tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82014892816109221462024-03-05T02:38:19.892-05:00Blessed ChaosStacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866578684190564024noreply@blogger.comBlogger323125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201489281610922146.post-3076098481568684232010-08-31T21:01:00.000-04:002010-08-31T21:01:59.950-04:00simplifying<div align="center">As we prepare to move I am doing a lot of weeding. Not garden variety weeding, the indoor kind. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg176Uq_y6xFXt4CX-bn8YYohbjD6rSJBQlRnA7UB324idMbEyI8sLPP_Wbf0Pwh1LwTzE2fAtVwQjs19ZFcvl0zdpVrJaK0Kzz43gH0AywoQ59v3azQ8QoRHIzOiMNR1kYO9utslIrt7w/s1600/declutter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg176Uq_y6xFXt4CX-bn8YYohbjD6rSJBQlRnA7UB324idMbEyI8sLPP_Wbf0Pwh1LwTzE2fAtVwQjs19ZFcvl0zdpVrJaK0Kzz43gH0AywoQ59v3azQ8QoRHIzOiMNR1kYO9utslIrt7w/s320/declutter.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">All those items in the dark corners of our closets? That I haven't seen since we moved in to this house over three years ago? Those items are going.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The crazy number of dishes I have? Slimming down, majorly.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The clothes in my closet that haven't touched my body in a year. Going.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Supposedly most people only wear 20% of their wardrobe. I fall into that category, so the 80% that I don't wear? Passed on to friends or charities.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The handbags that lined the top shelf of my closet? I'm sticking with 4, one for each season.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Simplifying.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">That's what we are doing. Not just with our stuff, but with the way we live.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Our hope is that our smaller space will be more functional.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">That we will live a bit more thoughtfully and intentionally.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">That we will protect our lives from getting cluttered with stuff both exterior and interior. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">For me to do that I need to cut out a few things in my own life.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">One of those things is going to be this blog.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I started Blessed Chaos in March of 2007 after we moved from Florida. It was a good way to keep our friends there updated on our family and our church planting adventures.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It became a fun outlet for me. It also became a great way for me to document the life of our family in photo's and stories for posterity. I mean, my oldest is nearly 8 and he still doesn't have a baby album! This has been my virtual family album. Much more to my liking than creating a photo album.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It also connected me to a number of moms-of-kids-with-Ds blogs and for a time I really needed that. I was still processing various aspects of having a child with Down syndrome for years after Bean was born. It was good to have a platform to write about that, to tell Bean's story, to advocate for Bean and other's with Down syndrome.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">As time marched on I just didn't have as much to say about Ds anymore. Ds is a part of our lives and while it's a big deal. It's also not a big deal. Bean is Bean.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And eventually, this blog gave me a place to start sharing some of my home ideas, updates, projects, and to connect with so many wonderful DIY bloggers out there.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">For a while this blog was having a major identity crisis as my life and interests were changing and developing.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">After <a href="http://www.greenseedcreations.blogspot.com/">Green Seed Creations</a> was born last July I have tried to maintain this blog and take it back to it's original purpose of documenting and writing about our family. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I think, however, that in simplifying my life, it is time to end this blog. Or at least take an indefinite break.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I have been a bit half hearted in developing Green Seed Creations. Partly because it's just been a crazy summer and now we're moving, the kids will be going through new adjustments, etc.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">But. . . It is something I want to give more attention toward. And with our impending move next week to a radically different home than we live in now, it just seems like a good time to stop writing here at blessed chaos. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"> I am looking forward to documenting the changes we make to our Quinby Cottage as we make them. It is going to be slow and steady and require a good bit of creativity to make our new, smaller space work for our family of five. And as I do that, I hope to slowly develop my business. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So, for now, it's goodbye from Blessed Chaos. I am not going to delete the blog. I can be fickle and may want to pick it back up one day. So, it'll be here and I may pop in from time to time to give an occasional update but nothing regular will be going on.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">If you want to follow the renovation of our new place and see how things are developing business wise then please follow me over at <a href="http://www.greenseedcreations.blogspot.com/">Green Seed Creations</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I'd really love to have you there!</div><br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85778/stawal/4246daef53294d7adb238d13b19acb11.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866578684190564024noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201489281610922146.post-71151213023694898832010-08-30T18:45:00.001-04:002012-03-23T13:27:44.144-04:00Remembering. . .<div style="text-align: center;">
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It feels like yesterday in many ways. The smells, the sounds, the people, the activity, I remember it all very clearly. </div>
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I woke up at 4.30am, after a very sleepless night at the Ronald McDonald House, to shower and prepare for a long and uncertain day. We had to have Bean to pre-op by 5.30 am. It was a big day for him.</div>
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The night before, after having dinner with friends from Gainesville who came to be with us, I was sitting in their hotel room with Bean. My friend, Kim, and I were loving on him when he offered the sweetest smile. It was his first. It was as if, after five months of struggling to stay alive, he knew what was coming and was excited.</div>
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When I woke, that smile was the first thing I thought about and it kept me going all day. </div>
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My little Bean had been in heart failure since the day he was born (two months premature) and hadn’t had the energy to smile. His smile the previous night was a sneak peak of what I could expect post-op and it gave me confidence that morning. It was a day I had been dreading yet I woke up ready for it. Partly because I just wanted it behind us and partly because I knew Bean was finally going to be able to take a deep breath without turning blue, eat without sweating, begin the big business of growing and learning and laughing. I could hardly wait. </div>
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But first we had to get through August 31, 2005. It was a long day and I remember almost every detail. I remember Bean’s whimpers as they stuck him repeatedly trying to find veins in his dehydrated little body. I remember wishing I could feed him. I remember the moment pastor j and I had to hand him over to the o.r. nurse. I remember every call to the parent waiting room letting us know what was happening. "He’s sedated. . . he’s on bypass. . . he’s opened up. . .patches are on and looking good. . . Dr. Q. is closing. . .he’s off bypass. . . Dr. Q. will be out to see you soon." </div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: x-small;"><em>the day after surgery, getting his bandages changed</em></span></div>
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In between all that, much time passed. I remember pacing the halls. I remember where I stood on the outside deck to talk with my parents and give them an update. I’m pretty sure that was the first time all day I broke down. I remember wandering the halls and seeing every t.v. streaming the devastation in New Orlean’s after Hurricane Katrina. It was surreal, to see the devastation a few states away caused by natural disaster and to look around the children’s hospital where so many kid’s were fighting for their own lives because their bodies had betrayed them in one way or another. The realities of a fallen world. </div>
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But that day, five years ago, wasn’t about me. It was about my Bean. About his tenacity and his strength. He was 9 pounds and some change at five months old. His cardiologist wanted to get him to a year because kids do better with open heart surgery with a little more weight on them, but Bean had other plans. His little ticker, the size of a walnut, just couldn’t make it that long. And, I’m pretty sure he was just itching to play with his older brother. </div>
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That day, as with every day since his birth, Bean taught us about perseverance, hard work, love, patience, acceptance and trust. He came through it all beautifully and, after a few hiccups in picu, woke up ready to eat, play, and explore.</div>
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<em><span style="color: red; font-size: x-small;">getting ready for home therapy a few months after surgery</span></em></div>
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Five years later, he works just as hard. He works hard in therapy, in school, and at play. He embraces life and all of us fortunate enough to be in his world. I have watched him impact so many with his warmth, love, and acceptance. What a privilege to be Bean’s mom! <br />
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<span style="color: red; font-size: x-small;"><em>saying goodbye to his teacher of more than two years who had such an impact on him</em></span><br />
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<em><span style="color: red; font-size: x-small;">ready for his first day of kindergarten</span></em></div>
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And, what a privilege to have access to the kind of medical technology that makes it possible to open up the chest of a 5 month old baby and apply pig skin patches to the holes in his tiny little heart, thereby correcting the flow of blood, and prolonging his life. Amazing! </div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: x-small;"><em>playing with his brothers in the mountains</em></span></div>
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Bean saw his cardiologist last week for an echocardiogram and general check up. We were thrilled to get the news that his heart has healed so perfectly that unless a doctor was looking for those patches she/he would likely not see them. The tissue has grown over the patches so well that even if he experiences some leaks at any point in the future it would be a very different scenario than what we faced five years ago. After Bean took over the appointment by listening to the doctor’s and nurse’s heart with their stethoscope they sent us on our way and told us we didn’t have to return for two years! Two years! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7iVbU2uq27cP1RXO3SwGl_w453sG4dTY5UOTVkBs_9rZDUVvmuXHt7_QK67z2p_eA1JKL2G3BS04DYS6y_VizTfak1LA_9qdldngNQSuC6jAUQ_u009Lm270tbwnfmAxMgDZmTqUcG2Q/s1600/mountain+vacay+10+076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7iVbU2uq27cP1RXO3SwGl_w453sG4dTY5UOTVkBs_9rZDUVvmuXHt7_QK67z2p_eA1JKL2G3BS04DYS6y_VizTfak1LA_9qdldngNQSuC6jAUQ_u009Lm270tbwnfmAxMgDZmTqUcG2Q/s400/mountain+vacay+10+076.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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It’s a great feeling!</div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85778/stawal/4246daef53294d7adb238d13b19acb11.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a><br />
