i think this morning was

was the first time I've ever said I had an epiphany. I found logic behind everything going on right now. Just the other day, I was trying to figure out what was going on in the world when the coronavirus hit. Mind blown. I won't get political right now though.

Speaking of creepy things happening, I had Alexa playing 80s music while I was cleaning grout this weekend. I had to take a break at one point. I stretched out on the couch and started scrolling through the suggested things on Instagram. Alexa started playing Footloose. A video clip popped up on the IG feed... the dance scene from Footloose where they're dancing to Footloose. 

The eagle flies low at night. The eagle flies low at night.  Only kidding. (Sweat beads form) I don't know how it all works, but I'm sure they're listening through more than just Alexa. Whatever.

About the grout, I didn't finish. I think I'll finish this weekend. 

It's a process and we have a lot of tile. Honestly, I probably won't finish this weekend either. I just hope to come to a better, more evened out stopping point. 

I also made a brisket. I think it needed more time because it was a little on the chewy side. 

But it was so juicy the way it was and it had a good flavor too.

The only bad thing is, one can only eat so much brisket. I don't know how much that is exactly, but we're almost there. 

Time to squeeze in a few chores... and think of some better code phrases. 

i'd heard that store

bought green onion could be saved and planted.  I didn't use all of a bunch I bought so I stuck them in a glass of water until I had time to stick them in dirt.

A week or so ago I pulled the dead cilantro out of the pot and stuck the green onion in.

I took this picture yesterday.

I think I see a little progress.  Is it just me?  I should probably plant more.

I bought the onions to put on the red beans and rice I made a couple of weeks ago, but they started looking a little blah a few days later.  On Cosme's last bowl of beans, I used my chives instead.  He liked the green onion better.  Here are the chives now.

Next time I might have green onion to offer.

For now, I only want Benadryl.

i've never had a green

thumb.  When Poppie died, Dodo made me take a plant.  I told her I couldn't keep a plant alive so she gave me an ivy because nothing can kill those.  A week later I had a dead ivy on my hands.  The funny thing is, I got an azalea after Dodo's funeral and Cindy told me those are really hard to care for.  One year later and mine's still blooming.  I don't know.  I did put a little more effort into the azalea since I knew it would be harder.  I gave it Miracle Gro at first and even brought it inside during the cold weather.  It could drop down to freezing tonight so I guess I'll need to drag the azalea in.  I've been eyeing my other pots that had herbs.  Once the cold weather decides to calm down, I'll go buy some more stuff to redo it all.  I did take the time to pull a few weeds the other day and you'll never believe what I found.

Look at that.  Don't know what that is in the middle of all the weeds?  I'll give you a hint.

My chives made it!  There aren't as many, yet, but just give it time.  Really, chives are what I used most of the herbs I had/have so I knew that would be one of the things I replanted.  Looks like I won't need to after all but I might add another in there just to have plenty.  As much as I like rosemary, I didn't really use a lot of it.  I did use a lot of my basil so I'll definitely stick to that one.  I'd like to have cilantro but it didn't do well in the past.  Maybe I'll give it another shot and put it where the rosemary was.  I've thought about getting a pot for strawberries and I might still do that.  Everything I plant has to go in the front yard because of the dogs.  If you don't remember the ill-fated strawberries and clementines, you can refresh your memory here.  I'm still a little bitter.  I'm sure I'd have a flourishing clementine tree right now and wouldn't be paying $5 for a bag.

Oh, if you browse around to different posts around that time, you'll also find a recipe for a snack called Honey Bites.  Whatever.  If I ever need to look it up, I can find it under Honey Bunches or Honey Bites.  That doesn't matter because they don't require any herbs that I might grow in one of my pots.

I've got to TCB now.  I've got errands to run and chores to do.  I also need to research pots for strawberries.

i had a plan for the weekend

and that was to TCB.  It happened.  I didn't get to everything on my list but I'm fine because the big ones got done.

First off, we celebrated Eric's and Paige's birthday on Friday.  I don't have any pictures but Eric wanted a Key Lime Pie so I tried a new recipe I found on Pinterest.  I don't have any pictures but it's definitely a keeper.  I guess that's my excuse to make it again.  I need pictures.  I made a cheesecake for Paige, no new recipe there, just the one Dodo always made.  We went out to eat and then came home for dessert.

