Quick update; latest craft!

Really, I'm still around. I've just been busy. Here's one of my latest projects...a Gratitude Wrap from SouleMama. I really like her stuff & her book just came in the mail. I can't wait to sink my teeth into it.

This was for an 8 year old girl's birthday. She seemed to really like it because she immediately went and wrote me a thank you note and put a fairy sticker on it. :-)

Pink and Green--such a happy color combo! I did this patchwork style because I didn't have any fabric large enough.

I posted these on Flickr, too. http://www.flickr.com/photos/9617895@N08/?saved=1

Memorial Day projects & Dove Update

The kitchen has been a very busy & exciting place for many reasons since last weekend. First, my roommate & I decided to fix up the kitchen, instead of the back bathroom which had been our original plan. We initially wanted to get a better way to hold our spices, so we bought a shelf divider for them and moved them to a shelf over our sink. After cleaning the spices out, we realized that we should clean off our baker's rack (that is in desparate need of sanding and a clear-coat finish). It holds our microwave, toaster, toaster oven, spices, cookbooks, knives, and some decorative stuff. We got rid of a bunch of junk and cleared off the entire botteom shelf. As these things usually go, we realized that we both hated to look at the open shelves all the time; so we transformed some tab-top curtains that my parents gave me for Christmas into cute little cafe curtains to cover up part of the shelf.

After realizing that the curtain really transformed the kitchen, we decided that we should use the fabric in other places, too. See, I was initially hesitant to use the curtains because they really didn't seem to work--the shape & color were just a little off. But after using them in one place, we realized that they had serious style potential.
So it went on from there: we painted the kitchen chairs black (totally dramatic for me 'cause I really like things painted white & airy) & recovered the seat cushions with the curtain fabric. Then we put up the two existing valances over one window with a black curtain rod. In order to make the third window coordinate, we cut off the top part of another curtain, sewed up a hem, and put it up with a matching curtain rod. But we didn't stop there! My roommate turned the remaining curtain parts into a table cloth for our little breakfast table & a napkin to line the former spice basket. It is so totally chic!
The next project in the works is a decorative shelf to go over the stove that will fit our spice shelf. We've started this by cutting a 1x6 board down to fit the length of our shelf (this was left over from the shelves in my room) & painting it with black paint left over from our family room trim. Then we're going to mount it using brushed silver shelf brackets. It's going to be mounted upside-down because the brackets won't fit behind the stove because we cut the board too small. In order to make it sturdier, we'll put nuts & washers on the underside of the board to hold it in place.

I love our kitchen now! Future project: painting the pantry red & dressing up the pantry doors with chalkboard paint & trim. :-)

Update on the doves:
The two eggs hatched about 3 weeks ago (at the time of this post). We didn't notice it for a while; but since they got too big to conceal, we've been watching them grow and develop. They flew out of the next on Wednesday, I think. sigh...I feel like a proud parent. I still see them around the yard; one of them might be making a nest in our other planter. Go figure. Mr. and Mrs. Dove have returned to their nest after leaving it alone for several days. They were making repairs and improvements this morning after last night's major storm. I'm looking forward to more wee doves!

Additionally, over Memorial Day, I was finally able to plant some wildflower seeds and morning glories. We also cleared out a garden space for part-sun & part-shade plants, such as a fern, coleus, & some lilies of the valley. I hope that they will grow up to hide our gas meter & air conditioner, at least somewhat. Ok, well, got to go. The pictures of the doves aren't too great, but I'll put up some of the kitchen soon.

Gardens & Doves

Gardening is hard work...and I've only been at it for less than a month. But my roommate's dad helped us rototill the plot, which saved us energy and money. And we started many seeds indoors early this spring, so it's helped speed the process up a bit.
Right now, we've got a tidy little vegetable garden with the following hopefuls in place: 2 rows of potatoes, 2 rows of green beans, 2 rows of peas, 1 row of spinach, 1 row of lettuce, three small rows of 2 different types of onions, and a little space for tomatoes, green peppers, and a cucumber, eventually.

My roomie and I were going to get all sorts of work done around the house and garden this weekend, but decided to kick back, relax, and talk about stuff instead. It was wonderful! We discovered that each of our main love language is quality time, which is why we often get into fights about petty little things when we haven't been around one another much (I recommend discovering your own main love language via Dr. Gary Chapman's The Five Love Languages for Singles; there are other versions for children and couples, too. It can really help families, couples, parents, and friends understand each other better.). Oh, and we discovered that our local Marsh store is about a mile away from our house and that her pedometer is WAAAAY off (by half a mile), which explains why we can't run there in five minutes. I can hardly wait for the exercise we will get while grocery shopping!