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</div>Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866578684190564024noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201489281610922146.post-17564348753397515282010-08-22T21:13:00.001-04:002010-08-22T21:15:21.387-04:00oh happy day<div align="center">last thursday spinner and bean had their last first day of school in our current school district. for three weeks they will be in the same school.</div><div align="center">while we are psyched about moving we are a little sad that these two will go back to being in different schools.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqxOhVoLM4FR94vFZMJtbWRbtwiyu8SFImDfJh_KKE60t1ZUM67Xzph9fA2Kfgp85YyNWkf0ZNRvtDWE1yntHALKPi9mglx77oT8u0HFZrSe7JaU2JywXY-MbcDOK-8yiFUsMZj9oSzWo/s1600/school,+riverside,+furniture+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqxOhVoLM4FR94vFZMJtbWRbtwiyu8SFImDfJh_KKE60t1ZUM67Xzph9fA2Kfgp85YyNWkf0ZNRvtDWE1yntHALKPi9mglx77oT8u0HFZrSe7JaU2JywXY-MbcDOK-8yiFUsMZj9oSzWo/s320/school,+riverside,+furniture+001.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center">they were really excited to go back to school. bean even did his happy dance when pastor j was getting him dressed. </div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">tank was none to happy that his big brothers were off to school and he was not. he doesn't start until sept. 7 but could not give a rip about that right now. all he knows right now is that his brothers get dropped off everyday and he doesn't. </div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">knowing the first day would be a tough one for tank his nonnie had him over for is own special day.</div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHM6LbQjUjWDdUZcMSbLZ4Yypt6kgt0aCEo16QZg8FuuTnTnXUrvO2njVVnrqZTTv8_MCnpkzUDdok8zjgtAPlo7PkVZYrSUsjSl36SvczF6wvhCfSPSKDqXe3fLRaWiU04bMK-EXL7f4/s1600/school,+riverside,+furniture+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHM6LbQjUjWDdUZcMSbLZ4Yypt6kgt0aCEo16QZg8FuuTnTnXUrvO2njVVnrqZTTv8_MCnpkzUDdok8zjgtAPlo7PkVZYrSUsjSl36SvczF6wvhCfSPSKDqXe3fLRaWiU04bMK-EXL7f4/s320/school,+riverside,+furniture+005.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">he's trying hard here, folks. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">after spinner and wil were dropped and tank was satisfied that he, too, would have a fun day i hit the road.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">i love my kids. i also love a day to myself.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">i headed north and one hour later pulled in here. . . </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaIVvAHSxq4cukZtVCCbXbeAVy8JuWlX4UVBFMk1vT338Agqk2UVRtyE9TRt2OcVDYUkSIDuxh5vebHxXKjuFiEq9gOrwsatokbwMw3YnweOFzhdrxzESN5J40IxlKTz7isrrprzVnk3E/s1600/ikea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaIVvAHSxq4cukZtVCCbXbeAVy8JuWlX4UVBFMk1vT338Agqk2UVRtyE9TRt2OcVDYUkSIDuxh5vebHxXKjuFiEq9gOrwsatokbwMw3YnweOFzhdrxzESN5J40IxlKTz7isrrprzVnk3E/s320/ikea.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">i'm pretty sure the heaven's parted and i heard the angels singing. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">i had two goals. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">1. find a section of butcher block for a kitchen work station i'm making out of an old dresser. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">2. find some inspiration from their showroom kitchens and come home with </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">some space saving items for our kitchen-to-be.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmymnShjy4ehSUuKCcvFA_8jfMN3nBPGg8l5clPBoq1ph0i9ubD6sDR1LTCwFLWKm41Rp_BUH3iEMVx21wNKl6owKcOkxbB27vIV5G9SjlAksgOrl_tOvgehS6drmYozJoNmQaooeDG28/s1600/school,+riverside,+furniture+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmymnShjy4ehSUuKCcvFA_8jfMN3nBPGg8l5clPBoq1ph0i9ubD6sDR1LTCwFLWKm41Rp_BUH3iEMVx21wNKl6owKcOkxbB27vIV5G9SjlAksgOrl_tOvgehS6drmYozJoNmQaooeDG28/s320/school,+riverside,+furniture+006.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center">beautiful.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">after two hours i had my oak butcher block, kitchen space savers, and some bedding for tank.</div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh02c7PFbjnjjIe8IsbeJzkqV_1UFV6zvb5Qnfgm3_VK2zdinIJCGBfPIXUpkWWbI4Po_6PcqU6KBM-0sVoppCChJBWxRjlkACj3QHSdFy4j54KW0-yaJqmqB-1Di7uzBi5Uy7kVzDi4B0/s1600/school,+riverside,+furniture+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh02c7PFbjnjjIe8IsbeJzkqV_1UFV6zvb5Qnfgm3_VK2zdinIJCGBfPIXUpkWWbI4Po_6PcqU6KBM-0sVoppCChJBWxRjlkACj3QHSdFy4j54KW0-yaJqmqB-1Di7uzBi5Uy7kVzDi4B0/s320/school,+riverside,+furniture+007.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">mission accomplished!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6oqeKMwR7tLUIF9AKRP4ucKcgjtW8KVQHPAODrBw3vSQ2CdrFlizmo4gucm9dP7TFunzmh0JW8Hw_Dp4nf_1OeSGIxGDMwkM_De6HD3_BaeGUj6ph3Bn2hf7cK5glTed84z32UdYYZqA/s1600/school,+riverside,+furniture+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6oqeKMwR7tLUIF9AKRP4ucKcgjtW8KVQHPAODrBw3vSQ2CdrFlizmo4gucm9dP7TFunzmh0JW8Hw_Dp4nf_1OeSGIxGDMwkM_De6HD3_BaeGUj6ph3Bn2hf7cK5glTed84z32UdYYZqA/s320/school,+riverside,+furniture+008.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">with a 50 cent hot dog in hand, i hit the road and was home in time to pick up the boys from school and tank from nonnies.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">they had a great day. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">so did i.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85778/stawal/4246daef53294d7adb238d13b19acb11.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div>Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866578684190564024noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201489281610922146.post-10211824899634397192010-08-17T19:52:00.000-04:002010-08-17T19:52:34.457-04:00changes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi82E41DC0l4bVgCZUBbgAPHP_iDigzYxPzTSruD__FhZwRJBbr5XhUCphDnTra3mN_mspDUisbjlNFfxrtwBGKJEcqm6uZjr4TgUIvyn7yNiDVc1NbSRrjbaXQk-ZKFcT70aOV_QEka2Y/s1600/furniture+redo%27s+021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi82E41DC0l4bVgCZUBbgAPHP_iDigzYxPzTSruD__FhZwRJBbr5XhUCphDnTra3mN_mspDUisbjlNFfxrtwBGKJEcqm6uZjr4TgUIvyn7yNiDVc1NbSRrjbaXQk-ZKFcT70aOV_QEka2Y/s320/furniture+redo%27s+021.JPG" /></a> This is what things are looking like around here lately. There is a good reason, though. We sold our house! It didn't come easy. The selling of our home nor the "finding" of another. The home we have had a contingency contract on all summer. . . the home that I envisioned our family in. . . the home that I had fully decorated in my mind. . . was sold out from under us. It's a complicated story, but in short, we came down on our price drastically in order to sell to a family that couldn't go any higher. We only did this because the seller's of the home we had a contract on agreed to come down enough to make it doable for us. We signed the contract for the sell of our home and the re-negotiated contract for the home we were purchasing. In the tiny little window of time between our signing the contract and it getting to them to sign they received word that they had someone else coming for a second viewing of their house. They decided to hold off on signing the renegotiated contract with us. And, you guessed it, they received another offer. We could have still had the house since we had the first contract on it but it would have been at the original offer. Which we could no longer do because we dropped our own sell price so significantly.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So, what can you do but go out and find another house? And that's exactly what we did. We spent a day with our agent moving from house to house in search of a home for our family. We found one that we all liked and made an offer that afternoon. Our offer was accepted and everything has been smooth sailing since.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We were pretty peeved when the owner's of the <em>other</em> house reneged on their verbal agreement with us. But things tend to work out, don't they? While I was at our new house meeting with the inspector and our agent I was told that the inspection on the other house was pretty bad. Lot's of issues, including structural. I tried hard to refrain from breaking out into a big grin. Not because I was glad they were having to deal with that. But because, wow, we were spared from having to deal with that. Our inspection? Nearly perfect.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was pretty affirming. It was a great reminder to me that just because there are difficulties, bumps in the road, even detours, it doesn't mean the Lord's not at work. He most definitely is. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Additionally, His work, is broader than just getting out little family settled. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I know, duh! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am thrilled that the family moving into our home got their dream house. They are a military family, the husband is an army chaplain and just returned from Iraq. They have three children, one with special needs, and the husband is also a cyclist and runner, just like pastor J. Knowing our neighborhood, filled with military families, I know they will love it here. And I am really happy for them!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Lord's timing is perfect. It's awesome to see how he works things out!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We move in a few weeks so I have a lot to do. The boys start school tomorrow, in this district, but will be changing schools when we move downtown. I am doing some major purging and selling and cleaning out as we are moving into a much, much smaller home.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am excited about making 1700 sq. ft. functional for our family. It will take some creativity, to be sure. I already have several idea's floating around. If you want to keep up with the how-to's of maximizing a small space I'll be documenting it all over at <a href="http://www.greenseedcreations.blogspot.com/">green seed creations</a>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85778/stawal/4246daef53294d7adb238d13b19acb11.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866578684190564024noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201489281610922146.post-32578268408336945662010-08-15T22:20:00.000-04:002010-08-15T22:20:01.488-04:00Deedah<p> </p><p><object style="BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(http://i3.ytimg.com/vi/vooCiGPr6O4/hqdefault.jpg)" width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/vooCiGPr6O4?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vooCiGPr6O4?fs=1&hl=en_US" width="480" height="295" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></p><p>Deedah is a 26 minute documentary about siblings. One of them has Down syndrome. One of them does not. Their relationship reminds me of Spinner and Bean. I haven't seen the full documentary but have it ordered. </p><p>All three boys sat with me to watch this trailer. Half way through the second viewing Spinner said, "this just makes me smile." </p><p>It makes me smile, too.</p>Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866578684190564024noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201489281610922146.post-63666231178817143742010-07-21T15:14:00.000-04:002010-07-21T15:14:12.181-04:00Wordless Wednesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNvJfGvtDNu70kz62jF3t8wf1POiZ5GSUQSr0c96Z20TsfT0aRr-5Je4pqjfoauD4h1nuozusy4WI9vrzK6MYmY6wjNLp9-FASpXxXap79tzJuRJblMqTSRQqDbsjaSsqh2E4FDwCM5ks/s1600/bathroom+shot,+pool+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNvJfGvtDNu70kz62jF3t8wf1POiZ5GSUQSr0c96Z20TsfT0aRr-5Je4pqjfoauD4h1nuozusy4WI9vrzK6MYmY6wjNLp9-FASpXxXap79tzJuRJblMqTSRQqDbsjaSsqh2E4FDwCM5ks/s400/bathroom+shot,+pool+018.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: large;">summer!</span></em></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85778/stawal/4246daef53294d7adb238d13b19acb11.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866578684190564024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201489281610922146.post-27545514429671267932010-07-14T06:00:00.001-04:002010-07-14T06:00:07.311-04:00Wordless Wednesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Its_Kd5J4l1bIn0RPG6u_9Q418y-TJ9uTe2hShabsnhv9Wr3giBT4a46c2f0CfmRNAA3dcT69dh8f9ej7hEDYOK-_P4BlK-cfoaP1AHbo_JFJb4c3c1yVCy0liPvKtvwXqRptDcRTlo/s1600/summer+fun+and+green+seed+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Its_Kd5J4l1bIn0RPG6u_9Q418y-TJ9uTe2hShabsnhv9Wr3giBT4a46c2f0CfmRNAA3dcT69dh8f9ej7hEDYOK-_P4BlK-cfoaP1AHbo_JFJb4c3c1yVCy0liPvKtvwXqRptDcRTlo/s400/summer+fun+and+green+seed+010.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> traveling with boys</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85778/stawal/4246daef53294d7adb238d13b19acb11.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866578684190564024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201489281610922146.post-9285627356540535182010-07-12T11:11:00.000-04:002010-07-12T11:11:34.007-04:00Monday Miscellany<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQ5if9yUXqOSwg6XaMpsP7COpWW4dS3tbFprvevfeqwa1VU9ovTyle2p4VRsNYwyxQfNaZCGY31Lz3m4wx_VqH_mkzdSaAs5Pk2HjJLtJCfAzqOeBpkdmpCuF91jdYfK_w2Yq6TXROcA/s1600/spring+and+home+071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQ5if9yUXqOSwg6XaMpsP7COpWW4dS3tbFprvevfeqwa1VU9ovTyle2p4VRsNYwyxQfNaZCGY31Lz3m4wx_VqH_mkzdSaAs5Pk2HjJLtJCfAzqOeBpkdmpCuF91jdYfK_w2Yq6TXROcA/s320/spring+and+home+071.JPG" /></a></div>1. The last five months we have had 30 some odd families look at our home. It goes something like this. A phone call from our agent that someone wants to see the house in an hour, sometimes more. Me getting the only workout I fit in these days trying to clean up 2700 sq. ft while simultaneously preventing my three muskateers from undoing my work. Prospective buyers come and go. We receive feedback that is positve. In the end they decide to go with one of the other gazillion homes available in our neighborhood. It's been a blast.<br />
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2. I went to Hobby Lobby two weeks ago to pick up some things for <a href="http://www.greenseedcreations.blogspot.com/">Green Seed</a> and, lo and behold, they had Christmas decor out. No, really. It was right next to all the 4th of July decor. I found myself wondering where we would be at Christmas. Will I be decorating our current home? Or the one we have a contract on but cannot move forward with until we sell? Hmmmm. . . I love the unknown.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLosWKY8e6tJ07ZwOzhUDQI5EXkTXH8A7xQLcAG2a3y4Nkqqf_LASbiA0aDw0XAgVA7CEwLE01jaSFY-PusKeRWabOIxxjzvsbfUMEsNjwPbhP_HuKGESE9fFAjr7hDYiyhhNGuA11eGs/s1600/boys+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLosWKY8e6tJ07ZwOzhUDQI5EXkTXH8A7xQLcAG2a3y4Nkqqf_LASbiA0aDw0XAgVA7CEwLE01jaSFY-PusKeRWabOIxxjzvsbfUMEsNjwPbhP_HuKGESE9fFAjr7hDYiyhhNGuA11eGs/s320/boys+001.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(the reason it looks like he's standing in a cloud is b/c he was. We had crazy dense fog this morning!)</span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">3. Spinner is attending zoo camp this week. I will be spending the week trying to explain to Tank why he cannot go to zoo camp. Tank is super repititous in his questions and complaints and, despite receiving an answer, repeats his question and/or complaint until he just plain wears out. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjztJTnXpGV4KUW8joRfd7YQHtsvrYe6Y1K0F148YTr3CR3BKGkEYEHiV5lTI6AfSMrwXxOwZzk2f1FtsiIJ_lI0iCYvzLklp6SyZn-3DwvxxB66DizSuky4VlQHioCiuRzxTeLaFQHSAc/s1600/boys+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjztJTnXpGV4KUW8joRfd7YQHtsvrYe6Y1K0F148YTr3CR3BKGkEYEHiV5lTI6AfSMrwXxOwZzk2f1FtsiIJ_lI0iCYvzLklp6SyZn-3DwvxxB66DizSuky4VlQHioCiuRzxTeLaFQHSAc/s320/boys+002.JPG" /></a></div><br />
4. Everyone in our household has had pink eye at least once over the past three weeks. Three of us have had it twice.<br />
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5. We live on a street with primarily older kids. Spinner, already counting the days until he gets his drivers license, refers to these kids as his 'friends' even though he spends very little time with them and doesn't know their names. One of his 'friends' offered him wine, from a gatorade bottle, the other day. They are no longer 'friends.'<br />
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6. We think bed bugs may have traveled home with us from our mountain vacation. A real compliment to the ever present pink eye. And such a joy to have more laundry to do.<br />
