Mellow Yellow Monday!

Ugh!

Well the other day I was thinking how healthy I have been most of this winter.  I totally jinxed myself!  I woke up with a headache, runny nose, sneezes, and sore throat.  I'll be resting tomorrow to get ready for the week.  Unfortunately I have an appointment with the kitchen designer at noon that I can't cancel.  On the upside of that situation we have figured out a plan!  YAY!  Once I get the layout from the designer I'll update over at the other blog.  I do have some other updates and my version of the kitchen.  I'll post that today.

Peace!

Kitchen Design 101

The kitchen design for 40 M is driving me crazy!  I never realized how complicated and difficult it would be to create a kitchen from scratch!  I've never done this before so maybe my lack of experience is contributing to the difficulties. When we bought our home the kitchen design was in place or at least we didn't have much say in the design other than style of cabinets.   We have had so many options thrown at us with the 40 M project that my head is spinning.  My latest idea is to move the fridge over into the eat in section of the kitchen and enclose it with a wall.  This will free up counter space and enable the dishwasher to be placed next to the sink.  It will also allow for additional upper and lower cabinets. Looking at the photos below we would be eliminating the thin cabinets directly to the right of the door and then moving the fridge and upper cabinet to the right end of that wall.  I think we would enclose the fridge in a wall and create a vestibule type space as you enter into the kitchen.  We'd move the sink back under the window put upper cabinets to the left of the window and the dishwasher to the left of the sink.  Rather than having a large island I think we'll create a breakfast bar coming out of the wall near the oven.  We are going to draw it out in chalk over at the house tomorrow.  We'll see what happens.  I have a meeting with our designer scheduled for Monday at noon.  Hopefully we will finalize the design and move forward.

Peace!

Oh My Beautiful Tree

We had a decent sized storm roll through last night and it dumped a good 7 inches of very wet snow on top of an icy undercoat.  The electricity went off sporadically last night and sometime in the wee hours of the morning I heard a loud cracking sound.  In my sleep induced haze I thought it was snow sliding off of the roof.  After sleeping in due to a snow day I awoke to the news that my favorite tree had succumbed to the weight of the heavy wet snow.  We actually had damage to several trees on the property but the worse was to the beautiful maple that has stood next to our driveway for the last 19 years!  I feel so sad to see it so damaged. I'm hoping that it will pull through this damage and that we might see some regrowth, but I am unsure.

Beautiful Maple

Devastating Break

Cracked Limb

Simple Woman's Daybook Week 4

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...I see the dawn breaking. 



I am thinking...that  it would be nice if the snow forecasted for this afternoon and tonight actually ended up giving us a snow day.  Unless a snow day is involved I'm all set with the snow!



I am thankful for...family and friends and a good life.



From the kitchen...I have plans to make a lemon ricotta cake for a coworkers birthday celebration at work tomorrow.  If we happen to have a snow day I'll pop the cake into the freezer until next Tuesday.  She was hoping for strawberry shortcake but this is not the season for such things.  I hope she'll like the lemon cake.  



I am wearing...many layers!  It has been very cold here during the last week and my classroom at school  yesterday was very chilly!  So I have cozy corduroys in gray, a black turtleneck, a black knit open front sweater and my black vest.  For a pop of color I have a teal wool scarf around my neck.  I hope I'll be warm enough.



I am creating...a new photo journal.  I've posted my first pages already and am going to work on my next page.  If tomorrow is a snow day I'll get a lot done.  I plan on collaging on the page first and then using some of n's writing and pictures of both of my children.  I am also making melted wax prints to use on cards for a parent at school.  She complimented me on the cards I gave the directors last year so I thought a set of cards would be a great thank you gift.  She did an enormous amount of work for our school before the licenser came to observe us last week.  I hope she enjoys the cards. 



I am going...to finally cut the pineapple that has been sitting in my kitchen for several days.  I hope it is ok.



I am reading...online professional development.  It is interesting and will provide me with all the hours I need.  



