New Year's Eve

Titanic Couches

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I LOVE THEM!

And Terri, My Oh-So-Patient decorator sent me a 

dining room design with a bench/couch

at a dining room table on one side with chairs

on the other - so so so cool..........

but what kind of couch? 

I'd love B & W Stripe - altho that would be a cool rug too...

and maybe it's really only a two-seater

no - not Danish

yes - antique like - but updated

like THIS! 

Add about 6-8 " of foam to raise seating height;

reupholster in b/w stripe (smooth/not tufted) -

OR...SOME gorgeous velvet!!!  :)

Gotta go get this off to decorator...

...later, kids....

(yes, to be continued!!!)

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...and what have we here?....

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Number Nineteen  (No.19)

That's the name of the interior decorating blog I opened up this evening for the first time and here are the first pics delivered to my eyeballs:

Grey walls - Grey Cushions on chair

Grey Bedding

Charcoal Wall

Grey wall - Grey Couch (yummmy)

Grey and Gold couch -

BLACK & WHITE STRIPE RUG

(anybody here know a girl that LOVES b & w stripes????)

and a fuscia velvet couch I fell for recently

(doesn't everything go with GREY?)

...just sayin' ........

.....grey.

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Toots would say "What does your heart tell you?"

It's 5:18 a.m. Christmas morning.  Lia woke me, not only to go outside, but to remind me it's time she and I had a walk together.  Zoe stretches awake and I sing-song both of them "Merrrrrrry Christmaaaaaas" as we make our way to the back door.  Zillions of thoughts flash through my mind like a high-speed rail system - childhood memories, my religious upbringing, the wonderful plans we have today, the awesome day spent yesterday, the great things we did for needy people and animals this year, the people no longer in my life, troops coming home from Iraq....swoosh...more thoughts....and then, a screeching halt on Toots.

As Lia and I walked, all I thought about was my mother.  She died this day 10 years ago.  My mentor.  My pillar of strength.  My teacher.  The woman that was so strong, she single handedly shaped my confidence and character.  Sure I miss her, not only today, but every day of the year.  But today she's coming through SO strong because of an internal angst I'm suffering all over....a choice...and I can hear her as though it was 10 years ago: "What does your heart tell you?  What do you feel deep in your gut?  Does it feel right?  Does it make you giggle?  Tingle? Do you adore it? Love it? Is it off-putting? Do you have to change YOU because of IT? Then it's the wrong choice? Change it or go in a different direction."   If I listen to my INNER-MOTHER, I ALWAYS make the right decisions.

Where am I going with this, you ask?  Incidental to you but A-huge to me, as it is from where I will come and go for many a day - PAINT COLOR.  Dearest, most talented men renovated an old tired 1970's ranch into architectural work of art and it must only be complimented by it's decoration.  So, in walking my Lia and listening to Toots, I finally decided: GREY - NOT BLUE!   Allow me to demonstrate:

All different shades of Grey walls -

was my choice from day one - G R E Y! 

My AWESOME home with - (do not argue with me)

BLUE WALLS

This was horribly painful until this morning.  Once I made the decision, it was easy-peasy!

Tomorrow, I'll get to a big box store's paint department...pick up samples and/or quarts of (different brand) of grey paint variations, get over to the house - paint on the walls as is ALWAYS suggested by paint experts so we can see WHAT the paint will look like, and then pay to have the whole house repainted.  Repainted grey...not blue.

Thanks Toots...I love you...Merry Christmas.

* * * * *

...yet still...

* * * * *

....sigh....


Yet still, I am in a tingle.  In a haze; a fog.  It was all so surreal.
Shock and awe.
The walk-thru took about an hour and fifteen minutes
which included a beautiful tribute for me on a tv with a slide show
of the original home and pics of the construction and it's progress.
No one has had time to take pictures of the renovated rooms.


And pictures won't do their work enough justice, for so much
of the beauty of their craft is in the details.


I'm toiling about posting pictures at all.
For family and friends that are too far to visit, I may send photos to
their e-mail addresses - and for those that are in travel distance,  
they will be cordially invited to come and see so that they know where
to find me in a fog, since they'll need to have that information anyway,
wouldn't you agree?

Our life does not get better by chance; it gets better by change. 

- Jim Rohn

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News

* * * * *

Yes. News.

Forgive that these days are running together.  I bet Claudia knows exactly what I mean.  I think it was possibly this past Thursday when the builder said "the final walkthru day will be Friday or Saturday, the 16th or 17th - but hopefully Friday".  Walk-through.  Meaning, the reveal.

