don painted our house last fall, this would have been painted.  As you can see . . .

  Then . . . there’s my kitchen table area.  Cans of paint and accessories.  Paint dripped on the tile floor.  Table askew. 
  Do you see Stormy in the back, on a chair, playing piano?
  
  
  No really, she IS playing the piano!  Luci played for a while and then Stormy decided to try her hand/paw at it!
   
  The girls can’t get to the home school bins because the firewood bins have been moved in front, as have the painter’s things, so now days we just throw stuff and hope it makes it in!!!!

  Let’s go to the foyer next.  Stormy looking outside and a mess on the inside!
    

  I missed the formal dining room.  Also furniture askew and Chirper guarding a chair!
    

  That would bring us to the formal living room, next.
    
  At first, I thought the open window had blown my scarf valance down.  But, since the poles are on the sofa, I’d say the painter put them there!  He has NO idea how hard it is to hang those slippery scarf valance!!!!   That’s Annamarie you see through the window.  She’s playing with Rissy on the patio.

  This is pretty much how the formal living room looks for now.
  

  I thought you might enjoy seeing where I sit and write to y’all everyday!  This is my desk, covered by the painter’s drop cloth.  See my new printer on the left!   I’m so excited.  About the printer, not the mess!!!!
  
  The painting of the forest on the left, in golds and greens, belonged to my grandmother, and I own pictures of my grandmother’s house with that same painting hanging on her wall.  Kinda neat to think about!

  AND, if I could ever keep my file cabinets and desk cleared off, this is how it would look.
    
  But nobody hold your breath!  My theory has always been, “We live in our house, therefore it looks lived in.”  Also, “I work at my desk, therefore it has worked piled on it!”

  Someone had asked if my desk was an antique.  It’s not, but all of my furniture *IS* or else is made to look like furniture from the 1800′s.  This is the fan pattern on the top of my desk.
  
  Of course this, is a rare photograph (that should be preserved) because the top of my desk will never look this clean again.  Too bad.  The inlaid wood pattern is pretty!!

  Now, do you understand why I have given up trying to keep my house tidied up or dusted or vacuumed???  When ALL of the ceilings are finished and Don actually moves to the garage to paint, I’ll start the clean up.  Until then, why bother???  PLUS, it’s giving me a good excuse to sit and read during the day instead of doing chores!!!  The kitchen counters and bar still have all of the large things Don took down from the top of the cupboards to paint.  I can’t put them up there alone.  I’m afraid I’d fall from the ladder and break a hip!!!  So, until Jesse can “spot” me, I’ll continue to cook and prepare food on a counter space approximately 20 inches by 24 inches!!!!!!  And, I’ll try not to worry about the mess.  I’m doing pretty good not worrying!!!!

  The last picture is a question for those of you with large families.

  Nine pounds of peanut butter.
   
  I didn’t really buy 9 pounds.  I bought the 6 pound jar and scooped it into the 3 pound jar as needed, so the girls could make their own sandwiches.  Does anyone else buy the 6 pound jars of peanut butter?  I scooped the last out of the large jar and transferred it to the 3 pound jar yesterday.  I’m not sure if it was even cost effective to buy the larger 6 pound size.  Sam’s had it and I thought we could try it.  Frankly, I didn’t even know peanut butter came in six pound jars – except for restaurants!!!

  I’m enjoying having the windows open and airing out the house.  Mid-week, it will turn cold again and our open windows will be a thing of the past for a while.  For now, I think I’ll read.

  Be Blessed  ~

  • 5:13 pm
  • 5 Comments