Uncreative Break

I've been missing in action for a few days. Not because I have been up to anything wonderfully creative. Simply because I've needed to do the mundane things of life.

A little weeding

and turning my junk drawers into junque drawers.

Best Fool

Today is a wonderful holiday, the first of April---April Fools Day. A day for playing fun practical jokes. And being the joker that I am, I wanted to play one on you. But my mind is blank, empty, containing nothing of humor. Me! The person who loves to laugh. The one who has people walk up to her in a crowded room and say, "I knew you were here because I heard your laugh." (to which I often reply, "Please tell me I don't sound like a cackling witch.")
I'm always up for a good laugh and a great joke.

But today I have nothing.

So I'll share my most memorable April Fools Day joke. It was played on me by son #1 years ago in our previous home. The boy sneaked into our master bathroom and very carefully placed those little snappers (the small twisted white paper packages that make a loud POP when they're thrown to the ground) under the toilet seat, one snapper on each of the pods of the seat. When I went into the room to sit, those little packages EXPLODED causing me to scream so loudly the neighbors would wonder. Of course immediately following the scream was the sound of laughter both inside and outside the bathroom door!My sons have tried to repeat the infamous prank, but to no avail. This momma catches on pretty quick!

What is your most memorable
April Fool's Day joke?

Finally

I did promise a post yesterday, but we had a doctor appointment to remove stitches from the surgery on #3's femur (he had a titanium rod placed in his leg). We received news that he won't be leaving for a few weeks---for his own safety. We were disappointed, but we know it's for the best. And then, with all the chaos that has been our life, I misplaced my camera cord. It's been found. Now, finally, I think I'm able to get back to you. Thanks again for being so patient.

One of the delights of the season for me is to walk into each room in the early hours of dawn and flick the switch to
light up the Christmas tree.
There is something so magical about bringing
the light of Christmas into a room, especially at that time of day.
I go from room to room lighting each tree.

The Living Room Tree

The Computer Room Tree

The Family Room Tree

The Tree in our Master Bedroom
I have a supply of these little helpers.
( Found in most stores where extension cords are sold).You simply plug them into the outlet and then plug the Christmas lights into the switched plug. It's so handy to simply use a switch instead of plugging and unplugging every morning and night.
It really is fun to control the lighting magic with
just the flick of a switch.

It's Personal

Two weeks ago last night we sat in a hospital anxiously awaiting news of Son #3 's surgery. He had two broken legs and the surgeon was concerned that there could also be some internal bleeding. It was a very emotional evening.

Last night we sat in a theater happily laughing as we watched Son #3, along with Son #2, perform in their improv. group. #3 was able to perform with only the aid of a cane. It too was a very emotional evening.

We were witnesses of a miracle.

As you know, I rarely share details of my personal and family life here. But tonight I feel inclined. You may have noticed that I am a member of
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. In November, Son #3 was called to serve a church mission in New Zealand, teaching the gospel in Mandarin Chinese. His leave date is December 16th. Yes, this young man broke both of his legs a mere two and a half weeks before he is due to leave to serve the Lord full-time.

I know with assurance that he was healed because of faith, priesthood blessings, and many, many prayers. And because the Lord needs this wonderful, faithful, strong, big-hearted son to serve the people of New Zealand for the next two years.

Several of you wrote to tell me that you would add your prayers to ours. THANK YOU! I appreciate your love, concern, thoughts and prayers in our behalf. It is so heartwarming to know that even though you really don't "know" my family, you still prayed for us. We are indebted to you and are very grateful for your faith.

You are a part of our miracle!

Son #3 is back on his own two feet,
a little wobbly, but he is back.

Thank you for being so understanding and patient with me while I was tending to my family's needs. I will be back sometime Monday with lots of goodies to share.