In the process of putz-ing around the house & eating our meals outside, we discovered that a sweet mourning dove family has taken up residence in our hanging ivy planter on the back porch. It's a protected spot, safe from the reach of our vicious kittycats, so I guess that Mr. & Mrs. Dove thought it'd be perfect for their nest. The last time I checked, there were two eggs. Mrs. sits on it so faithfully, still and quiet so noone would suspect her being there. She's flown off a couple times when someone comes outside, and Mr. has tried to pull the "Pay no attention to that dove in the planter--chase me around the yard!" bit. But I think that both the humans and the fauna are getting used to each other.

I think that God is using these quiet days I've had lately to bring me back to the simplicity of a relationship with Him. I fully believe that He is willing to answer my questions and doubts if I just take the time to be still and communicate with him.

Be still and know that I am God. Ps. 46:10
~Amy >^..^<

Pictures of the house and garden soon, I promise!

Spring Fever

I don't know about anyone else, but it's taken me a while to feel the refreshing rush of springtime. I LOVE winter...Christmas, snow, crocheting blankets, bundling up & reading magazines, and imagining spring and summer projects while pretending that I was a home improvment expert. Yes, I was clinging onto winter's slow-down, laid-back aspects like a blankie. Winter protected me from having to do any projects around the house, or so I thought. I enjoyed hibernating in many ways this past year, but the winter blues had really start to set in during February. Even when Easter decorations started to pop up in stores (late February!), I wasn't buying it yet. But now, on April 24, I'm in the midst of truly enjoying spring! I still am hesitant to believe that we're not going to get another sudden frost before May, but I'm willing to embrace each sun-soaked minute so far. Oh, and I am relishing those chills that come from a quick breeze tickling my un-scarf-covered neck. My back is killing me from picking out grass clumps from our newly tilled garden plot, but I am so excited about planting my first ever garden! Both my roommate and I have helped our parents garden in the past, but this will be my first attempt at providing large quantities of food for myself. Photos to appear later. They will just be pictures of dirt, but there will be pictures. (We did start some seeds last month, so I guess there will be some seedlings, which is probably the cutest word ever, but other than that--good old American dirt).

Oh, and in a totally separate vein: the Roloff's from Little People Big World are going to be on Oprah. I love LPBW and I really want to visit their farm someday. And the Portland area, mostly due to the burgeoning crafting scene out there. Everything seems so cater to the creative types out there.

And additionally, I'm helping my good friend/coworker with her wedding reception this Saturday. I'm trying to be superorganized and prepared for anything (think "Wedding Planner" movie), which is somewhat unlike me. Wish me luck!

A short post...

...to let the world know that I am still around & still working to fix up my house (which I love & is perfect for me!). This house has been a bit of a money sponge and has caused some friction in my time, but it has been a total God-thing. I can't imagine a more perfect house for me right now. yay! I will post some pictures later on. :-)

~Amy

9 Days Away from Closing

On September 15, I toured 3 houses. On September 19, I (we) made an offer on one that seemed to meet our needs and fit our budget. On September 20, they accepted the low-price offer. Ever since then, this has been a series of open doors & positive answers.

I am buying a house in 9 days.














This picture was taken from the website http://www.indianamls.com/

It's been a long time since I started looking that actually owning a home seems surreal.
I spent so long looking for my dream house, and I thought I could never buy a house unless it was perfect. Well, after realizing that I wouldn't want to own my dream cottage with my roommate, only to have to move out of it later whenever I got married, I have felt very content and at peace about this house. It meets our needs & that's what is important. Investment expert Larry Burkett, in his book Investing in Your Building Years, says that a home is the wisest investment to make for a person my age. Through that, and in other ways, I've gotten a lot of confirmation about this purchase. Yay!

There are only two bumps in the road between now and closing: convincing the sellers to install a high-efficiency furnace (because the existing furnace is broken) and convincing the insurance company to insure the co-owner's belongings (she's not a member of the armed forces--neither are her parents--so she can't become a member of my bank/insurance company). Other than the thought of spending my current savings in the first month of owning the home, I am so excited to own a home!

I am buying a house in 9 days. I have to keep saying that to myself so I can believe it.

Well, I've got to get back to work.

i think i'm in love...

with this website:
http://minlillaveranda.blogspot.com/

oooohhhh aaaahhh so beautiful and restful.

I think I'd add a punch of color here & there, but the mix of painted white & vintage is so laid back, old-country chic.

