Simple Pleasures

I had a dental check up on December 5th and although I did not have any cavities, I did have a very unpleasant experience during the cleaning. So, I asked Santa for a Sonicare toothbrush. Well, I got what I asked for...the children thought it was rather lame...but I charged it up and started using it right away. I love the delicious feeling of clean teeth! No more painful cleanings for me.

A Simple Christmas

Christmas has been wonderful this year. I especially loved the many concerts our children were in. Of course the parties were great, too. I began listening to holiday music early this year. A local radio station polled its listeners and chose to start playing Christmas music the week before Thanksgiving. At first I was overwhelmed at the thought, but I kept going back and finally decided that I was ready for Christmas music. I struggled to get presents sent to family away from home. Although I had the Christmas spirit, shopping just wasn't something that I felt like doing. Busy at work during the day and activities every night we didn't have many chances to shop much, but when we had some time, we got a few things. I was very glad that we kept things simple. It made for a lovely holiday.

Enjoying Hot Chocolate in the Lodge

I finally decided that I used to be a skier. For years I've thought I'd give it a go again, but this year after giving it much thought, I've decided that I really have other things that I'd rather be doing. For some reason coming to this conclusion has been very cathartic.

No Fair Being Sick

This week started out as a week that I wished I could take a day off...be careful what you wish for...you just might get it. Early this morning when I was up battling a sick stomach I heard the panicked pound of feet running for the bathroom and the horrible sound of a sick child. So we're both home sick today, but that's really not what I had in mind when I hoped for a day off. I'd really prefer some time to do some shopping, perhaps a little family history research, or finish painting, but no...instead I'm sipping ginger ale, napping and wishing I felt like shopping, research or painting.

Finished the Drapes

I finished sewing the drapes over the weekend. It is amazing how much heat they help keep in. There is a bow in the drapery rod, but we'll figure out how to support it in the middle. We rolled the piano back in the room and put the stuff back in the china cupboard. Next I'll get out the Christmas decorations--especially since the days of December are going fast.

Things are coming together nicely.

Clicking and Shopping for a Great Cause

A pair of my Christmas socks

My Oregon socks

Tonight, as I clicked my daily click to help fight breast cancer, some of the ads caught my eye and I found a great gift for my Mom. I don't think she reads my blog, but it doesn't really matter. You can also click to help fight hunger, for childrens' health, literacy, and a few other good causes. Not sure how much of the money, or how clicking really helps, but I sure hope that it does. I suppose if many people click daily, and a few stop and shop, then the advertisers make money on the deal, but also support good causes. I guess it's a win-win.

I didn't think much about cancer much until a few years ago my life was touched by many dear friends who fought the good fight...some won, but some did not. I have my own sock campaign where I wear special socks and they remind me of those who have had to take up the cause. The first time I ran the Race for the Cure, I didn't know anyone to run for--it just happened to be the week I graduated from the University of Utah and I thought running a race would be a good celebration. Now I know many women for whom I could run, including a cousin, a sister-in-law, and many good friends.

Remembering such things often keeps life in perspective.

Big Windows and Tall Ceilings

For more than a year, we've been doing some home fix up, remodeling stuff. One of the last rooms that we just tackled was the living room. It's a beautiful space with vaulted ceilings and a large picture window with an arch.

My first mistake was thinking that I could paint it myself over the labor day weekend. I moved as much as I could out, took down the vertical blinds (our practical window covering with many little people in the household) and discovered that the arch window was broken. I figured that it would be a large expense to replace it, so waited a few weeks (until the middle of November) to have it replaced. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it wasn't as much as I thought to repair it. Unfortunately now it needs some exterior caulk to seal it for the winter weather that we're having, but it's too cold...that's the way home improvement projects seem to go.

The two days after Thanksgiving we painted the ceiling, the entire room, and all connected tall walls associated with it. (It's one of those projects that once you start painting, you really don't stop until you paint everything.) It looks great--now I'm kicking myself for not at least taking a broom to the dirt on the walls from the ceiling fan a few years earlier. Of course, considering the fact that I'm quite scared of heights, something I completely forgot until I climbed on a ladder to clean the ceiling fan, it couldn't have been done without my wonderful husband who did all of the tall stuff. I was nervous no matter who was on the ladder, so I was very relieved when it was all finished.

This weekend the goal was to cover the big picture window, so folks would stop commenting on how much they've noticed we've progressed on our projects. Just wanted to keep from being on stage anytime we were in the living room. Perhaps the neighbors really don't want to see me when I'm in the middle of a painting project...still trying to get the paint out of the hair...and I really would like to decorate the Christmas tree before Christmas Eve this year.

Great Christmas sales at the local fabric/craft store included drapery hardware at 50% off. I thought the little people have grown up enough (some are even in college, now) we could consider something a little more traditional this time. Perhaps sheers and drapes. Can't believe it, but I found a perfect drapery fabric for $3.00 a yard. I took a chance that the color was right, even though I didn't bring my carefully kept home improvement journal with me. It was. But even the minimal sewing required to make two plain panels is a little more than can be accomplished in one day. So the rods and sheers went up, but of course, there is just one little problem....the rods are bowed under the weight of the sheers. There isn't any where to place a middle bracket. The upper arch window is placed directly on top of the lower picture window. Will have to solve that problem on another day since this one is nearly over.

Three more rooms: the dining room and two bathrooms, and the entire house will be in tip top shape. Every little thing has been fixed, repaired, replaced, painted, and cleaned. So why didn't this happen earlier? Funny human nature....