Monday, August 8, 2011

tidbits of a very random nature...

Holy crap...and now the first week of August is gone, too. Please slow down summer--you're moving way too fast! It was another week of home improvements around here, but we managed to slip in some moments of fun as well.

*Thank you, thank you, thank you Mom and Dad for coming up and working your butts off again! We wouldn't have gotten half as much done around here this summer if not for both of you! Really, there just are no words adequate enough to expression our gratitude. Love you!

*Thank you, thank you, thank you Ana. You know why. No, I don't have it all figured out...but I actually feel like I'm on the way to happier me now. I love you!

*The biggest project during the past week was getting the living room and hall painted. And it looks fabulous, if I do say so myself. (Unless you look at the baseboards, that is. We did not repaint them because we're going to have the carpet replaced in the spring and would just have had to paint them again. So we'll do it when we pull the carpet out, but before the new carpet goes in.) The walls are a very subtle shade of sage green--but they look anywhere from beige to green to taupe depending on the light. And all the wood trim and the closet and hallway doors are now a crisp white. And damn was there a lot of wood trim! My hand pretty much gave up on me holding a paintbrush before we finished. Now we just have to put the room back together. Will be ever so nice to get all these boxes out of our bedroom, Max's room, the kitchen...

*One night after all the brushes had been washed, we sat down at the kitchen table and played a rousing game of Apples to Apples. So much fun. :)



*Blackberries are my most favoritest berries in the world, and I've been dying to make blackberry jam but haven't been able to get any at the farmer's market. But last Monday as Rich was driving home from work he saw a elderly man sitting by the side of the road selling them. He came and got me and we went and bought the gentlemen out. :D So instead of finishing up the packing of the living room, I spent Monday afternoon making and canning blackberry jam. Six pints of jam with enough left over for a cobbler. :D






*The ridiculously wet summer followed by this ridiculously dry summer has not been kind to many of our plants. Everything from brown rot for our cherry tree to blossom end rot for our tomatoes. (Though I do think hope like hell that we nipped the blossom end rot in the bud and only lost about a dozen tomatoes to it.) Anyway, we've still been enjoying a few fruits of our labor. Lots and lots of jalapenos. And there's a handful of green peppers ready to pick. And if the rest of the tomatoes make it, we'll have plenty for fresh eating and for canning. Can't wait till they start ripening! Made some fresh salsa the other night. The onion, garlic, cilantro, and jalapenos all came from our yard. :) In a few weeks, the tomatoes will, too...and the only thing I'll have to buy will be the lime.



*Before we painted, I let Max have one last day of climbing the walls. ;)


*I am trying very, very hard not to panic over how unbelievably much school planning and prep I have to do over the next few weeks. As I said earlier, please slow down summer!

*We've got this really pretty fungus growing on our compost pile.


*I still haven't gotten much blog reading and catching up done, but I'm trying.

*I've yet to finish a single book this month. *sigh*

*And last, but by no freakin' means least--I am so over-the-top giddy thinking about next week. Why? Because that's when Chris will be here. The only down side--he's not staying nearly long enough!

Yep, that was pretty random.

10 comments:

Amanda said...

I think I would freak out if one of my kids climbed the wall like that, but I can just see Ambrose doing it...

Apples to Apples is a FANTASTIC game!

DesLily said...

that can't be Max! That has to be spiderman's son! lol you never have to worry if he falls in a well he can climb out easily! lol

mmmmm blackberry jam!! you are such a good mommy!...

wow.. you were panicking when you only had Annie to homeschool!..my imagination is good but not so good I can imagine how you will do it all this school year!! (but I do know you will do fine)

take care of my baby boy! I know you will !!!

Kailana said...

The summer is flying by! I hope that you manage to get some things accomplished and still have some fun!

Megan said...

Max looks like some sort of demented superhero climbing the walls like that. LOL!

I haven't finished a book yet this month either (horrors!), but I haven't made a single jar of blackberry jam, made fresh salsa, or engaged in any home improving. I'm such a slacker.

And I'm coming to your house to eat. Leave a light on for me, okay? ;-)

Carl V. Anderson said...

Blackberry jam is my favorite of all jams, it is to die for. Favorite berries are mulberries though. Loved 'em since I was a wee lad.

Exciting news about getting the painting done. I had hoped to do our living room this summer but it didn't work out (yet). We did finally pick a paint color last week and will hopefully get to it in early fall when it cools down some. Need to put a ceiling fan in and do some ceiling work at the same time and it is just too hot to be up in the attic right now.

kreed said...

Hooray for more Stevens tidbits! :) I am so glad Chris is going to visit again (maybe he is there right now?) - it is such a treat to have those special people around!

As two totally random asides...

You need to update me on your testing - did you get a definitive diagnosis? I am still hoping for good news for you.

Also, I have been turned on to this group through some friends http://bravegirlsclub.com/ and some of their crafty stuff has made me think of you...not sure exactly what they are all about, but their daily email updates make me smile - mostly because the little birdie pictures/crafts are so cool!

Debi said...

Amanda,
Both boys have been doing that for years, so I'm pretty much used to it. :P

Pat,
Nope, not a good mommy--I made that jam because *I* love it so much! :)

Kelly,
I'll second that! I hope we all can find some time to enjoy these remaining days of summer! You know as well as I just how quickly winter's going to arrive. :P

Megan,
Demented--maybe. But I'm not sure about the superhero part. :P And yes, the light shall remain on until you arrive. :D

Carl,
Hope you manage to get your painting done, too! And if you're in the mood for some milder temperatures, you can pop on up any time! :D

Kara,
You're so right--there's nothing quite as special as having friends you love with you! So when are you all coming? :D Actually, if moving doesn't screw things up, I really really really hope to get out to see you all next summer!!!

Carl V. Anderson said...

Be careful with your invitations! ;)

Debi said...

Carl,
Are you kidding? I totally meant it!!!

Keshalyi said...

*gasps* Oh blackberries! Oh how I miss you!