Scrappy Hearts

Postal Love

I hate to admit it. I am in love with my postman, how could I not be? He has a great smile, he loves me back and he brings me all kinds of neat things. Really, just lookie what he brought to me the other day:

Do you see it, that beautiful 12 quart Calphalon stockpot? Yup, I must have done something really good because he showed up with this pot just the other day while I was in the bathroom spackling. And do you know what - he wants nothing in return. Wow. I tell you, I love this guy! And yes, Mark knows!

Almost Time

One thing I look forward to, every December, is completing my December Daily album. Last year I did a miserable job. I did blog about my every days during December.  And I did focus my musings on those things I wanted to remember for my album; but as of yet the album is not done. It is pretty though!

I just love the Close to My Heart paper I chose as the color inspiration for this album.

This year I started early. Well, not as early as Ali Edwards, but I was thinking about it then! I love the overlays that she designed for this project and I love the idea of keeping each page the same size. Check out her album here. When she does it, it seems so, simple. So off I went and ordered the transparencies, downloaded and printed the overlays and designed my cover. That's where I currently am in the process. Well, it's not December first yet, is it? There is still time.

I just love the beaded paper I found at AC Moore. Now, to get the rest of it together. That will be the challenge along with all my other obligations this week. But I will give it my best shot!

Busy

As usual. This week, the days between Thanksgiving and the first Saturday in December seem to fly by. So much to do! Traditionally, at least since we have lived in this house, I host my family for my annual tree trimming party. I have always bought a really tall tree, too big for me to decorate on my own. 

Perhaps because I am "so" into Christmas, my children are not. That's more than fine with me - I usually am able to secure the help of many friends to complete the tree with most of the ornaments. This year, more so than any other year, I am feeling the pressure and feel overwhelmed. So, I asked for help.

I know, I probably should have asked sooner but, it takes me a while.

So, we put up 6 trees. without decorations. Unpacked all of the ornaments and placed them in baskets so they are ready for Saturday. Quite a bit was accomplished.

The upstairs tree and the downstairs tree.

I'll spare you photos of all the trees...but there is some decorating that is done, for example this little wall in my hallway. Done.

The mantle was also done - that is until I fell trying to hang the evergreen wreath. Well, I wouldn't be happy if there wasn't still something to do!

I should be thrilled because I still need to make my sauce, prime, paint and sponge the bathroom, make the valance for the bathroom, make dinner for Saturday, shop for the rest of the food, and of course, finish decorating. So much to look forward to!

Bathroom Update

Yesterday my new buddy, John, installed the new vanity and toilet in my first floor bathroom. It is looking good! If only the rest of the work wasn't up to me, I'd say we were nearly finished.

But, there is so much to be done and my drop dead date is next Friday. Much to do. So tomorrow I sand, spackle if necessary and hopefully get one coat of primer on the room. Next, paint and then finally, sponge. 

Today I am grateful that the sink and toilet are in and working. I am grateful that the spackling is nearly done. And, I am hopeful that tomorrow will see me moving forward on the project. Wish me luck!

New Traditions

Eventually everything changes. I don't like that. My children are not comfortable with that. But, so it is. Yesterday we spent our first Thanksgiving by ourselves, definitely a change. As it turns out, a good change. We are typically really low maintenance on the holidays. We sleep late and lay low. Yesterday was the epitome of laying low. Our gathering started later in the day when I picked up my children at the train. Everything was just about ready for a 5 o'clock dinner with the exception of the gravy and the onions. Jason made the gravy, I focused on the onions and Jess, well she focused on testing the turkey to be sure it was just right! Which it was, but actually, she also took care of the biscuits!

Dinner was laid back and relaxing. Since we are rarely together as a threesome there was some serious catching up to do. I kept the camera out of sight and we just enjoyed being together.

After dinner, Jason did the dishes, Jess packed the leftovers and then it was time for football. It must have been the turkey, but everyone crashed early.

The only picture from the day and boy was it worth the wait. I am very blessed. My children are very close and they value what is truly important, family and friends. The opportunity to spend time together is something we would not miss for the world. Tonight my heart is full.

 

Sanding Spackle

If it wasn't for the fact that I am so tired, the prospect of finally finishing my bathroom might actually be thrilling. It might be so exciting that I forget my weariness and forge ahead with sander in tow. But tonight, sanding does not seem anywhere near thrilling. In fact, it feels like a terrible chore. Tomorrow will be better.

When I last checked in on the bathroom, however, things were looking promising. While I am in no way a proficient spackler (not sure that there is even such a thing!) I seem to do okay when I take things slowly.

The picture above shows the space that used to house the medicine cabinet and below, that space used to hold the toilet paper roll.

 
Finally, the next picture shows the space below the window.

