I love to cook, when I'm in the mood! I made us eggs, bacon and toast one morning. I have the tablecloth on the table that Manda brought me back from Italy. It makes me happy, it's so cheerful!
We had Steph home for a minute! She had a manager's meeting in Mt. Laurel, so we got to have dinner with her Monday night and visit for a short time. She had meetings Tuesday and half of Wednesday, then we met her, Heather and Julianna for dinner. She then went to speed skating practice with them so she could see Ed and Eddie. When she came back here, she did our taxes for us!
Yesterday Heather came up and we went to the diner for breakfast and more visiting. All too soon, she had to head for the airport.
I'm down to the final room in my quest for taking my house back! The sewing room, which became a catchall room during the construction. This is the before picture.
I'm also making two afghans, which I haven't taken pix of yet. A sky afghan, and one in greens. And I've been on a reading kick.
So back to work in the sewing room for me!
Heather and Ed had their St Patrick's Day party yesterday, and it was fabulous!
St Patrick himself put in an appearance, complete with snake!
Everyone dressed in their green finery!
Even Honey got in on the action! It was a lovely party, about 30 people, lots of food!
Earlier in March, Jules turned 12! I can't believe it! It was kind of bittersweet, since she doesn't have her birthday buddy great-grandmom with us anymore.
We get new pix of Mocha frequently. Dan and Steph are quite smitten with her!
Goofy Sly- this craft holding footstool has been in the living room for over a year now. I moved it to in front of the chair, and he's right on it.
Manda went green! And Amary is just adorable!
Manda made the hoodie! She's so talented with her sewing!
Cheeseburger macaroni in the instant pot! It was really good!
I'm taking the house back, one room at a time. I'm so sick of clutter, and it's been worse since Mom died and I had half her house here, then renovating and everything in different rooms. Now, the kitchen is situated, the living room is decluttered, the dining room is almost done. As I'm putting things back into the bedroom, I'm taking a hard look at everything. We've taken several car loads to St Vincent dePaul, and will probably take several more. Calm and peaceful is my goal.
I'm crocheting a sky afghan, as per Crochet Crowd. I haven't been able to sew, as I can't get near the sewing machine yet. I'm working on the family room, then the laundry room, guest room, and the sewing room will be last. I'm keeping my eye on the prize!
It's a beautiful day, the sky is blue, and the wind has dropped.
It's been a busy month! Two bathrooms, a hallway, and the master bedroom renovated! I'm so happy with the results!
And a new granddog! Welcome to Mocha Ruscansky, all or mostly dachshund. She was rehomed to a rescue after the California wildfires, and now Steph and Dan are her parents. She's so cute, a year old. It's taken them three years since Toast died to be ready to give their hearts again.
Also in February, I turned 66! My brother Mike wants to know how we got so old so fast? I wish I had an answer.
I also had an area of basal cell skin carcinoma removed. The stitches just came out, and it's healing well.
As we're putting things back after the renovation, we're sorting and purging. Ralph got rid of a whole stack of clothes from his closet, and I thinned out the coat closet. We're doing a little bit each day.
So bye bye to February, hello to March and the time change, and snow predicted for the first day of March!
We had a week off in between construction projects, sort of. In the week off, the bedroom carpet was installed.
The color is beachcomber, and it's a sandy color, very neutral, and we love it!
I was to a couple of stores to buy curtains, and ended up online at amazon, of course. They match the carpet really well. There is a drawer missing from Ralph's bureau because it's his junk drawer, and he's going thru it.
Heather and the kids came to see me for my birthday, and to help us put furniture back into the bedroom. Eddie is now taller than me, and Jules is not far behind!
We went to Sharon's for a birthday party for Zac and Justin. Sharon made the delicious cakes.
The hallway and hall bathroom before.
Day one, demo.
Day two.
I had another area of basal cell removed on Tuesday. The pressure dressing had to stay on for 24 hours. I'll spare the blog the pix of the wound.
Day 3 and 4- progress!
Steph and Dan are going to meet this cutie on Saturday, and possibly bring her home with them. She's mostly or all dachshund, and had been rehomed after the California fires. She's a year old.
Julianna is deciding on a look for the annual St. Patrick's Day party, and Eddie is wearing his favorite hoodie, the one Manda made for him.
And today is Friday, and the bathroom/hall project will wrap up today or tomorrow.
The master bathroom is finished!
The guys worked half a day yesterday, and finished it! Yay! They estimated a ten day project, and finished it in six!
Now we wait for the carpet installation, which should be late this week, via a different contractor.
And we shopped!
This is the vanity I decided on for the hallway bathroom, and a light gray paint. Same medicine cabinet as the master bath, and same floor tile. Tub/shower combo, basic white. White door.
Natalie is drawing up a contract, and our tentative start date is next Monday. Ralph went and got the vanity and top and doors this morning, and will get the tub tomorrow.
Tuesday he gets his hand injected with an enzyme to dissolve what is keeping his little finger bent. He goes back Friday for the hand surgeon to break up the areas, so he'll be in a splint for several days after that. So we have a time crunch to get the materials here.
It's going to be epic when we're done!
Today is day 6 of the master suite renovation, and it's going fantastic. They will finish ahead of schedule!
These are some early in progress photos.
The following day!
Yesterday!
Heather bought Julianna a new hat for the St. Patrick's Day party, so of course she had to wear it while doing homework!
Today the guys discovered a crack in the medicine cabinet, so off it came and one of them is taking it to Lowe's for a replacement. The other is smoothing the spackle they used in a few areas. They are also replacing the electric switch by the door, and installing the faucets and spout in the shower.
And Natalie the project manager was here yesterday, and she wrote down what I want done for the next phase- the hall bathroom, hallway doors and trim, etc- and she'll work me up a price and we can start the week after next!
The carpet has been ordered, and hopefully that will go in the end of this week, so we can put the bedroom back together.
Manda's area is getting buried in snow! And the area is so not prepared for it. She said her street is still slippery from the last storm. Steph's area will get it in a day or so.
I'm crocheting, but it's not something I want to show off just yet.
