Have you seen me?
Yep, that was me in week 4,
staggering down the cereal aisle with
deep purple undereye circles, roots overdue
for their touch-up, wearing paint splattered clothes
I wore yesterday (after sleeping in them).
I'm not overworked at the cottage, I just remain sleep deprived
and concerned about bears...more 'bout that in a sec.
*Side note regarding blogging about the fixer upper:
I have had moments I felt I should perhaps
simply post some appalling 'before' images,
all of them captioned with OY, and call it a day
since I seem to complain here about all the
work, expense, and surprises.
However. OY.
I don't want that to be my ungrateful jam.
My jam is this:
WE ARE JUST MUDDLING THROUGH
WITH A SENSE OF HUMOR, CREATIVITY,
AND A WHOLE LOTTA LOVE.
scaffolding needed to paint near the ceiling in here
It has been just one month since we took possession of
the one-and-a-half-story we intend to love back to life.
In week 4, the most exciting development was:
this is my best bud who moved away & keeps asking of the fixer upper
IS IT PAST THE 'LOOKING WORSE
THAN WHEN YOU STARTED' STAGE YET? Hmmmmm.
So so exciting in 90 degree weather
to be able to close the windows
and cease duct taping those jacked up screens!
In week 4, we mostly took a break.
I took a few days to dream about decor and finishes,
but insomnia wrecked me since my family went camping
in the Boundary Waters and I was home alone
(obsessing about their being attacked by bears and also
about possible bears or intruders in the corn
outside the rental who may or may not know
how to negotiate a sliding patio door).
While they rowed away from civilization, I shopped
for inspiration online and at local shops
even though we are far from the decorating phase.
It may not be realistic, and I could be tired-high-insane,
but I am in love with the idea of
incorporating vintage doors and lighting, reclaimed wood,
and furniture pieces that tell a story with their age
and have become living art.
Who knows? Maybe all of the above will come home with me.
This week I got more painting done of the staircase,
and in a fit of I CAN'T TAKE THIS UGLY PENDANT
ANOTHER SECOND, I ripped the dirty globe and iron
leaves off a kitchen light fixture (above).
Before he left for da bears, my husband installed
the toilet in the main bath, and I painted the beadboard walls.
When painting walls bored me, I mixed up some chalk paint
and took my brush to some shabby furniture I may or may not
use at the cottage...doesn't everyone paint on their painting break?
These shots are just me having fun with the light,
my iphone, and a few objects I had laying around.
Lessons learned in Week 4:
*3 layers of undereye concealer + foundation + pressed powder
still FAILS to sufficiently hide the truth you are a
pathetically groomed neurotic menopausal DIY insomniac
terrified of bears in the cornfield and elsewhere.
*Getting away from drywall dust and lists of infinite tasks
is always a good idea, but if you don't catch up on
ya rest? Mercy, child, you are totes screwdini.
*Indeed it IS humanly possible to obsess about kitchen
pendant lighting for a breakfast bar 24-7 in week 4,
only to then consider...hey, maybe the design police
won't arrest us for not incorporating pendants.
*Since this project is a whirlwind one and
I love so many different design styles,
the plan is a little loose and evolving...
my objectives at this juncture are to
(1) slow down and (2) listen closely to the house
to see what it wants. So far, whisperings reveal:
SPARE, NATURAL, AND SOULFUL.
CHOOSING FLOORING
KITCHEN DEMO
Please come join me
in this DIY adventure by
clicking here for all my fixer upper update posts!
(And thanks for subscribing here so you don't miss an episode.)
Peace to you right where you are.
p.s.
hope you will leave a comment
(we love it when you do!)