In Progress

It often seems that, because of the wonders of blogland, everyone gets projects done in a timely way and those projects magically look fantastic. I can sometimes feel a little low, wondering why that same magic doesn't happen at my house. Why can't I completely redecorate a room in a day, or a week, or even a month?
Take my guest room for example (a.k.a. daughter's abandoned room that she and her hubby come to stay in when they're in town). I started that project last December, added to it in February, and completely ignored it until this week. Why did I start working on it again? The changing of the weather of course! I've wanted to paint the headboard and footboard. I had to spray paint it before the weather gets any colder. I gave you a sneak peek of it earlier. It was only a peek because it wasn't the overall look that I had in mind.
The bed was originally our master bed. It came from the PB outlet. I loved the style, more than the color. But (***pay attention to this next line***) changing the color intimidated me. Yes, you read that correctly! I liked the finish but not the color. I was afraid if I changed the color that I couldn't achieve the same aged look. But I finally I got brave enough, reminded myself that "it's just paint" and took the plunge!I sprayed it a beautiful Aqua. It will look so pretty against the grayish walls and topped with the chocolate brown comforter. Yes, aqua was a bold, but beautiful color choice.Now on to the part that I feared. Aging and distressing has proved to be challenging. I started the usual way, a little sanding and a little scraping. But the primer white was coming through. No problem. A little staining will fix that, right? As well as add to the age.The stain went on a little blotchy and didn't cover the primer white spots.
What was the solution? Well, I remembered from my days of refinishing furniture that a rub of very fine steel wool helps to even out almost any stained finish. And, fortunately it worked marvelously!As to the primer white age spots, I took a clue from the original PB finish. I took out my brown acrylic craft paint and my teeny tipped paint brush and painted on those little worn marks! Yep! If it's good enough for the PB people, it's good enough for me!As for the final reveal of it's new make-over, you'll have to wait patiently along with me for it to dry completely. I wouldn't want to have to start this process all over again. It might take another ten months!

New York, New York

My daughter treated me to a bus ride up to New York city for a weekend visit. We stayed with a really cute and gracious couple who live there, which was nice because they knew the area and could help us find great ways to spend our time. We spent much of Saturday shopping flea markets.
We had so much fun! It was part of a perfect day in the big city.
We went to one market that's housed in an old parking garage. Oh there were so many things that I would have loved to take home, but I resisted.We also shopped at the Hell's Kitchen flea market. I did find a little something there that I couldn't resist. This cute little suitcase.Isn't it the perfect topper for my stack?

Dinner Is Sacked

I've left the men in my house so that I can spend some quality time with my daughter. I'm so excited to have some girl time! But I do fear that the boys at home will eat nothing but sandwiches and ramen noodles while I'm away. So I prepared a basket of sack dinners. 

Each sack contains a few basic items and I've written directions on the front.

 The meals are far from gourmet, more like a step above camp-out food. But I thought that if the decision of what to have for dinner was already made it would make dinner time a little easier. 

Now hopefully three of the four males will actually follow the directions and prepare a few dinners while I'm a,way. 

Lemons or Lemonade

A few months ago our sons reported that "something strange" was happening to the wall behind their toilet. I sent hubby downstairs to investigate. He discovered what can only be described as "blisters" on the walls, and being the manly man that he is, he popped one and found that it was full of water. Blistered, sagging walls meant only one thing, we had a leaky pipe somewhere above or behind that wall. Fortunately we found the leak without having to tear out the entire bathroom. The leak was repaired and we treated the ceiling and walls with a mold blaster and then we waited and waited and waited. Would the repair hold? Would we find another leak? How were we going to repair the ceiling to match the existing texture? Would we have to tear the walls off down to the studs? Would we let our misfortune drag us down to the depths of depression or would we rise to the challenge and meet it with a truckload of creativity?We choose the latter.

We covered the hole in the ceiling with inexpensive tongue and groove paneling.The original plan was to cover the damaged walls with strips of plywood, but when we found subflooring for two dollars a sheet we went with plan B.Sure it resembles a sauna right now, but wait until you see it with a few coats of paint.

Celebration Time

The celebration begins!

Our fourth of July celebrating begins tonight
with a concert in the park,
followed by fireworks.In the morning we'll watch our
hometown parade. Who doesn't love a parade?

Every year we come home with a sack of candy, mostly saltwater taffy, that's been thrown to us by the people in the parade. Afterwards, everyone will enjoy an old fashioned carnival in the park.

Then we'll go home to relax and enjoy a
family barbecue in the backyard.At dusk, we'll go to a near-by town to watch
more fireworks.

I LOVE fireworks! My best memories of summer celebrations
are of our family
ooooohhing and aaahhhhing over fireworks.

How will you make
summer celebration memories
this weekend?

Gimme A Break

I'm taking a little blog break.

I'll be near here againhelping my daughter and son-in-law
paint and decorate their new apartment.

Then I return just in time to be
a proud momma sitting in the audience
watching son number three
graduate from high school!
I'll share before and after pictures
of the apartment in a week or so.

I'll be thinking of you!

A New Outlook

I was blessed to spend this past weekend in
Washington DC watching these because my daughter and son-in-law both graduated.Hooray for them!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Of course we did our fair share of sight seeing.But I also took some time to
notice all of the little things
that are often over looked. Beauty
can always be found
in the details,
even within our own homes.