January 28, 2011
by janette
1 Comment
I’ve been kindof into making things again lately. I’m a crafter. I just go in spurts of activity.
These were really fun! Right up until I sliced my thumb open. But still worth it!
They were Christmas gifts for my sister and for a blog friend WAYYY out in Washington. Both were well received! Oh yeah…and the third one…I kept it. Mine, all mine.
I’ll definitely be making more of these in the future! Perhaps the very near future!
January 26, 2011
by janette
1 Comment
And step three.
Now, I’m pretty excited about the laminate floor…but you haven’t even seen my favorite part. Get ready for it.
Okay, the suspense is killing you, i can tell.
There was once carpet in here too. Surprisingly, it wasn’t country blue.
This floor IS a little less forgiving on the knees when giving the kids a bath, but we’ll get over that. We’ll just make sure the ducky rug stays put.
And yes, there’s one of those lines in here too…
you know the ones I’m talking about. Going back to white. I don’t know if you can really tell, but its a peachy pink color now. I liked it when we painted it that color, but we thought it deserved new paint too.
So, if you’re handy with a paintbrush, i know where you can get some work. I promise to compliment you on your painting abilities.
January 24, 2011
by janette
0 comments
A while back, I posted about how great things were happening here…and our long awaited fireplace removal had happened…
Well, we’re on to step two.
First to go, the country blue paint. I’m sure it was THE color when it was painted. It is no longer THE color. Painting over it was kindof therapeutic. The reason this paint and i didn’t get along went far beyond color. It was a “flat” paint. No shine at all. I like shiny…and flat paint doesn’t clean well. When Ellie was little…okay little-er…she was sitting in her high chair, got frustrated with something and flung her sippy cup of milk off the tray. Into my wall. Milk does not come off flat walls. Nether does film from sticky hands. I’m happy to say a new coat of paint covered it right up.
The color of the paint dried darker than this picture. We painted one night after the kids were in bed, so it was late when we finished, and i couldn’t wait for it to dry to take a picture.
Notice the carpet…country blue.
Now you see it.
Now you don’t.
Oh, isn’t it pretty? (and you can see the wall’s true color in this picture too!)
In case you’re wondering. Pergo laminate. American Cottage collection. Classic Red Oak. Mmmm…..warm and pretty.
And in case you were wondering something else…yes, I will ask you to take off your shoes when you come to my house. It’s just going to happen.
Yes, the carpet from the living room went too. Want to guess the color? Yep…country blue.
The new floor definitely makes the room look bigger.
The hall too…
You can see the line on the wall, about 6 inches up…Yep, started painting. There’s a lot of those lines in my house right now. Just enough for the trim to go back up. And then, paining and more painting. It’s amazing what a coat of paint can do to clean up a wall…and the crayon/marker/greasy handprints that are on it.
January 13, 2011
by janette
2 Comments
Because if you haven’t, then oh my goodness you’re missing out.
I have to tell you the story about the first time I ever ate here…
It was about 4 months after we got married, and we were in the Des Moines area for Nathan’s Grandpa’s funeral. After the funeral, the family was all talking about going to eat, and making driving arrangements. We finally decide who’s riding with whom, and someone says “Ok..we’ll see you at the machine shed.” Now, growing up on a farm, I knew what a machine shed was…so I’m picturing us driving out into the middle of nowhere to eat in just that…a shed for machinery.
What i got was a much more pleasant surprise than that. I’ve only eaten there a handful of times…and i think every time has been connected with visiting Nathan’s Grandma in Indianola.
Our most recent trip was this last weekend while hanging with Grandma and Nathan’s cousin Matt’s family. (Aka…the West Coast Friesens…although they live in Indiana)
This restaurant is the best! They have fun stuff to do while you wait…
they have beautiful big round tables so everyone can see everyone else…
and they have cinnamon rolls as big as your head. (I did not eat one on this trip…hence…no photo. I thought it would be a little strange to ask the neighboring table if they would mind me photographing their breakfast. But seriously…they give you a bread knife to cut these things…)
So, you’re sitting there, enjoying the atmostphere…and the pre-meal entertainment…and then this shows up…
Oh yeah.
and this….
This kid was in heaven. Pancakes WITH blueberries. Are you kidding me?
Yeah…I’m going to make an attempt to go here more often…after all, I hear they have a 5 layer chocolate cake to die for.
January 11, 2011
by janette
0 comments
I thought I’d post a few pictures from our Christmas celebration with Nathan’s side of the family.
Stockings made by Grandma.
Evan checking out the snow globe.
Baby Wes with Aunt Janette
Wes got pretty excited about his stocking too!
Ellie playing with her new camera from Aunt Rachel and Uncle Bryce. It was a big hit!!
I’d post some from my side…but my family of 4 was the only family to make it. We’re hoping everything falls into place for a slightly late Christmas this weekend…but one never knows what Iowa winters will bring on any given day. Crossing our fingers. 