A day in pictures............

Concrete dust is covering EVERYTHING like this!

Scrumptious Saturday has been canceled for today.  Kitchen is closed!  Or just too filthy to cook in from all the concrete dust.  See this post if you are confused.

It was a long day, our house is a mess and we are all pretty tired.  There was NO way I could come up with something scrumptious today. 

Instead you can see the destruction of our home in pictures!  Have a great Saturday and be thankful if you kitchen plumbing is on an outside wall..........not in the middle of your house.
So here we go....sit back and enjoy the show......there are lots!

We started the day like this..............................

And then it all began.

 I am not a big fan of JUNK food....ok maybe pizza! But this was too much. Donuts, pizza and Whataburger. YUCK!

 All nicely cleaned up(NOT even!)and hole covered until Monday.

Happy Saturday all!

This was NOT on my list!

Well this is not exactly the kind of project I was looking for!  Talk about opening a can of worms with projects!!!!   Good thing for me I will not directly be involved in this one.  

This taped off area you see will become a big hole this morning.  Cutting through the wood floor and jack hammering into the slab and on down to the plumbing.  That is why we have sheets covering the bookcases and furniture.

Matthew saw their Star Wars sheets hanging on the bookcases and ask what kind of party we were having.  I said, "Lets cut a hole in the floor AND Mommy and Daddy's savings party!"

My kitchen sink is right there to your left.  Right in the center of our house. So this is where they will have to go to get to the problem.  To make a very long story short........we have a crack or a break or the pipe was never secured properly. 

This has been an ongoing problem for the last 11 years and it is finally coming to a head.  When a plumber goes to unclog a line and brings back MUD......well there is a problem.

So this morning we will rise early and prepare for a Friday of lots of action and noise in our home.

Happy Friday all........get outside and do something FUN!!!  Because we can't!!!!!!!

More Projects!

More projects!
My list of projects is not too long, but some more detailed than others.  I think it is fun to have a list of things to keep you busy.  Especially when it is creative stuff to play around with.
So here is the rest of my list so far.

#Two
This goes along with school stuff and the boys will love it. I am going to hang the big bulletin board we use to have in the DR right outside their bedroom doors. The wall has nothing on it, but a a lovely dirty clothes basket.

My only problem is...it looks so plain. I want a FUN, boyish way to decorate the frame.  But I may just have to go with the plain frame. I searched the net looking for cute ways to dress up a bulletin board and am finding teacher type decorations.

It really will not matter to the boys one way or the other.  They will enjoy hanging their stuff on it regardless.  And it is right by their rooms to see. 
I'll hang it for now and wait for something creative to come to mind................................


#Three
This one will be FUN! And "might" have to wait until the weather cools down a bit. It would require me working outdoors if I go one way. The other way I could so do this right where it is.

I want to refinish it or maybe decopouge the top of this little bench. Still thinking of what I want to do, but know for sure I have become bored with this color.

Years ago I bought this little bench from Big Lots for $19.99. It was plain unfinished wood. I watered down green paint and painted the bench. Next I sanded down the edges and painted those areas with a dark stain to look worn. I have loved it for years, but am ready for a change.

What do you think? White all over shabby chic bench or white shabby chic with decoupage on top?


And now for the final project.......drum roll please...........................
#Four

I am going to redo my laundry room!!!! Brant says, "Why? ......no one ever goes in there."

This is why..............................

When we built our home almost 12 years ago borders were SO in!!!! We also had a border in our kitchen and in both bathrooms. Now don't get me wrong there is NOTHING wrong with borders. And this one is really cute, but our taste has changed so much over twelve years.

Plus I keep thinking if I make it a nice room to look at maybe I'll keep it cleaner and neater. This will take the longest of all my projects. The border is not coming off easy......I already tried behind the door. So I'll need to get a product to help remove it. And I am not sure if I will have to go back and paint where I remove it. 
I also want to brighten up this dingy looking linoleum floor. How you ask?
***Brant, don't freak out!***
I want to paint it!!! It can be done. Check this out! This is painted linoleum! I have always wanted a black and white check floor. The laundry room is the only place I could do it!

