Today

I should be writing the introduction to my thesis...or writing up two interviews that I need to conduct...or re-writing my resume....or working on one of 2, 30 minute presentations I have to give in the next 2 weeks....

but it's hotter than heaven (heaven better be cooler than this!)

and instead of working- I am doing a little bit of lounging....

and enjoying a physical game of pool bball...

I am relaxed and trying to appreciate the little things:

1: The infrequent moments (right now when a little breeze is passing by)
2: Two precious Angelbabies playing nicely and imaginativly together without any assistance or encouragment by this hot Mama
3: This sweet old dog sitting beside me in the grass

It's the little things that get my hot and tired brain through days like this:)

Project File: Dining Room Buffet Facelift

The HORRENDOUS before....

and the much better after...

I had planned on the potential of painting the whole thing the same dark glossy teal of our front door- but after applying it to the top- I decided to go with the white: reason being- The teal looked dreadful against the gray walls- so much so that I couldn't handle it- especially since I was in a major state of decorator mania- doing 5,000 projects knowing that I'd be starting classes Monday and would have very little time for anything beyond research, psychology, and multi cultural counseling for the next 6 weeks. Specifically repainting the whole dinning room!

After having all of the classes in the past 2 days- I am correct in my assumption. I will not be doing anything but school work (and regular work) for the next 6 weeks- this will most likely be my last post until then:(

So- for the buffet- I removed all the doors- sanded the doors and base joints, filled all holes, re-sanded, then applied 3 coats of semi-gloss white paint (it's my trim paint that I use for the whole house I have a 5 gallon bucket in my basement)

Then I drilled new holes and installed all of the new hardware....I was going for the campaign chest look- I think that larger hardware would have been better- possibly the width of the trim? but this works fine for now!)

BIG improvement in my humble opinion! OH- and best part of tackling big projects- it forces you to clean out other areas- i.e. INSIDE of the buffet...now clean as a whistle!!

And you may have noticed I moved furniture around again- I put the (to-be-reupholstered) gold Brimfield couch in the living room instead.

We also got a temporary sofa from my parents and moved our older/more grubby current living room couch into the basement play room- and turned it into a more family friendly area:

Which then forced me to reevaluate my sewing table/fabric stash- and hence clean/organize that area: (because, of course I had to make new pillows for the couches:)

and I finally got around to covering an old cork board I inherited- I just wrapped it in a fabric scrap- staple gunned it on the back- and pushed in a border of brass upholstery tacks I picked up at the hardware store- SUCH a simple project! literally 30 mins max!!

and in the midst of this compulsive frenzy of projects/decorating- My oldest Angelbaby graduated from pre-school. INSANE! and so much harder for me then I thought it would be (which probably contributed to the compulsive frenzy:)

LOVE

I'm No Mason

Well- I'm really not...nor am I a gardener- but I DO appreciate a nice back yard to lounge in on balmy days. And I DO appreciate the fact that my once man made pool/mosquito pit (when we bought the house) turned firepit (after removing the pond form) is now, finally, an extension of our patio.

Below is the before picture- pretty sad- an eye sore really. I had good intentions of smores by the fire, and parties outside at night. But, truth be told- the mosquito's in our yard at dusk and beyond make it impossible to hang- and the pit was somewhat of a hazard (although my guys never fell in it, it worried other more cautious visitors to our home).
The main motivator for me was that D got a beautiful grill from my parents for his Bday/Christmas gift and we needed a spot for it to go- and the pit-was it!

Here's how I did it:

The hole required 600 lbs of sand- yikes! Then I started to arrange the rocks (all of which were elsewhere in the yard when we moved in)

I ended up extending the brick patio as far as I could- then adding the rock part onto the corner...

I also decided to plant a couple veggie beds this year- it was a very last minute, somewhat ill planned move- but the kale is growing like a weed- very exciting and satisfying to eat out of your own back yard! and a great experience for the little ones!

After a whole lot of sweat, and heavy lifting of many, many rocks- I finished it!!

Voila!  Perfect little spot for the grill. SUCH an improvement!

And during the whole process- I spotted this totally adorable little friend spying on me- a baby cardinal just out of the nest. SO close to our back door perched in the wisteria vines- that we could have literally plucked it off its perch- too cute!

I start summer classes today- 6 weeks of a whole lotta work!! Wish me luck! Is it terrible that I am looking forward to the end of July already?!