Should I be worried?

Today marks 31 years that I have been married to my husband.  I've known Dan since I was a senior in high school and he was a sophomore in college.   We met at a boy/girl fraternity pajama party.  He'd seen a picture of me prior to that time though as my brother and Dan are frat brothers.  I was visiting the campus for the weekend, both my brother and older sister attended the same college.  My brother asked for volunteers to take me out while I was visiting and a whopping 3 guys raised their hands.  Dan and I hit it off quite well and I forgot about the other 2 guys.  I think it might have been the diaper he was wearing as his party pajamas that first attracted me.  There's something about passing an orange under your chin to a guy in a diaper that really sets my heart a flutter!  No that isn't right, the diaper just clinched it.  What really got me interested was Dan's resemblance to one of my biggest heart throbs of the time...Sean Cassidy.   Earlier in the day, prior to the party my sister and I had been cleaning up the kitchen at the TKE house, Dan ran through the kitchen in a burgundy track suit and that was it.  I saw Sean Cassidy and I think maybe it was love at first sight.  Later that night when I saw him in a diaper...well what's a girl to do when  faced with 140 pounds of skin and bone all wrapped up in a diaper but fall head over heels!  Of course I had to go back to high school and we both vowed to write to each other.  Surprisingly, we did!  I still have all his letters to me.  God only knows where the embarrassing letters I wrote to him ended up.  Hopefully in a fire somewhere.  Although we continued to write to each other, he was at college and I was home and when another guy I lusted after liked asked me out I said yes.  After all I had been singing a little ditty about him for months prior to meeting Dan, I wasn't going to pass up the opportunity.  What ditty were you singing you ask?  It went something like this...All I want for Christmas is a date with J.L, a date with J.L. a date with J.L.  etc...you get the idea.  So now I am writing to Dan and talking to him on the phone and dating J.L.  The funny thing about wanting something so bad and wishing so hard for it is...sometimes reality is not as good as the fantasy and such was the case with J.L.  The guy might have had the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen on a guy but he was boring!   A regular snooze fest but he was here in town and Dan wasn't so this situation went on for months.  Prom was coming up and J.L. and I were making plans to go even though I knew I was going to dump him.  Suddenly, Dan decided to come home for the weekend with my brother.  Yes folks, that would be Prom weekend.  Can we say uncomfortable?  J.L. came to pick me up and there was Dan, hanging out with the family.  I introduced them, they shook hands and off I went to Prom.  Prom was boring, I didn't want to be there with J.L.  I wanted to be home where Dan was.  I think I managed to wait like 3 days after prom before I dumped J.L.,  looking back I feel bad about it but I was young and immature. What do you expect??  After that Dan came to Omaha to visit on a regular basis.  We were now officially dating.  I enrolled for college at the same school as my siblings and Dan and thought I had it made.  Until I got to college and discovered a vast array of hot guys.  And I was curious.  And wanted to know more about the hot guys.  Maybe even make out with a few of them.  But I didn't want to lose Dan in the process.  I made the suggestion that we needed to maybe date other people for a while.  Dan was not thrilled with the idea but went along with.  I remember one night in particular.  Somehow, I managed to end up with 5 "dates" in one night.  I'm using the term "date" loosely.  they asked to stop by the dorm and I said sure, not realizing until it was too late that I had said sure 5 times.  Hey, again young and immature.  Try not to judge!  I lived in an all girl dorm.  Every guest had to be escorted in and out.  Thanks to my roommate and friend, the whole dorm knew the situation I had gotten myself into.  Each and every one of them was waiting in the lobby to see if I could pull this off without getting caught.  And I almost did.  Until I was escorting Dick (number 4) out and Dan was coming in.  Can we say Awkward?  I introduced Dick to Dan and finished showing Dick the door.  I could tell Dan was not pleased but he didn't say a word.  Not at that time anyway.  No siree, he just waited for the right time and then he retaliated. He actually had the audacity to date another girl!!!  The hell you say!  That was not part of my plan.  No!  Time out!  That is not happening!  So,  I quickly decided that dating other guys wasn't quite what I thought it would be and I broached the subject of becoming exclusive again.  Dan was okay with that and life settled down to an even keel. It  was good.  Dan graduated, asked me to marry him, took a job in Wyoming and with all our worldly possessions in the back of a pickup and a homemade trailer off we went.  That first year it was just us, the town he taught school in was only 100  people big.  I didn't drive, didn't have a job and no family within a 15 hour drive.  But I had Dan.  I believe to this day that the year we spent in that little town is responsible for keeping us together all these years.  We were all each other had.  We had no choice but to depend on each other.  This is not to say we haven't had our ups and downs because we have.  We've weathered job changes, money problems, job lay offs, 3 sick kids, a closed head injury,  and on and on.  Sometimes he makes me so mad I want to scream!  But I can't imagine life without him.  He's my guy.  And for all these years he has made me feel special and loved.  Every anniversary he's gone out of his way to do something special to celebrate the day.  And then today, I received this:

