Weekend

Friday afternoon I realized I had no plans for the weekend, and, after several weeks of full weekends spent with friends/family before I moved, preparing for the move or settling in, it was a strange feeling. It was also the first time the reality of the move hit me; I realized I don't really know anyone yet, didn't really know my way around and, perhaps, worse that I am likely to be in that weird, new place for several more months. Luckily I've moved enough to know that feeling is temporary and that I just have to live through it.

I did a little research and found a place to get a haircut. Looked up Farmer's Markets and bike shops, then got serious about learning the Saturday bus schedule. I ended up putting together a pretty great weekend, and thanks to my bike shopping I'm already looking forward to next weekend and a long ride on my shiny new cruiser.

Any other ideas for getting adjusted to a new city?

"Could fee the sun about to rise, when I realized we had nothing to fear."
Marc Broussard - Home

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A New Look

All summer long I've been trying to get a project done at my house - the dreadful yard. I don't have a green thumb, and more importantly, I hate yard work. Which means over the years my yard had gotten completely out of hand. It was never well designed in the first place, but my lack of care meant it was looking worse and worse.

It isn't quite finished - the pavers next to the driveway and the concrete edging around the flower beds are coming later this week, but I decided to post the nearly finished product, since I'm on my way back to Istanbul today for the rest of the year. I'll have to wait to see the finished product next spring after the snow melts.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm ALMOST looking forward to planting a few flowers next year, now that I've got such lovely defined flower beds. And with the trees trimmed back and the overgrown shrubs gone, my house looks so much more welcoming.

As a goodbye (for a while) to my home, here's a little Phillip Phillips: Home. Pin It

Home

Dierks Bentley - Home Pin It

Slumber Party Fun

My weekend was full of these two, my very favorite little ones. Friday afternoon we played together at their house for a few hours. I pulled out my iPad to show them a Cookie Monster parody I thought would make them giggle, which it did. Miss M then pulled out her mom's Kindle Fire and play Carly Rae Jepson's Call Me Maybe (aka Miss M's most recent favorite song). She must have hit repeat at least 20 times, with only a short pause for Tiny T to pull out his mom's iTouch and show us his favorite song Rascal Flatts' Life is a Highway, or as he calls it Car's. As a side note - I'm amazed at the ability of kids today to navigate things like Kindle Fires and iTouches. They can't read, but they can find their favorite songs and play them with no help from me.

Once we got tired of dancing, we loaded the car and headed to Jungle Jim's, a local indoor amusement park. It was non-stop fun for several hours. T hit every ride there, even braved the fast spinning one - once I agreed to ride with him (making me slightly queasy!) They both tried the bumper cars for the first time and LOVED it - Maggie was the best driver of the two, and I had to pull T off to give someone else a turn after his second ride. We finally got to my house just after bedtime a little hyper from the rootbeer I let them have.  I finally coaxed them into their PJs and settled them with some milk. After prayers and a story (Dr Suess' Oh The Places You'll Go, the only kids book I own) we talked to their mom and dad on Facetime. Two minutes after I turned off the light they were out!

The next morning we made cinnamon rolls and while they cooked, we pulled out the bubble guns and filled the neighborhood with bubbles. We eventually ate breakfast, played a game of Candy Land, which I thankfully managed to lose, played both Dora and Strawberry Shortcake Match Games and a little Kid's Dance Revolution on the Wii.

I finally managed to get them dressed and we went back outside to use up the rest of the bubbles. Every time T would set them off he'd tell me they were going to Bubble School - I swear I have no idea how kids come up with this stuff.

She's far more stylish than I'll ever be!

I think being an Aunt is pretty much the best thing ever, I had a blast with them, but I come away wondering how parents do it! I had them less than 24 hours and I was exhausted! They have limitless energy and talk a mile a minutes - and I love them more and more every day. Pin It

Vacation Cottage: Before

As promised here are some "before" photos of my little cottage.  As you can tell, all we did was clean (which was a LOT of work), move furniture in and get out the linens needed to spend a day there.  I've got a list of projects I want to do waiting for me to find the time and cash.  Many of you are expert DIYers, so I'd love your suggestions and ideas.  Most of the house is furnished with furniture that came from my grandparents' house, so it is gently used, but from a variety of different decades which makes for an interesting overall "look."  Get ready for a long post.....