That kitchen faucet I ordered (and even paid for faster shipping) before Christmas that's been sitting here since around December 24th?  It's not sitting in a box anymore.

The old one came out easier than expected.  Not that it should have been difficult but, I know how things go around here.  There was very little foul language during the installation.  And the uneven holes in the granite that I was worried about?  We were able to adjust the deck plate a little to help.

Oh, there is a soap dispenser taking the place of the old sprayer and there is a bottle of Softsoap right there.  I forgot to pick up a refill jug at the store.

Guess what else was delivered and assembled?  The rocking chair.

The instructions started off a little demanding.  I must?  Really?

But look at me, they probably wanted me to open this packet at the ziploc end too.

Well they showed me.  I had to read the instructions... several times, and then I had to get Cosme to come in and read them too.  I finally got it done.

WARNING: I assembled this thing on my own. SIT AT YOUR OWN RISK.

And look.  That pillow matches the grey too.  I sprayed the chair with Scotch Guard and now it's ready.

Oh, and I did one more thing.  The new faucet inspired me to call someone to come look at the dishwasher.  They're coming today and it ISN'T Sears.  I hope it's not going to be another $400.  I was already burned once.  Anyway, I'm hoping it'll help out with me staying on the right track of cooking instead of picking up.  There's only one way to find out.

I checked off a few other things over the weekend but I'll share that tomorrow.  It wasn't anything big, just little things.  I didn't do laundry so that's what I'm working on now.

is it time to go back

to bed yet?  I know it's 6:00 in the morning but I need more rest.  I need more Icy Hot.

I got Mom's baby dresser to the middle of the garage yesterday and started cleaning it.  I actually didn't even do that part all on my own.  I did do all the cleaning though.

I washed it down with Clorox and water and then sanded the insides a little.  Today I'll wash it down with Clorox and water again and let it sit in the sun, assuming we have sun.  I'll watch the weather report to plan a little better.  Ah, the perfect excuse to go get back in bed.  I think I'll take some ibuprofen too.

I. AM. SORE.

My back hurts.  My neck hurts.  My hand hurts.  Sometimes TCB can suck but I really like it when it's done.  I hope I'll have pictures of a completed and filled dresser to share tomorrow.  I hope we have some sunny weather.  I'm hope I'm not too sore to finish.

remember when I got the notice that

the dogs were out on Thursday?  Well, they busted through two pickets on the fence.  I went to get new pickets and some nails before I went to get Dad's work boots.  Mom said she was packing up that day and wasn't leaving until the next day so I told her to come help.  I didn't feel comfortable walking around in weeds with standing water nearby while leaving my car wide open on 288.  I went back to the house and decided to go on to the fence and see what I could start on while I waited on Mom.  I couldn't do much.  There were too many weeds and I could barely maneuver.  I drove back around to the house and told Mom I'd also need to borrow the chainsaw.  She went back for the chainsaw and a cordless drill while I went to buy screws.  She came back with extra pants so she could do it for me.  Hey, I wasn't about to argue with that.  It's not like I'm the handiest person around.

First she had to take down the boards I started to put up.  That wasn't too hard because the nails were barely in.  I didn't bother trying to get the nails in all the way earlier because they were already going in crooked and also, it was hard to get to.

When weeds become trees.

This is after we were able to cut a few of the weed branches out of the way.  I also need a board or two replaced in the other direction.  I told Mom I wasn't going to worry about it until it dries up some.

She got the two boards up.  One man stopped because he thought we were having car problems (the back of my car was open with my hazards on).  I went over to his truck and explained that no, we were just replacing boards where my dogs got out.  He said okay and left.  We laughed because don't most people, when they have car problems, take a chainsaw over to the nearest fence and start cutting things down?  Although, he could've just been a good samaritan, thinking he was stopping two would-be crooks.  Maybe.

This song was on one of the stations when I was scanning the radio on my way back from the hardware store.

I had to take a picture of it.  I wasn't really driving nails but more like destroying them.

