landscaping
Three weeks ago, the only cool tree in my yard fell down.It was an oak tree, covered in ivy, and it was about a hundred years old. I knew it wasn't super sturdy, but I liked it. It had character. 
After my wonderful father chopped it up and hauled it away, I decided that I'd had enough with my raggedy yard. That's right. I'd had enough and was ready to actually sweat.Since I know nothing about landscaping, my wonderful friend Jimmy gave me good advice about what to do. I RoundUp-ed the hill. My wonderful mother helped me cover the hill in front of the house with landscaping fabric to block the weeds. Then my wonderful father hauled home a dump truck load of mulch. Most of which I shoveled out. Myself.Here's the finished product:
I think it finally looks like someone respectable lives here...
Labels: house
shut it
So Hannah was right. It turns out that shutters were just the thing that the house needed. Now if I can just get my swing hung. And perhaps add some flower boxes at the windows. And do a little more landscaping. And buy some dining room furniture. And finish up the back porch. And...
Labels: house
wet paint
Sorry for the lack of updates lately. I've been busy. REALLY BUSY. Work sort of blew up last week. I only had time for a handful of chips and a Mello Yello for lunch both days...this was the stack of "finished" things at the end of the day on Thursday:
After a long busy week at work, I came home and got busy painting the furniture for my downstairs guest room. The dresser was our changing table when we were little. Shirley just never painted the mirror to match. It's been in the attic forever. I bought the bed off Craig's List. Mr. Donald had to tighten it up a bit to ensure that the occupants of the bed don't end up on the floor. Jimmy filled in the gashes and cracks in the footboard. We got two coats of primer on Friday night
My cousin Erin inspired me to use an oil-based paint. It goes on beautifully, but it takes FOREVER to dry. I was hoping to post pictures of a finished guest room today...but no such luck. Once it dries, I need to go over the first coat with fine steel wool, then apply the final coat. 
I'm very pleased with this so far...I think it's going to be awesome. Maybe my guest room will be ready in June...
Labels: house
mural
So here's a look at what I've been doing for the last two nights. I borrowed an overhead projector and traced out my favorite Wolfpack logo over the wet bar in the theater room...
Then started painting. It was very simple, and only took about four hours. I started with the white:
Added the red:
And finished up with the black:
I also overestimated the amount of paint that I needed. Let's just say that I have enough to do the entire Struttin' Wolf, the block S logo, and perhaps a mural of Pepe le Pew chasing Penelope down the long wall (I got the giant bottles of black and white). 
OK. It's midnight and my hand is crampy. I'm headed to bed. Y'all come on over and check it out...
Labels: house
nostalgic decor
When I first moved in to Grandmother and Granddaddy's house a few years ago, I raided all of the Christmas decorations in the attic. They hadn't seen daylight in years...most of them were decorations that I'd never even seen before. Here are a few of my favorites:
The Nativity Scene. It's not super fancy, and doesn't have sheperds, or animals, or angels. Someone made it for Grandmother ages ago. It's simple and elegant...and the best part is that it came packed in a box from Belk's circa 1960.
The glass balls. These are vintage glass ball ornaments in every color. A lot of them are small...about the size of a grape...so they'd be tedious to hang on the tree (not to mention the fact that they're probably 50 years old and I don't want them shattered by a certain calico kitty). I pile them up in the candy dish. I think it adds a festive touch!
Here's a neat one...although it didn't come from Grandmother's house. This tree topper belonged to my great grandparents. My mom found it in the house when they moved in...and I don't know that they ever used it. I talked her out of it a few years ago. I love how unusual it is!
This last decoration - well - it's not Grandmother's. She had a bell like this one. She would always hang it on the doorway between the kitchen and the den. When you pull the clapper down, it played Silent Night. My cousins and I always enjoyed scooting a chair over from the table and reaching up to pull the cord. Even when Grandmother's health prevented her from decorating for Christmas, she would always hang the bell.
When we cleaned out her house, I found the bell. I had it in my hands. I distinctly remember saying "Be sure not to throw this out. I want it." Well...the bell disappeared. To this day I don't know what happened to it. I was moping about losing the bell the other night, when I thought, "I should check eBay." Lo and behold...there was a bell.
Just like Grandmother's.When it came, I slowly took it out of the box and pulled the cord. It was all I could do to keep from shedding a tear right then. That's the best $10 I've ever spent.Y'all come on over and check out my new favorite Christmas decoration. I'll even let you stand on a chair and pull the cord.
Labels: family, holiday, house
mega post
OK, OK...Let me just say that I've been a bad blogger. I haven't updated as frequently as I used to. There's really two reasons for that. The first is that I used to blog when I was bored at work. Since changing jobs, I'M BUSY ALL DAY. That's good for me...but I guess it's not so great for those of you who click over here looking for something random. The second reason is, when I'm home, I don't really think about updating the blog. I'm entirely too busy watching TV or sleeping. ANYWAY...Just wanted to give you a rundown of what's been going on with me. Let's see what's on my memory card and blogworthy...