This is the front room/parlor.  I only vaguely remember the couch my grandma had before this one so I'm betting this set came from the late 70's.  I actually adore the shape and lines of the couch and hope to have it reupholstered some day, I'm thinking a dark, midnight blue shade.  What do you think?  Anyone out there had something this large redone and have any ideas about cost or recommendations on fabrics?

I'm less in love with the chairs, but hope redoing them will help.  As for the side table, I like the lines, but don't love the finish.  It's wood veneer, so I don't know how painting it would turn out.  Anyone tried painting wood veneer before?

This is the great room/family room.  I love the high ceilings and how open it is, I also like the light fixtures (which are great throughout the house.)  Doesn't the couch just scream 90s?  I'm hoping a slipcover will fix the couch and chair.  I'd like to go a soft gray (do you think that will work with the tan/taupe walls?) as a backdrop for some bolder pillows - think sunny yellows and bright blues.  Any favorite sources for affordable, but durable slipcovers?

The desk was mine (circa 2002, Target) I'm still trying to figure out where my workspace will be in the house, so this is a temporary spot for now.  You'll notice nearly all the wood pieces in the house are light/blonde wood.  Something I'm not in love with, but some I'm unsure about painting.  The end tables and round coffee tables are veneer, the desk, kitchen table and chairs are wood, so a bit easier to paint.  Any tips - would you use latex or spray paint on them?  Color suggestions?

The kitchen is open to the great room and sits just behind the front room.  I'm dreaming of painting the cabinets a creamy white - I just need to work up the nerve.  I also dislike the white fridge next to the other black appliances - but don't know whether it is better to save up my pennies for a new one or get brave and paint it black (note, it had quit working between the time I got the keys to the house and the day I moved in, thank heavens for a insurance plan I asked the seller for.)

The table and chairs were mine, Crate and Barrel (circa 2000.)  I'm hoping to find two more chairs to add to the mix at Goodwill or a consignment shop.

The Master bedroom - and the site of my first project.  This bedroom set came from my grandma's house (mid 80s-ish) and I'm thinking of painting it all the pieces white - the gold of the French Provincial style doesn't really work against the tan walls (and I think it is dated.)  Would you try latex or spray paint?  Part of me wishes I was brave enough to paint it a bolder color, but I'm afraid I'd hate it next year.  I'm planning to swap out the bedding, but am still figuring out what I want (and can afford) but until then, I love this hand-blocked bed cover I brought home from Delhi.

The main guest room, better known as "mom and dad's room" since they supplied the bed.  There is only space here for the bed and a couple of nightstands (to be found, for now I just put a couple of old book cases on the sides of the bed.)  I'm hoping to do some sort of DIY headboard, spray paint the ugly lamps and replace the shades.

The 3rd bedroom is the smallest, only big enough for a day bed (I had one found on the local classifieds, but lost out to someone else.)   The photo is of the dresser, in the room.  I'm guessing it is from the 50/60s since in my grandparent's room for as long as I remember.  I probably won't attempt to do anything to it for that reason.  When we got it out of the trailer, we discovered there were still sachets and a small container of body powder in the drawers so it even smells a bit like my grandma, which I loved.

There are two bathrooms, which are identical (but reversed.)  I loved the framed mirrors and, like the kitchen, am hoping to paint the cabinets a creamy white.  I'm also hoping to add some color with rugs, shower curtains and towels (when I find some on a killer sale.)

Finally, here is the back patio and a bit of the backyard.  I'm hoping to find a little bistro set and spend the evenings out here when it cools down.

One of my very favorite parts of the house is actually the front yard, but I've decided it probably isn't wise to post the photo of the front of house on the internet and admit you aren't currently there, so you'll just have to trust me that it is adorable.

Thanks for sticking around for the tour of my little cottage - as you can tell I have some projects in my future.  I really would love your advice and ideas - so feel free to share.

For today's song, I've been obsessing about Marc Broussard this week since I finally got a listen to his new album.  This song isn't off the new album, but I love it and it seems the perfect song for today's post - so here's his Home:

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Homeward Bound

As you read this I plan to be on a plane.  I've said goodbye to KY and am saying hello to UT.

All my UT peeps - drop me a line, I'll be in town for a while and am dying to catch up with you.  It's been a long, long year (or 5.)  This will be the longest stretch I've had at home since I moved away in 2002 and I plan to make the most of it, so let's get together so you can fill me in on all of your adventures.

