I know this supposed to be a sewing/doll blog, but you’ll have to indulge me for a little bit longer… it’s just my life right now…
I have been busy…whoops… WE have been busy. We usually are, but this is “new student” week and things tend to get a little more hectic when the incoming and previous students arrive back in town. We belong to a student church that reaches out to students at Southern Illinois University to make this a home away from home for them. It takes a huge effort on everyone’s part to make it work, so it’s not just us. My hubby has his hands full this time of year with helping new students move all their things into their apartments and dorms. He rounds up furniture all over the place and picks it up and takes it to students who need it…plus LOTS more.
We received a list from a new student and his family who needed “everything…” I mean they didn’t have anything but the few suitcases Juan had. His wife and 2 kids will arrive next week. So we went upstairs and did a little “decluttering” to help him out. We found a mattress and box springs for his daughter. Then we decided to get rid of the bed my hubby had made for Kristoffer when he was about 5 years old. It had to be disassembled to be brought downstairs because it’s made from 2 x 4’s and is as heavy as a tank. Earthquake alert? Get under the bed! Then we had to assemble it back and wipe it all down and get it on the truck…It took 2 hours just to do that. We found some more things like a dining room table and 2 chairs…a few small tables, and some other items.
So anyway, that’s just a sample of what’s been going on around here. In the midst of all this busyness, I had the brilliant notion of painting my living and dining room before we get new flooring soon! It would have been fine…. IF I hadn’t gotten sick for 4 or 5 days… That really put me behind… My hubby said today, “You know, you really couldn’t have picked a worse time to do this…” I know, but it wasn’t my fault…not entirely.
So I said all that to prepare you for the pictures you are about to see…It’s just a little touch of “reality” and I thought I’d keep it real and let you know I’m not exaggerating when I say, I’ve had NO time for sewing…
Yes, this is Kristoffer’s bed in the kitchen floor, getting wiped down before loading it on the truck…
This is my lovely dining room area… a mattress, tools everywhere… but those flowers are still on my table…
(in my best sarcastic voice…) I’ve created a lovely “conversation area” in my living room… the trouble is, there is a ladder, a fan, there is trim on the couch, a trouble light and my curtains on the loveseat, a baby gate in front of the couch, the rug is all cockeyed, and a few other things that make conversation a bit distracting…
Oh, and here’s one of those lovely splotches on my wall that I told you about. There used to be a mirror covering “part” of it… (now it’s all painted one color!! :o)
A few days ago, in the middle of all that mess, Cindy sent me the sweetest pictures when she was “playing” with a wicker head and a straw hat she found down in her basement..She was trying on different necklaces and sending me different shots…
It was up on her dresser in their bedroom…
Beautiful, isn’t it? Well, when she sent that picture of her nice, neat, beautifully painted dresser with everything neat and all in place, I lost it. She didn’t know it, but I started crying. I think I was tired.. tired of all the mess surrounding me, all the stuff I still had to do, all the paint bruses and rollers I had to keep washing out, frustrated that I wasn’t given the “decorator” gene like she and Deb were…to make pretty vignettes. So I just cried… for just a little bit. I got a hold of myself and thanked the Lord that I had been able to buy new wall paint, we are going to get new flooring, that my hubby let us buy new trim that we’ve never had up around the ceiling for 13 years, thanked Him for the beautiful flowers sitting in the middle of my messy table, and then I was almost okay…
…until Cindy sent one more picture…
It was her glasses from the 70’s on the wicker head.. That made me laugh out loud… No more tears after that! Thanks Cindy! Love you!
I did finish up the painting this evening, so ladies, it’s going to be sewing time for me one of these days…and it’s sooner than it was yesterday!
Hope you enjoyed this dose of reality from my life today!
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Hi Jeanne I don’t know if this will help but if I am decorating and I can’t get it all done at one time instead of washing out the brushes, rollers and trays all the time, at the end of the session I wrap the brushes and rollers in cling film ( I think you call it saran wrap) It will keep them ready to go for several days. I also line the paint tray with it or kitchen foil and just throw it away at the end of the session. I think it works out cheaper than washing expensive paint down the sink and it saves a lot of time.
