The case of the book cases!

Craigslist, my secret obsession. 

I am dangerous on Craigslist. I am cursed with the ability to see POTENTIAL and C-list is nothing but potential.

First, I found the drafting table. Antique, oak, and I adore it. I love that it started in a college art dept. in the 60's and when they threw it away, it was saved by a grad student, he went on to become an architect and now he is moving across country so he wanted to get rid of it. 

We took it apart, barely fitting it the jeep. And then, reassembled, some wood oil and done.  

I work a lot on wobbly folding tables. I love drawing at this drafting table, sturdy, no hunching.

LOVE! LOVE! LOVE!

Then, I saw the potential of THIS cabinet!

My allergist said to not keep books in the bedroom, too dusty. We had about a million books in our bedroom. So I boxed them up (and yes, lots of dust) and put some in the office, some in the family room. 

Then, I saw this cabinet. I see it painted cream and the inside deep blue and lots of room for books. I think this will be in our room for new books a To-Be-Read cabinet. Full of potential and they will be safe from dust behind the glass door.

I made a vow to stay off craigslist. I have work to do, and a cabinet to paint, and I don't need any other projects. Then, I found these! $25. each! OH the potential here is huge.

These were built into the wall of a shop, it was sold to a couple who is making sails for sailboats, and they don't need this kind of shelving.

I sent the pics below to our contractor friend with the idea that they would be perfect installed in our family room. He could see the potential too! Since I knew I wasn't going to be able to install them myself, his okey dokey was all I needed.

I gave the u-haul manager the dimensions and we rented a U-Haul van and headed 1 1/2 hrs to pick them up. Only, they measured the inside of the van, not the opening. Holey Canoly.

We ended up taking one apart, with the help of hammers and crow bars. But finally got it packed in the van.

So we have these taking up half the garage. More potential.

This morning, I opened my writing file and dove back into chapter 7. It has potential, and I have to fix it and bring it to it's best self, without disassembling, oiling it, painting it, or getting a contractor.

Sometimes I don't feel up to the task. And when I reread what I have and think it's not good enough and I want to quit, I just can't seem to walk away from the potential.

{as always, if you add yourself to my follow list, I will follow you back!}

Yummy

I don't cook.

I paint.

I don't bake.

I write.

I found this idea here:
http://karenknichols.blogspot.ca/2012/02/mason-jar-salads.html

For me, this is like cooking!
Every day I go to my studio after lunch. I do computer stuff in the morning, and house stuff and dog stuff and then I have lunch and leave.
Part of the reason I go AFTER lunch is because I never know what to have for lunch. I don't like fussing over it. So I end up with PB&J a lot.
When I saw the salad in the jar, all done in advance, that is my new thing! DONE IN ADVANCE!

I also saw a bunch of recipes for doing a bunch of crock pot prep in advance and then just dumping it all in the day of!

Garden Party in the Restaurant

The party turned out great. 

A dozen of us for lunch. 

Last week, G's  brother in law died. The last husband. 

Four sisters, four husbands, and now in 2012 three sisters remain.

Last week started with a funeral, a memorial mass and ending in an 85th birthday.

Aunt H. lost her husband of 68 years. SIXTY EIGHT! She is 88 and Aunt E is 91.

We weren't sure what to do about G's birthday. By the time you are 85, 88 and 91 you have seen loss. They have felt deep loss. 

In this same week, they shared deep sadness and they were able to also share in a small celebration. 

The baby sister turned 85 after all. 

Small, intimate, and still joyful.

There is a lot to be learned from these ladies.

We got to the restaurant early and brought the outside in. I think it turned out really sweet.

The sisters!

Party Weekend

Tomorrow is the birthday party for my mother-in-law's 85th birthday!

We are having it in a sweet restaurant with clean white linens and I am bringing the garden theme with me! 

I bought this pink-summer plate and used E6000 glue to attach it to the pink pot (picture is crooked, plate is not!)

These are the tissue paper flowers that I will use down the center of the tables and also on the lights that hang above them. They are secured with twisted wire and green ribbon 'stems' in case I decide to hang them all!

These are the fabric flowers with clips. I used the same green ribbon to wrap the napkin and another green "stem" piece all secured with the flower clip.

And those little tin tea lights are going to have a little lining with potted flowers at each place.

It will be a sweet dinner, with lovely ladies and I feel blessed to be able to spend time with 80 and 90 year olds!

Have a great weekend! : )

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oh doggies!

This is my excuse for being absent here.................

We took the dogs with us to the farm. It's beautiful there.. with hummingbirds and rainbows!

What could possibly go wrong????

*cue the warning music*

Mr. McGee (pictured on the right) found a turkey feather and wouldn't give it up.

See below he doesn't like to give stuff up easily.

He was so sick the next morning. SO SICK, so much poop. So sick + couldn't find the exit in an unfamiliar house!

So sick... on the pale blue carpeting in the family room. In front of the tv, in front of the recliner, in front of the couch. In the dining room.. next to the table and finally in front of the sliding door.

We ended up rushing out to buy a bissell carpet shampooer and then hours cleaning carpeting.

It wasn't the rainbow visit we thought we were going to have.

The good-great news is that the Bissell pet carpet cleaner was great! THANK YOU BISSELL!

 I thought we were going to be buying rooms of new carpeting.

That night, we gave him some rice. He seemed better enough to make the 2 hour drive home.

He is back to his cheerful self. 

Lesson.. if you see a turkey feather... do not try to eat it.

and if you bring dogs to your in-laws house, you may end up buying them a carpet shampooer (and keeping it there for just-in-case next time!)

In other awesome news... keep checking back to see what magic I work on this craigslist $40. beauty!

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It's YOUR time to SOAR

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Tomorrow... a JOYFUL studio day! 

I love a Saturday of creating luscious art!

Family plans Sunday~

I hope you have a creative weekend too!