Picture... Master BR

This is the ceiling. It has looked this way roughly about 6 yrs. only partially done. Sheet rock, some joint compound, and tape.

This is the South wall w/ window. This is standing in the door of my room looking in; you can't tell really, but the walls are panelled and the IVY 'growing' on the walls is a stencil I put up about 12 -1/2 years ago. Very country. If you look closely there is a pink checker board around the windows and about 34-36 inches off the floor, it is also a stencil. I used to love the stenciled look.

This is my Iron bed. This bed has special meaning to me. When I was a kid there was an old couple who lived across the cul-de-sac from us, and they were Mr. and Mrs. Thorn. She was ill. But Abe, Mr. Thorn was the sweetest kindest old man you could ever meet. He would always tinker around in his garage. I don't think he ever officially retired. He always worked on something and did odd jobs here and there welding and stuff. He took special care of his wife too. One time when I was visiting my parents after I was married, he stopped me as I was pulling away and asked me if I'd like to have the bed. They had bought a new bed; they needed something shorter to get in and out of since they were older now. It was out back in the shed. I said yes and have loved it. It reminds me of them. One day I'll take a picture of it uncovered. Right now in this picture it is covered, because I was getting ready to texture the ceiling!
This is a view from the door, looking toward the southwest corner of the room. BTW... the newspaper is taped up; I ran out of plastic. It is still up there today...only the plastic is put away... cause we're still sleeping in there!

I hope to paint the ceiling tomorrow. I'll post more pictures. Hopefully w/o the newspaper!

I went idea shopping for the bedroom today...

I had to make a trip to WM today. (don't like going there, but i usually go for others...so make use of the time spent, right?)

Anyway~

while i was there I shopped. This particular store DOES CARRY the 2 gallon can of TEXTURE PAINT (WHITE) for just under $14 ... so i picked up a can of that. It is for the bedroom ceiling.
Next... I bought a new paint tray set.
This particular on had 9 pieces to it; including the little cutting in tool just under $10. Yay!

I also bought 1 plastic drop cloth $1.50 It is 9 X 12 which happens to be what my room is.

I also got more paint samples.FREE! If i keep going... I could just glue those to my walls like little mosaic tiles. Then I won't have to paint! Ha!
ALL TOTALED: i spent about $25-$27 so far.

I also looked at ceiling fans while I was there. Remember, I said we're saving for a new one; because the one we have only goes on 'low'. Well, the reason we're saving is because the cheap 'pretty ' ones that are WM is all we can afford ...for now.
But I know that Honey will only want a Hunter... and they are a bit pricier... (and don't continue to turn on high after about 6 - 8 years!)

I didn't get any cleaning done today. The weekend came and went and was completely busy. We had lots and lots of stuff to do, and today... we had important things to do as well.
Our youngest dd, Quiet Contrary... got married at the JP's office. So... plenty busy enough without having to clean house too!

Will catch up on all that tomorrow.

ta-ta fer now!

Bedroom: Likes and Dislikes

This is a list of all that I liked or disliked about my bedroom, before I started the makeover process...

The list isn't complete. But this is what I've come up with so far.

What I LIKED before:

* small, cozy; size of room/ secluded away from the front of the house (ie: road noise, inside noise, traffic inside and out)

* 2 windows - South/ Westerly view-- shaded

* Antique Bed

*Built in knick-knack shelves (built by Honey)

* Bedside tables (one pedestal table my brother made/ one old dressing table)

What I DISLIKED before:

* No place for Honey's clothes,

* No closet and only room for 1 dresser of which I mainly use for my clothes...

***** the guilt of hogging the dresser drawers (definately dislike that!)

* cluttered; flat surfaces full of stacked junk, books, clothes

* paint- old and outdated-- stencil

* carpet- just thrown down, never put in correctly... outdated/mismatched color

* curtains- old lace sheers/ where here when we moved in this house/

*** which by the way, I washed and hung back up today, for privacy until something is bought to replace!

The Master Bedroom...

Yesterday and Today (Wed./Thurs.)
I spent time in my bedroom clearing it out, dusting, decluttering, and trashing a bunch of junk!

I don't have any pictures... which is fine because frankly it would be way too embarrassing. More so, than my kitchen.

So one day a while back I told Miss Tuffet that she needs to take everything out of her house and only bring back in the stuff she really, really likes and HAS A PLACE FOR. (She owns a single-wide mobile home, that has been filled up with the furnishings of her and her new husbands combined households. (So there is a lot of stuff she doesn't need, and some she just doesn't want anymore)
Anyway~~~~

I thought 'hey, here is an opportunity to take my own advice.' So, that is what I've been doing in my bedroom the last two days.

This is what I've done so far.

