Beadboard blogging

If you go to Images on the Google homepage and type in beadboard ceilings, you will get lots more pictures and site addresses that show beadboard ceilings. While the tiles are nice, my personal preference is for beadboard, but of course they need painting every few years or so. The tile can remain in its natural state. Something to be said for them both. Isn't it fun deciding???

We have had CARS of trick-or-treaters. Ah the joy of busy Glenbrook. That is why I hide from the little darlings and their chaperones. It would be different if I lived on a less traveled street and only had the neighborhood children. I am not even sure if these kids all live IN Garland.

We are due for a cold front to drop the temps about 20 degrees tomorrow over today. We shall see. I still have one and a half beds to clean out and divide up. Maybe tomorrow afternoon I can get to the 1/2 bed anyway. I have Bible study in the morning and am at critical mass again on groceries, so I have to run by Sams and the grocery store. I have enjoyed getting some things cleaned out and organized around here. It sure reinforces my thoughts that I need to have a garage sale and get rid of a lot of junk.

I'm getting ready to return to rug hooking for a project or two. I guess the cooler temperatures have me thinking wool. As I have been typing this it occured to me how to solve the problem of hanging a three-window long curtain rod by myself. I have been puzzling about that for many weeks. Isn't the human brain a funny working thing?

Must go and do some more planning and plotting over the Bluestone catalog. Love and kisses

Oops! Forgot one!

I forgot to respond to your suggestion for Christmas. I have many thoughts on that but will post it later. I have to dash home for the little hooligans trick or treating.

OW!

I'm sorry to go a few days before a post. I managed to whang my back pretty badly over the weekend and it's been pretty painful to be at the keyboard. Things are better now so long as I remember not to twist too suddenly.

I think Dave's is perfectly fine to use. At least I've been using it though I've just barely scratched the surface of everything offered there. The plant encyclopedia is really handy.

Thanks for the update on Kent. I didn't know if he'd been allowed to come home yet or not so it was good to get an update.

Hey! Look what I found. I was pursuing your suggestion of beadboard for my kitchen ceiling and found Armstrong has a lot of products for it. What do you think? Armstrong Ceiling Beadboard
They also have these faux tin ceiling tiles. Thoughts? (And what's a furring strip?) Tin style ceiling

Saturday, hooray

I have some questions about the Dave website. Is it safe to use, as you told me to be wary of sites such as that? Do you use it? I think it would be a huge source of information if you can use it without worry about vicious bugs attacking your computer.

I am getting a really slow start to the day mainly because there are no huge "to-dos" on my list or places that I have to be. It is rather nice to indulge in a laid back pace for once. I got a 10% off coupon from Callaway's nursury so I want to check out the pansies, and oxblood lilies and shrubs today at some point and I also want to go to Home Depot and look at their selection, other than that I guess I will head to the sewing room as I have not sewed in days.

I heard from Toni yesterday via voice mail. I was out when she called and the last two times I have called her, she has been at the hospital with Kent. He is in hospice there still as they are trying to regulate his diabetes and pain to the point he can come home. I am not sure that this will happen and it might be easier on Toni in the long run. Every time the phone rings I jump thinking it is Toni telling me that Kent is gone, so I can only imagine the stress she is under right now.

I have to get going on the stone walkway, but rather dread the prep work to make it level, so I keep postponing it. That can be done in cold weather, so I know that unless something very unusual happens I will have it in by spring.

What do you want to do about Christmas? I vote no gifts, just an exchange of cards. I have everything that I need and most of what I want and I know that you guys are in the same boat. It seems wasteful to buy just because it is the season to buy and I know that you have Kevin's children and grandchildren to buy for and a home that you are wanting to upgrade some. Are you okay with this? If not let me know. I do not want to be in the position of getting a gift if we have agreed not to exchange them. Many of my friends no longer excange gifts for the same reason that they already have more stuff than they have room to put it. Even our quilt group is going to buy toys for charity instead of exchanging gifts this year. Do I sound bah humbug? I hope not, as I love the season, but not the commercialism that goes with it. Let me know your thoughts about this.

Dave's Garden Find

This is a neat site. You ever visited here?

Dave's Garden

Some days you're the windshield...

