kitchen update

Before:

 After:

When I first saw the color on the wall, I thought "Oh no! I didn't go as dark as I wanted." But I think it looks good, and I'm ready to start putting things back where they go. Well, let me reword that. I'm putting things back in the kitchen, and I'm playing with where things go and purging a few items. :)

cleaning

My oldest niece is getting married in May, so my family will be coming up for the wedding and staying with us. So my goal for this year was to get a lot of deep cleaning done before they come. January's project (which is still only half done) was to wash all the light fixtures in the house. I was shocked at the difference. If you can't tell, the one on the left is the clean one. The one on the right, from the same light fixture has not yet been washed. Even Bobby was amazed at the difference.

So maybe once the election is over and Bobby's heart is back in rhythm, I can get back caught up on my cleaning schedule. And if not, it won't be the first time my family has seen my house in a less than pristine condition.

perspective

Two things I have always enjoyed doing are going to Estate sales and sorting through pictures. But lately both of those things are becoming not quite so fun.

About 20 years ago, a friend of mine didn't have a camera, and I asked her about it. (I was always taking pictures of everything and everyone.) She told me that her parents held an antique store and often were invited to sort through homes after people had died and the remaining relatives had taken all they wanted. Pictures were one of the things that often got left behind. She said you wouldn't believe the number of photos that got thrown away. I've tried to be a little more selective in what I take and what I actually print (printing and digital photographs...that's a whole separate blog post!) since that conversation, but I still take a LOT of pictures.

During Mom's surgery and over Thanksgiving, we tackled the boxes of photos Mom has, trying to sort them into ziplock bags by years. In four days of work, sometimes with three people working, we only emptied/organized three boxes. My sister and I tossed quite a few (when Mom wasn't looking). And now I'm trying to place some of the ones I had sorted years ago into albums. I've made a lot of progress, but there's still a lot to do.

And estate sales...lately I'm finding the same thoughts running through my mind at estate sales as when I sort through pictures - this will be my stuff some day. I like to think that before I die I can downsize and sort through and give away or sell most of what I have, but the reality is that may not happen. And since we don't have children, there's not likely to be anyone who would really want what I have. I can hear my nephew now. She STILL has that television?! It's a 100 years old!!! Take that to the dump! Although there is one advantage to having a television that is over 30 years old (and still working fine)...thieves don't want it! :)

I know some of these thoughts came about when I helped a friend and then my sister move last year. It really made me think about how much stuff I have and what will be done with it when I'm gone. And that's not a bad thing. I've done a lot of cleaning and organizing since that time, and plan to do a lot more before the year is out. And I'm slowly tackling projects that I had put aside for "the future".  That time is here, and it is quickly marching past.

super spicy

I've been trying to tackle one small thing (housework wise) each day the last week. It's not a planned thing, but something I've just been trying to do to keep the house semi-clean.

And last night, while waiting for supper to finish cooking, I started this one project (because it was there, in front of me, daring me) and finished it this morning. Normally Bobby is not happy when I throw things away, but today when I showed him the labels, he actually laughed.

Most of these are Kroger brand.  The year before we got married, I lived across the street from Garner High School (which connects to the Kroger shopping center). But I've not shopped there since 2000.  That tells you how old these spices are.

And somewhat in my defense...I used to cook a lot of things from scratch. Bobby's parents had a huge garden every summer, as well as beef cows, so I learned to make spaghetti and chili without the seasoning packets. And then we had to cut back/out the tomato products Bobby could have for a few years, so I quit making those dishes. Hence, chili powder, garlic powder, oregano, ginger...those spices quit being used. And the nutmeg...I'm not sure how or why I wound up with that.

Some people laugh at me, but I have a policy that if a recipe has more than two ingredients I've never heard of/don't use, then I won't try it. It does sound a little absurd, but there's nothing I hate more than to buy something, like spices, and then not like it but have quite a bit of it.

Not every cleaning project is this drastic.  But this one still has me shaking my head.

P R O G R E S!

Yes, I know progress has two ss at the end, but that last S didn't fit in my cheer cadence.  You'll just have to live with it.

