Bathroom Reno

We are remodeling the bathroom that is off of the master bedroom. It is going to look so fantastic when it is complete! The key word when ....
Over the weekend we worked on it - sort of together. The color scheme is shades of brown.
I painted the vanity to prepare it for the new vanity top. I call the color Cafe O Lait. They call it something else. It's a very pretty tan color. The new fixtures are chrome - I dithered between brushed nickel and chrome, and decided to go with chrome faucets. Last night I bought the wall (Burnt Almond) and ceiling paint (white), and the new light fixture. So - now all we need is time to do the work.
Joe has all the walls prepped, the new shower plumbed, and the drain for the basin installed. I actually got the first "shower" this weekend, while we checked for leaks. Joe forgot to turn off the shower at the mixer - so as I checked for leaks when he turned the water back on, I got soaked as water poured out of the shower!
More work to continue tomorrow - when Joe is off work.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is Mom's birthday. I miss her so much. Some days are worse than others. She is on my mind a lot today.
I remember one time I wanted to make cake that was blue. She explained that people don't really normally eat blue food - which I hadn't realized. She did allow me to tint some coconut blue so we could use to top off the icing on our cake. I was happy with that.
I'm sure that there were times that we both disappointed each other. I don't want to exit the realm of reality. I truly believe that Mom always acted out of love for us - whether she was leading our girl scout troop, playing cards with us, sewing us a new outfit, or urging us to perform better in school and swimming. She taught us to have faith in God, to be strong, to be respectful of others.
While reading a James Patterson book recently, I came upon a reference to a poem by Anne Bradstreet (1612-1672) called In Reference to Her Children. It's written from the perspective of a mother bird, speaking about her children. Here is part of the final few lines:
"My age I will not once lament,
But sing, my time so near is spent.
And from the top bough take my flight
Into a country beyond sight,
Where old ones instantly grow young,
And there with seraphims set song;
No seasons cold, nor storms they see;
But spring lasts to eternity.
When each of you shall in your nest
Among your young ones take your rest,
In chirping language, oft them tell,
You had a dam that loved you well,
That did what could be done for young,
And nursed you up till you were strong,
And 'fore she once would let you fly,
She showed you joy and misery;
Taught what was good, and what was ill,
What would save life, and what would kill.
Thus gone, amongst you I may live,
And dead, yet speak, and counsel give:
Farewell, my birds, farewell adieu,
I happy am, if well with you. "

Happy Birthday, Mom. Be happy, all is well with us.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter to all my readers - all 2 of you!

Tomorrow we leave to visit Matt in Oklahoma. I've made lists and lists of things to take to him. Although we are not taking furniture - we are taking dishes (thanks Karen), pots and pans, silverware, cups, a toaster, and - the most important thing - some cans of Skyline, spaghetti and crackers. I have never driven (well - ridden) southwest of St. Louis - so I'm hoping to stay awake enough to enjoy the 13 hour drive.

I'm stressing a little because I'm not sure I'll have Internet access while we're at Matt's. Weird huh - to feel so disconnected. Although I may not even use it - I like to know I can get to it. At a minimum, we can go to Matt's hotel and hook up - if I need it.

I heard from Julie today. The kids were part of the Easter parade at Dad's place - and participated in the Easter Egg hunt. They're loving it. Julie says it 85 and humid. Just like Florida should be.

And this is it - one of the things on my list is to complete my taxes before we leave. I keep procrastinating. No more. I must get it done.

More from Oklahoma - if possible.

Updates

I am so excited! I am on vacation for an entire week! Joe and I are visiting Matt - starting Easter Sunday. We'll be back on Friday so Joe can get his eyes x-rayed before he has an MRI.

Today I am getting things ready to take to Matt - some kitchen supplies and a case of Skyline. Tomorrow I am home alone! I always love that - I get so much done.

Here are the updates:
1. Joe needs some surgery on his arm to repair a muscle injured during his martial arts classes.
2. Joe is starting his own Martial Arts school. He is separating from the instructor he has been with for almost 20 years. They've had some differences of opinion lately. Joe has been loyal - until his instructor started raising rates beyond what is necessary. Joe want to make money - but he feels he is priced correctly, and doesn't want to charge more.
3. Matt is now installed in his apartment with furniture!
4. My company has laid off 3 more people - as a result of the loss of a major client. Three doesn't sound like much - but when you have less than 50 people it's a lot. Several of the consultants who were at that client's office have been placed somewhere else - or have good prospects - but those that have not been placed probably won't be carried on the bench - if you know what I mean.
5. JR continues to do well in the mechanic's trade, and Les is a major presentation today to a difficult client. They are heading to Michigan this evening for Easter.
6. We learned yesterday that Tajci (Tatiana) will be performing in concert in the area in May. I suspect she will be doing "Mary" concerts. May 6th is at Joe's sister's church, so I'm sure we'll be hitting that one. May 7th is in Fairfield - we may also hit that one with Joe's students.
7. Joe and I are beginning the remodel of our bathroom - today we are making the first of our major purposes.
8. I am planning a de-cluttering weekend at the end of the month. I've told Joe, JR and Les that we are all working in the basement on the 25th and 26th. I'm already planning on giving away a good many of my lighted Christmas houses, and am ready to donate and pitch!

Don't Worry - Be Happy

Found this great quote today:
We communicate happiness to others not often by great acts of devotion and self-sacrifice, but by the absence of fault-finding and censure, by being ready to sympathize with their notions and feelings, instead of forcing them to sympathize with ours.-Adam Clarke

And this one:
Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.-Abraham Lincoln

Don't Give Away Your Power

This came in my email today - and I thought it was an excellent thought:
"Do you realize how much energy it takes to be bitter or hold a grudge? We only have a certain amount of energy for each day. If we use it for the wrong purposes, we’re not going to have the energy we need for the right purposes. We’re not going to make the best decisions. We’re not going to be as creative. We’re not only doing ourselves a disservice, but we’re doing our family and our friends a disservice.
Remember, you can’t control what people do or say. You can only control yourself. If you’re allowing others to upset you, then you are giving away your power. ... The reason many people have no joy or enthusiasm is because they go to bed every night with anger and unforgiveness. When you go to bed like that, with a cluttered mind, you wake up with the same negative emotions. Choose to let those things go so you can live in the peace, joy, and power the Lord has for you."