Roses supposes...

Remember when I was all enthusiastic about the roses? well, I forget that they require maintenance. Trimming rosebush can be treacherous. And I went crazy when I first bought my little yellow southside house. Now their trimmed and fed (3 in one!). We're good for another month. It won't be long until I'll have to get out the hose and start the watering schedule.

That wasn't fun. I found out why people invest in irrigation systems.

In more interesting news, attended Twangfest last week to see Joe Pug and Amy Lavere (actually her band, Broken Mirrors). Totally awesome. I love Blueberry Hill. For realz. I love the Duck Room and I love Amy Lavere. Her band Broken Mirrors made me want to go to a barn dance with boots and a flowery dress to boogey the night away. Just like the movies. (yes, I know that real life barn dances don't usually have that many people dancing. That's just movie magic.

Crispitin, my cat, turned one year old. He's 6 months in this picture. Or there abouts.

Crispy. Not a year old.

On the agenda for tonight: My friend Nicole got me a ticket for Lord Huron at Off Broadway (another favorite venue). It's nearly sold out. It'll be hot. and crowded. and hopefully not a super long show. I'm not feeling it. 

Paint color that has been nixed : Icon by Olympic. I wanted to like it. It's a greige. darker than what i've been looking at. But ultimately I don't want anything too brown or too gray. Icon is out. Even if it was only $5. I bet whoever brought it back didn't like the color dot on the lid and didn't try it. They probably thought it was light. Alas, it is not.

Oh yeah, I painted this for the muscle (he needed a bigger nightstand. $35 at St. Vincent DePaul). Handmixed chalk paint. Love that stuff.

The booth. It's functional.

Here's a picture. Oh, it needs work. We were afraid to overfill it, but instead we don't quite have enough stuff.IT's a work in prgress

there have been some adjustments, but I don't have a picture of that. maybe next week (most importantly the drape of sheer material has been fixed. 

So yesterday I bought 2 glass lamps (plans for looking glass spray) and a mirror at the thrift store (customer appreciation day. hell ya!). The muscle said that the trunk of the car looks like someone is hoarding in there. He's always smooth with words. 

I love this season. The roses are blooming. Which also means that it's time that I start obsessing with lawncare products (also drives the muscle crazy. but the stuff works. hence the extra thick, fast growing grass. but there are still weed issues. there will always be weed issues. 

It's so lovely out, I hate to waste the day on work. lol. Yet, it beckons. 

Next big decision: should I go see Ryan Bingham at the Pageant? I feel like it's my kind of show. I just wish it was at Off Broadway. Or Blueberry Hill. My favorite places to see awesome shows. The Pageant is nice, it's just big. 

Yardwork. yuck.

I had forgotten how much I dislike yardwork.
It started off with the lawnmower not starting (the old one because I couldn't fit another one in the car after all the wonder treasures bought at the auction last week).
So I called Dad.
He asked "did you put gas in it."
I had.
He and my mom stopped by during their Saturday travels to the City. (Southside! Holla!)
He put gas in it.
Alas, it started.

Turns out I didn't put enough gas in it.

 That was Saturday. I gave up.

I gave the whole "cutting the grass" another shot on Sunday.
It started.

I forgot to mention that a few weeks ago I put down the Scotsman grass feed and weed killer. (you know the commercial). The Scotsman said to do it, so i did.
And then it rained for 3 days.

The yard was a jungle.
A choker.
I had to keep restarting the lawnmower.
and then the wheel started to come off. So I gave up.

I washed wool.
And painted a chair.
Here is a photo.

The wool stack isn't that impressive. It felt like more.

The chair needs some more work. sanding. wax. it's going to be for my desk.

There is a white corner shelf that you can't really see. I painted it too.

it's going in the booth. 

It was estate auction mayhem!

Sunday I went with my mom and "the muscle" to an estate auction at Lake Timberline (that's near Bonne Terre for Missouri people). We had a blast! A tiny portion of our purchases (nevermind i went for a lawnmower, alas there was no room in the car for the purchase). 

I love glass egg plates. It's an obsession. 

And Mary pictures. This is a small section of the purchase of pictures. There's like 3 more pictures of Mary and 4 pictures of Jesus in the garage. My mom and the Muscle are starting to talk about an intervention. I say "bring it on!" The pictures were a single lot. I bought one, I bought all 10.

And trust me, my mom can't judge. She bought a box of wheels. Her words "It was a dollar!" and "it's for the neighborhood kids to build a go-cart." We both need intervention. (Actually, her dollar wheel box purchase ended up being the buy of  the day. It's a long story involving my dad's inability to find the funnel he uses when he changes his oil, multiple phone calls, and finally her directing him just to use the one in the kitchen.) The wheel box ended up including 2 oil funnels, a spool of string (my dad was excited), and a meat grinder attachment for a Kitchen Aid standing mixer.

plus the neighbor kid was super excited for the wheels. because kids just love presents.

a sample of the pictures of Mary, Jesus, and some bird prints. 

We also finally rented a booth to sell some of junk. In Farmington, Missouri. Off of Highway 67. Booth 92. We plan to have it stocked after the trip to Paducah. (hey, that's next week.) I'm looking way forward to it. just to get out of town for a bit. and it inspires for projects. something I really need.

back in action

My computer went out on me.
It started with a relocation, and then it didn't want to turn back on (busted motherboard), after a repair by my dear brother, then it turned into "where is that cord now" problem.

I'm back now.

This is what I've been working on:

A thrift store find. An awesome cutting board in the shape of the state of Missouri.
I think I'm going to have the muscle hang it in the living room.

The next class I"m teaching at Perennial St. Louis is going to be the Fleur de Lis on Thursday, May 9, 2013. If you're interested, sign up here: http://www.perennialstl.org/ (under Classes & Events).

You get to chose your own colors! 

It's a blast. And a really cost effective way of learning how to do penny rugs. 

One day at a time...

Growing up, I used to watch the show "One Day at a Time" after school. I never understood one particular episode, the one where the mom, played by Bonnie Franklin, turns 40. (and I also didn't understand the maxi dresses, but that's a whole different issue.) It ends and she's looking into a mirror, lit by candle light, and sings happy birthday to herself. 25 years later...

I turn 40 next week.
and Bonnie Franklin died last week.

I need to see the episode again. I can't really relate to a divorced mom of 2 with out of control daughter, a deadbeat ex-husband, apartment in New York City (I think) and a super named schneider.

I'm not sure what 40 means to me.
But I can't stop thinking of that show.
would i feel differently? (i was bored by it back in the day).

Cookie Party!

It's the Cookie Party. I like the idea of entertaining, but the act...ugh.
The house is in order just enough to allow people to come over.
But it's not the way I imagined it in my head.
They are friends.
They know the way that I am.

I love a clean bathroom.
And it will be fun tonight.

On the menu:

Chocolate chip cookies (always a crowd favorite)
Madeleine (Southern Living recipe-Cornmeal shortbread, I think. I'll know when I locate the recipe)
Pecan Sandies (for the muscle)
Carrot Cake (the star of the show. If we don't run out of umph by then).

I've also been hankering to try a brownie cookie recipe. We shall see.

I painted a bookshelf. No before photos. Turned out really nice.