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I have a blog, ohhhh….yeahhhh.
I swear that this house is a huge time (and money) suck for us. We spend almost every waking hour working on projects around here and slowly things are really coming together. There have been a few instances where I have cursed our decision to buy this place and the previous owner, but it seems that when we get a big project completed, my love for this house is renewed. Like this weekend…we had our new carpet finally installed in the upstairs. All 4 bedrooms, hallway and staircase. Our unpacking had been on hold until that was done, so it is a huge relief to be able to haul everything up there and work on getting settled. Want to know what the running list is so far with projects accomplished? Remember, we have been in the house since September 15, so not too long…
September 2008
- Changed deadbolts and door handles on all exterior doors.
- Primed & painted guest bedroom (warm sunshine).
- Bought tile and supplies to replace foyer flooring.
- Replaced wall sconces in main living room above mantle.
- Primed children’s bedroom.
- Pulled up vinyl in foyer and scraped backing off floor.
- Bought hardwood flooring for main living room.
- Ordered new carpet for entire upstairs.
October 2008
- Painted children’s bedroom (primitive hedges).
- Primed & painted office/craft room (cold draft).
- Installed cable outlet cover in office/craft room.
- Leveled foyer floor.
- Painted exterior of French doors and laundry room door.
- Primed & painted master bedroom and closet (fountain of youth & ultra white).
- Primed & painted storage closet doors upstairs hallway (remember the Alamo).
- Had pellet stove inspected.
- Primed & painted main living room (remember the Alamo).
- Primed & painted dining room (sweet sage).
- Primed & painted stairway (ultra white).
- Primed & painted wooden stairway trim (remember the Alamo).
- Replaced mercury thermostat upstairs with digital thermostat.
- Primed & painted fireplace surround and mantle (ultra white).
- Replaced kitchen sink faucet.
- Replaced & rewired outlet on top of mantle.
- Installed wooden blinds in MBR, LR & Den.
- Pulled up carpet 4 BR’s, hallway and staircase.
- Replaced piece of subfloor in spare room.
November 2008
- New carpet installed in 4 BR’s, hallway and staircase
- Replaced light fixtures in MBR, kid’s room, office/craft room, spare room and above staircase.
Are you tired yet? Cause I am pooped. There is still more to be done, but we are kind of on the home stretch. Still have to install the tile in the foyer, lay down the new hard wood floor in the LR, replace the light fixture in the den and in the kitchen….and then DH has grand visions of gutting the master bath and remodeling. I am not too sure about that one, but we will see. He is kind of OCD with projects…the guy can’t sit down and relax. I guess it could be worse, at least he isn’t a slug that sits on the couch watching tv all the time.
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We had our first snow accumulation last weekend (it is gone already) which was pretty awesome. I have missed snow for so long…3 years in Southern Louisiana and then 3 years on Pacific Islands…a little rough on this Midwestern girl. DH shot this picture standing on our back deck.
BTH really enjoyed going out and playing in the snow with the dog…and the dog, well…she is a boonie dog from Guam so she had never seen snow before but she went ape-shit. Completely lost her mind running around like a lunatic.
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BTH & I have been enjoying craft time. We drag out the crayons, coloring books, scissors, glue (lesson learned-glue sticks are best for a curious toddler), construction paper, safety scissors, yarn and anything else that catches our eye and have lots of fun. Well, at least I have lots of fun. Ever since we decided to become parents, I was pretty darned excited to look forward to doing simple crafts with our kids. So, now when we go to garage sales or thrift shops, I always scour the craft items and snap up things for our “crafty cupboard”. Yes, I have a “crafty cupboard” with stuff in it suitable for little ones. My craft stuff has its own room and then some.
Last week, we made a pumpkin puppet and a ghost mobile.
When I was in 2nd grade, we had an assignment to make a tree mobile around Christmas time. I remember it fondly… Mom helped me and I was at a loss as to how to decorate my tree. She got out some felt and a hole punch and made “ornaments” which I happily glued on. She then cut thin strips of felt for “garland”. To my 6 year old eyes, it was beautiful. The thing was, she saved that mobile. For years. Every year I would roll my eyes when she would start decorating for the holidays and here was this childish (so I thought) decoration that was totally uncool. I wanted everything to be silver, white, sparkly and glass. I thought that was the epitome of chic decorating. Not some construction paper, yarn, and felt creation made in 1983. She still had it the last time I was home for Christmas in 2004. That was the last Christmas that I got to spend with Mom. So, when she died last year, her husband let me have pretty much anything of hers that I wanted. I put off going through her Christmas decorations until this summer while we were at home. I always knew in the back of my mind that I wanted that tree that she helped me decorate. I could see it in my mind and knew that it belonged in my house now that she was gone.
