can’t think of a clever title

My flooring is here, the carpet removal has begun, and plans are in place for a July 4th installation! I never thought I’d see the day when I’d be excited about a new floor, but I’m hitting the point where I feel the need to decorate on purpose rather than just redecorating around what’s already here.

The funny thing is that I’m planning my decorating around a tote bag. I like to keep a totebag holding a few stitching projects hanging on the coat closet door, and a few months ago I bought a new one. As I was sitting there looking at it one day, I realized that the fabric pattern included the exact color of my couch. And the exact color of my wall. So why not take it a step further, I thought? I hunted for a while and found curtains to match the bag and hung those up, then found a floor to match as well… I’ve been keeping an eye out for area rugs, too.

The tote bag was made by Janine King, and I just noticed that there’s a sale on in her Etsy shop. In case you want to redecorate one of your rooms, I mean.

 

Thursday

Recently the whole family I decided it was time to redo our living room and hallway floors in hardwood. (actually laminate, but it looks like wood so close enough) We looked first at the Harvest Oak option,

but Cheese fainted at thought of yet another bit of oak-y goodness in our home. As it happens, I agree with him and so we will be going the Maple route:

For now, installation is planned for the second week in July (because you really should plan major projects during the hottest part of the year) but since that’s a month away I’m not holding my breath.

Yesterday also surprised us with a new pool. We were walking by the pool section at Costco and I was hot and the display looked refreshing, so into the cart it went. It’s just a blow-up pool, but it’s a lot bigger than I thought it would be. (13 x 6) Our annual blow-up pool usually goes in the yard, but I was afraid the neighbor’s toddler would toddle over and drown if we kept this one outside, and wouldn’t that put a damper on our summertime fun?! And no way was I dumping it out each time… I’m no treehugger, but the thought of that much water waste pushed me over the edge.

So, we I decided it would be best to keep it in the garage. (I guess we technically now have an indoor pool?) Of course, now I’m stuck parking outside, but that’s just the kind of mom I am. And hey- Cheese likes the new pool, and really, what else matters?

While in the pool room garage, Cheese spotted Barbie’s Corvette and couldn’t resist taking it for a spin:

We spent 6 fun hours playing in the garage today. Now that’s something I never thought I’d say.

 

time for a blog break

The weather has finally turned and while it’s warm but not yet hot out, I think I’d better work on sprucing up the landscaping. After 4 summers of trying to beat the yard into submission, my husband has finally admitted defeat so I’m going to try  my hand. I want to drive over to the cliffs and scavenge fallen rocks for around the tree and the shrubs. Except that we don’t actually have any shrubs yet so I guess I’ll need to plant some so that I can put rocks around them. I also want to see if I can find a pretty bush for near the mailbox, but it has to be a non-flowering variety because I don’t want to attract bees, wasps, or anything else that stings. I’d like to plant another tree in the back yard, too. Oh-and I want to get one of the very large flower pots for next to the garage in front and fill it with baby rose plants…

So that’s what I want to do. What I guess will probably happen is that I’ll sprinkle a packet of wildflower seeds on the lawn and call it a day. Have a lovely week, everyone!

 

this,that,and the other

So my mom bought a new DVD for her cats…

…and here they are enjoying the show. Aren’t spoiled at all, are they?

I’ve gotten a few more frogging needles done. I plan to list them in my shop on Wednesday.

I started my square for the Fair & Square exchange. BTW, Vonna has listed out all of the exchange dates for the year on the sidebar of the blog… you can join just one or three or all if you like.

I’ve made a wee bit of progress on my green version of Little House Needlework’s “Schoolgirl Lessons” ; that’s Dinky-Dyes “Gum Leaves”, btw.

I seriously doubt I will post again until Tuesday. I’ve got to turn this pile of (mostly) unsorted papers and receipts into something resembling a tax return. I’m so not looking forward to that. I’m not sure why I can’t keep up with filing throughout the year… I always do very well until about September and then it all goes downhill.

And finally, I can’t help but wonder how hard it really is to hit the laundry basket.

Have a lovely weekend!

 

mailboxes,etc. (no relation to the company)

I wish I would have seen a set like this when my daughter was a baby… I would have gotten her one! What a cute set with mail, stamps, and a little package (full of cross stitch goodies, I’m sure). Thanks for all the fun responses to my mailbox post you left! Melissa gave me an especially hearty laugh with her story of fighting the forces of nature with kitchen tongs, and I was surprised by how many of you are unfortunately stuck with a standard-issue clump of boxes.

I also found out about a mailbox-related blog, Ugly Mailbox, and a photo album full of mailbox pictures, named (appropriately enough) Sam’s Mailbox Pictures.

The trees over in my parents’ neighborhood are all looking so pretty! (I took this picture this morning from their front porch) BTW, that brick column thing on the right edge of the picture is the neighbor’s mailbox.

 

mailbox psychology

We have the most unusual mailbox in town! The big project for spring will be to cover the post with mosaic tiles, charms, found objects, etc…I’m sure the neighbors will be appalled. They’re box-on-a-stick types.

This was originally written in Nov. of 2005… the post is still bare and it’s not looking good for this Spring either! At this point, I’m pretty sure I’ll never get around to decorating this poor, naked post.

I think you can tell a lot about people by the mailbox they have. Is it matchy-matchy with the house? Or one of the green Rubbermaid things that’s all molded in one piece? Mailboxes can reveal how neurotic or cheap value conscious the residents are, and also show off hobbies (such as the mailbox with racing car flames or the big catfish, whose mouth opens to eat the mail delivery). Have you seen the giant golfball mailbox? That’s what my DH would’ve picked, were he left to his own devices. Even if the mailbox is a basic box-on-a-stick setup, I think that reveals a bit of the owner’s personality as well. And those magnetic picture sheets that wrap around the box and can be changed with the holiday? Almost always guarantees that a crafty woman is in charge of the home.

I’ve noticed mailboxes my whole life. I can remember being a kid in the backseat of the car and shouting out “look at that mailbox!” when we passed a neat one. So tell me, what kind of mailbox do you have?

 

Friday afternoon

My daughter & I just made Peep-mobiles…cute AND yummy!