WRITER'S RETREAT SNEAK PEEK

Okay, here is a sneak peak of my 99% completed writing space. A space of my own where I can  write, create and brainstorm.  Our newly hung drapes have transformed this room into the cozy place I envisioned when we moved in.

The drapes and light fixture are hanging and I am so happy with the choices for both! 

I am still searching for the "perfect" writer's chair,  For now, I placed one of our dining room chairs with a throw pillow in it to use until I find the one meant for me.

I can't wait to find some beautiful art for the walls and a few decorative pieces for the tops of my bookshelves.

 

I'm pretty thrilled with the  way it is turning out and I so appreciate my hubby's hard work today getting my drapes hung. Thanks, babe!!!

(I'll post some more pics of the entire window and hanging drapes when sun is not creating such an annoying glare). 

I've had a relaxing and productive weekend.  Those are the best kind!

BACKYARD PROJECTS AND HYDROFLASH

Summer is approaching and we've got several backyard projects in the works.

Our first project has been to get our lawn is seeded and we are excited to watch our dirt backyard become lush, green grass.  Thanks to HydroFLASH, managing watering (from anywhere in the world we happen to be) just got easier.  We can manage and access all of our yard watering (and home lighting and a ton more functions) from our smartphone!  How cool is that?  I can't wait to start using it for our lights (and not have to worry about messing with timers, adjusting for the time changes, etc).

Check this out!
 

"With the built in Insteon control interface you can begin controlling just about anything you want around your home or office based on a program schedule or via manual control, all with your smart phone or java enabled web browser! Common uses are home/business lighting, garage door openers, gate openers, thermostats, pool pumps, fountains, green house control, fans, etc. All that is needed is a small plug in Insteon Modem that connects to the HydroFLASH controller and Insteon devices for each item you want to control at your home or business."

Not only a huge time saver (and headache saver) but money savings in water usage, and electricity.  The watering program access weather data via the Internet and when it is raining and will automatically turn the system onto a rain delay mode. 

The second project is what I call our "shade project".  We are trying to figure out the best way to get lots of shade on our patio (without breaking the bank).  We love to spend time out on our patio and will need some shade coverage for the heat of the days of summer.  We have a cool 10 foot adjustable umbrella that provides some good shade and can be moved around.  We used it on Easter for the first time and it worked great!

Our final project is getting our pool set up and ready to use at our new home.  First, we have some leveling of the area we plan to landscape for the pool and covering the dirt surrounding the pool with some small "feet friendly" river stones. 

I will be keeping busy this weekend with our backyard projects and looking for tiny sprouts of green...what are you doing this weekend?

APRIL CATCHIN' UP

As usual, I've been going six ways to Sunday...

We've had Ashley and the grandchildren visiting with us for the past three weeks and enjoying our grandbaby time with all of them.

Her hubby/daddy Kent has been in training in Los Angeles for his new job, so Ashley and the grandkids have been visiting with us and Kent came down on the weekends to reunite with his family and enjoy the weekend with us.  He took the train the second weekend away and drove down the third weekend down to hang out and to pack up everyone to head back home.

They are in Las Vegas (the halfway point for them) tonight and will arrive home tomorrow.  I know they will be glad to get back to their home sweet home, and Kayla dog, and their own routine.

I was sick for a week of their visit and got little Aaron sick too. Pooh on me.  Sweet Sarah turned one year old on the 18th and mama got her some cupcakes to celebrate.  We shipped her gift home to her (since it was too big for them to take back with them) and they are going to host a party when they get back home.
 

What I lived off of for over a week...felt so crummy for about 5 days. 


We celebrated grandson, Ethan's 1st birthday this weekend too!  Cousins, Sarah and Ethan are only two days apart.  His party was hosted up at Lake Poway and it was a gorgeous day for a party!!  Weather in the 80's with lots of California sunshine!

 

 

Sweet Birthday Boy, Ethan!

 

Our other birthday baby, Sarah was "diggin'" the yummy cake--already an old pro with cake eating after her own birthday!

 

It was delicious cake, to be sure!!

 

Sarah and Daddy...such a sweet photo

 

Aaron playing with his cars.  A smile for Memaw.

