Why I've been MIA

      

       
       Where have I been? What have I been up to? Well, I've been a little overwhelmed lately. As some of you know. My husband and I have a little remodeling business. Mostly bathroom and kitchen makeovers. It was going well in 2012, but in the later part of the year we hit a bump in the road. Well, more like I hit a bump in the road. I have had back pain for several years now. Nothing too bad. Take some Tylenol and keep plowing along. Well we started a new large remodel in late October. After a few weeks on the job, I started having some really bad back pain. Tried going to the chiropractor and it really didn't seem to do too much good. He did take xrays that showed some serious problems. By the time Thanksgiving rolled around, I was in pretty bad shape. One morning in early December, I couldn't even get out of bed on my own. My husband took me to the ER. I got a shot of something and some subscriptions. I feel into bed and slept for a couple of days. Then tried to go back to work. I made an appointment with the Dr. I took him my xrays. He said I had severe arthritis in my hips and spine. OH BOY!! I wasn't too happy about that. He sent me to get an MRI. By now, I was pretty much not getting too much done, around the house or on the job. I did finish the clients kitchen cabinets and counter top. My husband has been there finishing everything else by himself. But I could not do, even the smallest amount of work, without being in major pain. Well I went in for the MRI and Monday I got the results. Things do not look good for my back. Besides the arthritis, I have a place in my back where there in NO disk material at all and two other places where it is minimal. She says "your done doing much of anything" Wow, really? I was not expecting that. Turning 50 was not supposed to be this hard. I was expecting, "well we need to do this or that and you'll be back to work in a few weeks" But no.....just "Your done." 
       They have referred me to UTMB in Galveston. That won't be easy. It's over 2 hours away. The drive itself will be really hard on my back. But I'll do what ever they say. This isn't it. I'm not "DONE" I may have to change what I do or how I do it, but this woman is far from being done.
       Why the dark, empty room at the top of the post? Well that's where I feel like I've been for the last several days. But notice the light coming in. I'm just waiting for it to light my way.

Wall Clock Tutorial

I know you have seen these everywhere. Ballard Designs, Pottery Barn and every other design catalog. I have wanted one for a long time.
Well Yesterday was my birthday. Now you're asking yourself, "What does that have to do with a wall clock?" Well my sweet hubby asked me if there was anything I wanted that I haven't already made! Well, yes there was. (I had a BIG smile on my face now) So I asked him if there was any more of that great wood from our old chicken coop. He said "yeah, I have a few boards." "Well this is what I want for them" and I gave him directions. (he takes direction very well) So he took 5 of the best ones and put braces on the back and screwed them together. Then I asked him to cut it into as large a circle as it would make. It came out to be 28" across.

 Now the boards were already very grey and weathered nicely. But I went ahead and white washed it. Just took some white primer I had, watered it down and pretty much dry brushed the whole thing.

My hubby is much better at measuring, so I asked him to mark all the spots I needed for a clock face. I went and found some chipboard numbers from all my scrapbook supplies. Don't even get me started on my scrapbook stuff!! I drew around each and filled them in with back paint. Then took a little sandpaper to them. We wouldn't want the numbers to look too new now would we.

And there you go! A new "vintage" wall clock face. I know the circle in the middle for some reason doesn't look centered in the picture, but it is. I'll blame it on my stupid phone, yeah that's right. It was the camera on the phone. I hope to get a good camera soon.

News from Home

Well more like.... new stuff, going on at home. So what have I been up to?? Well lets just say...WAY TOO MUCH. I so need a break. But then again, I wouldn't know what to do with a break. This week we have been working on the kitchen. My sweet hubby pulled our old sink, then I went to work on resurfacing the counter top.
I went for the Carrara marble look. Very clean and classic.

Here is a close up of the counter. I love how it turned out.

New faucet too of course. Trying to keep in with the vintage look. Kept in classic too.

There it is. I found the sink of my dreams!! Do people really have "dream" sinks?!?! Well this girl did and I found her. My sweet hubby put it in yesterday. Painted the backsplash blue.
Love that old sink.

I started the cabinet makeover too. Taking some doors off and going for the open shelf look. To show off my vintage dishware. Going with white interior and grey on the exterior. making one door chalk board too.

I'll be updating way more often then I have, I promise.
Thanks for following !! Have a blessed week.

A little cord wrangling

What do you do with a toilet paper roll and a scrap piece of paper to help organize your kitchen counter?

You make a cord wrangler !! Cut the paper to fit the roll and glue to just tape it on.
Simple!

So much better looking then the wild cords hanging out!
Go on, make yourself a cord wrangler. I use them all over the house.

New Favorite book coming out

http://creatingthehive.com/blog-post/165013/win-the-big-ass-book-of-crafts

Can't wait to get my hands on this one. The first one is so inspiring.

Starting on the interior remodel of His Cottage

Well, Michael got in there and started pulling off the old paneling. Under it is beautiful ship-lap boards, They will look great painted all white. Very cottage.















There was wallpaper from the 40's behind it. It was back when they put it up with small nails and no glue. It had a fabric backing and pretty much fell apart. I was happy to see it go.



In two of the rooms, the kitchen and our bedroom, the paneling is staying. It it real wood, not printed pressboard, and in great shape. But you know, it will be white too. Michelle got in there too and is loving her role in the painting process.

His cottage

This is a view of the front from earlier this year. The AC unit in the front window is gone and so are the old chairs.

Why "His" cottage? Well, cause it is. It would not be possible if it were not for Him. God has had His hand on this every step of the way, there is no doubt. From being able to find it at the time we did, to being able to pay for it, it has all been because of Him.

Let me back up a little and tell you how this all came about. Like most good things, it all stated with prayer. We just didn't know what to do about our living situation. It was fine and all, but not what we wanted long term. We didn't think we had much choice. So we prayed about it......and prayed...and prayed. We looked at lots of places...too big, too much, too far, too old. I had come to the idea that this must be where God wants us to stay. I was really going to give up. I thought, "OK, I'll look one more time over here and then that's it. No more looking" Well there it was. I thought this is too good to be true. It ALL fell into place. And I mean ALL, really fast too. We are now proud owners of this cute little cottage. 1400 sq ft of little old house. I could not be happier.

A view of the back.

She sits on 1 acre of land, just big enough for us. We have been on 2 1/2 acres and it was getting to be too much to take care of.

We started moving in a few things today. This is the back porch.

Lots of trimming to do. That big ole bush is Gardenia. It is outside our bedroom window. I can't wait till spring to smell it in the room.

A really great country kitchen. We will be putting in a new counter top soon. I'm going to make Carrara Marble iCoat Top. Not positive of the back splash yet. The lights will be changed out too.


I will try to post everyday. We have lots of paneling to remove and then I will start painting tomorrow and Michael is going to work on the chicken coop. We have to have a safe place for the girls