Dead Tired!!

I think I may collapse right onto the keyboard as I try to type this.  I am totally wiped out and can't even imagine doing another thing.  Right now is my time to exercise and no matter how much my mind keeps telling me to do this but body is not cooperating.

This weekend turned into a very stressful one with some family issues.  It is enough to just completely wipe you out.  Too  much drama for me and it has zapped me of all my energy.  Time to put it behind me because I am one busy girl and time won't stand still.

Each summer I have a to do list that is about a mile long.  On that list this year are quite a few painting projects.  Painting in this house is never easy.  It is a 55 year old home and when we bought it from the original owners it still had the original wall paper.  This stuff was cured onto the very old plaster.  Too bad we didn't know this before trying to peel it off in each room, including the bathroom.  We haven't even tackled the kitchen.  Kilz is the best primer out there in my opinion and we were going through 5 gallon buckets of this like it was water.  The plaster was so dry that we would roll on the Kilz and it would just suck it in.  It looked like we had barely touched the wall with the roller.  

Well, here we are 5 years later and dd is sick of the purple in her room.  She wants a mature room.  We bought a new bed, new bedding, purged and decided on a paint color.  Monday morning begins the battle plan.  I decided that before I tackled her room I wanted to get another big project off my list so I got up early, putting my bedding in the wash, washed my windows, ironed and hung clean curtains, cleaned my room and washed every nook and cranny of the hardwood floors on my hands and knees.  Mind you that happens but once a year.  Once that was finished, we started sanding all the trim, built in bureaus and windows in dd's room.  This took a couple of hours, then we washed down all the trim, walls and windows.  The painting begins.  Three hours later the first coat is finished on the ceiling and trim.  Time to make some dinner and iron hubby's clothes for work the next day.  Then collapse.  Still recovering from the weekend's trauma and this overload of work.

Day 2 begins with dentist appointments for cleanings.  Dd, ds and myself were there bright and early at 8:30 am and out by 10:00 am.  Rush home, change into grubby paint clothes and get second coat of trim and ceiling done before lunch.  Thankfully, I was able to get the built in bureaus painted before lunch, too.  But while doing this I discovered that even though I purchased the Behr Ultra Plus with primer this paint job would not be completed in one coat.  It was a sad moment.  I had really hoped that this miracle paint that I hear about in the commercials would come through for me but it didn't.  Right after lunch, it was back upstairs and while dd rolled the paint onto the walls I did the cutting in.  Not my favorite job at all.  So much trim, the ceiling, windows, the door and the bureaus are enough to keep you going for hours.  It was finally finished at about 4 pm, rush down make some supper, inhale it and it's back upstairs for the second coat.  This was about 6 pm and I poured out about half of what was left in the paint can.  I thought that this would be enough since it was the second coat.  I was so wrong.  About 3/4 of the way done with the second coat we started to think that we wouldn't have enough paint.  The last thing I wanted to do was buy another $36 gallon of paint to finish one wall.  Well, I poured out what was left in the can, we squeezed every drop out of those rollers, and I scraped the bottom of the gallon with the brush and we had just enough paint.  We finished painting at 8 pm and I collapsed.

This morning, I woke up early, took a shower, made the bed, cleaned the bathroom, washed the bathroom floor, scrubbed the hardwoods in dd's room to remove all the paint flecks, moved dd's furniture back in, put up the shelves, cleaned the area at the top of the stairs from the paint hazards, put supper in the crock pot, finished crocheting a baby sweater for my sil's baby shower Saturday, and treated myself to a new haircut.

Pictures of all this excitement to come soon.  Dd's room still new curtains, new door to be hung and a couple of knew knobs on the dresser (no more purple flowers).  I will take pictures and post them soon, pics of the baby sweater and maybe even a shot of my new, super short haircut.