I never did find my missing quilt square. I ended up buying a fat quarter of that fabric so I could make another one, and I am happy to report that the square is finished. :)

I am making great progress in cleaning out my sewing room. Currently I've moved all boxes of scrap fabric (more shoeboxes than I realized!) onto the dining room table and am trying to figure out a way to sort/save/toss it all. Originally I thought I would simply sort everything by color, but the second box I opened was full of bags containing pieces of cut material. Alabama/Auburn colors cut into small pieces for a double ring wedding pattern do not match horse squares of brown and orange, nor 2" hot pink squares with grey stripes and white elephants or green flannel. Bobby says I should just make a crazy quilt, but I think that would be too crazy for even the craziest person. Regardless, I am now on day three of cleaning and sorting from that room.  I am now on a fabric moratorium (I cannot buy any more new fabric) through the end of the year, at least, and I am taking Bobby's challenge to finish two projects for every new one I start (Disclaimer: in the sewing room...this does not count toward the yard, the garden, or the house).  My Mom laughed when I told her and said she wanted a text message or a phone call as proof when that actually happened.

The only down side to all this cleaning and sorting is that my visual senses are overly stimulated and my creative juices are dripping and drooling. It takes everything within me to keep working and not stop and start on one of the many projects I've planned and prepared for "when I have time". 

Meanwhile, we're one week down with turning goose eggs in the incubator. 21 more days to go!

plodding/plotting/plopping

The Chinese, while an atheistic society shunning foolish beliefs, are very superstitious. One of their many superstitions that they dare not break involves cleaning and the New Year. Prior to the New Year, you are supposed to clean every nook and crany of your residence, so you won't carry any old germs/dirt/baggage into the new year. Considering the lack of great cleaning supplies and the fact the area I lived in was desert with frequent dust storms that piled an inch of dust up under the door and window frames, I found that idea crazy, futile and pointless.

But for some reason I found myself thinking about that this holiday season. I normally push myself beyond exhaustion right before we leave on a trip trying to clean the house (don't ask me why). This year I made sure the laundry was done, and that was it. Yep. I left my house with wheelchair dirt tracks and dust. And no one cared at all (well, except for maybe me...a little). 

I began jotting out a list of housework items that I need/want to do. It's title "January", and my goal is to actually finish those items before the month is out. One of them was actually putting up Christmas decorations, and thankfully that was done as of last night. I don't know how many things are on my list, but I do know that I had to cut myself off or the list would never ever be completed.

One of the things I've been working on in stages (cleaning out the pantry), and have made it down to the topmost and bottommost shelves. This morning I had a few errands to run in North Raleigh, so I made a brief stop at The Container Store to get two shelves to help arrange the rest of the mess.

The Container Store has to be one of the most wonderful places in Raleigh. I think it might even rank higher than a bookstore and a quilt store, both of which are very high on my list of fantastic places. I was thankful I had very limited amount of time, a budget, and a very specified need or I might not have ever gotten out of there.

A few years ago I made out a list for each month of projects that I wanted to do for the year. It stressed me out a little (because I actually published it on the blog as a sidebar), but I found at the end of the year I actually got quite a few things done. I don't think I'm going to publish the list this year, but I do think listing my projects helps me get them done a little faster. If nothing else, it may actually help me FINISH a project (as opposed to cleaning half of the pantry and then half of the medicine cabinet and taking down part of the Christmas decorations) just so I can cross it off my list.

I plan to plod through my list of projects that I've plotted out for this year. I don't plan to break any records for speed, but I do hope to feel a tad bit more organized in life, even if that means cutting back/out some activities. 2014 may not have gotten off with the start I had hoped for, but I am pleased that I finally feel well enough to get something done!

creeeepy

I was going to blog about gardening and time and whether or not it's worth it today, but about every three minutes I hear a noise here in the study. I don't know if it's paper's settling, a bird outside the window trying to build a nest, or a mouse, but it's really starting to creep me out. I think Bobby might get the computer early today.
And having said that, it's on to housework and errands! No more creepy noises for me!

the compilation of events

When in the course of a very busy week you alot time for yourself to do something with a friend, with whom you have been trying to set a date for such said event for a period of time approximating close to three weeks, it is a natural, or perhaps supernatural, conclusion that the morning of any such event a repairman of utmost importance will call and have an opening for such a glorious morning.

When said repairman is handling matters of home and land security and time is of the essence, it is in best interest of all parties to accomodate such arrivals, in hopes that job completion will be timely and the convention of friends can still occur.

A girl can always hope, right?

