"Be happy with where you are and, at the same time, eagerly and optimistically anticipate the thrill of the next great adventure."
- Kate Corbin
31 March 2009
Pink
"Be happy with where you are and, at the same time, eagerly and optimistically anticipate the thrill of the next great adventure."
Garden progress
Remember how the back bit of our garden looked like when we moved in?
Remember how last autumn we had the gates moved and fences installed and I created beds along the sides?
(View from the kitchen):
Since then we've painted the wall white and sown some grass - look how well it's growing!
It's going to be such a nice spot in summer when the sycamore tree is in leaf!
Remember how last autumn we had the gates moved and fences installed and I created beds along the sides?
(View from the kitchen):
Since then we've painted the wall white and sown some grass - look how well it's growing!
It's going to be such a nice spot in summer when the sycamore tree is in leaf!
Cupcakes
I love my new mini muffin tin. Look how cute this mini chocolate cupcakes are (next to regular sized ones).
And look how cute Noah is after licking out the bowl!
And look how cute Noah is after licking out the bowl!
G&J in the bedroom (ooh la la!)
I've been wanting to hang some artwork above our bed for ages but didn't quite know what I wanted. We're also on a tight budget so I didn't want to spend out on expensive new frames. Eventually I decided on monograms.
I used Photoshop to choose a typeface, create the monograms in outline mode, sized them correctly, flipped them horizontally so that they were mirror images and printed them out.
I then sprayed adhesive on the back of some silver and brown fabric I had and stuck the paper onto the fabric.
I then used some sharp scissors to cut out each letter. Some of the edges frayed a little but I quite liked the fact that it looked like fabric rather than patterened paper. This is the worst frayed bit:
I used double sided tape to stick the letters to white card and put them into frames I already had. Ta-da!
I used Photoshop to choose a typeface, create the monograms in outline mode, sized them correctly, flipped them horizontally so that they were mirror images and printed them out.
I then sprayed adhesive on the back of some silver and brown fabric I had and stuck the paper onto the fabric.
I then used some sharp scissors to cut out each letter. Some of the edges frayed a little but I quite liked the fact that it looked like fabric rather than patterened paper. This is the worst frayed bit:
I used double sided tape to stick the letters to white card and put them into frames I already had. Ta-da!
30 March 2009
Guest room
Grant's parents gave us permission to decorate their second bedroom as a guest room. Here's what we came up with on a very minimal budget. We already had everything except for the bed (a cheap one I painted white), mattress, bedding and print in the frame.
The bedside tables were made from a 60cm x 92cm kitchen wall cabinet I had lying around - we cut it in half to create the two tables. A shelf forms the base of each.
View from the door:
Standing at the window:
The picture above the bed is one I took. I added a quote to it before having it printed. The qhote says:
Every house where love abides
And friendship is a guest,
Is surely home, and home sweet home,
For there the heart can rest
- Henry van Dyke
The bedside tables were made from a 60cm x 92cm kitchen wall cabinet I had lying around - we cut it in half to create the two tables. A shelf forms the base of each.
View from the door:
Standing at the window:
The picture above the bed is one I took. I added a quote to it before having it printed. The qhote says:
Every house where love abides
And friendship is a guest,
Is surely home, and home sweet home,
For there the heart can rest
- Henry van Dyke
Wedding details
From Liz and Jacob's wedding yesterday. (I did the engagement and bride-getting-ready pictures as a wedding present.)
(Her mom's shoes)
(Her mom's shoes)
21 March 2009
"And that's how the fight started..."
(Emailed to my by my sister, Susan.)
One year, a husband decided to buy his mother-in-law a cemetery plot as a Christmas gift. The next year, he didn't buy her a gift. When she asked him why, he replied, "Well, you still haven't used the gift I bought you last year!"
And that's how the fight started...
----------------------------------------------
My wife walked into the den and asked "What's on the TV?"
I replied, "Dust".
