Family Pics

In between downpours this evening, we ran outside for some pictures - my absolute favorite thing to do.

The original crew

I kind-a like these kids

Recycle

Eew nasty, this isn't exactly my taste, but I was searching for a rectangular frame at the GW for this project . . . I think the GW is onto people like me because their interesting frames are getting outrageously priced (I think I've said this B4).

I painted the frame black and sanded the edges to distress. Just as a trial, I sanded the lettering on the paper and it actually worked OK. I love this saying - out of a book I borrowed from a friend.

A Relaxing Saturday (not)

Scott, Dad, Susie, Sherman, and Sten spent the entire day tearing down this building to salvage the metal, timbers and steel trusses. Unfortunately, the weather was not too cooperative and it was a near monsoon and hailing at the most critical point.

Now you see it . . .

Now you don't (thanks to those "Built Ford Tough" trucks)

The muddy, tired, sore crew

Susie has (wisely) decided that she will choose to spend the day with the girls next time they have one of these massive tasks

I think #1 husband looks adorable in a hard hat. Oh, and Dad, you look adorable too, but I think you should have bright yellow rainboots and a red/white polka dotted umbrella with that coat.

Head go-fer. Hey Sten, "Go git ___" Hey Sten, "Can you grab ___?"

I don't know if you've ever seen a "drowned rat", but here are two of them. They were thrilled to run around this property and climb on the filthy rock piles - within minutes they were dirtier than anyone on the project.

Rookie Auctioneer

Last night was Scott's big debut as an auctioneer and he did a tremendous job. He had been practicing at home and Maren picked up on the "auction chant" and began doing it at home and then at school. As auction day approached, several teachers asked Maren if she would begin the auction, and although she was a little nervous - she started it off. The turn out wasn't as good as last year, and that made it a bit more difficult for the auctioneer, but in spite of the situation, he did awesome. (Toot Toot! I'm blowing his horn) I will post a video soon.

A few folks, enjoying the show.

Gitchy Gitchy Goo

If you are a whiz on Photoshop, try this one . . . I found this website today that has some hysterical pictures on it and some a little too familiar looking, I'm afraid.

Bargain of the Week

Pssst, I'll let you in on a great deal. At Habitat for Humanity in Lebanon (just down from the shop on Airway Rd), they are selling these plastic adirondack chairs for 7$! They have a few olive green ones, and quite a few aqua blue and brown. This Saturday, everything is 1/2 price - so if there are any left, they will only be $3.50!! I know they are open 9-4 on Saturday, but not sure of their hours on the other days.

Please, pretty Please

I think I need one of these . . . It's a pneumatic orbital sander - a handy little dude. It makes distressing wood a breeze. When our cabinets were built, I "distressed" them with the help of one of these at the cabinet shop, and it worked slick. Anyway, how could Scott resist a request for a power tool? Hey, the Snap-On man comes by the shop today - I might have to do a little "power shopping" in his van!

Every table tells a story

I sent my father on a Craigslist run to grab this treasure, he's always agreeable to these missions as I get my zest for ad shopping from him. It is an old farmhouse table and is extremely shabby. The pic above shows how the tabletop looked as it sat on the table - it was burned and had a few patches of motor oil.

He turned the tongue and groove boards over and nailed them down - thanks Dad

Scott then cut off one of the legs because it sat a little wibble wobble due to a bit of dry rot (imagine it). Then he took the belt sander and cleaned up the boards leaving some blue. I stained the top and threw a price tag on it. I know it's not everyone's style, but this authentic shabby furniture is a rage while others would throw it on the nearest burn pile.

Update: this table sold within a day after placing it in the store. My Dad encouraged, demanded, and sternly directed me to sell it for more $$$. So, I sheepishly went in the store to check on increasing the price (a little tacky, I know), but it was missing! Scott ratted me out to Mr. Pa Fix-it and I think I might be grounded. My friend, Kristen was the thrilled purchaser, so I'll know she'll treasure it, and we can even go visit it occasionally.

The stockings were hung . . .

Imagine my glee when I rounded the corner and spotted this beauty at the Goodwill for 29.99! One of the unfinished projects in our house is the fireplace area, so this will do for now. Hey, it was even my birthday, so I got a discount (I know you'll be shocked, but I'm a GW club member).

With one coat - this is the Home Depot paint & primer stuff - not too impressed with their "impressive" coverage.

After 2nd coat, sanding to distress, and staining - I guess we're ready for Santa Claus now!

Once again, I think that wide horizontal board above the opening needs some lettering . . .