I started at the door and emptied the built in knick- knack shelf, and dusted it off.
I removed all the shoes that were piled up on the floor.
I took out the books that were stacked on the shelves and the floor all around the bed.
I took the pictures off the wall (along side the door) and the wall directly facing the door.
I took the *curtains down and the sunflower garland that was draped over the curtain.
I washed the sunflower garland in hot soapy water, and hung them out to dry.
I fluffed the keepsake stuffed animals (that have graced my bedroom shelves for years) in the dryer with a bounce sheet to get the thick layer of dust off them.
(they will be put into individual boxes for each of the kids to do with as they wish)
I swept the cobwebs and dust from off the wall (told you it was bad).
I washed the wall with Lysol wipes. (NOTE TO SELF: buy more wipes)
I opened the window and washed the frame around the window, the panes and the trim.
Oh.. and this is gross! inside the ledge of my window, i found two mummified frogs! Don't know how long those have been there but, ...YUCK!
I also vacuumed the part of the floor I could actually get to without having to move any furniture. (once I've got the room completely cleaned out; I'll vacuum the whole thing)
* will wash the curtains tomorrow and I may hang them back up for now. For privacy's sake.

My Plans are ...
1. Paint the ceiling with texture paint.
1a. Texture all the walls with mud. DD did this in her mobile home; right over the wood paneling, which is what I have in my bedroom. It looks really good. So, I'm gonna try it too.
2. Paint the walls a light dove grey.
3. Paint the trim white.
4. Paint the floor and the windows (woodwork) a light blue. (sunwashed blue)
5. Come up with a different window treatment than I had. Thinking of doing roll up match stick shades ... (natural)
6. Going to seal the wood floor under the carpet (natural) already have the sealer.
6a. Looking for either a sisal type rug OR a cheap oriental type rug to go in there. (Winter months the floor gets pretty cold.
7. Decorations Minimal.
8. Ceiling fan needs to be replaced. (saving for a new ceiling fan)


I wanted to add:

** Besides the obvious benefits of cleaning my bedroom (like having a clean bedroom) you also find stuff!

I found my TightWad Gazette Vol. III... cleverly hidden behind amongest the stack of dusty books, for who knows how long? Yay! I'm enjoying reading that in my few moments of spare time.

** I have had lots of motivation and Miss Tuffet has given me lots of encouragement. Honey has been happy with the motivation and progress.

** Praise the Lord for giving me the motivation, the energy, and the stamina to get all this done, all while taking care of Quite Contrary's little one. She started a new job this week and I'm keeper of the Wee One. God is good!

Marjorie Holmes... I love her practicle prayers.

Today's list includes cleaning out the fridge!

~~~THE REFRIGERATOR~~~

Oh, God, how I dread cleaning the refrigerator. And I mean that not as an oath, but a prayer.

There it stands, singing away so faithfully, keeping our foods fresh for us. Reluctantly I open it, and instead of being grateful for its overflowin plenty, I want to back away and slam the door.

Instead, let me pause a moment and thank you. How generously you provide for us. We are never hungry. There is more than enough to go around there are even leftovers.

Leftovers. nuisance, yes, but also a symbol of your bounty. Quite literally our cups 'runneth over."

And these cups, LORD. These chill bright bowls. Thank you for them and for all the foods they hold. What an infinate variety of things are here to please and nourish us. The eggs, so delicate and white in my hands. The milk, rich and heavy in its cartons.. The bins of vegetables and fruit. The tangy globes of oranges, the moist green lettuce, the read meats, and yellow cheeses.

Every thing that we need to survive you quietly put on this earth for us, and the proof is here before me. Here on these crowded shelves.

LORD, forgive me for even a moment of irritation. Flood me with thankfulness. Bless these shelves that I scrub and restore to order. Bless my hands as I work. And bless this task; make it no longer a source of dread, but a humble form of women's worship -- cleaning the refrigerator. - Marjorie Holmes, I've Got To Talk to Somebody, God (DOUBLEDAY) c. 1968, 1969

If I took a picture of my own fridge and posted it for all the world to see... oh, my!

What a mess. She describes hers as being a bounty of all that God has given to survive. With 'moist green lettuce, and red meats, and yellow cheeses'... Mine would be more of a picture of wilted, brown, gross lettuce, and dried up blackened, putrid meats, and white and green crusted moldy cheeses. And lots and lots of aluminum foil!

It would not be a pretty site. On the door, are bottles half emptied and outdated condiments for making our food taste better at the moment. To my shock and dismay there are even empty bottles, why they're there is anybody's guess.

But, I must say Thank you LORD, for giving these foods, and forgive us of our indulgences, and waste. LORD, I must ask that you help me to be a better steward of the items that come and go from our trusty refrigerator.

LORD, thank you for the teether that sits in the butter compartment, it reminds me that my grandson is healthy and growing, and getting so big! He has four teeth already. Thank you for the vitamins that my dear husband takes to restore his health from the ravages of abuse for many years. I am grateful that he is taking vitamins and not something else; that could be harmful or illegal and destroy his body. I'm reminded that you have blessed us with so much; and we are never hungry and there is always enough to go around, and feed everyone at the table and plenty leftover. Thank you God.

Thank you for the HOT SOAPY WATER, USED TO CLEAN THIS ALL UP!