Lasso The Moon

Teaching Kids about Money and Giving

It's almost here! Are you ready?  This year is almost over, and a new one is waiting just around the corner!  I think this might be my favorite time of year.  I love the hustle and excitement of Christmas, but I REALLY love coming down from the height of the season to the clean slate of the New Year.  Like landing on fresh powder.

Our holidays were wonderful, and I'm overflowing with thankfulness.

Since we are homeschooling this year, we were able to take a full three weeks off and really soak in the restfulness.  Well, sort of.  We went to 14 parties in 30 days...but in between, we had some REST.  At least we weren't trying to fit in spelling lists and geography!

During our time off, the big kids each made some crafts so they could raise money for Christmas.  Half of their earnings were for gift-buying, and the other half was marked to give away to a charity of their choice.

Emma (10) made these  sets of hair ties:

We gave them cute names like Build a Snowman and Midnight, and added them to my esty shop, since I was running a virtual pop-up shop there anyway.  We also advertised on Instagram and Facebook.

Here's what Ethan (8) made:

Mini wreaths made from felted wool clothing scraps.  Each one was about 5 inches across.  In addition to facebook and IG, Ethan showed Emma how to hustle.  He sold most of his to people he came into contact with--not an ounce of fear in that kid!

When it was all said and done, it was amazing how close their sales totals were.  Emma ended up selling 21 sets of hair ties, while Ethan sold 19 wreaths.  We also had a couple people donate extra money to their charitable giving.  Both kids were so excited! Especially when they got orders online--that felt really official.

Today, we added up everything, decided to go with World Vision, and chose which gifts they wanted to give (rabbits and ducks).

They raised exactly $94.

 

Adding up the totals from our #kidmade handicraft sale this year. They earned a combined total of $94 to donate to #worldvision. You should have seen them pore over that catalog! They chose rabbits and ducks. And get this: 2 rabbits + 8 ducks cost exactly $94! #ChristmasMiracle #thankful

A photo posted by Anna (@lasso_the_moon) on Dec 12, 2014 at 2:28pm PST

 

I went back and forth between the pages of the catalog, trying to do the math in my head. As it turns out, the price of 8 ducks and 2 rabbits comes to exactly $94.  I felt like I was in one of those stories were the family prays for the last $14 for the rent, and a stranger walks up and hands them exactly what they needed in cash...you know those stories, right?  Our friends, family, and even complete strangers came together to help my kids earn exactly what they needed to give exactly what they'd hoped they could give.  This kind of thing is a huge boost in faith in the midst of the daily gettin-stuff-done, ya know?

I love doing this kind of thing with my kids.  It pulls them out of themselves in this potentially selfish time of year, and helps them focus on someone else.  I'm sure they don't really understand the good that they might be doing by donating these animals to families in need--I'm not sure I even understand it fully--but the sheer act of working for the benefit of someone else was exciting and rewarding to them.  And $94 is totally worth getting excited over!

Another benefit of doing a little business with the kids, is that they were constantly doing math in their heads.  Ethan's ornaments were worth more than Emma's hair ties, especially since she had to pay back part of her sale price for supplies. (Ethan did too, just not as much since we had most of the supplies on hand.)  We also learned the value of expanding your target customer.  The wreaths were more expensive, but they were also appealing to a wider range of people.  The hair ties were cute, affordable, and had great packaging, but didn't work as a gift for someone without longish hair.  Or boys.  On the other hand, they made really easy stocking stuffers, so people bought in multiples.  Believe me, all of these factors are running through their heads as they consider doing this again next time.

And there will be a next time! We are going to open up the shop again really soon, and incorporate business, money management, and charitable giving into our regular homeschool routine.  We are planning to open back up on January 10, with a new line for the Valentine's, wedding, baby shower season, so stay tuned!

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So how about you?  How was your Christmas season? Are you worn out or ready to charge the gates into the New Year?  Have you ever given to a cause like Compassion, World Vision, or Heifer International? Today is a good day to start!

 

 

Back To School Teacher Tote :: a tutorial

Yesterday I gave you a little peek at the tote bags I made for the kids' teachers.  This is the first time I've ever made back-to-school gifts a priority.  It's usually all I can muster to send a gift on the last day of school.  And Christmas gifts for the teachers are hit and miss around here too.  But last weekend I set aside some time to make them a little something to say thank you for all the prepping they've done to be ready for the school year.

We picked out the fabric at Hobby Lobby, on one of our many school supply runs last week.  (I am so glad that's over!!!)  Emma picked the green chevron, and Ethan chose the orange print.  For your bag, you'll need 1/2  yard of solid natural canvas, and 1/2 yard printed canvas. (This fabric is also called duck.)

