Before and After

I forgot how ugly the green tile counter tops were. I removed the frilly cornice boards and curtains. I want to make tailored roman shades, but haven't yet.




Demolition was great fun. However since we live in a 1920s home, the plaster behind the tile backsplash was crumbling. I had to scrape it back to the lathes and then cut wood boards to screw in the holes.


An economical solution was buying granite tiles at $6 square foot versus $50 and up for solid granite. As this house will not be permanent, price was important.


The curb-find dresser turned into an island. I wired electricity to it from the basement so it could house the microwave to free up counter space.


Mixing thinset and water and troweling it on wasn't that difficult. But boy, was it messy! Mortar was everywhere, and it was death on my hands.


The little squares on the backsplash are tumbled marble. The larger backsplash tiles are made in Italy to resemble natural stone. Since I took all my tiles to Lowes to have cut, measuring was very important. One of the employees wasn't as exact as the other one. He miscut a few things, but after twenty trips to the hardware store we got it right.




My desk was salvaged from (where else?) the trash. With a matching granite top, coat of paint and new hardware it looks like it was meant to be.

The finishing touch was to be a crystal chandelier I purchased from an advertisement in a home magazine. Beware. The company forgot to tell me that they discontinued that particular chandelier and didn't refund my credit card. My wonderful credit card company stepped in when I claimed fraud and now I just need to find another chandelier. Lesson learned: I think I will shop local!

January Joys

In Their Finery

A gaudy peahen and a flapper.

Brrrr

I took the kids sledding on Tuesday. I knew Fritz wasn't feeling well when after three rides down he asked to sit in the car. That night he had a racking cough and fever. Poor guy, he was sick the week before with the stomach flu.



Jane enjoyed going sledding, but if I dared to pull her up the hill on the sled she angered. Back up the hill I went with her in my arms and the string of the sled over my shoulder. Down we went effortlessly and up we came huffing and puffing. Sledding is excellent exercise. I just hope lugging her 25 pounds up a steep incline benefited my muscles as much as her mental stability.


My three-headed monster rolled up to ward off the chill.

The Daughter of the King

If you were in the presence of the Lord tonight, there would be much rejoicing. The angels are no doubt blowing their party poppers and throwing confetti. Something long prayed for has come to pass. My Emily had her spiritual birthday today. When I noticed the date it seems so fitting as now her two birthdays coincide on the 14th. She surprised me completely. I had just finished praying with the kids before giving them their goodnight kisses. Emily asked to pray which isn't all that unusual. She prays for her baby (Jane) and then tends to mumble minutes worth of gibberish. I must admit there are times I have wanted to hasten her "amen". Tonight she prayed for her baby and then said "Jesus live in our hearts. Amen." Her prayer was not prompted or worded by me. She was sincere and "our hearts" included her heart. For months I have been sharing with her what Jesus did for us and how he loves us. At times I have felt quite discouraged because she would constantly change the conversation or cut me off. Seemingly she had no interest. But the Holy Spirit was at work. After she prayed, Emily got up from her pallet on the floor to give me a big hug and Alex came over to give her a big hug. It was a moment too sweet to describe. When Daddy returns tomorrow from his conference, what news we will have for him. If he could only see the delight in my teary eyes and hear the shouts in glory, he would know his daughter is now also the daughter of a king.

Rooflines to Rot

DISCLAIMER: For those few that think the source of cavities is too much time in front of the internet, it can't hurt to brush after viewing these sugary photos.

This our first year to make graham cracker houses. While the little cherub above napped the three older children built a neighborhood.


Our supply of airline cardboard made the basic structures. Then we covered them with the wax paper liners from cereal boxes.



Yes, we could have purchased individual milk cartons, but recycling is so economical and requires no trip to the grocery store. With four additional shoppers, believe me, that is worth more than the money saved.


Since candy is not usually kept on hand, this roofline to teeth rot was a view to cherish and digitally preserve.

Black Friday Turns Cold

Mortar, Muscle and Moments

This past month was very busy. With the aid of my trusty chisel and safety glasses, I demoed our green tile countertops. Destruction was never so gratifying. For weeks we lived with plywood countertops as I was waiting for the granite tile to arrive. My original plans became more elaborate as I added a dresser and desk both salvaged from our neighbors' trash. The dresser is now my kitchen island and the desk a much needed work station. I feel like I've gained some arm muscles mixing 80 pounds of mortar. It is like trying to stir peanut butter with a toothpick. I was overly ambitious and thought my project would be done by now. My revised deadline is December. I still have moulding to miter and nail up, grout to smear and paint to somehow apply behind our refrigerator, etc.


The night before Ben and I escaped for a weekend in San Antonio, the kids went trick-or-treating around our circle. Since they dress up nearly everyday...not as much thought went into their costumes but they were extremely excited to show them off. Jane was Elmo. Emily was Snow White. Fritz was the Black Knight. And Alex was a policeman.


Why were we in San Antonio? Ben had a foot and ankle conference there and I gratefully tagged along. So while he learned about fixing metatarsals I shopped for cooler footwear. It was incredibly hot at 83 degrees and I had only brought running shoes. And without four kids, I just happened to find a few other special things. The conference site was a beautiful resort with custom carpets, limestone fireplaces and extensive grounds. As I sat in a rocking chair on the veranda reading, brides and grooms-to-be planned their weddings on the back lawn. Though I brought my camera I forgot to take pictures. Very me. One of the biggest highlights of our trip was eating real Mexican food and cementing the fact that Texas is calling Ben. When it snowed a few days ago on our return, even I heard the boot stomping getting louder. And let me clarify it wasn't snow boots.



A face of iron resolve.



Photos from my blogging absence in October.

Sister Plays

When Fritz's team consists of 3 players and 2 of them are out of town, that leaves FRITZ. So Emily donned Alex's uniform and had her chance to glory on the soccer field by assisting her brother win the soccer game. It was E and F against 3. I lost count of how many scores F made, but he was unstoppable.




E trying to keep up with shin guards that rise past her knees.



Alex had two goals in his game. A high for him.

The Fierce Kiss

Catch up photos

Fritz scored a goal in his first soccer game.








Snow White, but where are the seven dwarfs?




The last hospital anklet. Poor Ben and Alex had fever from their final rabies shot, but the ER ordeal is over. Hooray.



Ben embellished my hair with some foliage. Thanks. I think I looked like a reindeer from the front.



Being last has developmental advantages, Jane has figured out how to draw with crayons. She even switches colors.




Since spring in Chicago, my diamond has been loose. Now my new setting dazzles on my left hand. Some months early for our tenth anniversary.

A picture of life

Emily's self-haircut has grown. Yeah! The rebellious strands stay plastered down for a brief moment after styling.


My girl with the highest threshold of pain I have ever seen. She is resilient and tough. She wins the bravery award for the rabies shots. She merely says a quick "ouch" and doesn't even cry. Maybe God is preparing her for the jungles of Papua New Guinea.


Alex looking like a Bermudan policeman. Shorts and knee socks. Thank you for your prayers! God made Alex brave and he did the best he has done on our 4th set of shots. Next Friday we will celebrate our final visit to the ER. Then selective members of our family will be for hire to catch your rabid pests; we'll be in business for the next ten years.


The little raggedy herself.