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7. Because my brain has turned to mush I forgot, not once but twice, to take Bean to his scheduled (then rescheduled) eye appointment. Because we only have one pediatric opthamologist in town they take 'no show's' very seriously and said we were being kicked out of their practice. I had to beg, plead, and borrow to get one more chance. His appointment is this Thursday. If I forget this time we will be driving to Charleston for eye appointments. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWomT2DBJFSuJSgxEFVDUprULEaDbyZLLMTzklXLRQr5gwedMK-t_brYOgpfhqqzn4GbSxs7f-9TtIOGbjALphMAtuYIVbhvZjYItfNdyT1gs7f_xf8qrdesuUc3Qv2rSK8XFSWusV90s/s1600/mountain+vacay+10+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWomT2DBJFSuJSgxEFVDUprULEaDbyZLLMTzklXLRQr5gwedMK-t_brYOgpfhqqzn4GbSxs7f-9TtIOGbjALphMAtuYIVbhvZjYItfNdyT1gs7f_xf8qrdesuUc3Qv2rSK8XFSWusV90s/s320/mountain+vacay+10+008.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>8. Bean has become the kissing bandit. I anticipate this becoming a problem. Not for us and his favorite teacher but for the random strangers we encounter in public. For some reason they haven't been very receptive to his overtures.<br />
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And the beat goes on. . . <br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85778/stawal/4246daef53294d7adb238d13b19acb11.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866578684190564024noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201489281610922146.post-64640971213487811672010-07-07T20:54:00.000-04:002010-07-07T20:54:51.679-04:00Wordless Wednesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6uVOzSp4Sf5MEPyB6Ki9prUyrVW1eTpYH5dQ0gC__d9mIIoqyyGPV8WNbwJqK21hd5nZ_Y5BLK5_vc7I2jj9Vrx7Cr487U0xfaJ5Leho3h60iUjWAhxYA9tMMQa7FVMzZxuUQTERKtQg/s1600/random+home+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6uVOzSp4Sf5MEPyB6Ki9prUyrVW1eTpYH5dQ0gC__d9mIIoqyyGPV8WNbwJqK21hd5nZ_Y5BLK5_vc7I2jj9Vrx7Cr487U0xfaJ5Leho3h60iUjWAhxYA9tMMQa7FVMzZxuUQTERKtQg/s640/random+home+005.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">anticipation</span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85778/stawal/4246daef53294d7adb238d13b19acb11.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866578684190564024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201489281610922146.post-19473078419658402672010-07-05T17:23:00.004-04:002010-07-05T20:54:07.255-04:00returning the blog for it's rightful purpose<div align="center">this blog started out to serve as updates on our family, the boys, and life with a child with down syndrome.</div><div align="center">it's been a place to document the fun and funny stuff and the changes in our family, for posterity sake. eventually i started sharing my own interests, namely what i'm doing around the house, what i'm creating for the house, what i'm painting, etc. </div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">those interests have led to the opening of <a href="http://www.greenseedcreations.com/">green seed creations</a>. i have <a href="http://www.greenseedcreations.blogspot.com/">created a blog</a> that will be dedicated to that endeavour so that this little place can be given back to the happenings of my family. </div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">they may occasionally overlap, as they do in real life, but i will try to keep them separate.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">i had a booth at a craft fair over the weekend. they boys were out for part of it. here's what Spinner and Tank enjoyed.</div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtXqCfSBLTY6-arpDLG3g4lCFC40IPMQS8JPgXOx5s706dFek0q0onAVsgMZwD5qOXWKRGQxDY_Li57Dc-tEAu9azb-pTdqA2XQEzFrL24znBIgmM5aqYdwbA-ubbtHULnTtKy7eFRFEk/s1600/crafty+feast+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtXqCfSBLTY6-arpDLG3g4lCFC40IPMQS8JPgXOx5s706dFek0q0onAVsgMZwD5qOXWKRGQxDY_Li57Dc-tEAu9azb-pTdqA2XQEzFrL24znBIgmM5aqYdwbA-ubbtHULnTtKy7eFRFEk/s320/crafty+feast+018.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">i was talking to a customer in the booth when tank came running up to me with his war paint on. he growled a big growl and gnashed his teeth. as you can see he has an american flag painted on his face. this confused me. i asked pastor j if tank knew what was on his face. i was told that, yes, he picked out the image himself. tank growled at me again, wanting to be acknowledged, so i said, "<span style="background-color: white;">whooaaahh</span>! what a scary, um, flag you are!" he got mad at me saying, "no flag. tiger. no flag. tank tiger."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-DEWXDZwZwuggSodBv_9WACYfqVEKkoA4Z6tl6W5oDCIoDOUEFjdM43p7Gkg6TmbERSdqiQS1fxFEsjvJkhFepvtxHVNSZTWaA5WBoUxt7HM1sDVxGfGvg1ik71KQiWIU6BM0IDGs9EI/s1600/crafty+feast+017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-DEWXDZwZwuggSodBv_9WACYfqVEKkoA4Z6tl6W5oDCIoDOUEFjdM43p7Gkg6TmbERSdqiQS1fxFEsjvJkhFepvtxHVNSZTWaA5WBoUxt7HM1sDVxGfGvg1ik71KQiWIU6BM0IDGs9EI/s320/crafty+feast+017.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">yes, tank, you are a scary, scary tiger. roar!</div><div align="center"><br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85778/stawal/4246daef53294d7adb238d13b19acb11.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866578684190564024noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201489281610922146.post-17116286759589494212010-06-10T19:26:00.002-04:002010-06-10T21:05:51.395-04:00green seed creations<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">i mentioned a couple posts ago that i was thinking about "starting something." </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">well, that "something" has been started.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ6yr-MK6o-zo9Sx2bfCUYBlBLDYHb2ROQq_jgZNDsLlTygxo31rAc9duHWCDRcfvCBViDfEtwXOfQBrGiA5vIdq7KQbJFqSL8f-_hQtCv0Fw6G5AXhwqyNxkpmM-8U7JLst6DbGvhiTk/s1600/green+seed+creations+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ6yr-MK6o-zo9Sx2bfCUYBlBLDYHb2ROQq_jgZNDsLlTygxo31rAc9duHWCDRcfvCBViDfEtwXOfQBrGiA5vIdq7KQbJFqSL8f-_hQtCv0Fw6G5AXhwqyNxkpmM-8U7JLst6DbGvhiTk/s320/green+seed+creations+013.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #6aa84f; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">Green Seed Creations</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">after getting accepted to a local juried indie craft fair (meaning a "jury" selects participants based on pictures of their work) i decided to dive right in to the whole small business thing.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">i applied for my retail license and now have that in hand. in short, my plan is to take time worn furniture along with dated accessories and give them new life. additionally, i will take salvaged wood and other materials to create new items for home and garden. there will be more on my vision for the business later, along with a new site dedicated specifically to green seed creations!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">right now, with my first craft fair coming up july 4, i have to get busy! for my first show i will be sticking with small items. here is a bit of what i have been working on.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrl_YQpA5YwwgTlzvBsNa-lSYYK9NrosfKM5dw55FxU_oYFbPhZGlbc6vAxD6YCb8KmdcSJvib4ZJZ_Kh-zFgiJSAtHstRtAa9hvolW_2ZA-bN3O0SsJnsamoF0eLI9c8wAYV39ic9c7U/s1600/green+seed+creations+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrl_YQpA5YwwgTlzvBsNa-lSYYK9NrosfKM5dw55FxU_oYFbPhZGlbc6vAxD6YCb8KmdcSJvib4ZJZ_Kh-zFgiJSAtHstRtAa9hvolW_2ZA-bN3O0SsJnsamoF0eLI9c8wAYV39ic9c7U/s320/green+seed+creations+003.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLhQy2n-TtWElGByShbtWH8qeBNfe2vj4eCu3UFXMtVILELIdxA-FoFt-Fy7bC7BPL96ZbGcve7ci8W_801LnGEbPsv0zH7NNCax9QBLxhywcZwOHVtS4hFmMiwbv8DDYDqdf9qKMUbys/s1600/green+seed+creations+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLhQy2n-TtWElGByShbtWH8qeBNfe2vj4eCu3UFXMtVILELIdxA-FoFt-Fy7bC7BPL96ZbGcve7ci8W_801LnGEbPsv0zH7NNCax9QBLxhywcZwOHVtS4hFmMiwbv8DDYDqdf9qKMUbys/s320/green+seed+creations+005.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNCkSnIlx_l2MBbpvFXR89qgaXR1xBjHe3hO1yNQsl-AUDMan3Kc0Erv2jZVj51jYzjVOcF9psi34lrPhoRx0I1NNnpeCDyfepjY3nfutFXn7OWGZ5PViwW1bF7xcXdq_KPeGTWnAXnz0/s1600/green+seed+creations+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNCkSnIlx_l2MBbpvFXR89qgaXR1xBjHe3hO1yNQsl-AUDMan3Kc0Erv2jZVj51jYzjVOcF9psi34lrPhoRx0I1NNnpeCDyfepjY3nfutFXn7OWGZ5PViwW1bF7xcXdq_KPeGTWnAXnz0/s320/green+seed+creations+004.JPG" /></a>the "stuff" piece is a shelf with hooks, in case that isn't clear. :) formally a dated oak piece.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Georgia;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaKv2ebq1rWm05p-OQJp-NB5LFmBbhUCyHvl2AmjUKVjmy29rPg88H-iJknqUBklop28z9SvbAeIE0dz466q4AtUmt_hV0bRCSBbxe9Ud2-zkCeofi831UPHAB8KJWX2dpwEfzuT4cX1E/s1600/green+seed+creations+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaKv2ebq1rWm05p-OQJp-NB5LFmBbhUCyHvl2AmjUKVjmy29rPg88H-iJknqUBklop28z9SvbAeIE0dz466q4AtUmt_hV0bRCSBbxe9Ud2-zkCeofi831UPHAB8KJWX2dpwEfzuT4cX1E/s320/green+seed+creations+006.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSkBt63L4-LPgDgU72M5kdjF_n-5YGUbgSmYHLVSWZ76gkol8J9iJV5RDU1ePz3bUHDdKZQyfE6yj1Y3UPR4uLer1yIcXNQu8IO3rY9QHblD1I3aLOC49UElhQPnwbA984XQAFk9OPw0w/s1600/green+seed+creations+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSkBt63L4-LPgDgU72M5kdjF_n-5YGUbgSmYHLVSWZ76gkol8J9iJV5RDU1ePz3bUHDdKZQyfE6yj1Y3UPR4uLer1yIcXNQu8IO3rY9QHblD1I3aLOC49UElhQPnwbA984XQAFk9OPw0w/s320/green+seed+creations+007.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">various tray's with a twist</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRce5NQ4Gkt38w1urVYLAFr7-0CqKAIgnPgMkOtzCPo1WhojoO5wjUsgGjQBJTbIQGb5zGBlJ3y4myRzZzPx-8FE6L9Yqo1unaaEtifOAt9xBr-Av9VaNZb264cRflCwJ4T357mWnj6TA/s1600/green+seed+creations+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRce5NQ4Gkt38w1urVYLAFr7-0CqKAIgnPgMkOtzCPo1WhojoO5wjUsgGjQBJTbIQGb5zGBlJ3y4myRzZzPx-8FE6L9Yqo1unaaEtifOAt9xBr-Av9VaNZb264cRflCwJ4T357mWnj6TA/s320/green+seed+creations+010.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">wreath's</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi02GSwc4StX73m35IA8Pvrmid7vjvk0yGMJwhvO2ujGVebUEl0_xfOuZUYTW2s0zAG2_WVg2GSotdDks_W3uGCfNpfW7ZNGm-_B1B1tQG-ScFeF5oMwi5pyqZU_QYr_JIv2wC8rge0OzI/s1600/green+seed+creations+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi02GSwc4StX73m35IA8Pvrmid7vjvk0yGMJwhvO2ujGVebUEl0_xfOuZUYTW2s0zAG2_WVg2GSotdDks_W3uGCfNpfW7ZNGm-_B1B1tQG-ScFeF5oMwi5pyqZU_QYr_JIv2wC8rge0OzI/s320/green+seed+creations+008.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">rustic, distressed table</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdOdxLQ7q6aMl1YWSn4v9pk9CNUCb5GUIOc96RUNsKIASJUgz3EieHW19YKeLxKpsbUaiSR8Fy_yUkPDIJw6U4VUvJE17OQJ5AkAb4upYtUBvFXzEDPsJwLrPPkUrz5xegiDqXFKnh-7M/s1600/green+seed+creations+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdOdxLQ7q6aMl1YWSn4v9pk9CNUCb5GUIOc96RUNsKIASJUgz3EieHW19YKeLxKpsbUaiSR8Fy_yUkPDIJw6U4VUvJE17OQJ5AkAb4upYtUBvFXzEDPsJwLrPPkUrz5xegiDqXFKnh-7M/s320/green+seed+creations+018.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">one of many signs</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRbTznrS-5t2J0vm4NbQdqVtw2UpBPWLIi205_CaoM_Hcq6SNIuAZyWTCLGGEGb5lXAvnraBN2Ay2NxW6KIKDEAwJjWzTRSTgqs-H4gQoP_pNLaP7fX02tagpZR0yNbzmkxS4kib1INg/s1600/rcc+riverfront+service+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRbTznrS-5t2J0vm4NbQdqVtw2UpBPWLIi205_CaoM_Hcq6SNIuAZyWTCLGGEGb5lXAvnraBN2Ay2NxW6KIKDEAwJjWzTRSTgqs-H4gQoP_pNLaP7fX02tagpZR0yNbzmkxS4kib1INg/s320/rcc+riverfront+service+002.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">lot's of whimsical distressed frames</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAqPa2PguBRRgdxKLWD2PAl9i55akCNXgLvvtdDSSsSjiTpMCDRe-HNpHiUxHUkiGhXdrFSrm2qy10TINXVkJOcze6QdY2bHGY2DBp4QGU1JxgXRKyJAgFv2F5KudBvMhFeW6OAtaMti0/s1600/green+seed+creations+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAqPa2PguBRRgdxKLWD2PAl9i55akCNXgLvvtdDSSsSjiTpMCDRe-HNpHiUxHUkiGhXdrFSrm2qy10TINXVkJOcze6QdY2bHGY2DBp4QGU1JxgXRKyJAgFv2F5KudBvMhFeW6OAtaMti0/s320/green+seed+creations+016.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisLLwsa7qOxv1hejYpJ06Ws4zahAubIlQdItrclTEuTt-38rWJEWPOcjLSPo6lWUkIBCWy02PRoU3WmCWiDy_VueczsNiAu5LZkIIBnJoNmht0o4-Y95maFVftYwcYILFPbSq-MoL2gvY/s1600/green+seed+creations+017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisLLwsa7qOxv1hejYpJ06Ws4zahAubIlQdItrclTEuTt-38rWJEWPOcjLSPo6lWUkIBCWy02PRoU3WmCWiDy_VueczsNiAu5LZkIIBnJoNmht0o4-Y95maFVftYwcYILFPbSq-MoL2gvY/s320/green+seed+creations+017.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">transformed terracotta pots. top is painted white, the bottom is chalkboard trimmed in braided jute. lots of fun uses for this one!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYFZjP214bkqChIfBS7Kv-v9tjNwq6-4S2oLdEaMdRuZomfH23hPcaPBVa9s7cCgOFSzS7weRSRGJCjvD2d-j5UAXuQ83P7Rf71aLvZAZm5OaXjULDFzBl-0FD4b4Sx71Et3ir4u4jBjw/s1600/green+seed+creations+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYFZjP214bkqChIfBS7Kv-v9tjNwq6-4S2oLdEaMdRuZomfH23hPcaPBVa9s7cCgOFSzS7weRSRGJCjvD2d-j5UAXuQ83P7Rf71aLvZAZm5OaXjULDFzBl-0FD4b4Sx71Et3ir4u4jBjw/s320/green+seed+creations+012.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and here is pastor j's creation. . . my new logo. i'm loving it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">so, if you are in or around columbia come out and see me on july 4 at the <a href="http://www.craftyfeast.com/Crafty_Feast/Welcome.html">village of sandhills for crafty feast</a>!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgmtZYMEqFzCOqsfGkt4bupS8chBZa32alr5S2o5MJhG3cWdQWrAVBuW55KcXi0DPnBXV519PXC7soVNAFRfk6wqrMTmx0QT_OtCarJxJSJaCR5-splOOgtiFE7jRWUl9PaqPQcPI9xuw/s1600/cfbutton.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgmtZYMEqFzCOqsfGkt4bupS8chBZa32alr5S2o5MJhG3cWdQWrAVBuW55KcXi0DPnBXV519PXC7soVNAFRfk6wqrMTmx0QT_OtCarJxJSJaCR5-splOOgtiFE7jRWUl9PaqPQcPI9xuw/s320/cfbutton.gif" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85778/stawal/4246daef53294d7adb238d13b19acb11.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866578684190564024noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201489281610922146.post-19546247731671343902010-06-08T20:59:00.004-04:002010-06-08T21:17:13.571-04:00let the summer begin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1CgrAZNdFoVO79gbQFRVMFZ2Cr4B_LMKZP0uo2u4ahbEhYrl4Spkdx9DUR8j2DYP39s9kySgzgv0FcMP-zrDQq78HsZNsxAtE7QSDSIH0ZVrzKFcm7nMEOapAp3KZQhjdIxNMsZP3XFI/s1600/summer10+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1CgrAZNdFoVO79gbQFRVMFZ2Cr4B_LMKZP0uo2u4ahbEhYrl4Spkdx9DUR8j2DYP39s9kySgzgv0FcMP-zrDQq78HsZNsxAtE7QSDSIH0ZVrzKFcm7nMEOapAp3KZQhjdIxNMsZP3XFI/s320/summer10+001.JPG" /></a></div><br />
School is out, marking the official start of summer. Although, Spinner argued with me for 10 minutes that <em>technically</em> it is still Spring. <br />