Cut the solid fabric into three pieces:

Cut 1 - 21x27 inches (body)

Cut 2 - 4x38 inches (straps)

Cut the print into two pieces:

Cut 2 - 12x21 inches (contrasting trim)

The width of the bag is 21 inches, so be sure to turn your trim fabric the right way so the design isn't sideways.

First, take the two long strips and make the straps.

For the Straps:

Press the strip flat with the iron.  Then fold lengthwise and press, making a crease.  Open the strip again and carefully fold the top and bottom edges toward the middle crease, 1/2 inch, pressing as you go.  Fold the strip back together lengthwise, making sure the edges are now caught inside. Pin and sew 1/4 inch down both sides of the strap.  Repeat for the second strap.  Set aside.

Sew the bag:

For the body of the bag, bring the two 21-inch sides together, so that the fold forms the bottom of the bag.  Sew along the sides.  Since the bag isn't lined, finish the edges with a zigzag stitch or serger to prevent fraying.

Next, take both of the contrast (trim) fabric pieces, place right sides together, and sew along the both of the short sides to form a tube. 

Turn both the body of the bag and the contrasting trim right-side-out.

Put it all together:

1. With both fabrics right side out, slide the trim fabric inside the body of the bag until the top edges of both pieces are even. 

2. Sew around the whole bag, lining up seams, using a 1/2 inch seam allowance.  Pull the un-sewn edge of the contrasting fabric out of the bag and smooth everything flat.  The bag should be right side out at this point, and the trim should be wrong side out. 

3. At the top edge of the trim, turn out 1/2 inch all the way around and press.  Then bring this pressed edge down to cover the line of stitching on the outside of the bag.  Press the folded trim fabric in place.

4. Measure in from the sides 4 1/2 inches, and insert each end of one strap.  Make sure it's not twisted, and pin into place.  Turn the bag over and repeat with the other strap.  Once both straps are pinned, sew them in place with top stitching 1/4 inch from the bottom edge of the trim. 

5. Fold the straps up into their final position and pin.  With the straps pinned in place, top stitch the entire upper edge of the bag, 1/4 inch from the edge. 

6. Reinforce the straps by sewing them down to the trim fabric in a rectangle or crisscross shape.

If you want, you can call your bag finished at this point!  But if you would like to square off the bottom for a 3-dimensional bag, go on to the next step.

Square off the bottom:

Turn the bag inside out, and fold the corner in half, so that the seam goes straight up the middle. (See below.)  Make sure that the fabric on the top and underneath this triangle is all smooth and flat.

Measure up the center seam 3 inches.  Draw a line that is exactly perpendicular to the corner seam.  A clear ruler is helpful for this stage, because you can line up the grid with the seam. 

Pin the fabric together so it stays in place, and sew along the line.  I sewed over the line three times to reinforce it.  Leave the flaps inside the bag to keep it sturdy.

Flip the bag right side out again and admire your sharp corners!  Clip any threads that are hanging around, and you are finished!!

Tote bags make great gifts because they are useful, cute, and can even be re-gifted without too much guilt.  They make great library bags, shopping bags, or even a light day-at-the-beach bag.  We filled our totes up with school supplies, which we were taking to school anyway, and told the teachers that the canvas bags were theirs to keep.  I think it was nice to know that someone had thought of them on such a crazy, hectic day.

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If there is any part of this tutorial that doesn't seem clear, leave me a note in the comments and I'll try to clear it up.

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If you use this tutorial to make your own teacher tote, please let me know! I love to see how others interpret my designs!

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Want to pin this tutorial for later? Hover over any of the photos in this post, and a "pin it" button will appear.  How easy is that!

 

 

 

Entryway :: Sources and Links

 

Well, here we are.  The entryway is finished.  For now.

There are little things that I would like to change here and there, like the trim color, the light fixture, new umbrella stand, etc, but for now, it's exactly what I want.

It helps our family function, it expresses our style (which I'm starting to call cottage industrial...), and it includes personal touches.

Here's what it used to look like:

And now:

I'm still so surprised at what a differnce the black door made..

Here's some of the breakdown of prices and sources:

Door $20

Wall paint $28

Mirrors $38

Mirror hanger $10

Coat Rack $28

Bench $65

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Total $189

 

colors:

door -  Martha Stewart Francesca

walls - Behr Vanilla Milkshake

coat rack - Behr Ultra Pure White

bench top - Varathane Early American

bench base - Behr Mermaid Treasure

Want the details on each of these projects?  Click on the photos below:

So...what to work on next?

