jane's apron

I am...

I am sore.  From playing on the 8th grade kickball team at their picnic.  Pretty sure it is not just from running but running as fast as I could rounding third in danger of getting thrown out at home.  High fives, hugs, and fist bumps all around from my enthusiastic bunch of kids when I scored.  

I am exhausted. This is my third year teaching and I don't think anything is harder than the last week of school.  I tried to fill my 8th graders' time with end-of-course exams and history paper deadlines but nothing could dampen their spirits for long or pull their focus off the fact that they are graduating.

I am nervous.  About speaking and making announcements in front of a large crowd at graduation tomorrow night.  You probably don't think a "teacher" and "introvert" go together but they do.  

I am happy and sad.  Because my oldest son is also graduating this weekend.  I see him right in front of me but every time I blink I see him as a little kid.  Blink...he's in kindergarten.  Blink...he's playing soccer.  Blink...he's wearing a too-big blazer to his 8th grade graduation.  Blink...wasn't he just a freshman?

white slipcovers

Everybody in our house said something along the lines of"White? Really? Did they have other colors?".  Even the dogs and cats seemed to question the wisdom of it.  

But I don't care.  Something had to be done and I made the leap to white.  Word on the internet is that they clean easily and can be bleached.  And in case of total disaster, I can order more from IKEA (the white Ektorp covers are way cheaper than the other options and the shipping was actually reasonable for us living in an IKEA-free zone). 

I've banned everybody from trompsing directly into the room from the yard.  I've issued various warnings.  Any advice?

january nesting

I started this morning with an all-out search for a lost earring.  I know I lost it in bed and have been waiting for it to miraculously appear for over a month.  Moving the mattress, crawling under the bed, and moving furniture led to an all-out cleaning session (but no earring).  And that led to some furniture swapping.  That's a chair from the computer room (formerly from the living room).  And that's Penny as the Princess and the Pea.  

And then I finally made the leap and ordered a new duvet.  I feel like I move to the thrifty dark side whenever I order anything from Pottery Barn but sometimes it just has to be done.  I will always love ticking...and it was on sale...and...that's enough justification for now. Here.

thirty-one days {31}

I made it...thirty-one days.  Happy New Year!

thirty-one days {26}

Good thrifting continued to be elusive for me this year.  My best for the year was a set of chairs.  Bentwood, woven seat, distressed white finish.  There were about 50 of these in the thrift store window and I snagged four...$6.95 each.  

thirty-one days {18}

A little late with this post today.  I got the classic "Mom I need a bad Christmas sweater for tomorrow...oh, and two dozen cookies too".  

I''ve got a photo of my Christmas tree to share.  The galvanzied bucket really works for us but presents under the tree do not...our puppy is on the naughty list and can't be trusted.  

thirty-one days {13}

The chalkboard on our pantry door got an update last weekend.  I noticed when I gathered these pictures that a high-speed snowball fight broke out (with a guy in the tree) between the first and second picture.  This is how a little girl with brothers has her artwork modified.  She liked it.  

thirty-one days {9}

Scenes from the mud porch.  Cleaned up and looking rather sparse and pretty.  The porch got new windows with the apartment construction but everything else is the same.  The same pine floor, the same old tongue and groove ceiling...and the same old cabinet with the cherries I painted. 

The tree is up and smells so good.  I have my favorite yellow lights on it but no farther than that yet.  I stand the tree in a big galvanized bucket (since 2006...just found it on an old post but terrible picture).  Kind of like this.

my little shoe

I started to organize my crafty stuff but only ended up making pretty piles and taking pictures.  This may be one of my favorite crafty things to do...gathering pretty things together.

The black patent mary jane with the tiny button is my baby shoe (not sure where the other one is).  I love mary janes.  

I'm turning 50 this week...really can't believe it.  I am seriously considering not having gray hair anymore.  Gray when you are 40 is kind of edgy.  Gray when you are 50 is not.  Opinions?

spooky

Halloween decorations aren't needed at my house this year.  The scaffolding surrounding our house, plywood covering the windows, and full slate tiles spiked into the yard are scary enough.  Our roof was made to last 100 years and it almost made it...right up until a major hail storm last spring.

So...we're good for 100 more years.

Happy Halloween wishes!