First Week Frenzy.....

So, last week was the first week of school up here. State law in Michigan mandates that schools can't start until after labor day. I'm sure it's a lot wordier than that, but there it is in a blunt nutshell.

Thatcher had an assignment that was due on Friday. The typical "ME" bag. He had to bring in a bag with things about himself.

Of course, Thursday night we're trying to get this done. He said his stomach was hurting at dinner, so he laid on the couch while the rest of us ate. After we finished, he perked up and wanted nuggets. (I'm thinking I got played, but it was minimal.) I made his nuggets, or rather warmed them up, and told him we needed to work on this project after he ate to get it done. Thatcher usually swallows his food whole. You know "PASS the teeth and over the gums. Look out stomach here it comes."

I finally found the key into getting him to chew his dinner....tell him he has homework to do. I've never seen him take 30 bites to eat one nugget. So, I start looking at this list. Only 4 things to go in the bag..not too bad. However, one was a family photo. I have TONS of the 3 of them, but none recent of the 5 of us.

Let me run the gammit for a sec:I HATE....I REPEAT...I HATE being photographed. I try to stay out of pictures as much as possible. I just don't photograph well....plus the "average" camera adds 10 pounds, but I always happen upon the atypical camera that adds a good 40.

Needless to say, we were in a bind. It was close to Margaret's bathtime. Jack had gotten a wild hair and jumped in the shower early to get it over with. Thatcher was eating at snail's pace, and Chris was adding apps to his phone.

The next few events were a blur, but the next thing I knew we had the tripod out, camera balanced on top with a book (since we're missing the little piece that connects the camera to the tripod), I'm yelling at everyone to huddle in and SMILE, Jack is complaining that he's already in pajamas for the family picture, Chris sets the timer, jumps in beside me and "CHEEEEEEESSE!"

Whew! What a worldwind. Done!....or not.....Chris was awesome enough to take Margaret upstairs, give her a bath, and put her to bed while I printed the picture...but then...I really wished I would have stuck out my neck... I was seeing a crevice. Not liking my tired eyes, shiny skin....not much I could do about Chris' forced smile. So, I opened up Photoshop Elements and began with the "healing brush". I should probably read more about that part of the editing program because I failed miserably. For your viewing enjoyment, I'm sharing my work......

ATTEMPT #1:

Notice my 5 o'clock shadow. I'm thinking bearded lady at the circus.

ATTEMPT #2:

Apparently, I've been eating chicken with hormones and have grown a partial 3rd eye and another nose.

ATTEMPT #3:

Please, Lord...not a butt chin.

I finally gave up. I printed the original, stuck it in the bag and moved on. It's gonna be a long year.

Trash to Treasure

This summer has been the "summer of projects" around here. It has really helped to salvage the bit of sanity that yet remains.... I caught the bug of furniture re-do and became a monster. So, I thought I'd share my work as of late.....love it or leave it. ;)

This was one of my roadside rescues. When I brought this home, Chris started laughing hysterically. He began to explain that he had proceeded to pass by this chest 2 days in a row going to work and then here I was bringing it home. Of course, I looked at him like he was crazy for not picking it up 2 days EARLIER!

This adorable cabinet-around 4 and a half feet tall- was a WHOPPING $3.00 at a garage sale. Yes, $3.00, NOT $30............

After I sanded-primed-painted-and added new hardware-the 2 together became......

THIS! I had the primer and sand paper on hand. So, the paint+ cost of the cabinet makes this a $20 piece of furniture! 3 cheers for cheap "Hip Hip......" you get the point, but it sure makes me giddy!

Okay, this next piece only has 2 "after" pics and no "before"s
soooo just close your eyes and attempt to picture what you've read of it's description. Got it?!

The bottom drawers was a roadside rescue! I'd had it for 2 years "as is" in the basement with a TV on it. I was waiting to decide what to do with it. It was white with a bit of gold trim....ugly, but had potential!

Then I stumbled upon the top hutch on craig's list! $40 for this antique hutch! I fell in love and there was no turning back. I knew in my heart I wanted a giant piece of furniture painted apple green, so I made it happen.!

Lots of sanding on the bottom part-Chris stepped in with his power sander....then he quickly stepped out...;) I primed-painted-added new hardware on the drawers and birthed the following.....

It's my MOST favorite piece of furniture to date! The top ($40)+ paint ($30) makes this a $70 giant apple green piece of furniture! Although, to me it's PRICELESS!!!!

I have no before pics of this either.....the top cabinet was white and I'd had it for several years. This came out of my mom's house in Homer, La. The bottom was also a hand me down from Chris' grandmother many years ago! Lots of elbow grease required on this buffet. I painted it robin's egg blue and added large, handpainted, red knobs from Hobby Lobby. Love the way it all looks now and really brightens up this room! Can't recall the cost of the knobs, but the paint was around $20.

Chris built this awesome loft bed for Jack! It was truly a labor of love. Took us a WEEK to paint this thing-then Chris had to seal it twice and voil' la----a loft bed was born! I also painted his room this lime green too. Not the best of pictures, but here it is nonethelesssss.

Okay-this is just a few--there are others...like several....I TOLD you I became a monster, but it has been SOOOO much fun! There were many mornings that we'd jump in the car and the boys would get out to help me grab some "trash" and bring it home!!! Nothing like the thrill of the hunt, making it a diamond in the rough, and saving TONS of money in the process!! I might post more pics later...but I'm all done...for now....

The Ice-cream Man...

or in this case...the ice cream lady. So, today it finally rained after weeks without it! For some crazy reason the ice cream truck was overheard making it's way through our hood. The boys immediately wanted money and were willing to stand in the rain for overpriced and not that great icecream. They didn't whisper their desire, they yelled it, and when they did Margaret heard it. She was jumping up and down "ice cweam! ice cweam!"

We ALL ended up outside under the tree waiting for the truck of frozen dreams to drive down our street. After a good 30 minutes....the song grew louder and louder until we could see the hot pink truck turn in our direction. I don't think I've seen Margaret get as giggly and excited as she did in those forever minutes it took to get down our street.

This particular icecream vendor is a woman. One side of her face is a little drooped. She'll start smiling if you get her talking, but she's a little reserved. She has a cup on the window for tips with a sign reading "Quarters please." I don't always think to have extra for her, but today I did. Margaret got hers and then the boys. The neighbor girl was with us too and since she's all of 4, she was too nervous to order. I helped her out. Turned out she needed 50 more cents. I had put the rest of my quarters in the tip jar, so I was about to run back in the house for more $. The lady stopped me and said "didn't you just put some quarters in the tip jar?" I said "yes." She said "then it's covered. That's what I use the tips for anyway. For kids who don't have money or enough money."

Here's this lady, with a slight deformity, doesn't have much, drives around in a hot pink truck with the most annoying loud tune playing over and over and over.......She could easily take those tips for herself and rightly so, but she uses them to help others. I was humbled. I haven't been able to stop thinking about this lady. I have a cup full of quarters just waiting for her return. She scooped out way more than icecream for my kids today.