I am my mother's child.

I am my mother's child.

I like things organized.
I start to clean something, and get sidetracked.
It's very simple.
The Christmas wrapping paper needs to be put away.
The closet where it goes is a mess.
So you stop to clean that closet.
In the process, you have to take out the trash.
While taking out the trash, you stop to feed the chickens.
The chicken house needs a little cleaning, so you stop to do that.
When you finish, you gather the eggs and head to the kitchen.
In the kitchen you realize the Christmas dishes need to be put away.
One of them is dirty in the sink.
So you wash dishes.
And then it's time for lunch.
At lunch you see the bills on table and go to put some of them in the mailbox.
On the way to the front door and the mailbox you see the open closet.
It still needs to be cleaned.

Sometimes I am amazed that I ever finish anything.
And I cannot comprehend why adults do not like Laura Numerhoff's books. They are definitely a reflection of my life.

gently wash in cold or warm water

While re-arranging one end of the house this summer, we/I discovered that the "broken" window handle in one of the bedrooms was actually not really broken.  The windowsill had simply rotted. Nice. Since there was a tax credit on energy efficient windows installed before the end of the year, we upped this repair to top of our maintenance "to do" list.  And while taking down all the curtains so the workers could get to the windows, I decided it was time to wash the curtains and sheers. Past time, actually.

before washing

So I read the instruction labels.  Wash gently, warm or cold water. So I did. I used the almost never used delicate cycle on my washing machine, for the least amount of time possible.

after washing....ummm....hmmmm

Perhaps the translator forgot say Hand wash as opposed to machine wash? There is a difference, you know.  So those were my "expensive" drapes. (They came from either Linens-N-Things or Target.) And my not-so-expensive drapes that came from Family Dollar that are slightly irregular?  Below is their after photos.

the design

the yellow/white flowers up close
 

The flowers didn't even lose their color! Well, not from the washing machine or dryer, anyway. The one sheer near the end of the house (and the curtain) have all faded in spots from the sun. But that's okay, because nobody (I hope!) is going to be looking at them from the outside window.

So as I finish setting up/cleaning my workroom, I'm pondering what type of curtains or drapes to put up. For now, it's an open window, which will have to change the more I'm in there. But for now, it's nice thinking about options.

my messy work room

Two of the three rooms are now visitor ready, and my work room is "messy".  After explaining in a some-what calm but half-way irritated tone of voice to the owner of the previous comment that this room wasn't finished but was a work in progress, I realized that it is near completion.  Sure, there's still two piles that need sorting and putting away, but I've managed to tackle a few (okay, from several years ago) projects and actually finish them this weekend.  In other words, the mess is livable and workable for me. :)

BEFORE:

just a bedroom

now my studio

 BEFORE:

AFTER:

I know it looks messy with a sewing project and quilting project tumped over the table and chair and a pile of art tablets behind to be put away, but I LOVE having all my pattern and reference books in one bookcase together, as well as all my patterns combined into one storage container, separated by sections. The white cabinet (formerly where all the toys were) is still in the room, just against the wall behind the art table and easel. If by chance I finish cleaning tomorrow, you might get a picture of the nice and clean (i.e. not being used at the moment) room, but this room will probably happily stay in various states of organized chaos. 

And once the dust in my life settles, I may actually get a sign for the room, with the quote my husband loves to quote the most about me: "Nature abhors a vaccuum."

so close I can smell it

the "finished" room

 BEFORE:

 AFTER:

BEFORE:

 AFTER:

Two of the three rooms are now finished!  ALL my art and sewing supplies are now in one room!!!  Note, I didn't say that room was organized, but it's so close I can smell it! I'm still not totally sure about the wisdom of dumping all the toys into the cedar chest, but on the flip side, it will be a lot easier to clean up.  There's no set space for anything so it'll just be dump it all in! Hopefully tomorrow you'll see pictures of my new work room!

today's recipe for insanity

Step One:
Take the 30"square quilting project and needle it until it resembles a somewhat flat piece of material. Call the company to answer your questions about the dimensions, then layer it until it's ready for quilting.

Step Two:
Crunch all the numbers in hopes of making them balance in the appropriate checkbook columns.

Step Three:
Combine straw bristles to the floor, then add the dust pan. Using cloth strings, lightly sprinkle with lysol water until all the tire tracks are gone.

