girl at large

Surprise!

This happened two seconds after I said "Wouldn't it be funny if underneath was the same classic black and white hex tile that we just special ordered?"

 

 

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Summer Suffering in Shorewood

Paul was out of town for work all week, leaving me alone with baby. He worried if I'd be able to manage on my own, I worried if four days would be enough alone time for me!

It was so pleasant to get ready in the morning without tripping over each other. The nights, however, were another story. A heat wave is not kind to 90 year old bungalows without air conditioning. We had installed one tiny window unit it in the hallway, in the only window large enough for an air conditioner, as far away from the only usable bedroom as possible. But it's two BTU's struggled to keep the attic rooms below 85 degrees.

Viv didn't complain, but she was a sweaty miserable little thing. The worst was the heat rash from the car seat straps. Because, like everything in our lives right now, the car too is in need of repair. The A/C is out in the only car that the car seat fits in. We raced to daycare each morning as early as possible, and after work I took whatever circuitous route home that would keep the car in motion, hoping the bit of wind might keep us both from frying. The only hotter and more uncomfortable I've ever been was during the deadly heat wave in the south of France in 2003.

The day Paul returned, he suffered through only one sweaty night before figuring out how to rip out a window sash to move the air conditioner in the bedroom. That same day, the weather broke with a cool breeze temps in the low seventies. Of course it did.

 

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Big Day at the Zoo

My Little Sister Nevaeh moves to Texas in less than two weeks. Today was our last "Big" outing: a long overdue trip to the zoo.

We've made plans to keep in touch, but she didn't think much of my idea that letter writing will improve her penmanship.

I'm more than a little heart broken to see her go.

I'm not usually the type, but I have always had a feeling that the universe gave me Paul and then Vivienne because I first took a chance on the BBBS program and became Nevaehs Big Sister.

I just wish that if the universe were to be good to me again, it will take care of her and turn things around for her and her family.

Before & After Paint

Before and After shots of the interior painting in the Tin Can Cottage. What a difference! It's so much cleaner and brighter. We may have to Kilz and recoat in the dinette area--the smoking decades took their toll--but we are almost done.

Now if only redoing the plumbing were as easy.

New Finishes, Old Friends

We decided to use carpet tiles in the trailer instead of the cork-patterned vinyl due to both technical difficulties and comfort. Baby Viv will be crawling soon, and it's much cozier. I found both the carpet tile and the glass mosaic back splash tile on the cheap at HOBO. Gotta love HOBO.

Next task: choosing the laminate for the counter tops (kitchen, bathroom and the bedroom area cabinet). The colors are familiar---BM's Palladian Blue and Blue Spa paint, two favorites I've used for ages. And of course, the never-lets-me-down grey. My beloved LuLu DK curtains will move from our bedroom (where they didn't really work in the new house anyway) to the trailer, replacing the old plastic accordion bathroom door. Picking colors, coordinating finishes---fun stuff!

Poor Paulie has been dealing with the not-so-fun stuff. Why are pipe fittings always 1/8" too small? Why are no two caps threaded alike?

And who on earth taught this boy to build a fire? We are the smoky laughing stock of the campsite, I guarantee you.

 

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