I've already got a couple projects going, which you know about if you follow me on facebook.  I just started a photo album of progress shots of current projects.  If you haven't yet, go on over there and "like" my page, so you can see what's coming up before it hits the blog.

"Like" us on facebook here.

 

 

 

 

Entryway :: Flip-Top Turquoise Bench

Remember this sad little number?

I found this little padded bench years ago at a second-hand store.  I always planned on making a new cushion for it, but that just never happened.  When I started working on the entryway, I was considering painting it and leaving it in the room.

That was before I discovered Ana White.

Ana is a mom who lives in Alaska, designs furniture, and posts the plans on her website for free so others can build it.

She also wrote a book.

This is not chunky, clunky homemade-looking furniture, either.  She takes her inspiration from top furniture retailers, and shows you how to build it yourself at home. 

She's the reason Donnie got me the pocket hole jig for my birthday.

I knew, as soon as I saw it, that I wanted to build her flip-top bench for my entryway.  It's been on my pinboard for months.  So, while Donnie was out of town on one of his many summer youth trips, I decided to build it myself.  I took the plans, and the cuts needed up to Home Depot and had them cut it there.  It takes forever to do it that way, but I was a little nervous to use the miter saw on my first time out.

I got home and made my first pocket hole joint.

I think I watched her how-to video on this about 10 times before I felt like I was ready.

By about midnight I had the frame made and was filling those pocket holes with spackle.  This cell phone pic I sent to my mom is the only one I have of this stage.

Who wants to stop and take pictures when they're on a roll?

As it turned out, two of the cuts made at the hardware store were too long, so I had to use the miter saw anyway.  I'm glad no one was watching.  It took me 20 minutes to figure out how to turn the thing on! I'd watched Donnie (and years ago, my dad) use it many times, but I'd never noticed that step!  There are several safety knobs, and a button for your thumb to get the blade going. Tricky.

Next was the paint.

Mermaid Treasure by BEHR. I wanted something bright for the room, since most of it is pale or neutral.  And on the wall directly opposite of the entry is my giant orange sign.  So this would balance it out.

Two coats of paint:

Pretty bright, huh?  Well, it's not staying that way.  I don't like distressing details on every piece of furniture, but I wanted to try out a new technique.

You lightly sand the corners to let the wood show through.

Then, working in sections, wipe on some wood stain in an even layer, and then immediately wipe it off with a different rag.  The effect is a subtly aged look, and the sanded edges pick up the stain.

Love this.

It was simple, and it doesn't have that look that says, "HEY I DISTRESSED THIS FURNITURE MYSELF!!" That look stresses me out.

For the top of the flip-top bench, I wanted to use the same wood stain and leave the wood grain finish.  The stain I used is Varathane Early American.  It is nice and rich without any orange undertones. Very pretty.

I did about 2 coats on either side. I stained it before attaching it to the bench, because I didn't want any light wood peaking through when the hinges were used.

Attaching the top was the most nerve-wracking part of the whole build. I measured and measured to make sure I was even on both sides (2 inches) with an inch hanging off the back.  Then I measured some more, and marked 6 dots where the screws would go.  I'm pleased to say that not a single screw went through the storage portion of the box.  It pays to be careful with measurements!

The lid of the storage section was attached by simply screwing the hinges to the back, and then the lid.  Pre-drilling the holes made this a cinch.

I made this bench, from start to finish, in about 3 days.  The directions were easy to follow, and the plans were accurate. 

I didn't tell Donnie about it when he got back from his trip.  Instead, I waited until the morning of his birthday:

It was a fun surprise.  After all, he taught me almost everything I know about building things.

And now, with one woodworking project behind me, I am hooked.  I keep looking through the Ana White book and website trying to decide which one to start next.  Maybe some shelves for Emma's growing book collection...

DIY Headboard from a Vintage Door

**Be sure to enter the drawing for Beyond Bath Time by Erin Davis.  Winner will be picked tomorrow at 9am! Enter here.**

When Donnie told me that he was going to build me a headboard from the door that he bought at the Glen Rose antique shop, I never expected it to turn out this awesome.  I knew it would be good--I mean the idea alone is great.  But I never expected this work of art.

 

In its original state, the door was in pretty bad shape.  Besides the chipping paint (which I kind of liked) it was filthy, had been written on in ink and spray paint, and had three bullet holes in it!

Since most doors are not horizontally symmetrical, and we wanted the bed to be symmetrical, Donnie cut a strip from the bottom of the door, and glued it to the top.  You can see that in the picture below.  The glued on strip is on the right side.  We didn't think it would show after being sanded and painted, but we put that end on the side that would be farthest from our bedroom door,  just in case.