I am hoping...that the windows are delivered today over at 40 M.  We received another call last night from the delivery company.  Not sure what that was all about.  We'll see what happens.  



I am hearing...the drone of Sponge Bob on TV and the click, click, click of my keyboard. 



Around the house...I see much work to be done.  There never seems to be enough time to keep things as tidy as I'd like.  



One of my favorite things...is to relax and spend time in my home.  



A few plans for the rest of the week:  baking, creating, ironing, cleaning.S



Here are two pictures I am sharing..

Input...

We're looking for some input on our kitchen design.  Head over to Restoring the House That Built Me if you are interesting in sharing your insights.  

Thanks and Peace!

Mellow Yellow Monday!

A Good Day

Today was the perfect Sunday.  I spent the entire day at home.  Spent time playing games with the children, cleaning and organizing my desk and book shelf and scanning photos onto my computer.  I did umpteen loads of laundry, tended the fire, worked on some professional development and uploaded photos to my FB.

The temperature is extremely cold and we are participating in the freeze your buns off challenge so our thermostat does not go above 62.  Typically it stays on 58.  With the cold air outside infiltrating every nook and cranny of our home the 60 degree temps inside feel much colder.  As I type this my hands are freezing.  I think I'll go sit by the fire for a few minutes in order to warm up!

Back to school tomorrow.  Another storm will be heading our way this week.  Wonder if a snow day is in store for us this week.

Hope you are staying warm in your neck of the woods!

Peace!

SAS week 1 (and 2)

I completed my initial page and first week photo page for my year long photo challenge.  It was a very enjoyable way to stretch my creative muscles!

Peace!

Time at 40 M...

During our time over at 40 M today we met with the electrician. He was running late and I was a little annoyed. In my mind I was thinking that his tardiness could be telling of his work ethic etc,. etc. Anyway he finally arrived and walked into the home. One look at him changed my mind. He has my Dad's eyes and nose! So strange. I was transfixed! I couldn't stop looking at his eyes. Finally as the meeting went on we were talking about liability and I looked at him and told him that I wasn't worried because he has my fathers eyes! He looked at me quizzically and of coarse I started to cry. R explained and our new electrician gave me a hug. Turns out he and his wife have both lost their Dad's in the past two years and she just lost her Mom in the last month. Isn't it interesting how people come into your life. Anyway, R will be picking up the materials for the electrical work to begin and Jm will be starting next week. We are on our way!

For a more in depth update on this weeks progress jump right over to The House That Built Me.

Peace!

Friday Fill Ins!

And...here we go! 

1. So many of us are struggling in this country right now that I wonder how we will ever come out of this economic time.

2. Keep the faith,  stay the course and surround your self with love  even in hardship.

3. Those who are accepting of of the differences of others can lead the world to a brighter future.

4. Peace is waiting quietly.  If only we would stop and notice.

5. Light is in both the eye of the beholder and the heart of the individual.  Let there be light that surrounds us all!

6. I am so grateful for  all that is ordinary.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to Star Wars with N, tomorrow my plans include creating wings for n's toga costume and creating some wax prints and Sunday, I want to take some photos of the progress over at 40 M!


Peace!

Check It Off The List

Well we made it though the licensor's visit.  Thank goodness that is over!  Surprisingly she didn't stay the entire day.  I think she wanted to check us off the list too.  She visited in our class for a very short amount of time.  Our class is small in size so perhaps that is why she didn't stay long.  During the brief time she observed us the children were very settled and engaged in their play.  She did look around the room and opened up the drawers by the sink.   She noticed our curriculum on the bulletin board and seemed to enjoy observing the students.  It was a relief when she left our room and then left the building before lunch time.

On another subject we were expecting the windows to be delivered to 40 M today but there was a problem.  It seemed that our windows were packed in the truck behind an 80 piece order that had been cancelled.  So the truck showed up at the house but they couldn't get our windows out from behind the other order!  Crazy is all I can say.  J our main man told R that they weren't delivered for a reason.  (everything happens for a reason philosophy)  So hopefully they will come on Saturday.  We'll see what happens.  I'll post another update on the other blog over the weekend.

