Brief Update

Not just sick.   Really sick.

Turns out I have Influenza A and Strep.

Family in town turned right around and left.  We canceled the birthday party we were hosting.   I’m currently quarantined, as no one wants to be anywhere near me.

Fun.

C.

I lost.

I lost the war against sickness yesterday.    The kids were finally successful at passing along their crud, and I’m down for the count.    Fantastic.    Thanks kids!

We also have 4 birthday parties in the next 3 days, 2 baseball practices, and 5 bonus people and a new puppy staying with us this weekend.

I shake my head at the comedy that is my life.

Have a great weekend, and Happy First Day of Spring!

C.

Rough week, smooth hands

That pebble tile we started installing last weekend?   We’re still installing it.   Whoever thought of this should be flogged.  (Oh, wait.   That was me.   Halt the flogging.)    This tile is brutal.   The setting has to be meticulous or the lines between the tile sheets will be obvious.   It took us (mostly me, since I’m the possesser of the anal-retentive, obsessive, need for perfection) 16 hours to trim and set the sheets.   Then it has to dry 24 hours and be sealed.    The designated sealer (*waves hello to husband*) used a 1″ sponge brush to seal the rocks since I forgot to mention the great tip I read about using a paint roller to accomplish that task.  (OOPS!)   I’m glad I was at Bunko when that happened.

After the sealing comes the grouting.   Grouting those pebbles is a nightmare that I might reasonably compare to repeatedly poking myself in the eye with a dinner fork.   It’s near impossible to scrape off the extra grout when the heights of the individual pebbles are so random.   So, to get the rocks clean, we needed to:

1. sponge.   *poke*
2. sponge again.  *poke*
3. Let the tile set a bit,  scrub with a wire brush,  Shop-Vac the pieces, then wipe the rocks again.  *poke*
4. wipe off each rock individually to get the last bits of grout from around the edges.  *poke *poke* poke *poke *poke*…

Yesterday, I scoured the internet and discovered the best way to get rid of the last of the grout haze was to polish each rock individually with cheesecloth.  I think the neighbors could probably have heard my maniacal laughter from next door as I realized how the day would be spent.

I collapsed on the couch at 3am, too tired to even walk upstairs, with raw hands and a hole in my sock from the rough grout.   This morning in sleep deprived idiocy, I almost caused two kitchen fires making breakfast and steam-burned my thumb.

But my part in the floor construction is done.  D-O-N-E.  done.    Aside from needing resealed on Sunday, the job is complete.   I have already passed on the tip about the roller, so my reponsibility is finished.   If I wasn’t so exhausted, I’d do a happy dance in the hallway.  Photos will be forthcoming when the floor is finshed.

On a side note, in tribute to the taste of spring Mother Nature both giveth and taketh away this week, here’s a project I made last year that brings a bit of spring indoors.  Full instructions and supplies can be found on the Today’s Creative HomeArts website.

Come back spring!

May your weekend be happy and not filled with tedious home improvement!

Until next time…
C.

Friday Fragments

I’m trying something new this week, just for fun, and because none of the topics I have thoughts about this week really equal an entire post.  It’s “a whole lot about not much” today.   For more people posting Friday Fragments check out Mrs. 4444’s blog.

• Yesterday, I took down the last of the winter decorations.  Yes, I said the winter decorations, and yes, it’s March 6th.  In my defense, it was my snowman collection and it was still 14 degrees two days ago.    I draw the line at 55 degrees in March, though (which it was yesterday), so down they came.    I’m ready for spring.
• I am anxiously waiting for the time change to happen this weekend.  My kids have been up insanely early this week, and I’m downright tired of it.  Switch the light to the evening already!
• What’s up with canceling “Life on Mars”?   Shows like “The Bachelor” stay, and the real meaty shows go.   I just don’t understand it.
• My wrist seems to unfortunately be back to where it was before my Dr. appointment.  All those needles for nothing.   It looks like I have a phone call to make this morning.  I guess I better clear my calendar.  Fantastic.
• Ever since I posted this post, I have gotten hits all over the place from people searching for Leprechaun traps.   Who knew so many people were looking for ideas.   HI EVERYONE!   We still haven’t made one yet, sorry!
• Last week, I started planning out our meals for the week again.   We use the Grocery Game (and have for about a year), because I’m too lazy to match up the coupons to the circulars and too cheap to pay full price.   We’ve been slacking on the planning front since I got sick last fall, and it feels good to get back to it.   No last minute trips to the store this week and we saved 47%.  Yay us!
• We’re laying the river rock pebble tile this weekend in the half-bath.   Heaven help us.
• And because I haven’t posted a project all week, here’s a quick bit of craftiness for the weekend.   These made an appearance in the Sept./Oct. issue of Today’s Creative Home Arts, and were made with random scraps of whatever products I had laying around.    I thought it fit with the “random scraps from my brain” theme today.    love them.

Have a fantastic weekend!

Until next time…
C.

Another Day, Another Doctor.

