just an explore ...

STAY HOME does not include being out in nature where you're alone. 

Unless you're in Michigan ... sorry guys!

We headed out for the day last Sunday. In retrospect, we should have gone somewhere else, but so it goes. There's always next time.

Cheez Its for Jari and coffee for me …

He may have lost me ...

I have a space in that bedroom we were working on in February.

For those who may know this house, this is the bedroom that is at the back of the house. There was one window that faced the carport which we have completely enclosed, causing fire escape issues. So, we added another window that exits to the back patio. All indirect sunlight but sunlight it is!

It isn't done done done, but it is done!

I have a place to play ... although the sewing machine has still gone to the kitchen table .. once. Will see if I eventually start sewing in here but for now .... the desk top is covered with "office" kind of stuff.

I'll share more posts with you about how I did some of these things, but the most important thing I want you all to know is that nearly everything in here was recycled. The only things that I purchased in order to put this room together were the wood for the desk top and the colorful little buckets (minus the wire handles and paint that I added from my stash) that came from Ikea for pretty much dirt cheap. Everything else ... I already had.

This wasn't my plan exactly, but I can't get the things I really wanted in this era of pandemic. Maybe someday I'll find them at a yard sale. I'll have to share Jari's office space with you sometime, but I wanted the same type of cabinet we got for him from Ikea. First I hunted everywhere and couldn't find used, then I decided I was going to buy them at Ikea ... and Ikea is closed and has no shipping to any address in Arizona. That settled it and I had to get creative. Creative ended up costing less than ONE cabinet at Ikea would have cost me. And I'm about the penny pinching thing. I'm not quite my mother-in-law penny pincher, but I like to save a nickel and get what I want.

Planners and pens and notebooks and computers and most importantly, a Wifi booster that gets me some pretty good internet connection in this room. 

And then there is color. I don't know what I need all those colored pencils for but I must have used them for something or another at some time. Paint brushes, markers, highlighters and my all time favorites ... colored ultra fine point Sharpies in every color imaginable.

He may have lost me to this room. I can't wait to add some plants and colorful works of positive inspiration to a few places. Maybe my magnetic board will become my dream board. Now ... that's an idea!

Life affected ..

Life got busy. We had a houseful of beautiful family who left as COVID-19 began its nastiness around the country. 

Parents who left with many plans, hopes and prayers from their family. They made it home safely and are back in their own familiar place of watching. Occasionally I get to hear Corona Virus jokes retold from their evening visits. They are as safe as can be. 

Children who made their way home across the country. They, too, are safe and sound in their own place. I was blessed to be able to send them with some food items and other things she wouldn’t take .. like 25 lbs of flour. 

We missed seeing friends who were in town but we had sort of quarantined our own home to keep our loved ones safe. There will be other visits .. other times. 

Yesterday was Easter Sunday. We ate at home with one dear friend who joined us. Due to sick little ones (normal sick), our family didn’t join us. We packed leftovers and delivered them for dinner instead. There will be other times for those get togethers as well. 

In the meantime, we are sort of hunkered down in our own way. A trip to the store when needed. Maybe a trip or two is something that others wouldn’t consider essential but who are they to tell me what my mental health requires. We have spent the last week working like dogs around the house. Do dogs really work? Regardless, we have been busy. I could post for months nonstop and yet I doubt I’ll find time for that. 

Until last week, we were both working. We were suppose to be in North Dakota for Easter but those plans are put off for another time as well. The airlines have been gracious in easily offering vouchers for travel. Let’s just hope the airline is still in business when I want to travel next! Because of travel plans, we had taken days off work and rather than making ourselves available for work .. we REALLY worked. If you know us .. we really did get stuff done around here. More on that later as well! The days I wasn’t scheduled off ... I had no hours at work. This coming week looks like another one of the same. No work for me. Hubby continues to work in a fashion that is safe as possible. Much of his work is done at home in a cool work space that we put together before visitors arrived. 

We have a roof over our heads, food on our table, good health and a gracious God who is watching over us. What more do we need in the middle of this chaos?

Belated Easter blessings to you and yours. I wish for you days that are peaceful, hopeful and filled with infusions of positive goodness. 

Be well my friends!

Am I the only one?

It's Friday the 13th today.
I'm planning on having a fabulous day.

Dust and diamonds

Lots, and I mean LOTS, of dust.
Kids, dirt and shovels ... at least last week it was.
This week is suppose to be rain. Let's see if we have mud.

Moments of diamonds in the rough?
Lots, and I mean LOTS, of them.

Getting me ice cream

Do you try clothes on over the clothes you're wearing?
Or do you head to the fitting room?

We did it this way. Anna got a comfy shirt and I left the one I'm wearing in the store.

I have a problem with finding clothing I like. If I wasn't such a spend thrift .. it might not be a big problem. I wear black. I wear gray. I wear jeans. I have a closet full of dress clothes, but not much in the middle. I want these pants! They look so comfy and cheap!

And ... I would need to eat lots of ice cream to make them fit.

So much for that.

I'm heading to North Dakota for Easter.
They have a thrift store that treats me well every time.
Wish me luck.

Just a swingin’

Last summer sometime, when it was croaking hot, we worked on this porch swing. I had purchased one off some online thing and it probably sat in the backyard for several years. Hubby even moved it to the new house for me. Then he told me that the wood was too shot to even hang up the swing. Well, shucks! He figured it should be able to hold the weight of several generations in one sitting. I think it does now! 

The arms were redone and the body of the swing is made of 2x4's. Seriously sturdy! We hung it out on the back patio and I never got around to finishing it up until last week.

White porch and floor paint from Sherwin Williams is my go to paint for almost anything now. Very hard drying paint for furniture and seems to last very well. The challenge is that the swing also gets rained on when weather happens here. Admittedly, that doesn't happen too often, but it does!

While laundry was spinning, or something equivalent was happening, last week, I added a bit of paint to the ends of each piece of wood. We prepainted before putting the swing together. And then it sat. Why does that happen?!

Anyway, added a wee bit of paint. Sanded some more to make all of it look a bit older than it actually is. Then came several coats of sealer. Now it should be weather proof and easily cleaned.

I know. I have a little white paint on the black metal. I did use some serious tape when I painted and it still got away from me. It will wear off over time and if it doesn't ... I really don't care.

We can still sit and swing our cares away.
Swing our babies to sleep.
Swing just because we all should spend some time on a swing.

Happy Weekend!