and an anti fatigue mat by Martha Stewart.

Do you think maybe he's trying to tell me something???  LOL!!

Seriously, in my mind the kitchen renovation is my gift.  He has worked his butt off on it all summer long and I really couldn't ask for anything better than that.  Thank you Dan.  I love you more than you could possibly know.

And on that note, I need to go put my foot up.

Take care till next time!

Julie

For the Naggers out there...

My husband Dan works in an office where most of his co-workers are women.  He gets along great with women,  flirts, pulls little pranks, gossips with the best of them and generally they share all of life's up and downs with each other.  One might say he's just one of the gals!  Well, one might say that if one doesn't want one's kitchen finished!    Aw heck, I'll live dangerously and say it anyway!  Today, I am dedicating this post to two of his friends from the office.  Judy and Lynn.  The reason for this dedication you ask?  They get the top ranking for biggest nags when it comes to my blogging and pictures of the kitchen.  Every day Dan comes home from work and says, did you blog today?  Judy and Lynn are wanting more pictures of the kitchen progress.  Every day I've been  responding with no, no blogging today dear.  Just don't feel like it.  Or, no I didn't have time today (a blatant lie, I mean all I can do is sit on my butt right now, so how can I not have time??)  Finally I responded with I'm not going to blog until you have the pantry doors done and you can tell Judy and Lynn that .  I figured this would surely do one of two things.  They would either quit asking Dan about it and in turn he would quit asking me or they would turn their nagging on Dan and start dinging him about getting the pantry doors  done.  It's a win win for me, he works harder so they quit dinging him or they quit dinging him altogether and I wouldn't have to feel guilty for not blogging. Amazingly enough it worked!!  I didn't hear those dreaded "Did you blog today" words come out of his mouth until he got the doors done.  Now I feel I have no choice but to share the progress that has been made in the almost 2 weeks since my last post.  Been a lot going on so sit back, grab a cuppa something and get comfy.

When last I wrote,  Abby had just graduated, we'd had her party and she was preparing to take her boards.  This has been a very stressful couple of weeks for us all.  As Abby's stress level rises so does her snarkiness and we've all been tiptoeing around trying not to set her off.  Hard to do since all you really needed to to was look at her and she'd explode.  The girl has no confidence in herself and her ability to pass the boards.  I know she's smart, but she doesn't.  Well, I am pleased and proud to announce that this past Wednesday she sat for her boards and she passed them with points to spare!!!  Dan and I were both in tears from relief and from being so gosh darn proud of our daughter.  Two years ago this was just a dream on the horizon and now it is a reality.  It's also a reality that x-ray jobs are few and far between so between me, my sister and Dan we convinced Abby to go back to UNO and finish out her bachelors degree.  She's re-enrolled and signed up for classes and hopefully if all goes well and she can get and pass all the classes she needs she will graduate next summer.  I have no doubt that next year we'll be having another graduation party for her.