Anyway, the boards were replaced and I left the extra pickets in the car for a couple of days because they smelled good.  If there was a candle called "fresh cut wood" or "sawdust", I'd probably buy them.  Add "cedar fence pickets" to that list.

After that we sat around and watched a movie and picked weed debris out of our hair and clothes.  I stayed in the next day with a bad sinus headache, not thinking to diffuse peppermint oil until late in the day.  Way to go, Melanie.

We took pictures of the weeds because they shouldn't be like that.  Keeping those weeds trimmed is TxDot's responsibility.  I've always had problems with them keeping it clean back there, not the neighbors, just me.  I also raised a stink about it when we first moved and had the local state representative call them.  They've hated me ever since.  Now, do I say something about it with my pictures for proof because it does look bad?  Or, do I leave it because once things start turning green again, we'll have a lot more privacy with it there?  I just don't know.  If I do keep my mouth shut, there are definitely a few more boards we should replace before all the green grows back.  Also, it only adds to places for critters to hide or set up residence, causing the dogs to bark and want to get out again.  Decisions, decisions.  (I think privacy might win.)

Now I'm going to go do some chores and run some errands.  AT&T is coming this afternoon to change out the router.  Maybe then we'll actually get our 75 Mbps.  Fingers crossed.

this monday has me starting off

a little cranky.  I looked on fb.  Big mistake.  I read an article about a man in California being inspired by a mass shooting to destroy one of his prized possessions, an AR-15.  He is quoted in KPRC's article, "I can't do it.  I can't have something in my house that so easily could become a part of another situation like that, and I'm not going to be desensitized to it...".  This tells me he made the right choice.  Was he having violent urges?  Did he just admit to easily being capable of going on a shooting spree?  That's what it sounds like to me.  Anyway, that irritated me.

Then I scrolled down and read another article, this one about Jerry Jones.  The NFL owners are accusing him of damaging the NFL and acting against their best interest.  Stop. Right. There.  I know there are people who are boycotting the NFL and it has nothing to do with Jerry Jones.  The NFL was damaging itself but now the other owners wants to blame Jones?  It sounded to me like Jones was acting in the best interest of the NFL but then it all goes back to that witch hunt.  Whatever.

I'm done.  I'm done hearing about current events.  It only annoys me.

And all of a sudden does it seem like 2017 is trying to meet its death quota?  It's celebrities and nobody I know (thank goodness) but still. 

Enough of that talk.

I made something the other day.  I've seen things like it around, for sale and on Pinterest.  Anyway, I've had a frame sitting around that was Dodo's that had an old family picture in it.  I don't really want to display the picture because one of the people isn't even in our family any more.  (Would a person sitting for the camera be a poser?)  So I've had this frame and decided to make it into one of the things I've seen to hang old pictures on.  By old pictures, I mean pictures of grandparents.

I grabbed a can of spray paint but wasn't happy with it.  I went to Walmart and got a different color, along with tiny clothes pins.  I attached chicken wire once the paint dried and pinned the pictures on.

This is it.  It'll go on the wall in Eric's room.

This is a close up of a tiny clothes pin.  They're cute.

Today I'm going to take the pictures off and paint the chicken wire to match the frame.  I think I'd like it better that way.  I forgot to add that to my to-do list.  It's a long one.

Makes me think about Saturday afternoon when we just had El Toro, Cosme was watching tennis, Strat wasn't and I decided to take a nap.

Sounds awesome right now.  Unfortunately, there's no time for that.  Time to conquer that to-do list.

i went to target on

Friday morning to get dryer sheets because that is the only store that sells the scent of the brand I like.  I went in and had to stop in their little dollar section.  There was absolutely nothing I needed but I managed to talk myself into buying TWO boxes of those little white poppers you throw down and pop (I guess because I loved them so much as a 9-year-old, I figured I'd probably still love them now) and a notepad.  I can understand the notepad but the poppers?  It was a weak moment.  I made my way back to the fabric softener and picked up a box of the sheets.  I was distracted by a cat cookie jar on clearance on my way back to the checkout stand but while I didn't get the cookie jar (which would've gone on the bookcase outside the cat room), I decided I needed to check all the clearance shelves in the home department.  I found a candle holder that was marked down to $6.98.  I had to get it. 