Now remember, the last time I saw the outside of my new home was Nov. 23rd.  I hadn't seen the inside for a few weeks earlier, as agreed with the guys.

For some reason, as I was packing summer shoes, hats and purses into the wee hours of the morning, strange feelings came over me that didn't make any sense.  Like, this felt like a dream...no, a scarey dream...and WHY exactly was I moving?...and WHY did I spend that money remodeling?...and...and...and...

but this morning, all better.  Humans run through all the emotions to get to where they need to be before the resolve they've done the right thing.  Then, when the time is right they can stand on the
side of the road and yell, Hey

* * * * *

Bluntcard.com

Bluntcard.com

me and albert

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Home

Sunday

I can't show you anything about the house as I haven't seen anything.  I'm forbidden inside, and I've agreed to those terms.  This is now going to be a total surprise unveiling when it's done.  Kinda like one of those HGTV's programs "ok, open your eyes". 

I told you I trust these guys, so, let's just hope I have relatively good judgement...

in the meantime...:

* * * * *

inhale......pack.....exhale.....pack...inhale....pack....

* * * * *

I have NOT been to the new house - still under renovation.

I was told today the painting should be finished this weekend.

The flooring should be done by next weekend.

Holy Smokes!  It's getting REALLLLY close.

And no.

I haven't packed ONE THING!

It always seemed so far off.....(choke)!

"Egads" said the panic button from the upstairs bedroom!

"Yikkkes" said the racing heartrate from the overflowing basement!

Oh, and I besides the pressure,

The "reveal" will be a total surprise with my sweet builders!

How fun is this!?!

("egads" whispers the panic button ...")

The Builders, A/K/A "My GUYS"

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I posted on Facebook that these were the best builders this side

of the Mason-Dixon...

and many girlfriends commented but they were actually drooling

yet these guys truly ARE

incredibly awesome, talented, professional, skilled owners and tradesmen.

and yes, women all over the world commented

that they want to buy a fixer-upper!!!

Angelo on the left - Silvio on the right

More to follow - stay tuned girlies!

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Last of the "Peeks"

* * * * *

So...I've decided you either will enjoy the reveal with me...

or..you're here for no nice reason,

so both are cause for me to give you this last peek!

Yes, the big square shrubs covering the windows are gone and

landscaping has gone in.  More will happen to those shutters

and beneath the windows...but...that's a surprise!

New brick paver porch going in....

..hello, Handsome Angelo!



 

Just a hint - some slate and porcelain

bye bye laminate.

I can't tell you too much about the va-va-voom powder room...
but lighting choices matter!!!

hahahahaha

This is so much fun I can hardly stand it.

So I have to beat the decorator to lunch...

a nice quite reprieve - enormous cofee - planner

notes, notes, notes,

thoughts, thoughts, thoughts,

giggle,

oh, hell, ya, Candy - go for it!!!

"...hi, Terri...I want to change something else...."

* * * * *

Faith Under Construction

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Another thing happened in the visit

to the new house last evening with Terri and Elizabeth.

They got to the house before me

and entered with the lock-box code.

I got there immediately thereafter, got inside,

stepped a few feet into the family room and gasped.

I saw something they hadn't recognized was new

and my mind ran at warp speed to connect all the dots.

It is now hours later, I've done a smitten of research to tell you

some history about religion, construction,

and why my heart warmed so quickly at the addition to the fireplace.

All construction trades have rituals and practices, whether it's

ironworkers, shipbuilders, or a home renovation project.

With ironworkers, it's "Topping Out";

with shipbuilders, it's "The Launch" blessing...

The practice of "topping out" a new building can be traced to the ancient religious practice of placing a tree on the top of a new building to appease the tree-dwelling spirits of their ancestors that had been displaced. Today a ceremony is often held to commemorate this milestone in the construction of a building, although not religious, to the tradsmen, it can be. While the ceremony itself has no standard agenda, it usually includes the placing of an evergreen tree upon the structure to symbolize growth and bring luck and safety to the project.  The topping out ceremony is similar to ship naming and launching ceremonies and probably of similar antiquity, and was perhaps done to placate the gods and to shield the building and workers from harm.

Liberty Hotel, Boston, MA
.
.

Ship launching could be said to mark the birth of a vessel; and people throughout history have performed launching ceremonies, in part to appeal to the gods for good fortune but moreso,  the safety of each new vessel.

USCGC Mackinaw

Back to my story...

I was raised, reared, braized and brainwashed a Catholic.

By Italian-Catholic strong women.

