Amy Started it!

Count downs that is.

For years we counted down days till birthdays, Holidays, graduations, missionaries leaving and coming home, weddings, anniversaries, days till people came home from foreign countries, baby's due dates. Even count downs that we had to guess what we were counting down to. All of this we did on our dry erase board. Then the time came when the dry erase board began to look a little shabby - not shabby chic - just well, bad. When we did some remodeling in the kitchen last summer the dry erase board went to DI. We replaced it with a magnetic board - which has been nice - but it didn't allow for count downs, let alone pure creativity.

As we talked about decorating ideas I suggested a chalkboard wall and was surprised at the enthusiastic response. We finished it last week and it has been received with great enthusiasm.

It did require a bit of work though... sanding and filling... more sanding
followed by much dusting (of the whole house!).
Priming, painting, waiting and painting and waiting some more.

It's been enjoyed - and yes were are counting down hours until Rob gets home.

PS Did you see the little sneak peak of the new color in the dining room?
Do you care? ;)

Making Progress

Sometimes it feels like I am spinning my wheels.
Working hard but nothing really to show for it.
So many ideas that I've been suffering from a lack of focus.
Stuff I see that I like and want to do, yet still drowning in the stuff I saw yesterday that I'm trying to implement. Is it every really finished?
Time to sit back, breathe deep and get some perspective.
Time to dig out too.
Get ready for girls camp
a 50th birthday celebration
helping Aaron and Celisa move
and school starting
All in rapid succession.

But first a few pictures of what I've been up to:

The hallway
It took forever to find the little pictures to fit in the collage and not cover faces with the words.
Finished is good.

Dining Room - actually in progress.

This picture shows the new light fixture as well as the sliding glass door that replaced the smaller window.

Not finished but as it stands today.
Much more roomy.

This china hutch was passed down to us from Marks' mom and will now pass to Aaron and Celisa as we share the love. The buffett that matches it is already at home with Amy and Jordan and holding Grandam T's china.

New built in makes it so we can get around the table now.

These shadow boxes took some time too but I love the way they turned out.
If any other descendants of Grandma would like to do something similar I have some more of her monogrammed silver (forks and spoons only) that's a partial set and you are welcome to have a few pieces.

The family room before

and now.
The wall to the left is quite big and blank but I have plans for a family tree with pictures.
If you are related to us - I would love a recent picture (.jpg file) of your family to put on the wall as well as pictures of great (or great great great) grandparents.
Or I'll use an old one or pluck one from facebook...

I also need some input about the eating area and a wall in the living room but those pictures will have to wait until it's not so bright outside.
Until then... I'll go get my shovel and start digging...

Oh yea happy birthday to my sister Lisa, you're awesome!
want to be inspired check this out and this.

Update

I know I've neglected the blog lately but this is why:

Before
During
After

Before
OK this is more of a during, I was too embarrassed by the constant clutter that accumulated on the desk to include a picture.

Now!

WOW!
I love it. More to come in the next few days.
I realized that I never posted pictures of the back yard.
It's done too.
They'll be coming soon.

Progress

They say a picture is worth a thousand words...

Here's my essay:

Before

Drop Ceiling gone, plumbing and electrical raised.

Canned lights installed, sheet rocked.

Doorway cut, new light fixture installed.