Unashamedly Asking for Money

Recently one of my favorite nephews contacted me to donate money to his school.  Evidently they need things like pencils that their local taxes don't provide.  So the students were going to... walk and ask friends and relatives to give them money for... walking.  I donated to the cause because he is one of my favorite nephews, he wrote his own name on the donation request, I did not have to choose an overpriced item from a brochure full of things I did not want, and I believe children should have pencils.  There was no stipulation how far they had to walk.  I think the campaign would have been just as effective and slightly more interesting to me if they had just decided to stand still.  I know there were days when my own children were that age that I would have gladly paid them to be still.
On Saturday I have signed up to wog 5K for the benefit of Big Brothers Big Sisters.  When I sign up, I get to make my own web page and then I get to ask friends and relatives to donate money because I am...wogging.  (A combination of walking and jogging propelling me forward at a pace just slightly faster that standing still.)  So if I am one of your favorite friends or relatives, you don't need any more things and still have money left over, and you believe children should have brothers and sisters you can go here and donate to the cause.
Plus I win a prize if I have the most donations.

Out of the Funk

Turns out wearing green helps reduce funk symptoms, and may even facilitate destruction of doldrums.  Good thing I own a few green things.

Happy, Happy, Happy

Happy my family is not on a reality TV show.
No one needed to see what I emptied out of the dryer lint trap today.
Just saying.

Two Happy Things

1.  End of AWANA year/little boys who bring me gifts
2.  Evening at home/laundry caught up

THE BIG REVEAL

The big bathroom reveal.  Come right in.  **This is where you clasp your hands over your mouth and say Oh My Goodness over and over.**  The tub and shower went back in the same spot they came out of.  None the worse for wear.  Hopefully, without the stinking leak behind the wall. (in faith believing...)

The window closet door is new.  There was not a closet here at all. Just an awkward wall and skinny useless space.  The closet is one of my favorite parts of the bathroom redo.  Kudos to the STP for remembering I had this window in the garage and to the adept carpenter who framed it in a wall that didn't quite exist.

This wall was moved just a little, and the vanity was replaced.  Because the old vanity had no character.  None.

And the view from the throne:  The new vanity was rescued from the used furniture store in Dodge City during the Christmas parade.  Character plus.  Painted and replaced the hardware.  Thought about distressing it, but figured that will just happen naturally over time.  Kudos to the Charlie, the plumber who plumbed this so cleanly.  Maintained use of both drawers.  No ugly pipes showing.

Two sinks with fancy pants faucets.  The STP chose these.  We added the fancy pants magnifying mirror for the STP.  I accidentally looked into the 8X magnifying side.  I will never make that mistake again.

The STP built this towel rack to my specifications.  He is awesome.  Just saying.

Because all my closet clutter is still not moved back downstairs, I will show you the inside of the closet.   And in the interest of full disclosure you should know that the toilet paper is still sitting on the back of the toilet.  The curtains need re-hemmed and the sewing room looks like this:

Lets keep this part just between us, okay?  But keep your eye on that chest. It may reappear in the bedroom reveal.

Bite Their Heads Off

The STP denies he has a pinterest account.

Nonetheless, he added 100 flexible straws, whipping cream, and raspberry jello and Knox gelatin to the shopping list.

A few cups of boiling water and a few drops of green food coloring, and he had what looked for all the world like a bowl of pureed worm guts.

Ready to pour pureed worm guts.

After a few hours of refrigeration and some appropriately messy worm extraction techniques...

Voila!  Worms of the edible variety.  Sure to delight a handful of little boys.

Even more effective served in a bowl.

Several notes:  The STP's fishing buddy is trying to figure out how to make these in a flavor that will entice large trout.  I will not be the taste tester for that.  

And don't forget: Throw the skins away.

Yesterday's Happy Thing

Refusing to let THE FUNK get the best of her, Ms. Brenda travels back in time to discover a happy thing from yesterday.

Yesterday's Happy Thing:  The bathroom project is (essentially) complete.   2

After almost nine months, you wonder how I could have missed this. Ah, the power of THE FUNK.

 **Look for pictures here later today.  Like any 'new baby' pictures, they are not all they could be, they don't capture the true wonder, but they record the end of a nine month wait.  And we're pretty proud of the result even if it just looks like a bathroom to everyone else.

Funky Town

Been in a funk for several weeks. (Jen Hatmaker calls it the doldrums.  But 'down in the doldrums' is way less of a back from the dead blog title.)   Doing what needs to be done.  Minimally.  At the last possible moment.  Plans to dig my way out have been less than successful.  So this week I will try singing and dancing my way out of the pit (and actually getting up off the couch). And I will attempt to list at least one happy thing a day.

Today's happy thing: Buds on the lilac bush.
 
Note:  I changed this blog title before I hit Publish. But if I were not putting this out on the web, you know, if this was just between me and God Himself, I would so have titled this What the Funk.  God would not have been as amused as I was, but I think He would understand.

The Big Reveal???

Good News:  There is running water in the bathroom.
Bad News:  It is running over the new floor under the new vanity and around the toilet.