I was also headed to the Dr. the last time I wrote to get my splint off and my cast on.  I was hoping the cast might be somewhat more comfortable than the splint but it really isn't.  I've been bitching complaining ever since my surgery that my heel hurt and I couldn't figure that out because the portion of the tendon that was bad was quite a ways from the part of my heel that was hurting.  I discovered why when they took the splint off.  The incision went clear down onto my heel!!    Color me stupid because I had no idea it would go that low.  I will put a picture of the incisions before they took the stitches out at the very bottom of this post.  It's a bit gruesome looking and if you are squeamish you might not want to go there.   So that explained the pain which made me feel somewhat better anyway but the darn cast rubs in the same place as the splint did so that is still bothering me quite a bit.  The rest of it feels mostly good unless I do something stupid like slip on my crutches and come down on my right leg.  Which I did.    OUCH!!  I was told I could have any color cast I wanted except yellow.  Of course I had to ask why I couldn't have yellow (not that I wanted yellow but inquiring minds want to know why no yellow cast).  The response?  They were out of yellow.  So I chose pink.  Amy wanted me to choose orange, I didn't think I wanted to look like a construction cone though so I ixnayed that quickly.   My wonderful family have put some very warm and loving sentiments on my cast.   For instance, Amy wrote...

Abby bless her heart drew me a picture.

That would be a Tyrannosaurus Rex and the reason for that drawing is because my wonderful and loving husband says that I'm not really all that short, I just have T-Rex sized arms.  The family finds this hilarious and takes every opportunity to bring that up.  Including hanging a plastic one from my rear view mirror in the car.  They are lucky I wouldn't do well in prison...I'm just saying.

Dan signed my cast this way.

Ahhhhh, that's more like it!  And serve he has.  He's been very good trying to meet all my needs and  I really appreciate it.
  
I started back to work last week on a part time basis.  I have to say, framing whilst standing on one leg...not so fun.  I stand for a bit then sit, then stand, then sit.  By the time I go home my ankle is swollen to the point of pain and I am exhausted.  But it feels good to be back doing what I love.    Thankfully most folks have been very patient and understanding about having to wait for their framing.  

In just 2 more long and drawn out weeks I will get my lovely pink cast removed and then I get a beautiful black walking boot!!    Still won't be able to drive but at least I'll be able to stand on two legs and go shopping walk.  

Do you need to go get another cup of coffee or tea?  I can wait for you.   Hurry up!

I've been stitching some and I'll show you one thing I finished  finished but won't get into the rest of it today since I am sure Lynn and Judy are foaming at the mouth by now.  You didn't really think I was going to hop right into the kitchen stuff did you Judy?

This is Blackbird Designs Thistle House stitched over 2 on Cream 40 count linen using the called for fibers.  This chart can be found in their book A Stitcher's Journey.  I chose this chart knowing exactly what I wanted to do with it.  It was perfect for these sweet little Treasure Boxes we have in the shop.  I love how it turned out!

Okay, I best talk about the kitchen now before the girls completely stroke out.  Quite a lot of progress has been made.  The cupboards doors that were not done in the last picture I posted are done and hung.  The counters are finished.  The new sink and faucet is installed and the pantry doors are now finished.  Dan is currently working on the back splash.  No pictures of that yet.

Can I just say how much I love my new pantry?  It holds so much more than the old one and you can find what you want without digging through everything!  Best thing we did.  And to think Dan didn't think it was necessary!

I've been thinking hard about accessories, I ordered some fabric for curtains, but it will be a while before I can sew them and I don't know anyone that sews stuff like that.  I can't wait till I can get out there and look for some of the things I want.