Like I said this project will take me the longest. It may be Thanksgiving before I am done!!! So I better get started soon!!!

I'll update you on my progress as I finish a project!

Projects

I guess you could say I am on a roll here!!!  After I distressed the chair Monday(see yesterday's post)I got busy going through the house deciding what I would do next.

It is so HOT right now.
We are on day 25 or so of our temps being 100 degrees or higher.......IN A ROW!!!  
No relief in the very near future either.  I am stuck inside most of the day so why not get some stuff done around here!

I decided I would come up with a projects list and work from that.  Now lets get busy!!!!

#One
The first one I tackled was cleaning the school closet. Oh my stars this thing was a mess.
I sometimes use it for a catch-all and just throw stuff in there since we have been out of school.

Yesterday I decided enough is enough!!  It was past time to clean it out!!!  So I got after it and spent a good 3 hours clearing this junky closet.  I got so excited cleaning and organizing!!!  It really had me in the school mood.

So I stopped what I was doing and ordered the boys' phonics curriculum. 

And then got really crazy and made the school closet a education/craft closet!  Now everything I will ever need for education or FUN crafts is all in one spot!!!!

And here is the organized closet..................much neater!!!

Everything has a home!  A place easy for me to find anything I might need.  And instead of digging around and under stuff it is all right here.

I love my green fabric storage boxes.  The plastic drawers......not so much, but they work.  A school closet has to be functional and for whatever reason the boys like the "little" drawers.

Closet is ready for school to start.  And I am happy with the end result.  Now to move on to the next project!!

I have a list!  I'll share more tomorrow.

Chairs!

I have this thing for chairs. Distressed chairs. Lots of the furniture in our home is distressed. Some we have paid good money for and other pieces we have done ourselves......doing it yourself is so much more fun! And cost nearly nothing!!!!

Chairs. I love old chairs, used chairs, worn chairs......all different shapes and sizes of chairs.

I have 2 of these....someone had them to throw out.

Just one red.....she needs more distressing!

And this one from my Mamaw and Papa's dining room set. It is a treasure!!!

Blue is the not the original color. It was a pretty light brown color. But I of course had to give it a new life.

And then make it old again!

That is what I did late yesterday evening. I had painted it the blue color a few years ago. Love the color, but it was just looking too clean...too new. I got a wild hair and decided to distressed it.

I started sanding all around where it would naturally be worn. The seat and arms, but then I went all over it to add some character. I also got a hammer and gave it a few hits.

I continued to sand until I got the desired look. Here are some close ups of the different areas.

Am I done? Not sure.....I might go back and add a dark brown stain to all the areas I sanded down.

But for now I am much happier with the little blue chair that sits next to my bed.

Detour-Part 2

Life is full of signs. Signs telling us what direction we should go next.
Some are good, some are not so great and some bad! When I can see that sign I begin to prepare myself for the new direction.

I don't mind changes. In fact I think changes are good for us. It makes you stronger and allows you to learn to adapt easier to life. Because we all know life is constantly changing in some way.

What I don't like is sudden change.

I don't manage well when I have to do 180 degree turn overnight!!!! I freak! I feel all out of sorts.
If only I could see the detour sign ahead in the distance I could begin to prepare.

I feel God is giving us signs all the time!! I am pretty good about watching for His signs. When I do see one I always stop and evaluate what is going on. And at that point I completely see God's hand in the whole situation. I see His sign.

Last week after hours of discussion and research we realized now is not the time to try to sell our home.

The housing market is unpredictable, economy is tanking, the cost of living is going up, people are losing their jobs, food prices are soaring along with gas pricing..... we could not justify picking up and changing our life to just get out of the city. We are not on some schedule to get out either. So we decided to stay put.

Why had we not seen all this coming? Why had we not sat down before and looked at everything involved with a move?

Did we not see the sign in the road?

Everything happens for a reason. God's reason. He obviously has other plans for us. And it was not until this past week that He was ready for us to see the sign. I truly believe that.

So.........we are staying! I love my home and all we have put in to it. We have no regrets in this decision.