So, we went home this summer and I went through the rest of her things and of course, the Christmas decorations. My heart sank as I opened box after box, only finding a few things here and there that I knew were from my childhood, or ornaments that she had painted (that was her tradition…she painted an ornament for us every year). I couldn’t find the mobile, along with a handfull of other things that I knew she had kept. Unfortunately, their basement isn’t finished (like many midwestern basements) and water got in it and many boxes had been thrown out that year because they got soaked. I am guessing that the mobile was in one of those boxes.
Whew…that was a long and round about way to tell you that the ghost mobile was inspired by that Christmas tree mobile made so many years ago. It is basically a design cut out of construction paper (you do two, front side and back side), then cut into 3 strips (or more I suppose) horizontally. You take a long piece of string and one of the sides and glue it on, then lay the other side on it, sandwiching it. Then decorate as desired…like ornaments on a tree or eyes on a ghost. Let it dry and voila! A fun mobile to hang.
You can be sure that we will be making our version of the tree this holiday season.
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BTH was a lion this year for Halloween. I luckily found a costume at the thrift shop that was thisclose to being too small for him, but I figured for one day, it would work out. And it was only $2.
The only problem with the costume is that it was missing the tail. Good thing Mama has a BFF that came to the rescue with the idea to knit him a tail! I whipped out an i-cord tail lickety split with the yarn held double. Kinda cute in my opinion.
And keeping with the feline theme…we carved one of our pumpkins like a kitty this year. I was a bit rusty this year since I haven’t carved a pumpkin in I don’t know how long, but I plan on being better next year!
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So, speaking of knitting…there has been knitting happening. When ever I can steal away a few minutes here and there and many times before bed, I try to put a few stitches in. I knit up this cute little hat for BTH in one evening…
Pattern: Meathead Hat
Yarn: Vail Homespun Bulky
I also started a pair of socks. Well, I started a couple of pairs of socks, but this one has seen the most action lately. It is the Through The Loops Mystery Sock-along. I am using Dream In Color Smooshy, the color is called Strange Harvest. I miss using my Socks That Rock Mediumweight, but like how these are turning out. I don’t think that I will buy this yarn again though.
I have also been spending lots of time looking at knitting books. Our library has a fabulous selection of knitting books and my holiday wish list has grown immensely.
I have also started a sweater for BTH using some fabulous Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Worsted that my Aunt T. sent to me. I had never actually held this yarn before and hoo-boy is it ever luscious. I adore this colorway, it is Edgewater. The pattern is the Toddler Tunic, an easy top down raglan. Which in my opinion is always aces.
So, I think that is it for tonight…I am pooped and it is almost bedtime…no knitting tonight. I am not participating in NaBloPoMo this year, but I know that Kendra is, so go check out her blog. I haven’t had a chance to see if anyone else is…I have 1000+ unread blog posts in my google reader to try to catch up on!
Peace.
Good: Both Mar and Heather gave me the Kreativ Blogger award. Thanks so much, ladies! You both made me smile. I am honored to think that others see me as creative.
The rules:
1. The winner may put the logo on her blog.
2. Put a link to the person you got the award from.
3. Nominate 5 blogs
4. Put links to the blogs.
5. Leave a message for your nominees.
I haven’t had much of a chance to read blogs lately, I have tons of unread posts in my reader. Our internet connection is iffy at times…we were without internet all weekend and I hate going to the lobby to use the computer there.
So, that said, I nominate these bloggers…
Deece, Jill, Jackie, Tamie, Phoe
Some knit, some stamp, they are all immensely creative in their own their own ways.
Bad: Is it wrong that the way the award is spelled really annoys me?
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Good: Our realtor has a boat and took us out whale watching one day last week. He’s nice like that.
Good: We got to see lots of whales. You can only go so close to them, they are protected. One snuck up on us on the side and came up and made us all jump, he was pretty close. We got out of there shortly after that. We also got to see lots of bald eagles…one even swooped down near the boat to grab something out of the water. Magnificent creatures. We also saw sea lions lounging on a buoy.
Bad: This is the only shot I got of what was a whale…my digital camera battery died almost instantly. DH brought along his big film camera, but only brought one lens. We are smart like that.
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Good: We went to the DMV to find out what we need to do to get an Alaskan license (and so I can register to vote in November!). We got lots of information and all of the forms that we need to fill out once we get a home address.
Bad: Alaskan law states that if you don’t have a current, valid Alaskan license, then you have to take and pass the written test. Regardless if you were licensed in another state or are in the military. I am already nervous even though I know I will do fine. I will be reading up to make sure of that though.
Good: At least it will make me a better driver and more aware of the tiny details that I may have forgotten.