Dan and I are having an ongoing conversation regarding an island.  He wants one.  BAD.  I don't think we truly have enough space for one.  If we custom build one and make it a skimpy 15 inches wide, that leaves us with only 32 inches of aisle space on either side.  Doable maybe if I were a skinny minnie  but even when I am able to exercise once again and hopefully can lose all the weight I have packed on in the last 3 years, I still won't be a skinny minnie.  But he really really wants one for some reason so we are still discussing it.

Finally, here's the picture of my leg with stitches.

Kinda gross right?  Now you know why Amy called me Frankenstein.  Luckily I have always healed up pretty good and generally don't scar much.  Let's hope that holds true.

That's it for today folks. I'm all out of interesting things to say .  I hope you enjoyed today's blog and as always, I love comments and questions.  Thanks for stopping by and take care till next time!!!

Julie  

Framed finishes, kitchen update and more!

Happy Monday!  I have to say I am glad the weekend is over.  I'm worn out after getting ready for Abby's graduation party.  Not that I did a whole lot  but what I did do was tiring and by the end of the day yesterday, I was hurting pretty good.  Then having everyone in just 2 rooms (too much construction crap in the dining room and library) was a bit too close for me.  Dan tried valiantly to get as much done in the kitchen as he possibly could but we were both slightly disappointed that some things just did not come together.  But really, there were so many people you couldn't see anything anyway!  I didn't get to go to the graduation ceremony.  Dan said it was very nice though.  Now we just need to find the girl a full time job and life will be good.

I think I mentioned that Adam was going to be moving to DC.  Well, he left here last Wednesday to begin the drive and arrived there on Thursday in the late afternoon.  He called me from his local Safeway store to let me know he had arrived and he sounded so tired and stressed out.  In fact he told me that driving in DC and the surrounding area was the single most stressful thing he has ever done and the next time he drove his car would be the day he moves away from DC.   That about broke my heart.  I did my best to talk him down so to speak, told him not to make any decisions when he was so tired and already stressed.  Told him there would be an adjustment period, Omaha is a larger city but compared to DC it might as well be a small village.  That will take time to adjust to.  In the end I think he was feeling much better.  Things didn't get any better for him though.  He stuff was supposed to be delivered on Saturday and the moving company somehow mixed up the dates.  Instead of July 9th they had him down for August 9th.  As of this morning, he still doesn't know when his things will arrive.  He did however, make it to work on time this morning, via the bus and the metro and was feeling more relaxed about that.  Can you tell my family doesn't do change well?  I shudder to think what they would have done if we were military and moved all the time.

Before my surgery, I did my best to get as much framing done as I could.  On the last day I was finally able to frame a couple of stitched pieces.  This first one was stitched by Mary Ann.  She finished it up right after Halloween this past year if that tells you anything about how busy we've been.  I really love how it turned out and I think she liked it too.  Sorry for the poor quality picture.  I had one without the glass on it but it's on the shops computer and since I'm not there....I had to send Abby in to the shop last week to take pics for me.  It's hard to get a good shot when there is glass on it.  The chart is from Kit and Bixby and it's called Creep Sheep.

                                                                   
You can't really see the frame in this picture.  It's a distressed burgundy frame with beading on the inner edge from East Side Mouldings.  The top mat has a cool/creepy mottled finish that you can see if you click on the picture to enlarge it.

The second piece I was able to finish was my Jenny Bean Friendship Sampler.  I debated back and forth on the frame for this one.  On the one hand, I have used a black frame on the other 2 Jenny Bean's I have stitched and I kinda wanted to keep with that theme.  But in the end, I just loved this frame from Valley House Primitives.  Maybe, if I hadn't made that big mistake with the color on this piece I would have liked the black frame but stuff happens and I love how it turned  out.  LOVE.IT.