The Big But Theory

I counted the 7 day arm challenge a success just because I completed it.  Not because my arms were completely transformed in 7 days.  (Midweek I dreamed I did two push-ups--one of the happiest dreams I've had, even it was as far-fetched as my typical dreams.)  I had some mild muscle soreness near where my triceps are supposed to be. And if I flex, and you are kind and/or want to sleep with me, you can see a tiny little bump of a bicep.
Buoyed by my success I moved on to the 7 day Butt Challenge.  I knew I was in trouble early on.  The arm exercises were called things like 'dips' and  'curls'.  The reps were numbers like 12 and 15.  The butt exercises are called 'burns', 'blasters', and the aptly named 'prisoner squats'.  The numbers are like 30 and 100.  I quickly modified the Day 1 workout from 100 prisoner squats to 37 prisoner squats.  I would rather be beaten or placed in solitary than do 100 squats of any kind.  As it was, I could barely go up stairs midweek and going down stairs was 37 times more painful.  Next time, I'll just take the beating at the start.  Day 2 they promised me a behind to rival JLo's or Kim Kardashian's.  I decided 37% of that would suffice for me.  Today is a rest day.   I'm doing the whole workout today. 

SISOP

I just finished the 7 day arm challenge.  The first thing I have actually done after pinning it on my I Could Be Healthy pinterest board.  Today's workout included four circuits of tricep dips done to 'failure'.  I had no desire to do anything to failure.  Let alone 4 times.  Tricep dips were a challenge for me all week.  Seems you have to sit in a chair, place your hands beside your hips and then dip your butt off the front of the chair. And then lift it back up.  Challenge number one for me?  Finding a chair that was wide enough that there was room beside my hips to place my hands.  Really.  Tonight the little pop-up box suggested I might like the Summer Ab Challenge.  I don't think so.  I'm going directly to the butt challenge.

One Crafty Lady

In search of another crafty lady to hang out and paint things with me.
Left to myself these last two weekends I was forced to paint, glue, and glitter all by myself.  In the process, I painted, glued and glittered myself.

 But I also painted my pinecones.  This was on the list to accomplish this year.  So before I put them back in the attic I tipped them with white paint.  In the middle of the living room.  Because the sewing/craft room has been lost in the great bathroom remodel of 2012-13 (14?).

And then I added some glitter to give them that little extra.  Only the glitter is tucked away somewhere in the maelstrom that is the bedroom closet.  So I used a bag of 'sparkle flakes' that was stuck in with the Christmas decorations.  Sparkle Flakes are basically glitter on steroids.

Me:  Boy, a little 'sparkle flakes' goes a long way.
Goob (picking glitter from his cereal bowl):  Yeah, they evidently go everywhere.  And don't call me 'boy'.

What?  You can't wrap your head around Christmas decorations in March?  Well when I took the newly glittered pinecones to the attic; I brought down the Easter box.  And inspired by 'something I saw on Pinterest' (which from now on I plan to abbreviate as SISOP),  I put all the plastic eggs I have accumulated into a box.  And I poured in some paint and stirred them around with my trusty paintbrush.

And put that box out on the porch to dry.  Then I added more paint and stirred again.  And then again.  And then I spread them out in the middle of the living room floor and splattered them.  (Glitter and splatter paint.  What are living rooms for if not for that kind of living?)

And then the plan was to glue those eggs to a wreath form ($0.25 at a garage sale for such a time as this) wrapped in burlap left over from the last door project.  But, alas, the glue gun is lost in the great unknown.  So I was forced to use tacky glue.  Which increased both the time and frustration level of the project.  So I had to simplify.

Still and all, not too bad.  I found the raffia when I was looking for the glue gun.  I'm not happy that the cracks in the eggs show, but you can't see them from the curb.

Total cost of both projects--not counting what I had leftover from other projects--$0.25.
Plus I took the eggs that I didn't glue to the wreath and put them in a jar-ala pottery barn.

Really, if you would just come over and craft with me, think of the fun we could have.
(If you're not the 'crafty type' would you consider just coming over and cleaning my house while I craft?)
I also made cookies this weekend.
Please.

Spelling it Out

Today I am going to take D-I-X-I-E for a S-T-R-O-L-L.  I think she has figured out D-O-G and W-A-L-K and I don't want her dragging her leash after me all morning.  I'm not going out there until it warms up.

James, Beginning to End

7.
Today on my way home from work I recited James.  All five chapters.  Beginning to end.  I know the beginning better than the end because I've been working on this for over 5 months.  But today was the first time I got the whole way to the end. It is a major victory for me.  The answer to prayer and the result of enduring hard work.  See, we count as blessed those who have endured.
My plan is to keep reviewing it so that it remains in my memory.  I picture myself in the nursing home happily reciting Scripture verses. ..every generous act and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.  Then I remember that it will be my second childhood, where the only words I remember and repeat over and over are the ones you wish I would forget.  So I will probably be sitting in the day room, strapped in my chair, screaming "Adulteresses!! Don't you know friendship with the world is hostility toward God!?!?!?!?
You'll visit me, won't you?