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Good: I started a new baby sweater for a couple that we know that are expecting a baby boy soon. I love knitting baby sweaters and think that all babies should have at least one hand knit baby sweater. I am using Knit Picks Comfy in Planetarium and this fabulous free pattern. I love this pattern.
Bad: While perusing the Knit Picks website to get the above link for the yarn, I see that they now have Harmony Straights. Oh my! So pretty. They will go on the holiday wishlist this year for sure.
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Good: I am finally on the decrease section of my Clapotis. It has been put on the back burner this week to work on the baby cardi, but I plan on finishing it up this weekend. I am using Noro Kureyon #150 and I adore this yarn and this colorway. My picture isn’t impressive, but rest assured that it is impressive in person.
Bad: While I love this design and the look, following the pattern freaks me out. Especially now in the decrease section where I am dropping 2 sets of stitches. I get nervous that I will screw it up again and end up with a hideous mess. Even more so considering this is intended as a holiday present for someone.
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Good: We have rented out a vacation house for the next month until we get our house. I will be glad to get out of hotel living and be able to stretch our legs. My new cyclamen will be happy to have more windows to try to catch a few rays in. I adore cyclamen and african violets for indoor flowering plants.
Bad: Our household goods from Saipan aren’t here yet, and the vacation house doesn’t have a crib. We have been going over the pros and cons of moving BTH into a toddler bed when we go there later this month. I think that we are going to do it. He has gone quite a while without “his” crib now, sleeping in borrowed cribs and portable cribs/playpens so I don’t think that there will be an attachment issue.
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Drumroll, please………..
Good: We put in an offer on a house and it was accepted! Yay! I am hesitant to put all of the details on here just in case…if you want to see it and the virtual tour, just leave me a comment and I will happily send the link to you. We are already thinking of ideas for new flooring, paint and window coverings.
Bad: I am a bit stressed about it because it is a huge mortgage and responsibility. This house costs double what a very nice house back home costs. And it is our first home purchase. We can totally afford it (thanks, USCG) and still have me stay home full time with the kids, but still…I am a worrier by nature.
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And on a final totally positive note:
Good: There is a birth center here in Juneau! I am so happy! And they do water births! We had a consultation and a tour last week and we had our first appointment with our midwife this week. I love it and am so looking forward to an awesome birth experience at the birth center. They even offer free classes, prenatal yoga and belly dancing for pregnant women(!). I am all over the prenatal yoga but the belly dancing will take some convincing me thinks.
Peace.
And what are you looking for? Don’t get me wrong, I love having a bunch of visitors to my little ole blog. But I can’t imagine that my little spot on these internets is that interesting to 177 people.
Did I tell you before that I lurve WordPress? I do. I love the layout, the simplicity of it (once you get used to it), and the automatic stats. I like to see what people are searching for that leads them to my blog, I like to see what people click on, I like to see where people are coming from. But I really like to see the numbers. I usually get between 50-75 hits per day. For some people, that is chicken scratch. But for little old me, my heart about bursts with happiness when I see my stats. Especially today’s…177 visits to A Tree Hugger’s Wife.
Thank you, every single one of you. You just made my 3 hour power outage this morning seem not so bad. You made my day. I shall reward you with pictures of yarn and knitting content, ha ha.
You thought I was kidding, right? Nope. Yesterday I got my first ever order from Sonny & Shear. And it won’t be the last. They had a promo a couple weeks ago for 20% off I believe…they used the clever code “GeorgeGaveMeYarnMoney” (nod to stimulus checks). Now, our stimulus check was unfortunately, not what we were expecting because of the way we fall in the tax bracket scheme or something, but it was still free money. Dutifully we put most of it to paying off debt, but I couldn’t help myself from spending $20.
A skien of Dream In Color Smooshy in the “Strange Harvest” colorway, and they included a hand written note and a couple of teas…I am glad that one is lemon, it is my favorite.
The yarn will be knit into gift socks. Now I just have to decide what pattern to use. What do you think..
or
I am leaning more toward Hedgerow, but the Hederas are gorgeous (scroll down that page to see more pics). I need to decide soon.
Oh, I also got another purchase in the mail yesterday (Debi, you will love this!):
My “Obama for Change” coin purse. I love it! Here is the front:
And here is the back:
I got it from this etsy seller: FancyThatBoutique
Quite appropriate since this week is a big week for our man!
Peace.
Oh my. I just cut through my Google reader feeds. I went from 165 blogs to 79. And that is just looking at the names of the blogs and cutting. Next step is to actually visit the remainders and see if I am keeping those or not.
I am not using blogrolling anymore, I am going to put a post of with links to the blogs I enjoy and then just a link to that post in my sidebar. Maybe I will get that task done this week. Maybe not. So much on my plate.
Namaste.