I want to thank everyone for all the get well wishes and comments.  They warmed the cockles of my heart and made me feel loved.  Thanks Everyone!  I had several who commented on the acrylic finishing technique. I don't know if there's a tutorial somewhere out there.  I kinda just did my own thing on it and happily it worked out!  The acrylic stands looks sorta like an "L" and the short end goes into a notch on the bottom of the package.  It's about an inch wide.  I'm not sure where you can find them locally, we order ours from one of our suppliers but if anyone is interested, you can order them from the shop.  Off the top of my head I think they run around $3.00  I can try to write a tutorial on it but please don't hold me to it anytime soon.  I'm still trying to fill bird orders!   

Finally, I will leave you with a shot of the kitchen.  I'm excited to see it finished but know that is still some ways off.

I need to sign off now.  Have a Dr. appt. this afternoon to get ready for.  This will be my first time out since surgery!  Of course there would be a heat index advisory so I won't be able to enjoy the outside as much as I might like, but it will feel good just to leave the house.

Take care till next time!

Julie                                                                                                                        

Feeling better and some stitching updates!!

 Now that I am out of my drug induced stupor  which might have allowed me to post things that shouldn't necessarily be out there in the world, I think it's safe for me to re-enter the blogging world!  Then again, the drugs would have given me a perfect excuse to say whatever popped into my head and you all wouldn't have held it against me because I was on some very strong painkillers.  Darn!  Missed a good opportunity once again.

My surgery went well. The nerve block that was supposed to allow me to wake up from surgery with no pain however, did not work!  I never wake up from anesthesia well and I'm told this was no exception.  I woke up in  a lot of pain and they were not prepared for that.  Luckily, Dan had filled the prescription for pain meds already and they were able to get me comfortable fairly quickly.  Surgery was at 1 and we got home about 6:30 that evening.  Later than they anticipated and I think they were happy to see me go.

Recovery has not been too terrible.  Yes there was/is pain but with the meds it is tolerable.  I think the complete and utter boredom is worse than the pain.  One can only do so much from a seated position and crutching it isn't working so well.  My left hip does not like bearing all my considerable weight so I am pretty much stuck in my recliner chair all day long with the exception of  those times when I transfer to the rolling chair and roll around in the kitchen.  Everything I do is a process that has to be thought out because the last thing I need is to fall and break a hip or tear the sutures holding the tendon together.  It really makes you appreciate the little things in life.  Like washing your bum.  Hard to do when seated.  Nuff said.

 I also apparently act out my dreams as I found out the other night.  My dear dear wonderful husband had installed a plastic spider in the ceiling vent of Amy's room and she discovered it before going to bed the other night.  Amy and I both have an irrational fear of spiders.  Just talking about them can bring on a nightmare.  And that night I had one where the floor was covered with the little buggers and I was stomping on them.  With.my.right.foot.  The foot that had surgery.  As I was stomping in my dream I was also stomping with my leg IRL.  Can we say OUCH!!  Even though I wasn't stomping on the actual floor just the action was enough to cause considerable pain.  I cursed the man a blue streak once the pain subsided and if parts of his body should happen to fall off in the next little while...he deserves it.

I go back to the Dr. on Monday and I think they take the splint off and cast the leg at that point.  I'm hoping to get the green light to go back to work at this time also.  Won't be able to do a ton of framing but I'm sure I can do some things.  I miss the shop and all the people.

I'm getting some stitching done but not as much as one might expect.  The first week I couldn't see well enough to focus on the stitching.  Good drugs will do that to you. LOL!!  I'm doing better this week but I gotta say, after 6 hours I'm pretty much tired of it and want to do something else.  Never the less progress is being made.  I stitched up this Blackbird design from their book A Stitcher's Journey and will mount it on a wood pedestal base.

                                         

                                         
And I've stitched on Tuscan Rose too.  Finished all that back stitchy crap for now and am happy to see the end of it.  For now.  There's another band of it further down.  I had to frog some last night so I didn't get as far as I wanted to.  Rotten frog. I don't think he should visit people who are recovering from surgery.  Do you hear that Frog!  I don't need any more stinking visits from you!!!  Go see Doreen or Connie!!   Sorry girls.  I had to send him somewhere.  Forgive me?