Using some measurements from these Ana White plans, we used 4x4s on each end as the posts.  We screwed the door to the posts using pocket holes.  I wish I'd taken a picture of that part, because they are so cool! And we used the jig that Donnie gave me for my birthday!  To get the door in the very center of the post, we rested it on some scrap wood while we were screwing them together.

Then we placed a 2x4 on top of the door and posts, lining it up exactly with the 4x4s.

After that we attached the top rail, which is a 2x6. We centered it on the 2x4, and extended it about 1 inch on each side.

Construction finished!

After sanding forEVER, Donnie primed and painted the whole thing.  He used a Kilz primer, and paint tinted in Martha Stewart's Flagstone. It's a warm beigey-grey that I think will go with anything.

My favorite part of the new headboard is what he did to the panels. I never would have thought of it.

We celebrated our "tin" anniversary in April, so this was the whole starting point of his inspiration to build the bed.  His original intent was to find enough old, vintage ceiling tiles to work inside the panels, but we either didn't like the ones available, or the ones we liked were too small to work.

That's when we found Tin Ceiling Xpress online.  We bought three 2x2 foot panels for $7 each!! Even with shipping, it was just over $30.  When you only need a couple pieces, this is the only place to go apparently.  The pattern we got was fleur.

Donnie painted the three pieces of tin with the same bright white that I used on the coat rack in the entryway.  Then he palm-sanded them, but was careful to not go overboard and to keep the wear very uneven.  We wanted it to look as close a possible to the old "found" tin pieces.  I think he nailed it.

With tin snips, he cut the tin to the exact measurements of the panels (they were all slightly different) and attached them using a strong construction adhesive.

My favorite part of this gift is that we got to work on it together.  I like that even more than the headboard itself.  Donnie's a perfectionist, but somehow he maintains a cool patience when he's working with me, who knows nearly nothing about constructing things from wood.

I am in love with my new headboard.  And my old husband.

Now to think about some fun new bedding to go with it!

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We'd be so flattered if you used our idea to make your own piece of furniture!  Please let us know that you did, and we'll feature a photo and link here on our blog!  And if it's a future project you're thinking of, slap this post on pinterest so you don't lose it!

 

Woolie Girls

Look who found their way into the shop today!

They are made from felted sweaters and vintage sheets.  Perfect for those early-spring gifting  occasions coming up soon.  Equally appropriate for little ones and grown ups who love having something snuggly around.

Thoroughly tested and Esther-approved.

Find yours here!

 

Goodbye, 2012

Some of my favorite moments from the past year...

When I look at my everyday life, I sometimes have the tendency to focus on what I wasn't able to accomplish, what I didn't finish, what I still haven't figured out.  Today, I took a minute to think about what I did do, and let that wonderful feeling of accomplishment propel me into the new year.

Goodbye, 2012. 

I can't wait to see what next year holds in store!

Reversible Canvas Pillow Covers :: a diy tutorial

 

I made these pillow covers last week to cover up some brown tapestry floor pillows that have been around our house for most of our marriage.  Donnie loves to use them while watching movies with the kids, but I kept finding myself stashing them in corners when they weren't in use, because they were just so ugly.

See for yourself:

The old covers were dark, worn, and icky.  So I pulled out some supplies and got to work.  If you want to make some for yourself, here's what you'll need:

For the base fabric, I used the same canvas drop cloth that I used for the custom storage bins in the the kids' room.  I still have lots of it left.  I wonder how many projects I'll get out of it.  The painter's tape was left over from the dining room paint job, the fusible web was from Emma's teacher gift last year, and the linen fabric is either from other projects, or thrifted clothing items I bought for the purpose of reusing the linen.  The linen probably cost around $2, the craft paint $2, and the textile medium was $2.  If you are buying fusible web for this project, make sure you buy the kind you can sew into, the thinner the better.  I used heat n bond for this project.

To make the stripes for the back of the pillows, draw pencil lines 1 1/2 inches apart (or the width of your tape) with your clear ruler as a guide.  Carefully place your tape along every other line.  Mix your paint with the textile medium, at a 2:1 ratio.  I eyeballed two globs of paint to one squirt of medium.  Worked fine.  The medium is sticky and helps the paint adhere to fabric permanently.  I think it also improves the texture.

As the paint starts to dry, remove the tape to reveal your stripes!

If you are feeling kinda cheap, save the tape from your first pillow back, and use it to paint your second one.  It sticks enough for both and saves you, I dunno, $.25?