Up Close and Personal

14.  Get a mamogram.
Today was the day I had scheduled my mamogram.  In fact, I had scheduled a tomogram--a 3D mamogram, if you will.

FYI:  Tomography refers to imaging by sections or sectioning, through the use of any kind of penetrating wave. A device used in tomography is called a tomograph, while the image produced is a tomogram.

The STP wanted to know if I would get a copy to bring home.  Unlike baby sonograms, evidently it is not customary to receive a printed copy of the image of the inside of your breast tissue, although they will let you look at the image on a screen after the exam.  Little reward, really, for all the squishing that takes place.  Although I was impressed that my 'pressed' version appeared perkier than its real life counterpart.  I think the STP would have enjoyed having a copy.  

Perfect Saturday

Waking up with no where to go.
Finish the taxes before lunch.
Matinee of 'Lincoln' with good friends, the Goob, and the STP.
Shamrock shakes all around.
Halupki casserole ready for tomorrow's fellowship dinner.
New episodes of Duck Dynasty.
Happy, happy, happy.

Do Over and Over and Over Again

Another look at a bathroom do over project.
In this episode: The window that will become the linen closet door.
You first saw it in the background here.  It was salvaged from a building remodel here in Dodge City.  As in, it was discovered inside the wall during the most recent remodel.  I picked up three of them for such a time as this. You got your second look at it here.  I managed to strip off most, but not all of the existing paint.  Not to worry, because I was just going to repaint it and it was never going to be perfect.  That is, of course, part of its charm.







The next step was removing the glass panes.  This is where it was good I had three windows, because glass is fragile.

I had to clean the windows.  I took this little before and after shot to assure myself  you that the glass really is transparent.

And then I repainted the frame. The delightful thing about having the bedroom torn up during a bathroom remodel is that we have a very big workroom where I can paint late into the night (in my underwear if I so choose).
At this point we hit a little snag because I had no idea how to put the glass back in the frame.  The STP had a little idea.  As in he knew enough to buy glazing.

And then we did a little google search for methods.  And we watched a video that gave us some how to hints and told us how not to do it.  A putty knife with constant pressure?  Yes.  A putty snake?  Not so much.  In fact, one snotty glazing expert suggested that a putty snake is how a HO would do it.  It took us just a few minutes to translate that derogatory pane replacing put down to HomeOwner.

Glazing points.  Yeah the wood is a little rough.  Part of the charm, remember?

Putty knife with pressure.  Check.

At this point, I'm not embarrassed to admit, we may have made a putty snake or two.  But it will be on the inside of the closet door in the downstairs bathroom.

A few more coats of paint.  And this window door is ready.
 As the STP remarked:  Not bad for two HOs.
You'll see it again at the BIG REVEAL.

Rock On

33.  Oh yes I did.

Do Over

Let's do a few peeks at progress on the bathroom do over.  

Once upon a time I bought a mirror at a yard sale on my way to Mahaffey camp.  I think the Goob was in his car seat at the time.  I painted the mirror a creamy color, distressed it a little, and hung it above the piano that no one ever really learned to play.

When we moved I sold the piano, but kept the mirror.  I plan to use it in the bathroom makeover.

Me to the STP:  Do we have any Plaster of Paris?

STP:  You're not wearing any pants.

Me:  That's why I need you to go to the garage and see if we have any Plaster of Paris.

STP:  What are you going to do with Plaster of Paris?

This exchange was followed by a discussion about how I was going to do 'this thing I saw on Pinterest' and make my own chalk paint and paint the mirror for the bathroom.  I included such details about some lady named Annie Sloan has evidently made a fortune selling chalk paint, and how it is so in, and how some pinterest people had made their own, and how I was going to try it on the mirror.  

At this point the STP wondered aloud how we would see our faces if I painted the mirror like a chalk board.  And would we just draw our faces on the mirror.  And would he have to draw a beard on his face and then erase it off after he shaved.

At this point, I mentioned that if he was really listening he would know I was using chalk paint, not chalkboard paint, and that I was painting the mirror frame, not the mirror itself.

At this point the STP admitted he had a hard time concentrating on what I was saying when I wasn't wearing any pants and he went to get the plaster of Paris for me.  Which is as close as I am getting to Paris, France again this year.  Because we are re-doing the bathroom.

The mirror, prepped for painting.

My homemade chalk paint.  Part white charm semi-gloss paint.  Part hurricane satin paint.  Part plaster of paris.  Mixed in a cool whip tub.

Applied to the mirror frame.  One coat coverage. It is wet here, but it dried quite dull. 

And then I sanded it a little to distress it again. And then I applied a coat of wax (left over from the pretty big jenga project) and buffed it.

I didn't have to buy anything for this project, and I finished it in one evening and (in case you're still wondering) without being completely dressed.

And now it is just waiting for a bathroom wall to hang on.

Look for it in the BIG REVEAL post. 

In The Box

If you have something important to tell me, e-mail may not be the way to do it.