<br />
"Right," I said, but it's summer break. <br />
<br />
"Well, maybe it shouldn't be called that until June 21 when summer <em>really </em>starts," replied Spinner. <br />
<br />
"Mmmm, maybe, but if it's okay with you I am still going to refer to the next few weeks as summer."<br />
<br />
"I gueeeess," moaned Spinner as if he was having to make too big a compromise.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
And so begins our summer. Methinks it's going to be a long one! To fill our days we created our summer to do list and posted it in the kitchen.<br />
<br />
We kicked things off today with a trip to a local spray park.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1QVAYneeS0zOS1Yn-9qpX-gqzMtgSLlPQOYpdGmitNYZu97k54BKzbYC7IHRKpwjRSk3pa-gxaSAQf08QsraYW1Rt7GG88gCGiUpy720PyeDEBdvdBPU_Sjvh49bvAAbQplQGRkJhTyE/s1600/summer10+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1QVAYneeS0zOS1Yn-9qpX-gqzMtgSLlPQOYpdGmitNYZu97k54BKzbYC7IHRKpwjRSk3pa-gxaSAQf08QsraYW1Rt7GG88gCGiUpy720PyeDEBdvdBPU_Sjvh49bvAAbQplQGRkJhTyE/s320/summer10+013.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">It's a really fun place with lot's of whimsical trees, shapes and animals all spewing water for kids to dance and frolick in. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW-efsmr9QJ1rpjL65b9SwhumDRxufIv5OzVn1E4oTZnL_wAfpoaPDVr6W5PicVTTDhtCFynJxYaAtSzSCSS2IluAIpFMaEx6SMg_CJAJPgK7kAQwBCKf5mqYXdVNCOgkqjcrd5ThI4RM/s1600/summer10+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW-efsmr9QJ1rpjL65b9SwhumDRxufIv5OzVn1E4oTZnL_wAfpoaPDVr6W5PicVTTDhtCFynJxYaAtSzSCSS2IluAIpFMaEx6SMg_CJAJPgK7kAQwBCKf5mqYXdVNCOgkqjcrd5ThI4RM/s320/summer10+004.JPG" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgw3ubPYDR03BBxXmKFsI9NzuPZLE26lCeDCZnw4Cmf72K1Q1TWM4htxiX4KwdihaShqIJkqKBhuT7wlaxaYFe839Z_TFdIjGvB4q6b5QyEldsWI2q1wGJbyNdK4pvwzYwAwxCvcGa50/s1600/summer10+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgw3ubPYDR03BBxXmKFsI9NzuPZLE26lCeDCZnw4Cmf72K1Q1TWM4htxiX4KwdihaShqIJkqKBhuT7wlaxaYFe839Z_TFdIjGvB4q6b5QyEldsWI2q1wGJbyNdK4pvwzYwAwxCvcGa50/s320/summer10+012.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Bean had a great time! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpYSKXW0z1v1Di_dIIc2d0SoaGKGG0aOT3Mit6eCwJYE_eaeGhkuI-HHtuVjT-WI_pIkQu-jc0xr_KPmW2vAxJGbfCnQzxnYHL5dMoO5Id8DjfNUKFGYZ8xfWKKFF-3VpS6pDl1J0E9HI/s1600/summer10+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpYSKXW0z1v1Di_dIIc2d0SoaGKGG0aOT3Mit6eCwJYE_eaeGhkuI-HHtuVjT-WI_pIkQu-jc0xr_KPmW2vAxJGbfCnQzxnYHL5dMoO5Id8DjfNUKFGYZ8xfWKKFF-3VpS6pDl1J0E9HI/s320/summer10+010.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tank, turning a wheel that controls the rate at which water pours from another contraption nearby. He was a little devilish with this one as he watched the other kids react.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLLOxvSSEs1_gWdItzqwssJqbdNsZSpJpn1JFm6NQA7UkTLvYJqQaBNHVWCyYHFH15AnLu9sOef2B2Nz4AbiUIy4zsg5z7wFigmnB6M2jbnj2k7iqhoK2IhY_qvKn1-xT9UDwgAKWLpUs/s1600/summer10+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLLOxvSSEs1_gWdItzqwssJqbdNsZSpJpn1JFm6NQA7UkTLvYJqQaBNHVWCyYHFH15AnLu9sOef2B2Nz4AbiUIy4zsg5z7wFigmnB6M2jbnj2k7iqhoK2IhY_qvKn1-xT9UDwgAKWLpUs/s320/summer10+009.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Spinner getting dumped on.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDh-B5ILq0ce4udC0Rv6-CbMxl5MSWZ9uL5qRoAEBRh_iC7PU-tCDPJox6VaSWeZRD1vuoKOXD4QIrURZizpe9n4zQMFAlEFkH7kWaQanJxsFTFTMk7nBqmLDskqxQFpgPW8cZ12SADhQ/s1600/summer10+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDh-B5ILq0ce4udC0Rv6-CbMxl5MSWZ9uL5qRoAEBRh_iC7PU-tCDPJox6VaSWeZRD1vuoKOXD4QIrURZizpe9n4zQMFAlEFkH7kWaQanJxsFTFTMk7nBqmLDskqxQFpgPW8cZ12SADhQ/s320/summer10+011.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A moment of brotherly love. I'll take all I can get.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They had a great time, asking when we could return as soon as we left.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The fun, however, really began later in the evening. After the littles went to bed, exhausted, Spinner went out with Pastor J for a bike ride. Their plan was to go 6 miles. Pastor J running while Spinner rode his bike. I was happy to have approximately one hour to sit in a quiet house and enjoy the sushi I just picked up. Alone.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I had just taken my last bite of sushi when the front door swung open. Standing in the doorway was Spinner, bloody. His entire neck was covered in red and his face was squished in anquish. Pastor J was telling him to <em>try</em> not to scream, knowing that waking up Bean and Tank would only add to the drama. That was a hard request for him to honor.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I took him in the bathroom and for the next 20 minutes worked to clean him up to figure out exactly where his cuts were and how deep they were. While doing so he explained to me through tears and a shakey voice that he was going down a hill toward a wooden bridge and felt so out of control he couldn't think straight and forgot about his brakes. Then. . . he slammed into a wooden crossbeam on the bridge. Poor thing had to get up and ride his bike home.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here he is all cleaned up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1KhEYP-fqAZFDx4XgFGKEzMZbUOuLNiSxe8Cn5WSkQqOIoAASrsi3y7i9IdcodW5gnZsCyi5o32XQ9hML-b3eNcOddJ9DZ-MfXSgPWpyaN4ZVUQLTuCDkr7XgXQl74mS95FjWHDzvEew/s1600/summer10+021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1KhEYP-fqAZFDx4XgFGKEzMZbUOuLNiSxe8Cn5WSkQqOIoAASrsi3y7i9IdcodW5gnZsCyi5o32XQ9hML-b3eNcOddJ9DZ-MfXSgPWpyaN4ZVUQLTuCDkr7XgXQl74mS95FjWHDzvEew/s320/summer10+021.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Right around his adam's apple is the biggest cut. It didn't seem big enough for a suture but was still a bit deep so Papa was called to bring over some butterfly closures and give a second opinion.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZZ9FuVQoSv6QZk8ixcvNI8qoZEtmCEHwwAn5U4vjQTlicNc5HJ3tytgUwNWeYgHAM_KxZOmlM71SjJXVoYIiXNcSt-xnVKNBCzOxfONU6oTQ1K1fhP3K51Z7JlBpgEMCPuIYCNOJa_Fg/s1600/summer10+024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZZ9FuVQoSv6QZk8ixcvNI8qoZEtmCEHwwAn5U4vjQTlicNc5HJ3tytgUwNWeYgHAM_KxZOmlM71SjJXVoYIiXNcSt-xnVKNBCzOxfONU6oTQ1K1fhP3K51Z7JlBpgEMCPuIYCNOJa_Fg/s320/summer10+024.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Uber prepared, he came with his massive kit and determined that due to the location of the cut, in the fold of his neck, a simple bandaid was all that was needed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAbG-V1jTrAcaKstqt3g37RrWrbYl_Jy2UTfgIUNS6lqQnzEM4A5DEiqPMgq7ombOa9M4RAmJfzFErZk8CsdACs08xCDfC7TxTq7QRi1R9kE79Z5C4f8LLg8reztvHiyg4Zex1Q1R0mfk/s1600/summer10+023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAbG-V1jTrAcaKstqt3g37RrWrbYl_Jy2UTfgIUNS6lqQnzEM4A5DEiqPMgq7ombOa9M4RAmJfzFErZk8CsdACs08xCDfC7TxTq7QRi1R9kE79Z5C4f8LLg8reztvHiyg4Zex1Q1R0mfk/s320/summer10+023.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And so begins our summer vacation.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85778/stawal/4246daef53294d7adb238d13b19acb11.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866578684190564024noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201489281610922146.post-91873184711541164242010-05-19T19:44:00.000-04:002010-05-19T19:44:16.760-04:00Just livingYes, I'm fine! <br />
<br />
No, I haven't given up blogging. <br />
<br />
No, we aren't in the middle of moving. Sigh. . . <br />
<br />
Yes, our house is still on the market. <br />
<br />
No, I'm not lost in projects. <br />
<br />
Yes, school is almost out. <br />
<br />
No, I haven't run away from home. <br />
<br />
Thanks for the email love and concern. Hope that answers everyone's questions. :) <br />
<br />
So, where have I been? What have I been doing, you ask? Well, I don't really know, time has just slipped away from me.<br />
<br />
How's that for an answer?<br />
<br />
Here's what I've come up with for you:<br />
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1. We have had upwards of 35 people view our home so that keeps me on my toes for sure. But, STILL. NO. OFFER! But you know what? It's okay. I'm just not worried about it. The Lord has definitely given me a peace about it. And I gotta tell ya, that is not my normal state of being. Normally I would be worried sick that the house we have a contract on will get snatched out from under us before ours sells. But I'm not. I'm not going to question it or analyze it. I'm just grateful for the peace and increased faith. <br />
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2. I stole away to the beach for nearly four whole days with 18 friends for <a href="http://www.riversidecommunitychurch.org/">our church's</a> Spring Women's Retreat. A really good time. <br />
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3. The boy's are wrapping up school so I have been thinking through summer plans and taking advantage of my last few weeks of free time. <br />
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4. I have worked on a few projects. I spruced up three lamps around the house. The jobs involved spray paint, white cotton fabric, and spray adhesive. I love how they turned out - they look very anthro. When I'm feeling less lazy I'll get some pictures for ya. <br />
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5. I have also been messing around in the yard and playing with my plants. In an effort to keep some of my fav perennials when we move I have divided and moved some to pots. <br />
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6. I have been toying with the idea of opening a small business. Small. Ran the idea by a banker friend last week who works with small business owners to get some feedback. There, I have said it out loud. I'll let ya know more about that later.<br />
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7. I have been trying to fit in more exercise. I'm working up to running a couple miles at one time while Pastor J is cycling and running ridiculous amounts. <br />
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Next week he is participating in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assault_on_Mount_Mitchell">Assualt on Mt. Mitchell</a>. Doesn't that just sound like so much fun? Not. A few days after that he is competing in the <a href="http://www.rock2rockrun.com/">rock2rock</a> run outside of Asheville. In between we are caving up in a cabin with the boys. Taking a break from everything. <br />
<br />
So, that's a quick run down. Once we return from our mini vacay I plan to get back in the blogging saddle. And once we move, assuming we do indeed get the house we have a contract on, I look forward to blogging about all the changes that'll be going on to make the new house our home. <br />
I have requested a compound miter saw and nail gun for my birthday so I have big plans! :) Those two items, by the way, will be of great help to me in my small business. hint hint.<br />
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Okey Doke! See you in a couple weeks! <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85778/stawal/4246daef53294d7adb238d13b19acb11.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866578684190564024noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201489281610922146.post-75431372808843354482010-04-07T22:42:00.004-04:002010-04-08T15:10:22.146-04:00Spring Mantel Therapy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzYBfAsOfK3L9V8H5-npwPObFJrwA61wL18bAEsTxhrMDsHNO551ym4ctJ6tui02Klni1PIkF-o-BfjFgBlvDCqC9aRaGMOpEfyaLgkPwONpWbGDWy_AHielmGtxtGrPBm57Djx8hNUIQ/s1600/spring+house+stuff+049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzYBfAsOfK3L9V8H5-npwPObFJrwA61wL18bAEsTxhrMDsHNO551ym4ctJ6tui02Klni1PIkF-o-BfjFgBlvDCqC9aRaGMOpEfyaLgkPwONpWbGDWy_AHielmGtxtGrPBm57Djx8hNUIQ/s320/spring+house+stuff+049.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We have had a depressing few days around here. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For about 48 hours things were looking good on the real estate front. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We made an offer on a house. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Someone made an offer on our house. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Negotiations ensued. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The offer we made (which was a good one) was denied. Not countered, denied flat out. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We countered the offer made on our house. They countered back. We countered again. They walked away. We were so close and they walked away.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now, <em>you know</em>, the moment we made an offer and received an offer I started mentally packing my house and decorating the house-to-be. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have had a hard time undoing all I accomplished in my mind! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The only cure was to get back to tinkering around here. To refocus my energies. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW90VbDPvuC-7F-LN5px0yDwTrQp7hSMpe9xE0B3YSYSp_Yrx5lDixKtbTAlsSo9MHkbnwED_aeh_NHGOJvBUuUihsFxUAc201vhl77eFloZHU7ztjqoEJlTsRwYr8luRS54pEWXXTViQ/s1600/spring+house+stuff+044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW90VbDPvuC-7F-LN5px0yDwTrQp7hSMpe9xE0B3YSYSp_Yrx5lDixKtbTAlsSo9MHkbnwED_aeh_NHGOJvBUuUihsFxUAc201vhl77eFloZHU7ztjqoEJlTsRwYr8luRS54pEWXXTViQ/s320/spring+house+stuff+044.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The object of my attention? The mantel. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It needed some sprucing. A touch of Spring. Some newly painted objects.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First, I took an old shutter that I have had laying around and flipped it so the back faced out. I love the old worn out wood and the natural backdrop it provides.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ogEMxaM_AYEmy3AmSc6fw4v1AQGmXu62CiSu9eCfhWxSnWUMbvsbNjmSy_Z__R8c1m5uNgByN8ucG-0X2VLg5-EAeZqdqAn8-XMq88U7K9AmkJNJrdHZO3M3CvtdqsGDev6oWmz4XLo/s1600/spring+house+stuff+051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ogEMxaM_AYEmy3AmSc6fw4v1AQGmXu62CiSu9eCfhWxSnWUMbvsbNjmSy_Z__R8c1m5uNgByN8ucG-0X2VLg5-EAeZqdqAn8-XMq88U7K9AmkJNJrdHZO3M3CvtdqsGDev6oWmz4XLo/s320/spring+house+stuff+051.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I grabbed a few old brass candlestick holders. You have all seen them. They are a dime a dozen at any antique/thrift/junk store. I cleaned them up and spray painted them white.