 

Sweet kiddos cheezin for Memaw back at home

 

The 3 Muskateers playing together!

We are now going to start getting into gear for getting our backyard ready for summer (establishing shade, planting grass and setting up our pool!)

We have A LOT to organize and get ready for the summer months ahead!  Stay tuned, peeps!  I promise to post pics. I'll post some "before" pics soon.



P.S.  I have my finished drapes for my office, ordered my drapery hardware and will be hanging them and completing my office transformation very soon.  I still need to find the "perfect chair" for my writer's office....and that, my friends, is the challenge....oh, yeah, and a lamp for my desk. I want something unique.

I ordered a ceiling lamp for the office nearly three months ago from Restoration Hardware.  They sent me an email that said it should be here by May 13.  I sure hope so. I am getting impatient.

EASTER HAPPENINGS

We hosted an Easter brunch and egg hunt at our house this year and the grandkids had so much fun looking for their eggs!  Grace, Aaron and Sarah are here visiting for three weeks and Ethan got to spend time and play with his cousins! 

We miss our sweet grand-daughters, Em and Kay (who live on the east coast) and wished that all of our grandbabies could have been with us for Easter!

Maybe next year, with their baby sister, who is expected to be born July 2nd!

They are so cute dressed up in their Easter clothes!  Her are our precious grandchildren Easter morning.

Let the egg collecting begin!

Everyone found lots of Easter eggs!

THE GREAT REVEAL (DESK PART TWO)

Friday was the day I set aside to finish refinishing my desk. 

 

I only  had the final step of color glazing to do, but I was surprised how long that step took.  I finished after four hours of application and wiping off until I got the perfect look I had in mind when I started this process.

 

Here are some photos I took before I moved the desk into the house.

 

 

 

And here are a couple of photos of the desk in my office space.  I still have a ways to go before the office is completed.  I am still looking for the perfect chair but wanted to see how the finish was going to end up before I bought a chair.







 

 

 

 

 I'm really pleased with the way it turned out and it was worth all of the hard work I invested into making it just the way I envisioned. 

Next project?  Hmmm...



JEANS AND MARGARITAS

I'm lagging again on updating my blog...I'm still working on refinishing my desk.  I completed a coat of color on it and need to add one more and then glaze it. 

In the interim, I recently read a blog post about skinny jeans (and the virtues of this particular brand) and I had to laugh to myself and decided to blog about skinny jeans in general.

Skinny is not a word that has ever been attributed to me...or my clothing choices.  And that's not a bad thing, it's just a fact, Jack.

I do drink my own version of a "skinny" margarita, and that is as often as the word 'skinny', dips a toe into my vocabulary. 

• Margaritas...I make mine low cal with a single serve packet of Crystal Light Lemonade mix mixed with 12 oz of cold water, Tequila, Triple Sec and Grand Marnier and fresh squeezed lime juice. On the rocks. I prefer mine less sweet (your mileage may vary).

Ahem.  Back to jeans.  Give me a pair of cute classic boot cut jeans any day of the week. Every day of the week for that matter. That's my style.  I love wearing cowboy boots with my jeans.  If I could afford it, I'd own every pair there is to buy from Country Outfitter.  When I win Lotto, right? 

I don't need a pair of jeans that mock me and my curvy hourglass figure and skinny jeans are NEVER going to 'play nice' with my curves.

It's a fact of life I came to accept the first time these things came into vogue...I'm smarter than I was back then.  I so recall wrestling with a pair and trying to jam my leg into the pencil thin opening...ahhh...with age comes wisdom and it's a beautiful thing.

DESK TRANSFORMATION (PART ONE)

 

 I've undertaken the project of refinishing my desk, turning it from a stained piece to a painted antiqued finish.

This is the only "before" pic I could find tonight.  It is in the middle of this photo.

 

Here is a picture of the desk, after sanding all the finish off and adding some wood appliques to feminize my desk a bit before painting.

 



 

 

 

 This is the desk after I finished priming it today.

 

 

I'll be painting it next weekend and finishing the antiquing process.  I'm going to use a creamy white with a dark brown paint/glazing application on top.

This has been more work than I anticipated, but I know it will be worth it when it complete!