Random Thoughts

Please excuse my technical difficulties.

This is not the picture I intended to post.
Kindergartener's response to Lane Smith's book Grandpa Green.

If you haven't seen it, go give it a read at your nearby bookstore.

Mine left....my nearby bookstore that is.

I miss Borders every day.

This book will leave a little lump in your throat and cause you to think.

I probably got more out of it than my kinders,

but they had fun with the project.

I asked them to make a picture of an important life event using only green and texture.

Wow.

Pretty talented little guy don't you think?

Many of the others had a sea of green.

His reminds me of Adam and Eve.

Too cute.

I dowloaded 197 pics onto my desktop.

I don't like blogging on my desktop.

I have iPhoto on this little laptop.

I forget how to get them onto here too.

I'll ask Carl for help in a few hours.

I'm still wrestling with what to do when I grow up.

I wish I was subbing.

I'm "on call" constantly...but only was called when I was sick.

My brain is on creative overload.

1 million ideas, constantly.

It's a gene I was given.

I will never be bored in life.

I will never have enough hours in the day to do all my little brain dreams up.

I dream of projects, connections, events to host, and all kinds of things in between.

I'm making a dent in the disorganized chaos of six people.

Uff Da.

That's a Swedish expression.

I'm trying to find ways to support my family through their days.

Mark is now on our pastoral search committee.

I don't talk about religion or politics on here typically.

It's going to be a long process.

There will be lots of meetings.

There will be lots of time that he is away from the family.

There will be lots of stress.

I know because I was part of the last one.

I see the church having changed so much.

The big C and the little c.

It will be a long year or so.

I think the church has so much to wrestle with...the big C and the little c.

On that happy note,

I'm off to use my brain and wrestle with the technological challenges of this computer.

I want to share pictures of our work in progress home.

Snoopy is coming on Friday.

Huh?

Remember the red baron?

Coming soon to our living room.

That should be enough of a tease to bring you back.

-Julie

Find Our Home on the Newstand...

We're in the January issue...
They were here in September,

and I was at school!

So not fair.

Mark worked from home...

truck was here with stylists & photographers from 9-3,

so the pics in here are new to me too! ;)

I honestly couldn't find our living room,

or my bedroom,

or my dining room.

Izzy did!

Our rooms are throughout the magazine...

They use products advertisers are selling, and staged them in our rooms...

the living room, kitchen, kid's bath, dining room, library, our master, outside, and my studio.

It's kind of a "Where's Waldo" game we've been playing as a family...

or "What in this picture is really in our home?"

My neighbor walked through our home with magazine in hand and played the game.

It's pretty funny actually.

They were an amazing team.

Everything in our home was put back in order.

They mixed things up a bit, and it was fun to see what they put here and there.

Our home is nowhere near magazine worthy now.

The tree is up.

I'm sitting near it and tingly & itchy from head to toe.

Ears are clogged, and nose too.

I think this may be the last year for a live tree.

I hate allergies.

Anyway...an 8 foot ladder is propped nearby,

Just in case I get the urge to clean the rest of the ceiling.

80% of the ornaments are on the tree,

75% of the decorations are up...

and the irony is I'm not phased by it one bit.

I'll get to it,

sometime before a big party here on Friday.

Four more days of school.

Four more days teaching reading.

Four more days with kids I've come to absolutely adore.

Four more days to tidy up the loose ends on this position,

Four more days to meet with the Art teacher during plan periods,

Five more days until a Nutcracker birthday party for Sofi...

I think I'm the big nut who hopefully won't crack while getting everything done!

Time to lose myself on Pinterest for a bit so I can forget it all....

-Julie

No, We Don't Live in Kansas

I just thought it was a sweet sentiment.

My soffits had been bare for over a year.

I changed that 10 minutes before dinner Saturday night.

I was in the laundry room folding a quick load.

Saw the barn wood resting in the corner.

Measured the barn wood.

Measured the soffit.

Got out the paints.

Done.

Sometimes you have to grab inspiration right when it hits.

We had this piece resting on the windowsill for a long time.

I missed it.

The barn wood is from Vermont.

I think I like it here.

-julie

Carl's Room Reveal

Here is one happy teenager...

Home from camp,

and surprised on his birthday with an extreme room makeover.

This was an enormous task.

Carl left for camp on Sunday.

We emptied the entire room.

Mark sanded the floors.

Three coats of ceiling paint.

Three coats of sealer on the floors...sanding in between coats.

Two coats of "Starless Night" paint on the walls (Behr- Home Depot).

This involved a run to Home Depot, literally, for more paint, just before closing.

I was desperate to finish a wall, and Mark had the car.

I looked like a crazy woman in my paint-spattered clothes and birkenstocks.

I made it with 9 minutes to spare.

A few blisters later, I was home.

All that is left is the trim.

I'll tackle that after the kids are back in school.

Carl is a kid who doesn't like change.

The whole time we were a little nervous.

Once upon a time he said if he could change his room from tan, it would be midnight blue.

So...we went with that.

I knew he'd never part with his bed, chair, desk, or desk chair.

