Lasso The Moon

Joyful

I've had this word on my heart all morning.

It's no wonder, with this happy Kitten at my side all day.

"My tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness." -- Psalm 51:14

"I shall joyfully sing of Your lovingkindness." -- Psalm 59:16

"My mouth offers praises with joyful lips." --  Psalm 63:5

"Shout joyfully to God." -- Psalm 66:1

"Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation." Psalm 95:1

"Shout joyfully before the King, the LORD." -- Psalm 98:6

"Come before Him with joyful singing." -- Psalm 100:2

"A joyful heart makes a cheerful face." -- Proverbs 15:1

"A joyful heart is good medicine." --Proverbs 17:22

After a long first week of school, we are really excited (even joyful!) about the long weekend ahead. 

Make a joyful noise this weekend!

****

Psst! Come on over to Lasso of Truth and read about how to become a Mighty Mom of Valor!

Old Rusty Sign

A couple months ago I was at a flea market with some friends, when I came across a huge rusty sign for $40.

I sent this photo from my phone to Donnie to see what he thought.

He sent me a text back that said "I love you more than life...do what you want." Or something similar that gave me the green light to bring it home.

It's pretty rusty and damaged on that one corner, but I LOVE the orange color.  I think my house needs more orange.

So I brought it home.  Or I should say, my friend Katie brought it home, carefully balancing on top of her SUV's back seats, and praying she didn't have to stop fast...the sign is about 4'x6'.  (Thanks, Katie! I'm so glad you got home safely!)

I hung it up in my dining room, on three huge picture hooks.  The wall is just a little bigger than the sign, so it's framed out nicely.

But when I hung it up, hundreds of rust flakes rained down on me, the carpet, and the dining room table.  So gross. I liked where it was, but in order to do it right, I was going to have to take it down and change some things up.  And paint that brown wall!  (I'm determined to eradicate the last tiny patch of that color from my house.  I'm sick of it!!)

I had about a gallon of paint left over from painting the  hallway, but that wasn't going to be enough.  I also don't like the idea of having a bunch of rooms in exactly the same color, but I do like it when they are close.  And I have a pretty small house, so the wall colors need to work well together.

I added a quart of "Granite Boulder" to my gallon of "Delicate Mist ".

It added just enough grey to the color. 

I'll call it "Delicate Boulder."

Bye bye, brown walls!

So much lighter and cooler.  We need all the cool we can get in TX, and with only a few (8) windows in our house, any extra light reflection is welcome, too.  Plus, isn't there just a great feeling when you change something in your house?  I need more of that feeling.

You can see the TORO sign is laying face down on the dining table.

Don't ever lay a rusty sign face down on your wood table without a thick layer of padding underneath.  I know...

I took the sign outside and set it face down in the grass.  I swept off the rust flakes on the back.  There was a lot of loose rust.  Then I assembled a few supplies.

1. A big cardboard box, cut open so it would lay flat on the back of the sign.  2. Duct tape. 3 Rustoleum matte clear spray sealer.

I sprayed the rusty back side of the side with the sealer, just to stick most of the rust where it was.  There was still some flaking in the end, but nothing like before.  If I wanted a perfect seal, I would have sprayed a couple layers of sealer, but in this case, imperfect was okay since I was about to cover it up.

Then I centered the flattened cardboard box on the back of the sign and duct taped it in place.  Again, this was not perfect.  The tape started to pull away in a couple places, but I pressed it back down.  The purpose of the cardboard was to keep most of the rust from rubbing onto my newly painted wall, so this would do exactly that.

Next, for the front of the sign.  It was a little bit nasty.  I had things on it like this spider nest.

And super-rusty flaking paint.  I didn't mind the look of the rust so much, but any flaking paint would be dangerous to have in the house.  Kids love to eat stuff like that.

So again, I swept the sign with a broom to get off the big flakes.  Then I sprayed sealer on the entire front of the sign.  One note about the sealer--it wasn't perfectly matte.  It darkened the orange paint and left a tiny bit of shine on the surface.  So keep that in mind if you use it for your project.  But it did the job well, and when I picked up the sign to take it inside, the powder coating didn't rub off on my hands like it had before.  I call that success.