And some days you're the bug.

I am SO the bug today!

Phew!

After a bit of sweat and some new blisters, I think I'm about ready to call the garden done until spring. I received my order from Wayside on Saturday.

I added:

Hydrangea - Quickfire
Knockout Rose - Rainbow
3 - Miscanthus - Cosmopolitan

I also added 15 bulbs of various daffodils. The only things left are, maybe, a Magnolia tree and my usual tulip bulbs. It's not cool enough to plant the tulips yet. I moved my mock oranges around to see if they'll do a bit better in new spots and finished the bed cleanup. I also did the annual fall black walnut pickup. Yuck! If those weren't such huge big shade trees

Not a ton of news outside of that. I think I've decided on the kitchen colors but we have to do some ceiling repair as soon as Kev gets the roof leak fixed. It's either been raining or the wind has been blowing hard enough you can't get on the roof. It's a minor leak around an exhaust pipe but it's caused a small spot where the popcorn type ceiling has fallen off. The spot is smaller than a tea saucer but still needs to be repaired before painting. I have no idea how to do that! I'm sure the web can tell me though.

We're supposed to get our first touch of frost tonight along with a nice slow day long rain but warmer the rest of this week. It looks like it'll be glorious. I'd like to get home from work early enough to get out the ladder and clean the windows.

More Shrubs

I went to Lowes to pick up some potting soil and noticed that the shrubs were on sale, so I also bought three dwarf Buford Hollies and three standard Japanese boxwoods for the yard. I have planted the hollies, but am going to wait until tomorrow on the boxwoods. If the rain comes in Sunday night as forecast they should be off to a good start.

I also bought the paint to paint the guest bedroom and the hall bathroom. I guess I will start on the bedroom first, hopefully tomorrow, or Monday at the latest. I have promised Lois and Kay that I will go with them to the movies (Elizabeth) on Tuesday, so if I cannot finish in one day (and I doubt that I can) I will have to paint one day, skip a day, and finish up on Wednesday. Some where in there I have to do my homework for Bible study on Thursday morning and quilting group is Friday. Busy week ahead.

I got the laundry done today and the house is pretty clean, so that will help with the time crunch. Did you get the work done in the yard that you had planned to do? What is the status of your kitchen painting? Is is done, or tabled for a later time?

Let me hear from you. I have not forgotten about the pictures. Maybe I can get those done tomorrow.

All projects should be pondered carefully

I have wanted to move my water dispenser for some time and finally did so with the mistaken notion that it would be a simple 30 minute job at most. Two full, hard-working days later and four rooms of rearranged furniture plus the pantry later, I realized that I had not given enough thought to the project up front. It was like dominoes falling. As I moved each piece of furniture it necessitated moving something else, and on and on. Of course that entailed lots of cleaning of newly exposed areas as I went along. Everything is finally done and I must admit most of the house looks much more organized, not to mention cleaner, so I guess it was worthwhile. As we were getting rain at the time I could not have worked in the yard anyway, so the timing was perfect.

Today I am meeting the quilt buddies at Quilt Connection, a new shop that opened up in an old quilt store that went out of business. It should be fun quilting,laughing and talking with the gang. Your dinner with the girls sounded like fun especially since you share common interests. Have you seen the movie Elizabeth yet? I have not, but plan to. I also need to get my flu shot here pretty soon. I hope that you and Kevin plan to get one too.

I am so anxious to add some more shrubs and start the new walkway through the middle of the long garden bed, but we are in for heavy rain today, Sunday and into next week. If they are accurate in the forecast it might be several days before it will be dry enough to work outside.
Darn, I might be forced to work in my sewing room!!!

Same old, Same old

Not much to report on here. We got the lawn mowed today as it's apparantly the only rain free day this week. Thank goodness as otherwise we'd have had to mow via machete. I had a nice dinner tonight with a couple of girl friends from work. Nice ladies--they enjoy a lot of the same things I do including some gardening. Both are big bird watchers.

I truly don't have any other news and I'm off to watch the new Heroes and Damages. I love you much!

Rain on my parade

Well those transplaned day lilies should thrive as we have had a lovely rain most of the day and more forecast for tomorrow. I am so glad that I was able to get as much done in the yard as I did before it got soggy.