Step Four: Add the dogs to the pen, separate the birds from their pen, and move the biddies from one "bowl" to the next.

Step Five: Combine a hundred other minute but important things, and hope the heat of the day cooks it adequately into a good mess.

room overhaul 1

A little over a week ago I began a massive overhaul of the last three rooms in the house. Below is the Before pic:
This room was originally going to be our nursery, then I "claimed" it for my work room, but with the hospital bed there wasn't a whole lot of room to maneuver.

NOW:Evidently the Belarussian visitors we had for several summers confiscated the bolts from the screws holding up the mirror. When I went to move the dresser it was propped against the wall. I was shocked to find mere screws in the slots. So until I make it to Lowes or the hardware store, this is the scene.
And I bought a bedspread for my old bed (after 11 years, I guess it's time!), but didn't have extra pillows for the shams. That's a non-essential that'll come later. I did go ahead and get curtains, though as you can see the white polka dot sheer on the bed it's not totally up yet. (I've got to get a rod for it!)

I was worried the furniture would overwhelm the room, but I'm very pleased with how it turned out. And I'm 3/4 finished with moving everything into the other room. I've been trying to organize and clean as I go, so that's slowing everything down quite a bit. Hopefully pictures of another room will be done by this weekend and then my work room by the end of the next week. At least all the moving of furniture is done. :)

pleasant surprises

Seeing as I had a trunk load of things to drop off at Garner Area Ministries' thrift store, I left for my hair appointment 15 minutes early. I still arrived 10 minutes early, and noticed this little store three doors down from the hair salon.

The name was slightly ringing a bell, so I went inside to look around. After looking at the third painting, I realized this was the shop owned by one of my former teachers at Wake Tech, Sherry Mitchell. God brought her into my life the year Bobby had cancer, and I'll never forget walking into class feeling overwhelmed one day, and her stopping to pray with me before other students arrived. Turns out the other student in the class who was sitting behind me was a pastor's son, and his Dad was dying from cancer. Definitely a day when I can assuredly say, "God directs our paths." One of her paintings I really liked and kept thinking how much two of my friends who both like green would like it. As I turned the corner into the next row of items, I saw a painting that reminded me of one of those friends. I couldn't help but think "Sara has paintings like this!" And then the next painting on the wall had a business card underneath it, and I realized it WAS one of Sara's paintings!!! How cool is that?

Then, I get home, and find out the reason behind all our re-arranging and cleaning of rooms may not come to be after all! That certainly eases the pressure off today's to-do list. Even so, I'm thankful to have 3/4 of everything sorted and in a different location. Three garbage bags, two trips to the thrift store, one item on CraigsList and two more to post soon...I definitely feel progress! My goal is to have everything totally completed by the end of next week, though one room will hopefully be finished tonight.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!!

and more craziness

Grandma Ball's footstool is now recovered. I measured the foam, cut it, measured the fabric, hemmed the edges, made an elastic holder, inserted the elastic and...it wouldn't go on. I didn't measure the elastic and it was too short. So I pulled the elastic out, whipped out my staple gun, and BAM! It's not professional-looking. I don't think I cut the foam evenly, but IT IS FINISHED! and it matches my couch and rocking chair and Bobby actually thought it looked nice.

This just goes to show how crazy I am. My mother-in-law will be staying at our house while I'm gone to the Ladies' Retreat, (my first time away in 10 years!) and my brother-in-law will be coming in every evening to help out with other things. So what do I do instead of cleaning house and getting things organized for them? Work on projects! Of course, to my crazily wired brain this makes perfect since. See, the fabric for the footstool and the rocking chair (which is not done and hidden in a bedroom) was on the kitchen table, which had to be cleaned off. And if we're trying really hard to put things where they go, doesn't it make sense to literally put the material and foam where it goes? And yesterday's mirror was propped up on the laundry room door, so it needed to be cleaned, repaired, and hung. I still haven't hung it yet, but seeing as I have another hour before leaving that might actually get done. Meanwhile, the hallway had to be cleaned out (you know, all the stuff I had to drag out there from my cluttered art room so I could reach the Christmas decorations) so in order to put that stuff away I had to actually start cleaning the art room. You can now see 3/4 of the hospital bed in that room, as well as 75% of the floor! Progress!

Now I just need to finish packing and feed the chickens.