7 Quick Takes

  First, thank you so so much for visiting my blog and leaving me such great comments!
It's so rewarding to know that people appreciate what you're doing, ya know? I love knowing that people are laughing along with (AT??!?!?!) me and can relate to where I'm coming from.
You guys are the coolest.
I know you're used to my terrible little drawings, but I thought for 7 QT's I would mostly just give you a toned down glimpse into my life.

1. Dan's arm is still aching today after his bee attack last night. His hatred for bees - specifically yellowjackets - is reaching "activism" status. So if you start seeing anti bee t shirts around town, you'll know who's responsible for that.

2. I'm on a bender. A decorating, decluttering, reorganizing, painting furniture, distressing kitchen cabinets kind of bender. I can't stop!!! I don't want to stop.

3. Yes I do. I reeeeeeally want to stop. But I can't.
No really. My summer goal was to declutter this hiz-ouse before we go on our family vacation and before school starts again.

4. The other day, I got a package in the mail. I thought it was some fabric that I'd ordered from an Etsy seller, but instead it was the BEST SURPRISE!
 A few months ago, I signed up for the Penpal Project at The Big White Farmhouse Blog run by Ashley. Basically, she asked other moms to send her their name, address, and a list of 3 inexpensive things that they love, so that she could send them a little something in the mail. The whole purpose was to allow other moms to feel valued, encouraged and appreciated.
 I am in awe that she would want to do something like this for complete strangers. I mean, she bought stuff for us. With her own money. Which she budgeted for.

Amazing.
She even included this organic lip gloss which I seemed to have misplaced.
It tastes delicious! I hope my kids didn't eat it or anything.
When I signed up, I was in a desperate state. Postpartum, burned out, overwhelmed.
Also, you know how I feel about free stuff. <---please read that one if you haven't yet. I plan to update it with drawings someday.
Even though I'm presently thriving, it was so good to get that awesome gift in the mail. I shed a few tears when I read Ashley's card. It really was encouraging.
I thank you, Ashley, from the bottom of my heart.

5. We have hummingbirds at our feeder! HUMMINGBIRDS!!!!! They are such amazing little creatures. There will be a Backyard Science edition on hummingbirds eventually.

6. hmmm what else. OH! My friend Nella had her baby!!!! Welcome Avery Hope!
Please check out Nella's blog and keep her in your prayers. She was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma at 19 weeks pregnant with baby # 6. She is doing amazing, but as we can all imagine, having cancer isn't exactly like being in a parade.

7. Do you like before and afters? You wanna see a before and after in  ACTUAL photograph form??
Ok then:

Before.

After.
 Damn bushes ruining everything.


 

The garden looks better in the before picture, I know.
We've been in our home for almost 5 years, making changes as we go.
I love the previous owners. They are awesome people...but I don't know what in hell's kitchen they were thinking when they got that door.
Maybe they were thinking, "WOOHOO! There's a sale on old lady doors!!!"
That's my guess.
I think the 9 lite door is just what the house needed.
We bought this light and I sprayed it with this.
Dan made the shutters and window boxes (which I just replanted today) a few years ago. He made them out of dog-eared fencing and they cost about $1.50 to make!
Pretty cool.
We have alot more we want to do for the entry and the mudroom, so stay tuned.
One more time:

Linking up with Jen and all the other pretty peoples! See you there!