I also knew he'd want polar bears, basketballs, root beer bottles, art, and books to be a part of the room.

This was a challenge....

Come on in!

Oar ladder leading up to the loft,

Initialed pillow on Great Grandpa Malcolm's Lazy Boy chair,

Curious little sister checking it all out up above...

Shelf and light added up near bed.

On shelf are some of his polar bear collection and a copy of Harry Potter.

Under the loft is his desk area...

Mark made Carl this bed when he was 20 months old and Linnea was soon pushing him out of his crib. We had an oar head and footboard, and the design is similar to an Ikea bed. When we moved to Batavia we purchased more oars, and had them around the room as a border.

The desk is an old Ikea corner desk, and Mark added an extension.

A new pillow purchased for up top.

Well-loved Arctic, Carl's polar bear, peeking over the top...

I would have replaced the desk chair, but this was a non-negotiable for Carl.

It was my childhood chair.

Carl's a sentimental guy. :)

We did add a large basketball chair to sit on...

not pictured here as his sisters were using it.

I used his bottlecap collection to make some new magnets.

An old cork board was recovered with burlap.

Scrabble tile pushpins spell out his name.

Shelf on the other side of the room holds part of his root beer bottle collection.

The biggest challenge was organizing his stuff.

More pics to come of the closet redo.

-julie

Outdoor Time Capsule

Photos aren't limited to inside your house...

These make me smile everytime I walk out the back door.

Two old picture frames,

4 16 x 20 pictures developed at Sam's Club,

2 pieces of foam board for backing,

tube of caulk,

wire for hanging.

Done.

These have been left outside through 2 Winters now....

and they still look great.

...and when they are driving me crazy

(like right now...9:11, and the girls are still yacking away....)

I can look at these 4 pics,

and smile.

:)

What's Lime Green with Pink and Brown Polka Dots?

The playhouse!

Mark built this little house for Linnea when she was 2.

Nine years and two more girls, and it needed a little love.

One squirrel hibernating in it over the Winter,

and it really needed some attention.

Thanks to Papa for some major drywall repair!

I worked on this most of last weekend.

Linnea picked the color...lime green of course.

Found these awesome stick on polka dots at Kohls (free after using $10 giftcard in the mail),

Pink chair from a friend's garage sale....

A little chalkboard paint,

Some paper lanterns from Hobby Lobby,

A little pink drawer from Goodwill,

Refurbished cabinet...painted of course...

Bins from the dollar section at Target...

Hold cleaning supplies,

games,

art supplies,

and little treasures...

the perfect colors!

Sweet trio of nesting glass tables from our dear friend Eva...

a new coat of paint,

and tucked some scrapbooking paper underneath...

Refurbished an old table,

added 2 new lime green chairs in back...

perfect place for some lemonade or a sweet treat!

So...

if you knock on our door and can't find me,

I'm probably in here....

Just need to paint the exterior trim and add a new fascia board.

Woo Hoo!

-Julie

A Little Happy in the Chaos

In the chaos of our busy household,

this makes me happy.

I put it together last week while I was "cleaning."

Two Summers as a housekeeper,

a year or two cleaning the campus hotel at College,

and I really don't like to clean.

I do it.

I've learned shortcuts over the years,

and this is one of them.

Declutter,

clean quick,

and add some flowers and something that makes me smile.

After I clean,

it will all quickly become dirty again.

This is what I made last week while "cleaning."

Dad's old toolbox, stuffed on a shelf in the garage,

three jars,

miss-matched silverware,

and some favorite plates.

Done.

Five days later it's still clean and organized,

and puts a smile on my face,

even in the midst of a dirty sink full of dishes.

Chalk Talk

"Why do you have so many chalkboards Mrs. Johnson?" asked Linnea's ten year old friend.

"Do I?"

"There's one in almost every room of your house!"

Funny, I guess there is.

Here's the biggest one. Mark was not a happy camper the day I found this, curbside. It was 1/2 a mile away, and I stalked it all day long to make sure it was still there. My two year olds weren't big enough at the time to hoist it up on top of the mini-van with me. Nor could I juggle a jogger and push the thing home. We stopped to pick it up around dinner time. We could hear the screams of the little girl inside shrieking, "They're taking my chalkboard!" I felt absolutely horrible...but took it anyway. There was a sign on it that said, "Free. Take Me!"

So we did.

There isn't always a coordinate grid on the board. Sofi wanted to learn how to make one. Fun thing to do on a sunny Saturday afternoon, huh? She's six, and fascinated with numbers and all things Math related. Frightening.

Grandma Izzy's little board is a permanent fixture in the dining room. We write what we're having for dinner. Last night was "Soup Sampler." Fancy phrase for, "We have nothing to eat but four kinds of leftover soup and the oven still smells from the plastic episode." The kids were so excited to see four pots stewing. We'll have to try that one again!

Mark wasn't thrilled to hang these back up behind the island in the kitchen. They're from Ikea, and the kids love them. They're great for a quick doodle before breakfast or lunch, or to practice spelling words on. I know my stool has writing on it. They're a little beat up....so I wrote the kids first and middle names around the edge with a Sharpie pen. "Carl Malcolm, Linnea Brooke, Sofia Lillian and Isabella CaiHong." It's odd. It's random. It's quirky, and I love it. No assigned seats, and all the names fit around.

