Chuckie! and her story...

Yesterday, when I went to make my bed, I found the covers all ready pulled up...but my bed wasn't made.  

I paused just long enough to think, 'hum?'  It is winter break and my kids are home from school.  Jack, my lazy bones cat, would normally be snoozing on my side of the bed and he wasn't there.  Maybe, I thought, one of the kids kindly pulled my covers up so Jack would be sleeping on the comforter and not on my sheets.  Right! Like that would happen!  

As I pulled back the covers to make my bed I jumped just a little as I saw Chuckie hiding out.  This silly doll finally made her way to our bed!  She spent last week terrorizing the relatives who came to visit.  My SIL was the first to find her under her covers.  Chuckie spent the next five days moving from bed to closet, to bed, to suitcase, to under the bed, to laundry shoot, to bed.  She kept the upstairs group occupied, jumping and laughing.  

*****

The story of Chuckie is one of my favorites.  Two years ago as my mom was not winning her battle with GBM, I spent a fair amount of time with her at my grandmother's.  You may or may not recall that my mom spent the last six months of her life at home which meant at grandma's ranch style house...just a mile from my semi-childhood home.  A hospital was not going to be able to help mom.    In the end, the wonderful service of Hospice was called upon.  But...

On one of my weekend visits up north to my mom, my grandmother, who had been an avid doll collector for at least 20 years, asked if I thought my twelve-year-old daughter would like one of her dolls, specifically an American Girl Doll.  ARE YOU KIDDING ME? OF COURSE!  I wanted to shout at my Grams.  Instead I answered, "Grams, you know she'd love anything you send her way."  

I learned a long time ago, that my grandmother was a trash collector and she could not really part with anything!  If she did give you something you just needed to kindly accept it and then dispose of it when you returned to your own home.  It was just how she was.  My grandmother did have a huge doll collection though.  It was housed in a room of her house that no one was allowed in.  Of course I snuck in there, when I visited my mom and grams was out shopping.  I was naturally curious.  The room was lined with boxes containing dolls.  Piles and piles.  You could barely walk through the place and some of the stacks were a good six feet high.  WOW!  Grams had an original Xavier Roberts Cabbage Patch Doll from the 80's.  I know because I recall when that craze first started and my Grandpa bought it for her.  It was gorgeous.  I was in my late teens and the doll came to our house that fall: Grandpa didn't want it going to his house.  I had this dream that the doll was really for me.  Her blond curls and frilly dress begged for a young girl to cuddle.  I was envious and sad that Christmas as Grams opened the package and I did not.  Still, it was a very cool thing Grandpa did for her.  Grams had collected just about every Madame Alexander doll there was to collect.  She had boxes and boxes of Barbies.  From Star Wars dolls to "Gay Bob."  If it was a doll, she had it.  So, did I think my daughter would like an American Girl Doll from her Great-Grandmother?  

My Grandmother disappeared into that doll-room-cave for about fifteen minutes.  When she re-emerged she was not carrying an American Girl Doll.  Instead she had "Chuckie" as I called her, naked Chuckie.  In fact, with her messed up hair she looked like some long lost jungle baby.  My Grandmother asked in a serious voice, "I couldn't find one of my American Girl Dolls, but do you think your daughter would like this doll?"  

What could I say?  "Are you crazy Grams?"  "NO WAY"  "OMG!  WHAT IS THAT THING?"  "Yikes!"  I just answered, "Grams you know she'd love anything you send her way."  "I think I have a dress I can put on her," my Grams said and then she disappeared into another room for ten more minutes.  My Grams was a generous soul, but she had a daughter lying in a nearby bed who was dying and her mind just couldn't focus.  I would take the doll home to my daughter...but that doll wasn't riding up in the cab of the car with me.  

My Grams found the red dress Chuckie now wears.  She cleaned up the doll, did her hair and dressed and diapered her!  When I returned to Bloomington I told my daughter I had a gift for her from her Great-Grandmother and I told my son not to be jealous.  I made my daughter go out to the trunk of the car to get her gift.  

