Monday, May 31, 2010

Kitchen Faces

Anticipating what was to come in world affairs, we sold our 10-year-old house the summer of 2006, and inserted ourselves in a higgledy-piggledy farmhouse, the central portion of which was built in the 1880s.  One might call that home-shock, but we've lived in just about every sort of abode under the sun, short of a tent, so we're malleable.  We're also slow, though, and these nearly 4 years later, the kitchen isn't finished-finished, but it's receiving its nips and tucks.  This most recent one certainly nipped my and Son4's tucks.  We're going to rest today. Ü

Touring prior to closing.  The "kitchen" was a large room, with a graduation in the floor level, the lower portion including the side entry to the house.


Immediately upon possession, we constructed walls to separate the entry from the kitchen, and leaving a corridor into the kitchen, created a broom closet on one side and clothes closet on the other.  This is the broom closet side, which also houses the entry to the partial basement we didn't know existed, until we took up the carpet and noticed the floor boards were all wanky in that spot.  Removing the boards revealed a stairwell to what we aptly named the abyss:


And on that new wall in the entry went the computer.  Yet to be dressed at the time, that completed area is depicted in this photo:


From the newly diminished kitchen side, looking back, is my clothes closet on the left (broom closet on right).  Yes, this is why I've commented on my clothes being in the kitchen.  They are. Ü  Here's a shot of my closet, still under construction:


Over on the kitchen side, its face was looking like this:


The quick, easy fix for that faux brick was a couple of coats of paint: 


And these nearly 4 years later, it, the countertop, and sink wait patiently to be replaced.

But leaping from my chair at 3:47 last Thursday afternoon and working with Son4's help through late in the night Saturday, brought the kitchen's face to this:


That photo in the unlit room most realistically caught the color, so I'm using it, but the silly photographer (*raising own hand*) wasn't paying much attention to what was captured in the frame.  Here's the rest of the face, lighted:


The window isn't yet scraped, which set Uncle Kemtrail to twitching yesterday, as we lounged 'round the kitchen table in the evening: "Do you need a single edge blade?  I just bought a new package."  I had to burst out laughing.  We're just slow.  We'll get there, Lord willing, but we're slow.

Right now, the kitchen and I have happier faces, and the kitchen's is pretty perky.  Mine...notsomuch.  *snort*



Then in the audience of all the people he said unto his disciples, Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts; which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.  Luke 20:45-47

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Keepin' It Real

Have I no shame?  I'm setting this post for deferred publishing, so I'll have about 24 hours to back out and never let you see this mess.

It was about 3:47 on Thursday afternoon.

This is it.

THIS IS IT!


The idea first struck me about 2½ years ago.  I do believe it was around the time I did → this ←to my kitchen.  You know, the cabinets just didn't have very happy faces in the first place, and that lame attempt at making my own liquid laundry detergent etched more lines of aging.  So one can't truly say this was a snap decision, given I'd been ruminating on it for such a goodly bit of time.  But even I recognize there's something a bit quirky about leaping from one's seat at 3:47 on a Thursday afternoon and asking for the sander.  Go figure.

Five hours later, Son4 and I washed our roller and brush, hammered the lid onto the paint can, called it quits for the day, and walked away from this:



Scary

Everyone wants to be me.  NOT!

It gets even scarier when one considers company is coming tomorrow (today as you're reading), and there is left to do: second coat on the base, sand 10 drawers and 23 doors, and two-coat those bits.

Mildly amused by the mess, I decided to snap a couple of photos.  Uploading them to the computer, pictorially surveying the damage, and not being able to wrest my weary self from the chair, I hollered to the other room, "The mayonnaise is sitting out on the table!"  With 4 window air conditioning units on-the-roar, a girl's gotta speak up.

The responsive voice of approaching Son3 called back, "What, Mummy?"  No, the strapping young man doesn't normally call me that, but he shares the sick-sense-of-humor gene.

"The mayonnaise is sitting out on the table.  I just spied it in this picture."

The mayonnaise is in the fridge now, but nothing else has yet changed, therefore, I am SO outta here.  I'll let ya know when things are in order again.



But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.  I Corinthians 2:14

Friday, May 28, 2010

Pretty Yellow Flowers

I got an email the other night from Kath, sharing some of her yard sights, and she said she knew I'd be especially impressed with her yellow flowers, so I was eager to see them.  Scrolling past text to the photos, those beauties were the first to pop onto the screen:


I laughed aloud.

Truth be known, I quite like dandelions.  Perhaps they get their bad rap as a result of the uncomely puffballs they become, but in their delicate, radial, yellow glory, they're beautiful.

Redeeming herself, the photos also included this beauty from a very special rose garden:


In the photo bounty was a cardinal:


I love cardinals.
The males display such striking color.
The females are my admitted favorite, their understated, modest beauty seeming perfect.

Finally, this handsome indigo bunting:


Gorgeous




But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.  I Corinthians 2:9

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Ants


We've waged quite a battle this spring with bitsy little ants.  I finally bought some little plastic ant restaurants with a toxic menu.  The ants are supposed to go in to dine and take a doggie bag home with them.  The morning after the restaurants were arranged...