And that's how the fight started...
----------------------------------------------
A woman is standing nude, looking in the bedroom mirror. She is not happy with what she sees and says to her husband, "I feel horrible; I look old, fat and ugly. I really need you to pay me a
compliment."
The husband replies, "Your eyesight's damn near perfect."
And that's how the fight started...
----------------------------------------------
My wife was hinting about what she wanted for our upcoming anniversary. She said, "I want something shiny that goes from 0 to 200 in about 3 seconds. I bought her a scale.
And that's how the fight started...
----------------------------------------------
I asked my wife, "Where do you want to go for our anniversary?" It warmed my heart to see her face melt in sweet appreciation.
"Somewhere I haven't been in a long time!" she said.
So I suggested, "How about the kitchen?"
And that's how the fight started...
----------------------------------------------
My wife and I are watching Who Wants To Be A Millionaire while we were in bed. I turned to her and said, 'Do you want to have sex?'
"No," she answered.
I then said, "Is that your final answer?"
She didn't even look at me this time, simply saying, "Yes."
So I said, "Then I'd like to phone a friend."
And that's how the fight started...
----------------------------------------------
I tried to talk my wife into buying a case of Miller Light for $14.95. Instead, she bought a jar of cold cream for $7.95. I told her the beer would make her look better at night than the cold cream.
And that's how the fight started...
----------------------------------------------
I took my wife to a restaurant. The waiter, for some reason, took my order first. "I'll have the strip steak, medium rare, please."
He said, "Aren't you worried about the mad cow?"
"Nah, she can order for herself."
And that's how the fight started...
One year, a husband decided to buy his mother-in-law a cemetery plot as a Christmas gift. The next year, he didn't buy her a gift. When she asked him why, he replied, "Well, you still haven't used the gift I bought you last year!"
And that's how the fight started...
----------------------------------------------
My wife walked into the den and asked "What's on the TV?"
I replied, "Dust".
And that's how the fight started...
----------------------------------------------
A woman is standing nude, looking in the bedroom mirror. She is not happy with what she sees and says to her husband, "I feel horrible; I look old, fat and ugly. I really need you to pay me a
compliment."
The husband replies, "Your eyesight's damn near perfect."
And that's how the fight started...
----------------------------------------------
My wife was hinting about what she wanted for our upcoming anniversary. She said, "I want something shiny that goes from 0 to 200 in about 3 seconds. I bought her a scale.
And that's how the fight started...
----------------------------------------------
I asked my wife, "Where do you want to go for our anniversary?" It warmed my heart to see her face melt in sweet appreciation.
"Somewhere I haven't been in a long time!" she said.
So I suggested, "How about the kitchen?"
And that's how the fight started...
----------------------------------------------
My wife and I are watching Who Wants To Be A Millionaire while we were in bed. I turned to her and said, 'Do you want to have sex?'
"No," she answered.
I then said, "Is that your final answer?"
She didn't even look at me this time, simply saying, "Yes."
So I said, "Then I'd like to phone a friend."
And that's how the fight started...
----------------------------------------------
I tried to talk my wife into buying a case of Miller Light for $14.95. Instead, she bought a jar of cold cream for $7.95. I told her the beer would make her look better at night than the cold cream.
And that's how the fight started...
----------------------------------------------
I took my wife to a restaurant. The waiter, for some reason, took my order first. "I'll have the strip steak, medium rare, please."
He said, "Aren't you worried about the mad cow?"
"Nah, she can order for herself."
And that's how the fight started...
Hanging artwork
I have this pet peeve about hanging artwork. There are two basic mistakes that people usually make. The first is:
1) Artwork hung way too high
The Pretty Organizer has a great post about how high you should hang your artwork, along with pictures to illustrate - click on over there.
The 54-inches-from-floor is a general rule of thumb. Rules can be broken; if you have a particularly large piece of artwork or grouping, feel free to hang it lower so that the top of it isn't too high.