*****

We all did get a good laugh out of this doll and situation.  No one wanted her to come into the house.  But she did.  She usually quietly sits down in the basement on a shelf minding her own business.  Every few months, when it's least expected, she shows up in a bed, in a closet, under a bed peeking out, around the corner at a set of stairs, any place a good jolt is needed.  

As I said earlier, last week my SIL was the first to see Chuckie during their visit.  Good old Chuckie...she brings smiles and a laugh to our household.  Thanks Grams, may your generous soul rest in peace!  

My Favorite Presents!

Homemade ones of course!  

For the past few years, my friends and I have been making homemade gifts for one another.  I LOVE IT!  I love thinking about what I can make that they may enjoy and I love receiving their thoughtful gifts too!  

Several of my friends bake and share.  For working moms, it is a task to get your Christmas baking done.  Since most of my friends hold jobs on top of being a mom, I really feel honored when they share the treats they have made.  Peppermint Bark, Fudge, Sugar Cookies made with Grandma's past-down-through-the generations-recipe, Gingerbread Reindeer, Turtles,  Thumbprint Cookies, Spritz Cookies...yum, yum, yum!!!  

This year I received Homemade Vanilla Extract! (HVE)  If you happened to have a few of my Buckeyes this year, you benefited from this wonderful gift.  That tiny brown bottle I received is like gold!  When uncapped, it smells of baking-heaven!  Oh, if my kitchen were operational that gift would be long gone!  I am sure by Valentine's Day I will need to replenish my vanilla extract supply.  I will definitely need to start my own vanilla extract making.  HVE is better than store bought because there are not artificial anythings in it and no added corn syrup.  You know exactly what the ingredients are and it even gets better with age!  

Another wonderful gift I received it a cloth tote bag.  It has the perfect length shoulder straps and has carried my crafting items & camera back and forth next door over this holiday season.  It's colors were chosen just for me!  They are bright and happy colors: red, yellows, whites with a touch of blue and green.  I have had to keep an eye on it though...I have a daughter who keeps migrating towards it and I fear if I turn the other way it will end up emptied onto the table and then filled with her things!  

My same, very-crafty-friend who made the bag also made me a Felted Teacup Pin Cushion.  It's so sweet!  Besides making all my extended family who was in for the holidays smell my vanilla, they had to look at my teacup too!  Now that they have all gone home, my teacup will sit next to my sewing machine.  

My niece, yet another crafty soul, made me note cards with photos on the front.  All the photos are of nature and ones she took while recently in San Diego.  She's got a wonderful eye for catching shapes, colors and texture on film.  I am planning on using her note cards for my thank-yous this year.  

One more gift I need to mention was a photo scrapbook my sister got for my brother and me.  Although not "homemade" in the true sense of the word, it is too special not to note.  The book is a collection of photos from our grandmothers house.  Photos of great-grandparents, aunts & uncles known, unknown and from long ago.  Even baby pictures of our mom!  The photos are labeled as best they could be and our grandmother's handwriting adorns a few of the precious photos.   The book was professionally printed and bound.  I can't imagine trying to select photos to include or not in this book.  What a task!  What a treasure!  What a precious gift!  

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My gifts to my friends were painted flower pots.  Each one was painted a base color and then I added snow drifts and snow people.  Depending on the family size they had from 2-6 snow people: one for each family member.  

I included a sign on the pot with their family name.  As a finishing touch I included the date and my name on the bottom.  Hopefully these keepsakes will brighten their holidays through the years to come.  I enjoyed making these treats very much!  

Time to start thinking about next year now!  

Winter naps

Lazy Lily uses the window seat just as it was intended!  When I first thought about having a window seat added in the kitchen I said it was for the cats so they could look out the window.  

