Usually I sum up the month of posts when I do one of these ridiculous post-everyday-for-a-month-challenges. But I don't feel like doing that. I decided to not look back. Instead I will focus on what lies ahead...fix up the house, fix up the career, fix up the kid, and then see where we end up. (post options is my friend)
Or so I thought. There are many things on my list for today, this might actually take two days. I'm cleaning out, polishing up, hoping my timing is just right. It will take a miracle for everything to fall in place the way it needs to...
The guest room is finally done. It's been 5 years since I daydreamed about making this space into some place welcoming. And it's been 2 years since I started the project. What got in the way? College expenses for one kid and a major health crisis for the other one. I was a little distracted.
From the front door...
Down the hallway...
Little tiny room...
View from the bathroom...
View from the bed...
Did you forget something?
There have been people staying in this room before it was finished (sorry Don, Martha, and Rachel). Not visible is the power strip in easy access to the bed, so you can use your laptop in bed.
The ceiling fan is up and running! Also, the dining room and upstairs hall light are working again after 2 years. For some reason, all 3 were connected. I can't tell you how excited this has me.
A handyman-type person is coming over today to help me finish some projects around the house. I started remodeling about 2 years ago, then got distracted in a major, health crisis kind of way. This is the guest room sort of before. The real before picture would have been way too embarrassing to show.
The sun penetrated right to my bones. The waves slurped against the edge of the lake. We sat back in our chairs on Uncle David's deck, looking up at the sky and identifying birds that flew over. "Cardinal." he said. "Gull." I said. "Turkey buzzard." "Any more chemo?" I asked him. "Nah." He took a crumbled cigarette pack from his shirt pocket. Out came lighter from under the plastic outer layer, along with a cigarette. "Doctor said no point in quitting now." he said, lighting it. "Blue jay." "Chickadee-dee-dee." I imitated the call. I had my bathing suit on under my shorts. "Uncle David, do you think I should swim across the lake to that rock and back? Or should I paddle your canoe around the lake?" "You're going to do what you want no matter what I say." "Canoe then. Wanna come?" "Nah. I'm gonna sit here and watch for birds...Pat, I should have kicked his ass for you when I had the chance. I should have treated you more like a daughter after your dad died." "It's okay, uncle. I stood up for myself, eventually."
Uncle David with his big sister (my mother), dressed for dinner
Friday, July 16, 2010
What saves a man is to take a step. Then another step. It is always the same step, but you have to take it. ~Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Now I've heard there was a secret chord That David played, and it pleased the Lord But you don't really care for music, do you? It goes like this The fourth, the fifth The minor fall, the major lift The baffled king composing Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah
Your faith was strong but you needed proof You saw her bathing on the roof Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you She tied you To a kitchen chair She broke your throne, and she cut your hair And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah
Baby I have been here before I know this room, I've walked this floor I used to live alone before I knew you. I've seen your flag on the marble arch Love is not a victory march It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah
There was a time you let me know What's really going on below But now you never show it to me, do you? And remember when I moved in you The holy dove was moving too And every breath we drew was Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah
You say I took the name in vain I don't even know the name But if I did, well really, what's it to you? There's a blaze of light In every word It doesn't matter which you heard The holy or the broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah
I did my best, it wasn't much I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool you And even though It all went wrong I'll stand before the Lord of Song With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah
Probably not the best time to have committed to posting everyday. Unbloggable circumstances. I need some major universe intervention. Some positive thoughts, prayer, intentions, meditation, etc. Please.
Here's the dining room table. Adorned with garage sale salt and pepper shakers, thrift store table cloth, candles, and flowers from my garden. The flowers are representative.
From WikiAnswers: The Hydrangea is a Chinese flower and represents expressing love, gratitude and enlightenment. It is a good choice of flower to give as a gift.
From Symbolism Wiki: Garlic is a symbol of courage and strength.
One day, I left my computer on the kitchen table and went to work. I never did this before, and I will never do this again.
