Diary of a Room Makeover: Coming Out of the Closet

JUNK!

That is what's coming out!

March 30, 2009

I started the room make-over today. I told the girls the plan and they were very excited. They have both expressed some concern over not having "their" room anymore, or their favorite colors on the walls anymore and each time I respond the same way.

"OK. You can keep your room like it is and we'll make the new room later." (And I mean that...there is no hurry.)

"NO! We want the new room!!!!" they always respond. Fine. By the time we finish this makeover they won't even like the same colors they did back when we painted their rooms 2 years ago. It'll take that long, believe me!

So step one is to clean out Little Bit's closet. We started that today. Her closet goes SO far back on each side that when we first moved in, I stored mine and S's extra clothes there. Today I pulled them out and guess what? They don't fit so much anymore. Off to the resale shop or donation site!

Next I have to get all the toys out of there and then we will paint the inside of the closet a nice bright white. I say "we" because there is NO WAY I can squeeze myself in that closet! I'm sending in the little ones. Here is a picture of one side of the closet to give you an idea of how deep it is. There is a matching side just like this.Even the closet poles go back that far. Not that you can reach those clothes. Which is why I finally pulled clothes out today that had been there 2 years. Not the greatest design. The shelves on top go back that far too. No telling what's up there! I'll have to do some real acrobatics to reach all that stuff. I guess that's why it was full of junk when we bought it. The people knew it was there....they just couldn't reach it!Here. I'll throw Little Bit in the closet for some perspective. That's why the girls will be painting part of this closet.

Here is a picture of the front of the closet. The doors are mirrored and fold back out of the way. I wish I could say they were closed most of the time, but they aren't. The room looks really nice when they are closed.

See? I cheated and just painted purple on the part that showed. This time I'll do better...I promise.

I'll keep you updated. Unless I get stuck in there. Then I'll have one of the girls bring the laptop to me.

picture source

Swamped

Folks, we have GOT to finish school up! We've gone at our own pace all year long and I have really enjoyed that....but....we need to finish 3rd grade sometime BEFORE 4th grade, you know?

This week we are in the middle of science fair stuff (our first) and trying to get lots of school done. I implemented the Workbox System last week because I think it will be just the ticket to help me get school done for both a 4th grader and a Kindergartner next year. (Carisa has some great links in her posts here.)Adding that one more student in is going to take some adjustments on our part! Of course, we really aren't stopping this year as we have in the past. We decided to school year round at a slower pace this year and all I can say is, we seem to have perfected the "slower pace" part.

Also, I continue my quest for a clean house. It seems the whole family is in agreement that they would like to have a tidier home and most of all to be ready to invite others into our home at any time. So, if we all agree on that...then it is my job as keeper of this home to make sure we accomplish that. I felt pretty inspired by this site last night. Can't wait to read a bit more and attack Little Bit's closet today.

The girls have started karate classes. S always had concerns about them taking karate because he didn't want any Eastern religion creeping into their lives. But we have some Christian friends who teach karate and at the end of the lesson they do a little talk, work on some Bible verses, and pray. We are very pleased. Sweetheart is always 100% sold on any new activity and has been very excited. Little Bit, on the other hand, was scared to death--even though she is in the same class as her sister and another little friend. It only took one class for her to decide she loved it! She punches with the wrong hand, looks over at us, and smiles. She's learning a lot. *cough cough* Tomorrow they get their uniforms!

Well, I need to get busy. I just wanted to let you know why I've been scare lately. I'll leave you with a picture of Sweetheart's science fair activity. It's a small scale of how far the planets are from each other. That's her at the end by Pluto. Each paper clip--are you ready for this?--represents approximately 9 million miles! Our God is BIG!!!!

Very Grateful

Thank you Great Granny Grandma for this award! I love being called "Creative" and even more so with a creative spelling! :) I will think about who I want to award after I've had a chance to wake up!

And all that creativity I have? That's my excuse for how my sewing room looks (and I'm sticking to it!)

Amazingly, It's Not a Children's Book

I don't read much. I'm not one of those literary blogs with lists of things I plan to read this year.

Wait! I read the back of the Bisquick box this morning.

Every now and then I make time for a grown up book. I have found the MOST INTERESTING book ever!!! It's called A Medieval Home Companion--Housekeeping In the Fourteenth Century. The original manuscripts were written in the late 1300's by an older husband (maybe in his fifties or sixties) who had married a 15 year old bride. This instruction book was written to help her know all about running a home and conducting herself as a wife. He knew she might be widowed young and need some help, as she was an orphan.

The translator/editor did mention that "in deference to modern sensibilities" she left out a lot of the passages about wives obeying and being humble to their husbands. I thought that was a shame, as I would have liked to read the thinking of that time period. Still, I think there will be enough to read about it.

I am not very far into the book at all, but I am so intrigued by it. One section is about the wife needing to be sure she is respectably dressed. He encouraged his young bride to not be like some women who walk around with

"their heads appallingly elevated, like a lion, their hair sticking out of their headdresses, and the collars of their shifts and dresses overlapping--walking mannishly and conducting themselves before people indecently and without shame."

Interesting. I wonder what this poor man would think of women today!

Moving Day

They packed up all their things that would fit in the wagon.

Ah, this is the one. The house with the sign out front.

It's a fixer upper.

Oh, you don't think so? HA! It's a decorator's dream! Sure, it's a nice dollhouse... but it's such a blank slate.

They moved right in and went to bed. They were so tired!

There is so much work to be done.

What's that you say? You're going to remodel?

A hand-me-down dollhouse is SO exciting!!! Just look at this face!

They've been playing for over 3 hours with it now. Non. Stop.

A sweet friend gave it to us. Which Little Bit deserved because she very unselfishly gave away her baby dollhouse a few weeks ago to a little girl at church. Anyway, I'm very glad this blessing came her way.

Have you seen The Year of the Dollhouse? It's total inspiration. (Just look at all they did!) Not just for the little things we can do to the dollhouse....but the relationship we will build in so doing. Very wise, that woman.