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkCriQ0VlE6JfFFvzLW6OkX4vMs_HkJl4BwGMnbJ_tK6_nge19Ruf31RrHTV3YwAIEJi6sEHx7MwUmc9UaNnM2wLddZfHJKHwNU6H6_5zZ6jnXBZ5fjh3JRPCJ0IIRZjtvU_hDJBLIoBg/s1600/spring+house+stuff+052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkCriQ0VlE6JfFFvzLW6OkX4vMs_HkJl4BwGMnbJ_tK6_nge19Ruf31RrHTV3YwAIEJi6sEHx7MwUmc9UaNnM2wLddZfHJKHwNU6H6_5zZ6jnXBZ5fjh3JRPCJ0IIRZjtvU_hDJBLIoBg/s320/spring+house+stuff+052.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I also took an old vase that was really hideous, black fake crackle with gold trim and some sort of bold floral print, and painted it white. I bought it a few years ago at a discount pottery store. I have no idea what I saw in it. It's been sitting on a shelf in the garage until yesterday when it was saved. I cut branches from some bushes on the side of our house to bring in some greenery.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd0_Tfj5cxUhSbkj9jNsE8rcb-ZlYxOepF-JqA-_3AdOe0pWEgnvAJjPUHu_I7jEG-macpZ9WYhxLrd-tuaGMTy8_61PwSjYHjY98wGkJhp3L7LF9zZOvYGfnAsXvX6DXXLGmkkmQ7qRo/s1600/spring+house+stuff+045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd0_Tfj5cxUhSbkj9jNsE8rcb-ZlYxOepF-JqA-_3AdOe0pWEgnvAJjPUHu_I7jEG-macpZ9WYhxLrd-tuaGMTy8_61PwSjYHjY98wGkJhp3L7LF9zZOvYGfnAsXvX6DXXLGmkkmQ7qRo/s320/spring+house+stuff+045.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I also pulled out a few of my blue bottles. The one on the right has some thyme in it, from my garden. The two frames received a light coat of white paint as well, then got a slight sanding to bring the wood through.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaf3Io9qQZQkw5eA3jZE-uwNWOqqdoud6c9urkRpFOm3Q4B9TSp7x1rS4-yUPR5mw-X5M7Ew4QgTMJ8HKA7cVzJrBFeEwD4oGFA7ejUDQzkE_yljtPJsYWnaGBOc62vft7VRLxt2DiiL0/s1600/spring+house+stuff+043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaf3Io9qQZQkw5eA3jZE-uwNWOqqdoud6c9urkRpFOm3Q4B9TSp7x1rS4-yUPR5mw-X5M7Ew4QgTMJ8HKA7cVzJrBFeEwD4oGFA7ejUDQzkE_yljtPJsYWnaGBOc62vft7VRLxt2DiiL0/s320/spring+house+stuff+043.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I threw some shells around, hung a few plates I picked up on clearance from TJ Maxx many moons ago, and called it done. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBu6GaQuqo95LducIuCDCAYuZ10QPJvs6pTYcBBwJh_2NcOdKxOytsAsyfaaVynxT1X8bfHK9W_ScE9VSqz2bH45fWGYjel35zAwnTKwot97t_RDoeL81z2eNfWfgqw7NId6nJP1hL3q8/s1600/spring+house+stuff+048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBu6GaQuqo95LducIuCDCAYuZ10QPJvs6pTYcBBwJh_2NcOdKxOytsAsyfaaVynxT1X8bfHK9W_ScE9VSqz2bH45fWGYjel35zAwnTKwot97t_RDoeL81z2eNfWfgqw7NId6nJP1hL3q8/s320/spring+house+stuff+048.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Of course, you and I both know it's not done. Just looking at this picture I know I am going to go back and tinker with the right side. It needs a touch of something else. Hmmm . . . </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm linking up over at the <a href="http://www.thenester.com/2010/04/mantel-party-time.html">Nester's Mantel Party</a>!</div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85778/stawal/4246daef53294d7adb238d13b19acb11.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866578684190564024noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201489281610922146.post-53383006072166196532010-03-31T12:53:00.000-04:002010-03-31T12:53:18.650-04:00Bean turns five<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ns4kheQSs7Sa7fdir-gwT6bjXNrUs04sztXMiUt7Km57lnO86GeL8EQOSfU9uWsLT1mfXUGEe_iZDeLADo8Fw5Qy3itaLTojFo2BSApwX36xopZhZ8Ftt2y1NLui2y4vrEAp759vq3M/s1600/scan0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ns4kheQSs7Sa7fdir-gwT6bjXNrUs04sztXMiUt7Km57lnO86GeL8EQOSfU9uWsLT1mfXUGEe_iZDeLADo8Fw5Qy3itaLTojFo2BSApwX36xopZhZ8Ftt2y1NLui2y4vrEAp759vq3M/s320/scan0003.jpg" /></a>Five years ago today I went in to see my perinatologist for what had become a routine look at Bean. We had been doing this little routine for five weeks; non-stress test, 3D ultrasound to check on the size of some unusually large organs, a measure of the blood velocity in his brain to monitor anemia. All of these things, we thought, were related to the antibodies I had developed in my bloodstream that were not being very kind to our little Bean. <br />
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Nothing about this pregnancy had been typical. Conception occured on our fourth (and would be last) cycle of fertility treatments, at 27 weeks we determined he was sick due to my antibodies, and on this day five years ago the atypical nature of my pregnancy with Bean continued. <br />
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When I went in for that routine visit my doctor reviewed everything with an even more somber contenance than he usually wore and rushed me to labor and delivery. I was 32 weeks along.<br />
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Within an hour our boy was with us. You can read all about his birth story <a href="http://waldenhouse.blogspot.com/2008/10/wils-birth-story-part-one.html">here</a>, then <a href="http://waldenhouse.blogspot.com/2008/10/wils-birth-story-part-two.html">here</a>, followed by <a href="http://waldenhouse.blogspot.com/2008/10/wils-birth-story-part-three.html">here</a> and <a href="http://waldenhouse.blogspot.com/2008/10/wils-birth-story-part-four.html">here</a>. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Today, he is five!</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Today, he is full of life.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Today, he is one of the boys.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxb3RvdyPk3sz_6uwjApkklMvfNc4WbZsNCHZL2U-8vxLpOhizktwqQaEi6P0Te5kMM4FEJClPNSiXQuholxd6LmBfodnaO5cPOcW5GxQZtuDEuZrn4STNpbPJWoxPl1-GV0q9P1iXAZw/s1600/Riverside+and+Wil+bday+040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxb3RvdyPk3sz_6uwjApkklMvfNc4WbZsNCHZL2U-8vxLpOhizktwqQaEi6P0Te5kMM4FEJClPNSiXQuholxd6LmBfodnaO5cPOcW5GxQZtuDEuZrn4STNpbPJWoxPl1-GV0q9P1iXAZw/s320/Riverside+and+Wil+bday+040.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Today, he is a student.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi25feJpZu88L81NSMYHv0UL3V0LjWKAXcQn3FY-MnLyYAn6M08F5pE2TUyq_vhOG44UZAfEbtQbpW7SZIaDj39Fo2umFV_E9lzVGtdi755PdXS-cfP0d3jfsOCGuYJQJLuJoitFlqcU5k/s1600/projects+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi25feJpZu88L81NSMYHv0UL3V0LjWKAXcQn3FY-MnLyYAn6M08F5pE2TUyq_vhOG44UZAfEbtQbpW7SZIaDj39Fo2umFV_E9lzVGtdi755PdXS-cfP0d3jfsOCGuYJQJLuJoitFlqcU5k/s320/projects+014.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Today, he has defined his interests and horseback riding reigns!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Today, he plays with gusto.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY6758ZNNu4tilJsjdMuywu99taqT1I5TCZyfGFg4OiPTaZbJOTULzUal6l7I75WblT-MV7fEpndcuVlc1FTGss7om5CVHBQNQXVoLlkkqEy_jrSKM3HsVwq5Sy74hz68UeJX6bcdoB3s/s1600/spring+and+home+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY6758ZNNu4tilJsjdMuywu99taqT1I5TCZyfGFg4OiPTaZbJOTULzUal6l7I75WblT-MV7fEpndcuVlc1FTGss7om5CVHBQNQXVoLlkkqEy_jrSKM3HsVwq5Sy74hz68UeJX6bcdoB3s/s320/spring+and+home+012.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Today, his favorite cake is chocolate!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Today, my Bean is five and he is well loved!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJm8R5_fFoi63nkWLlrBqYgLv_yw96IdHowXou3Uf_p9vlHtYultVgIj8jxYY5SuSis6gsiyRHWcUK2LhRuks8oxcZ0F9_8owmgD13abMAuCIVeC_8cwaPEL1aNMg4ZOjIbFxQGXeyEaU/s1600/projects+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJm8R5_fFoi63nkWLlrBqYgLv_yw96IdHowXou3Uf_p9vlHtYultVgIj8jxYY5SuSis6gsiyRHWcUK2LhRuks8oxcZ0F9_8owmgD13abMAuCIVeC_8cwaPEL1aNMg4ZOjIbFxQGXeyEaU/s320/projects+002.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BEAN!!</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85778/stawal/4246daef53294d7adb238d13b19acb11.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div>Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866578684190564024noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201489281610922146.post-3738379560218887262010-03-25T20:47:00.002-04:002010-03-25T20:52:47.539-04:00blooming and growing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxtRYmxsk2gUR-QQjy-VNiljfTnsuV5Lwc3O8UXEg22K8A8GQaqQ1NIfs6fgXQj1Ja5PG6Wc7632NtFJ21DIESmXMD6-hRmxypIjUsJdC-O6Rs1u8aOcpukHNGivSWlo135Sjp5XWLP-g/s1600/spring+and+home+037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxtRYmxsk2gUR-QQjy-VNiljfTnsuV5Lwc3O8UXEg22K8A8GQaqQ1NIfs6fgXQj1Ja5PG6Wc7632NtFJ21DIESmXMD6-hRmxypIjUsJdC-O6Rs1u8aOcpukHNGivSWlo135Sjp5XWLP-g/s320/spring+and+home+037.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
We are happy to be experiencing the first breaths of Spring around here. With longer days and Bradford Pears in bloom we know, without doubt, that we are about to witness the unveiling of Spring in all it's beauty. We will watch tiny buds turn into leaves on all our favorite trees and perennials burst through the thawing ground with a rainbow of color. We get to add to the rainbow of color with beautiful annuals that will bring us pleasure until Fall's first frost. We get to watch our planted seed peak through the soil to grow tall and proud and fill our home with color and frangrance. I love it all. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyywNwpzs7JR_fZbjP0mM2u9k4rQ_YmuYCZeyrhAHDkqznaG3b6Tq1kI_WEWP8CGBI6vJbVPoOY8nabx6YsMqNVtveRZECFs3rrBe_aNr6rr4bf2UW4sFC2Hi7Cck12LgXIEeFhug_C0c/s1600/spring+and+home+078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyywNwpzs7JR_fZbjP0mM2u9k4rQ_YmuYCZeyrhAHDkqznaG3b6Tq1kI_WEWP8CGBI6vJbVPoOY8nabx6YsMqNVtveRZECFs3rrBe_aNr6rr4bf2UW4sFC2Hi7Cck12LgXIEeFhug_C0c/s320/spring+and+home+078.JPG" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I have been getting the house ready for Spring. Bringing flowers in (from the grocer since we have no blooms yet!) to brighten things up. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHhxOHxUB3FGR8NFPuC7e1x502kGR-9B27nr9vjFe0K4Nyr5tSB11M00sLxWIyp2K6Ppr4qbgUofFntNT8yRWsE0RZSIPt1Rmmit2jClGcYeBHthkIxHoYJTRI_j6SRZWlET8HQnBxr5E/s1600/spring+and+home+079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHhxOHxUB3FGR8NFPuC7e1x502kGR-9B27nr9vjFe0K4Nyr5tSB11M00sLxWIyp2K6Ppr4qbgUofFntNT8yRWsE0RZSIPt1Rmmit2jClGcYeBHthkIxHoYJTRI_j6SRZWlET8HQnBxr5E/s320/spring+and+home+079.JPG" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Giving my favorite little birdie a new slate blue spring dress. Isn't she purty? She came from the dollar store. All sad and chalky white. I sprayed her with my favorite color and added a little dimension to her wings with some mocha craft paint. (The green frame up top, by the way, also from the dollar store. It was a yucky two toned brown before I hit it with some green)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4Km-NX-NFfVo7e0JIFVZtGi77hfikKGcH1dylRJIrdw8iYHGAo1p0VNVRvgoR9dAQ6AUjP4A80Y6WSvMX145h0E3XPz5CQy-T11p3xkbM1QbKXSR7zJF15phRO6ftJtffRy05V-ubaI/s1600/spring+and+home+080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4Km-NX-NFfVo7e0JIFVZtGi77hfikKGcH1dylRJIrdw8iYHGAo1p0VNVRvgoR9dAQ6AUjP4A80Y6WSvMX145h0E3XPz5CQy-T11p3xkbM1QbKXSR7zJF15phRO6ftJtffRy05V-ubaI/s320/spring+and+home+080.JPG" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Then I perched her in my grandmother's silver sugar bowl atop some cushy green moss.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">But really, this time of year, I take my tinkering from inside to outside (before it gets too hot to tolerate).</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">These pots are all waiting to be filled with some flowery goodness. Our nurseries are just now stocking up. So while my pots wait, I gave them a little color.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJtI__zRTNQ8jG-q7bhyphenhyphenIsWnlwfDDYqeUMxnwnCK4r2Z3654AtHHV0MQjjcIj2gYHMmouibR7GXuOVom5b0evW6CCy2dNJl2kH5z1uoRkmxCSkdyuAHORXCXJCRO1hQl5MuRLoaNsiN5k/s1600/spring+and+home+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJtI__zRTNQ8jG-q7bhyphenhyphenIsWnlwfDDYqeUMxnwnCK4r2Z3654AtHHV0MQjjcIj2gYHMmouibR7GXuOVom5b0evW6CCy2dNJl2kH5z1uoRkmxCSkdyuAHORXCXJCRO1hQl5MuRLoaNsiN5k/s320/spring+and+home+002.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">It's a disease I tell ya! If I don't paint at least one thing a day. . . well, my day feels incomplete. Not yet finished. Like something was missing. And if I can't find anything around here to paint? I go to my mom's and paint her stuff. It's true. Just ask her.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqWqtPQOSJkUQCCUjdJDpbMzSbQW55pfMPgFCwIq1p0NbidFUYePRc0M1OEUQOxw4A6njYJshB6HXc03u4ZoNKKSCMnzxmZW1GAU9fBVW3cgcWmWPoeRhjS72-wmxwZI5y3aY2ULXy-30/s1600/spring+and+home+075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqWqtPQOSJkUQCCUjdJDpbMzSbQW55pfMPgFCwIq1p0NbidFUYePRc0M1OEUQOxw4A6njYJshB6HXc03u4ZoNKKSCMnzxmZW1GAU9fBVW3cgcWmWPoeRhjS72-wmxwZI5y3aY2ULXy-30/s320/spring+and+home+075.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">The front porch is getting a little love, too. The old shutter I found at a junk place around here, the broom was handmade and was gifted to me by my mom. No, <em>she</em> didn't make the broom but requested it be made from this great little country store a half hour from here. And the pot is from a guy at our now defunct Farmer's Market. Love the patina on it.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh30Ie7KCpSP63Ja7D5wPlvbEneLoEM68IE0n1LHiWSnA0sfy-rsDmj0QGBUCOCgtrLT9EAb13ddOfOdHkmiEcZnheSo6PaBviWx6nRuKscmF6tSSFEOzLlvBopZClgzwd0qN1pD3gJ-Oc/s1600/spring+and+home+070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh30Ie7KCpSP63Ja7D5wPlvbEneLoEM68IE0n1LHiWSnA0sfy-rsDmj0QGBUCOCgtrLT9EAb13ddOfOdHkmiEcZnheSo6PaBviWx6nRuKscmF6tSSFEOzLlvBopZClgzwd0qN1pD3gJ-Oc/s320/spring+and+home+070.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Soon, my ferns will be out in their usual spots but for now I am enjoying playing with this space.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2QZiNE9o2M_BD8ac0lAd8hCDQZTl5HTU81SSM_CUPGP7yYLiykWivcT8yArgbcGfetuBqApXCd5Hyk_XaS6sla-o2uvFhSJVPapT8iTsqN92QwMNxFB-fYAC0hcK0a97M4VE4kDuCWcU/s1600/spring+and+home+051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2QZiNE9o2M_BD8ac0lAd8hCDQZTl5HTU81SSM_CUPGP7yYLiykWivcT8yArgbcGfetuBqApXCd5Hyk_XaS6sla-o2uvFhSJVPapT8iTsqN92QwMNxFB-fYAC0hcK0a97M4VE4kDuCWcU/s320/spring+and+home+051.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Look what I found outside. It's amazing that such tender leaves find their way through the firm winter ground.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">This is my Black Eyed Susan. Love the way this stuff spreads.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuFu-lc2w2TwUUx8IqNBoqX7GuhJ5l8pxN49vFEE5syEZaFggTR8u2aXViPBahX-9oKvKKHzdKq57mMHGuB1cxagG6KokSxlj0-BgLgG4ftgaAQqmRdEkyok8COQaw9sE3NmQPjxMzrlU/s1600/spring+and+home+057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuFu-lc2w2TwUUx8IqNBoqX7GuhJ5l8pxN49vFEE5syEZaFggTR8u2aXViPBahX-9oKvKKHzdKq57mMHGuB1cxagG6KokSxlj0-BgLgG4ftgaAQqmRdEkyok8COQaw9sE3NmQPjxMzrlU/s320/spring+and+home+057.