And check out the floral arrangements here:
http://freshfloralart.typepad.com/

I think I love hydrangeas now, too.

Whistlestop, Moving on, & ToL

I was just surfing some blog sites & found this wonderful link:
http://whistlestopcooking.blogspot.com/index.html

And wonderful gifts can be found here:
http://www.whistlestopcafe.com/

Plus, if you're interested in starting your own Whistlestop Cafe, you can get details there.

I love the movie "Fried Green Tomatoes" and Fannie Flagg's books, too.
{Confession, I haven't read any of them, but I listened to "Welcome to the World, Baby Girl" on tape once.}

Well, I've been pretty busy at work, so I haven't updated much.
The house thing: right now, with the house we had made offers on, well, we were rejected. We were going to take a break in the searching, but then I saw a house I wanted to look at. So we're back on the hunt, but with some experience behind us and a fresh perspective: we are OK with renting a little while more, just not in our current rental because of the mold problems. It would just be really, really nice to find a house that suits us for a price we can afford in a good neighborhood. We saw a home yesterday, but it was full of wood paneling & dropped ceilings--everywhere! It was like there was a sale on wood paneling & the home owners went crazy! It's even in closets!!! Ever heard of drywall? yikes! So anyway, for the price of the house, it's not the best option. But our realtor is AMAZING! (at least, better than the previous)

Oh and in more WONDERFUL news--my favorite, first-job-out-of-college cafe, Tree of Life, is bringing back soups! (It's like "bringing s*xy back", but much more hoped for, anticipated, dreamed about, and wanted! at least by me and my roomie) I nearly pulled my car over this morning to cope with the excitement and surprise. So, I'll be chomping down on potato bacon soup in no time! ****little blessings****

Ripple along!

I can't wait until I get a few more projects done so I can start a ripple blanket. Take a look at some of these beauties at the "no end in sight ripple along" blog:

http://neisripplealong.blogspot.com/

There are
so many
fun color
combinations
to try
with a
ripple crochet
project!

Granny Squares!

The coolest granny squares can be found on this website:

http://www.grannyalong.blogspot.com/

and here is a link to one design that I can't wait to try:
Daisy Granny Squares
http://www.warmingfamilies.org/crpatt9.html

Better Homes and Gardens

The January 2007 issue of BHG is probably my favorite issue in so many ways: funky pancake recipes (I loooove pancakes!), black and white color schemes that don't look excessively modern, a gooooorgeous bedroom with turquoise & brown, instructions for terrariums, and other bits and bobs of interest.



My mom always used to say that I shouldn't be so nit-picky about the way the house looked because "Better Homes and Gardens isn't going to be photographing it any time soon." Well, if they were to photograph my house, I'd love for it to have the same feel as the January 2007 issue, starting with the turquoise/aqua blue dresser (or in my case, enclosed desk-turned-wardrobe).


Well, I musn't flit about anymore because I have stacks and stacks of work to be done. Enjoy the blue! I know I do!

Things I'm liking more and more

Aren't these the most beautiful candleholders? *sigh* They have all the elements of decorative things I like: painted white, candles, bird motif. I'm definitely saving up for these (or something I can buy in the states). Found at LauraAshley.com.






Also, these plates are adorable. I want to use them together, mix 'n' match. We're going for an "Italian Bistro" theme in the kitchen, but these might find their way into the cupboard. Found at Target.com. (but I saw them first at www.rosylittlethings.typepad.com).

I'm a Snapdragon--which happens to be one of my favorite flowers

I am a Snapdragon What Flower Are You?

Also, I'm working this weekend, which means no time at home to declutter, clean, and pack for moving. Yes, I'm signing a final offer on Monday (this is the third one...blargh!). We're praying that the appraisal and inspection will be positive so that we can move by the beginning of next month!
I'm one step closer to moving into the house! I've been trying to think of creative names for the house: Pennsylvania Cottage (b/c it's on Pennsylvania St.) and Pussywillow Cottage (b/c we both love pussywillows). That's all I have now...I'm needing some inspiration.

See the bottom of my blog for my 101 in 1001 list; I've only got a few on there, but if we move, I'll have about 1000000000 more. :-)

A dress a day--what a great idea!

http://www.dressaday.com/dressaday.html

I just discovered this blogsite & I've got to say that I love it...so many vintage dresses....sigh...

I found this awesome idea at http://justenjoythejourney.blogspot.com/ :

The Mission: Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria: Tasks must be specific (no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (represent some amount of work on my part).Why 1001 Days? Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as new year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities. Need help figuring out your ending date? GO HERE.

