Table Project

Last night, I spent about an hour going through family photos in order to find a picture of...a table.

I came close dozens of times, but for all the decades--six--this particular table has been in our family, it has managed to elude my camera pretty well.

In the 60s, counter space was at a premium in my parents' little ranch home.  One day, my father brought home a counter height butcher block table for my mom.  Brand new, he spent all of $5 on it.

In May of 1969, our family moved across town, and that table was cut down and used in our family room, first in that house and then in our Naperville house.  Purpose served from 1969 to 2001, family room end table. In all the years our dog Schnapps was around, he hid under it during every thunderstorm and 4th of July.   In 1988 though, my car loving boy took over that table, and while it still held a lamp and magazines, it also became his "carsandtrucks" table.  He played on it for hours a day.

When my father died and we sold the house, Mac and I got the table which we used as an end table in our condo.  See it there at the end of the couch? (This photo was snapped only weeks after moving in because those blinds went soon after!  I can't help but dig the treadmill in the living room...eek!)

I married Brad in 2007, and the table was then used in Mac's ISU rental house and NIU apartment.  It resided as a coffee table for three grad students in Baton Rouge for two years, and just this month it returned to Illinois in a stinky rental truck.  Water stained and marred, I was itching to glue the top,  which had been split for about ten years, and then refinish it.

Needing some big clamps, We took it to our friend Walt's house, put it up on his workshop bench and saw much more damage and some flaws we'd missed.  Since it now belongs to Mac, he has opted to shed its mismatched and falling apart legs and frame.

Frame--a mystery wood when compared with the top.

With Walt's help, and a little of mine, he has decided to salvage the top and find a table redesign for it.  They biscuited the top back together, then they sanded, and sanded some more. (I helped a bit.)

Not an after, but a "so far" picture.  

Once a design is chosen, supplies are purchased, and time is set aside to work, it will become a table again. 

As I composed this post, I was reminded of Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree.  This table has served us--from my mom through Mac--well, and it remains important, even in its yet to be repurposed form.  Mac might not like the expression of this, but it is my hope another child races cars across it.  In time.

Purse Style Saturday

Yesterday, I mentioned feeling the need for, as one commenter phrased it,  a "bloggy sabbatical."  Looking ahead to May is done with overwhelming joy.  Life will be busier and good, but it just seems like there won't be enough time. I also recognize it will fly by, the end of the school year and special times always do. 

I sit here on this Saturday morning with a doable to do list (it is still April after all), and my husband sleeps after a late work night, so I need to be quiet.  The perfect time to blog!

Add to that, Dani posted her Shoe Style Saturday nice and early which gives me a chance to connect to her...

Mac graduates with a Masters in Library and Information Science from LSU in a few weeks.  We are going.  Our budget is beyond tight, but Mac wants us both there and Brad thinks it is essential we go.  This is the first time Mac has  expressed his hope we do something extravagant for him, so I had to comply.  He grew up with a single mom who happened to be a teacher, so he was always conservative.  What a blessing that young man has been to me!

The good thing about going to Louisiana in May is that it will should be hot!  His undergrad was also in May but there was a windchill in northern Illinois that day.

I plan to wear this dress...

with these five-year-old Steve Madden Mary Janes...

But what purse?  I couldn't find one last year when I wore the dress to a wedding shower.  I have been looking for a while in stores, but any blue was too matchy-matchy or just wrong, and any red was too much red.  Last night, Brad was on the MLS looking for houses for a client, and I sat here keeping him company and looking on-line.  Finally Etsy occurred to me, and I found this within two minutes:

Summery, navy but not matchy-matchy, and an anchor for my married name (Seaman).  Perfect for a hot day in May!  Tori's clutches are all striking, but this one seemed just right!

I'll be a little bummed if unseasonably cool comes to town when we're there to celebrate! 

And I will say, I am simply thankful to start a quiet Saturday with this totally fluffy post. It's been a shockingly weird and draining week, and "lite" is what I needed.  Thank you God for simple pleasures!

Shoe Style Saturday

Keeps Me Movtivated Monday

A simple post about what gets me going...

Chocolate keeps one slender (this article was in Time, but it was all over the 'Net too.)

The most motivating exercise tool I've used.  It's pushing me.  A dollar goes in the jar for every exercise session.  (I really do avoid the term "working out" as I am such a lazy gal.)  It's like a big check mark for "Done!"  Have no idea on what or when I will spend it, but that's okay.

What's moving you?

Makes My Monday

This weekend was nearly perfect. The weather had a lot to do with it, there is no denying that.  But it was good in other ways too.  It was full of simple pleasures.

On Saturday, Brad and I took our first bike ride of the season, we stopped for lunch, and then we rode through the neighborhoods for well over an hour. 