                                       

                                       
Before surgery, I finished up these two cuties for a customer.  This was my first time using this particular   finishing technique.  It's not a flat fold, it uses an acrylic stand and I really like how it turns out.  The customer did too and now she wants to finish the series.  

I could go on and on today but most likely you have tuned out by now.  I'll have to post again sooner than normal so I can get it all out.  I have kitchen pictures and more stitching pictures and on and on.  Anyway,

Take care till next time!

Julie

 

And the winner is....

Catherine from Bramblewood Stitches

 Catherine said...

Best wishes with your surgery!

Love your kitchen - the cabinets look great!

Your giveaway goodies are great - I'd love to give the bird a new home! Thanks and congrats on all of your followers!

June 28, 2011 9:28 PM

Congratulations Catherine!  If you could email me your snail mail address I will do my best to get Dan to mail your package in a timely manner!  If I don't hear from Catherine in 5 days I will draw another winner.   

Thanks everyone for entering the giveaway and thank you all for the comments on the kitchen and my surgery.  I am doing well, I quit taking the heavy duty drugs 2 days ago and the pain is tolerable so that is a good thing.  I'm bored out of my mind and to be honest, kinda tired of stitching!  So today I have been scooting around in a rolling chair and sorting through paperwork that has piled up and paying bills that really should have been paid before I had surgery!  OOPS!  My bad.  Also fighting with the insurance company regarding a charge from the Dr. that they are not paying on a bill for Amy.  I hate insurance companies.    

The Kitchen is coming along nicely.  No pictures today but maybe the next post.  I'm running out of energy now so will keep this short and go take a quick nap.  

Take care till next time!

Julie

For the Birds Giveaway

Today is the day!  I have procrastinated long enough and as you know...The early bird gets the worm!  I am finally posting my giveaway and let me tell you folks, it's for the birds!!  Something to crow about!  This goose is cooked! He flew the coop!  And if I continue this you'll be madder than a wet hen so without further ado, let's feather your nest with a little giveaway that's for the birds!!!!  Sorry, I couldn't resist!

To celebrate and thank the awesome 200+ followers I have and you are all awesome putting up with my long stretches of silence,  let's take a birds eye view of what you will be receiving if you are the lucky duck that wins this little prize.  I hope you will think it's something to crow about!



First up is a Shabby Chic Scissor Beak Bird made by Yours Truly.  Your bird will arrive Naked as a Jay Bird!



Meaning it WILL NOT have scissors or valdani balls or old wooden spools when it takes roost at your house.  You get to have the pleasure of choosing your own accessories,

but here is a picture of the bird all tricked out to give you an idea of what it will look like.



Next we have a wonderful Bluebird chart by Blackbird designs.  Too cute!



To go with the Bluebird design, I am including a lovely piece of White Swan 30 count linen and one skein each of Crescent Colours Blackbird and Gentle Arts Blue Jay Overdyed Floss because as the wise old owl would say, what's sauce for the goose might not always be sauce for the gander. That owl is wise because a little bird told him some people might prefer a Blackbird instead of a Bluebird.  Right?

And finally I'm sure your eagle eyes have spotted the swan song of this giveaway, that lovely piece of bird print fabric in the background.  Use it for gilding your cage or your pincushion, or whatever makes you proud as a peacock!

So here it is all ready to go to it's new home.  All you have to do to enter the giveaway is to be a follower/become a follower and leave a comment on this post only saying you would like to be entered.  Leave me some way to reach you if you should win.  No email address or blog means you don't win.  For a second chance to win, please mention the give away on your own blog and let me know you have done so.  The giveaway is open to everyone!   I hope you like it!!


Finally, a quick glimpse of what the kitchen is looking like.  Progress is slow but steady.  The color of the cabinets is actually closer to the the top ones than the bottom cabinets.  The flash made the bottom look whiter.