The Reward: Personal satisfaction of a job well done...and lots of things accomplished you really needed or wanted to do!

I will post a list next week. Maybe I should add that to my list. ha ha ha.

Home: the search, loneliness, and a storm

Update on house:
The bank countered our offer, so we countered their offer. And they countered that offer and I'm not sure what will happen next! It's exciting and scary.
In other news, my roommate is gone for the week, so I have the whole house to myself! I have enjoyed it, but I get a bit lonely. So I've been cleaning, decluttering, and watching WAAAAY too much Gilmore Girls. I'm sooooo glad I bought the entire collection; I'm on the 4th season now. Long story:
Last night there was a HUGE thunderstorm that actually woke me up (I can normally sleep through anything: tornadoes, trainwrecks, screaming babies, fighting cats...etc). When I woke up to horrendous thunder, I realized that my cat, Tussa, was still outside. The other two cats came in before I went to bed, but she was being a wild thing & didn't come when she was called. So I grabbed my blanket (don't know why, but i did) & walked towards the front door which is where they usually come in. As I passed by the kitchen, I saw my roommate's "old man kitty", Couddles, sitting on the windowsill, staring at Tussa, who was outside, as if to say "It's ok; I'll wait with you until help arrives." Her presence at the window was reassuring because standing on my front porch, calling "Here Kitty-Kitty" for all the neighborhood to hear just didn't appeal to me at 1:18am. So I ran to let her in through the back door (through the garage in my bare feet--which is not something I enjoy doing). When I opened the door (which is 5 feet away from the windowsill where she was sitting), she was not there. I assumed she ran around the front door. So I opened the overhead door and called for her...then a small branch fell and scared the snot out of me! Finally, Tussa came in crying and whining and went straight to her food and chowed down. I dried her off and went back to bed.
Yay. I'm alive and so is she.

US Redneck Special Forces

Please read the following news bulletin:

The Pentagon announced today the formation of a new 500 man elite fighting unit called the US REDNECK SPECIAL FORCES (USRSF).
These North Carolina, Kentucky, West Virginia, Mississippi, Missouri, Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia, Texas and Tennessee boys will be dropped into Iraq and have been given the following facts about Terrorists:
1. The season opened today.
2. There is no limit.
3. They taste just like chicken.
4. They don't like beer, pickups, country music or Jesus.
5. They are DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE for the death of Dale Earnhardt.

This mess in Iraq should be over IN A WEEK.

--I found this in an old e-mail from my dad who got it from one of his Navy buddies.--
I would add to that list some of the good ol' boys from Indiana. There are plenty of rednecks here. They are always asking if they can use the fridge on my front porch, but I have to tell them: that's where I keep what I've caught on my hunting trips: squirrels, 'coons, catfish, sandals from the 2 for 1 sale, single men, etc.

Also, (although I don't think I have any regular readers except my roommate and my aunt) I would hope that no one takes offense to this post thinking that I am belittling our military. I firmly believe that our military is making the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom; they are using their talents and gifts as their government has asked them to.

Blue Mood

Inspirations for my bedroom:
I also love this simple, elegant floral fabric from Rachel Ashwell (although I'm not typically in love with rose prints).

From a B&B somewhere: I looooooove the black-white-blue combination!

Un-hip parenting

This is one of my favorite essays about modern parenting that I've read lately. I'm not entirely sure how I found it, but I really like what the writer has to say. It's not terribly profound, but it makes a strong statement about selfless love in a selfish world:

http://www.beingdaddy.com/archives/000740.html

We made an offer on the house! I'm so excited and nervous...will the bank accept the offer? Will the inspection reveal that everything is in good enough shape for us to tackle? Will all the financing pull through? Ack! I was nearly sick to my stomach on Friday when we went to Kokomo to talk to the realtor, and now that I'm thinking about it again, I'm getting some butterflies inside of me. I'll post more info soon!

On the random side of things:
Although I'm not getting married any time soon, this is for a guestbook at a fall wedding--and it is the neatest idea I have seen today:
Basically, the guests write their names and messages on leaves, and hang them on the tree, then the couple places them in a frame around a wedding photo.

(courtesy of B2bFall2005 http://www.theknot.com/co_profileview.htm?profilename=B2bfall2005 beautiful do-it-yourself details in this wedding!)

Also, I've also decided that I want to have a "craft swap" with some of my creative friends. Not quite sure about the details, but it will involved bringing out some of my items that I haven't put to good use & trading with friends! There will be food involved of course, and maybe a craft project for that night. hmmmm