What a lucky cat!  Too bad there isn't enough room for me to snuggle up with my ball of fur and nap too.  At least I can sit next to her as I drink my cup of chai tea and count the variety of visitors at our feeders.  

I bet Lily is having different thoughts!  

Day 24 (Dec. 22.)...slowing down before Christmas

Day 24 of construction was the Monday before Christmas.  It was a day of handles on cabinets, painting and hanging of doors on the closets, oven repair man showing up, and  plumbers seeing if the lines were clogged.  

Since the trim for the crown molding is not in, the counter top is not in, the oven needs parts ordered and Christmas being here, things have really come to a stand still for a bit.  It is big tease of a kitchen!  Christmas Eve dinner we had all the relatives here...15 of us total.  Dinner was all purchased ready made from Aunt Kroger.  Cheese, crackers, soups, sushi, baked chicken, rice dish side salads and a fruit tray.  I opted for paper plates and cups because I didn't think my hands or the bar sink could handle the load.  Although dinner was easy and good, I don't think I would like to repeat this as a Christmas Eve dinner tradition.  I would much rather labor in the kitchen and watch the happy smiles as the family eats what I prepare.  Last year I had a traditional polish dinner, like when I grew up.  I had the table set with my best china and we dined on food I prepared.  Next year I will re-instate that tradition.  

Today is Day 42 in real time without my kitchen.  I think I am forgetting how to do things in a real kitchen.  Dave told me on December 22nd that the counter tops won't be in until after the first of the year.  I imagine this next week will be a very quiet one at the Burrow.  Thank goodness once again for in-laws living right next door and lots of Christmas dinner leftovers.  

The big happy news of the past week was that now the washer and dryer do work.  No more water puddles on the new floor!  After our six house guests left it was nice to be able to wash their towels and sheets here.  

Christmas Happiness!

I cannot recall a happier day in recent times for me.  I was content as I sat back and watched the smiling faces of family all around me.  Giggles, smiles, silliness, stories, food, wine, music, presents, pictures...

Our two households, next door to one another, housed 15.  The ages were 12 to 85.  For dinner we had 21...ages 3 to 85.  The place was lively, the food was plentiful, the friendship and love - abundant.  

Truly a day of blessings in my life.  Merry Christmas.  

Togetherness...

Holidays are a time when people who don't usually get together suddenly find themselves trapped inside houses.  Families travel and routines are altered.  Silences are filled and empty spaces occupied.  

Sitting to break bread can become a production, even if it's just for soup and crackers.  

Noise levels are elevated.  Older ears need words repeated. Unsolicited advice is dispensed.  Unspoken opinions are accessed; justly and unjustly.  

The real gift of the season...togetherness.  

Day 23...Painting, Shelving, Laundry and Humor!

On Day 22, I was busy trying to finish my Christmas shopping while the kids were in school.  Lots of errands kept me away from the house for the entire day.  Returning home there were lots of good surprises!  Drywall holes were filled.  The refrigerator found its home and has been busy making ice!  Ice in a drink is something one rarely pauses to think about.  We have been without this treat since November 17th.  Dave created the picture framing around the oven.  It looks beautiful!  But, here is where my first little piece of humor comes in...It does look beautiful, but the oven won't work!  It has power and all has been fine through construction.  The problem is an internal one.  Apparently there is an internal circuit board that needs to be replaced.  I am hoping this is not a sign of the future for the Beast.  
Since all was together with the oven, I thought it would be really nice to have some corn bread with out White Bean Tuscan Soup I was making for dinner.  I came upstairs to see if I could figure out how to turn on the oven.  After pressing three buttons an error sign came up and it wouldn't go away.  A call to customer service, and a handy researching-the-Internet husband, made it apparent that a repair man would have to be called  to fix this!  Next Monday...maybe I can bake.  Crackers accompanied our soup.  
Since I haven't shown the shoe shelf in awhile I thought I'd highlight that too.  My daughter pointed out that it can only hold four pairs of shoes.  It's fun when you say something, it goes in one ear and out the other of your kids and then eventually they have an A-HA moment on their own.  The point of this shelf has always been to hold only four pairs of shoes...four of us, one pair of shoes for popping outdoors for each of us.  Even though my daughter is a Venus, she acts a lot like Mars now and then!  
Day 23 (Friday) had Dave painting the trim, the closet shelves being installed and all the guys from Day One's de-construction returning to bring the washer, dryer and dishwasher back upstairs.  Although not connected yet, it is great to see the dishwasher back up in the kitchen.
I have been going next door to wash our laundry at the in-laws for these past five weeks.  If my FIL has said it once, he's said it at least 10 times. "Boy, you all have a lot of laundry!"  This coming from a man whose wife does their laundry and who lives in a household of two...teenage girl free, I might add.  