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">And lookey lou, lots of Shasta Daisy! I actually thinned this out a ton and spread the glory into several pots so I can take some with me when we move.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_WnKz_HXZFBOuf-fEeBuyxrY7PmmglMoDIqpHuTEcXovr86ckoOqVeG1K3etUUnG9MWRXHXRWx236gp16nrJORzN3CO7EukXFWE2V4JmuelDzKcTApi2dmzri69ldXTGph0LfDjiR2Q0/s1600/spring+and+home+049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_WnKz_HXZFBOuf-fEeBuyxrY7PmmglMoDIqpHuTEcXovr86ckoOqVeG1K3etUUnG9MWRXHXRWx236gp16nrJORzN3CO7EukXFWE2V4JmuelDzKcTApi2dmzri69ldXTGph0LfDjiR2Q0/s320/spring+and+home+049.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh, and Cone Flower. Come on out Darling, I'm waiting!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEqaE4BJ732TThaJZkgl_l6b54q8F3jDWlH4rOfZxSQkWdlqOxkhCMAEdXUsj2oqAM7aPGN_68ZepwJyfHUvVZSmNuK3Ar7sbYd8x3q-8oDyHd9OpSKkp1kWabvjhfbnjaVrW-9sExk2s/s1600/spring+and+home+056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEqaE4BJ732TThaJZkgl_l6b54q8F3jDWlH4rOfZxSQkWdlqOxkhCMAEdXUsj2oqAM7aPGN_68ZepwJyfHUvVZSmNuK3Ar7sbYd8x3q-8oDyHd9OpSKkp1kWabvjhfbnjaVrW-9sExk2s/s320/spring+and+home+056.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">So happy to see some green appearing on my Hydrangea after the winter we had!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijif9OSnoiVmLhnJ8j6mj60swgsFNt_0MyweM_xBdIcM916_O-c6nIpIvvR7SNbixLmyOVB6nGCb1LBQXS9iD75zzSe4zMeYG2BI06m35-MJX3BzOoBGn6u7I_UWP-6bDE-Q6oQWDvcu4/s1600/spring+and+home+060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijif9OSnoiVmLhnJ8j6mj60swgsFNt_0MyweM_xBdIcM916_O-c6nIpIvvR7SNbixLmyOVB6nGCb1LBQXS9iD75zzSe4zMeYG2BI06m35-MJX3BzOoBGn6u7I_UWP-6bDE-Q6oQWDvcu4/s320/spring+and+home+060.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">And because I am so totally<em> not</em> patient and can't wait for the color to appear. . . I potted a minirose bush that will make the move with us.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih9mFY4hILE0Fm3UQG1uvw80ZLwxW8D-EPODggk5PtQIS4rz1McHwDPKnw__sbrE2m7oNegoPZl836t4L_nkHCMIaEYoqg8jCQdz3otKvml2sbJuAecqlq2gVoNx2hv_BPeizmu_HEgjA/s1600/spring+and+home+071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih9mFY4hILE0Fm3UQG1uvw80ZLwxW8D-EPODggk5PtQIS4rz1McHwDPKnw__sbrE2m7oNegoPZl836t4L_nkHCMIaEYoqg8jCQdz3otKvml2sbJuAecqlq2gVoNx2hv_BPeizmu_HEgjA/s320/spring+and+home+071.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">It's exciting and daunting to see this sign in our yard! Exciting to begin the process of moving to the area of town where we are ministering. Exciting to have a clean slate, so to speak, to start fresh with decor. Exciting to settle into a neighborhood we hope to call home for many years to come. Exciting to enter this new season of growth.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Guess who else is growing? </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQkeZS_ql1aQuUxma-14DodgiO7ojzOBmxqjIQ4Dp_qZZLa7WfP6XmwChQTqV85mIEj_8LVS4SzHF9Cdajua8HeL9NA43lajIgElXfwbyPtPpkY1SuBLYn-kj3UlQ6DkzauS1VqxFn_Xg/s1600/spring+and+home+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQkeZS_ql1aQuUxma-14DodgiO7ojzOBmxqjIQ4Dp_qZZLa7WfP6XmwChQTqV85mIEj_8LVS4SzHF9Cdajua8HeL9NA43lajIgElXfwbyPtPpkY1SuBLYn-kj3UlQ6DkzauS1VqxFn_Xg/s320/spring+and+home+015.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bean</span>. He's about to turn Five! I can't believe it. We will celebrate by doing a few of his favorite things.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Spending the afternoon at Nonnie and Papa's, riding the horses, and eating cake.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Hope, you too, are enjoying the changes in your life!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85778/stawal/4246daef53294d7adb238d13b19acb11.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div>Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866578684190564024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201489281610922146.post-82254140216380341282010-03-08T21:02:00.002-05:002010-03-08T21:02:51.117-05:00random thoughts while trying on clothes today1. Dressing room light is <em>really</em> unforgiving.<br />
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2. A 40 year old should not be trying on babydoll dresses.<br />
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3. My knee caps are taking on the appearance of a Shar Pei.<br />
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4. All skirts and dresses must cover my knees from this point forward.<br />
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5. Wish I hadn't ignored lotion all winter.<br />
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6. Cap sleeve shirts are not my friend.<br />
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7. My upper arms have taken on the shape of my thighs.<br />
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8. I don't think a tan will help this.<br />
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9. Can I still call this baby weight?<br />
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10. I need to leave this store and go the the gym. Stat.<br />
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11. The Old Navy Modelquins freak me out.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoqzItz3zzQ2ja5uAAhrlZqjzYoF-FHP2pHXLwGZO5RvDJK0uMoOk2RWUtbAw_yPuisZWbTma3Gz3OdNhRSJDC_wyiS_WS5F5bpRsvDg7JD36Leb_3D0Zib636rTiaYScHBQE75SN6pNU/s1600-h/old+navy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoqzItz3zzQ2ja5uAAhrlZqjzYoF-FHP2pHXLwGZO5RvDJK0uMoOk2RWUtbAw_yPuisZWbTma3Gz3OdNhRSJDC_wyiS_WS5F5bpRsvDg7JD36Leb_3D0Zib636rTiaYScHBQE75SN6pNU/s320/old+navy.jpg" /></a></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85778/stawal/4246daef53294d7adb238d13b19acb11.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866578684190564024noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201489281610922146.post-12253469069468061202010-03-02T18:44:00.000-05:002010-03-02T18:44:56.297-05:00quick wreath update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNM_ekAPjFqoSO1JT5mdK1tctE4PCNlaCFQtoabZjRYeGQbl8pUhn-HCoVY_omgKr5uO2iPYXkkLXTPXZdehAsuVU3q9cbMMfF2snBuMfHiXt5QEOWd0-VSI3xgVjt5irSt9mljn6Vgf8/s1600-h/wreath's+034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNM_ekAPjFqoSO1JT5mdK1tctE4PCNlaCFQtoabZjRYeGQbl8pUhn-HCoVY_omgKr5uO2iPYXkkLXTPXZdehAsuVU3q9cbMMfF2snBuMfHiXt5QEOWd0-VSI3xgVjt5irSt9mljn6Vgf8/s320/wreath's+034.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For those of you that haven't received your wreath yet, thanks for your patience. I haven't forgotten. Had another sick kid home from school today and I am having trouble getting my hands on the size wreath forms I need. Apparently I bought up all that were available. As soon as some new shipments come in to my favorite spots I'll finish them up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So. . . Susan, Danielle, Liza, and Elizabeth. . . I hope to get yours to you very soon!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thanks again for supporting the Camacho's!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85778/stawal/4246daef53294d7adb238d13b19acb11.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866578684190564024noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201489281610922146.post-67254651530955654152010-03-01T18:11:00.005-05:002010-03-01T20:33:34.247-05:00guest room/office, the neglect is over<div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4N7rDI8UsgXCZeIQvLThwFiBNKXSXaxOf3J8OpkLpGvxfpZ0cdGoToByTKzUUy5app5FhfeBY0BxLZ2tvFM37QlmxVIp4jJN3YI3n9PtP0lY2xw8BqgDoZCbksRQcl9uZwS62OUouHhY/s1600-h/boys+and+guest+room+033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4N7rDI8UsgXCZeIQvLThwFiBNKXSXaxOf3J8OpkLpGvxfpZ0cdGoToByTKzUUy5app5FhfeBY0BxLZ2tvFM37QlmxVIp4jJN3YI3n9PtP0lY2xw8BqgDoZCbksRQcl9uZwS62OUouHhY/s320/boys+and+guest+room+033.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The guest room/office/dumping room has eluded me for some time now. I just haven't wanted to deal with it. But, now, as our house is facing round two on the market I decided it was time to face the music. It was time to make it a bit more inviting. As usual, with no extra funds, and frankly no real desire to spend money decorating a room we hope to leave, I shopped the house. </div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here is what the room looked like last time we listed the house. This time last year. </div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJh8_jdCZ_CYuWi8Oc0ErvYhl_c2Q6CKLhjklOom-s5xwdTEvq9cuHJpM0Kh74jWy3dZYgTRaAILf2Qe3jsEkM9Wac-Zy35hz7LM0mW9imqG0hC1UiqBDsWRts2iMN6p6MH86W68_ZKng/s1600-h/house+054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJh8_jdCZ_CYuWi8Oc0ErvYhl_c2Q6CKLhjklOom-s5xwdTEvq9cuHJpM0Kh74jWy3dZYgTRaAILf2Qe3jsEkM9Wac-Zy35hz7LM0mW9imqG0hC1UiqBDsWRts2iMN6p6MH86W68_ZKng/s320/house+054.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Not a whole lot going on. Unless boring counts. There are no window treatements, no rug, not a lot on the walls, etc. You will notice the dresser over in the far corner. That got a face lift a couple months ago.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit7KTGzUrmyhmCT_5suQ0twSvd-RFkJaJZwd1CpA1atSIQlHbmNKqnIUiDgEZOwfefAnNj3MoPMdC6rgJ_6V1RGEY_2xkMUuKB44ar2qzLitdqqBfZg9tRCPgyT4YU10NVqjzPr3R0Dlk/s1600-h/projects+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit7KTGzUrmyhmCT_5suQ0twSvd-RFkJaJZwd1CpA1atSIQlHbmNKqnIUiDgEZOwfefAnNj3MoPMdC6rgJ_6V1RGEY_2xkMUuKB44ar2qzLitdqqBfZg9tRCPgyT4YU10NVqjzPr3R0Dlk/s320/projects+004.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Much improved, no? I decided to get her out of the corner, so she could be showcased. You will also notice the bike tire in the far left corner? My husband doesn't know it yet but his beloved bike has found a new home in the garage.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">There are a few other pieces in this room that aren't in the picture. A sage green desk, a red bookshelf, and a black bookshelf. Somehow I needed to pull it all together. </div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIz_50tKco0K66ymOR772N8zi3otnXfq5rwF_ESnxhyJWGh-LjkM9A2Q26diEHOSCQ2HoVcKG3QWpzYJfP6GRxhpO9YIYPJotOsqSMZL1YCe_iI7twxk-Q2Vy6HLdLmTMQOoeIrwIbQ14/s1600-h/boys+and+guest+room+043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIz_50tKco0K66ymOR772N8zi3otnXfq5rwF_ESnxhyJWGh-LjkM9A2Q26diEHOSCQ2HoVcKG3QWpzYJfP6GRxhpO9YIYPJotOsqSMZL1YCe_iI7twxk-Q2Vy6HLdLmTMQOoeIrwIbQ14/s200/boys+and+guest+room+043.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6urj5piTnrEhPOF8bwW3wnW-dcNusXn9_AQHTpM5BMOn5kievN3Pb69-3XNwW_DPDNJ6W-nKpiXbbos1g5PBuVkG2LBXHFl0oYtafNhx1No2mmRvqhwd7ToCIvNz-KBR2Lk0UZegotw/s1600-h/boys+and+guest+room+042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6urj5piTnrEhPOF8bwW3wnW-dcNusXn9_AQHTpM5BMOn5kievN3Pb69-3XNwW_DPDNJ6W-nKpiXbbos1g5PBuVkG2LBXHFl0oYtafNhx1No2mmRvqhwd7ToCIvNz-KBR2Lk0UZegotw/s200/boys+and+guest+room+042.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The transformation began with accesorizing the dresser. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYmNtiCIfKuVQ2ahEmMpBkstdnEwCattAbiwArgmhvkLcWxKKqWRNwu6s01ZZPl9bmzPsrReavHJaCxB3JXDg_13DjRi_NQxmQ1HV8K1IIeNc6z9qCv5i-NqNrFw5K1sKiMn0GM4ShXo/s1600-h/boys+and+guest+room+037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYmNtiCIfKuVQ2ahEmMpBkstdnEwCattAbiwArgmhvkLcWxKKqWRNwu6s01ZZPl9bmzPsrReavHJaCxB3JXDg_13DjRi_NQxmQ1HV8K1IIeNc6z9qCv5i-NqNrFw5K1sKiMn0GM4ShXo/s320/boys+and+guest+room+037.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The lamp received a coat of slate blue Rustoleum spray paint. So did the frame of the Charleston print leaning against the wall. I grabbed a red frame that was already boxed and put in one of my floral prints. And grabbed a few other items from around the house to add some layering on the dresser. To the left, instead of a bike, is a wooded ladder I purchased before Christmas when I went antiquing with my mom and aunts.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The quilt was flipped to the blue/white pin stripe side.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji4hru5v5f_BXwOkkvCYs_GMxBmvNhNXz2vear7ZZt694JsPZll3TMU8ahfpqbSiLzqodPq5auSXfCIbRCzm02x9mAIbcYFuwqpX0_KagPLWy_zFmD9PAy94hDi0Ic1xkTyMEloQhmoDw/s1600-h/boys+and+guest+room+036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji4hru5v5f_BXwOkkvCYs_GMxBmvNhNXz2vear7ZZt694JsPZll3TMU8ahfpqbSiLzqodPq5auSXfCIbRCzm02x9mAIbcYFuwqpX0_KagPLWy_zFmD9PAy94hDi0Ic1xkTyMEloQhmoDw/s320/boys+and+guest+room+036.JPG" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">I didn't have a lot in the way of pillows to place on this bed. But I did have a colorful tea towel and some burlap. So I just wrapped some old pillows and pinned them in the back. I know. Real classy.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxKzCY4vZ6PljB8drnm_9oH1o-iU75KyXRvFke3B63zwV8JbgBNVZSeGoEOEWdnnJpMgS_6g2ZLE0RXlBbQolBHY0Jv0kBd9dxv9ciPL-elxRSBuv72cu50xtkrvCbKvch6TDT7I3yVmo/s1600-h/boys+and+guest+room+035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxKzCY4vZ6PljB8drnm_9oH1o-iU75KyXRvFke3B63zwV8JbgBNVZSeGoEOEWdnnJpMgS_6g2ZLE0RXlBbQolBHY0Jv0kBd9dxv9ciPL-elxRSBuv72cu50xtkrvCbKvch6TDT7I3yVmo/s320/boys+and+guest+room+035.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Don't tell anyone.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Next up, the window. I found a table cloth in my stash that had the exact colors to pull all my random pieces together. But I just had the one table cloth. I decided to do a <a href="http://www.thenester.com/2010/01/window-treatment-makeover.html">mistreatment</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQA_52IKhctexAYkx5HXWy9fjTMcqsx_qSBBlbFwYELw3f7BlZXkJ_NOu5z5CbYn3RtzGhP1q1ipJZ7hRZYswhLBuWPNu4jHzsJdpzcKfXV6Jpy2ckocHzBGgpi-oZCj1JcxQJt4tRA7g/s1600-h/boys+and+guest+room+044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQA_52IKhctexAYkx5HXWy9fjTMcqsx_qSBBlbFwYELw3f7BlZXkJ_NOu5z5CbYn3RtzGhP1q1ipJZ7hRZYswhLBuWPNu4jHzsJdpzcKfXV6Jpy2ckocHzBGgpi-oZCj1JcxQJt4tRA7g/s320/boys+and+guest+room+044.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">See the colors? Aren't they perfect?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I had a handful of upholstery tacks from another project so I pinned my table cloth to the right side of the window to soften the window and pull things together a bit.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG57OrDyJhurkqGpe9vXrQACGPBcJhvv1gUKwBIE4_GF27TtT_kFm3-SoT5nMIpAk9NV7aVz06D3y2SFT_lmrlMaDuXpTxrzdFjW6-OTPj9jgjDfjQzDklsofbfUm-uiCqJE3TNKvP460/s1600-h/boys+and+guest+room+041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG57OrDyJhurkqGpe9vXrQACGPBcJhvv1gUKwBIE4_GF27TtT_kFm3-SoT5nMIpAk9NV7aVz06D3y2SFT_lmrlMaDuXpTxrzdFjW6-OTPj9jgjDfjQzDklsofbfUm-uiCqJE3TNKvP460/s320/boys+and+guest+room+041.