The second mistake is:
2) Artwork too small for the space on the wall
The rule of thumb is that the artwork should relate to the item of furniture it is hung over. If the centre of the artwork is 54 inches from the floor and the piece of furniture is low, the artwork will need to be bigger (or a grouping of smaller art) so that it doesn't look like it's randomly floating above the piece of furniture.
Here are some pictures I made to illustrate:
Okay the first picture shows mistake 1 and 2 - the artwork is way too small and hung too high. It is randomly floating above the furniture, makes you crane your neck up to look at it and it is too small so you have to come right to it to appreciate the picture.
Aah, much better! You see, my former clients, I wasn't trying to upsell the size to make more money, but so that your portraits would look better in the spaces you wanted to hang them.
Okay this one isn't too bad, right? Artwork is nice and big, the width is appropriate for the furniture ... but hung at the correct height there is still too much of a gap beneath it. (Now, this gap would be fine if you were planning on putting a lamp or candlesticks or other taller items on the chest, to lead your eye up, but for the purpose of this illustration we'll assume the furniture will be as-is.)
See, by going smaller with the artwork you are able to group two together to create the appropriate size.
Hope this has been helpful! Now go and fix your artwork!
1) Artwork hung way too high
The Pretty Organizer has a great post about how high you should hang your artwork, along with pictures to illustrate - click on over there.
The 54-inches-from-floor is a general rule of thumb. Rules can be broken; if you have a particularly large piece of artwork or grouping, feel free to hang it lower so that the top of it isn't too high.
The second mistake is:
2) Artwork too small for the space on the wall
The rule of thumb is that the artwork should relate to the item of furniture it is hung over. If the centre of the artwork is 54 inches from the floor and the piece of furniture is low, the artwork will need to be bigger (or a grouping of smaller art) so that it doesn't look like it's randomly floating above the piece of furniture.
Here are some pictures I made to illustrate:
Okay the first picture shows mistake 1 and 2 - the artwork is way too small and hung too high. It is randomly floating above the furniture, makes you crane your neck up to look at it and it is too small so you have to come right to it to appreciate the picture.
Aah, much better! You see, my former clients, I wasn't trying to upsell the size to make more money, but so that your portraits would look better in the spaces you wanted to hang them.
Okay this one isn't too bad, right? Artwork is nice and big, the width is appropriate for the furniture ... but hung at the correct height there is still too much of a gap beneath it. (Now, this gap would be fine if you were planning on putting a lamp or candlesticks or other taller items on the chest, to lead your eye up, but for the purpose of this illustration we'll assume the furniture will be as-is.)
See, by going smaller with the artwork you are able to group two together to create the appropriate size.
Hope this has been helpful! Now go and fix your artwork!
Interview with the boys (seperately)
Interview with Noah (age 4)
1. What is something mom always says to you?
What do you? I don't know. I don't know. What do you??
2. What makes mom happy?
I cuddle you!
3. What makes mom sad?
I hurt you.
4. How does your mom make you laugh?
You make funny faces. [I do?]
5. What did your mom like to do as a child?
What do you? (Me: what do you think?) I think you should play with trains.
6. How old is your mom?
How old? That's tricky.
7. How tall is your mom?
Massive. [I hope you're still talking height, punk]
8. What is her favourite thing to watch on TV?
What is it? What is it?
9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
You clean.
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Me!
11. What is your mom really good at?
Making tea. [Supper is called "tea" in Lancashire. Lunch is called "dinner".]
12. What is your mom not very good at?
What do you think? You not very good at fixing the computer. [ha ha, that's because when he wants me to do something on the computer (with games etc) I'm all, "I don't know how to do that"]
13. What does your mom do for her job?
You clean.
14. What is your mom's favorite food?
Pasta.
15. What makes you proud of your mom?
Cleaning with you.
16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
What do you think?
