Getting Back to Normal…again.

Getting Back to Normal…again.

It as been a crazy few weeks here.  I am finally back home (last week). 

  • Celebrated my April 24th Birthday finally–this past Saturday. 
  • Worked all weekend outside trying to get some trees planted/transplanted.
  • And getting the household back on track (laundry, bills, food, cleaning…you know what its like when you are away for awhile)

basement

My son bought his very first home last year.  He found a townhouse that needed lots of TLC just outside the DC beltway.  My husband and I went down to Maryland for a week to help him finish tearing out the old basement and begin to finish off the basement again.  It had a damp/mold smell. 

  • So we removed all the old drywall, sealed the walls, reframed it, used Mold-resistant drywall,
  • removed the carpeting on the main floor and stairs,
  • removed the dusty, dirty ceiling tiles they installed
  • Made several trips to “the dump”, and
  • redid all the crazy wiring the past owners had done. 

Whoever did this basement was lucky that he townhouse didn’t burn down or that someone didn’t get electrocuted.  Such a mess.  Based on some doodling we found under the carpet, we thing the basement was finished around 1986.

Now my son has to spackle, sand and prime the walls before we go down again to finish off the ceiling, trim and lay the flooring (that he already bought).  Slow and steady and with alot of patience he’ll have a great little “man cave”.

PROJECT LIFE UPDATE:

11I posted another YouTube video here:

I am completely up-to-date with pictures and basic journaling and filler cards in all the slots right up through last week.  However I haven’t done any embellishing and all the main journaling and week-in-review needs to be done. Thank goodness for my Filofax/Covey planners.  They have all my schedules, thoughts and general journaling ideas all recorded for when I am ready to work on it again.

 

When life gives you lemons…

When life gives you lemons…
When life gives you lemons…

imageYou never know when life is going to give you a curve ball. We intended on spending a quiet week home and go out to dinner one night for my birthday…

My son who lives in Maryland had some basement damp issues. Luckily my husband was able to coordinate some time off with my son. So now we are heading down to him for the next 5-7 days to clear up the mess and hopefully leave him with something he can finish on his own.

I’ll be checking in on your blogs. Have a great weekend.

Ready, Set, Go! (Doggy Car Seat)

Ready, Set, Go! (Doggy Car Seat)
Ready, Set, Go! (Doggy Car Seat)

Good Morning all.  I took this photo for a Project Life spread and I thought it too adorable not to scrap it on its own.

My little Cavalier King Charles, Darby, loves to be near me constantly!  So he had no alternative but to learn to love riding in the car.  I don’t take him shopping, etc.  But it is wonderful on long car rides.

darby-car-seat

Love all of Amy Tangerine for American Crafts scrap collections.  I have them all and the mix and match beautifully.

The “Love” wood veneer is from Freckled Fawn.  So glad other companies are making these.  The rest are Studio Calico.

I made the “Say Cheese” with my flair machine.

Thanks for looking!

 

Our Son…the Best Man!

Our Son…the Best Man!
Our Son…the Best Man!

It has been a pretty rough time here in the Boston area.  I did not know anyone who was in Boston on Monday and I am still a fairly new Massachusetts resident myself.  I was amazed how the people who were there quickly acted to help without thinking of their own safety.  Thank goodness the medic tent was there full of volunteer doctors and nurses.  Thank goodness so many non-medical volunteersand bystanders selflessly grabbed wheel chairs to help the injured, carried the injured to safety, offered the shirts off their backs to help with first aid, or those who simply stayed to offer comfort.  Thank goodness for our wonderful hospitals right here in Boston.  I am so proud of the Boston residents who offered clothing and their homes to runners who were left with nothing but was on their body during the race as they were unable to claim checked-in bags from the race or were unable to get into their hotel. They say time heals, but our hopes and dreams for a normal and safe life keep getting shaken again and again.

Here is my original post for today:

My son was Best Man for his long-time high school buddy this past October (2012).  Actually fell on his birthday.  So glad my husband and I were invited so we could see him so handsome and celebrate his birthday too.

best-man

I again pulled from my stash, and benefited from my mother’s craftiness.

  • I used several items from various Dear Lizzy/American Crafts collections
  • Some Amy Tangerine puffy stickers, and I used her stitching kit for the loopy arrow.
  • The thckers are from my stash (sunset)
  • Wonderful wood veneers from various companies
  • The paper clip (shaped like a person) from a Studio Calico Monthly Scrap Kit.
  • My mom maid the crocheted flowers.  She saw some of my CHA youtube videos that I was watching and noticed several crotched elements.  She had fun contributing to my hobby

New Job Dinner – 12×12 Layout

New Job Dinner – 12×12 Layout
New Job Dinner – 12×12 Layout

Happy Patriots Day!

So let me explain…..we just moved here last year.  In February I asked my husband why he didn’t get off for Presidents’ Day.  He said here you get off a Monday in April..Patriot’s Day.  And I said, “Wow, they have a holiday for the football team?”  And my husband laughed.. “no dear, they have Patriots Day because alot of  famous ‘Patriots’ come from Massachusetts!”  …embarassed face :)

Had a nice litte break.  Doing well at Physical Therapy and Celebrex finally doing its job.  Weather here still not helping—36 degrees on this sunny Saturday (yestereday was 36 and rainy).  Nearly completed one week on Weight Watchers Online…doing great, not hungry.  Get my wine tonight…all is good :)

I completed a couple layouts recently.  This one highlights my daughter’s dinner before she starter her new job.  This is her favorite restaurant.

jillian-new-job-dinner

Having fun pull items from my stash.  I started this before my final Studio Calico Scrapbook kit arrived. 

  • The background paper is Basic Grey,
  • lotsof American Crafts/Amy Tangerine stickers.  (and others)
  • KI Memories Washi Tape.  Love my wood veneer. 
  • Very old alpha stickers.

Thanks for looking :)