Donnie helped me hang it up in the dining room.  He drilled a hole straight through the hole and into the wall.  Then he placed some drywall anchors and screwed the sign securely into them. 

 I like it.

There are lots of other projects calling out to me in this room.  The light fixture above the table has never made sense.  Why is it so high?  I have a couple ideas I'm throwing around for that, but if you think of one, send it my way!  The curtains are leftovers from the old house.  They worked better there.  And we need some new pillows for the couch.  And since this room has no storage (other than the very full trunk/coffee table), I'm going to have to get a little creative with that.  But this is an on-going process.  For now, I'm so happy just to have the sign up!

 linking to: SSS

First Day of School 2012

We officially started this project last year.  She holds up the picture frame on the first day of school, and we print the new photo to go in the frame.  I love seeing how she has changed in just three years!



This was easily the most difficult first day yet.  I can't believe how much I missed both of them.  Yet, they were full of smiles.  Is it too much to ask that you squeeze out even a single tear?!

Esther wore here own uniform to show solidarity.

"Mom...put the camera away!"

Ethan wasted no time getting work.

And Emma got settled right away. 

With all the commotion, it really wasn't that hard to leave.  We headed out, but I couldn't resist one more trip down the Kindergarten hall to check on my guy.

I think he's gonna be OK.

Lazy Sunday

Today is the last day of summer--or at least the last day of summer before school starts tomorrow.

I'm anxious, just like I am every year.  I missed Emma every day last year, and this year Ethan will be joining her.  His tender heart won't be protected by me all the time, the way I prefer it.  So I'm anxious, even though I know I don't have to be.

Phil 4:6 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."

I have a feeling I'm going to be making my requests known to Him late into the night tonight.  Maybe you'll join me?

::

It does seem that I'm the only one who seems to be anxious about tomorrow.  Check these two out.

Emma (7) and my baby brother Ben (15).  I'm the oldest of 6 kids, and he's the youngest--17 years younger than me!  I left home when he was only 4 years old, and it still kills me to think about it.  He was so adorable!  He used to wake me up in the morning and ask if he could snuggle in my bed for a little while.  So finding these two curled up on the couch pierced my heart with that memory.  I love it when he comes to spend time at our house.  I'd keep him if I could.

I hope you have a happy, restful, non-anxious end to your Sunday.  Maybe even a lazy one.  See you tomorrow.

--Anna

 

Working

Some scenes from the "studio" this week:

(My studio is usually my family room.)

It has been a while since the fabric shop (rope.etsy.com) was fully stocked.  I like to keep 300 items in the shop, or more, and it had dwindled down to about 225 before this update.

Here are some favorites I added this week.

Heart Beat

Mod Olive Patches

Of Moths and Mums

An entire selection of continuous 2-yard pieces.

Some great new multi-packs.

I know these funky vintage fabrics are inspiring some of my quilters and sewists out there.  So drop by the shop, and use the code "BLOGFAN" at checkout for 10% off your entire order!

ROPE.ETSY.COM

 

 

A Green Door

For almost 3 years, this has been the welcoming sight our front door offers us each time we come back home.

Actually, Donnie made those rustic shutters, and gave me that turquoise glazed pot next to the door for our last anniversary.  And I picked up those chairs at Ikea last year.  So I guess we've done a little bit to help the front. 

But that door! The color blends right in to the brick, and what is that color anyway?

I don't know what this color is called, somewhere in the putty family.  Like Silly Putty after it's been played with for days with grubby fingers.  We want to replace it someday with a pretty wood-grain option, probably with a window...but this week (only 2 days after Donnie left for Haiti) I couldn't stand the wait any longer. I had to make it prettier.

I chose colors for the door and the surrounding trim from Martha's line at Home Depot.  I had it mixed in Exterior Latex High Gloss.  I chose latex, because I'd have to shut the door that night, and couldn't wait for oil-based paint to dry. The grey is one shade lighter than we painted our shutters earlier this year.