Honestly, I think one thorough once over with the sander and I am ready for the final coat of spackle. Then I move on to priming and painting. Oh the joys of owning a home!

As I said before, tomorrow will be better!

Home Repair 101

The focus in this house, over the past few weeks at least, has been home repair and overall updating. Not having a whole bunch of money hidden in the mattress has called for very specific updating strategies and a great deal of muscle.

While Mark was here we were able to accomplish quite a bit. At least it felt that way and I was able to see real signs of work being completed. Not so much lately. Movement has been slow on my part since then. I am under a deadline though. The handyman is scheduled to put in the new sink, vanity and toilet in the downstairs bathroom bright and early the day after Thanksgiving so I had better get going!

The space above is where the old medicine cabinet used to reside. The space below is repairing water damaged sheetrock around the window and covering the space where the old toilet paper holder was inset into the wall. 

My goal is to have the sheetrock taped and spackled by Tuesday evening so that the priming and painting can commence immediately thereafter. Lofty goals I have!

Evidence

All around my house I am finding evidence that I am moving towards a new phase of my life. Yup, it can't be denied. Soon I will be sharing my domicile with another person, for an extended period of time. And, unlike a child that occupies a separate bedroom, this one will be sharing the same space; the same bed. Quite an adjustment for me.

I noticed the little details of this change as I walked around my house just the other day, right after my trip to take Mark to the airport.

Unmistakeable is the bed used by two, and the men's pajamas on the chair next to his side of the bed.

Finally, the fact that I have emptied drawers for Mark to use. Yup, there's no turning back now.

As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving and begin that downward slide towards the Christmas holiday, I am preparing to make room in my life for my partner, full time. 

Wow, this is something I am really looking forward to. Right now, life is real good!

Moving Along

The last few weeks have been more than just a little busy. The main goal was to make some progress on the home front, meaning that the painting of the cabinets needed to be finished and the bathroom needed to be gutted. Well, for the most part, most of that occurred; with brief time outs for some fun stuff! 

Mark's two week stay ended very early this morning when I drove him to the airport.  We accomplished a great deal while he was here, but there is still much to be done and the time is ticking away.

The drawers in place already make a dramatic difference in the look of the kitchen. Before painting, the cabinets were a wood tone and in very poor shape. Painting them this very creamy white really brightened the room. Adding the pewter hardware, to the painted drawers, really makes the finished look much more complete and attractive.

Finishing the doors of the cabinets was much more difficult to manage. There were 17 of them and there was no good place to lay them for painting. The space was tight and created more of an issue to the finishing than I thought it might. But onward we forged.

Saturday morning we painted the inside of the cabinet doors for the second and final time. The hope was that we would be able to paint the outside of the cabinet doors once again on Sunday morning and then hang them Sunday night but, needless to say, that did not happen.

We installed the hardware on the doors Sunday evening and hung the unfinished doors during a break from working on the bathroom. The doors take away from the affect of the drawers, but my thought was that it would be easier to paint them by myself than to hang them alone. So, Mark drilled the new holes for the hardware, attached the hardware and I hung them up. It was truly a team effort.

While working on the kitchen we were still in the midst of dealing with the wallpaper, and overall mess in the bathroom. Mark removed both the vanity and the toilet on Saturday afternoon. Sunday was set aside for patching the holes in the wall with sheetrock. The new vanity is purchased and scheduled to be installed on Black Friday. So, while others are out shopping I will be engaged in heavy duty plumbing. 

This was the bathroom prior to removing the vanity. The large hole in the wall represents the very poor placement of a medicine cabinet with mirror. You tell me, how can someone look in a mirror on that wall while standing in front of the sink. It just made no sense so, out it came. 

My job, between now and Black Friday, simple; mud and tape the new sheetrock patches, sand, patch, prime and paint the walls. Of course I still need to go to work everyday and find time to paint the cabinets at least two more coats between now and December 3rd. Oh, and don't forget grading, lesson plans, and report cards. Well, it will be a long couple of weeks, but the results will be well worth it!

Five Year Plan

I am currently on a five year plan. That means that once, every five years, I save my money for a trip to Disney. My last visit to Disney World in Florida was back in 2005, November. Honestly, the mouse and I met up again in 2007 when my mother and I headed to Disneyland during a business trip to LA, but that really doesn't count. 

I almost didn't make it this year. What with moving and fixing up the house, money is tight. My brother-in-law surprised me with the gift of accommodations so the trip was planned. Mark was able to join me and to be honest, it was much more fun to share my "park" favorites with someone new. A day spent with my nieces and their parents in Epcot was also a highlight. We had such fun and created such wonderful memories.

For me though, I think the highlight was when a young man came up behind me and asked for my camera because he had a great shot. I was confused but acquiesced and this is what I got.

Gotta love the husbands of fellow scrapbookers, they know a shot when they see it!