and we have LIFT OFF!!

After the rain, came the sun... and the heat!  So it must be summer!  It sure does look pretty but it sure is hot.  Not complaining, really, that's why I moved to Florida.

This morning there was a rocket launch.  It just doesn't get old.  It takes the rocket a little bit longer to clear the trees, than the shuttle.  I'm not sure why; whether it was because it was such a heavy load or what but it's still exciting.  The sun was so strong and bright it was hard to see.  You see the plume first and just a fire dot headed for the top of the sky.  For a bit, there's no sound until the roar and rumble... it's always a thrill that I guess you'd have to experience yourself.

Every child should experience... and every adult.  Oh, the places you'll go!!  To dream of space, to know the advancements in all different technology space exploration has made.  The experiments done on the International Space Station (ISS) and their benefits to our lives.   The food has gotten much better since the beginning too.

It's a shame we couldn't keep the space program going until the next vehicle was ready.  I can see both sides but it's a shame.  It bothers me to depend on Russia and pay a ticket of nearly 63 million dollars per seat (source).  It's a  shame that during the wind down of the program so many people and businesses, that depended on the program, moved away.  It did a number to the town. 

But there are flickers of hope.  Main Street in the Historic District has been revitalized and prettied up.  New roads, new trees and pretty flowers.  They were out there today re-mulching the flower beds.  Wish my gardens looked that good.  Businesses are moving into what were empty store fronts and the mall vacancies are slowly finding life.  It's been a slow go but a flicker of hope is better than the dispare that hung like a cloud.

There is such a history tied to space exploration here.  Space View Park is a wonderful park to walk around, documenting each program and memorials to those lost in the pursuit to reach beyond the stars.

So, with every Delta rocket launch and every SpaceX Dragon launch, there is hope.  With every other private company working on a transporter, there is hope.

Have a good night!  and dream BIG!!

Another day in Paradise!

It is finally another pretty day.  The skies are blue, the sun is shining and a nice breeze blowing.  We are headed towards record tempuratures but I'm hoping that the breeze makes it bearable and I can get some of my things, especially my rug, to dry.

There are still things that need to be done inside and errands to run but if I do a little here and there, maybe I will actually accomplish something. 

I love the living room... I know, you are tired of hearing it!  I started working on the other window.  The netting from Dollar Tree is totally different than the other 2 nets so I'm not sure what I am doing with it.  Right now it's just hanging straight down.

There's 2 natural colored and one green... that's all they had.  I think this one will be more on the luau side, and maybe some of the flowers will show outside.

Past time to get moving, so I'll catch you later.  Have a great day!

Not so glamorous! Time to organize.

 

It got to the time to get into the unglamorous stuff!  Time to clean up paper clutter and organize. Time for a rest from physical work.  Here we go...OK, so here we go BUT I have to look at everything as I go through it... right?

 

DANGEROUS! Among other books, that I was able to dust off and put on the shelf, I spied this one:

 ●  The Lazy Woman's Guide to Just about Everything: Practical Tips & Lazy Wisdom for a Life of Ease

by Judie O'Neill & Bridget Fonger


What a find!!


The Chapters are:

The Birth of a Lazy Woman

A Hammock in Every Room

Do I know You?

The Most Satisfying Tools

Feathering the Lazy Woman's

Nest: The ... Family

The Crazy World We Live In

Make Me Up and Spit Me Out

Please, God, Deal Me a New Hand

Is there a lazy way to Heaven?

And more

I love to read!  I really need to make more time for a book. Besides it taking you to another place, those places can give such wisdom, humor and enlighten ...like talking to an old friend in their absence.

From Chapter 3:

The Most Satisfying of Tools

Equipping Yourself For A Life of Ease Organization: The Lazy Woman's Top Ten Tools

Since I am embarking today on the journey of reorganizing, I took a look in the book for some

lazy quick tips. There is a section about “Organization Tools” that includes using:

Canvas tote bags Baskets Storage boxes (plastic or cardboard) Labels Rubber bands/ paper clips/twist ties/staplers/tape

Sharpies

Post-its

Backpacks

gifts/mailing center/basic toolsBaskets/drawers/decorative containers 

Organizing Techniques: they put  together a section by areas of the

house. I'm not going to get into each area or each detail but as I do my own, I'll share the ideas I did get and use.

