I am so so thankful that I have been off from work for the past 11 days. It has enabled me to get the house as organized as it can be with all the stuff we have. I don't think I have mentioned that I come from a "pack rat" family.
My parents born in the mid 1920's were small children during the depression and lived through a lot of hard times in the 78 years they were married. My mom told me that when my 3 brothers were little, she often did not know where a nickel would come from for a loaf of bread. They were taught not to throw anything away because you might need it later and could not afford to buy another.
The difference at their house is this.. . They live in the country on an acre or so of land. When they have run out of space they simply add a shed or garage or carport. Which they have done all 3!
Me, living in the city is unable to do that and my garage is already full. I am trying to break free of this family pattern, BUT I like SO many things!! Many, many of the things I have around in my house as decoration are family pieces.
My grandmother crocheted as well as my mom, so I have a lot of beautiful doilies of all sizes and shapes. My mother has given me her hankerchief collection, and all the crocheted potholders she had made-they are works of art! Glass baskets, glass shoes, tea cups, tea pots, antique plates are everywhere here. No pictures hang in my home. I prefer all these vintage lovelies! I am grateful for a husband who has pretty much let me do whatever I want in our home. Our living room is lavender!
I know he would prefer less clutter, but he never tells me to get rid of anything!
Since my craft table was put together I have been able to work on a project. SO excited about my craft room. Before the pipe/bathroom incident I had got a lot done in there to re-organize everything. I am finally able to find what I am looking for!
Hoping to be taught today how to down load pictures myself!
Already a lot of cat hissing this morning!
To a relaxing Sunday-
Marietta
July 8, 2012
July 7, 2012
cats, cats and more cats
It has been one week now since Amanda moved back home. The house is settled for the most part.
(bathrooms still in progress, but usable!!) BUT-the cats. I am wondering if we introduced them to soon. We had read to keep them separated for a couple of weeks, and we had intended to do that. But, the door to Amanda's room does not stay closed nicely and the first night the cats let themselves out by pulling on the bottom of the door. So on Sunday when we got up, they were already out. It has not gone as bad as we had thought it would, but yesterday there was pouncing towards Gemma (my kitty) by Yoshi. It is unclear if it play (he likes to do this with his sister) or aggression. He is also hissing at Gemma more. Abby seems to just be steering clear of the whole matter. Gemma wants to stay in our bedroom. It makes me sad. I know it will take time. Patience has never been one of my virtues.
My husband( cat liker-not lover) says he can't believe we have 3 cats in our house. For the past 4 1/2 years he couldn't believe there was ONE cat. But, he is adjusting well, he just has less tolerance for the hissing towards Gemma. I had always thought people who treated their pets like humans, were a little crazy. We have JOINED the club!! Just as protective of the kitty as the daughter!
To days of harmonious living among the kitties. . .
Marietta
(bathrooms still in progress, but usable!!) BUT-the cats. I am wondering if we introduced them to soon. We had read to keep them separated for a couple of weeks, and we had intended to do that. But, the door to Amanda's room does not stay closed nicely and the first night the cats let themselves out by pulling on the bottom of the door. So on Sunday when we got up, they were already out. It has not gone as bad as we had thought it would, but yesterday there was pouncing towards Gemma (my kitty) by Yoshi. It is unclear if it play (he likes to do this with his sister) or aggression. He is also hissing at Gemma more. Abby seems to just be steering clear of the whole matter. Gemma wants to stay in our bedroom. It makes me sad. I know it will take time. Patience has never been one of my virtues.
My husband( cat liker-not lover) says he can't believe we have 3 cats in our house. For the past 4 1/2 years he couldn't believe there was ONE cat. But, he is adjusting well, he just has less tolerance for the hissing towards Gemma. I had always thought people who treated their pets like humans, were a little crazy. We have JOINED the club!! Just as protective of the kitty as the daughter!
To days of harmonious living among the kitties. . .
Marietta
July 6, 2012
A table!!
I know that most people would not be excited about a table. This is not ANY table. It is a hobby/craft table! I previously did my crafting at the dining room table. Leaving my mess out most of the time until the project was done, or had to pick everything up and bring it back out the next time I worked on the project.
For Mother's Day my husband got me this table at Jo-ann. It folds, it rolls, it is higher than a normal table.(which is good for me I am taller than average (5"8") and it will be less stress for my back when I stand. I will have a place to cut out patterns! I had previously used the living room floor. This usually leads to too much help from the kitty.
Yesterday my husband assembled it for me and by afternoon I was in my sewing room, painting!!
When I got done last night, I could just leave everything where it was and it was waiting for me this morning with no guilt about leaving it all out!
I love it!! It is going to make my crafting life so much easier!
To happy crafting!
Marietta
For Mother's Day my husband got me this table at Jo-ann. It folds, it rolls, it is higher than a normal table.(which is good for me I am taller than average (5"8") and it will be less stress for my back when I stand. I will have a place to cut out patterns! I had previously used the living room floor. This usually leads to too much help from the kitty.
Yesterday my husband assembled it for me and by afternoon I was in my sewing room, painting!!
When I got done last night, I could just leave everything where it was and it was waiting for me this morning with no guilt about leaving it all out!
I love it!! It is going to make my crafting life so much easier!
To happy crafting!