I am moving on to plan for the school year, but will keep my dining room with the non-school look. I really like it! We'll do some things we had talked about to the inside and outside since we plan to be here for a while......nothing major though. And I so look forward to planning our Fall/Winter gardens.

God's plan is not always what we want, but I feel confident His plan is better than mine. I have to look for His signs and go that direction accordingly.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Scrumptious Saturdays-Peach Salsa

Get your shopping list ready for this one!!!  Who doesn't love chips and salsa? 

I didn't see one hand go up so keep on reading....................

I discovered this delightful salsa last summer and have been craving it for weeks now.  I decided today it was time to make it again.

You know I don't make anything difficult so needless to say this is SUPER easy.  It does require a bit of chopping, but turn on the radio and enjoy a tune while you chop. 

There is not much of a recipe because you basically chop and mix together. And for most of the ingredients you will just use your judgement on.......add however much you and your family like.  You can make it as spicy as you like.  Or as mild as you like. 

So here is what you will need to pick up at the grocery store today!


Peach Salsa
3 peaches, chopped
1 tablespoons. lemon juice
3 ripe tomatoes, chopped
5 large green onions
2-3 gloves of garlic, finely chopped
canned/bottled jalapeno peppers, chopped...to your liking
cilantro, coarsely chopped.....add as much as you like
4 tablespoons good quality olive oil
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons honey

I didn't think the boys would like it but I always make them try everything.  So I added a little jalapeno so they could taste.  Once I knew they were not going to eat it I turned up the heat!
Get ready for a mouth explosion!!!  It is so fresh!!  Warning: it is a little on the oniony side. Just add less if you are not crazy about onions. 

It is great with chips, but would also be tasty on pork,fish or grilled chicken. Oh that sounds good!  And you can't beat chips and salsa with a cold beer or margarita.

This recipe made enough to fill up two Mason jars and this little bowl. 

Hope you make some soon!  I know it will not be the last time I make it this summer. 

Detour

Life is nothing but detours.  Just when you have become familiar with that road a sign pops up and tells you there is a detour ahead. 

Unfamiliar territory maybe? 

It is at that time you have to decide how you will travel the rest of your trip...your journey. 

Do you go this way or that?  Where will this direction take me?  Maybe I should go this way?
How do I know what to do?

The only sure way I know how to deal with detours is to turn it over to God.  And that direction is the very best way to go!!!!


Part 2 coming up Monday!  Make sure to check out my blog tomorrow for Scrumptious Saturdays.....a delightful, summer dip is coming your way!!!!

Happy Friday!  Get outside and have some FUN, but make sure to drink plenty of water!!!!!!

A cure for Scoliosis?

I am beyond excited!!!!!  If you have been following my blog you are aware that Ryan has Infantile Scoliosis.  If you are new and were not aware of that please go to the "Infantile Scoliosis" tab and read his story and the many other posts and stories there about our journey.

Ryan is treated at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in Dallas, Texas.  They are a world leader in the treatment for orthopedic conditions.

Quarterly we receive a little magazine, Rite Up, from the hospital about things that are going on there.  Yesterday in the mail I received the Summer 2011 edition.  And right on the front page was an article titled.....

TSRHC Points the Way to a Cure for Idiopathic Scoliosis

Praise the Lord!!!  I was so excited to share I quickly got on the roof of our house and shouted to the neighborhood.  Just kidding, but I did get on Facebook and spread the word.  And on my Infantile Scoliosis support group!!!!! 

You do not know what this means for future children who will be diagnosed.  No, it will not really help Ryan much, but it gives me so much hope for the future.

I tried to find a link to share, but they have not put it up on their website.  So I scanned it in order to share.  Please read below!!! 

This is BIG!!!!! It is HUGE!  Such major research for this terrible condition!!

I am so excited about the research that is going on.  And feel so blessed to be at this hospital!!!! 
To think they are so close to finding a cure gives me chills. 

Will you begin praying with me for this research team?  


***Ryan Update-he will go on August 12th for a check-up and xray.  We are most anxious for this visit after taking him out of the brace cold turkey!  His back looks great, but only an xray tells the real truth.  I'll keep you posted***