Hi Lorna,
I did do that…line the trays with grocery bags and it’s much less messy…but after a few days the paint started peeling up on the bags so I’d have to change it…I also kept my brushes in zip lock bags but washed them out every few days…
I just finished the walls and the trim so maybe things can back in some kind of order…
Thanks Lorna,
Blessings, Jeanne
Jeanne, I think we all have been in your shoes, one way or the other, and can understand the frustration of so many things coming together at once! We are a very understanding group you have here, and yes, I know, right now it seems like NOTHING is getting done, and things are scattered everywhere, but hey, it’s not the end of the world, and we still love you!
Oh, I know the frustration of having things scattered all over the place! I can’t think when it is like that either, and it gets me a little disoriented. Times like that include decorating for Christmas, it looks like we are moving and I feel like I will never get it done!
How sweet of you to offer Kristoffer’s bed! It looks like a really good, solid bed. And that Cindy, what a darling little vignette she created on her dresser! Those glasses made my morning!!
HI Linda,
I just finished painting the walls and hope I can get the rooms back in order now… there is still things to be done, and when we get ready for the flooring, it will all have to be moved again…but I can get it arranged in the meantime.
Kristoffer’s bed was solid… it was the bottom part of the bunk beds he had built for Kristoffer. It took both of us to maneuver it down from upstairs. George delivered it to Juan and he said he loved it! It opened up a lot of room in the upstairs too.
Thanks Linda,
Messes are always going to happen, but I hope it’s a long time before I have one quite this big again… :o)
Blessings, Jeanne
House renovations are always stressful. Congratulations on the progress you have made! You will be so happy with it soon. Just hang in there.
I must say that I love Cindy’s lady head. I was truly laughing out loud. I think she needs a name.
I hope you have lots of laughter today.
Take care.
HI Charlotte,
We’ve had plenty of house renovations on this fixer upper of ours, but this was came at a really bad time. I probably should have waited… but I didn’t want to.
At the beginning of the school year, our church opens up what we call “Hospitality Homes” for new students to go to, and eat a meal with a real family and find out more about the area and make some friends. We had initially hoped to have our new floor down and be one of those houses, but it didn’t work out this year. We’ve done it in the past, but always sort of cringed with our floors and the unfinished look to our living room. Maybe we can have something later on in the semester…or maybe the “Couple’s Christmas Party” can be at our house! :o)
Thanks Charlotte,
Blessings, Jeanne
You’re certainly entitled to a few tears at this point. So glad you have Cindy to cheer you up. I laughed out loud, too, at the glasses on Wicker Lady and wondered at her creativity. Believe me, you have it too. Your blue china cabinet is beautiful against the color of the walls. Perfect! It won’t be long now and all of a sudden, it will be finished. Just sit in your sewing room for a few minutes when you get down and remember how it looked before you redecorated it and you’ll be cheered up. House Beautiful when you’re finished.
It’s wonderful all you do to make the students at home. Kristoffer’s bed will be much appreciated and all of the other furniture. Can’t believe you two!
HI Susette,
Thanks for your kind words about all this mess in my house. I think my hubby was right and I really did pick a bad time to do it… BUT.. I just finished with all the walls and now have some minor painting to do… of course I have that big living room window that has never even primed… but I think I better get my room in order first and maybe do it in a few days down the road…
I haven’t ever shown my sewing room all finished have I? I need to get that on my list to show… :o)
Thanks Susette,
Blessings, Jeanne
Dear, sweet Jeanne, I think this might be the most precious of all your blogs and there have been some that just brought me to tears, thanking God that I “met” someone like you. This one shows nothing but your huge heart and humanity and it’s pure and it’s genuine and it blessed me beyond words. Thank you, Jeanne, for letting all of us into your life, not just the talented, beautiful parts but the weary and the sick and the sad parts. Every one of us has those times…the times we just feel sorry for ourselves…the times when we believe we can’t go another step…the times we just get so fed up with everything around us. We love you, darling lady! Thank you and many blessings!!
Oh Bobi,
What sweet comments you have shared today. Thank you very much for them…I appreciate that even when I share vulnerable parts of my life, it can still be seen as something good. We all have times like these and you made me realize it’ll be over before I know it!
