Busted

So, my laptop fell on the floor the other day; and totally still works.  But the little place that the charger attaches to is broken.  So, I can't charge my computer.  I've been keeping it turned off and letting myself have it on for about two minutes every day to check email.

My plan is to take it somewhere to get it fixed when Mom gets back to Minnesota, because then I can use her computer.  (Thanks, Mom.)  No one here fixes macs; so I will have to take it elsewhere.

I just got really sick of seeing that picture of the desk on my blog, so thought I would throw this out there quick.  And I'm still working on trying to figure out why some people aren't able to post...technology is not my thing.  I will get it fixed someday.  When I can have my computer on for more than two minutes.

Gotta go now; time's up!

Ye Olde Writing Desk

So here it is.  Mags and I decided to go with an old world look for our writing desk and chair. 

I made stencils with my Silhouette machine; an old-fashioned compass for the chair seat.

And a map of the world for the top of the desk.

I also added a quote by J.R.R. Tolkein to the front of the drawer:  Not all those who wander are lost.

I ended up spray painting the desk and chair, which I normally don't do, but given all the spindles and nooks and crannies in this piece, it seemed like the best thing to do.  After it was dry, I did the stencils with acrylic craft paint; let that dry and then sanded it a little bit to distress it.  I used a latex stain to "dirty" it all up; it kind of looks like old parchment.  I finished it all off with a coat of poly.  Adds a little shine and some protection.

I want to keep it.  Maybe Scott will buy it back for me.  I have about 15 bucks in materials into it; but a whole lot of time and effort, so hopefully it goes for more than that!!

She's NINE!!

Nine years ago today, this is what we were doing.  Thought I'd just give you a little walk down memory lane.  She was a cute little bugger.  Still is. :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MAGS!  We love you!

The Biggest Bonfire In Our Backyard

We had a pile of pallet wood that needed to be burned (courtesy of the collapsed Menard's shed...I promise to eventually tell that whole story.)  So, we decided to have a bonfire.

It turned out so big, we had to move our furniture away from the fire pit; and never did get to roast marshmallows - we couldn't get close enough, it was way too hot.  So we ate some apple crisp instead.

The kids are still talking about it.

A Face Lift

So, I mentioned that Scott didn't really care for the color of our dining room/entry.  This is what is used to look like.  (At Christmas time, apparently.)  Notice the ceiling is the same color as the walls.  (It looks darker, but it is the same color.)  Grrrr.

And this is what it looks like now.  Ahhhh.  Scott requested drapes, so I made some and had to get the world's longest curtain rod.  (It's two cheap-o's from Ikea, stuck together.)

And here is the entry way.  We added beadboard, and used boat cleats to make a coat rack.  Changed the light fixture...(notice the big blue oars in the corner) and added a few other highlights.

This chair was one that I got for a few bucks at my favorite antique store.  All it needed was a coat of paint and some new fabric on the seat.

Mom and I found this Red Wing crock at a garage sale in Iowa this summer; I added an antique umbrella just because I wanted to. It never rains in Minnesota, you know.  (HAH.)

This board above the coat rack was something that Jake pulled out of a lake.  He finds the coolest stuff.

Got some funky new lamps for the front table. (LOVE Home Goods - thanks, Sara, for introducing me to that place!!)

Painted the interior of my front door black - the exterior was already black.

Added a big puffy Ikea chair and, a family picture, a funky sunburst mirror (another home goods score) and some new rugs.

And got this awesome table from Mom - she found it by the side of the road.  It's been sitting in her garage for awhile, I've been coveting it.  So, when she moved, she gave it to me.  That's my favorite way to decorate.

I found an old cheese salt sack at a junk bonanza in the Twin Cities and made it into a pillow for my puffy chair.  (It's where I sit and do my devotions in the morning - needed a little lumbar support!)

I love that it's from Chicago - reminds me of our time living there.  And kind of makes me hungry.  I like cheese.  And salt.

I am very happy with how it all turned out and just the fact that it's done.  I also repainted all of the trim, crown molding and doors.  Scott was right, the other color wasn't so good.  This is much more "us" and makes me happy every time I'm in there.

Something I Never Thought I'd Say...

I planted a lot of flowers and pots this summer (went a little crazy with the sweet potato vine...)  I loved how it all turned out. 

But, I've got to be honest, I'm a little sick of watering everything.  Longing (just a teensy bit) for a little bit colder weather (I know, EGAD!!) so everything can be pulled out, I can put my pots away for the winter and take a break from it all.

Speaking of putting it all away...Scott is building a shed for us - YAY!  There was a fairly large collapse, a little blood and a Menards truck involved before we got to the point where we are.  I'll explain another time and post a few pics of the awesome new shed when it's done.  (Hopefully before the snow flies...)

Ok, Not a Blog Problem...

Thanks, Barb Diamond, for your kind words.  :)  Apparently, people are able to comment on my blog, so if you have been having technological problems, it is not on this end. 

Bad Blog

Ok; so no one can post comments on my blog and I can't figure out what's wrong.  Anyone have any advice?  If so, email me.  sbabrams@charter.net

Thanks!

My Big Blue Oars & Scott

I recently went for a walk to clear my head (more on that in a minute) and found these AWESOME blue oars by the side of the road, waiting for the garbage truck. Seriously. You would shell out some cash for these at Pottery Barn.


Aren't they awesome? They now reside in our entryway/piano/dining room which I totally redid after Scott told me he really didn't like the color in there. (Even the ceiling was that color...aaarg.) Anyway, I redid it for him, because I love him. Which brings me back to why I went for a walk to clear my head.

On the day I found the BIG BLUE OARS, Scott was taking apart our boat lift to have a part fixed. He was down at the lake by himself; I was sitting in the kitchen reading the newspaper. It was a hot day, so we had the air conditioner running and all of the windows closed. The kids were watching a movie in the basement.

While I was reading the paper, I heard a horrible scream. I just bolted for the door and ran down towards the lake. I didn't see Scott. Then his head came up out of the water and he screamed again. He had pulled a part off the boat lift and it crashed down on him while he was face down in the water and pinned his legs. He could barely get his head up.

I jumped in and started trying to pull the bunks off his legs and couldn't move them.

As he wiggled his legs, trying to free himself, the lift was closing more tightly on them. At one point, he gasped, "It's going to cut my feet off."

I thought I should probably go up to the house and call 9-1-1, but I couldn't leave him down there alone. There was a hammer on the dock, so I grabbed that and handed it to him; he could get a little bit better leverege on the bunks and was able to pry them apart enough to get his legs out.

After he was free, we stood in silence in the water, trying to catch our collective breaths, staring at each other. I finally said, "You could have died." To which he replied, "I know."

We have a new rule: no working in the lake without someone else present. Period.

So, later that day, I went for a walk, because all I could think about was how I almost became a widow that morning; and then I found the big blue oars. Every time I look at them, I think of Scott and how much I love him.

(A little side note...I carried those oars more than a mile home. Got some really weird looks from passing cars; and my arms were very sore the next day. Totally worth it.)