Fall Mantle

There's Fall parties going on all over blogland.  Although it's alot better than August around here, but not quite as good as November, the calendar says it's Fall.  So it's time to decorate for it.  These green squash are like gold.  I swear the sign said $1.29 each.  Not . They're a pound.  I like them though.

This big white pumpkin I got last Fall.  It's still as good as new.

a little fall bunting I made.

Gotta have a little rooster in there somewhere.

Happy Fall

Birthday Girl (almost woman)

Yesterday was my dear daughter Emily's birthday.  17 years old.  I can't believe it.  She grows more beautiful every day.  Last night after all the presents were opened and the cake was eaten, I asked Emily if I've ever told her about her birth story.  She said I haven't.

So I told her how we lived in Denver and it snowed on her due date.  But she wasn't ready, so a week later I started having pains when I woke up.  Her dad had already gone to work.  The pains grew stronger.  I tried calling him (before cell phones) and couldn't reach him.  I went ahead and showered and got all ready. Called again, left a message with a Russian man who didn't speak English very well.  I hoped he would get the message.  I was starting to get nervous.  I called again and was doubled over the table.  The pains were bad.  Shortly after, Phillip walked in the door and away we went.  I couldn't do anything but lay down in the backseat.  We'd never been to the hospital in downtown Denver before.  He missed the exit.  My water broke.  I cried.  I wanted to push.  I cried some more.  We arrived and he carried me inside where a team whisked me off.  No time for drugs. Push.  About twenty minutes after we got there Emily Lyn Cook was born.  They placed her in my arms and she was sticking out her tongue.  Cute as a bug. 
And she's been that way ever since.

Happy Birthday

A White Kitchen

Are you ready?  This is a huge before and after.  A few weeks after moving in this house my seester Bev came to visit.  She envisioned my kitchen with white cabinets.  She knew it must be white.  I thought she was a little crazy because there was no way I was going to paint all those cabinets!!

and let me tell you, there are alot of cabinets!  The oak was competing with the wood floors and the granite counters.  It was alot going on.  But I had to start small and paint my laundry room first, and then the bathroom cabinets.

I gained confidence in what I was doing and felt I could tackle this monster job.  And when she decided to paint her cabinets, I dove in and painted mine at the same time.  I asked her advice and used the same paint color as hers.  She's the expert.

This is what I did for an entire week.  One section at a time.  Took the doors and hardware off, deglossed, primed and painted.  Twenty six doors, twenty two drawers, a desk, a hutch and all the cabinet frames.

And this is why.

I left a couple of doors off to display some lovelies

This is the hutch at the end of the cabinets.

 

It was alot of work.  Like sweaty, back aching, hand cramping work.
 But so worth it.
Thanks favorite sister:)

Back in the saddle

Hip hip hooray, I'm blogging again.  The heat has lifted and I may have found some oomph.  I still have a nineteen year old son sleeping in my office ( which will kill all desire to be at one's computer, in case you were wondering)  but I'm going to blog anyway, darn it!
First off is this lovely little light.

I found her at Goodwill for $10.  She originally hails from Ikea.  How do I know that?  Because she still had her Ikea sticker on her bottom.  Wanting to give all good cast off chandies a happy home, I welcomed her.

I thought she needed to feel pretty and wanted again so I added these little blingy dangly crystals that used to be on candlesticks Bev gave me (thanks Bev).  And look at her glow!  She's especially proud to take the place of the tired and outdated entry light that was here before.  Shine on chandy.

come back tomorrow for the Big Ginormous Fabulous Kitchen Cabinets Makeover!!

Mo Fash

Emily and her BFF Savannah participated in our Stake's Modest Fashion Show (Mo Fash) tonight.  It looked just like a fashion runway.  Lights, photographers, music, the whole nine yards.

They modeled modest clothes from Dillards.  There were alot of young women and they all looked dang cute!

They had their hair and makeup done backstage and each modeled a couple of outfits.  I'd say she's a natural.

Here's cute Savannah in evening wear.

Emily was having alot of fun.

 

Oh to be young and skinny and cute.   Love these girls!

