Monday, April 26, 2010

" All Work and No Play....... "

It's been an extremely busy week and weekend here in "Siebelsville". As you may or may not know we have been redecorating our living room. I finally finished the painting last week, of coarse this was two days BEFORE I got all of my knee shots! 


The knees do feel good now. When my husband came home he worked all day and evening on Saturday hanging seven pairs of blinds and five curtain rods. While he was working on that I ironed and ironed some more! Five pairs of curtains. I still have to customize three pairs which I will hopefully get to this week.


While the both of us were diligently at work we had a huge deluge of rain. The gutters always flood on our street when it rains but this was the first time in eleven years that we had seen the entire street covered in water. You could not see the street itself. Jake, Katie her friend Natasha and I just stood on the porch along with several other neighbors in disbelief! It's a bit hard to tell in this photo but I think you'll get a better look in the next one.



 This one is a photo of the edge of our driveway and the whole width of the street itself.



I do believe that we were all a bit awestruck!




Speaking of feeling awestruck, this is exactly how I felt when I won a giveaway last week from Wanda at "Brushstrokes from the Heart" (click for link) Wanda is an excellent artist and also a very interesting read! 

She had a drawing for a set of gorgeous note cards, and my name was drawn by her husband. I don't know him but I really, really like him!

The cards came tied with a pretty pink ribbon.





I hope my photo does them justice. They are very beautiful, thank you again Wanda! I can't wait to use them already!




Alright now back to work people! After watching the river flow down our street, Jake and I hung curtains and pictures. We also had a heck of time figuring out what to do with the furniture. Now that the huge radiators were out of the room, we had more options.

My husband comes up with some pretty good ideas so between the two of us we managed to find the right spot for all of our old and somewhat shabby pieces! New furniture, as much as I would LOVE it, just isn't in the budget and I don't see it in the budget anytime soon!

But it's all good as what we do have serves it's purpose and is comfortable. I did my share of cooking for my husband for all of his hard work. I made a pot of potato soup for lunch which Katie and her friend like as well. Then I made a gigantic meatloaf dinner for all of us!


So the biggest challenge in this redo was the fifty pound mirror that I wanted hung over the fireplace. I know how much my husband was dreading this job and he had done so much already that I told him that he could hang it up in two weeks when he comes home. 

Other then that and a few more things that need to be hung we are almost there! We are also going to paint the floors but I think that will have to wait until May or June.


I also managed to get quite a few plants in the ground over the last week. I had the yard all nicely raked and pretty. Then the storm came and our Maple tree left me a gift......




This is only a tiny spot of it. It looks as though it rained miniature helicopter propellers all over the yard. SIGH......


But we were blessed over the weekend with this beautiful surprise....


 

The Clematis bloomed! The Hollyhocks have buds on them also. All of that rain and all that beauty in one weekend!

Not to mention all of that work! It's paying off though and I may post a photo or two later this week. My oldest daughter, Ginny, doesn't want me to post any photos of the room before I email them to her. Don't ask me why, I don't have a clue but with Mothers Day just around the corner, well you know!


One more thing I have to say and then you can go. I plan on catching up on every ones posts by tomorrow. When my husband is home only four days a month, I just don't like to take the time away from him.

I am alone again now with plenty of time to read so I'll be seeing all of you soon!

43 comments:

Lois Evensen said...

Hi Diana,

Thank you for the update. I am looking forward to seeing pictures of that living room - probably after Mother's Day, eh?

My clematis and hollyhocks are nowhere near ready to bloom so your flowers are much further ahead of mine here in Cincinnati. Your clematis is gorgeous. Mine is pure white which works well in front of my home, but I really love the colors of yours.

I'm glad to hear your knees are doing OK. :)

Very best,
Lois

Wanda..... said...

I bet those helicopters were actually pretty to see while they were falling, I have cleanups to do also, Di. Your clematis is beautiful, like Lois, mine hasn't bloomed yet either.

Wanda is a talented artist, your cards are beautiful, glad you won them, Di...pay back for all your hard work at painting lately.

♥...Wanda

Lena said...

I sooooooooooo envy your garden!!! I am really missing having one now!!!

I'm happy your knee is better, Di...

Enjoy your book!!!

much love!

quieten said...

Such pretty flowers! My clematis isn't even awake yet! Glad to hear your knee is better. You are definitely a decorating diva!
You really had some rain come down. Hope you're drying up well. My backyard gets so flooded the railroad ties float away and then I have to get the neighborhood kids to move them back where they belong.
Huggz,

Quieten

Robynn's Ravings said...