 

 Right now I AM really liking the Undecided Box!  For a long time, I probably wouldn't have been able to find a box large enough but I am hoping a shoe box size will be fine now!

I had a Lazy Woman's idea and didn't even it know it!  My Computer Basket! 
I set up a basket the other day for all the things that were on my computer corner of the coffee table. Things that I use when blogging mostly.  Luckily, the basket is large enough to add a magazine or two, a book, a print-out that I refer to for a post. Keeping it where I can find it and still neat too.

I need one for the side of my bed for things I take back and

forth for 'bed time reading'.

  What's in it?

 

• Notebook of 2 e-books on refinishing furniture from Altar'd Furniture.  You can find them here and so much more.

• Notebook with e-book, 'Road-map to Action' by Laura Simms.  You can get it here.

• Project notebook with: to-do lists, blog calendar, blog idea and project sheets/outlines...

• Spiral sketch book that I constantly draw, make lists, write down ideas...and room lay-outs with measurements.

• and this.  It still needs a home.

Praise to the Women on my journey

To the women on my journey

Who showed me the ways to go and the ways not to go,

Whose strength and compassion

Held up a torch of light and beckoned me to follow...

To the women on my journey

Who showed me how to live and not to live,

Whose grace, success and gratitude

Lifted me into the fullness of surrender to God...

To the women on my journey

Who showed me what I am and what I am not,

Whose love, encouragement and confidence

Held me tenderly and nudged me gently...

To these women I say

From the depths of my heart,

For I have been healed and set free

Through your joy and through your sacrifice.

And inside my Blog folder:

Inside the folder I keep past month blog calendars;

“Not quite mid-yr review”; as well as a yearly review;

“Completion planner”; A number of To-Do Lists; Blog Ideas: everything has a story; quotes, websites, etc. “Project planner”; “Weekly planner”;  Different resources for blogging.

 

ROADMAP to ACTION
●

My monthly Blog Calendar is a gift from LAURA SIMMS, career coach for creatives at createasfolk.com

●

The ROADMAP to ACTION is priceless

●

and “the you-sized guide to charting your course”; includes planners for creative entrepreneurs.

I am a big one for maps on this journey. I also know it is OK to ask for directions on this journey so I hope you will check out Laura's website...Create as Folk

I hope you found some ideas for your own journey...I love baskets!

Lazy Quick Tips:

Part 4 - Before and After: Becoming Living Room Proud

Just wanna have fun!

They say 'a picture's worth a thousand words'.  I like the difference in my before and after pictures.  What do you think??




Now, my Lighthouse Beam!



The only thing that stayed in the same spot was the shelves on the wall.

I like how the picture pops!



Looking into the kitchen, you can see the colors.
And the couch is moved again.





Time to finish cleaning up desk!



My Blogging Basket

I'll share what's in my basket in another post but it has everything I use when blogging, ideas off the web, calendars, idea notebook.... and I can across this book, "The Lazy Woman's Guide to Just About Everything", by  Judie O'Neill & Bridget Fonger, while clearing off the shelf on the desk. 

I have to keep moving so I'll catch you later...

Part 3 Becoming Living Room Proud~ To-do's

Things to finish up

I am so happy with my living room... am I making you sick yet?  I hope not.  It is just about done-done.  I still have to paint the ceiling and finish some projects, keep organizing and enjoy.  I wanted to share some more of my fix-its.




OK, I have this TV/stereo stand.  It is extremely inexpensive (cheap),  silver, assembly required and I don't think I needed tools!  I was going to paint it white but while the coat of primer was drying, I decided to go aqua as all the other tables are.  I wound up using an exterior paint and it covered nicely.

I had to cover those silver legs, so I started wrapping with jute and a dot of hot glue here and there.  I ran out of jute here but hope to finish today.   I'm going to add shells too.