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">I threw a shakey old desk chair in front and layered it with a few odds and ends and put the tall bookshelf in the corner.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizAPhrdqtSkZxfhKwj7fYAULavg2bzuwVO_gzu24dWxmYZMReOK3wgCYZq7HSVr4aOTWVJdTt33-EzB5T7ckpRay4B_xTFvfsI4U_ceP6SQCbvwfMjuj1ztq20Tk8cmqg5g_WzLWDs2To/s1600-h/boys+and+guest+room+031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizAPhrdqtSkZxfhKwj7fYAULavg2bzuwVO_gzu24dWxmYZMReOK3wgCYZq7HSVr4aOTWVJdTt33-EzB5T7ckpRay4B_xTFvfsI4U_ceP6SQCbvwfMjuj1ztq20Tk8cmqg5g_WzLWDs2To/s320/boys+and+guest+room+031.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And on the wall to he left of the window, over the side of the bed, I put up a frame I spray painted red and threw in some more of my vintage floral prints. Put them up with poster putty.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8KweBxtbmBYt2WDQ4Im15xIqB6FRqq9euNypDv5thbR4ZWjcQtBzKr_3E5GUjit2_r9ZgAP27uUCZDBdfcfM0tgEHQEqZs9h19afwMMRerxRLnOWX3zUXbVuxCWw8ZPh7V1o-gDrdLg/s1600-h/boys+and+guest+room+038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8KweBxtbmBYt2WDQ4Im15xIqB6FRqq9euNypDv5thbR4ZWjcQtBzKr_3E5GUjit2_r9ZgAP27uUCZDBdfcfM0tgEHQEqZs9h19afwMMRerxRLnOWX3zUXbVuxCWw8ZPh7V1o-gDrdLg/s320/boys+and+guest+room+038.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So, there you have it. All rooms are now staged and ready for a buyer. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbMifsfn3sXq2S_qOgn2GPJIVJ88zWr_bZwbjct9yYLYW7jID8uzdwqROyZ1OTC2c-zvMhOO4iKkRq8Czlp5PaKVZrgcpcfrb9NXm8Ae0xzwdfxR0OR8F3tMZmfGYZ3T5_F4cyhCbaeVQ/s1600-h/guest+room+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbMifsfn3sXq2S_qOgn2GPJIVJ88zWr_bZwbjct9yYLYW7jID8uzdwqROyZ1OTC2c-zvMhOO4iKkRq8Czlp5PaKVZrgcpcfrb9NXm8Ae0xzwdfxR0OR8F3tMZmfGYZ3T5_F4cyhCbaeVQ/s200/guest+room+001.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpT7h6EyOim6fW56eLf6aiTOeSsHS3cFz23Y3CGA-k6cv7VZ5OgW01pxnv1k4ZeV2TC0_K_k7RKErBtz5cd8Ead3z8uNxIY3afauxQObGijp5m_DR1OSY-HCYccmzz9ggmBDQAKFj5PSQ/s1600-h/guest+room+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpT7h6EyOim6fW56eLf6aiTOeSsHS3cFz23Y3CGA-k6cv7VZ5OgW01pxnv1k4ZeV2TC0_K_k7RKErBtz5cd8Ead3z8uNxIY3afauxQObGijp5m_DR1OSY-HCYccmzz9ggmBDQAKFj5PSQ/s200/guest+room+007.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hmmm. . . now that I'm looking at these pictures I think my picture thingy next to the window needs to come down some. Go check out these sites for some great ideas while I go take care of that!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Linking up to <a href="http://cottageinstincts.blogspot.com/2010/02/make-it-for-monday-14.html">Make it for Monday</a> @ Cottage Instincts, <a href="http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/2010/02/welcome-to-59th-metamorphosis-monday.html">Metamorphosis Monday</a> @ Between Naps on the Porch</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85778/stawal/4246daef53294d7adb238d13b19acb11.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div>Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866578684190564024noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201489281610922146.post-89923873080193403342010-02-21T19:20:00.013-05:002010-02-27T07:37:51.914-05:00farm table gone coastal :: REVISED<div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAisMdSJLNhEQRqAebqfvsZD9G_jjPpDsG88Qxyub2VXt-xetYosCBOi7FfUtu53EfDcbzbtiTYDM6Pp1o5RgxBl0elNZkBxYD8qYJMmCyryX5W3hEy3gJKHPuwhgEyET8Ftj09H9hgQo/s1600-h/table+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAisMdSJLNhEQRqAebqfvsZD9G_jjPpDsG88Qxyub2VXt-xetYosCBOi7FfUtu53EfDcbzbtiTYDM6Pp1o5RgxBl0elNZkBxYD8qYJMmCyryX5W3hEy3gJKHPuwhgEyET8Ftj09H9hgQo/s320/table+010.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In a few weeks we will be putting our house back on the market. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This means two things. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">1. I will be constantly cleaning and picking up behind my boys in an effort to<em> not</em> let things get too out of control so I don't have to run around like a mad woman trying to make the place look presentable before a prospective buyer comes by. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Whew, that was a mouthful. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">2. Any big projects on my mental list will be put on hold as I am thinking it's not appealing to have my buffet sitting atop a drop cloth, partially primed, with all manner of paint supplies scattered about. Sigh.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So, when I saw Layla's <a href="http://www.theletteredcottage.net/2010/02/dining-room-table-transformation-part.html">table</a>, my heart went aflutter and I knew what I had to do. One last painting project.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I wanted to give our farm table a new look.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtnlgYLBPKRxv3Ap3ga25WOfle7ViJegZe2s7NNZeoyr6zNgrr_AuMpaermDE93K_z9zqSN_TtWQ4FqWU8I8ml93MiWx63FbJpsdv3APVzMKQZgWkhxiDb64hyL7rroIDBy-W-RAE0sQQ/s1600-h/projects+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtnlgYLBPKRxv3Ap3ga25WOfle7ViJegZe2s7NNZeoyr6zNgrr_AuMpaermDE93K_z9zqSN_TtWQ4FqWU8I8ml93MiWx63FbJpsdv3APVzMKQZgWkhxiDb64hyL7rroIDBy-W-RAE0sQQ/s320/projects+007.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">It's a great table. Super sturdy and can take any and all abuse my boys throw at it. I know some people, Didi, will think painting it was a bad idea. But I was bored by it and really wanted to lighten it up. I'm really drawn to driftwood looks but have been too nervous to attempt it. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Then <a href="http://www.theletteredcottage.net/2010/02/dining-room-table-transformation-part.html">Layla</a> at <a href="http://www.theletteredcottage.net/">the Lettered Cottage</a> did hers. And she gave a great tutorial!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9WuaxJ_fcUJjSiOEzA1mSUjLGUhE3gxA29nYXNDp1Pjr1qCmjop7cwJlSRI4COF5L-ouf6muFy0qKQr4H0koajpebzL16i8H3dZCnlYajv4QQdDf1SwCMi5naEvdK5OnRW0V1x-GR3X4/s1600-h/table+project+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9WuaxJ_fcUJjSiOEzA1mSUjLGUhE3gxA29nYXNDp1Pjr1qCmjop7cwJlSRI4COF5L-ouf6muFy0qKQr4H0koajpebzL16i8H3dZCnlYajv4QQdDf1SwCMi5naEvdK5OnRW0V1x-GR3X4/s320/table+project+006.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">With one exception, I followed her suggestions to the letter. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here's what I did.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sanded her down. I had some help with that part.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZq-x_ti4JMQ6acJONZ-5AChSCeTZrQiEMEtCnAXXqTXo2ANHYf1B26aGmymh1sdqQSlay7dy-YQUZ-8QMO3IbfLV7aF2MNTLsjmQPRTKs8skxRt63WodNpGQgLksDHA-DLsbF3W86xVQ/s1600-h/table+project+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZq-x_ti4JMQ6acJONZ-5AChSCeTZrQiEMEtCnAXXqTXo2ANHYf1B26aGmymh1sdqQSlay7dy-YQUZ-8QMO3IbfLV7aF2MNTLsjmQPRTKs8skxRt63WodNpGQgLksDHA-DLsbF3W86xVQ/s320/table+project+004.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That's a spider man face painted on Spinner's cheek. He got it at Home Depot, of all places. We went in to pick up a couple things and turns out they were having a festival of sorts. Face painting, popcorn, hula hooping, balloons, music and dancing, and kids workshops. Go figure. So, fun times at Home Depot.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg33z7THyq68fPVoh-jEQI0WnR2s5yBEtrBxG8V292_jzhdzAxTNkf8UtEYpZrabW2YOICkY1mWGUjs8c2mtYAw6VsbmK-RyGW3zkcj08ykrO3lsgc26zykuFCut9GA9W7hcH0u47yjLcQ/s1600-h/table+project+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg33z7THyq68fPVoh-jEQI0WnR2s5yBEtrBxG8V292_jzhdzAxTNkf8UtEYpZrabW2YOICkY1mWGUjs8c2mtYAw6VsbmK-RyGW3zkcj08ykrO3lsgc26zykuFCut9GA9W7hcH0u47yjLcQ/s320/table+project+005.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And, of course, being the dangerous work that sanding is Tank insisted on wearing his helmet.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After sanding it down to a nice smooth finish (I did not sand the legs) I applied a coat of poly. Poly first, you say? I wondered the same thing. It's so the color the poly gives it will show through rather than the raw, sanded wood color.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCdTN5YC6tlmPW6SYiYpns291OaX_zppA1iQSKcC0G8S4ijIGTjqPExLg6QGQ91vz1mFAj_u0vtG5AepAglhoxdGzYdygkdwTSd9dqw8ajV7t2a9xUOlmCPJe_lsPxSTkYFHWNU2Muqrw/s1600-h/table+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCdTN5YC6tlmPW6SYiYpns291OaX_zppA1iQSKcC0G8S4ijIGTjqPExLg6QGQ91vz1mFAj_u0vtG5AepAglhoxdGzYdygkdwTSd9dqw8ajV7t2a9xUOlmCPJe_lsPxSTkYFHWNU2Muqrw/s320/table+002.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">While the poly dried I painted the legs. I mixed some heavy cream Behr paint I had on hand with some white until I got the color I wanted. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After the poly was dry I used a mixture of paint and water (50/50) and put a coat on top. When that dried I dry brushed about 5 coats or so. This is where I veered a bit from Layla. Around the fourth coat of dry brushing I added a touch of mocha glaze to what was on my brush. I was wanting to darken it up just a smidge. Once that was dry I sanded until I got a look I was happy with.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgXcBGmAWQKrNb63rFWSN76xbzpMlY04LCYBu0dtFMS-O6f7Msc2pNCm7CPnBgw4W_1vmtR2GzwqPWEst_Fp8moonZG8Th-CkbUXIcGPNc6FfTSve88Pxm2ao8CHIFFeHe9ZdYDg0mL3g/s1600-h/table+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgXcBGmAWQKrNb63rFWSN76xbzpMlY04LCYBu0dtFMS-O6f7Msc2pNCm7CPnBgw4W_1vmtR2GzwqPWEst_Fp8moonZG8Th-CkbUXIcGPNc6FfTSve88Pxm2ao8CHIFFeHe9ZdYDg0mL3g/s320/table+012.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then I used Deft furniture protector stuff. I know it has an official name but I can't remember it. It's a lacquer rather than a poly. Then I sanded it a little more to remove some of the shine. It <em>is</em> supposed to look like a piece of driftwood, afterall. I'll let you be the judge of whether I achieved that look or not.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQqtdq6YRqxXCYl8DB2srv2WVfXwCDeqwOn9ImQKcWyzhUm0NGAfffcKTxQFqf6mM0RyQq0vjdzkLR6KS-vjUOjDdQ1COr6BSR4lOvrzTmLg1Q-OjKzJSJJ4Bz1WPCCBFwDsGXyx0eZDU/s320/table+001.JPG" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am liking how it turned out. It's a big change. When we move we will go with different wall colors so I am looking foward to pulling together the whole look I have in mind. At some point. In some yet-to-be determined home. For now, I have to get this place cleaned up. The realtor's are coming over to photograph.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGwsuHefpGVdXfrJbjIJx3vj_dG8kLju-kSuAtNw7eYQX7RvNHbHGIXgK6aG37qTuzgejM1ljW5CwgPNCeY18wyGMCv11nibZSurSSg0rXWqQdH2XBKpYkpTRaTs6feWLmD40LQlxraiQ/s1600-h/table+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGwsuHefpGVdXfrJbjIJx3vj_dG8kLju-kSuAtNw7eYQX7RvNHbHGIXgK6aG37qTuzgejM1ljW5CwgPNCeY18wyGMCv11nibZSurSSg0rXWqQdH2XBKpYkpTRaTs6feWLmD40LQlxraiQ/s320/table+007.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm linking up to<a href="http://cottageinstincts.blogspot.com/2010/02/make-it-for-monday-13.html"> Cottage Instincts</a>, <a href="http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/">Between Naps on the Porch</a>, <a href="http://www.domestically-speaking.com/2010/02/8th-power-of-paint-party.html">Domestically Speaking</a>, <a href="http://missmustardseed.blogspot.com/2010/02/furniture-feature-friday-link-party.html?">Mustard Seed Creations</a>, and<a href="http://waldenhouse.blogspot.com/2010/02/farm-table-gone-coastal.html"> Funky Junk Interiors</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Revised :: 2.25.10</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Okay</span>, so after living with this table for two days I decided the top wasn't quite right. My desire for a driftwood, rustic look just didn't come through as well. It was nice but not quite enough contrast between the table top and the base. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pastor J liked it but, being the awesome hubs that he is, was fine with me tweaking it. He's getting used to this and let's me have my fun without too much protest over the disruption of removed furniture and general dismay when I am in the middle of a project while keeping up with the boys.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The table top really started bugging me Tuesday night. I could barely get through the night. It was all I could do to keep myself from getting up at 2am when I woke thinking about how I would achieve the look I wanted. I was so anxious to get it right. After dropping the kids off on Wednesday morning I came home and got to work. Here is what I ended up with.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAQBiNx-krwQqb81o-6Po_JUk07JTAZmujfSh-2uovynzZa15e_gWMG6EfBVuMWlh9kZxVsfpA3QX-_MiLcN8L_K26j5lgYvA0tW8wKrXj2wF14eVdWa-TJcDla1awcPDZkw1FFZPS5BM/s1600-h/table+redo+2+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAQBiNx-krwQqb81o-6Po_JUk07JTAZmujfSh-2uovynzZa15e_gWMG6EfBVuMWlh9kZxVsfpA3QX-_MiLcN8L_K26j5lgYvA0tW8wKrXj2wF14eVdWa-TJcDla1awcPDZkw1FFZPS5BM/s320/table+redo+2+009.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm not sure if the difference comes through very well in the photo. But it is different. Looks more like an old piece of wood dragged out of a trash pile. Which is what I wanted.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipXHn0Sj8Xu9uXZzXXJQ0NFoq8KqbaJYT9xTCY1pNoy-aEhM-7LYawNaAum3THH0CIi1rSmnEnsj6VetL4WZ792oYg9qEI6y-aNfm7aq5mY-KgNGB7lHOrmMZHMp4n6bhnOfXvx1Bjbeg/s1600-h/table+redo+2+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipXHn0Sj8Xu9uXZzXXJQ0NFoq8KqbaJYT9xTCY1pNoy-aEhM-7LYawNaAum3THH0CIi1rSmnEnsj6VetL4WZ792oYg9qEI6y-aNfm7aq5mY-KgNGB7lHOrmMZHMp4n6bhnOfXvx1Bjbeg/s320/table+redo+2+008.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I like the contrast between the top and base much better. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here's what I did. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Totally trial and error.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I sanded it down a bunch. 50 grit, followed by 80 grit, then 120 grit to smooth it out a bit. I didn't sand it clean. It was patchy. With various shades of white still as well as various shades of the original wood showing through. Also did some distressing of my own by using the edge of the sander to give it some real rough looking places. Then I grabbed some stain, Early American tint, and covered it all. I wasn't sure this would give me what I wanted but I was determined to use what I had on hand. I like how it turned out.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJH8PM8_8tSRC40D0j__NBIvvg8ziRZqvaoY2ISbBKeM2-eJ0LsWXD7u0Cc3CmUgHnOSKYnn__pYO638j5k-1ajSMUevCDS_eGisKqd44884IYDVIqRG9RULRMm_X_QDXSxlwGc1Ru5Jo/s1600-h/table+redo+2+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJH8PM8_8tSRC40D0j__NBIvvg8ziRZqvaoY2ISbBKeM2-eJ0LsWXD7u0Cc3CmUgHnOSKYnn__pYO638j5k-1ajSMUevCDS_eGisKqd44884IYDVIqRG9RULRMm_X_QDXSxlwGc1Ru5Jo/s320/table+redo+2+007.