With its grey base I knew it would be perfect on the blue bookshelf outside the cat room (since I'm trying to find neutrals to tone down the blue that I'm still not crazy about).  I made it out of the store with just those few things.

Next stop was Hobby Lobby because I wanted to see what size canvases they had in stock.  Walking in, I saw that all their yard stuff was on clearance.  I had to check it all out because I've been thinking about a certain owl for wedding reception decor.  They didn't have the owl but they did have an Elvis garden gnome.  I don't like gnomes but I do like Elvis.  I sent this picture to Mom and told her to tell me no. 

She didn't reply.  I called Lauren and told her to tell me I didn't need it.  I sent her the picture and she told me I had to get it.  It was decided.  I got it.  (I later got a text from Mom telling me I needed it.)  I guess they aren't the best support system.  They'd suck at being those partners/sponsors for a 12 step program.  Anyway, while walking around HL with Elvis, I found a couple of owls on sale.  I sent Paige a text and bought those.  Walking around a little more, I found the same candle holder I JUST bought at Target for $6.98 and it was $19.99.  The larger one was $29.99 at HL and was only $8.99 at Target.  (I'm thinking I should go back to Target today and get the larger one... in addition to the cat cookie jar.)

The journey to Target for dryer sheets ended at Ross, where I thought I might could find a few reception decorations.  I did find a couple of things but I also found some decorative balls that could go in the new candle holder (instead of a candle).  I told myself this trip was getting out of hand and then got back on track with my to-do list.

Once I got home, I put the balls in the candle holder and found out they're too big.

I also found out I put my frames back to soon and the paint was messed up.  And I know the blue above and the blue below look like two different colors from the lighting but the bookcase is the color of the top blue.

After spending the weekend thinking about it all (bad spots, shades of blue, decorations), I've pretty much decided to paint the bookcase another color so I can quit trying to tone down the blue.  The good news is I did see a picture of a color yesterday and I think it might be the perfect color for the bookcase.  I also think the new decorations will still look good, minus the little globes that are too big for the candle holder.  I also think I'll wait until it's cooler outside and make sure the paint is totally dry before putting anything back on the shelves.  Live and learn.

Now will someone please tell me I don't need that other candle holder?  OR THE CAT COOKIE JAR (which is marked down to $13.98 in the store)?

this is the stand that

started it all.

We had our bedroom tv on an actual tv stand in the corner.  It didn't match anymore.  I asked Dad to build me a stand to move the tv with all its accessories to the dresser.  I gave him the measurements, he made the stand, I painted it to match and VOILA!  I love it.

I went back and forth for a while on what to fill the now empty corner with.  Should it be a desk or a bookcase?  If it was going to be a desk, it needed to at least have a bookcase to make it taller.  I decided to move the bookcase from outside Eric's room to my corner and get Papaw's bookcase from the garage to put outside Eric's room.  While the tall bookcase that's now in the corner isn't black and matchy matchy to the other furniture, it's a darker brown and I like it.

Now, Papaw's bookcase really needed to be painted.  I posted about that a few days ago.  I picked the darker paint and went to town.

After the first coat, I was doubting it all.

I sent Lauren a text telling her I thought I might just hate it.  I shut the garage door  and turned the lights off to see it a little darker.

I don't know.  I still had my doubts but I went ahead and let it dry a little.  Later on I applied a second coat.  I was feeling better.

I finally moved it inside and put some of the stuff back on it.

I wasn't satisfied so I took the painting from above the piano and moved it to the bookcase.

That's better.  I'm still needing to do something to it.  I like things bland, drab and neutral.  There is a lot of color happening on the shelves of this very colorful bookcase.  I've decided to paint the frames that are on there and add more, hoping the one color of frame will tone it all down.  I could probably remove all the Little Golden Books and that might give it less of a preschool feel.  We'll see how that all turns out.

Now I've also got an empty wall and need to figure out if I want to put anything else above the piano.