After we returned home, we got in the truck and ran errands.  I bought a hula hoop--not weighted, I'm going to start slow and whittle my waist.  I'm intrigued by the weighted hoop workouts, but I have to learn more about them. 

Girlie, eh?  

We went to TJ Maxx to buy a glass pitcher, Brad has broken our iced tea pitcher, but instead I bought some unmentionables (CK on clearance!), exercise bands, and Brad made me buy a sweater.  Does your husband hate shopping?  Mine DOES NOT, and I have to beg him to leave the store.  He would have grabbed a cart and loaded it with spring items for me.  Alas, not in the budget.

I did buy a cool new reusable shopping bag.  That's all that's getting shared.

We stopped in at Michael's, and Brad selected little Easter gifts for many of his grandkids. He's a thoughtful grampa.

Dinner that night was Pinterest inspired--a no carb cheese and spinach egg casserole.  So good, and I made it all myself--I don't cook much, so this was a little victory.  (It made a great breakfast on Sunday too.)

Then we went to our friends' house for a backyard bonfire, good conversation, and a Mike's margarita--or two.  It's March people, and a hoodie kept me warm for hours!

What a delight filled day.  Brad is my very best friend, time like these are to be treasured.

Sunday Brad had to show houses, so I picked up our yard a bit, clipped some dead plants, and made some signs...

The grounds crew tends to pull things that aren't builder approved, so these signs went out last fall and again this spring to protect our perennials. I write them in English and in Spanish, just in case.  This sign, protecting our sedum, made it through the winter, too!

Speaking of perennials, I forgot I planted some iris last summer, and my pansies didn't totally die off due to the mild winter.  Tender surprises waiting to bloom.  (I'm quite the forgetful gardener.)

I spent some time reading on our little patio.  Savoring this bit of summer in March.

Lastly, keeping myself accountable, I checked in with my Pennsylvania partner.  I exercised beyond the bike ride, and I've decided to put a dollar in a jar each time I work toward my goals.  Not sure what we'll spend it on, but I'm hoping to do this for a few months.  June 1st is my date for my first goal--when I make it, I'll share it, but not before then.

Forgive the diary like post, I wanted to document some things that bring me happiness.

Admission

 

I admit I stole this off pinterest.  My friend Kimberly's board to be specific.

I do admit, also, that I visit pinterest from time to time.

It IS fun to see what my friends have pinned.  Recipes, good thoughts, books...

I twice considered joining pinterest, but then I realized I spend too much time here (in this chair, at this desk, and on-line).

I decided not to, twice.

What really turned me off to pinterest though was the board collection of someone I am acquainted with.

She is an unhappy woman--this I know from real life.

Her boards have over 2000 pins of what she wants, what she doesn't have, and what she thinks she's missing.  

I hope I could not pin that much "stuff," because really I have what I want.  

Jesus.

A man who cherishes me.

Friends.

Food at every meal.

Warm clothing and a warm home.

Work that challenges me.

When my life unfolds, even the trials cause me to know

I am truly blessed.

I am rich.

If I could talk to this younger woman, I would advise her to pin less, and appreciate more.  She too is blessed in ways that many people only pray they would be.

Her "less," well, it's really much, much more.

So far this week...

     This week has been filled with wonderful pleasures, simple pleasures.
     Saturday was a good day. After returning home from a lunch out (rare treat) and errands with Brad, I got the biggest surprise in the mail.  My Cali friend Agnes sent me these:

      The little card says, "Thinking of you," and inside she wrote a sweet little message.  I went on-line and learned a number of spas in this area accept these, but I've decided to take some time choosing where to go and what to have done.  The anticipation is going to make this gift even better!  (Hard to believe that's possible!)
      On Saturday night after a great church service, I finished the part of the now dubbed lavender  "Ramen noodle" scarf that I was able to do on my own.  Here are Brad's helpful hands attempting to unknot and untwist this annoying, but pretty, yarn.  It just twists like crazy.

     Megan, my knitting sensei is going to direct me in finishing it off on Friday afternoon.  There's a ruffle thing, and the directions were about as clear as trigonometry to me.  Brenda has agreed to meet me for lunch at a restaurant near a yarn store when she's in town, which means she is taking me seriously when I say, "If you won't wear it, you have to tell me."  I'd rather have her have something she'd use to death than this little thing!  We'll pick out a still pretty but easier to work with yarn for something new...
     On Sunday, Brad was out and I puttered around the house and planted these:

     Ah, little seeds, germinate!  Then in a number of weeks, when all the whiteness is gone, I'll plant you here:

     Yep, that's our backyard mulched area!  Some grass is peeking through in some areas, but not there.  I took a walk shortly after taking this picture, and also saw some waist high snow.  A thaw, but not THE thaw!
     And then...only two and a half months since purchasing it.  I took this out of its box.  That's about as far as I got before I was plagued by Home Ec. nightmares and decided to take a nap.

