The “Project Room”…hits and misses….

We have been working on this little bedroom for most of the summer.  First, we painted it a bold color (Rhythm and Blues by Benjamin Moore).  Robbie and Liz pushed me to go two shades darker on the color card (I’m a wimp), but I think it does work well against the white wood.  And….it is growing on me.  Then we added the bead board.  We already had the book shelves, but Ken lined the back of them with the wood, too.  It looks more finished than it did before.

We filled the shelves with some of our old teenage books and mementos.  These dolls were a gift to the girls from Ken’s parents when they returned from an LDS mission in Nigeria and Ghana way back in 1980.

I found this little statue at Hobby Lobby on clearance for $3.00 and couldn’t resist.  It reminded me of some of my students who have come here as refugees from Africa.

Old books take me back to my early teenage years.

This picture just makes me happy.

 

A little sewing machine table got reinvented.

We took out the machine (which didn’t work) and painted the wood.

The color isn’t quite right for the room, but the tight budget dictates that I like it anyway (at least for awhile).

We had a head board on the bed, but it was too tall for the book shelves, so we took it off.  I still need to add a big pillow sham, some other fun pillows, and a dust ruffle.  The bed spread came from Home Goods.  I love the bright colors.

The closet is now a craft/gift wrapping/project storage center.

YEAH!

Someday I would like all matching storage containers (I’m a dreamer), but what I have works.  I wanted a rod to hold all the wrapping ribbon, but my husband had a better idea with the little dowels.  That way you don’t have to take every thing off to replace a roll. 

Wrapping paper is easy to reach in this tall garbage can.

And now you don’t see it.

It all hides behind these doors.

We replaced the really old (translated:UGLY) carpet with laminate wood from Home Depot.  It was on sale.   (One of the best “Hits” of the room!)

I borrowed the lamp from another room and it needs to be replaced.   We would still like to add a rug. 

BUT…

The room is now a comfortable place to work on a project, escape with a good book, or host a small guest over night. 

Maybe you should come for a visit!

JoAnn

 

Out of the Mouths of babes….

Baby Moses- A Short Story

(as told by Maddie-age three)

“When Baby Moses was born

they called up Jesus. 

Jesus told them to take the baby,

put him in a basket,

and send him over

the waterfall.”

The end

Maddie and Carley

P.S.  We’ve had company and I have neglected this blog.  It was so fun to spend time with my sister Julie and her family!  My friend Phyllis also came to visit- all the way from Cairo, Egypt!  We celebrated Robbie’s birthday with a barbecue cookout.  Fun times, but summer is really fleeing… PLEASE SLOW DOWN!

“Sweet!”

Last week my sister Linda and I went to our old hometown for a short visit.  You might have heard of it before.

Preston, Idaho.

Some really cool people have called it home!

(Images taken from Google)

When we were growing up the population was 3,640.  It is a little bigger now, but still has a small town feel.  We met up with our sister Diane and Aunt Mardene and enjoyed some relaxing time.  (We missed you, Julie!)  We ate lunch at a cute little sandwich shop called New York Deli, with the most delicious lemon bars for dessert!   We spent hours driving around the outskirts of town, enjoying the rolling hills, canyons, old barns, and beautiful scenery, while catching up on what old friends and neighbors have been up to. 

These next two pages are a free brochure put out by the city of Preston and given out at stores like the Gingerbread Shoppe (my sister's fun store)!

We even passed a few of Napoleon’s hangouts. 

These old barns really talked to me.

Can you imagine waking up to this view every morning?

We checked out the crops on the family farm.

Mardene and Linda

It was a lazy, relaxing  trip, but so rejuvenating to step back to a time and place where so many memories were made. 

There’s no place like home!
(I loved living in this house.)

JoAnn

 

Paint, paint, and more paint….

  It seems that “painting” runs in the family. 

  #1.  Here is a picture of Joshua helping paint their new shed.

(Yes, we do know there are child labor laws!  Don’t tell!)

#2.  I just returned home from a little overnight trip with my sister and guess what was waiting for me?

My family painted the “project” bedroom for me!

(Rhythm and Blues by Benjamin Moore)

 

Well, Liz and Ken painted, but everyone else helped with the kids!

WHAT A NICE SURPRISE!  Thank you!

#3.  The playhouse is getting covered in Lemon Grass by Benjamin Moore. 

We are excited about all of our projects, even though I am a bit more nervous about the color choices than everyone else.  (I am a boring black and white person.) 

Come back soon for some pictures!

JoAnn

The samples are not really too helpful.  The yellow paint looks a little darker in this picture than it does in person, and the blue paint actually has more turquoise in it and is a bit more intense. 

 

The painters came today….

Today we started putting the primer coat of paint on the outside of the playhouse. 

We searched far and wide for the best workers available.

And they worked hard!

(Gogurt and chocolate raisins are great payment.)

After all, it is their house, too!

Things were going great until this little painter decided to kiss the newly painted wall (she’s excited and loves the house)!

Stayed tuned for more updates…..

JoAnn

 

P.S.  Looks like someone might be busy touching things up!

Thanks for helping us, Liz!

Turning ninety-three…Happy Birthday!

My father-in-law just celebrated a big birthday.

He is turning 93 years old.

He still drives, plays golf, and enjoys good health.  We had a little party to celebrate with him.  I’ll let pictures tell the story.

I think he deserved a fun party.

What do you think?

JoAnn

Thanks to the Lloyds for hosting!

 

Bits and Pieces….

So…

What came in the mail that made me so happy?

(Unfortunately, it was NOT the Publisher’s Clearing House Lottery!)

But…

It was Book 2 of my published blog books.

I am so excited to have a hard copy of another year of my ramblings, thoughts, pictures, and history.    I don’t write a regular journal, so this is a record of life at

The Gathering Place (our home) during the year 2010.

Besides, it is quite exciting to see my own name as the author and I didn’t even have to be approved by a publishing company, do any editing, or much of anything very technical!

Liz did all that for me.  THANKS!

We used a company called  LuLu  (click to go to their site) and ended up only having to pay  $35.00 (we had a $25 coupon) for a 200 page book.  Cool!

♥   ♥   ♥   ♥   ♥   ♥

Here is another update on the playhouse. 

My husband is a real craftsman.  Do you like his hand made trim above the window?

 

This is the light by the front door.

He got such a great deal on the siding.  Home Depot doesn’t usually carry this wood and he was at the store just as they were having a clearance on it. 

Regular price: $18.50 a board.  Sale price: $1.00 a board.

Sorry, he bought all they had!

Well, I guess that’s it for now. 

We had a wonderful 4th of July and hope you all did, too!

JoAnn

Farmers’ Market, happy birthdays, and summer heat

Yesterday we headed out to the Salt Lake City Farmers’ Market.
It was fun seeing the variety of different booths (even though the local summer produce is just getting started.
 

Of course we had to have our traditional fresh lime with mint.
(O.K., it is only our second year, but it probably will become a tradition!)

(Michelle, Linda, and Kate)

We found time to celebrate my niece Melissa’s birthday.

Look how festive their yard was!

Everyone loves lawn games, right?

Today is our daughter Heidi’s birthday.  We had to celebrate over the telephone since she lives in Oregon and we couldn’t get together. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

That is Heidi in the middle!

Tomorrow is our wonderful country’s birthday.   Do you have something fun planned?

(Photo from Google.com)

Oh…

Did I mention it was HOT?

Today it was 102 degrees.

(We are finally getting that hot Utah summer weather- the mild spring spoiled us!)

I hope everyone has a great day!

JoAnn

P.S.  Guess what came in the mail today?

I'm so EXCITED!!!