Here's the pantry door that we fill with funny quotes. When we erase them I write them down in a little book. This is not one of my favorite quotes, but it's true.

This one hangs outside the kids' bathroom in the upstairs hallway. We wrote on it in the basement when we were kids. Sometimes I'll write down things they need to do...but most of the time it's filled with random drawings.

I think that's it...but I may find a few more when I walk around again. :)

Soulful Style (Long Post)

I've been working hard at this room,

and

I thought today I'd take you on a little tour and

share the details behind the pieces within...

For those who care,

the walls are Behr Glamorous White

the trim is Behr Vermont Cream

I've got to be honest...I often pick colors by their names....

anyone else do that?

The cabinet is Benjamin Boor- Coventry Gray

Boring name, but I highly recommend the color....

Yesterday, I found this beautiful quote on a blog,

and wrote it here on my "new" chalkboard/ photoboard.

When I found this curbside, the glass was missing in the bottom pane.

I was out of twine, so used some old lace and my trusty glue gun.

I wrapped the back in burlap, and used some more glue.

I had these mini clips hanging around, and added some of my mom's button collection.

Underneath the frame is my Grandma Izzy's sleeper sofa.

This will come in handy for guests, or when the kids have sleepovers...

It's a sweet little loveseat that she took meticulous care of.

I found a canvas slipcover and pleated white pleated pillows at Target,

and made the bumpy pillow from a garage sale find.

The burlap one is leftover from the curtain I made for the counter.

I love to read, and this is nestled next to the couch for books and magazines.

A friend of mine was moving and had placed this on the curb...

I think it's an old wash bucket with a ringer....

I fashioned this fabric into another pillow...note the monogram!

I found it at a barn sale in Door County.

If our husbands weren't around, and our car wasn't already loaded,

my sister and I would have cleared out the place....

Anyone speak German?

According to my brother this pillow reads,

"Each Day Brings New Worries."

Cheery thought, huh?

We found it amongst my mom's sewing things after she passed away.

I wish we had an inkling of the story behind it...but we don't.

I love the embroidery.

My brother thought I was nuts to want it!

He can sleep on this sleeper sofa when he visits....

View from the closet wall....

I found the curtain valance a few years ago at the thrift store.

The other side has yucky embroidering on it.

I soaked it in bleach and flipped it around. Voila!

Door found at my neighbor's curb down the street...it was so heavy that I had to send poor Mark down for it after dark. I checked a few times to make sure it was still there.

I've been holding on to it for a few years...

Finally I had a plan!

I covered cork squares we had on hand with burlap and lace,

and we hung the cork panels with liquid nails.

Grandma Izzy's Joy of Cooking....

I know it's a weird spot to have it, but it makes me smile.

Plus I'll have something fun to read from time to time....

Since I'm not baking cupcakes these days, I thought I could at least indulge in the smell...

Found this at Target....smells yummy!

My Grandma Agnes' toy sewing machine, complete with the sharp needle....and moving parts!

I've dragged it from room to room and around the country since I was a little girl.

Love it!

Details on the door....

I need to get some black and whites of the rest of the family and hang them up there!

Here is Sofi and her bear...another beautiful pic by Trish...

Everyone needs a few angels watching over them,

and I have at least two,

some even have broken wings...

Thank you Trish for these two sweet cherubs...

finally they can watch me while I work!

I share this space with my kids,

and that can provide many challenges.

This table from Ikea helps, and is great for homework, games, puzzles, or art projects.

The legs can easily be removed to make room for a house guest.

The chandelier is from a yard sale.

It will be moved to our gazebo later this Spring.

I painted the formerly red chairs....

Here are some more cherubs....

Found this sweet chair curbside on a morning run,

complete with the angels...

Ok, I guess I am a major garbage picker!

I found this at another neighbors down the road....

good thing I often run when it's dark!

Inside are photo boxes....

and no, they are not in meticulous order.

There are more photo boxes hiding in a suitcase behind the door with the fun wreath.

That's a HUGE project for a rainy day....

And here my friends is the ugly wall....

The tv is resting on Grandpa Malcolm's trunk.

I debated long and hard about putting the tv back in.

But you know what?

I like to have it on HGTV or some other silly show or movie sometimes....

so it's staying!

The door has been outfitted with a lock to keep little hands out of

my "pantry" of crafting treasures....

And to the right of the "pantry" is some ugly laminate that really needs some help...

It opens to reveal Sofi and Izzy's school room.

I wanted to take it down,

but they use it almost every day to play school.

This may be my solution to beautify it a bit....

Shutters, framed in barnwood,

or modge-podge a map on top....

What do you think?

If you made it this far, I am shocked I held your interest with my pics and ramblings.

I'm just glad to have found some kindred spirits who love to make their house a home and find treasures curbside and repurpose them!

My next post will be on how I organized things.....another sleeper! :)

-Julie