November Yard Work

Such a pretty fall day today is! I took my pruning sheers outside today to 'have at' my peony bushes. While pruning them I discovered several lovely stalks of this purple flower. Anyone know what it is? And, why is it blooming on November 13?

I've always wanted one of these bright red bushes, and now I have two! Doubly blessed, that's me!


The hard maples, of which I am also doubly blessed (although they are on the 'city' side of the sidewalk) have just turned a lovely shade of golden yellow. I just stood under them for a little while, basking in their golden loveliness.

And, this lovely rusty/red maple tree in the front yard makes for a perfect view out my front window.

I love trees. I truly feel blessed to call these my own!

(especially this year, when we are paying someone to rake them up for us!)

Before, During and

Okay. So there is NO after. Yet. Most of the hideous wallpaper is gone, but as you can see, not ALL of it.

I was wondering why my wrist was so sore, and then I realized...all that scraping and picking and peeling at that horrible wallpaper.

So, for the sake of saving my hand I've quit for awhile.

But I'll get back to it. I will. And, when all the paper is off, I will paint it. And quite possibly do something creative with the walls.

The pink toilet almost died. I didn't even want to THINK about that. It happened during the time THGGM was working out of town all weekend.

I could just picture my all pink bathroom with a blue toilet (we've had those, TWICE).

It wasn't a big deal at all. For one dollar and 80 some cents THGGM was able to fix it in a matter of minutes.

Oh, the curtain under the sink I made from a one dollar thrifted sheet. It is pink and white gingham. I'm really getting into this whole pink and white thing. Can you tell?

The Yard.

THGGM got a lot of exercise tonight. While we were eating supper, we noticed that the 'bookball' team was practicing. Jonge is all about the 'bookball' team! Tonight he saw them run. Of course, he had to run also. Pake was never TOO far behind.

They walk around the block whenever they get the chance. So far they have met quite a few neighbors.

Jonge is checking for bees. There weren't any tonight.

He really likes bees. And spiders.

I really don't.

These are cool. I don't know what they are.

I'm not sure what these are either. Jonge knows that they are 'poople'.

I'm still working to identify everything. I've had a few friends help me along the way. Two plants look like something very large sat in the middle of them (it wasn't me).

More Thrifty Goodness

Here is THGGM's thrift store find of the weekend.

The lamp!

I walked passed it, as it had a too tall awkward hurricane in it.

THGGM, ever the visionary, knew that I had a too small hurricane in my thrifted bedside lamp.

So, he bought it, swapped out the hurricanes, and, we now have two very nice looking lamps for next to no cost.

This bookcase with the thrifted lamp are what one is facing when entering our front door.

Not that anyone will ever use our front door.

Think Pink. And White.

Alrighty then.

The bathroom DID NOT get done before the shower.

So, I stuck an index card to the wall with masking tape that says "Picture this white".

I might just leave it like that. After all, didn't someone brilliant say that imagination was more important than intelligence? Or was it something else. I forget. After all, I am low on intelligence and high on imagination!

Anyway. Since I couldn't do that forever, I picked up some 'product' at the hardware store.

I am now the proud owner of a wallpaper perforater - which is loads of fun - and $13 worth of stuff purported to removed even the most-stucked-down wallpaper, which this is. Undoubtedly. Stucked down good.

Everything takes time. Everything.

Repainting the Bedroom

This is what THGGM is doing tonight.

Repainting the bedroom.

It was just too screaming yellow.

So, it is presently becoming the color which appears over the window.

It's actually the color of one of my favorite shirts.

I think we will use this same color in the kitchen.

It's Starting to Look Like Home!

Here are two pictures of the living room.

It's the only room THGGM has painted, so far. He has been a VERY busy man.

We've been spending most of our time in the knotty pine paneled den, or the breeze-

way.

The stove isn't hooked up yet, so tonight we had grilled cheese sandwiches on an electric griddle. I haven't found any spatulas yet, so I've got a few interesting burns on my fingers.

Notice that there is a missing fireplace poker. I thought I had done an incredible job of child proofing.

Baby Boy found the poker and attempted to make a 'cat-kabob'.

The cat is fine. The poker is on a high shelf in a closet.

The Kitchen

Welcome to my kitchen!

This is the room I would LOVE to do in vintage 1940's 'kitch'.

But, I will choose to be content.

I like the built in desk with cupboard.

Do notice the gold vinyl flooring.

It is identical to what we have already.

I also like the corner built in cupboard.

Very soon the wall paper will come down and it

will be painted a neutral yellow.

I LOVE yellow. Love it. Yellow. Got to have it.

We Have the Keys!

This is the front living room window.

THGGM appears to be looking longingly out of the window.

Is he looking for friends?

Without a front-porch-swing view of the world, I wonder how he will cope?

The swing will now hang outside the breeze-way, where he can look in the kitchen window at me, doing dishes.

The Basement

Welcome to my new basement!

The picture on the left shows the 'entry' to the basement.

I think my seven bookcases will go in the space to the right of the fireplace.

On the opposite side there is a similar space, although it's a bit larger with a window. I didn't take a picture of that, as it still had some stuff in it that isn't ours.


The fireplace is gas. I cannot remember what color we are planning to eventually paint it.

The Pink Bathroom

Soon, the greenish color will be gone, and where it was it will be painted white.

THGGM says the bath tub is comfortable.