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Thanksgiving in Aurora 2009

I got an unexpected surprise this Thanksgiving, the chance to spend it at home with my extended family.  I had planned to be in Delhi for Thanksgiving, but ended up coming home just in time to celebrate.  Mom planned a large meal for her siblings, their kids and grandkids.  It was so fun to see everyone!  Here's a few photos, can you see a family resemblance?  Thanks to my brother playing photographer there is even a photo of me in here, a first for this blog.

While I was still in Delhi thinking I was going to miss Thanksgiving I kept playing this song to enhance my pity party, one of my favorites from the Foo Fighters.


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Home

It's difficult to explain just how wonderful it feels to be home. Sleeping in my own bed Thursday night was heavenly. Using my very own washing machine AND dryer was a luxury and getting behind the wheel was only a little bit scary.

The best part was going to Aurora Friday night to spend the weekend with my family. Hanging out with Sadie (my dog) was so fun. I know she doesn't see me a lot, but I swear she remembers me. Perhaps even better was seeing how much my niece Maggie has grown and how much more fun she is to be with now, she's more active and has the cutest laugh. I'll do about anything to make her giggle. I truly love spending time with my family, they make me laugh, they love me for exactly who I am and support what I do, even when they don't understand it.

Being home in Aurora, surrounded by the family is the place I feel safest in the world. It's a place where I can leave the stress of the world behind and just feel at peace.

Little Big Town had a song a couple of years ago that evokes the sense of peace I feel when I go home, "Bring it on Home"

You've got someone here
Wants to make it all right
Someone that loves you more
Than life right here
You've got willing arms that'll hold you tight
A hand to lead you on through the night right here
I know your heart can get
All tangled up inside
But don't you keep it to yourself

When your long day is over
And you can barely drag your feet
The weight of the world
Is on your shoulders
I know what you need
Bring it on home to me

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Belong

I couldn't sleep last night because I couldn't turn my mind off, I kept going over all the things I need to do in the next couple of days to get ready to leave. Deciding which things to take home with me and what to leave here, finishing a transition plan for work and saying good bye. I must have carried these thoughts in my head all night because when I woke up this morning I couldn't get a line from a song out of my head:

I'm going home
Back to the place I belong

I wanted to hear the rest of it (I could only remember the one line.) I was sure it was a 3 Doors Down song, but couldn't remember which one, so I started digging through my files trying to find it. I finally turned to google and discovered I was searching in the wrong place, the line comes from Daughtry's "Home."

No matter who sings it, its the perfect song to get me going today. Working through my list of to dos is much easier when I remember why I'm doing all this work.

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Countdown

I'm in full countdown mode - mind full of things I need to wrap up so I can leave India for a few weeks and yet unable to concentrate because all I can think about is getting home to see my family, my cute little house up on the hill, adorable Sadie and amazing Maggie.

It seems that when I get into countdown mode all I listen to are songs that remind me of home, I downloaded a new song this week which is a perfect fit for my mood, "Home" by Blake Shelton. It's a beautiful song, and the lyrics describe just how I feel about life right now, I'm a very lucky girl who loves her job and the adventure of India, but still, all I can think about this week is how much I want to go home.

I can't wait for my plane to land in DC next Wednesday so I can spend my first night in 3 months in the US or to drop in on my old home Dallas on Thursday, even if all I get to see is the airport for a couple of hours, but more than anything I can't wait to see those Wasatch Front Mountains out of the window of the airplane. It doesn't matter how long I've been gone or where I've been, when I see those mountains below me I feel at peace. I know I'll soon be back Home.

Another summer day
Has come and gone away
In Paris and Rome
But I wanna go home

Maybe surrounded by
A million people I
Still feel all alone
I wanna go home

Another airplane
Another sunny place
I'm lucky I know
But I wanna go home

Let me go home
I'm to far from where you are
I wanna come home

And I feel just like I'm living someone else's life
It's like I stepped outside
When everything was going right
And I know just why you could not
Come along with me
This was not your dream
But you always believed in me

Let me come home
I've had my run
Baby I'm done
I'm coming back home
Let me come home
It will all be alright
I'll be home tonight
I'm coming back home

I'm coming back home

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