That is a boatload of water! I would have been awestruck too and listen, if you EVER visit me when the hubs is home, I'll be mad!

XOXO!

Robynn

Sniffles and Smiles said...

Wow! That's an incredible amount of rain! Hope it has cleared up...it sure makes for beautiful flowers, though...that Clematis is stunning! And I can't wait to see your lovely living room! I'm sure it looks gorgeous! Don't worry about visiting us...Enjoy your husband! We'll see you when you don't have sweeter distractions :-) Love you! Janine XO

Lisa said...

Wowie, but your plants are WAY ahead of ours out here in Colorado! But, we don't get near the rain on a regular basis, etc... Your clematis are beautiful! Can't way to see the pics of the re-do!

Bernie said...

Hello my friend, I am so looking forward to pictures.....I couldn't get over the amount of rain you got and everything is so green..I feel like I live on a different planet as we are still so brown and everything is dry. We desperately need rain here and it is coming soon, trust me - the ole bones are aching.
Glad your knees are better. Take care......:-) Hugs

Maria said...

Hi Diana!
Oh you do inspire me to keep on going with my house cleaning and organizing!
It's just amazing to me how much can accumulate in closets and under beds...

You certainly did get rain! We're getting some now...but not that amount "this time!"

Your flowers are lovely, Diana... you must have a green thumb! They are gorgeous!
Looking forward to all the 'after' photos!
~Maria

Maria said...

ps. the watercolor cards from Wanda are so lovely. I enjoy her artwork on her blog very much ... so glad you won them!

Anonymous said...

Wow that's a ton of rain. Loved reading this post and thanks for stopping by my playground. Much appreciated :)

Teresa said...

Hope your knees are doing better, and you are relaxing a bit sitting by the river that flows by your house. Wow, that must have been a down pour. It is really windy hear right now, and in the middle of the night I heard my recycling and garbage blowing all over, who knows where it ended up! I sure was not about to go out there in the dark!! I guess I have a big clean up this morning too. Oh the joys.

I can't wait to see your freshly painted and decorated living room! Your flowers look great! I have some pots with dirt in them, but I still think it is too cold to plant anything yet. The trees are just now budding and the grass is getting greener everyday!!!

(((HUGS))) TT

Gail said...

HI DIANA

Great pictures, wow. And your home is really coming along with all it's new do's!! Take care of your knees and avoid the waters.

Love Gail
peace.....

Trisha said...

Your clematis are beautiful!! I bet your living room is looking great! It feels so good when a room is finished, doesn't it? Congrats on the cards, they're gorgeous!

Diana said...

Hi Lois,
Once spring hits here there is no turning back! We've had to mow three times already! And the weeds, oh my gosh! I'm already trying to keep them in control, a never ending job!
Love Di ♥

Diana said...

Hi Wanda,
I didn't get to see the helicopters falling. The tree is in the back. So I was pretty surprised when we went out the next day and saw them EVERYWHERE! I should be used to it by now! Love Di ♥

Diana said...

Hi Lena,
I love having a garden but it is very time consuming. I think you've got a lot going on right now!
Love Di ♥

Diana said...

Hi Queiten,
You got a laugh from me as I envisioned the railroad ties floating away! We've had garbage cans floating down the street before. It's still pretty wet here, the yard is muddy. It's supposed to dry up towards the end of the week! Love Di ♥

Diana said...

Hi Robynn,
I always feel guilty when I don't read blogs when Jake's home. But we have such little time together. Thanks for understanding!
Love Di ♥

Diana said...

Hi Janine,
I am almost all caught up on reading but I am still trying to finish this room, what a job! I hope to post some photos soon. Love Di ♥

Diana said...

Hi Lisa,
Our spring here usually starts early and then we have long hot summers! I've been trying to enjoy the yard now as soon enough it will be too hot to enjoy! Love Di ♥

Diana said...

Hi Bernie,
We are getting a lot of rain this week, I have been working between the rain drops in the yard! I feel for you Bernie, my hips and back have been really aching but the knees feel great! Love Di ♥

Diana said...

Hi Maria,
My dining room is piled high with STUFF because of the work in the living room. Too much STUFF! I really need to have a yard sale.
As far as a green thumb, I think it's more trial and error for me but thanks anyway! Love Di ♥

Diana said...

Aloha Thom,
Thanks for stopping by! I am so glad that you posted about Bill birthday, he's a great guy! Love Di ♥

Diana said...

Hi Teresa,
The knees feel good, thanks. I can almost dance, almost! I intend on riding my bike as soon as all of this rain goes away! Love Di ♥

Diana said...