Now time to curl up with tea and a good book.  My body is crying out to relax.  Just had to share with my dear blogging friends the insanity of this week so far. So much still to look forward to with baby shower on Saturday and more drama.  This is definitely a Calgon moment. LOL

Craft Hope

While visiting Adrienne's blog last week I learned of a great organization:  Craft Hope.  This organization sends hand made items to those in need all over the world.  In a previous project wonderful dolls were made by so many and sent to children in Nicaragua.  For this project they needed baby blankets, hankies and pillowcases.  I was so glad to have seen it in time and got right to work.

I purchased the pillowcases in great shape at the thrift.  While there I also found a Classic Winnie the Pooh twin sheet that I purchased and cut up to make the hankies.

Here are the pillowcases and hankies.

These are the little blankets I made for the project.  I had the Precious Moments fabric and I lined it with a soft, cotton flannel.

I can hardly wait for the next project and am thrilled to have found this great site.  I hope you will all have a chance to visit and see what is needed next and great pictures of those who they have already helped.

Summer Reading

As a homeschooler, I tend to spend most of the school year reading books that tend to do with the kids' lessons.  I am able to sneak in a book for myself occasionally and always a few good magazines.  I don't mind reading the books for the lessons because I am learning so much right along with them and I completely enjoy it.  But the summer is my time.  Soon enough I will pick the school books back up again and prepare for our year ahead, but I have had quite a wonderful break from them.  

I began my fun summer reading with this wonderful book.  It's such a great read and I enjoyed it so much.  It's the kind of life that I am slowly working to achieve.  These times are not my times.  I think I was born in the wrong era and could go back in time to when things were simpler.  Although, I would need to bring a computer so I can blog. LOL

This was the next book on my list.  A quick read that made my mouth water with all the wonderful recipes and made me want to get on a plane and travel to France, even more than I already wanted.
This was such a strong story.  I had not seen the movie before I read the book but have it on my to do list now.  My daughter read it and now my son is.  The innocence of Bruno in the story just captures your heart and really makes you think.
After that I certainly needed something a little lighter.  I have been enjoying this amazing book.  The pictures, colors, recipes and ideas are just fabulous.  This is like a small luxury for me.  Though I wanted  to read it all at once I made myself stop every couple of pages and think about what I read and enjoy the colorful photos on every page.  I will keep this book on my nightstand and bring it out when I need a little inspiration or need to realize how important the gentle arts really are.
The next book on my list is this one.  I have only started going through the pages this afternoon but was distracted with some work we are doing in my daughter's room.  I ended up taking apart a bench she had in her room.  We are on a quest to make her room more mature.  There was a lot of purging, new bedding bought, and now we are looking for just the right paint color.  So I never made it back to my book but will enjoy it tonight with a cup of tea.  Can't wait.
The last book on my list is Julie & Julia.  Of course, I will want to see this film when it comes out but I hope to enjoy the book first.  It seems wonderful and I can't wait.
What's on your summer reading list?

Flowers and Thrift Treasures

Sunday morning I woke up and clumsily walked over to the coffee pot, my first act every morning.  I opened the kitchen blinds and see these beautiful flowers waiting for me by my fence.  My wonderful neighbor is out gardening at about 6 am each day and she had left me this beautiful arrangement.  They are so beautiful and the pictures don't do them justice.  I felt so special to receive such a wonderful gift.

Last week while my son was at his art class I decided to take a drive in the area and try to locate some treasures.  I was very lucky to find some great things at the thrift store.

I love this glass bottle with the measurements.  I don't know what it was used for but I love it.

I found this great cloche at a bargain-only $4.  I had to scoop it up right away.  It was a gorgeous day out and I wasn't the only one looking for treasures.  The store was busy and I couldn't even wait one second or someone else would scoop it up.  I'm not being dramatic-that happened with another bottle I had my eye on.

I love these shells.  I wish I could say I found them along the beach but I actually found them in a basket at the thrift.  They are all from local beaches.  I just don't get lucky to find them along the beach so I had to buy them.   I do find quite a bit of sea glass, though.