After your stripes have dried overnight, iron them with a cover cloth to set the paint.  Then throw in the washer and dryer so the paint softens up a bit.

Next, applique the first pillow front.

1. Make a pattern by printing out your letters in a font you like.  Cut it out. Fuse the adhesive-backed paper webbing to the fabric with an iron. Place the letter face down on the paper and trace around the pattern.  Cut it out.  2. To make perfect guidelines on your canvas, fold it in half and press along the fold with a warm iron.  Then fold it the other way, so you have four equal squares.  Line your appliques along these guides.  Peel the backing off of the fabric applique.  3. Making sure the letters are exactly where you want them, fuse them to the canvas with the iron, following the instructions on the package.  4. Sew a straight stitch in black thread around each letter.  I like to outline them twice, not being too careful, so it makes a slightly scribbley outline.  What's the point in hand-making something if it looks like a machine made it?

 

For the second pillow front, I made a pattern for a equilateral triangle, and cut several out of each color linen, backed with iron-on adhesive. I had a few more scraps with backing left, so I made a couple half-triangles, too.  Then I ironed everything in place.

And stitched close to the edges of the appliques.

I took the zippers off of the original pillows and used them to close the covers, but you could easily make an envelope back or just sew the pillow closed with a slip stitch.

Now instead of hiding these pillows, I'm moving them all over the house to see where I like them the best.

The 1 1/2 inch stripes turned out to be the perfect proportion for these 22-inch pillows.  The paint, after being washed, still has a little bit of a stiff texture to it--kind of like indoor/outdoor fabric.  But it does not feel like paint.

Just like with every creative project, instead of running out of ideas, it has inspired several more.  Like, what else can I do with this canvas drop cloth?  And, what other home-fabrics could use a painted design?

So while I think about what's next, I'll let you go and make yourself a set of your own.

Here's the other project I made from the same canvas drop cloth:

Custom Sized Canvas Bins :: A Tutorial

Pictures from Haiti

 You've asked for them, and they are finally here. 

Pictures from our youth group's trip to Haiti. 

Our team did 3 days of Vacation Bible School for over 100 children from Cap Haitian and the surrounding area.

They broke up into three groups: teaching, games, and crafts.

Emma saw this and asked, "Are those kids in Haiti?"

"Yep, " I said.

"They don't look hopeless."

"No they look just like you.  They are like you."

"But why are they so happy?  Is it because Daddy is there?"

"Maybe, but I think it's mostly because God put something inside of all our hearts that lets us be glad, just because we're alive."

My husband elicits expressions like these from girls everywhere.  He's very cute.

 

See what I mean!

As Donnie was showing me these pictures, he pointed some of them out, "She's an orphan.  He's an orphan."  I said, "Stop pointing them out unless you are willing to go back and bring them home to me."  But truly, I wanted him to point them out.  Orphans should have real faces to us, so that we can continually be praying that they'd find loving homes, families, and salvation through Jesus.  I need to see their faces, even though it hurts.

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So, do you want to see how the dollies went over?

Initially, we thought the dolls would have to be distributed anonymously--to an outside church or orphanage.  But since you helped make more than 150 dolls(!!!!!) there were enough for everyone, and then some left over!  So on the last day of VBS, the team laid out all the dollies on two long benches.

And a few at a time, the children came in and picked out their own.  To keep.

Certainly these little ones have never had the chance to pick from such an amazing assortment of anything.  Let alone a special lovey to take home and keep.

They chose very carefully.

Look at the way the little girl in pink is admiring her new baby doll.  Holding her on her hip, just like a good mommy:

The boys liked them, too...in their own way!

These two were made for each other!

This little girl was so excited, the team took three pictures of her, not one in focus.  She was running, jumping, beaming.

Look at how many children got to take home their own dolls!  Dolls made with love, just for them.  Dolls covered in prayer for the children who would hold them.  I don't have words to express how happy and grateful this makes me to all who participated.

Their sign says, "Merci Anna" but I can't take credit.  The Lord laid this idea on my heart, and the Lord made it successful.  He's the one who made you aware of it, too. So to me it says "Merci to all of you."  Thank you so much for joining me in making these little ones so happy!  I never dreamed that I'd be able to see these baby dolls in the arms of actual children.  It wouldn't have happened without your help--we wouldn't have had enough to go around!  And to those of you who weren't able to contribute this time, look at those faces!! I can't help but do this again.  You'll have another chance to join us.

Here are a couple posts you might have missed about the baby doll drive:

Can You Make One Rag Doll?

Tips for Finishing Your Dollies

How to pray for the child who will hold your doll

Packing the Baby Dolls for Haiti

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,