Sluggish

I haven't felt like doing much of anything lately.
 I haven't been thrifting for treasures in forever.
 I haven't redone anything in eons.
 I haven't created anything in a long time.
 I need some get up and go.
 Some inspiration.
  Some pick me up, kick me in the seat of the pants energy.
  I need to get on pinterest.
  I'm afraid once I start I won't be able to stop.
And there I will be sitting.
At my computer.
Glued.
September is paint your kitchen cabinets month.
You didn't know that?
Well it is!!
And that's why I have to stay off pinterest.
Stay tuned.

Farm update

Why oh why did I agree to get animals??
Two of the chicks have died.  It's REALLY important to make sure they have water at all times. In case you didn't know.
One of the  bunnies has an eye infection and I now have to put cream on it's eye three times a day.  The other bunny has now almost been a cat's breakfast and it fell in the pool last night.  Luckily Isabelle saw it and saved it.

I have four kids that still live at home.
That's enough, don't you think?

Terrific Tucson

I've never really liked Tucson that much.  I don't know why.  Maybe I associate it with knee surgery and Dr.'s when I was only fifteen.  The age I should have been having the most fun.  Anyway, this is a much better way to see Tucson, at a nice resort.  Phillip had a golf tournament there over the weekend and he invited me to go along.  This is the Omni Tucson National Golf Resort and Spa.  It's truly one of the nicest places we've ever stayed in.

I love how Pioneer Woman takes pics of the hotel rooms she stays in. This hotel is small and spread out.  Above is the sitting area and entryway.  Below is the vanity and that door opens to a humongous closet, like someone could sleep in there comfortably, humongous.

The bath area was pretty much to die for.  On the opposite end was the toilet and shower.

And this is the pool area where I may or may not have lounged and sipped on lemon ice water brought to me by a pool attendant.

And this is the view from our room of the Catalina Mountains overlooking the driving range.

We also went to an authentic mexican restaraunt at the insistance of an overly enthusiastic concierge.  And we're glad she insisted.  This place was great.  A woman makes salsa fresh at your table to your liking, and mariachi guitar playing singers roam around and play at your table.
It was only a 24hr. trip but worth every minute.

So get out of town once in a while and give your marriage a shot in the arm.   Why not Tucson?

Mini Farm

You know the saying "You can take the boy/girl out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the boy/girl".  Well, that's my husband.  He may not seem like a country boy, but he is at heart.  He wants to live in the country on a farm, but has to live in the city for his job.  So, we'll bring the farm to the city.  We now have five baby chicks (one died already) and two bunnies.  I'm sure we'd have a cow if we could.  The girls are happy too.  And our dog thinks we got them for him.  He's become a guard/sheep dog.  He has a purpose in life now.  He especially loves the bunnies and tries to get them to play with him.  I keep telling him they're not dogs but he doesn't care.

Emily and Isabelle and I went to the feed store and picked them out.  By the time we got home, they had them all named.   The bunnies are Pepper and Paprika.  The chicks are Nutmeg, Ginger, Cinnamon, Sugar, Cayenne and Curry.   Sugar has passed on. 

They are all cute, but I'm not so sure getting them in the heat wave of August was the best idea.  We (I) have to bring them in during the day so they don't die of heat stroke.  In crates and boxes of course.  Don't think I've gone totally looney and have animals running rampant around my house.

But it's lucky for my husband that I love him so much.

goodbye summer hello school

 I wanted to do something with the
kids on the last day of their summer vacation. I found out it was a free day at the Science Center. So we went there after lunch. Holy Moly lots of people!! We waited in line for about forty minutes just to get in. It was so crowded, this is the only picture I could get. Crazy. So we didn't stay there too long.

I don't know why, but I decided we'd go to the indoor swapmart on the way home.  It was a little scary.  We saw lots of interesting things. And people. Emily had her wisdom teeth out the day before and was feeling tired, so Eli and Isabelle took turns pushing her in the wheelchair.  It was an experience and we had alot of laughs during the day.  I think they'll remember it.

And here they are on the first day of school.  Isabelle is a big 5th grader.  I can't believe my baby is in 5th grade.

But I REALLY can't believe Emily is a Senior.  How did that happen?

I used to be so ready for the kids to go back to school and it was the happiest day of the year for me.  Now I just want it to slow down a little.  Why are they all growing up?  What's the hurry?