It's always something.  And maybe next time I decide to take and share a bunch of pictures from in the house, I'll turn some lights on for a little better quality.  I think I might go look around the house now and see if anything else can be moved to or off of the bookcase.  It's kind of like shopping in my own store.  I don't have to leave the house and it's free.  What more can a person ask for?

you'd think that someone known

as the one who's always taking pictures would have thought to take a picture of something before a project started.  Wrong.  Too bad that same person is also the type to want to hurry and see how different something will look after.  On the other hand, that person doesn't like to hurry and finish a project but likes to hurry and start a section to see if the project is worth rushing to the finish line. 

Enter, me.

This is the "before" picture I got of Papaw's bookcase I'm painting.  I use the word loosely since only the bottom half of the picture is before and the top is during.  I should also note that as I was finishing up with this first part of the sanding, I thought several times about just calling it quits and throwing the word "rustic" into the mix.

Here's the entire thing after I sanded (and sampled two new paint colors).

Believe it or not but those are actually two different blues.  The one on the right is just a tad darker.  I think I'll go with that one.  After looking at it through this picture, I think I might like the blue on the left a little more... ugh.  I hate making decisions like this.

I'm about to head out to get a little thing of wood filler for a couple of nail holes and more sand paper.  My plan is to paint it tomorrow.  Just don't hold me to it.

has it been a week

yet?  No?  Okay, I'll find a spot to hide and cry.  Not really.  I only cried once and hopefully any and all meltdowns are done.  Really though, it could get ugly today.  Everyone knows how well I handle disorder.  I get frustrated, meltdown and cry.  Today's carpet day.  That means all the furniture from two bedrooms will be in the living room and entry way.  I'm hoping to keep it out of the kitchen because seriously y'all, I need a hiding place.  I need a place to pretend that everything is in order.  My plan is to stay in the kitchen today and work on Thanksgiving sides.  I really hope it all goes as planned.  Have I reminded you that Thanksgiving is in TWO days.  You should see this house.  On top of the work, I've been busy with other things.

There was a Capture Crawl on Saturday but I'll share those pics later, when I have more time... like actually have time to be sitting here.  After the CC I did some senior pictures.  We've all heard about the golden hour?

This light.  Right here.  I had to show the back of camera images right then because the light looked it was straight out of Photoshop.  I'm only showing a part of the picture here because I feel like I should show her first, right?

And by the time we left, this was the sky.  Look at it.  Seriously.  Look. At. It.

Now for a few other details from the past few days:

I wasted my money on something to paint edges.  I opted for the brush and a steady-ish hand. My brush job might not be perfect but it looks a heck of a lot better than this.

It got really cold one night.

Then it was back to flip flops the next day.

We finished painting yesterday.  I took a shower and plopped on the bed that is in the middle of the room... after I saw a few patches on the wall needing touch ups.

ps- I hate finding patches.

And one more thing as for painting goes.  I didn't try to protect the carpet at all.  Do you know that I've made bigger messes when trying to keep it covered?  I swear.  I guess that's how things work though.

Now I'm off to unload a bookcase and strip bedding off the mattresses.  I guess I'll do laundry too.

As you go through your day today, think of me.  Send good vibes, positive energy, prayers or whatever it is you do.  I need it all today.  Also, I'd really appreciate it if you could do it for the next few days as I recover and prep for Thanksgiving.

there is a lot

of work to be done before Monday.  I need to get all the little things boxed up and out of the bedrooms.  I need to pull all the furniture away from the walls.  I need to get busy with the painting.  We did finally find a color though.  That was so hard.  Really hard.  We went from gray to blue, back to gray to brown and then ended up somewhere I don't really know where.  We ended up with Shale, I guess that's where we ended up.  It shouldn't be so hard to pick out paint colors.  Here were the final few but it's not even accurate because look at the color of the piece of carpet in each.

Note: while the samples are all satin finish, the finished product will be flat.

Shale is the one on the right.  I think.  Maybe.  If not, it's similar.  And yes, the left and the right are two separate colors.  Maybe that's why this was so hard.  It's all too much alike to have a definite opinion.

