What a Nightmare!

I may have made a mistake, delving into the aforementioned room... OMG. DO NOT paint over wallpaper, or you essentially cripple the next homeowner. UGH.

Painting the wallpaper does something to the way the two layers adhere to one another. Essentially, instead of being easy- relatively easy- to peel off the top layer --> IT'S NOT. I am pulling off tiny pieces, sometimes an inch at a time. Neither water or a regular steam cleaner are helping. I am renting a wallpaper steamer on Friday, hoping that it is hotter and more concentrated. Scoring the paper hasn't helped, plus it's over horse hair plaster --> it makes marks in the plaster. Waaaaaaaaaaaah!!

Advice? Anyone????

Some Renovations

Ok, so this big house has 6 bedrooms- technically. We are using another area as a bedroom- that makes 7, as well as the huge open area in the back of the house that could be bedroom number 8. Ah, so much room, and so much renovation to do!!

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(I forgot to take a picture of the 6th bedroom- I'll do it later )

This past Thursday my hubby's cousin Deb, previously mentioned here, came down with her gang. It rained and we couldn't weed the gardens, so we turned to inside projects. Sadly, two of the bedrooms upstairs smell like cat. I know my cat has.... er.... contributed, but it is unclear to me if the scents were already down (there were cats here previously). I've tried the enzyme stuff, which helps on fresh urine, but it just still stank. So, I mention to Deb that I want to cut the corners out of the carpet for now. Her reply? Let's just rip it out. A quick call to hubby to double check, he always let's me do these types of projects, and we got started!

Let me preface this by saying one of the reasons I was afraid of pulling out the carpet was I was uncertain what was under it. Many years ago, there was a terrible chimney fire here. The guys I've met at the station said they thought they would lose the house. For a time, it was uncertain where the fire was in the walls. Eventually, according to one of the firemen who was here, they took out a three foot section around the chimney- on all three floors! That explains some of the floor patching I've found in our bedroom.

Captain Adam.

Isabelle weilding a screw driver.

Anyway, we rip in, to find a fun, greenish-blue painted floor. Random width. It's unclear if it's worth stripping, as it is full of tack and nail marks, but the color is cool. I have my sister's color wheel, and I'm going to see if I can get a close match.

The walls are a horrible blue, that you see everywhere here in New England. What's worse, is it it painted over wallpaper. It's very thick, and doesn't peel off as easy as the other paper has in the house. It is over old plaster. It's going to take some work. But- it smells clean!! Thanks to Deb and her family for the help!

what??

Ok, so my sister told me my blog is boring. Too many pictures of things I've made.

Oh.

What would you like to see or read about?

Here are some pictures of the boys. They are growing like weeds. Both have gone up about 2 shoe sizes in the past 6 months. Some of Adam's shoes weren't even worn. Darn- he has a wide foot and I have to go to specialty stores for him.

Glitter, Pearls, and Tulle

Ahhhhhhh, to be a June bride again...

Here are some more lovely goodies, in the shape of rose corsages. Hope you love 'em. Need something special- email me!

Happy Father's Day!

To my husband, and happy anniversary too!And to my dad. Here he is making sure he helped us mow our gigantic yard! Thanks!

love you both!

I'm Bored

And sort of overwhelmed. Have you ever felt the need to do something artsy, but just can figure out what?? That's how I am today. I spent so much time making those roses, and have gotten no interest in them at all. Now, we all know the online marketplace is huge, but it's hard when you find you really love something. I have a bunch more, just waiting to be photographed and uploaded- including a flower girl's barrette and a groom's boutonniere.

Anyway, I've been wanting to paint too. I think I should look into a class. It might give me more confidence to get started. I love certain colors and textures. This is a favorite, but I can't do this over and over...

I bought these beauties. Some I like, some I don't. They came in a lot, so I had to get all of them. Any ideas? Oh, I'm thinking of painting them all white. Would that be bad? Who cares, they're mine, right??

What are you up to these days? Tell me, tell me. I need inspiration.

hugs- Lee

Blog Love

Giving some shout outs to some blogs I like. I have found that there are some blogs out there that get a lot of traffic. Everyone knows them. And there are others that don't have much traffic, but have delightful things to show us:

Gifts for Nonnie: Cassie has cool paper and felt art, plus great local pictures. And the kids, did I mention her cute kids?

