The Kiddoes

Some recent pics of the kids.

Taylor

Grace

Garett

Wyatt

Boys in hats

Help wanted:

Okay guys, Greg picked up this neat chicken waterer /feeder at a garage sale awhile back, thinking I'd love it for my garden. And I do. I love old things, and I love metal things. I'm just not sure what to do with this particular thing.

So, I'm asking you all for ideas. I want to use it in the garden. I probably won't paint or use faux embellishments, but would consider natural things.

Any suggestions?

Flower swap

Dot has posted that she received the Flower swap I sent to her in California. I thought I'd post a photo of what I sent. It was really easy to find flower-themed things to send, but I wanted to include something handmade, too, so I stitched the flower border on the cloth. Dot says she has the perfect table to use it on. :o)

The grout is done!

Greg got the grout down late this morning, then I cleaned it up this afternoon. I love it.

And I'm so glad I repainted. :o)

And yes, that is a Pirate's Of the Caribbean At World's End bucket.

Oy, what a day

Painting again. Tiling again. Sweating again.

So I got a new color of paint this morning and it's better. Still looks a little peachy in the afternoons, but that's the reflection of the cabinets onto the walls. The last time I got off the ladder while painting, I broke a tile. Had the leg of the ladder too close to a corner, and it snapped. I'd been very careful about that up until that last time - guess I was seeing the end of the painting job and in a hurry to be done.
So Greg changed the tile - not too happy about having to wait another 48 hours to grout, now, though. This was after he wasn't too happy about waiting to grout until I repainted... but he's a patient man and I'm lucky to have him.

Good as new!

So, while I worked all day in there, doesn't seem like much progress has been made...

Tile on the floor

It has taken us just about all day, but the tile is set on the bathroom floor. Greg did all the measuring and cutting, and we only had to sacrifice one tile out of four boxes' worth. Not bad. He also mixed the mastic (thinset) and then brought it to me. I got to spread it, trowel it, and set the tiles. Now that it's finished, I can see a few places that are slightly askew, but nothing to be done about it now, and it really won't be noticeable when I put some rugs down. No, it really won't be. :o)

I'm not loving the paint color as we watch it change from the light tan it's supposed to be in the mornings, to a peachy-orange in the afternoons. Yep, I'm going to change it. I've been watching it for three days, and I just don't like it. It's just paint. (Yes, I'm eating those words I've said a hundred times to other people!)

I am loving that floor, though. Crooked tiles and all, I'm keeping it!

Renovation progress

I don't know if I really should call this project a "renovation", but it is a change, anyway. I've finished the second coat of paint this morning and that always makes a huge difference. It's a caramel color and when Jess looked at it yesterday, she said, "It's 'warm'. " That's exactly my thought. The color in this photo isn't quite true...

We also changed the ceiling light fixture the other day.

Today we're prepping the floor - well, so far Greg is prepping the floor, though he had me dig out the rubber mallet. He says I'll need it later.

Flower Swap

I've been a member of the Creative Home Life Yahoo group for several years, and consider these ladies my very good friends. Every now and then we have "swaps" and send each other a little assortment of gifts. Recently we held a 'flower swap' and I just got my package in the mail this morning from Mary Kathryn. She's a new friend in our group and I've enjoyed getting to know her. She is an incredible stitcher, and I am so pleased to have something she made for me. The pillow is so sweet! Everything else is fun, too, and I look forward to using it all. Thanks Mary Kathryn!

I'm sending to Dot, and am woefully tardy in doing so, but I will finish my project for her today. That is top priority after I put that second coat of paint on the bathroom walls! :o)