Got up early this morning and paid bills and took them to the post office and then dropped by the school tax office and paid the yearly tab. OUCH, that would buy a lot of plants or fabric!!

I need to get going on the house especially the floors as they have reached critical mass. Later Gator

Rainy Days

Is it talking to yourself if someone answers?

Started raining last night and hasn't stopped yet. It's okay as it's that slow steady fall type rain and we can certainly use it! However, the weather service told me that wasn't going to happen until tonight and thus my Saturday plans to finish some cleanup have gone awry. I guess that leaves me no choice but to do some housework. It's either that or use my furniture surfaces as extra garden beds.

Kev took Faye to the vet this morning and she's healthy as can be. We had her microchipped and signed up for their service. I never know if that stuff is worthwhile or not but I guess at $15 a year, it can't be too much waste. They do offer 24 hour phone vet service including the doggie Poison Control Center. She now has 3 tags and her spurs go jingle jangle jingle as she walks. I bet the cats actually appreciate that! Not like a 53 pound dog is all that sneaky to start with. I'm heading out shortly to take her up to the groomers and, boy, does she need it! That's the only Faye expense that makes me grit my teeth a bit as it's $40 and they don't even have to actually cut her fur. It's just bath, toothbrushing, nailtrimming and blowdry. I guess that's worthwhile as the baths I give her at home never leave her looking as pretty as they do but still----sheesh!

At least Home Depot is right next door and that's always good to head into. I need to pick up some weatherstripping and figured I'd, again!, look at potential paint colors for the kitchen. I've made a vow that I'll have my kitchen redone by Thanksgiving! I think I'll pick up some quart sizes and slap some of the colors on the wall and see what I think. I also need a new rug for under the kitchen table. I've looked everywhere for one the right size which is about 6' x 9' and I'm having an amazingly hard time finding anyone that carries that size. I'm going to check Home Depot while I'm there but if they don't have it, I give up. I guess I can go to a carpet store and see if they'll hem a piece of carpet that size. Do you think they'd do that? Have you had that done and do they charge that much for it? I don't mind paying for the carpet, natch, but have no idea if they do stuff like hemming it off if you're not actually buying a full house of carpet from them.

Off to take Faye to the groomers. More later. Promise!

Talking to myself?

I am skipping quilt circle to work in my garden today, so you know how serious I am getting. I have made very good progress toward getting things cleaned out and ship shape and hopefully can finish up the job today in the long beds. I want to install a walkway down the middle to make getting around easier, but cannot decide what type of stone to use. I have been going though some back issues of Country Gardens and Garden Gate looking for inspiration. There are so many plans for the yard floating around in my head, that I have to keep reminding myself one step at a time. Is a garden ever done??? I do not think so. I want to completely remove all the plants from the square bed behind the arbor except for one rose and start over in there. I read about a golden spirea in the new Garden Gate that sounds lovely and I think would make for year round interest. I think I will check with Northhaven Gardens to see if they carry it.

I hope to get started on painting the main bath room and guest room in the next couple of weeks. I need to do my bedroom and the office, but moving furniture in those rooms is difficult because of the weight, and I have not figured out quite how to do it, but bet I do. First things first, getting the other two rooms done.

It is so nice to know that I do not have to bother with Thanksgiving and Christmas, so I can continue right on with my decorating plans, without having to stop to decorate or cook. Of course you know that the best laid plans of mice and men----etc.

Write when you can and know that your calls are precious and dear to me. I love hearing from you and the routine you find uninteresting, is interesting to me because I love you dearly.

Monday news

We had a lovely rain most of the day on Saturday, but our temperatures and humidity are above normal by about 10 degrees still. They are forecasting a cold front to hit sometime this week and dropping our highs into the 80's and drying out the humidity. I sure do hope that they are right, because this heat and humidity takes away my desire to work in the yard in a hurry. I have so much to do out there that I am feeling overwhelmed.

I need to take all the screens off the windows and clean the windows outside and in. They are reaching critical mass, but I cannot seem to get motivated to do it. I also need to clean out the gutters again. Wish those leaves would be more selective on where they fall!!