17. What do you and your mom do together?
We clean? (Me: What else?) I don't know.
18. How are you and your mom the same?
We make supper. We do things the same. [fibber, he never helps me cook]
19. How are you and your mom different?
We do different things.
20. How do you know your mom loves you?
I cuddle you. I play trains with you and cars with you.
21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
You cuddle him. You play with him.
22. Where is your mom's favourite place to go?
In the park and Preston.
----------------------------------
Interview with Daniel (age 7)
1. What is something mom always says to you?
Tidy up. Get off the computer please.
2. What makes mom happy?
Tidying up, doing things by myself like thinking of something to do that is around the house.
3. What makes mom sad?
Doing naughty stuff.
4. How does your mom make you laugh?
Tickles.
5. What did your mom like to do as a child?
I don't know.
6. How old is your mom?
32? [close; I'm 33]
7. How tall is your mom?
One thousand metres. No, it isn't one thousand. 2, 3, 4 metres?
8. What is her favourite thing to watch on TV?
Wanted Down Under, Freaky Eaters, It's Not Easy Being Green, CSI. [spot on, these are some shows Grant and I have been watching online!]
9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
Help Noah or something.
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Working hard.
11. What is your mom really good at?
I don't know. Tidying up, cooking ... um, let's think ...taking care of the house.
12. What is your mom not very good at?
Singing. [offended!!]
13. What does your mom do for her job?
Photography, but you don't do any jobs.
14. What is your mom's favorite food?
Noah! You said he is tasty. [ha ha ha ha! True!]
15. What makes you proud of your mom?
Being a good mommy.
16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
A photographer.
17. What do you and your mom do together?
Read together.
18. How are you and your mom the same?
We both talk a lot.
19. How are you and your mom different?
I don't really do as much working.
20. How do you know your mom loves you?
You always cuddle me and things like that.
21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
He watches shows with you.
22. Where is your mom's favourite place to go?
Sleeping. [ha ha ha, this was prompted by Grant who said, "bed"]
(Questions pinched off Tertia's blog.)
These interviews totally cracked me up. Noah was like an eager puppy asking me, "What is it?" when I asked him something, as if I was asking rhetorically and had the answer for him all along. Daniel was witty and spot on; Grant and I were chuckling over his answers.
I was freaked out by how both of them said all the comments about "cleaning" and "tidying" - am I that bad?!?! And there I was worrying I spend too much time on the computer!! I think it's because I do housework and potter around keeping busy around our home while the boys are around, then when they aren't around I have down time on the computer, reading, crafting, etc. But they're at school / preschool / asleep so they don't really see that.
Now if I could only get them to help out a bit more!! They seem quite happy with the status quo, the lazy little beggars. I totally blame myself. It's something we're working on.
1. What is something mom always says to you?
What do you? I don't know. I don't know. What do you??
2. What makes mom happy?
I cuddle you!
3. What makes mom sad?
I hurt you.
4. How does your mom make you laugh?
You make funny faces. [I do?]
5. What did your mom like to do as a child?
What do you? (Me: what do you think?) I think you should play with trains.
6. How old is your mom?
How old? That's tricky.
7. How tall is your mom?
Massive. [I hope you're still talking height, punk]
8. What is her favourite thing to watch on TV?
What is it? What is it?
9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
You clean.
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Me!
11. What is your mom really good at?
Making tea. [Supper is called "tea" in Lancashire. Lunch is called "dinner".]
12. What is your mom not very good at?
What do you think? You not very good at fixing the computer. [ha ha, that's because when he wants me to do something on the computer (with games etc) I'm all, "I don't know how to do that"]
13. What does your mom do for her job?
You clean.
14. What is your mom's favorite food?
Pasta.
15. What makes you proud of your mom?
Cleaning with you.
16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
What do you think?
17. What do you and your mom do together?
We clean? (Me: What else?) I don't know.