I started covering this trunk with tourist maps and brochures but ran out so I have to hit up a tourist stand.  I really thought I had more.

I'm thinking about covering the front of the 4 couch pillows in the yellow and aqua material (pictured above).  There is enough to do it for now, maybe I'll find fabric I love before I get to this stage.

That's it for now.  I'm already working on 'before and after' pictures.  What a difference!

Part 2 ~ Becoming Living Room Proud

It's in the Details!

I am really enjoying my living room!  I am loving the colors and some of the details I have even surprised me!

Window Proud!  Just some fun!

Let's start with the first window.  Without getting into details, when I was painting around the trim of the window, I was getting annoyed at the fact that I no longer had something to use as a window treatment.  As I waited for the paint to dry, I sat here and thought... and thought.. and thought some more! 

I don't need something for privacy but I didn't want to see the streaks from trying to clean the window panes from the inside and outside.  I wanted as much light to come through as possible.  It also had no moldings around it and it just looked bare... too minimalist for me.

So I looked and thought some more... until I thought I had an idea.  As I gathered what I needed, I still wondered if it would work. 

I used the smaller fishing net first.  I weaved in and out of some of the openings with a spring tension pole at the top and bottom.  TOO SMALL!  So, I went outside and got the bigger net.

The net holes are bigger than I would have liked but I'll make it work.  There are shells attached with jute to the net... but I solved my dilemma so one to painting.  I washed it by hand and let it dry overnight.

When I was  done painting I put the larger net up on the window with a tension rod at top and bottom.  I just tucked the smaller net in some of the larger nets...

It began to be like decorating a Christmas tree as I came across beachy decorations.  The seagulls were brown till I gave them a quick coat of primer, sanded and dotted their eyes with a Sharpie.

Then I used the vertical blinds slats to frame the window making faux window frame...I'll have to trim them but I think it finishes off the window.

So while I was a Dollar Tree I picked up these fishing nets in their Luau Section and this Door Fringe.

I'm not sure how this is all going to work out.  The netting is once again larger than I hoped and I had hope they would have a different color rather than green.  I'll play with it for now and keep my eyes open for different colors.

This is one fishing net on a spring tension rod, to me, just not doing it for me.  So this is where I'll leave you so I can post this and I'll keep working on it.

Have a good night!

~pat


Hooked up to these Parties:

Made by You Monday-Skip To My Lou

Addicts (Not So) Anonymous Link Party

Part 1 ~ Becoming Living Room Proud

I just have to express my frustration.  While I was working on the living room, I put together  power point presentations.  I took pictures and took you through the process, including DIY ideas and how to.  I have not been able to figure out how to get it on here and now I can't even do a copy and paste!  I am going to try to recreate a shorter version - - if I miss anything PLEASE let me know or ASK.

OK, here we go:

WELCOME!

I did this wall by wall and only just realized that this has been a 3 month process.  The kitchen and living room open up to each other.  The kitchen is yellow and the yellow ceiling will continue into the living room as well.  So I wanted a color that would go; but more than that I wanted a color that would be beachy, happy, bright and fun!  My original idea was a sea mist but when I looked at colors, I was drawn to aquas.  I wound up with ACE Hardware's "Going My Way".  And still using Benjamin Moore Little Angel (yellow) paint on the wall and ceiling.

From here I wasn't sure where I was going.  I sat and stared at it and it suddenly came to me:

Thank you Maya

A LIGHTHOUSE BEAM WAS BORN!  This little light of mine will reach out, skim the water and reach out and down the dark hallway.

Just a little 'water' at the bottom but the beam will go straight down the wall and down the hallway.  Between the two colors, the living room is much brighter and much HAPPIER!  And the yellow opens it up rather than boxing in the small living room.

That was the last wall painted, although parts of the ceiling still needs to be painted.  I know, I do things completely backwards but that's the way it goes and it is easier for me physically.   Now to get things back together... and I am still working on that part!  So wall by wall, here's where I am:




BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

AFTER

For the most part, this was just painting the room and rearranging my own accessories in a more deliberate way.  I painted some shelves and frames and still have to do more.  I still want to recover toss pillows, the couch and chair.  Anything I do now going forward should be done in controlled chaos.