Either a cat or a very mean person knocked over a glass of water which seeped into the logic board, or a very mean person poured water into the logic board on purpose. The very mean person denies having done anything but trying to rescue my computer from what the cat did. His story leaves many questions, but I decided to let it go. After a long time.
It would have cost more to fix the laptop than buying a new one. So I got a new one. The genius at Apple said I could sell the ruined computer for parts. Which I will try to do.
The flowers are on the stove because nothing will get ruined if the cat knocks over the vase. My behavior has changed since this tragedy.
Now I never leave my laptop anywhere but in my bedroom with the door closed.
Now if I drink anything, I stay away from my computer.
Now I try to make sure the cat has no opportunity to knock over containers of liquid.
Now the very mean person is not allowed in the house when I'm not home.
I made myself 5 simple A-line, elastic waist skirts. These, mixed and matched with solid tanks, t's, and cardigans, make it easy to get dressed in the mornings. Keeping my legs shaved? Not so easy.
My kid asked me, "Has the Renaissance Fair opened yet? I want to go there and get a turkey leg." Hmmm....$25 admission so we can watch grown ups playing dress up and conversing in really bad British accents? So we can purchase a $7 turkey leg? Maybe we can try this recipe instead.
Ahhh...5th grade love letters. Do you remember? This anonymous note came to me from the recipient. He wanted to know how to prevent such embarrassment, but I couldn't think of anything. "The girls just love you." I told him. "Yeah, I guess." he answered, resigning to the inevitable. "Do you want this back?" "No!" So I took a picture of it and put the original in the recycle bin. Later, I smudged out the identifying bits. And I saved it to my online album.
Formerly a nursing home - the residents have moved on and the workers now stay home.
We rescued a chair and 3 bulletin boards from the dumpster out back. I wanted to paint the chair with hammered texture paint, but the big kid wants to use it in the back yard just like this. I will restore the bulletin boards; 1 for the classroom, 1 for the sewing room, and 1 for the kitchen.
(Returning after 2 technological tragedies, in a big way) I will attempt to do the daily blogging challenge. This month's theme is "Saved."
I saw this video posted at Subtle Rudder. And I heard this guy interviewed on NPR and jotted his name down on a scrap piece of paper for future i Tunes reference. And I blogged about this sentiment a long time ago on my old blog Seemed like a good way to get back into the blogging swing. Maybe. (And I'm mostly out of debt.)
Out of my Dad's old sweater (I was trying to make a vest for myself, but I didn't like it.), an old pair of mom jeans, and bits of other projects (saved for stuffing).
I also made two dog sweaters from the sleeves.
I'm dreading my Mom seeing them, because she will get all grumpy and say, "I paid good money for that sweater!" Even though that was 30 years ago, and my Dad's been gone almost 11 years.
We have a big old house with a lot of rooms. When my daughter moved out, my boy moved into her room, leaving this room empty. My plan is to make it my sewing room. It's going to take lots of paint. I will post updates as I make progress.
That's a particularly apt theme for me, as I am training for a long bike tour. This summer Joe and I plan on biking from our house in upstate NY to Key West. We've never done anything like this; we have never even been to the Keys. But I have always wanted to go on adventures during my summers and never have. And I'm not getting any younger. So when Joe came up with this idea, it took me less than 2 seconds to agree.
So back to the theme. I want to creatively encourage my body to be stronger, leaner, and healthier everyday (more then just the month of January) so that I can enjoy our trip (without being a trembling collection of wimpy, sore muscles for the first little while).
Each week during the winter, I'm planning on doing the weight circuit (cybex), spinning (+core and stretch), yoga, and swimming. That's exercising 4 times, a week to begin. I'll add more as the weather improves and our departure date nears. I know the tour will end up training me, and that to begin with my distances will be shorter than I hope for, and I will be more sore and tired than I can imagine right now. But at least I'm preparing.
Along with exercise, I am going to become more diligent with self care, like flossing, vitamins, good nutrition, massage, and skin care.
And what does all this have to do with being creative? I hope, with a stronger, healthier, and better maintained body, there will be more energy for creativity.