18. How are you and your mom the same?
We make supper. We do things the same. [fibber, he never helps me cook]
19. How are you and your mom different?
We do different things.
20. How do you know your mom loves you?
I cuddle you. I play trains with you and cars with you.
21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
You cuddle him. You play with him.
22. Where is your mom's favourite place to go?
In the park and Preston.
----------------------------------
Interview with Daniel (age 7)
1. What is something mom always says to you?
Tidy up. Get off the computer please.
2. What makes mom happy?
Tidying up, doing things by myself like thinking of something to do that is around the house.
3. What makes mom sad?
Doing naughty stuff.
4. How does your mom make you laugh?
Tickles.
5. What did your mom like to do as a child?
I don't know.
6. How old is your mom?
32? [close; I'm 33]
7. How tall is your mom?
One thousand metres. No, it isn't one thousand. 2, 3, 4 metres?
8. What is her favourite thing to watch on TV?
Wanted Down Under, Freaky Eaters, It's Not Easy Being Green, CSI. [spot on, these are some shows Grant and I have been watching online!]
9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
Help Noah or something.
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Working hard.
11. What is your mom really good at?
I don't know. Tidying up, cooking ... um, let's think ...taking care of the house.
12. What is your mom not very good at?
Singing. [offended!!]
13. What does your mom do for her job?
Photography, but you don't do any jobs.
14. What is your mom's favorite food?
Noah! You said he is tasty. [ha ha ha ha! True!]
15. What makes you proud of your mom?
Being a good mommy.
16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
A photographer.
17. What do you and your mom do together?
Read together.
18. How are you and your mom the same?
We both talk a lot.
19. How are you and your mom different?
I don't really do as much working.
20. How do you know your mom loves you?
You always cuddle me and things like that.
21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
He watches shows with you.
22. Where is your mom's favourite place to go?
Sleeping. [ha ha ha, this was prompted by Grant who said, "bed"]
(Questions pinched off Tertia's blog.)
These interviews totally cracked me up. Noah was like an eager puppy asking me, "What is it?" when I asked him something, as if I was asking rhetorically and had the answer for him all along. Daniel was witty and spot on; Grant and I were chuckling over his answers.
I was freaked out by how both of them said all the comments about "cleaning" and "tidying" - am I that bad?!?! And there I was worrying I spend too much time on the computer!! I think it's because I do housework and potter around keeping busy around our home while the boys are around, then when they aren't around I have down time on the computer, reading, crafting, etc. But they're at school / preschool / asleep so they don't really see that.
Now if I could only get them to help out a bit more!! They seem quite happy with the status quo, the lazy little beggars. I totally blame myself. It's something we're working on.
20 March 2009
Fresh front doorstep
Grant spent ages power hosing the back patio and the front path and steps. They look so much better with the winter grime and muck hosed off! I also moved the little conifer to the space between front door and the bay window and potted up some primroses that came up in the back garden - I had to remove them from the bed so I can plant some onions.
Odd assortment of pots and plants, but it's what I had lying around.
Our dwarf fruit trees have arrived and I've potted them up. We bought a "mini orchard" from Garden Bargains - a plum tree, a pear tree and an apple tree. They are each grafted onto special root stock that keeps the tree small so they can grow in containers - how fab is that?!
The big tub in front of the trees has the raspberry canes in and the two smallest tubs hold the blueberry bushes.
I've also sowed some carrot seed and planted red onion sets. Come on summer!!
Odd assortment of pots and plants, but it's what I had lying around.
Our dwarf fruit trees have arrived and I've potted them up. We bought a "mini orchard" from Garden Bargains - a plum tree, a pear tree and an apple tree. They are each grafted onto special root stock that keeps the tree small so they can grow in containers - how fab is that?!
The big tub in front of the trees has the raspberry canes in and the two smallest tubs hold the blueberry bushes.
I've also sowed some carrot seed and planted red onion sets. Come on summer!!
17 March 2009
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