12-12-12: Love Numbers!

This will never happen again in my life.  This is a very unique number for me.  Not a palindrome, but fun to share!

Woke up late today - planned it that way.  Slept until 6:15.  After cleaning up the kitchen, I glanced out the window and rejoiced in the fact that there was light even before I planned to head out to do errands.  On school days it is DARK!

Life is GOOD!

December 11: Amazing How Much Got Done Tonight

Dad did work out in the new space for a short time, but he actually admited he was tired and maybe even a bit dizzy with all the tipping his head back.  When that took place, I quickly changed and headed out for fun and games.  Kevin did the ceiling and I did the walls of the den and touch ups.  ALL walls, ceilings and closets are now primed and we will start painting tomorrow.

I have it set up in one room to start the sanding process.  That will come along at some point tomorrow afternoon.  Have a long-long-long list of other items to do in the morning.  Then I am meeting with someone about doing a square replacement on a not-so-vintage quilt.  Think it will mainly be hand piecing so that will be an okay evening activity for when I can't stand to do any more of anything.  I will check out the project before committing, though.

Now that all the dry wall sanding is done, I have just started the process of deep cleaning and corraling all that fine dust that somehow managed to get into EVERYTHING!  It is worse that the sanding of wood!  Kind of like cleaning up a whole container of baby powder that has been puffed out of the plastic bottle non-stop for hours -  IT IS EVERYWHERE!!!  Today I just did the office and also put away all my school stuff for a month.  Tomorrow it will be the top floor.  Figure I have to work in places that people don't see first or I might just let them go.  By Friday, I am hoping that there will be no surfaces that can be used as design boards.  =0P

December 11: Ta-Da Sorta

I finished my last exam and turned in my final projects today.  I  officially do not to need to go to campus again until January, and that is exactly what I am planning. Loved being in classes and learning so much, but every other area of my life is calling loudly to have a turn.

That is really not going to happen, either because for now I have to focus on my part of the new living space - staining and finishing all the trim and doors.  I don't mind that especially now that my feet are so much better.  Yesterday, the guys blew in all the attic insulation, so I missed out on that labor, but I am going to appreciate that insulation when the weather is either very cold or very hot.

We also have a few more paying jobs to finish in the next week and a half, so there will be a lot of shop time, as well.  Today, I worked on a specially design wood order for my sister's friend.  It is a kidney-bean shaped piece with a heart carved in the center.  It is something like a comfort cross for someone whose going through scary medical times.  First time I have had a carving tool in my hand for months.  Just have to give it one more coat of finish.

Thought I would be painting in the new space tonight but Dad insisted that he would do it.  He is exhausted, but have you ever told a strong-willed 80 year old no?  Right, that does not work.

Here are some photos meant to play catch-up.  The first two are part of the Christmas gifts I was making when I broke my toe two Sundays ago (Toe is feeling pretty much healed, already.)  The rest are updates on the progress in the new space.

 

 

 

 



Can't believe that I did not share the beautiful snow the first
day.  Think it might have had something with EXAM STRESS,
you think?????

December 5: TWO classes basically finished...

Yep, 2 of my classes are basically finished for me because we are doing presentations, and I have done mine in both.  Of course, I am going crazy studying this week.  Had three regular tests, 2 papers, a group paper + presentation, and lots of watching others do their presentations.  During the down times I have studied and should get back to it again right now, but thought I should share....

My big toe finally seems to truly be recovering!!!!  I have slept in my bed all night for the last few nights. The wound is healing and shrinking, and I can wear at least one pair of my shoes without cringing.  Taping the toes on the other foot has helped to make the broken one feel pretty much more normal, but then what is normal for me?

One more pill and I will have finished off the antibiotic, so I guess I should be able to drink milk and eat yogurt again.  Can't wait for my blueberries and yogurt on Friday morning!

Some time in the next few days I will try to download a bunch of pictures showing the remodelling progress and the Christmas gifts that led to my broken toe.  For now, it is back to studying for my comprehensive accounting final.

Life is GOOD!

December 2: I am an optomist, really I am!

Every day I get up and smile, and welcome whatever is in store for me.  I am an optimist!  There are moments and times of stress, but I love to look for the humor or at least the positive side of a situation.  Today has been a trial for me, but I know that telling the tale will bring a smile to some and and an out-and-out laugh from others.