Good cooks - and ...

they made sure their children grew up

"in" the Church; "in" Faith.

Baptized, First Communion, All of IT.

So I was not only NOT offended

when I walked into the under construction house

and saw this on the fireplace,

My heart exploded with....faith.

 

 

I mention it to Terri and Elizabeth and we warmly deduct

that it MUST be the builders that placed it here -

to protect and oversee the

safety and progress of this

home, our projects and our trade workers.

For a minute, I choked.

 

When I talked to Silvio, the builder, he confirmed that

they had hung the crucifix, as many of the trades

are very religious and place it on the job site

as a part of their ritual, beliefs...and their faith.

 

God Bless this home and the safety of our workers.

 

Thank you Silvio and Angelo...again!

 

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Terri Takes the Pain Away

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Nope - no pictures tonite.

Tonight I met Terri, the decorator at the house

and Elizabeth, her friend and my Real Estate Broker.

I've worked with Terri before selling an investment property

and tips on painting for my current house getting it ready to sell.

So when the builders called and said

"go pick out paint"

it was time to panic and call Terri.

Here's the cool part:

I knew she would show up with one of these color fans

and it's impossible to pick anything - it's too much!!

So here's what I did:

I took Terri and Elizabeth to dinner.

We chatted.  We laughed.

We shared childhood stories and recipes.

And during dessert, I pull out some pictures

and start presenting:

- here is my favorite color

- here is my favorite bedroom

- here is my favorite clothes outfit

- here is my favorite rug

- here is my favorite stone tile

Terri got it in an instant and started moving the photos around

like she was playing Concentration, matching

themes, color related items, decor ideas.

She knew ME!

Poof.

We drove to the house.

Whe walked thru with her fan but now it was

limited to only a few colors.

She set up floor plans and told me where the couch goes.

It's so much fun when an expert takes you by the hand

and mirrors back to you what you want and need.

Tomorrow I call her rug specialist and

window blind pro.

And where to go to shop for antique cabinet for bathroom!

WooHooooo!!!

GreenPinkYellowGreyRedGoldTealVioletBlackAndWhiteStripe!!!

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Seeing significant change

* * * * *

Holy Cow, Craig

(landscaper)

I got me a barren wasteland!!!!!

Shrubs and weeds @ front of house - this is

 BEFORE

This is AFTER Mr. Craig did his thing.



Can you find the differences in the pictures????

(ok, yes, I'm laughing)

WHO KNEW the windows were that big?

WHO KNEW the shutters..go...to the ground???

What?

Oh, Lordy!

...and wait: is that one light working and one not

flanking the garage door?

I bet the neighbors really love me today.

One of the "Guys" called to let me know he thinks

a few neighbors lost their phone service today

when landscaper was working on backyard...

Whoops!!!

I personally think this is more exciting than bowling for dollars.

...stay tuned.....

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Would you let yourself be surprised?

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Just curious.

If you were in the midst of your home's remodel,

and you've loved all the suggestions

your builders have presented -

so far -

would you accept their invitation to allow them

to "do something interesting" in the

bathroom you've always wanted

and "trust" that you'll love

whatever it is they have planned?

I'm just wondering how crazy I am,

because I approved the surprise.

The deal is - however - I can't PEEK!!!

AND...I even agreed that when the

bathroom of my dreams is done,

I get "guided" in eyes closed for the reveal.

Would you do it?

I'm so excited I may need a diaper change!

* * * * *

Whoa - who turned on the light...

* * * * *

As you've witnessed the progress right along with me,

you'll understand at about the third pic down that

those enormous trees were messy, overgrew too big

and allowed for NO sunlight in the back yard...

so - there's no growth

(as to lawn)

but there WAS plenty of green mossy moldy stuff.

Bye-bye green mossy moldy stuff!

Lighten up - "tree peeps" coming back to clean up

Nice barren wasteland for wet mud and dirty doggie paws...yuck!

Wow...I have neighbors behind me!

(hold please - fence isn't installed yet)

The neighbors poor tree doesn't appear that IT got any sun/growth

ability on my lot side - poor thing!!

Changes they are a happenin!

We'll pick up our toys when we're done playing!

Yeah. So. Need a new porch cap.

Concrete guyz out to do that today.

See the wooden door lying on the right side of porch in pic?

Um-hmm. There's a BIG hole under there.

Usually those are filled with stuff; dirt, etc.

THIS is empty.

We think it would make a nice wine cellar.

...but for now, we just need a porch cap...

maybe....stamped concrete - pretty, of course!!

Anyone enjoying this as much as me?

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