I love this pedestal bowl from the minute I found it, I knew I would be adding it to my treasures.  Best thing is that is made in the USA.  Not much is these days.

I have been buying glass canisters to empty all my boxes of pasta, rice, cereal, etc. into.  I found this great jar at Walmart.  I love it especially because it was Made in the USA.  That is a treasure to find there among the usual Made in China.  I love to support US companies and businesses, no matter how small my contribution.

Cosy Crochet and Knitting Swap

I was thrilled to take part in the Cosy Crochet and Knitting Swap held by Melanie.  I love to crochet.  I can knit but know much more about crochet and was thrilled that my swap partner, Adrienne from Some of a Kind also crochets.

I was thrilled to receive my beautiful swap package last year.  How nice it is to receive these special little treats in the mail.  I ran inside to tear that package open.  I could hardly wait.

Isn't it so sweet!

Inside Adrienne had tucked many little goodies.

I absolutely love the market bag.  Every time I use it I will think of her.  The tea cozy is so wonderful.  I love the pattern and colors on the fabric.  What a great way to carry your tea with you.  She added some wonderful flower seeds~petunias and morning glories~two of my very favorites and a box of wonderful Tazo tea.  

I feel a bit spoiled and am so thrilled to have made a new blogging friend through this swap.  I look forward to participating in more.

Visit Adrienne's blog to see pictures of what I sent her.  I was so excited to get the packages in the mail I forgot to take pictures but she posted it on her blog.

Blessings!

Vintage Satchel Completed

I was thrilled to finish the vintage satchel I saw in Uncommon Crochet.  I was a little nervous that I would make a mistake and it wouldn't come out right but I am so pleased with the outcome.  

I used this great yarn for the gusset and strap.  It was great!!  It felted so nicely.  I will definitely use it again.

This is the strap and gusset before I felted it.  The outside stitches were removed after felting.  They were used to leave holes in it to attach the strap to the bag.

This is the strap after felting.

The front of the bag.  I love the stitch pattern.

The back of the bag and the flap.  I love the stitches on the end.

The completed bag.

A close up.

Back of bag

I don't just crochet.  During the summer I like to tackle projects that I don't get to during the school year.  Usually my cabinets really need a desperate reorganization.  I take some time each day and tackle either one cabinet, drawer or closet. 

This is the cabinet under the kitchen sink.  It was in rough shape.  I am not good at organizing, I'm better at just dropping it in there and closing the door.

Here is the after.  Now if it only stayed this way.

~Goodies in the Mail~

I'm sure we are all gearing up to enjoy our 4th of July holiday.  There will be cookouts, parades, fireworks and fun.  I am hoping that we will all take a moment to remember those who have kept this country free.  Remember our Founding Fathers who gave everything to declare this a free and independent nation.  We are truly blessed to live in a country with wonderful freedoms.  We cannot forget what has taken place in our past to make us free and we must continue to work in the future to remain a free nation.

Last week I was a lucky girl to receive not one but two great packages in the mail and I wanted to share my treasures with you.

First I received three beautiful vintage aprons from Jane at Out of the Crayon Box.  I was the lucky winner of her great giveaway.  I love all three of them.  Aren't they gorgeous?  Out of curiosity, if you collect vintage aprons do you where them or just save them.  I would love to use them because they are so beautiful but a part of me wants to store them so nothing happens to them. 
The next great package came from my dear friend Jessica at Hectichousehold.  Look at all the great fabric she sent me.  I can't wait to find some great projects to use them.  The fabric with the white background is an adorable kitchen print.  The fabric with the light blue background is a laundry print.  They are just beautiful.

Thank you for stopping by to see my latest treasures.  Don't be shy and leave a comment.  I love to read what you think.  I am almost finished with the vintage satchel from Uncommon Crochet and will post pictures as soon as it is complete.

Wishing you a very happy and blessed 4th of July!!!!