Marietta
July 4, 2012
Catching up
I have been so thankful to be on vacation this week. I think I will regain most of my sanity(did I really ever have it all, to begin with?) by the time I go back to work on Monday. Yesterday I thought if I had to find a place for one more thing in my home I would puke! We really have not tackled Amanda's room. She has not put anything away since she moved in on Saturday. But I have offered to help her today and perhaps it will feel more like home when we are done.
We repainted Amanda's bedroom before she moved in. Her room was orange, now the bathroom is ORANGE. So orange that it glows out into the family room in the morning. You think you have left the light on! Her bedroom is now heirloom red and light gray with navy blue accents. She has lots of pictures and posters to put up.
The cat situation is better than we thought it would be. There is some hissing. No actual fights yet, and hopefully there won't be. I had never heard my kitty hiss before and it made me sad that it had happened. I hope they will all keep their sweet personalities and learn to get along or at least co-exist. Randy (husband) has offered to do the litter boxes daily. That is a big help!
Sewing room a little more accessible today, so HOPING to get my hobby table put together (that I got for mother's day) and try it out!!
Happy 4th!
Marietta
P.S. I will get to picture taking, too!
We repainted Amanda's bedroom before she moved in. Her room was orange, now the bathroom is ORANGE. So orange that it glows out into the family room in the morning. You think you have left the light on! Her bedroom is now heirloom red and light gray with navy blue accents. She has lots of pictures and posters to put up.
The cat situation is better than we thought it would be. There is some hissing. No actual fights yet, and hopefully there won't be. I had never heard my kitty hiss before and it made me sad that it had happened. I hope they will all keep their sweet personalities and learn to get along or at least co-exist. Randy (husband) has offered to do the litter boxes daily. That is a big help!
Sewing room a little more accessible today, so HOPING to get my hobby table put together (that I got for mother's day) and try it out!!
Happy 4th!
Marietta
P.S. I will get to picture taking, too!
July 1, 2012
Lives blended back together. . .
We have spent the past 3 days moving our daughter back home. The house was not ready, in the way that I hoped due to all the plumbing and bathroom remodel. The bathrooms are 3/4 done. My husband tiled the shower on Thursday and finally on Friday we got to use the shower!! It had been 6 weeks since I had been able to shower in my house. ( I was bathing though, to be sure- we live in Florida!)
There are boxes and bags everywhere that need to find a place in our home. Our daughter has been living on her own for the past 4 years, and had a large apartment by the University. ( We only moved her across town) This is the house she has lived in since she was 3 years old, so it is home, but she is used to her own space and lots of quiet. NOT that her Dad and I are loud. But we watch too much TV for her liking, and I am told that in the mornings when I get ready for work, that the "kitty and I make too much noise." Gemma (kitty) and I have our morning routine! The biggest concern in living together again, is her two kitties. We have no idea how they will all get along.
We got Gemma 4 1/2 years ago. We asked my husband at a weak moment, if we could have a cat and he said "we"? Amanda had always wanted a kitty. I had tested allergic when she was about 4 years old, and my husband had never cared for cats. But he said yes and within a week we had gotten our beautiful calico cat from a local rescue. When Amanda moved out about 10 mos after we got Gemma I said the kitty was not going. She agreed the cat was mine and not hers. AND what a joy she has been to me! I only seem to be allergic if I am scratched. My husband is a self proclaimed "cat liker." (not LOVER)
About 3 years ago Amanda got her 2 kitties, brother and sister. They are very sweet, too. But much more underfoot and in your space. That will take some getting used to especially for my husband.
Being able to create is my coping mechanism and at the moment no craft supplies are accessible.
Saving grace is I am on vacation this next week and I am hoping within a few days the house will be much more livable. I am planning another denim jacket, this time painted with cabbage roses.
to successful organization . . . (and no cat fights)
Marietta
There are boxes and bags everywhere that need to find a place in our home. Our daughter has been living on her own for the past 4 years, and had a large apartment by the University. ( We only moved her across town) This is the house she has lived in since she was 3 years old, so it is home, but she is used to her own space and lots of quiet. NOT that her Dad and I are loud. But we watch too much TV for her liking, and I am told that in the mornings when I get ready for work, that the "kitty and I make too much noise." Gemma (kitty) and I have our morning routine! The biggest concern in living together again, is her two kitties. We have no idea how they will all get along.
We got Gemma 4 1/2 years ago. We asked my husband at a weak moment, if we could have a cat and he said "we"? Amanda had always wanted a kitty. I had tested allergic when she was about 4 years old, and my husband had never cared for cats. But he said yes and within a week we had gotten our beautiful calico cat from a local rescue. When Amanda moved out about 10 mos after we got Gemma I said the kitty was not going. She agreed the cat was mine and not hers. AND what a joy she has been to me! I only seem to be allergic if I am scratched. My husband is a self proclaimed "cat liker." (not LOVER)
About 3 years ago Amanda got her 2 kitties, brother and sister. They are very sweet, too. But much more underfoot and in your space. That will take some getting used to especially for my husband.
Being able to create is my coping mechanism and at the moment no craft supplies are accessible.
Saving grace is I am on vacation this next week and I am hoping within a few days the house will be much more livable. I am planning another denim jacket, this time painted with cabbage roses.
to successful organization . . . (and no cat fights)
Marietta
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