     Gotta figure out how to use it, all of my March projects require it!  That's setting the bar high, eh?  Lots of straight seams planned, keeping it easy.   Anyway, there it sits.
     Monday, aka Valentine's Day, found me enjoying my class party and anticipating drinking this once ice cold...

...imported from Mexico Coca-Cola.  Glass bottle and real sugar (not corn syrup) make for one refreshing and rare treat.  And it reminds me of my Mexico mission trips.  All very good stuff!  Thanks to my teammate and friend Betsy.
     The only downside to this week so far was the ear infection that kept me out of school yesterday.  If I were to make a thankful list right now, and I think I will, I would be thankful for doctors, antibiotics, and a very caring husband who drove me to said doctors' office, went to CVS to pick up the drugs, and took sweet care of me all day.
     While I haven't touched the sewing machine since Sunday's unboxing, I did knit two little American Girl Doll scarves at the request of one of my classroom mom helpers.  I even taught myself how to cast on and bind off.  Megan's casting on is tidier, but for my first solo attempt I did okay. (Thanks to YouTube...) Now if I could just figure out what to do with the little errant loop on each scarf, I'd be all set!

     And the Cabbage Patch Doll?  Well, I use him as my size model, and since I was home needing to relax, I asked Brad (who did actually get much work done yesterday whilst catering to me) to wash his head (a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser did wonders) and then I dressed him in his original outfit.  Just seemed wrong to wrap a wild, girlie scarf around his 80s corduroy suit for this picture.
     Remember, I did say simple pleasures!

     How has your week been so far?

    

Friday Follow Ups to Random Mentions

• Mac has moved (from one side of his Baton Rouge apartment complex to the other), and all is well.  Two of the four robbers have been arrested, but not the guy who held the gun.  By the way, if I ever mistakenly type Baton Rogue, just pretend it's a play on words...
• I decided to bring my "lunch box" to school to use for a writer's toolbox.  We have a great new writing program that uses trade books to model writing, and so we're storing the books we've shared so far in the box.  The kids think it's so cool!   

• "Trespassers Will" is from the original Winnie-the-Pooh.  Piglet lives in a tree that's next to a sign "Trespassers W," which is short for "Trespasser Will," which is then short for Trespassers William--whom he assumes is a relation of his.  I can't remember the names of people I encounter daily, but a random Pooh reference, no problem.

• So many of you have written about some of the comments I have made over the past few days.  Really, I'm okay.  I will always take your prayers, but I'm fine.  We're just waiting for Brad's business to kick in. It was hard to decide to not travel at T-giving.  I am battling being tired, but the fatigue is a just because I work a lot.  Like you do.  No worries. Okay?

•  I go so many hits for this silly ol' wreath post yesterday.  Your compliments made me feel like a Real Live Martha Stewart!  You should know this, true confession time...I was going to make a candy corn wreath, but I keep eating the candy, so paper corn it had to be.
• Could it be I'm so tired from the ridiculous sugar highs then lows I subject myself to?  Vitamin taking going well, five days straight now.  That's quite the run for me.  A wuss of a record, but still a personal best.
• Weekend plans?  Baking all day Saturday--working on my evil plan to take over the world by bringing back the bundt!  Birthday party on Sunday!  Whoo hoo, mine!

Friend Friday

     My schedule this summer has been light, but still, each day there is something I have to do or someone I've made a date to hang out with.  Today is an exception, I woke with nothing to do but exercise (I never refer to it as working out because then I'd have to work harder).
     Last night, I cleaned our hall closet.  It's used mostly for office supplies.  I went through some birthday cards, and I picked out one for my blog friend Agnes's daughter Ashley in California.  She's going to be six on the third.  I earmarked some for Brad's next two grandkid birthdays (I'm his birthday secretary), too.  And I organized my note cards.  Doing so made me want to use them. I always school my students on the gift of writing, on the power of words, but except for leaving (many) facebook and blog comments, I don't share enough of my heart with my friends.
  So I went to bed knowing I'd write some love notes today.  Did I get carried away?

     The written word does have power.  I feel just plain ol' happy for starting my day this way.  I hope the recipients feel a little bit of that when they open their mailboxes come, oh, Monday and see a non-bill inside.
     Thanks for stopping by. I always hope these little posts have power of their own. It's why I share them.

Sweet Photo Friday

While looking through old photos to find the one of my parents that I used yesterday, I came across this one.  I don't remember ever seeing it before.  

I love it. 

I miss you Mom.
Wasn't she patient for dealing with my unruly curls?