Well another storm is bearing down on us tonight into tomorrow.  I think we should get about 6" out of this storm.  Maybe a snow day?

Peace!

Moving Forward....

So I received my photos in the mail today!  I can't wait to work with them this weekend.  It's funny how they always seem to look better to me on the computer than when I get them printed.  Maybe I should go back to glossy rather than matte finish on my photos.

Tomorrow we will finally get through the visit from our licensing agency at school.  I can't wait to be done with that process.

Now I am going to sit back and relax and watch the new version of American Idol.

Peace!

Simple Woman's Daybook Week 3

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...I see the rainy night.



I am thinking...that I will be happy when this week is over.  Big doings at work this week.  We're ready and up for the challenge but it will be nice to have the anticipation taken out of the equations. 



I am thankful for...my wonderful children who amaze me on a daily basis!



From the kitchen...I have bananas crying out to be mashed and turned into banana bread, pork roast ready for final preparations for tomorrow's dinner and a few bites of anise tea cookies on the counter.  



I am wearing...my school clothes still!  I should be in my cozy PJ's but my back is giving me trouble and I don't want to make the trek upstairs until I'm ready for bed.  So back to the question at hand...I have dark tan khakis, a white button up shirt and a red boiled wool zip up cardigan. Oh I also have on my toasty slippers.



I am creating...a new photo journal.  I've posted about this already and am happy to say that I picked up a 60 page multi media spiral bound art book at Michaels over the weekend.  It was more $ than I would typically spend on myself, but I am happy I took the plunge.  I have a dozen or so photos printing via Winkflash that will be here by the end of the week.  I can't wait to arrange them in my book and do some old fashioned writing!  Love they typing in my online journals but I can't wait to put pen to paper!  I'll scan my page and post it on my blog, hopefully early next week!  



I am going...to attend N's student of the month ceremony at his middle school tomorrow.  I am so lucky to be able to go into work late to attend this very special ceremony.  It will be a surprise to him and I know he will be so proud of himself.  I know that I am very proud of all of his efforts in school.  It is exciting to be able to share his success with his first teachers at my school.  They are proud of him too. 



I am reading...well not much right now.  I am hoping to be reading some educational professional development online but have yet to receive the user name and password.  I'm a little frustrated as the company has my $100 and I have nothing as of yet.  



I am hoping...that we get a snow storm on Thursday into Friday.  One of the families said they heard we might get 6 inches.  I love snow days.  I have Friday off but would love to have a snow day with my children.  That is the best part of this time of year.



I am hearing...the drip, drip, drip of the rain coming down the rainspout.  Brrrrrr cold rain. The sound of N's pages turning also serves as a back drop as I type not to mention the audio of NCIS playing on TV. 



Around the house...I see stuff everywhere!  I had the house cleaned yesterday but now you would never know that I picked up anything!



One of my favorite things...is to create and to contemplate creativity.  



A few plans for the rest of the week: Student of the Month, working on n's toga costume, visit at work from licenser and then some well deserved relaxation on Friday.  Should be a busy but good week.



Here are two pictures I am sharing..

New Updates

Check out the updates on my other blog.  We've made substantial progress this week.  Yay!

Peace!

Oh boy!

Listening to 'n' and her new neighborhood friend talking at the kitchen table.  'm' has been here since 2:30 and I am ready for her to go home.  They have a very curious dynamic.  Loud, abrasive and argumentative would certainly describe all that I have heard this afternoon.

Oh the joys!

Mellow Yellow Monday!

Random yellow pictures:  old and new.

Stretching

Well I was able to stretch my creative muscles today, if only for a brief amount of time.  I spent a bit over an hour at 40 M taking photos of the latest progress.  You can check out those pics over at my other blog, The House That Built Me.  I also snuck in a few moments to take some other shots.  I love finding beauty where you least suspect it to be.