Aaaahhhh.... summer....

Finally summer has arrived in Portland. Of course it came in with triple digits, I think we topped out at 103 degrees. Much too warm for this pregnant lady, but now it is pleasant with highs in the upper 80's. We have been dining most evenings in the back yard. We have a wonderful back yard that I have managed to over-landscape, but it's lush and green and a great sanctuary to relax in. I found some cushions for my yard-sale-find wicker set....



Attractive outdoor cushions were almost impossible to find this time of year. Every store was closing them out and what was left was either really ugly or not the right size. The chairs are 20" wide which apparently is 2" wider than a standard chair cushion. So I started looking at 20" square floor cushions and found these babies at Crate and Barrel. The blue cushions and pillows are sunbrella and repel water really well. I accidentally let them have it with the spinkler and no harm done. The green cushion on the setee is not and neither are the little multi-stripe pillows, but everything looked so good together, I just went for it. Crate and Barrel was having a really good sale.

Here's another look at the color in my living room...

I like it more every day. The flowers are from the spouse for our 8 year anniversary.

Check one off the list!

I think we have sold the climbing wall!!! Someone is coming by tomorrow with the payment. As soon as they pick it up, the way is clear to start on the basement.... now if our contractor would just get moving.

Still painting... and basement-ing...

In the previous pictures of my living room, there is still some peach paint on the fireplace surround. That peach color combined with the yellowed-white trim made everything look dingy. I painted over the last of the peach this morning! It looks all fresh and tidy now. It's amazing how dirty a house gets just by living in it. I don't consider myself a poor housekeeper, but I'm amazed at the build-up that accumulates on the floorboards and in the corners of the trim. Yuck! What wouldn't wash off has now been painted over in white. I still need to paint the inside of the shelves (robins egg on the back with white shelves), but I'll save that for this weekend, I think.
We have finalized the plans on the basement and are awaiting a bid and start date. I can hardly wait!!!! I am now at 27 weeks, so that leaves 13 weeks to do the basement, paint Elsie's new room and get her moved in. We also want to do a little redecorating in the nursery (changing the hot pink to robins egg), but the little man won't be in there until he's 3 months, so we have a some time. I am getting impatient, however. I am not good at waiting.
We have one other large item to sell out of the basement- the Climbing Wall. We are asking $475 and the plywood with screwholes comes with it as well as 130 holds and a finger board. If you know anyone in Portland who wants it send them my way....

What a week!

I now have the most gorgeous living room! My wonderful parents helped me paint the whole thing. It went from this....


to this...

... shortly after this photo was taken our darling cats knocked over the beautiful bouquet of flowers spilling water everywhere.

There is still a little more work to be done on the mantel, but it is so much better than that strange yellow that had been there for 10 years. Finally every room in our house has been painted!
On Thursday morning we were getting ready to paint the hall and were going to run a quick errand downtown. We were sitting at a stop light and were rear ended! I spent a couple of hours getting the van to the repair shop and picking up a rental car. Then I talked to my doctor who sent me to the hospital for 6 hours of monitoring! Everything is just fine with the baby- no damage at all. He wasn't moving around too much after the accident, but he really is more of a nocturnal guy. I came home a little after 8pm to find that my wonderful Dad had painted the entire hallway himself while Mom kept Miss Elsie occupied. I was a little disappointed that this was the last day that my parents were in town, and I didn't get to spend it with them. Miss Elsie and I are planning a trip to the farm soon.
Here is a pic of our littlest painter...

On the road to recovery... and Happy Father's Day

I'm finally pulling out of this miserable cold. I really dislike the whole concept of the summer cold. Just when you are wanting to be outside in the garden and doing things around the house, it takes the wind out of your sails. All you can do is sit on the couch with your box of tissues and look at all the things you want to do outside.... which just makes you more miserable.
I managed to pull myself together yesterday and accompany the spouse to the Laurelhurst Neighborhood Garage Sale. Dave wanted to do this as his Father's Day event. This is a huge sale here in Portland that happens once a year. The neighborhood association prints out maps too! Although I didn't make it very long... due to still needing to rest from the cold... and still being tired from the pregnancy on top of it... we did score! I've been wanting some loungy furniture for the back patio. All we currently have is a 50's style round metal table and matching "bouncy" chairs. Not really a good spot for lounging with that drink... or bottle of wine for an entire evening. So we found this 4-piece set of wicker for $100!