Congratulations are in Order

Susie received a little package in the mail today - an acceptance letter from OHSU School of Nursing in La Grande. Hooray! She will be spending the summer playing guitar at the local Farmer's Markets and occasionally pull a few shifts at some busy intersections with her handout bucket ready to catch any spare change thrown at her.

Her first patient - not sure what malady he's suffering, but it looks serious and possibly beyond the reach of modern medicine to tackle.

How to Singe a Goatee

There was a birthday celebration at our house this evening and Scott had been unsuccessful at lighting a match until this very shocking (to him) moment!

A change in Plans

Yesterday, we headed into town to take Milah to track and were diverted from the main highway onto a little curvy country road due to an accident. We were zipping along perfectly, when the truck suddenly lost power and stopped, blocking a lane. Uuuuhh, that's a problem - especially when all the highway traffic had been detoured to this particular road.

Milah and Maren were flagging traffic with their heads poked out the back window, while I'm frantically calling and occasionally turning the key hoping it fires. While numerous familiar faces drove by, Maren went to relieve herself. I asked her to find a hidden area - but she walked up the hill, that overlooked the scene, behind a teeny tree and could easily be spotted by passersby (Hello Maren - if you can see the cars - they can see you). Scott showed up and towed us up the road a bit and the tow truck came to haul the beast away. Although we really like this truck, it seems to be very cantankerous - and is beginning to be highly unreliable. Yeah, it's a Ford, keep your comments to yourself - thanks.

Just as the taillights of the tow truck dissappeared around the corner, a man pulled out of his driveway near us and took a right onto the road. For some reason, he cut the corner too sharp and buried the front of his new Ford pickup in a DEEP ditch. I thought, "We're never gonna make it home tonight!" "Un-be-liev-able", was the look on Scott's face. The man threw it in reverse, but his one back tire was off the ground probably 10 feet. He then slammed it in 4 wheel drive and drove out of the ditch. Eyes widened, our mouths dropped to our chests and we burst out laughing. We quickly hopped in the Jeep and headed down the road (very carefully)- we'd had enough action for one evening.

Update: the culprit was a bad fuel pump. We have started drafting a letter to Ford to explain our predicament and have discovered that we have owned 24 different Fords throughout the years (some were Company rigs, and not all were perty new ones). Ford has never let us down, but apparently this last one was grown in Florida because it is a LEMON!

Just being Neighborly

A neighbor summoned me for help in decorating her living room. She is not a frilly teacup and china sort of lady, but an outdoorsy, farmy kind of gal. The red shaker bench was my inspiration and from there, we searched for 3 more benches(psst, Craigslist) - and then all the treasures to sit on them. She has an eye for grabbing good things at garage sales and since I know where the key to her house is, I warned her not to be too shocked if there seems to be a few items missing.

She has an entry area where we plan to put partially rusty corrogated tin (sealing it first) up the wall 2/3 of the way with her coat rack on top.

Myers Cowgirl

Elena sent some pics of the little cowgirl in residence. She is an adorable lass and her brothers are crazy about her. Any guess on which one she most closely resembles?

Remodel Fury

Scott's Grandparents bought this house and it was a rental for years. When Grandma Patty decided to move North, we remodeled her ranch style home and had some fun doing it. Yes, I know, this was a while ago, but I just wanted to share this project and have all the pictures in one place (because I'm not very good at keeping my pics organized, OK?!)

This house had been this same color for eons, so it was time for a change . . .

Updated the look of the outside and put a larger window to the right of the front door.

We painted throughout, and replaced most of the flooring


The kitchen was the biggest challenge. As you can see, this countertop/cabinet cut off the kitchen from the dining area and there was only a small walkway into the kitchen. The lighting and the cabinet hardware were (let me say) less than desirable.

The appliances were outdated and the dishwasher was across the kitchen from the sink.

And it was all covered by these nasty faux pink marble countertops

During

AFTER - the kitchen is cheerful, bright and open with RED accents

We were able to use most of the existing cabinets and just had new doors made. If you think you can do an inexpensive update on a house by replacing light fixtures and cabinet hardware - be prepared for the sticker shock when you get to the counter. All these little things add up in a hurry but they do make a considerable difference.

Den area- BEFORE

AFTER

Saturday Project

While at Habitat for Humanity today, I bought this awesome piece of chippy siding for 50 cents, and couldn't wait to get home and try some hand lettering, specifically an idea I saw here. I've tried these kind of projects before and they never seemed to turn out how I visualized, but I love this!

Belated Birthday present for mi madre. How do I know that she will love it? Well, it seems as though we have the same taste. We can go in a 10,000 sq. ft antique store and fall in love with the same item. I screamed for joy at St Vincents when I discovered this for 5$, and it's even the larger size!