I finally got around to baking those cookies yesterday.  They are good but have a weird texture.  They're not dry but they're crumbly.  It's hard to explain or maybe it's hard to understand.  Anyway, they're different than usual but still good.  I looked the recipe up online this morning to see if I did something wrong.  You know, I probably should have done that when the blurry print on the package looked like 1/4 c of brown sugar and 1/4 c of granulated sugar and I doubted that being enough sugar.  I was in a hurry so I didn't check then and just went with it.  As it turns out, that 1/4 c of each is actually 3/4 c of each.  Now I have a batch of chocolate chip cookies with 1/3 of the sugar.  Maybe that's a win?

I was out watering the grass yesterday and had a visitor.

Yuck.  Since he was so tiny and no threat of touching me, I let him go on his merry way.

Speaking of visitors, I had guests for breakfast.  I was looking through pictures on my phone this morning and couldn't remember if I'd shared this one of the dogs.  It was early one morning and I walked around the corner to find them like this.  They snuggle in their cage all the time but the way Archer had his arm around Maggie had to be one of the sweetest things EVER.

I couldn't stand looking back on all the sweetness so after Cosme ate and left, I threw the pan back on the stove and made bacon and eggs for the dogs.

They enjoyed it.

Oh, and why no pictures of the cats lately?  Because Strat is still having issues and they're still in their area of the house.  I'm calling the vet again today to schedule another check.  I'm sure everything is going to come back normal (like last time) so if it's not a behavioral issue, they'll need to look deeper into this investigation.

On a less frustrating note, you know those "buy 10" and get the sale price events I've talked about at Kroger.  They did it again but guess what was one of the items this time.  BUTTER.  I didn't only buy butter but let's just say I should be set for the holidays... hopefully.  I mean look at this receipt.

By the way, I think it was a total of 32 sticks.  I should be good.

I guess I'll go start clearing out the little things from my bedroom now.  I really need a tub or couple of boxes.  I guess I could head to Walmart once the sun comes up but for now I'll pull everything out and leave it in my way.  I figure that way it'll annoy me and I'll be more motivated to get it done.  Crap, I just realized the sun is already up.

Wish me luck.

i picked up and

inspected some paint samples. 

I'm so overwhelmed and entirely too picky.  There are a few I like in certain lights but not so much in others and then there are the rest that are just totally wrong.  I've made the decision to keep looking at paint samples and on Friday we will go check out flooring options.  Yeah, remember those two tiles I picked out a few months ago that I LOVED?  I'm having second thoughts now.  It's not easy being so picky on top of indecisive.  I know exactly what I want right now but I might want something totally different in a month.  This is why we are both going looking at flooring options.  And you know what?  I think Pinterest might be a bad thing.  It keeps putting different ideas in my head.

On Sunday though, my head was in the clouds... or, just slightly below.  We went for a little flight.  Here's a picture I got flying over San Luis Pass. 

Oh well, I guess I'm going to head off and back to the drawing board or idea board or whatever.  Whatever I want to call it, I'm headed off to overwhelm myself with more ideas and colors.  I think I'll check out what kind of critter the dogs have cornered and are barking at too.

i shared the dresser

yesterday but here's the bed.  It's so much better than before.

Today doesn't really start the countdown to the luau because technically, countdown started once the date was set.  Today is when the for-real prep starts.  I'll probably make a cheese ball today, go over one of my MANY lists to make sure I'm not forgetting anything (which I probably am) and I'll go over the decorations to work it all out in my head.  For now I'm working on a pineapple sculpture.  It's something I saw on Pinterest and I decided to try it today for a test run.  I'll keep it in the refrigerator and if it keeps until Saturday, that's great.  If it doesn't, at least I have an idea of how it works.  If it flops all the way around, no big deal.  I've got flowers ordered to put on the table too.

Here's what I just put in the refrigerator.

Here it is with a photoshopped beak.

Here's the original I'm going by.

I think I need a little more practice.  I also think I should use something bigger for the eyes, maybe clove instead of peppercorn?  And definitely make a smaller beak.  Maybe use a smaller knife to make the head a little more rounded?  I don't know.  Like I said, I need more practice.  And if it flops?  No biggie.

For now, I'm off to my lists where there's plenty of TCB to be done... starting with a trip to the vet for Maggie.  Maybe I can fit in a few more things before then.