Just when I think something might be working smoothly, and I take a photo to document it (look above at the gorgeous green lights on the washer and dryer), I have another minor problem.  While on the phone to my husband, and I swear I had just told him I was in heaven because I was doing the laundry, and yes to my brother I do know there are a ton of jokes in that statement!, I heard a strange gushing water sound.  I told my husband to hold on as I stepped up into the kitchen.  There flowing across the floor was a puddle of water.  I quickly told my Sweets I needed to go as I hung up on him.  My son ran to help and grabbed towels.  I turned off the washer and started mopping up water.  

Here's what happened.  I have a fairly powerful washer and the kitchen sink is not hooked up yet.  The sink is still in it's box and won't be come out until the counter top is here.  Under the sink, if it were there, the pipes sit...open, and facing the door.  Either due to a clog somewhere in the line to the sewer, or just because the system is open, the water from the washer decided to shoot out the sink pipe.  Boy, did it have some force to it too!  The positives are that it was very clean water, I was here, I had a helpful son handy, and I could see the "I Love Lucy" moment I was having clearly.  

Although today is not officially supposed to be a construction day, Dave will be here to cap the pipe.  Hopefully just closing the system will solve my problem.  

Q. What do you do on a Snow Day?...I do mean ICE day!

A.  Go next door and help your grandpa make stockings for his fireplace.  

You know, those stockings for the relatives who haven't been to visit at Christmas in a few years, so they'd never know they didn't have a stocking yet, unless someone posted something on her blog pointing out the fact that some twins were 18 months old and coming to town on Sunday and didn't have their stockings made yet...

My in-laws have their fireplace filled with stockings for their boys & their wives, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  My crafty daughter was volunteered to go help with the stocking making.  She's such a good kid!  

Rachel & Cole are the twins.  Nenya is our new, niece-in-law.  She and our nephew got married today! in Vienna, where they live.  All three of these new stocking holders will be here on Sunday.  Rachel & Cole arrive with their mom, big brother and sister from Oklahoma on Saturday night.  I think we are ready for the family to arrive now!  

Day 21 & 22...Bribery...

Yes, I stoop to bribery.  Chris thinks our electrician is a bit grumpy.  The kids have been after me to make Buckeyes, which is one of those wonderful, time consuming, but no-bake, Christmas treats I make each December.  Also, they are a great task to keep a cook without a kitchen busy.

When the electrician arrived yesterday I had a small bag of Buckeyes just for him, as well as a little plate to munch on right then.  He was here on Monday until 7pm.  I think all he has left to do is come back and hook up the disposal/dishwasher circuit once the counter tops arrive and the sink is set.  

The lights are up in the closets and over the sink, phone line works, puck lights are under the cabinets and the oven hood is functioning!  On Monday, Dave did get the oven in too!  :)

There is a bit of framing around the oven to be done, but what a BEAST!  

On Tuesday, besides the electrician being back, Dave hung the hood and the pot rack.  In this photo you can see the 'fridge - still not in it's place, the arch and the hood.  

The lighting in the kitchen is great!  My FIL stopped by yesterday to check on the progress and he asked Dave if Duke Energy is giving him a stipend?  