Hi Gail,
The waters have subsided but it's so darn dreary! I am looking forward to the sunshine again! Love Di ♥

Diana said...

Hi Trish,
I am working on the room today. I'm hoping to get the curtains sewed tomorrow. Still have a lot of little details! It should be done soon though. Love Di ♥

Barb said...

The Clematis, Hollyhocks, and Notecards must have been your reward for all that work, Di. Can't wait to see the finished product! Did you make the curtains or are you just having to alter them? (I cannot imagine making them, of course!) Keep those knees limber, Di!

Diana said...

Hi Barb,
I bought all of the curtains but we have two small windows on either side of the fireplace and a window on the front door. I bought an extra pair so that I can alter them to match the rest. The sewing part will be easy, it's the hanging, measuring, ironing and cutting that will be the time consuming part. I am hoping to do that tomorrow. I am really tired today!
Love Di ♥

Rebecca said...

How beautiful your flowers & yard! And your potato soup must have "hit the spot"! My address is P.O. Box 32, Harlan, IN 46743 if you want to use one of those sweet notecards on me :)

And I can't believe I got to the end of this post w/o seeing pictures of your room! You really left me hanging.

We have old and comfortable furniture, too. It's "us" an I'm content.

Diana said...

Hi Rebecca,
I am trying my best to get this done but I just don't consider myself a very good decorator! My mom was and both my daughter and DIL are but I just don't seem to have it!
Truthfully I am exhausted today. I am hoping to have some pictures posted by the end of the week, minus the giant mirror of coarse!
Love Di ♥

jules said...

Ahhhhh, the life of a trucker's wife. I know the feeling exactly. I am usually MIA in blogland when my hubs is home too.

Diana said...

Hi Jules,
Yes you have to grab all of the moments together that you can!
Love Di ♥

Dee said...

Your thumbs are definately green! Hubby does come before blogging and weren't you tempted to go out into the street
Were did the water end up at? The note cards are great. It is always fun to win a giveaway. I may do a doodle give away when I reach my 400th post. I think i am about 40 post away.

Diana said...

Hi Dee,
I don't know where all of the water went. All I know is that I was grateful that it didn't go in my basement! Love Di ♥

Eileen said...

I'm anxious to see your living room! It must feel so good after all that work to have it finished and fresh-looking!
And your potato soup and meatloaf have my mouth watering!
AND THAT RAIN! WOW! We get it like that once in awhile too, and I'm always glad that we live on a hill, it looks like a river running so fast sometimes, but at least it keeps on going!

Your notecards are beautiful (such talent!), I'm happy you won them, it's always a nice little thrill to get something in the mail! And you always crack me up ("I don't know her husband but I like him")!

Great post, Di, you make me tired with all you've been doing!

Ray just asked me this evening if we should go to the beach on Saturday or make the shelves I've been wanting in the back room. Hmmmmm, really, this is going to be a hard decision for me! I WANT BOTH!

Okay, let me go, I'm trying to upload pictures from Mia's Birthday party, very frustrating, so I took a break, but now you've got me inspired.
Love you!, E

Lynilu said...

Two reminders of my life in the Midwest. I left my beautiful clematis behind in KC. I miss them. And the "helicopters" remind me of my kids in the spring, throwing them into the air, over and over and over!

You know .... starting a new, wonderful life often involves leaving some parts behind. Bittersweet.

Wanda said...

Oh my goodness Di.....that's a lot of water...

Loved seeing all your pictures. It's an odd feeling to see my cards on your blog....thanks! I'm so glad you like them.

Anvilcloud said...

I guess one could say that you live on River Road.

Dee said...

Hey Diana, One of these days when I am spending a week or so with the Grands maybe we can meet somewhere and find some Illinois Nods. It would be worth getting arrested. :)

Snowbrush said...

Congratulations on your note cards. I'll be looking forward to your remodeling photos.

Jackie said...

Di...my bike is ready.
Yours is ready.
Let's meet halfway.
You tell me when you start heading this way, and I'll head your way. We have a lot to talk about....or has it all been said?? :))
What a downpour, Di....and you captured the 'river' in the street....
Hugs and love,
Jackie

Tranquility Speaks said...

Yipee!! I am SO happy to know that your knees don't hurt anymore and you could do so much physical work. (A pat on the back accompanied with a hug to you from me)

I would love to see all the work that you did. Sounds exciting to me. I wish we could get some rain here too. The day time temperature is above 104 degrees fahrenheit!

Loads of love and good health to you :)

P.S Please take the time to be with your husband. All of us will patiently wait. For us your happiness is foremost :)