I was just having a pity party when I cried… and I was tired… that didn’t help…
Thank you Bobi,
Blessings, Jeanne
What a blessing you are, Jeanne. Despite the fact that it’s hard to show the challenging things of life to the “public”, you’ve done it and ended up with gratefulness in the end. The “mess” is nothing compared to the huge hearts that have been given to you and George to help your fellow man/woman. May God continue to bless you for your honesty, caring, conscientiousness and gifts that you are to your “neighbors”…far and wide.
Blessings to you and George.
Thank you Becky,
It is easy to be a blessing to others when you’ve been blessed so much yourself… George and I truly have so much to be grateful for… and while my house may never be a “House Beautiful” as I think Susette said, it can be clean and neat and the best that we can make it.
Thank you for your very sweet thoughts, Becky… I’m sure I’ll be reading these comments more than once!
Blessings, Jeanne
Love love love your pictures today. Does not look bad at all to me. Just progress towards a wonderful ending. I noticed the missing ceiling molding, and it is wonderful to hear that will be added. Had hopes for your ceiling paint job too, but perhaps another time. I would like to see the wood continued into the kitchen, but know that would be further expense. Just another cookie in the jar to pull out when the dust settles and there is more bread in basket. 🙂
By the way, you do have the creative gene (Jeanne) in so many ways. We see it everyday. Including the new skinny jean (Jeanne). Really.
And I have been looking for that wicker head for the longest time! Absolutely love how Cindy has used it for decorating. Especially the glasses. I have a pair of glasses, not mine, from the 50’s, cat’s eye shape that would be perfect to use. Guess I had better cull the old glasses box before the garage sale.
Keep up the good work and don’t fall off the ladder.
Thank you Joy,
It’s looking better now… I just finished with the painting on the walls and have some small things that still need to be painted… outlet covers… I would have liked new, but they didn’t have the white I wanted, so I painted them and they look pretty good. I’ve got to save money where ever I can, because I still have a kitchen that needs to be done..
I was just putting things back in place and smiled when I looked up and saw trim around my whole living room! :o)
I’m hoping someday for that white ceiling… It really could use a nice paint job… but my painting arm might go on strike if I told it the ceiling was next…
Thanks for noticing Joy… I’ve lost 16.6 pounds since May…. George has lost 34!
I love that wicker head too…and I’m sure I’ve seen one before, but passed because I didn’t know what to do with it…
The ladder is going back in the garage tomorrow! :o)
Thanks Joy,
Blessings, Jeanne
Can’t help but commend your efforts in weight loss. Really an amazing feat. Those guys always seem to be able to lose weight. Me not so much. Keeps getting harder every year.
As to those outlet covers, paint away. No one will ever notice. Believe me, and they will just fade away into the walls. Wonderful.
I can visualize your trim all complete. Lovely. Isn’t it interesting how such a small thing (but a lot of cutting and work) just makes everything complete.
Glad you’re wrapping up and on to the floors. Yay.
I wish I could come and give you a hand. There are certainly many things going on and on your plate. Jeanne, as my mother always said, ” This too will pass.” Think of how soon, you will be sitting in your pretty home with soothing wall paint and new floors. And you and George have done such wonderful and kind things for many many people. Bless you both.
Cindy’s hat is cute and her last picture brings a smile at her talented humor.
As you know, I’ve tried writing on your blog, losing my posts, so if this goes through…Bithar and Jean’s baby girl is adorable and so cute in her pink! Also, glad George is kind to his chickens. The banty’s will hopefully enjoy their new home.
Hope this gets to you. I’ve missed being a part of your blog.
HI Paula,
How sweet of you to offer to come help, but the worst is over now… I’m putting things back and tomorrow I’ll wake up and feel like a million bucks… or at least I hope so!
It already looks pretty nice and it’s not totally done yet. I can’t imagine how new flooring will affect me! :o)
I changed your email address and hopefully things will be coming just like always for you.
I’m glad you enjoyed Gaterah and mom in the pictures…
Thanks Paula,
Blessings, Jeanne
In the middle of all the clutter, you’ve cheered all of us up. That’s a gift.
My mother always pointed out that you have to move things in order to improve things. My dad thought tidying up was the same as cleaning. My mom knew better.
In a couple of weeks you’ll have everything painted and finished floors. Think about how beautiful your house will be for Christmas this year. Thanksgiving. Halloween. Soon. And under the very temporary clutter, your sewing room is perfect.