CarolineNot:  There were a bunch of dead ants on the cabinet this morning.  I guess those things really work.

Charles:  Well, we prayed, too.

CarolineNot:  *think-think-think*  What?

Charles:  We prayed.

CarolineNot:  *think-think-think-think-think*  I didn't pray.  Did you pray?

Charles:  Sprayed!



For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.  In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also.  The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.  O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker.  For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.  Psalms 95:3-7

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Barrow O' Beauty

Lily Turf, Dahlias, Purple Things, Other Purple Things


The Lily Turf, and one type of Purple Things are supposed to be perennials.
But take another look, because you may never see them again.
And this is probably the best any of the flowers are ever going to look.


Pretty
Ü

Son4 performed most of the labor.


I'm mostly the order giver cheerleader.


Ruger is trying his best to look remorseful.  How's he doing with that?  When he shot like a bullet to the side yard, then returned to the front in like manner, who knew he wasn't going to slow down or stop until he collided with and hyper extended Charles' knee?  Huge oopsie.


The ridiculous little chicken chaser, which was tethered to the wheel barrow, assured the polar bear it was okay.  What does he know?  He doesn't even have legs.


One dahlia went to the ugly little barrel on the driveway island.  Two years ago the barrel was green.  We're not green, and we're also not buying any more Wal*Mart brand paint...of any hue.


Yes, even the barrel has to be fenced, so the chickens won't leap into it and dig.

The island roses have bloomed. 
Sort of looks like a jungle out there. 
The weed eater won't start, and the grasses won't stop.


'Xcuse me, but these flowers look sort of ugly.
I can say that, because they're mine.
They remind me of my hair; not their colorful parts, their messy part.


They're not ugly for real.
In fact, they were my happiest flower-find.
The hummingbirds are ♥ing them.


Of course, I didn't know until I got them home and looked up calibrachoa that they're "frail."  Uh yeah.  Frail plants entrusted to my care.  Get your eyeful while the gettin's good, and I'll show you later what happens to them.  I guarantee it won't be pretty.

Let the countdown to flopped flowers begin.



I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.  Daniel 7:13-14

Saturday, May 22, 2010

It's a Purse Now

You may recall my grump over running low on yarn in the midst of a purse.  In the end, The End was the resolution to my problem: smaller than imagined purse.  Making up for that a bit, I knitted the handle to extend base-to-base, giving the smallish purse some depth.

If I think I have a problem making myself weave-in yarn tails, making myself construct a pieced purse earns me the title of Queen Procrastinator, for the readied pieces lay in a basket in the living room for nearly a month...while I knitted other projects.  You know, ones which will also have yarn tails and pieces to piece together: I don't like to do that part.  I'll do this part again.  Argh.

But it's a purse now and ready to ship.  Don't even get me started on how long it takes me to stuff something into a box or bag and take it to the post office.  Pah-thetic!



For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) but to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.  1 Corinthians 8:5-6

Friday, May 21, 2010

Son4's Big Fish

At home with our catch and camera, I caught a shot of Son4's big fish.


FRESHWATER DRUM:  "It is also called shepherd's pie, silver bass, gray bass, Gasper goo, Gaspergou, gou, grunt, grunter, grinder, wuss fish, and croaker, and is commonly known as sheephead or sheepshead in parts of Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States."[Wikipedia]

And here's my own catch:


WIPER:  "Perhaps the most aggressive fish in Kansas waters, the wiper is a cross between a white bass and a striped bass. Wipers grow fast, strike hard, and fight like no other fish."[KS Dept of Wildlife and Parks]

Son3 caught a 17" smallmouth bass, but the keeper length requirement is 18".  Phooey.

Charles got gunked.  Pooey.


This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.  Joshua 1:8

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Harvey Goes Fishing

Harvey went on his first fishing excursion yesterday.  Since you may be able to tell these aren't actual photos from the outing, I confess I forgot to take the camera and am having to wing this visual tale...

HARVEY ON THE DOCK


HARVEY WHIFFING SON4'S BIG CATCH


THE MINNOW THAT FLIPPED OUT OF THE BAIT BUCKET


HARVEY FINDS THE MINNOW
(Squeamish Readers Scroll Past Next Visual)


Mom:  "Oh, calm down.  He's getting his omega 3's."
Son4:  "He's being O Mega Disgusting!"



HARVEY ON THE SUNSET RIDE BACK TO THE DOCK


SHIVERING HARVEY GETS TUCKED INTO JACKET


My hair was pretty windblown, but I'm not too vain to let you see me this way.

(Please scroll back up and notice how thin my face is.)



From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.  And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.  And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.  Matthew 4:17-19

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

You Know You Must

Thought you were going to escape Iris gazing this year?  Nuh-uh.  I was waiting for the marriage of sunshine and remembrance, and both are in short supply, so remembrance met overcast — and even a blurring breeze — for [*drum roll*] The Shooting of the Irises.  Ready or not, here they come...












He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.  ...I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.  Ecclesiastes 3:11, 14