The light I chose for over the sink matches the hood.  It's stainless and glass.  You can see here that the sink is in it's box in the spot where the refrigerator will go.  I think today the 'fridge moves to its home.  Also not in its correct place yet, the stove top sits on the sinks spot.  

From the arched entry looking at the carport door you can see the island on the right with new hood and pot rack!  We were a bit excited after Dave and Tash left today and we just had to bring the pots upstairs to get a sense of how it will look!  There are lots of pieces of cardboard covering corners and the floor.  The wood on top of the island is just temporary too.  

I am thinking of investing in a paper towel company.  Can you say fingerprints?  Or to quote the magician in Frosty the Snowman, "messy, messy, messy...to coin a phrase."  

Today, day 22, trim is being installed, caulk being done and the drywall guy, Gary, comes back tomorrow.  Painting should happen on tomorrow or Friday.  

Day 20...??? Hiccups & Slow Downs mixed with Creativity

Not sure what will be happening today and this week.  Mostly I say that because Friday was full of "oh, crap!"  Dave, Chris and I spent the afternoon all in different places, yet connected, stewing about whether or not the oven will fit in the space it's supposed to fit into.  All has gone just fine up until last Thursday, when the appliances arrived.  Specs were known well in advance of the cabinets being ordered, but...in a perfect world, all would just slid into place.  In reality, cabinets get designed just a little off, pipes come out of the floor just an inch away from where they should, trim gets shipped too green and placed on top of one another.  I think this is where the true artisans show what they are made of - their creativity shines.  I am sure my construction artisans will work miracles over this next week.  

The electricians are due here today.  They should finish the outlets and switches.  We bought the light fixtures for the closets and sink over the weekend.  The electricians will put those in too.  Maybe the oven challenge will get solved today.  Hopefully the floor, where the 'fridge, washer & dryer goes will get sealed so those appliances can find their homes this week.  

Other things that could come together this week: trim around closet doors, closet doors up, stove hood & pot rack hung, crown molding up, hardware ordered and/or installed, walls painted.  I am sure this list could lengthen too.  

All the above aside, what is happening in the kitchen looks fantastic!  It's so cool!

Construction Time versus Real Time

Today is day 19 in construction time, but it is day 26 in real time.  

Real time without a true kitchen feels really LONG!  

No complaints.  Things are right on schedule and moving smoothly.  I can just taste the completed kitchen and I want it done yesterday so I can get back in to creating in there!  

Crock pot cooking sucks!  Maybe it's just because my CP is 22 years old.  If my CP wasn't so good at keeping chili warm on those few occasions every five years I use it, I'd think about getting rid of it.  I've not been impressed with it's abilities over the past month.  

Remember Palmolive Dish Soap and their ads?  If you are my age, growing up you'd recall Madge, the nail salon gal saying,  "Dish washing liquid, yes.  But its softens your hands while you do the dishes.  You're soaking in it."  Since my dishwasher has been sitting against a wall in the basement, I have decided to abandon my normal dish washing liquid for something to pamper my hands.  Palmolive seems fine on my hands, but nothing in the whole wide world can rescue my finger nails.  They have become brittle from all the dish washing they have had to do.  Poor things!  They break off if I just look at them!  My hands miss the dishwasher!  

And, washing dishes in a bar sink is a challenge.  The dishes need to be done in batches.  Large plates and pots don't even really fit under the faucet let alone in the sink.  I have been trying to figure out if my kids really need to use plates and cups.  I have been recently considering allowing my children to be barbarians and just eat straight from the pans.  Milk drinking should happen right from the jug.  Maybe we should try seeing if we can connect with our medieval roots too and give up our silverware.  

Just a few thoughts.  

Day 17, 18 & 19th...Chaos...But Good!

Tuesday morning.  All the cabinets arrived at about 8am.  The kitchen was ready to receive them!  