I'll give you more complete pictures, coming up and some ideas I came up that even surprised me. 

Have a happy day!  ~pat

Trying to catch up...and Intro to my Living Room Re-do

(written:  Monday June 11)

One wall at a time

I am so excited! The living room is finally feeling like it is coming together!

I went with the idea of a lighthouse beam coming out from under the kitchen cabinets and once I hit the window the beam continues down the hall... well, into the hall because I haven't gotten that far that it's down the hall. As I told you in my other post, I don't know where it came from but it was suddenly there! I'm sure somewhere in my mind, it came from necessity and resourcefulness!! (WOW! Did I say that?)

I went with the idea of using the fishing nets I have for a window treatment on the window above the air conditioner. That a/c is not coming out of the window until it doesn't work! I have tried from inside and outside to clean in between the glass with absolutely no success and it bugs me! I don't need anything on the window for privacy and want whatever light I can get to come through... so the fish net idea! I did see fish nets draped over the top and sides of a window, like a scarf treatment, which also looks nice, but I want to camouflage of sorts.

One is too small and one is actually too big. And the net on the larger one is open more. I like the openings on the smaller net better. So right now, I am using what I have, so I used both, layering the smaller on top of the larger. The shells are attached to the larger one and a fish ornament that says "fish stories told here" is attached to the smaller one. It will do for now, until I measure and shop for one that is just right!

I had picked up some small 'seagulls flying' at the thrift store for a couple of dollars. I have a couple outside but I also had more looking for a place to fly. I put a coat of primer on them and then just lightly sanded the head, wings, and body. I like them! I'm going to see how they work out in to net and/or on the window. There are probably other things to add as I go along and start to put things back in order. See if you can pick things out.

I was going to paint my TV stand white and did go as far as a coat of primer but as it was drying I looked around and the wood furniture I had already painted was shades of aqua. This stage of the game is about using what I have so I put a few stokes of the wall color on and it was too close, (no contrast) so I dug out a quart of another (exterior) aqua and painted it that color... much better. Then I got my jumble of jute string and a dab of glue here and there, wrapped the spacer pieces with it...you'll see and a shell here and there and my inexpensive (cheap) stand doesn't look half bad. I decided that I want to get some bigger jute (fatter) to do the bottom and back pieces. Maybe, I'll go crazy and glue it around the edges of the shelves with a knot in the middle. Now I'm having fun!

Some people love them...I am not one of those people! I have been taking down the vertical blinds as I have been working in each room. The kitchen blinds are wrapped in the shed (I had planned on donating them). The blinds from the first window are still in the back of my tonka truck to go to the dumpster.

I was laying in bed one night and decided instead of throwing them out, I could use the slats to edge my gardens! BUT when I was taking down the blinds on the other living room window, it hit me! I can use the slats as faux window molding and baseboards!! Guinness!!!

For now, I am going to put the book case by the front door. I eventually want a table there. The table under my break through that I am using as a desk, was actually there. I want and need something by the front door for a spot for keys, dog poop bags, leash, mail...you know what I mean. Eventually, I think the book case will wind up in my bedroom... eventually.

I wish my body could keep up with my mind. I wish my mind realized my body can't keep up. If I could get the two together maybe it wouldn't be so frustrating sometimes and I wouldn't push harder than I should. But hopefully this is a learning curve!

As I write this, I am waiting for the roller to defrost. I am starting to wonder if it is worth the wait. I could have used the roller until all the paint was used up in it and washed it up...I'd finally be painting the ceiling! But I am using the rest time wisely, I guess. I didn't sleep much again last night and afraid to get too relax where it may become 'nap time'!