I like the green a lot, and I wanted something that would work with the handmade ceramic house numbers I got Donnie for our anniversary last year.

I got them from Cirrelda on Etsy.  Not sure if they are still making them, but it's worth checking out.

I considered a dark teal/turquoise paint color, but thought that might be too many colors on the door and stuck with the green.

To prep the door, I removed the doorknob and deadbolt, sanded with coarse sandpaper and my palm sander, and primed with BIN primer.  (This is nasty stuff--really stinky and messy, but it covered well, primed perfectly, and dried super-fast.)  I also read this post by the Thrifty Decor Chick, which was really helpful. (That's one of my favorite sites for DIY home ideas.)

I used a 1 1/2-inch Purdy sash brush for the insets, and a trim roller for the flat sections.  It took about 3 coats to get the true color, waiting 3-4 hours in between.  (The 105-degree Texas heat really cut down my waiting time here!)

Here's a tip: Save your old bath mats and door mats for painting projects.  They make great drop cloths for small projects, and they don't wrinkle up and trip you while you're working.

You may wonder whether someone had my children out of the house while I was doing this project.  Uh, no.  Mostly they were inside trying to keep Esther away from the door.  Mostly, they were successful.

But not always.  She's totally neckid in the above photo, but I had to get the 2nd coat on right away, and she wouldn't let anyone else touch her.  Thank goodness the door was small and each coat only took a few minutes to complete.

Want to see it all finished?  First, let's look at the before, because I know you are hoping to see that old color one last time.

and...

What a huge difference a little paint makes!

So, what did Donnie think when he got back from his trip? He really like it.  He said he couldn't believe I'd done it, and finished everything. (Which has not always been my M.O.) I think the trick to making your spouse happy with any DIY project is just to finish it.  I put the numbers back on, the peephole back in, and reinstalled the door hardware just the way it had been before I started.  I packed away the paint and brushes, and didn't move on to another project before all the painting was finished. (And believe me, I was tempted!)  So by the time he saw it, there were no remnants of an ADD home-improvement job, just the improvement.

I asked him if we could make this work until we got to replace the door, and he said, "We don't even need to replace it now!"  Aw, thanks hon!

So, by the fourth day of Donnie's trip, I'd done two painting projects, and my brain still would not shut off from all the other things I wanted to do before he got home.  But you'll have to wait a little longer before you see those...

 

 Linking to: BNOtFP,

 

 

Galveston 2012 - pt 2

 The ferry to the mainland. 

Esther kept eating the bread we brought for the birds.

 

A real ice cream truck!

I had to get something with bubble gum eyes.

We explored an old fort-turned-park.  Esther was fearless.

Back on the ferry we spotted some dolphins!

Esther was just a tiny thing last time we went to the beach.  These are her first steps in the sand.

I think she liked it.

Building sandcastles

A couple tips for visiting Galveston in August:

::Stay away from the beach until about 3-4pm.  When the sun isn't so high, there is much less chance of sunburn.  And the light is gorgeous in the evening.

::Most people visit the West Beach, where all the restaurants are.  We like the East Beach.  There are fewer people, and the views are beautiful.

::Visit Murdoch's for some refreshment and great views. This was my favorite stop of the week.

::The ferry is free, and the kids love it!  Try not to throw bread so that it lands on the cars below.  Especially if there are people in those cars.  We know.

::Go during Shark Week (Discovery Channel).  Somehow, our beach trip always coincides with Shark Week.  We love it! (Our humor runs a little dark...) We spend the afternoons at the beach, grab some dinner, and then go back to learn about sharks facts, shark attacks, and shark myths.  We can't get enough.  Donnie and I even rented Jaws after the kids went to bed.

::Kites are really easy to fly on the beach.  We bought a real one--an easy flier--and it popped up in seconds.

