Sunday, March 24, 2013

And then March Break was over...

Today is the final day of March Break, the day when kids are groaning about having to wake up early again tomorrow and teachers are hoping (or not?) that their flights from the Dominican land in time so they can drive home in the middle of the night and appear fresh as a daisy in front of the class tomorrow morning. For me, it's a day of realizing I accomplished nothing over the past week and reflecting on all the things I could have done instead of chain-watching my way through the final season of Downton Abbey. Really though, I regret nothing.

I had been looking forward to the break because it was finally starting to seem like spring was arriving on the island. The days were longer with the time change, bringing a new sense of motivation into my life. I was going to GET THINGS DONE. I was going to PAINT THINGS. LINE THE DRAWERS WITH CONTACT PAPER. PUT STUFF AWAY. And then I woke up on the first day of spring to this:


Spring. You're doing it wrong.

Needless to stay, I shuffled my way to the couch and stayed there for 99% of the break, only leaving to shovel the driveway and reheat my coffee. However, I believe that this is a testament to just how cozy our little house has become. When we first moved in back at the end of October, I found it really hard to relax because I would sit down and not be able to ignore all of the things that still needed to be done. Of course, there's still lots to be done, but it's not as much as before. Now it's stuff that can easily be ignored, for the most part. And ignore it I do!

TJ has been much better than I at getting stuff done. He's built himself some sort of basement workshop that hosts an interesting assortment of tools. I wasn't sure if he knew what to do with them, but he assured me he did, and I have to believe him because he's been doing stuff like this:



Left: a close up of the back of our stair treads - lovely gaping spaces
Right: stairs after TJ fixed the spaces with quarter round

I'm quite impressed, because I can't do that sort of thing. I excel more at spray painting things, although even that sometimes doesn't go quite right. Actually, my real talent lies in finding things to be rescued from thrift shops. This talent seemed to develop after I started reading blogs like Young House Love and Vintage Revivals. I'll be honest - I'm not quite as talented as these folks, but someday in the future, maybe, just maybe, if I keep on visiting thrift stores, I just might get there. At least, this is what I tell TJ in order to trick him into celebrating Thrift Store Saturday each week. I think he's starting to enjoy it.

The spoils of Thrift Store Saturday:


Sidenote: I'm also not quite as talented at photographing things as these other bloggers. I suspect this has to do with only half of the picture being in focus as well as my choice of background: the kitchen floor. One day I'll get it right. Maybe.


 Left: I'm not entirely sure what to call this. A musical decoration? When you twist the bottom, it plays "A Partridge In A Pear Tree". Very, veeerrryyy slowly. I already have spray painting plans for this.
Middle: Green glassware, my favourite of all things. Perfect for minty cocktails in the summer.
Right: A dog. He now sits on the mantle in the living room.



Left: A giant greenish yellow glass jar, which has been added to our apothecary style downstairs bathroom cabinet.
Right: A picnic basket, which also currently lives in our downstairs bathroom.


And the mirror - I thought I would have to fight a lady for this mirror. I found it in a box of junk and pretty much ran up to the cashier in order to buy it before anyone else. Just as I was handing over my cash I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned around to face a woman who was making googly eyes at my mirror. "Where did you find that?" she needed to know. "Were there any others?" "What box of junk?" "Is it real wood?" "How much is it?" "That's a really lucky find." "I wish I found it." "I want a mirror just like that." "GIVE ME THE MIRROR."

Okay, she didn't say that last part, but I suspect that's what she was thinking. I'm still trying to decide what I'll do with it (spray paint anyone?) but I can rest assured knowing that it's safely hidden in my dining room  somewhere nobody will ever be able to find it and steal it.

Speaking of mirrors, we also finally put up the mirror in our hallway which had been sitting on the floor for months and months.


I think it really accents the jumble of cords and the bag holding the cordless phone I have still not unpacked.

Now, to end this entry, enjoy a photo of all the camera equipment that is now sitting on our dining room table safely stored away. Any ideas on what I should do with it? At first I thought maybe I would keep it and learn how to use it all, but now when I look at it I just get tired. So....here you are:


Selling point: it's now clean.

5 comments:

  1. I have some friends who would probably love to get their hands on this camera equipment...

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  2. Hey......I need to get some tips on where to get frames that may fit the artwork we brought home from China. We have some wonderful pieces that need some framing but I don't want to go broke getting framing done. Great job on the blog post Victoria.

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    1. flea markets, garage sales and thrift/antique stores are all great places to look for frames. there are always old pictures laying around in the corners, and sometimes they have a really great frame that only needs some paint in order to make it look more modern, or at least not so shabby! measure your pictures, and then keep a tape measure in your car so you can check sizes if you happen to find something when you're out some day!

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  3. You both doing an amazing job :)

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