Cindy came all day Saturday for a sew day and Paul called Sunday for a nice chat. Other than that, it was a very quiet week end, but relaxing. Hope that yours was as well.

Wednesday wanderings

Aunt Toni sends her birthday greetings to you. We got rain for most of the day which was nice. It messed with my garden work plans, but I was able to finish up a couple of sewing projects, so everything worked out fine. Diane dropped by bearing a gift of four fall-colored ceramic tea bag holders. Between your wonderful copper bird bath and her tea bag holders, I felt as if today was my birthday. I am ready to go watch another episode of WAR, so I will wish you a good evening and great week.

More drabble

That will be really neat to see the information you get. It's just amazing the amount of information available on the web. Hard to believe we ever lived without it.

Not much to report here. I planted my asters last night and had high plans to get my new nandina planted since I cleaned out the portion of the garden where I want it to go but we're supposed to get fairly severe storms this afternoon. I still need to divide my daylilies and have several other plants I need to move. It's tough now when there's only about an hour of daylight after I get home. I guess it will all wait patiently for me to get around to it.

Enjoy getting your hair cut. It's time for me to do the same and get a bit of a "color refresh" as well. I broke down and ordered an entirely new set of makeup and threw out all my old stuff I was sick to death of. I'm trying out that Bare Ecsentuals mineral line everyone raves about. Hopefully it'll work out well. Either that or I'll be the best looking clown in town!

I did it

I really appreciated the information on soliciting the service records. I went online and did that. You had to download a form to sign and date that you are who you said you are and send it off in order to get the information. I did this and I am guessing in a few weeks they will send me dad's record. I would have done this years ago had I known about it. I will send you information that I learn and keep the record they send in the strong box with the other important papers.

Yesterday I started Project Reclaim on the backyard. I spaded up one bed and removed the plants. Cleaned out unwanted plants, dividied others, moved a daylily into the bed and planted a package of daffodils.

I am getting my haircut today, so will forego yard work until tomorrow and instead run some errands.

Family Information

Thanks, Mom, that is so very cool. I've often thought I don't know near as much about my family as I would like to and of course the opportunities grow fewer as the years go by. I certainly don't know granddad as well as I wish I had. It would be really interesting to solicit his war record and find out. As far as I know, he was the only one in the family to serve active duty in WWII. I know there are a lot of sites where you can do that like http://www.archives.gov/veterans/evetrecs/index.html I'd even do it but I don't have his date of birth or social security number. (Perhaps one day you'd fill out a family tree at least as far as you know it.)

That series has been fascinating and I'm constantly astounded, surprised and nauseated. The death tolls are almost more than you can get your mind around and it's interesting to me that while so much focus has always been given to the blitz on England and the deaths there, you never heard that much about the amount of civilian deaths Germany suffered. I commented to Kevin last night it's no wonder so few men who served really wanted to talk much about it when they returned. I'm also fascinated about the ways the population at home reacted and how things changed. You have to wonder how different things would be in Iraq and Afghanistan now if the American people had been asked to sacrifice rather than "go out and spend money". 25 million cars manufactured in 1940. Only 26 cars manufactured the entire rest of the war years. Wow!

More later this afternoon on gardening!

WAR series

Your grandfather was in the 36th Texas Division, but I do not remember which regiment any more. Their insiginia was an arrow head with a T in the center. Pop, went overseas in late summer of 1942, but had been in the service since 1941. There have been some references to this division and I wish that I knew exactly his regiment. I know he was at Salermo because there used to be a show called World at War and one day as we watched it was about the taking of Salermo and pop quietly said (as was his way) I was there for that. He rarely, or never, spoke about the war and seeing the new series and hearing from the survivors, I can understand why. Daily scenes of horror must sear the brain until you never ever want to recall any part of it. Dad, and I believe all of his brothers, were awarded a purple heart and I am 99% sure he won the bronze star. I remember mom showing me his medals, which she kept in a Coco tin, when I was 11, or 12. I never saw them again, and do not know what finally happened to them----maybe they were lost or thrown away, or maybe Toni has them somewhere. Dad was such a humble man that he rarely talked about himself at all. I wish that I knew more about his life.