Lisa - you do disappoint me, I was all hyped up ready for lots of fabulous quilts. I am a crafty person, always into something and quilting was one of my 'gunna dos" I only got as far as part making one when No. 2 DD was doing her HSC (final High School exam here) and had to make a quilt as a major work project. She was a swimmer and trained morning and night so fitting in general homework and study with enough without the quilt making as well. I cut all the pieces out for her while she machine sewed and I helped with that from time to time and at night we sat together on the lounge together each handsewing the quilting. It was quite a drama and a relief to finish but it looked good and I am still using it today. I had so many patterns, books and ideas but then realised that I really had no great use for them so the whole thing got put on the backburner. I presently belong to a craft group (I now scrapbook), but the ladies who do the quilts do some amazing ones. Is Bobbi ok? Can't find a thread for today

Wow, wow, wow! The wood looks nearly new, not raw looking but WOW! It's like the former stain came off too! And I can see the green windows! Oh! Before I forget...what did you decide about making the single window to a double, like you said...guess not til the spring? I see the leaves changing colour in your front window reflection...how beautiful that must be and being high on a hill..ahhh, bet it's gorgeous! I'm loving your refreshed wood especially on the front. The garage side I loved the wood as it was and I didn't realize from before photos that the wood was as dark as it was. Now I see the difference and the change is lovely, really. I'm seeing from the middle of the job what I guess you wanted cleaned off. To me, I thought your house looked great til you tried to put tan around the windows!!! Ha-ha!!! Soooo glad you didn't do that!!!! Oh dear! Lol! The freshened wood with natural stain will really, really be nice. I'm used to painted TRIM but not painted FRAME...but my point was that's what we had been talking about but it was totally lost on me when it came to my own window! I felt like a "duuuuh" moment went right through the air in my head! So, a couple of things here..how many nights has it been now that you've been exhausted? Is this one the second or third?! I know, right! I just run here and there and back and forth and feel like I only get 1 out of 4 goals accomplished in a day. This past weekend I was simply whipped. Saturday I barely moved and when I did it was pretty slow!!! Today I finally got to the market. I go to Home Depot every day. This was NOT in the plan. I thought once I had a garage full of tile, grout, expander, sealant, sink, toilet, shower doors, mirror, lights, towel bars and rings, shower head and faucets for sink and shower and toilet seat, and plumbing p-trap..and flanges...gosh, I just did NOT want to be standing there being the person needing "customer assistance on aisle 7, please...customer assistance on aisle 7!!!.".did not want to have to think about oatey wax toilet seals or things that squirt out of tubes!!! I am over pin pointing it. One thing leads to another. I think I'll be needing a new window treatment in bathroom and have NO IDEA what to get there, I need to do something with driveway and backyard patio, I need to deal with finding something age appropriate to trim out the windows that's not shutters...my windows are too wide for that to really be correct size wise, then some landscaping and the kitchen.... I'm tired and wondering already when to get a break from it and clean it up. (Yes, I have huge overhangs and I LOVE them). Overall, my paint was still good, really good, actually. It was not chalky at all but it had faded a bit and the humidity and shade from huge trees the paint would mildew and the paint was chipping off especially toward the ground even hitting it with garden hose and some bleach. So, it was time to seal it up good. It's cinderblock in 98% humidity. It actually dropped below 90○ today! Wow! Are you going to trim around garage and up at fascia or flashing, (whatever the term is) like you were playing around with in the planning stages? Don't see your doors yet...I'm waiting! Are you painting your planters? I noticed they were moved. Oh! Annnd, the carriage lights at your garage doors. I've been looking at Bellacor.com but have not ordered bc I haven't looked at every single one of the lights...I really don't need to look at 6,000 lights so I should have ordered and now may have run out of time. My guys say they will probably be finished on Friday...so I may be back at Home Depot getting lights there instead. I need to be measuring for them. Plus I think I have to have lights that the shade points up and not down. I'm not seeing too many upward lights and I must not have my thinking cap on about what will or won't work and I've been down this road before and if I remember correctly, I had no choice back then either. I have not reinvented the house, I've only repainted it so I think it's really a no brainer. I just have to find what will work. Long day starts early again tomorrow. Keep us posted! JSB, it looks really nice and I am so happy for you! If like me, I'm tired but relieved to be getting this off my to do/wish list.

I already posted about this several weeks ago, but we decluttered in a MAJOR way last summer when we sold our very large home and moved across the country to a smaller townhouse. Now, we are very carefully putting things away and finding a home for everything, not just stacking the items "until later." I've also gotten rid of more things even as we unpacked! LOL So far, it's great because I have some empty kitchen cupboards (yes!) and our closet isn't stuffed to the brim. I'm lovin' it!

Hi Deb! Yes, it is indeed pretty - I love hydrangeas, especially blue ones! Have some white ones in my garden (Annabelles), that turn a gorgeous green color as the blooms age, but no blues or purples. If I lived near a PB, I'd go get me some like yours. Come to think of it, I am heading to Calgary next month......I wonder if I can squeeze some into my luggage?..... Anyway, I think your vignette stands perfectly well on its own, but I can also see a small objet next to the vase - something that makes you smile everytime you see it. Here are a couple of examples.....these would make me smile for sure, but you know I am I to birds lol.