Yep, I had to go again.    A hand surgeon this time.

On a good note, I was able to get an appointment quickly, I spent less than 5 minutes in the waiting area, the doctor was knowledgeable, and the problem itself is pretty minor.   Overall, just a blip in the 2 inch file that is my medical records folder.

The problem?   I wasn’t prepared for the needles.   I hate needles.

You see, due to the nature and location of the problem, my PCP thought the surgeon would recommend surgery (probably not an unreasonable assumption, considering he is, in fact, a surgeon),  so he prepared me for surgery.   Therefore, I prepared me for surgery.

Turns out, the surgeon recommended trying the needles first.   And while I should have been thankful he recommended the easy way first, my brain started spinning when he mentioned the word.

I hadn’t prepared myself for the needles.

But 10 minutes later, the procedure was done, (and 20 minutes later the spinning stopped).   I now have a tidy little ace bandage instead of a splint and a several week recovery time.

I’m thankful.   Sort of.    Except for the needles.

Until next time…
c.

The Illusion of Peace

I love the beginning of the month.   It doesn’t matter what month it is, (though I’m rather partial to December), just that it’s the beginning.    There’s just something about flipping that calendar to a fresh new page that gives me a feeling of starting fresh.    Weird?   Possibly.   I’ve been called worse. 

As the kids have gotten older, we have switched to one of the “family calendars” that have spaces for each family member’s activities every day.    It takes up the majority of the side of our refrigerator, but it’s worth it.   In fact, for someone who often can’t remember what day it is, it’s essential.    I have a love/hate relationship with that calendar.

When that fresh page is turned, the calendar has quite a number of neatly printed activities for each of us.    As the month continues, all the empty spots quickly fill with last-minute events, crossed-out marks where plans have changed, hastily drawn arrows moving one commitment to another day (where are all our erasers??), and assorted other day-to-day responsibilities.    By the end of the month, that calendar looks as crazy as I feel trying to keep up with it.

But that nice tidy page at the month’s start where there seems to be plenty of time for everything?    It’s energizing.

Now…off to accomplish something before reality eeks its way back into my brain!

Until next time…
C.

Leprechaun traps, guitars, and guest blogging.

How’s that for a random blog title?

I spent a half-hour this morning drying a shoebox with a hairdryer.  Now you might think that phrase seems as odd as my post title, but really, it makes perfect sense when you find out Kid 1’s  musical instrument was due today.    Yesterday was rainy, so I tried to wait out the humidity to spray paint the mishmash of shoebox, rubber bands, and broken yardstick a lovely shade of “leftover from painting the shutters-blue”.    Alas, the rain never stopped, so this morning the guitar was coated with spray-gesso in the garage and dried with the hairdryer in the kitchen.    The crafter in me is shaking her head, but the mom in me gets the giggles thinking about the absurdity. 

Kid 2 has a Leprechaun trap due in 2 weeks.    I’m wracking my brain to come up with a way to creatively ensnare a small mythological being.    And I’m wondering what the odds are that it won’t require a last-minute heat styling.

And as for the guest blogging, my post and project is up today at the Helmar Blog!    Here’s a sneak peak of the dimension created with their Liquid Scrap Dots.  Love that glue!     Check out the project and the instructions here.

Have a great weekend!

Until next time…
C.

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

This beautiful little girl turns 6 years old today!

I can’t believe how big she is.  I’ve been trying to convince her for a month now that she really ought to start going backward in age for a little while.    If she turned four instead, we’d get to spend more time at home together and we could just re-use all her birthday presents from before.    Sounds perfect, right?    For some reason, she didn’t go for my suggestion, and there will be 6 candles tonight.

So this morning, I’m baking brownies for her class treat and a big chocolate cake with chocolate frosting for our celebration at home.    Sense a trend?    My girl loves her chocolate. 

Happy birthday sweetheart!

Until next time…
C.

Happy New Year!

And best wishes for everything good in 2009!  We had a wonderful get-together with old friends, as we do every year.    Though we were missing a few people this year, we still had a ball.

I’m hoping for a quieter year for my family, since the past few months have been quite hectic health-wise since September for us and for our extended families.  It sounds kind of silly to say I’m hoping for “nothing” to happen in 2009, but really, it’s the truth.  Plain, boring, old life is fine with me.

By the calendar, it’s a bit late for Christmas, but since my house is still fully decorated, I’m squeaking one last holiday card onto the blog before I move on to the new year.

This card was made with chipboard circles, beads, glitter, stamped phrases, pre-cut felt shapes, and Helmar adhesives (450 Stainless, Acid Free Glue, and Liquid Scrap Dots).  Hope everyone had a great holiday!

Until next time…
C.

Dickens–The other kind.

Not the author, the 2-year-old.

Could be the holiday excitement, could be lack of sleep carried over from our holiday zoo excursion, could be the fact that he’s 2.   Whatever the cause, he’s sorely testing my patience.

Good thing this little dickens is cute!