In the carport.  After inventory was taken, the upper cabinets were all hung.  Next the wall cabinets and finally the island.  There is so much that goes into hanging the cabinets.  I had no idea!  And, the cabinets are only screwed to the wall and being held up by a few screws!  Amazing!  As Dave pointed out when I asked, he's never heard of a cabinet falling.  Neither have I, and I don't have a minuscule of the experience he has with cabinets and building.  

The past three days have been filled with cabinets being set in.  The crown molding will still need to be done, but all is ready for the counter tops to be measured and ordered.  

Pure insanity yesterday at the Burrow!  Phil, the cabinet guy was here, the electrician stopped in to get numbers of switch plates and outlet covers he'd need, Dave was in and out, the sink, cook top, oven and refrigerator all arrived within hours of one another.  Lily was fit to be tied because there was a ton of activity in her house and she wasn't allowed to monitor it all.  Darn that visqueen wall!  She kept trying to press her little kitty face through it so she could go and investigate.  

Today is construction day 19.  The counter top guy comes to measure and get dimensions.  There are so many decisions that have gone into remodeling this kitchen, I can't imagine someone trying to build a whole house from the bottom up.  What a task!  

All the appliances are here now.  Boxes, boxes, boxes!  I felt like Christmas arrived yesterday for me.  I swear I about wiggled out of my skin with the excitement of all I have ordered actually showing up!  A wonderful contractor can coordinate all the parts of the building process.  Dave's timing and schedule have been right on.  It seems like there are a million little things to be done now.  I am feeling the pressure of family arriving next weekend, but would rather have things not be completed when they arrive versus being done correctly.  Going into this project I knew we had two holidays to work around.  Patience is a good quality to have.  

Simple Gifts...

Last week I had one of my quarterly Community Advisory Board meetings for the local public TV station, WTIU.  I have been a part of this group since it started up, which I think was about five years ago.  I am the true peon of the group.  No connections, no title, just Community Volunteer.  I faithfully go to the meetings and hear what's happening with the station.  Once home, I chat about what I have learned with my husband, in-laws and friends.   Sometimes those closest to me hear what I think or how others can use the stuff I've gleaned from the meeting conversations.  In general I don't feel like much of an asset to this CAB group, but I do feel I bring a bit of 'Joe, the Public' to the table.   

Over the past two years a constant topic has been the impending HD transition.  We are now within 100 days of the true conversion date.  In fact, checking the web site, WTIU, I see there are only 70 days until the conversion happens!   Will this affect you?  The above link has a lot of good information.  They have staff on hand too one could chat with...in case you prefer a person and not a computer screen.  The General Manager of WTIU always leads our meetings and he had a good request I think worthy of sharing.  

If you do not need a converter box, request your two coupons on line.  Click here for on-line coupon request link.  Then, once they arrive, forward them to your local public TV station.  Public television is something everyone has access too.  You don't need cable to get this signal.  But, some of the folks public television serves are underprivileged.  They may not have the cable lines that reach their homes, they may not have the language know how to communicate properly, or they may be living on a very fixed income.  They could be elderly or unemployed.  They might just choose to not purchase cable.  All ready my local station has had people call and say that their coupons have expired, can they get another.  The answer is no.  If YOU don't need your coupons, apply and send them on to a source who can get them to someone who can use them.  I requested my coupons last week.  It took all of three minutes to do.  

If you aren't sure if you really need a converter box or not, check out the WTIU link above.  

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Other Simple Gifts:  

Save Box Tops for Education.  Most schools collect these 10 cent vouchers.  If you don't have children in your household, but have them in your neighborhood, get to know their parents and see if they will take your Box Tops to school for you.  Better yet, stop by or mail them yourself to the nearest elementary school.  What a thoughtful gift!  