Here's Hannah with her glass bottle of water. She found it when we were shopping at World Market one day. It tastes the same as regular bottled water...but what a great container!
Oh...wow...this was from a few weeks ago. My friend Meredith from work and I went to a Hurricanes game. It was OK. The zambonis were the best part. I just don't get hockey. I keep waiting for 4th down to come up, but it never does. Oh well. At least we were next door to Carter-Finley...
Frank had a birthday. I would have given him his own post on the day...but I don't know what day he was born. Rachael found him in under a mattress in a burned-out house for goodness' sake! Anyway...happy first birthday, sweet boy! Please don't pee on anything while I'm typing...
Two weeks ago (we're catching up, I promise!), Hannah and I went to Cameron. We went upstairs in one store, and as I peeked around the corner, this mannequin scared the ever-loving crap out of me. Tell me that's not the creepiest thing you've ever seen in your life!
We also ran into Mike and Martha that day. Kinda funny. I guess great minds DO think alike.Last week, the landscaper came. Hallelujah! I'm starting to feel like I live in a respectable home. It's going to look really good when the grass comes up. Shutters are next. They're being ordered in the next couple of days...then I just have to wait for the guy to have a free day to come put them on.
Finally, Burt Burt and his wife Laura came to visit from Chicago. They brought Laura's parents, Joan & Mike, and her brother Glenn and his wife Colleen. We had such a wonderful time visiting. On Friday, the girls headed to the mall. Colleen has my undying gratitude for helping me find a drink that I like at Starbucks. (Shirley's in this picture...but it wasn't great of her, so I just edited her out so she wouldn't fuss at me. I promise.) 
Burt REALLY wanted to ride, so, since Lt. John is away playing Army, Rachael came over and saddled up Scout and Aari so our family could ride. She even led a few of the girls around to make sure everyone was safe. 
We ended their visit with a traditional NC supper of eastern-style BBQ, coleslaw, collards, sweet potatoes, and fried corn bread. Mmmmm...And for the record...that first picture is one I took in Charleston a few years ago. It has nothing to do with this post...I just like it.
Labels: critters, family, fun, house, random, travels
friday
I think I had the greatest Friday ever. My friend Meredith asked me to accompany her to the NC State/Campell baseball game. I felt bad for her. She's usually a Wolfpack fan...but with her alma mater involved, she just sat in the stands holding her State hat and Campbell jersey. Since my THIRD wolf was stolen off my car a few weeks ago, I stopped by Adams to get a new one. We still had an hour to kill, so we decided to completely revert to our childhoods and hit Pullen Park. As it turns out, Meredith's granddaddy runs the boat ride, so he gave us free tickets to ride the train and the carousel. It's amazing how something so simple totally made my evening!
I got real excited when I found a critter that looked like Frank. This one smells better:
The baseball game was a lot of fun. I had some lemonade, tried Dippin' Dots for the first time (so I WAS missing out - they're really good!), and found a cute Wolfpack shirt on sale. 
After the game, we visited another friend of ours, then ended up exploding Mentos in Diet Coke in Meredith's yard. I stayed out entirely too late...but it was just too much fun!To top it all off, when I got home, Hannah had redecorated the downstairs guest bathroom. This is reason #256 why she's the greatest roommate of all time:
Labels: friends, fun, house
guard duty
Our doorbell rang at 11:00pm last night. I'd been in bed for half an hour. The murderer was back. I grabbed my Beretta and headed to my bathroom, thinking I could peek out my closet window and see who was on the porch. As I ducked into the water closet, I saw the shadow of a very large man walk by the window. I panicked.I silently left my bedroom and low-crawled to the phone in the kitchen. I could see the lights of a car parked on the road in front of the house. I frantically dialed and asked - no - told Daddy to come over and check it all out. I ran up to Hannah's room and we locked ourselves in. As we waited for Daddy to come, the car left. He checked all around the house and everything seemed to be OK. We asked him to sleep on the couch. I still can't believe he stayed. I wasn't about to sleep by myself after all of that, so Hannah let me sleep with her. She didn't even put up a fight. We locked ourselves in her room with the phone and the Beretta. Oozey and Frank were a little upset that we were having a slumber party and they weren't invited. I think I need to turn the unfinished bonus room into a panic room. So here's what I propose: There are enough big burly guys in our C&C group that everyone can do one night of guard duty a week. The couch is really comfortable...I promise. Just let me know which night you want...
Labels: house
wreath thief
I finally shelled out money for wreaths for my front door and a pumpkin. I like the double doors, except that you have to buy TWO wreaths. It was all so festive for fall. Then I woke up from my nap yesterday and noticed that something wasn't right. The wreaths were gone. I stepped out on the porch. The pumpkin was gone. Hannah's gargoyle was gone. SOMEBODY STOLE MY STUFF OFF THE PORCH.I am livid. Someone came up on my porch and stole my stuff. Not to mention I'm out $60 that I JUST spent on Thursday. I guess it's a good thing I hadn't put out the flag that Mrs. Pam gave me. That might have been swiped, too. Lydia gets bonus points this week. She was the only person to actually see my wreaths.I suppose I'll go buy some more today. I will be incorporating suggestions from Hannah and Rachael before I hang them. Hannah suggested that I stick million dollar bill tracts in them. Rachael suggested that I rig up some sort of mechanism that sets off tear gas if the wreaths are taken off the hangers. I like the way Rachael thinks.
