Done!

I just finished hanging the curtains in the bedroom. It's now all done! I wouldn't have made it before they got home, but the plane was delayed out of Medford, so I have another couple of hours to vacuum, sweep, dust, etc. I'm excited to see them, and I hope MJL likes his new bedroom! I think it's perfect.

I'll repost the before picture

And the after from the same angle

Close up of the curtains--with the light coming in from behind you can't really see the colors...but you can see how I matched the plaid! I love these.

And I even made a little light switch cover! You can see the curtain fabric better here. I think shadows are making it look lumpy, it looks better in real life to me...or maybe it's that you don't look at it so closely when just walking into the room and flipping on the light.There are a couple of things left to do. We have a bed coming from Overstock, so we won't be sleeping on mattresses on the floor anymore, and we've got to figure out a better system for CD storage. But mostly, it's all done! I can't believe how much I was able to do this week. I won't list it...then you'll know I'm crazy. I did rest some too! I read three books and tried to get to bed before 11:00 on all school nights. I even watched a couple of hours of TV!

It's just that I'm a little bit crazy.

I just finished painting the bathroom. There aren't any windows in there. Whew. I told myself that I wasn't going to have time to get to the bathroom, but then I just decided to try to do it anyway. I'm really tired now. I'll post some pictures when it dries and I get the plastic down. And when I recover from the paint fumes.

OK, I went downstairs and moved some things around and then carried a bookshelf upstairs and hung the curtain rods and cut the fabric for the curtains in the bedroom and then the paint was dry so I took everything down and put everything else back in and now I can post pictures. I'm still going to wait on the bedroom until I finish the curtains, which I am NOT going to do today.

I didn't take any before pictures. It was just like this only white.

Phooey. The color's not true in these pictures either. It's a nice greeny blue, called "Refreshing Pool" I thought the flamingos would like it.

Progress

I'm done with painting for the day. I've used one gallon, I'm at least half-way done, and I'm due at Katrina's house for dinner in less than an hour. I'm still having fun, but I'm more tired today, and I think it would be a little easier if I were a little taller. Today I listened to my wedding soundtrack and the Icthus worship tape. Lots of memories. I was surprised to discover I could still sing along to all of the Icthus songs, though I haven't heard them in...heavens... 8 years?

Here are pictures. I've finished the entryway, the north wall, the funny closet space, and half of the giant east wall. I've done the edges for the whole south wall too. Oh--Don't worry MJL, the color doesn't look quite the same in these pictures. It's not nearly so Big Birdy in real life. Until tomorrow!

Home Alone!

Matthew and Anna are off in Oregon, and I'm taking full advantage of the empty house to do lots of projects.

First, I made Anna a little sweatshirt before they left so that she'd be especially cute on the plane. My first appliqué. I cut up one of Abby's old sweaters and put a heart on a red sweatshirt. I was pleased.

On the first night, I saw my parents for a little bit and finished the star blanket I've been working on. But another baby was added to the tally (Congratulations Brandi!) and so I've got 5 gifts left on the list.
Yesterday I made a good start on the biggest project, painting my bedroom. I moved everything out, taped, washed the walls, and laid down most of the plastic. Then my family insisted that I take a break and see them for awhile, so Abby and I finished a little Valentine's fleece blanket and we had some pizza. Here's a before and "in progress" of the room.Oh, when I was at Home Depot buying paint, I saw some plate covers in a Clearance cart that I thought would look nice in the Paris bathroom, so I got them (super cheap!) and put them in too.
I'm having way too much fun. I'm using my old "Boom Box" that was the huge hit of 5th grade Christmas and listening to old tapes. I decided yesterday that, weird as I am, I really LOVE working.

The Prize

I finished mllr's prize yesterday, it should go out in the mail tomorrow. See, being brave has it's advantages. I used thread crochet to make a bookmark, and I think it's pretty, but it's huge. I crochet so big! I don't know what my problem is. I even downsize to a smaller hook to try to combat the problem, but it doesn't help much. This bookmark will be best used in some giant tome. At least it will be hard to lose? Here's a picture,

and with a book for reference.

I didn't think that I liked thread crochet at all when I made that snowflake, but since then I've made two other little projects with it, so maybe it's not so bad after all.

I'm still working on the star blanket, it seems like it's taking forever, but I only work on it while watching TV, and I don't do much of that.

At the moment I'm not sure what to start next. I have lots of items on my to-do list, but none are immediately exciting.

Scary Things

I started studying for the Quantitative portion of the GRE yesterday. Yikes. It's been 11 years since I sat down with a math book, and I had forgotten all about the panic and confusion and horrid horrid horrid combination of me and critical reasoning. Matthew and I are going to sit down together tonight and work some. I hope that helps. I was really excited to go to the Truck Stop and have pancakes and sit by each other to study just like in college, but it snowed, so we'll have to make do here at home. If I can get to the point where I can rationally read the question and think about it, it will be a big improvement. I'm sure that crying and picking answers at random is not my best option.

I also entered the Craftster "Craft Your Resolution" Challenge. I've wanted to enter a challenge forever, but been too shy and scared and uninspired. It was super scary to do, but all of the responses have been kind, and now that I'm over the first hurdle, maybe I'll participate more in the forum. Such nice kindred spirits there. If you're feeling kind, stop by and vote for me 2/6/08-2/12/08. You have to join Craftster to vote, but surely you want to do that anyway. Here's a nudge. Also feel free to vote for something other than mine. There are lots of amazing projects. I haven't decided which I'm voting for.

My blogger spell check doesn't work any more. Does anyone else have this problem? I hate not having it. Makes me feel intellectually naked. I like the protective blanket spell check provides.

Hamartia

I started studying in earnest for the GRE today. I know I'm a big nerd, but I'm having lots of fun. I did the verbal section today. Guess my weakness--not crazy vocabulary or tricky analogies...reading comprehension. So spending the last 8 years flying through novels and skimming the conflict to get to the happy ending DIDN'T help my brain? Rats!

Here's an analogy sample for you. I think they're the most fun. Remember to be Specific. That's usually what trips me up.

Electricity : Wire

a. fluid : pipe
b. car : highway
c. river : bank
d. light : bulb
e. music : instrument

Reel : Tape

a. ball : string
b. turntable : record
c. tire : wheel
d. skein : yarn
e. spool : thread

Cut : Laceration

a. park : place
b. slit : gap
c. knife : separation
d. hole : puncture
e. boil : blister

Back to work! Answers tomorrowish.