Closer

Last October, we met our future house looking like this:

Then we cleared her out:

We put in new flooring, then moved our stuff in.

I finally got around to having those chairs reupholstered, AND I bought fabric to make some simple panels for the windows.

I began to make the panels using these directions. That was in March.

Then we began our renovations, and I no longer had the floor room to work with the fabric on the floor. ARGGHHH!

Conclusion: in order to finish making them, I will have to vacuum so The Crazy Dog will not leave his "mark" all over them. He sheds. Like crazy.

Last week our friends Clay and Emily came to visit, so I decided to clean up a little.

In an effort to clear out the baby's room some, I got out my sewing machine, ironing board and yards of half-way done panels and set to work. I did it. I got it done.

But I didn't iron the final product.

The Daddy hung the curtain rod for me late one night, as soon as I finished them.

I even got the urge to hang a few ironstone pieces I've begun collecting.

I just used some ring clips I got from Lou Lou at a Swap 'n Shop to hang them.

I let them puddle just a little bit.

The bench used to be in the front hallway, but now our new king-size headboard is there until the renovations on our new master are done. I would love to use the bench at the foot of our bed, but it may be too short. In that case, it may end up back in the foyer.

I have dreamed about using two Louis ghost chairs at the heads of the table. What do you think?

If you are curious about how I did the panels, Janell @ Isabella and Max Rooms does a THOROUGH tutorial. I'll warn you. She knows what she's doing, she's a perfectionist and she has a million steps. I started out using her instructions, which were great especially when it came to lining up the pattern repeat so both panels would look the same.

When it came to finishing the panels, I got a little closer to The Nester's theory: IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE PERFECT TO BE BEAUTIFUL!

Posted at The Nester's Table and Chairs Inspiration Link Up and Kelly's Korner.

Before and After- The Dining Room

The Real Estate Listing Picture:

Cleared Out:

Today:

Name That Photo!

I have no words for this getup. Do you?

How to Give Your Contractor a Heart Attack,

your husband a stress-filled lunch and yourself eyes full of tears...

I really wanted to show you how the rooms look all nice and freshly painted, but guess who came to join the party?

The table saw!

He's taken residence in order to get our bathroom tile work done.

Remember our tile, cabinet and counter top choices?

So here's a big pile ready to go:

Here are rows and rows of tile that was specially cut to line the shower walls. They didn't come in the size we wanted, so two men spent the whole day yesterday cutting and cutting and cutting.

Then they started laying the tile on the diagonal, just like I asked them to do.

Here's the heart attack:

doesn't the tile look SO MUCH DARKER than the tile I selected?

Let's compare:

I thought it would lighten up overnight, but it didn't.

Today when the contractor knocked on the front door, I mentioned to him that it looked, um....too dark. He replied, "Well, it only comes in two colors: walnut and ivory. That's walnut!"

I think it should be ivory. He says we ordered walnut. His wife who was with us at the tile store says walnut. The tile guy at the store says walnut. Am I crazy?

I showed the contractor this picture, and he assured me that we did indeed pick the walnut.

As long as it matches the counter tops, I'll be happy.

Right now, I'm nervous. And the table saw drones on...

One Month Later

Back in May, I went to Nashville for a baby shower for Julie.

Last weekend I went back to Nashville for a surprise baby shower for Tausha and a baby shower brunch for Kara. I had the luxury this time of flying (and got bumped up to first class!) to Tennessee instead of driving all the long way from Florida.

Remember that I am pregnant along with four of my good college girlfriends?

Here we all are a month later.

Gretchen (barely showing)

Tausha (same due date as me)

Moi (the shortest in the bunch)

Julie (picked me up from the airport)

Kara (wore a string bikini at the lake later that day)

Personal observations:

1. We all look much more alive in the more recent picture. At least I do.
2. Could it be the more obvious "glow"?
3. We all rocked some cute shoes last weekend.
4. It never matters how long we go without talking, we pick up right where we left off.
5. Food and laughter go together.

Can't wait until Kara welcomes little Finley into the world!

Before and After- New Doors

The Construction Wall

It kept the dust out.

It's been replaced by...

our new bedroom doors!

(And the dust can come through now!)

Peacock, Peacock, What Do You Hear?

Because The Daddy had to go to a business dinner tonight, the girls and I were left to our own devices. At eight o'clock, I told them to get their pjs on and hop in the car.

Of course, what do a three-year-old and four-year-old ask?

WHY?

We're going on a peacock hunt!

In the neighborhood next to ours, there is a nature preserve where The Daddy and I have both spotted peacocks. Last night I took the girls out for a walk while The Daddy ran, and we looked in their normal hangout. No sightings.

Tonight, I decided to just get in the car and drive over. No such luck. Again!

Then I remembered that on the other side of the lake is another entrance to the nature preserve. Why not drive over there?

Cute sign just outside the neighborhood

And then we found him!

He was just out for a stroll and stopped for a drink of water.

Then my lens began to fog up from the humidity.

He crossed the street and headed back to the preserve.

He flighted up to the top of the gate and back down on the inside of the preserve.

Then he gave a serious call to his females! He usually is hanging out with two.

If you saw the movie Up, he sounded just like that crazy bird who liked chocolate!

These pictures were taken at about 8:30 pm, and thankfully today is the Summer Solstice, otherwise they would have been even blurrier!

The girls were delighted and so in awe that we finally found the peacock!

How 'Bout Some Color(s)?

Sneaky-peeky!

Here's a glimpse of the interior colors for our renovations:

Sherwin Williams

Sea Salt~ The Half Bath

Chasm still there with a mysterious roll of toilet paper?

Love this soothing blue!

Can you picture the crisp, white toilet and pedestal sink against the soft blue?

Sherwin Williams

Ancient Marble~ The Master Bath

This soft green is a step up (on the sample card) from the color we chose for the master bedroom.

Sherwin Williams

Grassland~ Master Bedroom

Big room=big bucket o' paint

That's all I'm giving you today. The sky just opened up again this afternoon, so I was lucky to get in and get these pictures for you.

Can't wait to show you more!