It is not properly installed on the patio yet, but you can see the pieces. I can't wait to make some pillows and add some quilts.
We also found an old trestle school desk which will work well in the basement for Dave's letter press for only $10!!! For now it is in the garage, so I couldn't get a picture of it. But it is very heavy and very sturdy.
My parents are on their way to our house today for a visit and to help with some house projects, so the blog may be a big quiet this week. We are hoping to paint the living room among other things. Miss Elsie is so excited to have her Nana and Papa here and is already making plans.
And to all the fathers out there... Happy Father's Day! Especially to my dad (who is loading his tool box and paint clothes in the car as I type this) and to my wonderful husband, David (who is currently being awakened by his daughter 1 hour too early).

Summer cold

I am trapped in another cold. I felt terrible for the past two days and did nothing. Fortunately Miss Elsie has been very cooperative, and I was able to nap yesterday while she did. Today I'm feeling much better and am able to resume my knitting project. I'm attempting my first sweater. It will be a wrap sweater that ties with a ribbon for Elsie... and it is pink... what other color would it be. She picked out the yarn herself. I will post pictures as the progress continues.

Back Tack Arrived!

I received two darling bunnies from Sharon... and some maple candy!!!! I love maple candy, and so does the spouse, so we may have to hide this. Thank you, Sharon! Elsie loves her wee, wee bunny and has already requested to nap with it. The littlest bunny is about 4 inches high... very tiny.
The pictures are a bit dark, but it is overcast and rainy again in Portland. Maybe when we have a sunny day, we will take them in the back yard and take some more pictures.

Rose Festival and a quiet weekend

Since Miss Elsie and I are both sick, we were not up to much this weekend. Our big outing was to the Grand Floral Parade downtown. Rose Festival started two weeks ago and there have been events going on all the time, but the parade is the biggie. Elsie loves a parade and spent most of the time on her daddy's shoulders...

Here are some highlights...
... these ladies came all the way from China...



... Mexican riders from the Los Charros riding group.... check out the saddles!

Back Tack Done!

The Back Tack Kitty is finished and on her way to her new owner. Whew! I don't know why I put things off. The project itselft didn't take long to complete, but between being tired from the pregnancy and having tendonitis in one wrist, it seemed to be more challenging. So this morning, I put "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" into the computer and let it putter along as I finished it up. I think she turned out really well, and I feel like I'm crossing things off my "To Do" list. Also, Back Tack III made me do a crafty project which I absolutely enjoy. I think some special people will be receiving their own kitties this year. Here's a peek:

Also this week, I received this fabulous enamel jewelry assortment from eBay. (How I love that site!!!)

One of the earring sets is still on its original card! I'm hoping to make some tote bags/purse things for the summer and thought these enamel pins would dress things up a bit.

Great Grandma's Sewing Basket

My blog posting has become more and more infrequent unfortunately. I am so tired and spend most of the afternoons in a state of half-sleep with Miss Elsie circling the walls and bringing me "things". Usually the things are extra spoons, hair combs, toys, or the occasional item from the refridgerator. So that leaves only my mornings when I'm alert enough to do things. That said... this morning, I finally moved into my Great Grandma's Sewing Basket that I have had for several years and just never used....

I have put my knitting supplies inside and my assortment of UFO's....

Now I need to make a needle holder because they get all jumbled inside... especially with Elsie "checking on them" every half hour or so.
I never knew my Great Grandmother Mary. My dad remembers her always knitting even while she was visiting or hosting people in her home. Her son, my grandfather, could sew and darn socks like nobody else I've ever seen (he thought darning eggs were the most interesting things), but neither of my grandmothers knitted or crocheted. So I didn't have anyone in my family who could teach me. Fortunately I bought a good book and have many friends that do both, so it was not too difficult to learn. It's nice to be able to use the old sewing basket for something that the original owner would have approved of.