The Little Red Shop: I had the pleasure of meeting Julie last year at the Farm Chicks. She has a fun blog, chock full of fun, funky junk.

The Little White Attic: this is one gorgeous gal with an affinity for Jane Austen.

She Dreams Big!: I'm hoping if I send enough people her way, Connie will send me a bag!! LOL. Go bug her about selling on etsy.

Cotton Pickin Cute: 'Nuff said. Tracy has an adorable blog, full of giveaways. AND her place in Fla. was show in an HGTV ad. Woo hoo!!

Mary's Meanderings: Mary is one cool chick, who just revamped a $2 bag that is gorgeous. Her blog has fun, sweet eye candy! Go visit.

Go spread some love, would ya??

Your Love

Your love lifts my soul from the body to the sky

And you lift me up out of the two worlds.

I want your sun to reach my raindrops,

 So your heat can raise my soul upward like a cloud.

From Thief of Sleep

by Shahram Shiva

Find these at Lollishops and Etsy.

And Another Thing

To go hand in hand with the last post, my husband's cousin Deb is also photographer. She and her family joined us over Memorial Day Weekend, when my mother-in-law and sister-in-law and kids were here. My SIL Lynn had Deb do a family photo session- which we need to do too!!

Lynn and the kids have been an intergral part of my married life. They lived about 2 miles from me in Pa. Lynn provided daycare for Jason when he was an infant, and later for Adam too. She helped me learn how to be a parent. Our children have grown up together. She and her family have hit a few rough spots these past few years. Recently her house sold, and she is off to a new life in Texas, where her mother and brothers live. It's kind of weird, to have moved so far away... leaving one family behind, moving closer to another family. My friendship with Lynn hasn't changed. I miss her every day, but I am glad for this new chapter in her life. And now I have amazing photos to remember their visit to our place here in New Gloucester!

Deb is like Lynn in a way. She has become a great friend, as well as being family too. Deb has been an amazing source of comfort these past few months here in Maine. It was a rough start, and she came over quite often to give me moral support. We've laughed a lot, call each other, and she even took a dog for me (who arrived on my Pa. doorstep about 4 weeks before we move). Certain people in your life are just priceless. I am very lucky to have these kids as my neice and nephews, and for these two amazing women.

Head over to Whitaker Imagery and you'll see my wonderful family, and some various shots from the landscape around our place. If you are in Maine, Whitaker Imagery is available!

Hugs- Lee

Amazing Farm Photos

My friend Angela Schwartz is a professional photographer. I asked her to help me photograph some Esty goodies, and we ended up outside, walking the property. I've told her she's always welcome to shoot this big old place, because there are so many interesting places here. What's really cool is that as a professional, with her many lenses and trade secrets, Angela was able to capture the grand essence of this place. I have seen these images in my mind's eye, and she's captured them on film, forever. I am grateful!!

As you can see, the weather this time of year is amazing. Bright blue skies, with puffy clouds, almost everyday. It's still cool and breezy, even in June. The fields are long and green- green due to the fact we've had so much rain, and long because we don't own a tractor yet. Soon, I hope to have a few of my parents' ponies here, to keep some of the grass down.

I have to get her to email me a few pictures to tease you with, but if your curious to see my barn and property, go visit Angela at her BLOG. You'll love her style!

Hugs- Lee

More Roses For You

Roses are springing up everywhere, just in time for your spring and summer wardrobe.

Pin them to your shirts and dresses, your handbags and belts, even to your barrettes and head bands.

 These would make a lovely addition to shower and wedding gifts. Need it personalized? No problem, just contact us.

p.s. wait until you see the wedding ones...

Nothing and Something

I wanted to write a cool post... the kind of posts that gets tons of witty comments. No, wait, I never get that many comments, but you know what I mean. What I can tell you is sort of a confessional of sorts. I have IBS- Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and it's making me miserable.

I can tell you that sometimes the pain is so unbearable that I want to scream. That I've been to the ER with it. That I have medicine that helps, that makes me groggy and spaced out. I take it and watch the clock, waiting for it to kick in.

It hasn't been quiet in months and months. MONTHS. The stress of packing, moving, kids, the house, the winter. Everything. So, I'm back on a simple diet, white bread, rice, pasta, potatoes. Simple, boring. No fresh veggies, no salads, nothing. It's all a trigger for me. It stinks. It's depressing.

So, that's my story. I'm tired and worn out. But I'm hanging in there.