I can't get blogger to cooperate with centering the pictures today so please forgive me.  I am out of time as I need to be at the hospital for surgery in a half hour and want to post this before I go.  I will draw the winner of the giveaway on Tuesday, July 5th.  Gotta fly!

Take care till next time!

Julie

Stitching and Kitchen progress!

Well dang, where did the time go?  I just realized how long it has been since I last blogged and I’m shocked!  I knew it had been a while but certainly not this long!  Once again it seems I must apologize for being a bad blogger!  I.am.sorry.

Let’s start with some stitching progress pics.  We had second Saturday stitching this past weekend and I was able to snap some not very good pictures of the Double Dutch stitch along.  My camera battery was about to die so please forgive me for the crappy photos.  

Mary Ann's progress.  She hasn't had much stitching time so not a ton of progress.

 

Mary's progress.  She's has been working on other things lately.   Progress has been made though!

I cheated a bit and didn't take this picture until after I have had a chance to stitch a bit more.  The others were taken last Saturday.

I am having a hard time fitting stitching into my life at the moment.  Between work,   regular house stuff and this kitchen re-do, stitching is falling way to the bottom of the to do pile.  Not for long though.  I found out last week that I am having surgery on the 28^th and will be non-weight bearing for 6 weeks.  Should leave me with plenty of stitching time!    

The kitchen is coming along slowly.  Dan and I have spent a considerable amount of time looking at counter top options, back splash options, sink options, faucet options, hardware options and paint options.  We found an incredible deal on granite counter tops but after looking at everything else that still needs to be done and paid for, we have decided to go the laminate counter option and have Dan do the install.  In a couple of years we can always replace them with granite or whatever might trip our trigger at the time.  I have put back splash options on the back burner for now along with hardware options but need to seriously decide on a sink and the faucet.  Dan finished up the pantry drawers last night so I can now start to wipe all the dust and debris off of the foodstuff and start putting it away.  That will be a huge relief!

I think I will pull him off the pantry and have him finish off the cabinet to the right of the dishwasher so I can put the silverware and such away.  The appliances arrived last Friday.  I'm sending the refrigerator back though.  It arrived with 4 dents/scratches in the side and although they are not bad and I could have lived with them given the right amount off, they would only cut the price by $100.00 and I figured for that I want a dent free fridge! Of course they were out of  stock on it so I am waiting for a new one to arrive, hopefully Saturday.  The delay on the fridge is also causing a delay in the microwave.  When we bought the fridge, we received a gift card for $150.00 but can’t use it until we have accepted delivery of all the appliances.   I plan to use the gift card towards the new microwave so until the fridge arrives, no new microwave.  Appliances sans the microwave.  Oh!  and the floor was installed last week also.  Love love love it!!! Btw, ignore the white thing under the dishwasher, Dan hadn't installed the kick plate yet.  My dishwasher is uber quiet.  It's  Awesome!

I must confess to feeling a bit of panic over this renovation.  Did I mention Abby is graduating from Radiology Tech School on July 9 and on July 10 we are having her party at our house.  And let’s not forget that I will be off my feet during this time.   I’m a little anxious about being able to pull the whole thing off.   Dan is only one man and although he is an incredible one man he is still only one single male specimen trying to do all this work by himself.  My mother-in-law said…Julie if it’s not perfect it’s not a big deal and I am trying very hard to think that way but it’s not working so well.  I find myself biting my tongue so I don’t harp on Dan to hurry it up a bit.  I am a horrible person!    Please keep us in your thoughts and wish us luck on getting the house put back together, if not completely finished. 

I have a bit of progress on Tuscan rose to show you also.  Still not enjoying the process of the double running back stitch but love the results!  

Think that’s about it for now.  I am almost done gathering the items I want for the give away.  I have one other thing I am looking for and then I will post it.  In the meantime…

Take care!

Julie