::Last year we stayed at the Hilton, and this year we stayed at a little dive called the Beachcomber.  Honestly, I liked the dive just fine.  We saved some money. They had continental breakfast, free WiFi, washer/dryer, fridge and microwave in the room, and great air conditioner.  The Hilton nickled and dimed for everything, so this was kind of a relief.  But the Hilton's pool was way better.

Have you gotten away for some family time this summer?  Where did you go?  Do you have tips for traveling with little ones?

Galveston 2012 - pt 1

 

Ethan's first taste of shrimp

Kites

 

Amazing sunsets

Since Donnie is out of town for 4-5 weeks each summer, we try to get away for some family time as soon as he gets back from his last trip of the season.

We went to Galveston again this year, since we had such a great time last year. It's about 5 hours from Dallas, which seems like a long way--if you're not from Texas!  We're used to driving for hours and hours, and still being in the same state. 

Galveston makes a good destination for a couple of days.  The beaches have soft sand, and they're not over crowded this time of year.

 

Be Right Back

Took a quick detour to Galveston for a few days. (We have some summer list items to cross off while we're here!)

We'll catch up with news from Haiti, house projects, art classes, and more when we get back!

Painted Hallway

For the last 10 days, Donnie has been in Haiti.  Now that he's back, I know you want to hear all about his trip and how the baby dolls went over, but honestly, I don't even know yet!  Since he's been home we have been smothering him with attention and haven't let him get in more than a couple words in about his trip.  (Other than to tell us what he brought us.  He's a great gift-giver...)

So, until I'm ready to share about the mission trip, I thought I'd share a little of what's been going on around here while he was gone. 

Last time I showed you the hallway, it looked like this:

Honestly, the light brown color--that was on every wall of this house when we bought it--is not that bad.  But it was on every wall in our house.  And the carpet is the same color.  And it's been almost three years, and I've only repainted one room in the whole house.  It was time.

I've been planning to subtly change the tone of our home from warm neutrals (browns, tans, with red accents) to cool neutrals (grey, black, soft blues and greens). 

I've been looking at these paint chips and others like them since March!

I decided on "Delicate Mist" by Behr.

I taped off the trim, painted two coats of  "delicate mist", and rehung the row of photos before Donnie had even been gone 24 hours.  I get a little antsy when Donnie's out of town, and I don't sleep much--but I've learned how to make it work for me and get a few things done!  I'm awake anyway, right?

I know I need to get the new photos in those frames very soon.  I'm just afraid that going through our family pictures is going to bring up a new wave of photo album guilt, and I'm not sure I'm ready for it.  (I am very behind!)  I promise not to show you another shot of it until it's finished, though.

I couple things I learned while doing the hallway paint job:

1. Scotch blue is NOT my tape.  We have popcorn ceilings, and we are not getting rid of them any time soon, no matter how out-of-date they are.  The blue tape would not stick at all to the ceiling, and kept falling down.  So frustrating.  Never again.  From now on, it's all about the frog.

2. It is very difficult to keep a toddler out of the way while painting anything.  It is very difficult to keep a 5-year-old boy from testing the walls to see if they are dry yet.  But it can be done.  I did most of the painting while the baby was napping, and bribed the older kids with an ice cream trip.  Bingo.

The "baby cage" comes in handy now and again, too.

3.  Painting a wall or hallway does not do anything to satisfy the DIY spirit in me.  As soon as I was done, my brain was buzzing with ideas for the rest of the house.  Even the rest of the hallway didn't seem good enough for the fresh new color.  I could change out the door knobs, or spray them...add some trim to the game closet/hamper...maybe some handles on the hamper doors...  And that was only the hallway! 

Has that ever happened to you?  Is painting a room enough change (and hard work) or does it just serve to get the ball rolling?

I'll let you know where it led next.  Stay tuned.

****

Here are a couple other rooms I found, painted in the same color.  Notice how different it looks in different settings:

Source: houzz.com via Anna on Pinterest

 

 

Source: womansday.com via Anna on Pinterest

 

Here's the link to the original post about the photo wall:  Photo Wall in Progress