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was afraid the stain would make the white that was coming through look dingy but it gave it a nice warm brown look which looks great agains the darker brown of the original wood that received the stain. I also dry brused a little black paint (flat spray paint to be exact, cause that's what I had) around the corners and randomly around the edges.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Once my mom came by to give me a much needed second opinion I applied Deft for a protective finish.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDY3bTCuzALcQiCQxjymX8ySU4er-BsuDQvLNe_T-vMNdK6qQNCAyXGYxCsY651kCi5gWtwHKRLCirxmI6fDkE5CcpvpFDrTl9nilRq9TgBBKQesztLjYFHoI5TJfg8_Tl1s3HNr44V2g/s1600-h/table+redo+2+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDY3bTCuzALcQiCQxjymX8ySU4er-BsuDQvLNe_T-vMNdK6qQNCAyXGYxCsY651kCi5gWtwHKRLCirxmI6fDkE5CcpvpFDrTl9nilRq9TgBBKQesztLjYFHoI5TJfg8_Tl1s3HNr44V2g/s320/table+redo+2+006.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And now, I'm happy with it and can move on with my life.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipXHn0Sj8Xu9uXZzXXJQ0NFoq8KqbaJYT9xTCY1pNoy-aEhM-7LYawNaAum3THH0CIi1rSmnEnsj6VetL4WZ792oYg9qEI6y-aNfm7aq5mY-KgNGB7lHOrmMZHMp4n6bhnOfXvx1Bjbeg/s1600-h/table+redo+2+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipXHn0Sj8Xu9uXZzXXJQ0NFoq8KqbaJYT9xTCY1pNoy-aEhM-7LYawNaAum3THH0CIi1rSmnEnsj6VetL4WZ792oYg9qEI6y-aNfm7aq5mY-KgNGB7lHOrmMZHMp4n6bhnOfXvx1Bjbeg/s200/table+redo+2+008.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_i-zZ4MjSWWXjGwjkfh9lJlWz1zdxE3gBaTUvt_Ow0g_F1kuhnPKaFom74b9koZGM-zLB0sy-q7JH14hhnzsoQWjKc3Mn91KI-k89C_OXR8IoXBnAnHKFgeTqkCl51i7lEQ3tdlUFanA/s1600-h/table+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_i-zZ4MjSWWXjGwjkfh9lJlWz1zdxE3gBaTUvt_Ow0g_F1kuhnPKaFom74b9koZGM-zLB0sy-q7JH14hhnzsoQWjKc3Mn91KI-k89C_OXR8IoXBnAnHKFgeTqkCl51i7lEQ3tdlUFanA/s200/table+010.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Left is the final-re-do, right was the first re-do</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85778/stawal/4246daef53294d7adb238d13b19acb11.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div>Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866578684190564024noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201489281610922146.post-59311669555415447412010-02-20T17:22:00.000-05:002010-02-20T17:22:00.024-05:00Spring is knocking on the door. . .<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt84VVS8rzFOA-Qe9sy5URSuOSZ9xzhladxcwc4_vSasylRYZOLvMb47TSHmsNV-RE7dfLrwsbBCgqrByCiEifx-HLxU5ngFehozCa_bpRsGCtNKufkQ22wwTzbTRUTlUkmthtrMD2O38/s1600-h/table+project+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt84VVS8rzFOA-Qe9sy5URSuOSZ9xzhladxcwc4_vSasylRYZOLvMb47TSHmsNV-RE7dfLrwsbBCgqrByCiEifx-HLxU5ngFehozCa_bpRsGCtNKufkQ22wwTzbTRUTlUkmthtrMD2O38/s320/table+project+001.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: x-large;">can someone <em>please</em> let her in?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZLxX-06lwm-FT8O9IwDSPmVKspUUEsUeQz-ikVCJpey7W51eXhE1fcIwi8Er-quErFMsfsVZUZP_zXU9fxg83LEaTRYdAGiyXTbeeVayyrAoXqNrP1h2HAxj8QbB3ynKivwr9Tno6mR0/s1600-h/table+project+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZLxX-06lwm-FT8O9IwDSPmVKspUUEsUeQz-ikVCJpey7W51eXhE1fcIwi8Er-quErFMsfsVZUZP_zXU9fxg83LEaTRYdAGiyXTbeeVayyrAoXqNrP1h2HAxj8QbB3ynKivwr9Tno6mR0/s320/table+project+002.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: large;">Thanks!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85778/stawal/4246daef53294d7adb238d13b19acb11.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div>Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866578684190564024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201489281610922146.post-43007415318539578552010-02-19T22:00:00.000-05:002010-02-19T22:00:34.524-05:00enjoying the small things<div style="text-align: center;">i discoverd a new blog recently, <a href="http://enjoyingthesmallthings.blogspot.com/">enjoying the small things</a>. </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">a well written blog with beautiful photography. </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">but, really, there are a lot of blogs out there that fit that description. </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">i think after reading <a href="http://enjoyingthesmallthings.blogspot.com/2010/01/nella-cordelia-birth-story.html">this</a> incredibly moving <a href="http://enjoyingthesmallthings.blogspot.com/2010/01/nella-cordelia-birth-story.html">birth story</a> you will agree that this is a pretty cool family.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85778/stawal/4246daef53294d7adb238d13b19acb11.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div>Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866578684190564024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201489281610922146.post-76333464636463990412010-02-18T19:33:00.000-05:002010-02-18T19:33:46.987-05:00wreath update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAd_MNBrcVkrRn7BRy99YtY73wRyReoYGNUcI4mPbgWosULokiEMNdyVUS8-J4S_36xXDqxmb_WLEwp1tZBr5cwxBd9IKj68BIoTM9lgFXc3Ez45c5Y_vjOSYjBTcCB32Zfx-Y7KYVrYM/s1600-h/wreath's+029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAd_MNBrcVkrRn7BRy99YtY73wRyReoYGNUcI4mPbgWosULokiEMNdyVUS8-J4S_36xXDqxmb_WLEwp1tZBr5cwxBd9IKj68BIoTM9lgFXc3Ez45c5Y_vjOSYjBTcCB32Zfx-Y7KYVrYM/s320/wreath's+029.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In between doing laundry, wiping noses, administering antibiotics, doing laundry, pinning down Tank to torture him with eye drops, doing laundry, checking fevers, and, have I mentioned doing laundry (?), I am working on wreaths. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih3gHJaZEEEhpGfmNBOVSmZb8kTs2Xz84sibrbm1AosZiJY4pd1ejBkxrrfqELcK5rE7W3Psz9PBluzUd5Lnm6ZVwbIZJlSKLpmIottcAtEdbxj-3ekGFC7W62oqjtYeTYNtInFLxIHAQ/s1600-h/wreath's+032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih3gHJaZEEEhpGfmNBOVSmZb8kTs2Xz84sibrbm1AosZiJY4pd1ejBkxrrfqELcK5rE7W3Psz9PBluzUd5Lnm6ZVwbIZJlSKLpmIottcAtEdbxj-3ekGFC7W62oqjtYeTYNtInFLxIHAQ/s320/wreath's+032.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Our <a href="http://waldenhouse.blogspot.com/2010/02/wreath-fundraiser-and-cool-family.html">little fundraiser</a> is in high gear and the orders are trickling in. This will be ongoing as the Camacho's continue to raise money for their adoption. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">My kitchen table is overwhelmed with wreath making materials. If you want to add your name to the list it's not too late. Just follow the instructions<a href="http://waldenhouse.blogspot.com/2010/02/wreath-fundraiser-and-cool-family.html"> here</a>.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNr_gCRTACQiTSk6AXSR1CZMFQ2lWRoZyqblsxYxfE4Y3pN2XCcTXGKY4eFqVOT5lbAjk_47p9wrUP4pIxSdzB2CGlDiyJY7H7rKbtd2APcvOwz2EV6cusxMrpf6eDfznJVtFR4v50sVM/s1600-h/wreath's+035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNr_gCRTACQiTSk6AXSR1CZMFQ2lWRoZyqblsxYxfE4Y3pN2XCcTXGKY4eFqVOT5lbAjk_47p9wrUP4pIxSdzB2CGlDiyJY7H7rKbtd2APcvOwz2EV6cusxMrpf6eDfznJVtFR4v50sVM/s320/wreath's+035.JPG" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">If you have already ordered one I will be contacting you soon. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85778/stawal/4246daef53294d7adb238d13b19acb11.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866578684190564024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201489281610922146.post-33429592719924392142010-02-15T14:05:00.002-05:002010-02-15T17:17:14.469-05:00Wreath Fundraiser and a Cool Family<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ro9hPozoiiEOQP9OrGhaZ4uU_xTwb7Bgmi8Y-Fym0OeHM4nUBTPiekQlg1S5SduJWWHZMkinJlcyH0-JEcDJdZzkB68TaqOnYuowe9ENL07JHVz93KJi7mxazLOMOglsmn6kCZMdfUE/s1600-h/feb.10+068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ro9hPozoiiEOQP9OrGhaZ4uU_xTwb7Bgmi8Y-Fym0OeHM4nUBTPiekQlg1S5SduJWWHZMkinJlcyH0-JEcDJdZzkB68TaqOnYuowe9ENL07JHVz93KJi7mxazLOMOglsmn6kCZMdfUE/s200/feb.10+068.JPG" width="150" /></a><br />
Styrofoam, Burlap, Fabric, and Buttons. I'm throwing it all together for a good cause. <br />
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Kenny and Meredith Camacho are among the first people we met when we moved to SC to plant a church. Not only have they been an integral and important part of the leadership and decision making of our young church, they have become good friends, great encourager's to us and people we admire.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Kenny is a PhD candidate in English with a specialty in 20th Century American Literature. He is also a part of our church worship team. Meredith teaches special needs kids at the high school level and helps out with our children's ministry. They have a beautiful little girl, Evangeline, who recently turned one. Now they are looking to grow their family.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglhOpb4ZcY2fxMnVDlf9x1nLC343EE0okKYfZsmwmSnTv8efELeG3cRBbBxoRkVbE7hyphenhyphenon8JqQ_49KTVvORQVZFdzEefMWSZV9wnIRYfGHa4-AdfU6EPkDSm1taQMUW2iuEfXIhGO3M-g/s1600-h/camacho's.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglhOpb4ZcY2fxMnVDlf9x1nLC343EE0okKYfZsmwmSnTv8efELeG3cRBbBxoRkVbE7hyphenhyphenon8JqQ_49KTVvORQVZFdzEefMWSZV9wnIRYfGHa4-AdfU6EPkDSm1taQMUW2iuEfXIhGO3M-g/s320/camacho's.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>I'll let Meredith tell you about it, "We're adopting because we want another child. God has been leading us to adoption since before we were married. We've been prayerfully considering adoption for a long time now, and we feel like He's leading us to do this now. Since we've begun this process, we've already seen God working a lot in us and through other people, and that's been really reassuring to us."<br />
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As you know, adoption is a costly endeavor. The Camacho's are faithfully pursuing ways to raise support to cover the costs ahead of them and have been encouraged to see the Lord's faitfulness and affirmation along the way. <br />
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This is where the wreath comes in. I made this whimsical wreath for my mother as a birthday gift. After I made it, and got to enjoy it in my home for a few days before gifting it to my mom, I started thinking about the possibility of making these as a fundraiser for the Camacho adoption fund. <br />
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And so, after talking with Meredith, that's what I'm doing. I wish I could remember where I first saw this wreath so I could give them credit. It was on a home decor blog that I found by clicking from one cool blog to the next. I didn't save it but have remembered it since and decided to put my own spin on it. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ewqM0vhYxya1xMQdsRJycBL_-iy8y-mMbU8hKeUPshg-UEw081k64eSozDtUIklRTUjA2x8QBgu4PuQ0ma-fYmilnPU4vpodpiBu6D3cmX8-bfcxf7CF5AZE8be_ET1yReCRQXjPbwM/s1600-h/feb.10+067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ewqM0vhYxya1xMQdsRJycBL_-iy8y-mMbU8hKeUPshg-UEw081k64eSozDtUIklRTUjA2x8QBgu4PuQ0ma-fYmilnPU4vpodpiBu6D3cmX8-bfcxf7CF5AZE8be_ET1yReCRQXjPbwM/s320/feb.10+067.JPG" /></a></div><br />
We are getting the word out in a few ways but I thought this might be a good place to start. So, for you local yocals that would like to purchase a wreath all you have to do is email me and let me know.( My email is over there to the right in the sidebar) They are $15 and every penny goes toward the Camacho adoption fund. If you live out of town and would like one I think we can arrange that, too. I need to check on shipping cost. We will just take it one order at a time and I will communicate final cost to you through email. <br />
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I can't do too much specialization but if there is a certain color you want me to stay away from please let me know. For example, if you just hate orange please tell me and I will avoid all manner of orange. Or if plaid makes you cringe, pass it on. <br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBDZ_TZ7W2ng_XFSpRr-HJwe9pdX3TnuVA6rRspexGYDByDxON2ZvWAIDbu7HXo5Qdn8XQM5KAHerLDl1RAUj3haEKhyphenhyphenMZ2zbRSjvrt722XhOfCpjRBnoUBoibOQBXUJxmaG4rJpUX4MM/s1600-h/feb.10+070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBDZ_TZ7W2ng_XFSpRr-HJwe9pdX3TnuVA6rRspexGYDByDxON2ZvWAIDbu7HXo5Qdn8XQM5KAHerLDl1RAUj3haEKhyphenhyphenMZ2zbRSjvrt722XhOfCpjRBnoUBoibOQBXUJxmaG4rJpUX4MM/s320/feb.10+070.JPG" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I already have one order so the cutting and glueing has begun. Now it's your turn. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">For $15 you get a decorative, original wreath that can be hung anywhere and, more importantly, a chance to help a loving family bring their child home. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>On behalf of the Camacho's, thanks for the support!<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85778/stawal/4246daef53294d7adb238d13b19acb11.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div>Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866578684190564024noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201489281610922146.post-34253506306627830532010-02-12T07:03:00.002-05:002010-02-12T07:04:19.454-05:00leaving things alone<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiYQFVvtjh8h4W5fMDE20XYePDrczlB84pIZfAUSzJn1k5TLQT25zpTr128qZg0qkP8JMYHIFqf-f1KHXG_GTdbN7jJCJ0ChPBAAt5eU9_zchXNbjtM3sZXSJhiw7FP9FbabNA0l_2zi8/s1600-h/tinker+toy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiYQFVvtjh8h4W5fMDE20XYePDrczlB84pIZfAUSzJn1k5TLQT25zpTr128qZg0qkP8JMYHIFqf-f1KHXG_GTdbN7jJCJ0ChPBAAt5eU9_zchXNbjtM3sZXSJhiw7FP9FbabNA0l_2zi8/s200/tinker+toy.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>No. I can't leave things alone. <br />
<br />
I'm always tinkering.<br />
<br />
Today. . . I'm tinkering with this place, Blessed Chaos. <br />
<br />
Well,<em> I</em> meaning my friend <a href="http://www.jarrodandlynn.com/">Lynn</a>. <br />
<br />
When I do the actual tinkering I generally have to <strike>beg</strike> ask her to undo what I messed up.<br />
<br />
My next purchase is going to be HTML for dummies. <br />
<br />
Anyway, things are a little out of whack here right now and they may stay that way for the weekend because Pastor J and I are headed to the mountains for an overnight.<br />
<br />
Without the kids.<br />
<br />
Or schedules.<br />
<br />
Toodles. . . <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85778/stawal/4246daef53294d7adb238d13b19acb11.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05866578684190564024noreply@blogger.com1