And my personal favorite: pop tabs!  When my son was very small, my husband and I had an opportunity to get away for a weekend through his job.  I was touched by one of the flight attendants who was going up and down the aisle collected the tops of the cans.  I asked her why and she said it was just something she did for the Ronald McDonald House.  For they last 15 years, I too have collected these little tabs.  Maybe it's my own way of hoping I never need to use the serves of a hospital for some life threatening event for my kids.  I do tend to be a bit superstitious.  Whatever the reason, I am in such a habit of collecting these little tabs, that even when I go to a friends or relatives house, or am on vacation, I will pluck the tab and stow it in my pocket.   Apparently these little tabs are pure aluminum, unlike the cans that are made of several alloys.  About once a year I will gather my baggies full of tabs and take them to the nearest McDonald's.  

I know it's not much.  But, I like to find little unique ways to help make a difference in this world.  I guess it's just the peon in me!  

Day 16...The Cabinets are Coming!

Day 15, yesterday, had little noticeably done.  

Today is Day 16 and the cabinets are supposed to start being installed.  This process should take the rest of the week.  Also on tap for this week: the grout will be sealed, the walls should be painted, the vent hung (I think), the counter top people in to measure what's needed and by the end of the week the appliances will be arriving.  It will be a busy rest of the week around here.  The visqueen might come down too after this stage.  Once the grout gets sealed and the walls get painted, the washer and dryer can come back upstairs and be functional again.  When that happens, I will be a happy lady!  

I'll add a photo later today when there is some change to show.  :)

Live!...minutes ago

While I on my treadmill, and my sister at work, we both got our fill of the Nutcracker dessert?  Can't think of a word that rhymes to put here!  

Thanks Bean!  Here's a photo my sister nabbed from the live performance of NC, just minutes ago.  

My baby is the one on the front row, far left!  

:)

Secret to Share, but ACT QUICKLY!!! Sat. & Sun. ONLY!

So, tonight was the first night of IU's Jacob School

 of Music's

 Nutcracker.  My daughter

 is a lead officer and soldier in it and after I picked her up tonight, she's only in the first act, she asked if we were watching it on-line.

  Bad Mom!  I didn't even think about this!  

But, there are three more performances, and you all could possibly see it on-line...even in Vienna!  Here's the link:  Nutcracker.  Tomorrow at 2pm and 8pm, and Sunday at 2pm all Bloomington time, you can watch the production free and live!   Sorry, you'll have to each figure out the time conversions.  Go to the above link and click on the "Streaming Video" Nutcracker picture on the right upper-hand corner of the page.  

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So, I'll admit that I did copy and paste this from both my family blogs.  I am feeling a bit braggy, but one shouldn't watch this because my daughter is in it.  They should check it out because it's a beautiful performance.  IU has a contract with Sony, so they have received all new cameras on campus.  I watched a bit of the performance after my daughter was home and it is great!  It's a wonderfully clear picture.  

How lucky to be able to watch something as incredible as the Nutcracker to put one in the Christmas spirit.  Grab a cup of coffee or tea and snuggle up with your computer!  You really will love it!  

:)

Day 9, 10, 11 & 12...the Tile, Mars & Venus

Day 9 found Dave back at the house, which was the Friday after Thanksgiving.  He and his "assistant", my husband, walked around the kitchen trying to find squeaky floor spots and eliminating the culprits.  It was a pretty quick-to-do task, but those two chatted like girls and so the job took a bit longer.   

Day 10- John, the tile guy, was here.  He laid all the cement board.  

Day 11- John cut all the tile. 

Day 12- today- He and his (true) assistant will lay the tile.  

Day 13 will finish the tile laying and Day 14 will be grout installation.  

Last night in our house hold we were seeing first hand the difference between Mars and Venus.  

What should the tile pattern look like?  

Below is what I, Venus, needed to see the different patterns.  

Above is what my husband, Mars, needed to visualize the pattern.  I think we spent about an hour and a half conferencing over this!  In the end, we are all happy.  We being Dave, John, Chris and myself!  Hopefully by the middle of next week I can have my washer and dryer back in place and working!