Jamie said I was not to share the visual evidence of this story, but I can tell you the facts.  If you have been reading my blog, you know that I have been experiencing a negative encounter with the removal of my left large toenail and two bad infections that have been part of the healing process.  Even when I knew that the medicine was partly responsible for making me feel a little odder than normal, I was able to find the humor in it all.  Still do see humor in that, but this morning after church, I ran up against a new twist.

I decided to use the time between church and lunch to do some Christmas/birthday sewing.  I was in heaven just playing with the material. (I will share them in the next couple of days.  They were all finished before, during, and after the story that follows.)  However, to paraphrase what Paul Harvey would say, "Now for page 2, and the rest of the story.........."


 I was just enjoying this short but relaxing couple of hours, then I took a mis-step!
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Normally, I wear shoes or slippers in the studio, but the foot problem has made me less willing to trap my feet for long periods of time.  The studio floor is and was clean as I reached for something on the counter and realized I was about to bump my poor toe, so I used my other foot to ward off the problem.  Only thing is that my second smallest toe on my right foot encountered a very solid surface that was unwilling to yield right-of-way.  The toe immediately turned BLACK and BLUE, but my tongue was still.  Tears welled up in my eyes, but I fought back any negative words.  Feel pretty certain the toe is broken, but there really is nothing to be done about it.  Before the end of the week I will be fine, but just how much should one girl endure?
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My family and close friends are probably chuckling and thinking that I am an accident waiting to happen.  They are probably right, but I was trying to change my ways.   =0)


Life is GOOD, but these toes are PAINFUL!

November 30: Better?

Today seems to mark the beginning of feeling like this toe will eventually be ready for walking tapes and other exercises.  The medicine still seems to be a bit more in control of my energy that I want it to be, but it does help me stay off my foot and probably is good for the healing process.  Also managed to sleep through the night!

Also have my schedule mapped out for the last few weeks of school.  Besides going to Iowa between regular classes and finals to watch Dean perform in his first preschool pageant and celebrate Christmas early, I have 3 regular tests set up for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.  Then I start my finals on Friday.  The comprehensive accounting exam is scheduled for 2 full class periods, but fortunately the two parts will be done on Friday and then on Monday.  My marketing final is a take home with an essay that will be done over 2 days, and my business comprehensive  exam is on Tuesday.  Principles of selling a finally presentation - and mine is done for better or worse.  As long as I do not blow my final exam in computers, I will not have to take that comprehensive final -- I have been studying!!!!

You might wonder what I will do to keep from being bored after that, but there are Christmas letters to write, cookies to bake, QUILTING to enjoy,business paperwork to finish for the year,several non-textbook type books to read on the Nook, and  a number of projects going on in the woodshop, so IF I am bored it is not anyone's fault but mine.  Oh course, there is a plan to sleep in until 7:00, but with so much I want to do, it probably will NOT happen more than a day or two.With a month of vacation, Christmas, our 37th anniversary, New Years, and a christening of our new living spaces, I am thinking there will definitely be lots of partying going on as well.

Question: How many of you still send Christmas cards and letters?  We are probably dinosaurs, but people still seem to find dinosaurs fascinating, right?  Can't believe that our newsletters are that fascinating, but we have been asked about when this  years will be mailed.  Is it all about keeping traditions going?

For today I am just going to study and then watch a movie with the guys, but the weekend should be busy as ever.

Life is GOOD!

November 30: Garage Make Oveer

During all this stuff with my foot the past month, I have not lived up to my own expectation of photographing all the action during the change from car home to real living space.  Of course the week of Thanksgiving saw little change as we waited for the furnace that goes into the rafters to be install and for everyone to recover from the excesses of pumpkin pie.  =0)

Last night Kevin and his buddy Dan knocked out a great deal of the remaining dry wall.  They will finish up the bits and piecing before the weekend is over.  Then the drywall and texturing has been hired out and will be done before next weekend.  Looks like the grandkids and kids will have separate rooms for Christmas vacation.

The drywall lift has been very helpful!

Finally getting that 16 foot piece of drywall on the
wall rather than on the floor blocking every thing
really helped speed progress.

Once must know where things are in the wall,
 right?

Love the fact that the den is really beginning to feel like a room!!!!!

 Life is GOOD!