Oh - and zoo pictures are coming later...I just had to get this off my chest first...
Labels: house
furniture
The furniture has arrived!!! My undying gratitude goes to John and Jimmy, who graciously moved it for me. Frank and Oozey are really enjoying the couch...so far they've sat on it more than I have. The reason I haven't been sitting on that couch much? I've been sitting on the couch in the theatre room (that almost didn't make it in there) watching the big TV:
Brian came over and hooked it all up, then we watched some preseason NFL (in HD!!!) and The Office. I have to go get an HD antenna today. Hannah made the boys milkshakes with Martha's leftover birthday ice cream. I'm still waiting for my milkshake...
Labels: friends, house
settling in
We're slowly settling into the new house. They finished pouring the driveway yesterday. It'll be nice to be able to drive all the way to the house again. John came over and hung some more blinds...this time in the living room. Now we don't have to be creeped out at night. I bought a picture for my room. Hannah put her sissy-boy blue accessories in the downstairs bathroom. I would protest...but it's keeping me from shelling out money for new stuff...so I guess it can stay. For now. I might get crazy and cook in my new kitchen tonight...but I'll be limited in what I can make. It turns out that my nice cookware can't be used on a glass cooktop. Good thing Hannah has a whole set at her folks' house that will work. All in all, it's starting to feel more like home. Someone is so comfortable she's forgotten the rule about kitties on the counter:
Labels: critters, house
the big move
We moved. We now officially live a the new house...which reminds me, I need to change my mailing address. Praise God for a cooler, overcast day! A BIG thanks to (in order of appearance) Dave, Justin, Brian, Leanna, Tommy, Johnny, Mike, Martha, and Rachael. Except for Hannah's room, which is already completely decorated, we still have a long way to go. We hung my curtains last night. I just need to go get some tiebacks:
Wow...my walls look really yellow in that picture. I promise they're not that yellow in real life. Here's Hannah's infamous purple room. I told you it was completely decorated:
After much heavy lifting, doubt, trial and error, and good old-fashioned shoving it through the door, the couch made it into the theater room. Mike, Johnny, Dave, Justin, and Tommy said that if I ever need to get the couch out of here, we'll have to use a chain saw. I applaud their efforts. The furniture won't be arranged like this...I just didn't have the energy to move it. 
With all the moving done, there was nothing left to do but sit back and watch the Chargers game...only there's no furniture to sit on...yet. I'm hoping to get my new couch, chair, and ginormous TV later in the week. Good thing there's a comfy rug to lay on...
Oozey and Frank are adjusting to their new home. Frank is all over the place. Oozey's been a little more reserved. She spent her first four hours cowering under the gas logs. She's out and about now...but still likes to find hiding places to snuggle in.
Even though I don't have a picture...we welcomed our first official guests Sunday afternoon. Mrs. Pam, Mr. David, Lydia, Kimberly, and Lauren swung by for a quick visit. We've been promising that the girls could come for a slumber party when we got moved in. It's about time to make good on that promise!
We'll be spending the week hanging pictures, putting up more blinds, and cooking in the new kitchen (which we LOVE!!!). Y'all come on over if you get bored...
Labels: friends, house
christmas in july
I had a whole carload of Christmas decorations. That's WITH the back seat laid down. Where does all this stuff come from? OK OK...a good chunk of it was Snow Village...but STILL! I had to make seven trips up the stairs to get it all in. I decided to put it in the closet off the theater room. I hesitate to put it in a non-climate-controlled environment until I know for sure what's in every box. I can't remember right now. So that's one more area that's moved. I wish they'd get the closet rods hung so we can start moving clothes.Is it time to go to the beach yet???
Labels: holiday, house
everybody moooooove
The migration has begun. We moved all the books and DVDs, and I've taken a load of kitchen stuff over that I know I won't be using in the next few weeks. We started off by arranging the mantel. We were careful to only put the most important stuff up there:
We found a beautiful rug on Saturday...so now we have a spot to stick boxes when we bring them in. I don't want to chance scratching the floors. We did get all the books put up last night. I thought for sure the shelves would be packed (since Hannah's quite a collector), but our books don't fill up the shelves! I guess that's a good thing. More room for pictures (and maybe SNOW VILLAGE!!!).
Hannah hung half of her curtains. We bought blinds for the bedrooms...but ADD-ed out on installing them. I called my builder...he's having someone do it this week.
OH - quick programming note: They have moved our phone and internet to the new house...so if you need me, Hannah, Oozey, or Frank this week...call our cell phones. Well...call my cell or Hannah's. The baby kitties don't have cell phones.
And as always...bonus points if you know where the title of the post comes from...
Labels: house