I am also looking around as to where I am going to put things...when I get to that point. I'm wondering what will stay and what will go somewhere else. I have collections of many sea shells. Many are from beaches I've been to, some are not but I love them just the same. I used to have a nautical room and still have lighthouses, the Salty Captain and Mate (they remind me of my Grandfather so much!),definite beachy things, candles and candle holders, a collection of angels, signs (lots of signs, plaques) lots of pictures (lots), toss pillows and beach and nautical themed toss pillows, and lots of trays (serving trays that I use for allot of things) and maybe, too many baskets!

My mother was totally blown away when I moved and she saw a store pillow carton (the kind that is about 4 feet high; maybe you've seen them in the store at back-to-school time?) Anyway, the box was jam packed full of baskets and that was probably only half of it! I use baskets for everything. I use them for decoration, for storage, for carrying, for organizing...you name it, I most likely have a basket to use for it.

As I sit here too, I wonder about some furniture placement. My TV was in front of the air conditioner. I no longer have cable, using rabbit ears. I put the TV there so it would be close to the window for reception, but not in front of the window I could open and close, according to the weather. Well, that part of it worked out well, but, in order to clean the air conditioner filter every 1000 hours, it means disconnecting and moving it out of the way...on the floor, and picking it up and setting up again. Hassle! So I think I will move it over and the side shelf will be just under the air conditioner, and the TV to the side of it. So now as I look and think, I need something on the other side to balance it. Darn! And I don't know what to put there.

# # #

Once this is done, the next project is THAT EXTRA room! The room I am hoping to put together as an office, craft room, guest room, library.... and everything else room so so many of my living room projects can go away!

Or maybe the SHED! Or a day here and a day there. There are a few things I can think of that can be donated and a few things to better organize.

Or maybe the HALLWAY or my BEDROOM!!! And the built in shelves...maybe an additional closet....The possibilities are endless.

For now it is catch up on the things that where neglected while I was re-doing the living room. Time to find a new home for craft and paint materials. Re-hang frames down the hall still the next step.

Take a break too...

It's all part of the journey!

E.T.'s 30th Anniversary - Phone Home!

June 11...the 30th Anniversary of E.T.!  It is so hard to believe that it is thirty years already!

Universal Studios

I Love E.T. and the movie!  My son was born June 1,1980 and this movie started a whole new phase for both of us.  I wish I could dig out some of the pictures from that time. 

My son had a closet in his playroom (with no doors) with a poster of E.T. in the back and allot of stuffed toys.  I had taken a picture of him with all the toys on him in front of the poster...it was cute!

The picture above was done while he sorta sat for his portrait.  At the end, he insisted it was Elliot, because E.T. was not there for the portrait!

When Toys 'R Us opened in Times Square, I got my own talking E.T.

See the trailer here.

Happy Anniversary E.T....where ever your journey takes you!!  I'll be right here...

UP-DATE on living room with BONUS!

Have I lost it or not?

The other night, I felt so much better after getting un-stuck!  I can't tell you how much better I felt, I told my mother, I was determined to finish painting the living room.

My wonderful niece was back in the hospital (in New York) with contractions.   The doctor decided that she would have her daughter (her second child) that night.  I wound up playing 'Words With Friends' in between contractions!  I was so excited, I was no longer tired!!  I was getting more and more excited and more and more AWAKE!  Besides playing, we started sending instant messages... when she got to 5cm, they would brake her water.  Well she skipped 5 and at 6cm, she wrote: I was the first to know and here we go...

BONUS!!  ----->>




Isn't she lovely!?!

 Madison Rose was born at 6:45 AM and it was almost as good as being there!  I was so excited and had started drinking coffee earlier I stayed close to the computer for pictures.

I was awake now!  So it was time to get started on finishing up the living room... don't know where this came from, but it just suddenly appeared!  Just like that!!

The yellow is coming and continuing from the kitchen; under the cabinets across and then extends up and down like a lighthouse beam!
What do you think??

So, truth be told, I am running low on "Going My Way" aqua paint and determined to finish, I decided to continue with this light beam on the other side of the window... something like this:

 AND it really has that folded (?) or curved look in person!?  So I am trying to get pumped full of coffee to get moving again... and moving things out of my way again!

I hope you are following along on this journey...I'm never sure where we are going but it's all good!!