HI Marilyn,
Well, if this post cheered you up, I am glad… It did me too, when I read it today! No tears from me today. I finished the painting and I have trim up all around my living room! It’s a good thing! A Very good thing1
I hadn’t thought about it being all nice and neat for Christmas…thanks for that reminder!
My sewing room isn’t perfect, right at the moment, but when I have one room that gets a makeover, it’s sort of contagious and since my sewing room is right next to it, I’ll be sure and get things perfect in there ASAP!
Thanks Marilyn,
Blessings, Jeanne
It’s a rule…you re do one room and the whole house is involved! It will be just wonderful when it is done. Don’t hurry…just enjoy the process?
My heart skipped a beat when I saw that darling bed getting ready to go. Are you going to give it or loan it? Put a big sticker on with your name and address etc so someday when you are a Grandma you can have it for G-kids? Something George made is so precious!
Loved seeing the progress and mess
HI Kathie,
I have “enjoyed” the process…somewhat, but I’m ready for there to be order back in my house!
The bed “was” made by George and it was special at the time, but like I said before, it weighs a ton, so I don’t think it’ll be coming back here anymore. It’s so hard to get up the narrow stairway and it gets over 100 degrees upstairs in the summer and down in the 40’s up there in the winter, so no one in their right mind would ever sleep up there. Kristoffer did when we had a window fan for him. I’m looking forward to the extra room upstairs to organize things better. We’ll just pass it along to families who need a bed each semester…
It’s okay… I’m not super attached to it…
Thanks so much, Kathie,
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh, Jeanne, I know how frustrating house fixing up can be. Painting before installing a new floor is definitely the way to go though. Yes, you are only human as are we all and sometimes everything comes crashing down at one time. I loved all the pictures today, it just shows you are real. I actually laughed out loud at the mess because I’ve been there and am. The plan was to paint the family room this summer and I have the paint cans on my dining room floor to prove it and the baseboard is off of the family room as well. Do to other things it is now a hopefully fall project.
I read a great book, wish I remembered the title, years ago that said that even if your house is a mess when someone comes to visit, invite them in and do the best you have with whats there. Love your “conversation area” picture with your sewing room peeking through the background. I bet your sewing room is perfect as is your blue cabinet.
I balked when I saw the bed leaving as well. Surely you are only loaning it. Things made by family are so important. I so value the dollhouse my grandfather made as well as a little jumping jack toy and the many pieces of crochet and embroidery my grandmother made.
HI Laura,
Thanks for your kind words… I’m just glad I didn’t have anyone stop by for a visit…except Kristoffer and his girlfriend… they found a seat, but it was in the mess…we laughed…
I hope your painting project goes well..and soon! It’ll be Fall before you know it…
The bed is actually being loaned to a couple from Columbia… His family is friends with little Sara’s family. Juan is coming here for school, so the bed will be a temporary bed for his son, while they are here. Then when they leave, we will probably loan it to another family who has need of it. It’s not a fine piece of furniture, but just 2 x 4’s screwed together and then stained. It’s sort of bulky and takes up a lot of space…but Juan was grateful for it!
Thank you Laura,
Blessings, Jeanne
Yes, life keeps getting in the way of the things we would rather be doing, and it gets frustrating! I guess I don’t have to tell you how much churches depend on volunteers who volunteer their time and talents to serve the community. I’m sure what you and George are doing is so very much appreciated, and your readers appreciate getting a little glimpse into your lives. I’m truly sorry you were so frustrated you cried, but being tired does make us more emotional, and after being sick so recently, I’m sure you were just exhausted. I’m hoping things slow down a little bit for you soon so you can get some rest! You can always clean up later after you get your new walls and floors. It will be worth waiting for!
HI Carolyn,
I pushed myself to get the painting all done today. I just have small things to work on now, so it’s manageable. I’m moving the ladder out to the garage tomorrow. I’ve started putting my room back in order for now…the flooring will require that it’s all moved out again, but I’m not exactly sure when that will happen…but it WILL happen. I’m just thrilled looking at the trim in my living room up by the ceiling… It’s so nice to see it!
I’m sure I was just tired and had a pity party the other day when Cindy sent those pictures. I was just feeling overwhelmed I think… I’ve been okay since then… Those glasses really did it for me! :o)
Thanks Carolyn,
Blessings, Jeanne